Winning Concrete Results
Affordable Prescription Drugs
After four years of CoPIRG’s hard work, Gov. Ritter signed a CoPIRG-backed measure to create a preferred drug list, and investigate a prescription drug buying pool, which would allow Coloradans to negotiate for a better deal on their medications.
Identity Theft Protection
CoPIRG helped convince the Legislature to enact tough identity theft protection laws. A 2006 law requires companies to notify customers when a security breach has occurred, allowing people to better protect their identities.
Saving Energy
In January 2006, CoPIRG and its allies succeeded in passing a law that helps families pay their energy bills and allocates $19 million dollars to boost energy-efficiency. CoPIRG continues to support raising efficiency standards.
Fighting Corruption
In the wake of corruption scandals in Colorado and in Washington, D.C., CoPIRG worked to get Amendment 41 on the ballot and passed by voters. The new law bans gifts from lobbyists and helps keep our leaders accountable.
Smokefree Colorado
After winning 17 different local victories, CoPIRG and the Smokefree Colorado coalition helped pass the Clean Indoor Air Act, which made workplaces across Colorado smokefree, including restaurants and bars, during the summer of 2006.
Health Care Reform
Working with other public health and consumer groups, CoPIRG successfully advocated a 2004 ballot measure that increased the sales tax on tobacco products and uses that revenue to fund health care programs. An estimated 35,000 fewer youths will pick up the life-long habit as a result.
Referendum C
In a victory for Colorado, voters approved CoPIRG-backed Referendum C in 2005. The measure suspends the Taxpayer Bill of Rights budget limits on Colorado for five years, allowing the state to increase funding on critical programs for education, economic development and health care.
Increasing Voter Participation
CoPIRG’s New Voters Project built a broad, bipartisan coalition of businesses, nonprofits and elected officials in support of our work to register 18- to 24-year-old voters in the last three elections. During the months leading up the 2006 elections, our team of organizers contacted nearly 10,000 new voters.
