Truer words were never spoken: “The greatest wealth is health.” Virgil’s words ring true and dear to Coloradans. We are on the forefront of the raging health discussion, with potential plans to enact a new healthcare system called ColoradoCare, a single-payer plan. ColoradoCare, with a projected annual budget of $38 billion, based on a recent report released by Colorado Health Institute last month, would bring major changes to the state.
Amendment 69 is the ballot measure that would create “ColoradoCare.” The amendment was approved after the proponents collected more than 109,000 signatures. Amendment 69 will go on the ballot for residents of Colorado to vote on this November. If approved, it would create ColoradoCare.
What Is ColoradoCare?
ColoradoCare is a single-payer plan, which means it would be a universal health care plan, rather than a system based on private insurers. This program is similar to systems in Europe, where health insurance is financed by taxes.
ColoradoCare aims to provide all residents with Medicare style health coverage, getting rid of deductibles and co-payments. Despite the steep state tax increase that would be enacted to cover the new healthcare system, not paying costly deductibles and co-payments may reduce the monthly health cost for the average resident. For some, especially those with chronic conditions who see doctors frequently, this could significantly reduce health spending. Should a community support the unlucky individuals who struggle with their health on a daily basis? The question of whether ColoradoCare would help to ease this burden is on the minds of some.
Why Was ColoradoCare Created?
There are concerns that Obamacare does not provide adequate healthcare for its citizens. ColoradoCare was initiated due to dissatisfaction surrounding Obamacare and high costs of medical care. If ColoradoCare is approved, it would replace Obamacare within the state of Colorado. A section of the Affordable Care Act allows states to waive the federal healthcare program if the state can enact a successful plan that provides residents access to high quality, affordable insurance. If the plan is enacted, Colorado will be the first state in the country to replace Obamacare. Vermont tried to implement a similar health care plan two years ago, but the plan fell apart when the Vermont governor, Peter Shumalin, said the state could not pay for such a program.
How Will ColoradoCare Get Funded?
Much of the debate stems from the source of the funding for ColoradoCare. We still don’t have a clear picture, but in order to fund such a project, Colorado will need to come up with $25 billion. According to the Census Bureau, the state budget is just over $30 billion. The additional revenue to fund this expensive project will come from a steep state tax increase on all Colorado residents. The Colorado Health Institute states it will require an additional 10% tax on all earned income generated in Colorado. Businesses will be required to pay 6.67% tax, and their employees will be responsible for another 3.33% tax. The state income tax rate would increase, which would firmly place Colorado in the top 10 states for income tax. Sole proprietors will be hit the hardest, as they will be responsible for paying the full 10% themselves, thus bringing their total state income tax to 14.63% — the highest in the nation. The fear of such a high tax rate is that it could negatively affect the working poor, middle class, and small businesses. It also may prevent companies from moving to Colorado, or it could force companies to move away, thus creating a job deficit.
How Is ColoradoCare Going To Affect Coloradans?
Currently, it is not entirely clear how ColoradoCare would affect individuals, providers, and businesses. There is much ambiguity as to how the plan will be carried out, and how it will be funded.
Some argue that ColoradoCare will reduce the high administration costs due to complicated insurance plans. With the current system in place, receiving insurance reimbursement is a lengthy process that requires a good deal of expertise, training, and time from billing health professionals. Every insurance company has different billing policies and reimbursements, and it is time consuming for office staff to wade these perilous waters. One goal of ColoradoCare is to reduce these costs by creating a universal plan, which, by definition, should result in a simpler billing policies. This would, in theory, reduce the amount spent on administrative support staff, thus reducing overall healthcare spending for the state.
If ColoradoCare is enacted, it isn’t clear how it will affect physicians. Some fear that physicians may leave the state in search of better pay. Last year, Medicaid and Medicare announced it could only reimburse the nation’s health insurers 12.6% of what they were entitled to. This translates into Medicare and Medicaid reimbursing just $362 million of the promised $2.9 billion. If ColoradoCare is switching to a Medicare-style program, it is possible physicians will be compensated less for their services. If this is the case, doctors may not be incentivized to practice in Colorado, which could reduce the quality of care received.
Heated debates are going on across the state as to whether we should substitute a universal system over the federal regulations. Whether it will be a better program than Obamacare is only speculation, with both avid supporters and enraged opponents. While Colorado strives to be on the forefront of the country, innovation carries significant risk. Despite the risk, there are fervent supporters to the vision of universal healthcare. On a national level, we forged the road to legalized marijuana, and perhaps we will pioneer the way to a better health care system.
