Dear Friend,
“What’s your name?” “Where are you from?” “What do you do for work?” Our jobs are one of the defining features of our lives—they provide us with income, a community, and purpose.
Over 20 million Americans are employed directly by the government. But government programs and policies are also critical to the work of every member of the workforce. Government programs are designed to help us get jobs; government policies help to ensure that we receive fair compensation and other forms of protection while we have jobs; and unemployment insurance provides us with support in between jobs. Across each of these dimensions, critical policy decisions are made all the time—meaning that your vote will influence your job.
Finding a job: Here in Colorado, Workforce Centers can help with career counselling and job training—they offer free resume critiques, workshops, career counseling and other services, all designed to help Coloradans find meaningful work. We even have one of them in Edwards and, even though the offices are currently closed to the public, the staff is working remotely and responding to voicemails and emails. Contact the Center at 970-926-4440 or Edwards@state.co.us.
Working at a job: Once employed, government provides many protections—from employment discrimination laws to workers’ compensation. One of the most significant ways in which government helps to ensure that workers are treated fairly is through the minimum wage. Here in Colorado, our votes gave us all a raise. While the Federal minimum wage guarantee has remained steady at $7.25 an hour for more than a decade, thanks to voters the Colorado minimum wage is now $12 an hour. It’s difficult to imagine more direct evidence of the power of voting: your vote in 2016 determined whether you or your neighbor got a raise!
In between jobs: Since the beginning of the virus, the number of Coloradans who are unemployed has doubled, from 164K to 334K. Early in the spring—recognizing the unprecedented spike in job losses—the Federal government decided to supplement state benefits with an extra $600 per week for each recipient of unemployment. At the end of July, this supplement expired. Congress is now at an impasse as to whether and how to extend this supplement—a battle that will likely continue in some form throughout the pandemic. Your vote in November will help determine which side of the debates our representatives are on.
Closer to home, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment has been working to respond to the pandemic as well. Initially our Department of Labor suspended its standard requirement that unemployment recipients prove that they are actively looking for work in order to receive benefits—a nod to the difficulty and dangers of job-searching during this time. By June, the Colorado Department of Labor chose to reinstate that requirement.
How do you feel about the government programs and decisions described above? Make your opinion heard by voting this fall.
It is not too early!
Now’s the time to check your voter registration and make sure your ballot address is correct so you receive your ballot, which will be mailed on October 9th. It is easy and quick…go to govotecolorado.gov.
Be bold!
Text five members of your family or your Covid social bubble to remind them to check their registrations by going to govotecolorado.gov.
We always welcome your questions or thoughts – email us at vailvalleyvotes@gmail.com.
Vail Valley Votes
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Vail Valley Votes is a Colorado nonprofit corporation that is nonpartisan
and does not fundraise for, endorse or oppose any candidate, ballot issue
or ballot question.
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