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Bill To Aid Rural Colorado Communities Dies In Committee

downtown Paonia, Grand Ave Paonia
Laura Palmisano
/
KVNF

A bill that aimed to help rural Colorado communities during times of economic crisis was killed in committee this week.  

The bill was sponsored by freshman Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, who represents seven counties including Delta, Hinsdale and Gunnison.   

Donovan says the bill would’ve allowed the state to react quickly with financial assistance when there’s an economic emergency in a community like a plant shutdown or industry-wide layoffs. 

The bill was shot down by a party line vote. The Senate State Affairs Committee, headed by Republican Sen. Ray Scott of Grand Junction, killed the legislation.

"There wasn't any clear reason given by the Republicans that voted no on it," she says. "We had good discussions going into the committee hearing. I had support that extended across city and county line. And, people even from various sides of different parties who testified upon the bill said that it would be good for rural Colorado."

Donovan says she was inspired to write the bill after nearly 400 coal miners lost their jobs in Delta County.

A similar bill co-sponsored by State House Republican Yeulin Willet of Grand Junction and Donovan has yet to be heard. That bill seeks to give grants to 30 counties with highly stressed economies a boost.

Laura joined KVNF in 2014. She was the news director for two years and now works as a freelance reporter covering Colorado's Western Slope. Laura is an award-winning journalist with work recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, Colorado Broadcasters Association, and RTDNA. In 2015, she was a fellow for the Institute for Justice & Journalism. Her fellowship project, a three-part series on the Karen refugee community in Delta, Colorado, received a regional Edward R. Murrow Award.
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