Thanks goes out to the GCCC for allowing me to use my column this month to talk about a cause that is very important to me. Wasted food has become rampant, even in the communities we live in. Here’s a factoid, more than one-third of the food produced for consumption in the U.S. won’t be eaten. Considering the food thrown out by supermarkets, restaurants, schools, hospitals, at home and elsewhere, the food waste toll comes to 40 percent of the food supply. In fact, 18 percent of landfill and that is staggering.
The good news is that people are becoming more aware of this situation and are doing something about it. Through my radio shows the Modern Eater and the Modern Drinker that air live every Saturday at 6 p.m. on 630 KHOW I had the privilege to meet Arlan Preblud who heads up the local non-profit We Don’t Waste.
We Don’t Waste currently serves more than 120 of Denver’s community-based, non-profit agencies. The food sourced by We Don’t Waste augments the food programs of the non-profits it serves, allowing these organizations to reduce their food budgets while still serving wholesome, nutritional meals. Since inception, We Don’t Waste has distributed over 14 million servings of food to Denver’s underserved populations.
After interviewing Arlan on my show I knew I wanted to do my part to help create awareness for the ridiculous amount of food we waste. It breaks my heart to think that there are many hard working families right here in our community who may not be starving, but they just don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and that’s unacceptable in this day and age.
Here’s where creating awareness for this wasted food epidemic becomes fun. I dreamed up this idea of gathering up some of Denver’s top chefs who will take wasted food that was destined for a landfill and recovering it through We Don’t Waste and turning it into gourmet dishes for you to enjoy! I’ve turned this innovative idea into an event called Dumpster Dinner.
Check this out! On May 21 at the Studios at Overland Crossing Dumpster Dinner and Dumpster Dance will go off, and you can attend. You’re not going to believe this lineup. From 5-7 p.m. the VIP portion of the evening will include a very intimate Get Spoiled experience with participating local chefs representing their restaurants (listed below). Only 100 VIP tickets will be sold. With your VIP ticket you will enjoy offerings from these amazing chefs that will be paired with the finest local Colorado craft beer, spirits and wine (listed below). Your VIP ticket includes the admission into the Dumpster Dance that follows the dinner.
From 6:30-10 p.m. Dumpster Dance will step off (only 400 tickets are available if you just want to attend the dance). The dance part of the evening is awesome if I must say so myself. You will be treated to comfortable lounge seating, complemented with a shabby chic décor along with a lineup of the best entertainment that Denver has to offer. Enjoy the soulful dulcet tones of the national performer Rob Drabkin who is headlining the Dumpster Dance! The breakout Denver band AMZY will kick things off and they will be sure to get you up and dancing. Don’t worry about being hungry or thirsty, continue to enjoy the best Colorado craft beer, spirits and wine along with a buffet of delicious food prepared by the chefs, then grab some fresh local meat off the smokers and grills. The entertainment doesn’t stop while you soak in the visual stimulation of aerial bartenders, contortionist, fire performances and more! Don’t miss out on this amazing event benefiting a much needed organization in “We Don’t Waste!” For more information and tickets you can go to dumpsterdin ner.com. If you’re just interested in going to the dance go to dumpsterdance.com. Don’t miss out, I’ll see you there!
Your pal, Sheik!
Here is a list of the amazing Denver restaurants and chefs and the Colorado craft beer, wine and spirit purveyors.
Restaurants And Chefs
Chef Daniel Asher – Root Down + Linger
Chef Jesper Jonsson – Auguste Escoffier
Chef Nikki Olst – Epicurean Group
Chef Kevin Savoy – Carbon Beverage Cafe & Habit Doughnuts
Tick, Tick, Tick… I’m Mike Wallace, tick, tick, tick, I’m Morley Safer, and I’m Peter Boyles, and this is the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle version of 60 Minutes.
I’m no fan of network news, however 60 Minutes on Sunday night, April 9, absolutely hit a home run. For the first time on national television, an issue that I’ve been talking about for 10 years, finally breaks the surface. The story of the 28 pages suppressed by the Bush administration and about the 9/11 attack on this country — gets national attention.
As one of the true geeks I read the 838 page Congressional report that’s titled, The Joint Inquiry Report. One chapter was suppressed by the Bush administration, and very, very few people have read those 28 pages. One who did, and has become a friend and a source, is former Florida Senator Bob Graham. In private and public conversations, “If you could read those 28 pages it would change your mind about what happened on that terrible day….”
