Source: Colorado House Democrats
Speaker Julie McCluskie today appointed Representative Kyle Brown to serve on the Joint Budget Committee (JBC). This appointment was necessitated by Representative Shannon Bird’s announcement on Friday that she will step down from the JBC, effective immediately.
“Representative Bird is an exemplary leader who has focused her work on making life in Colorado more affordable,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “I’d like to thank her for her commitment to Coloradans and her dedicated service on the JBC, where she boosted investments in higher education, health care and public safety.”
“Amidst a federal government shutdown and the economic volatility from the Trump administration, these uncertain times call for exceptional leadership to face the challenges of the moment. Representative Brown is an experienced and effective leader, and has worked diligently to lower the cost of health care for hardworking families,” continued McCluskie. “As a highly regarded health care champion, Representative Brown will play a critical role on the Joint Budget Committee in targeting the explosive costs of Medicaid, lowering the cost of health care and advocating for healthier, safer communities for all.”
“I’m honored to begin serving on the Joint Budget Committee and working alongside my colleagues to protect education funding and the core services hardworking people rely on,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “From improving Colorado’s reinsurance program and expanding health care access, to lowering the cost of prescription drugs, my focus has always been saving you money on health care. We will have a difficult budget year ahead as we deal with the fallout of H.R.1, but I am prepared to do the work and defend our most vulnerable communities.”
Representative Brown has sponsored key laws to save Coloradans money on health care, supported safety-net providers and clinics, expanded no-cost therapy sessions for youth through iMatter, and lowered prescription drug costs. As the former Deputy Commissioner for Affordability Programs at the Colorado Division of Insurance, he helped design and implement the Colorado Option, which offered the second-lowest-cost plan in 90-percent of Colorado counties last year.
Speaker McCluskie also appointed Representative Lindsay Gilchrist, D-Denver, to replace Representative Brown as Chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee.
With a background in public health, Representative Gilchrist sponsored legislation to ensure the state’s science-backed vaccine recommendations are protected if the Trump Administration undermines vaccine guidance. Representative Gilchrist, along with Representative Brown, also sponsored legislation to save Coloradans money on mental health care by standardizing insurance coverage determinations.
To combat some of the harm caused by Trump’s H.R.1 and Congress’s failure to extend health care tax credits, Representatives Brown and Gilchrist were the prime sponsors of a new law to blunt some of the most severe cost increases from the expiring tax credits. This law reduces the statewide average premium increase from 174-percent to 101-percent, saving Coloradans $220 million on health care next year and preventing 28,000 Coloradans from being kicked off their health coverage.
Statement from the Colorado Association of Health Plans
“The Colorado Association of Health Plans congratulates Representative Kyle Brown on his appointment to the Joint Budget Committee and Representative Lindsay Gilchrist on her continuing leadership in health policy,” said Kevin McFatridge, Executive Director of CAHP.
“Both lawmakers have demonstrated a deep commitment to improving affordability, access, and accountability in Colorado’s health care system. CAHP and our member health plans look forward to working collaboratively with Representatives Brown and Gilchrist — and all members of the General Assembly — to ensure policy and budget decisions support sustainable coverage and care for every Coloradan. CAHP remains committed to being a constructive partner in identifying data-driven solutions that make health care more affordable and effective.”
