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Please do not reply to this email. To contact me, please click here and let me know your thoughts on how I can better represent your beliefs and values in our nation's Capitol. June 2, 2011 Top Stories: My Debt Ceiling Vote Colorado's Heath Insurance Exchanges Auto Industry Resurgence Wind For Schools Program Why I Voted For a Clean Bill to Raise the Debt Limit This week, House Republicans gambled and played political games with our security by voting to default on our country's debts unless we end Medicare as we know it. This vote has already had severe consequences to our financial security. In just one day, on June 1, we lost $420 billion in our investments and retirement accounts on the stock market. This amounts to approximately $1,350 person. Furthermore, defaulting on these loans would mean higher interest rates on our mortgages, student loans, credit cards, and even higher gas prices for Coloradans. Medicare didn't cause our debt. Over the past decade Republicans in Congress took a record surplus and turned it into a record deficit by prosecuting two unpaid-for wars, giving trillions in tax giveaways to billionaires and millionaires, and letting Wall Street gamble with our financial security. As a result, under GOP leadership, Congressional Republicans had to raise the debt limit eight times between 1995-2007, going from $5.5 trillion to $9.8 trillion. I voted this week to raise the debt limit and avoid this default because our country has always paid its bills. I believe we need to act responsibly, and stop playing politics with our economic and national security. I know we can responsibly pay our debt and tackle our large deficit by ensuring people can get back to work in our country, protecting Medicare and maintaining the promise we made to our senior citizens. Colorado is One of the First States to Establish Health Insurance Exchanges This week Governor Hickenlooper signed into law a bill (SB 11-200) to allow Colorado to establish a health insurance exchange so individuals and small businesses can band together to obtain more affordable health care coverage. This bill allows Colorado to set-up an exchange tailored to the specific needs of Colorado and places us at the forefront of health insurance reform in the entire country. I am especially proud this exchange was due to a bipartisan effort in the State Legislature, the business community and health care professionals to establish a voluntary, competitive insurance market place. Colorado is one of only seven states to create its own exchange. Click here to view SB 11 - 200. U.S. Auto Industry Paying the Treasury Back and Adding Jobs This week the White House issued a report highlighting the repayment and growth of General Motors (GM) and Chrysler. I know many people were against the government stepping in to assist these auto companies. I understand and respect that perspective but I supported the intervention to save millions of jobs related to the auto industry and preserve the American manufacturing base. The best way of paying down our debt and balancing the budget is getting people back to work and that means making things here in America again. Click here to view the White House's report on the success of the domestic auto industry. General Motors is expanding production and adding jobs, while Chrysler recently repaid its outstanding loans to the U.S. Treasury - six years ahead of schedule. Since GM and Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy, the auto industry has created 115,000 jobs, its strongest period of job growth since the late 1990s. GM, Ford and Chrysler have all returned to profitability, and in 2010, they gained market share for the first time since 1995. Wind for Schools Program Do you know a K - 12 school in rural Colorado that has good wind resources and is looking to bolster its science curriculum? If so ask them to participate in the Wind For Schools Program established by the U.S. Department of Energy and administered here in Colorado by the Governor's Energy Office and Colorado State University. Grants are available for a 1.8 KW wind turbine to be installed at the school to provide renewable energy but more importantly to give students a hands-on learning opportunity. Click here to learn more about this exciting program. Congressman Ed Perlmutter Unsubscribe

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