I have written several times in the past about how George W. Bush, with Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld told the American people that Saddam Hussein was directly involved in the attack on the United States — that’s a lie. Following the tragedy, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and company, made a decision that they were going to invade Iraq. I personally believe they planned it many months before 9/11.
Here’s a very horrible statistic, over 90 percent of young American soldiers involved in the invasion of Iraq believe that their mission in Iraq was to “retaliate for Saddam’s role in the 9/11 attacks.” Many young Americans died, and God knows how many Iraqis, because of this lie. And as you can see today, in all the wounded warrior charitable programs, those wounds will go on forever. It’s clear now that using torture techniques, manufactured intelligence, and beating people into submission, the Bush administration cobbled an invasion.
In fact I’ve read that Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld demanded interrogators find cooperation between Saddam and Osama. Apparently, people signed confessions that they were never able to read. All that leads to the invasion of Iraq. So what do we know?
The Bush administration repressed the publishing of the entire Commission report until after the invasion began, and then removed the 28 page chapter that former Congressman Tim Romer said in 60 Minutes: “Even for someone who has all the appropriate clearances, these are tough documents to get your eyes on.”
So what’s there? My best belief is what it really discusses is the relationships between the murderers, the Saudi royal family, wealthy Saudis in this country and wealthy Saudis in the kingdom. One of the things that 60 Minutes did not do, is talk about something that is now known as “the flights.” Prince Bandar, (who some people call Bandar Bush), went to the Oval Office after 9/11 and talked George W into allowing privileged Saudi nationals to get on airplanes and get out of the U.S.
Question, who were these people and why did George W let them go? We know afterward the Bush/Cheney people took others and made them talk. I’ve always wondered what those people in those airplanes knew and when no one else in this country was allowed to fly.
Former Senator Graham has now appeared with Megan Kelly on Fox News, so as the power of the Bush family fades into history, some day we may all know just exactly what those bastards did.
I’ll end it with this. The only person who is running for the office of President of United States that cares, is Donald Trump. Trump said speaking at a campaign in Bluffton, South Carolina, “Elect me and you’ll find out who really knocked down those twin towers.” Go Trump.
CLICK HEREfor the entire raw, unedited and unaltered transcript and audio recording of the incredible Tehranian Death Star meeting with the wealthy Persian rug merchants Mohammad Ali Kheirkhahi and Nasrin Kholghy, and their high-powered consultants Dana Crawford, David Tryba, Chris Shears and Bill James, seeking to pressure Glendale officials — Police Captain Mike Gross and Deputy City Managers Chuck Line and Linda Cassaday — into tentatively approving a massive 50- to 60-story condo high-rise on Colorado Boulevard abutting Cherry Creek.
Listen for yourself to the so-called “historic preservationist” Dana Crawford declaring that citizens in Denver were “hysterical about blocking their views” as well as offering “special sugar” for approval of the massive project. Hear famed architect David Tryba demand that Glendale be “more encouraging [about] more verticality” and RTD Director Bill James asserting that because Glendale is a separate jurisdiction surrounded by Denver it would be “easier to get away with” this type of massive high-rise.
Experts are calling the recording and transcript “unprecedented” and “extraordinary” and “a must hear and read” for any citizen in the Denver/Glendale area concerned about how developers and their consultants try to, and usually succeed, in running roughshod over zoning and Master Plans put in place by citizens.
The Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle has been inundated with e-mails, letters and correspondence concerning its March story “Wealthy Rug Merchants Plans Exposed.” To be able to print more of the correspondence the Chronicle has elected to devote its entire editorial page to “We Get Letters . . . .”
I must congratulate the Chronicle. Over a year ago you indicated that the real goal of the wealthy rug merchants at Authentic Persian & Oriental Rugs was to build a massive high-rise on the 3.5 acres of land they own off Colorado Boulevard. They constantly denied the same to the public and then you capture them on tape doing exactly that. Amazing. Kheirkhahi and his sister-in-law as well as their high priced consultants certainly know how run into a doorknob at full speed.
S. Johnson
Denver, CO
Mohammad Ali Kheirkhahi and his sister-in-law Nasrin Kholghy are not nice people and I should know, I was one of their stalking targets in Glendale.
