WEEK OF MAY 29, 2025
VOLUME 80 | ISSUE 32
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RIVERDALE GRADS TAKE FLIGHT P3 Officials worry
about Medicaid as budget bill advances BY CAITLYN KIM AND JOHN DALEY CPR NEWS
nesses, reproductive rights, and climate action. “Creating more affordable housing, driving down prices for everything, that is the role I will play in Congress if I am elected,” Bird said. Critics have said Evans has been reluctant to hold town halls with his district constituents, a move Bird said is “unfortunate.”
Colorado’s two members on the House Energy and Commerce committee took different views and votes on the changes Republicans are proposing for Medicaid as the party looks for cuts to fund its budget reconciliation package. Republican Rep. Gabe Evans voted with his party to advance the changes to the federal health insurance program for children and low-income people, while Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette voted against it. The measure passed May 14 afternoon along straight party lines, 30-24, after a marathon 26-hour mark-up session. According to a Congressional Budget Office estimate, under the Republican changes, 10.3 million people will lose coverage over the first decade it’s in effect. Millions more would lose coverage due to the Affordable Care Act changes approved by the committee. “You can’t save $700 billion and not cut anybody off of Medicaid,” DeGette told CPR News. The CBO estimated the Medicaid changes would save $625 billion.“You’re going to have red tape and a whole bunch of people who are working fall off of Medicaid because they’ll get thrown off by the states.” The Denver congresswoman argues that new work and documentation requirements under the proposal would make it harder for eligible people to access their benefits. “They can’t do the paperwork. And we saw that in two states,” DeGette said, pointing to Georgia and Arkansas. “They tried to do a work requirement. It ended up throwing a whole bunch of people off of Medicaid who were working and it ended up costing more money.” Evans countered the bill will prevent waste, fraud and abuse, and that Democrats weren’t seeking to preserve coverage for eligible recipients.
SEE BIRD, P4
SEE MEDICAID, P14
Bird announces 8th Congressional District bid Westminster legislator wants to face off against Republican Gabe Evans BY MONTE WHALEY MONTE@COTLN.ORG
Former Westminster City Councilor and current State Representative Shannon Bird announced Tuesday she is entering the Democratic primary for the 8th Congressional District. Bird hopes to unseat Republican incumbent Gabe Evans, who won the highly competitive 8th district job last year.
Bird said Monday that she is running to halt attacks on American freedoms and the nation’s economy. “I am running to protect what matters most – our democracy, our economy and our future.” She said she wants to undo the damage done by President Donald Trump and Evans, adding “I want to make sure every Coloradan is getting a fair shot.” Bird served on the Westmin-
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ster city council until 2018, when she was elected to the state house in 2018. Bird, raised by a single mother and grandmother, said she understands the problems facing struggling families in Colorado due to high prices for food and housing. Bird, an attorney, said she became a strong advocate for equitable education while serving in the State House and fought for job creation, small busi-
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