Douglas Stiff
Glendale, CO
I can’t tell you the outpouring of support I have gotten throughout Cherry Creek Valley for publically standing up to Kheirkhahi and against his proposed massive condo project. I want to thank the Chronicle for being the one publication in the Denver area that is never afraid to print the truth. Keep up the good fight
R. Wayne King
Glendale, CO
I am not a big fan of the Rug Merchants, but I support the idea of having a high-rise condo in Glendale and I think it could be a very successful development. Nobody is building condos these days and the city is saturated with rental properties. I’d be very interested in buying in a high-rise, providing it is a modern design with floor to ceiling windows and doesn’t have Tehran in its name.
Sasha Veysbeyn
Denver, CO
Thank you for continuing to update the Glendale public on the transformation of this situation. I want to thank the City Officials of Glendale for staying strong to protect the zoning codes and the city as it currently stands. I want the city of Glendale to know that we support you and do not want a building such as this in our neighborhood.
Laura Haas
Denver, CO
I have always had such admiration for Dana Crawford but it is easy to see the dollar signs in her eyes with this one. Since I don’t, I can easily see what a hideous monstrosity this would be, not to mention the nightmare it would create for people commuting. I hope the lawsuit ties this up for years. Who says we have to aspire to be like New York or Tehran… I think all of us who live here prefer a relatively unfettered view of our beautiful mountains. Stay strong, Glendale. Don’t let these people bully you into a disaster (and an ugly one at that).
Julie [last name not provided]
Denver, CO
Given the traffic congestion on Colorado Blvd., they should design a heliport on the top of this tower so that residents can access their condos.
Will Cameron
Denver, CO
Here’s to hoping that Death Star never gets started. The land and look and feel of Glendale just doesn’t lend itself to skyscrapers. Case in point, the perpetually abandoned looking, relic Lowes building. The biggest thing in Glendale that no one ever wants to even look at. That’s how out of place that monstrosity seems. So no, we don’t need a circa 1980’s Diehard movie, Nakatomi Plaza smack dab in the middle of what could be a a very nice, river-walk style, pedestrian, open retail area.
Jose Rosario
Denver, CO
You are the biggest racist I have ever seen. You Make Donald Trump look like Mother Teresa.
Whether the rug people are bad or not is not the issue. but your constant degradation of Iranians and Muslims is ridiculous. I hope the FBI has you on a watch list dude you are dangerous.
Donnie Smith
Denver, CO
I am so grateful to the Glendale city officials who have blocked the progress of M.A.K. development and the Kheirkhahi family with their monstrosity residential idea. I hope this blockage is forever. How unfair of them to corral the hi-falutin’ Denver city celebrities and power brokers to push their idea of a 56-story nightmare onto Glendale’s Colorado Boulevard profile. Also how unfair of them to request an exception to the city plan, rather than be good citizens and follow the plan. I held my breath until the final sentences of last month’s article. I shop in Glendale and Belcaro, eat at City Set, and use the Post Office and feel it’s my neighborhood still, even though I’ve moved to Windsor Gardens. I have sorely regretted the development that has already taken place in Glendale that has caused the lines of traffic on S. Cherry Creek Blvd. and increased traffic on Leetsdale and Colorado Blvd. South Cherry Creek Blvd. used to be an unknown, lightly-used and quick route down to Holly and Monaco and Quebec streets — a back way to go south. Now it’s stop-and-go most times of the day. And it is often hard to find parking at City Set where popular local restaurants are located. Glendale used to be a place where people could rent for less expense. More luxury condominiums are not what Denver needs. More low and middle income rentals are what is needed. Just what point are the Kheirkhahis trying to make with this monstrosity?
Colleen Nunn
Denver, CO
I was particularly surprised and dismayed to hear Crawford’s statement that “If we want to double Denver metropolitan population we’re going to have to get over our hysteria about high-rise buildings because Denver just, you know, the neighborhoods just get bonkers over the subject.” For one, who wants Denver’s population to double? Certainly not current residents! Denver is already plagued with heavy traffic, especially along Colorado Boulevard. Denver residents are proud to live in Denver and are grateful for this beautiful city — of course we don’t want to destroy it by over-populating it! For another, if the neighborhoods “get bonkers” over something, it is because it is an important topic and there are strong and majority opinions about it — someone truly looking out for the benefit of the city and its residents would not belittle or ignore those opinions.
I applaud and thank the City representatives for standing their ground and not being unduly influenced by a wealthy minority.
