Freshman State Rep. Dianne Primavera’s story is an inspirational one. Not only has she dealt with serious health issues on a very personal level through her own battles with cancer, but, she has also fought hard to improve health care for all of Colorado’s families. Even before her election to the Colorado House, she worked in the health care field, and throughout her career, she has received numerous awards-– including the Governor’s Peak Performance Award for Citizen Satisfaction. It is difficult to cover all of the health care bills that Representative Primavera has sponsored. Here are just a few.

She sponsored 2 of 11 key bills signed by the governor this June as part of his “Building Blocks to Health Care Reform” plan. HB 1385 creates a guide on the website of the Colorado Division of Insurance in order for residents to compare available health plans in a standardized, systematic way to make the best possible decision when they purchase insurance.

Primavera was also a sponsor of HB 1372, a groundbreaking bill which creates the Colorado Stem Cells Cure Fund. It creates a check-off option on the state income tax form in order to contribute to the fund. The bill enables Colorado’s new mothers the chance to donate the stem cells found in umbilical cord blood after birth – which could help research on treatment for adult diseases such as Alzheimer’s. You can read her editorial on HB 1372 in the Rocky Mountain News. Click here and here for more information on both of these bills.

Rep. Primavera is also helping uninsured Colorado children through her co-sponsorship SB 161, which will simplify the difficult application process for children’s health insurance under Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Plus.

I have written previously about Democratic efforts around the country to require health-insurance coverage for autism and bills addressing autism by legislators such as Chris Edwards of Oregon. Rep. Primavera is also working to help families that are grappling with autism. She was a co-sponsor of SB 163 to streamline, simplify, and unify services for those with autism.

Primavera was also a sponsor of HB 1301, an important bill to set aside $1.5 million from the state's tobacco settlement to pay for cervical cancer vaccinations for girls who don't have health insurance. You can read about this bill in the Rocky Mountain News. She has also sponsored a tax check-off bill for cancer education.

Rep. Primavera has been described as a “tireless” healthcare advocate. But in this case, that adjective is inadequate in describing the incredible, heroic efforts of this Colorado legislator.

Earlier this year, I wrote about how Democrats in Wisconsin and Oklahoma are fighting for insurance coverage for autism.

In the Oregon House, Democratic Rep. Chris Edwards, a freshman, is also working hard on this issue. Edwards, whose young son has autism, has been chosen to lead an autism project work group in preparation for the 2009 session.

He was also a sponsor of a key health coverage bill during the 2007 session, HB 2918. This legislation prohibits a health plan from denying various therapies to children under 18 solely because of a developmental disorder like autism. The governor signed the bill on July 31, 2007.

The Eugene legislator is a member of the House’s Five Under 35 group which has established an ambitious legislative agenda that includes support for such key bills as the Family and Medical Leave measure (HB 2575) and the Protecting Children from Online Predators bill (HB 3515).

Edwards is a great example of how young Democratic lawmakers are energized and fighting for a strong legislative agenda for working families.

In Montana, Republicans control the state house 49-50. Despite this, Democratic State Rep. Julie French -- from Scobey -- has authored and passed 3 key bills to help working families in her state.

She is working for military families by sponsoring HB 179, the “Montana Military Family Relief Fund.” The bill provides emergency grants of $250 to $2,000 to families of members of Montana’s National Guard and Reserves. As many of you know, Montana only holds regular sessions during odd-numbered years. Rep. French’s bill was signed by Gov. Schweitzer on April 28, 2007 -- at the end of Montana’s last regular session. For the full text of HB 179 click here.

French has helped to make it easier for families to adopt a child through her authorship of HB 490, which allows individuals to take an income tax credit for the adoption of an eligible child. This bill was also signed by the governor on April 28, 2007. For the full text of HB 490, click here.

Finally, French authored and passed HJ 47 to keep Montana families healthy. This bill calls for a study to determine how Montana can maintain its highly respected statewide genetics program. Among other crucial services in the diagnosis and treatment of genetic disorders, the program helps women manage high-risk pregnancies. This bill was filed with the Secretary of State on May 4, 2007.

Rep. French provides an inspiring example of the fact that -- despite being in a Republican-controlled chamber -- energetic, young Democratic legislators can still achieve great policy successes for working families.

New Jersey Senate President Richard Codey was almost the victim of a car accident on Sunday when another vehicle somehow managed to roll down a 50-foot grassy mound, cross the median, and slam into a guardrail:

The acting governor said he and a state trooper, who was driving him south to Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport where Codey is to present a trophy to the winner of this year's Haskell race this evening, rushed to aid the driver of the small car. The Senate president has New Jersey's top job while Gov. Jon Corzine is away this weekend out of state.

Codey and the state trooper found the driver of the other car unconscious, and the senator held back the man's head until he came to.

All in a day's work. . .

Sean Tevis -- my current favorite elected-office-seeking geek -- has gone from profiles on BoingBoing (and DLCC.org!) and landed in the Wall Street Journal.

As you'd imagine, the story is largely about the campaign's fundraising success. So far, Tevis has raised more than $95,000 -- almost entirely from small online donations. His GOP opponent plans to rake in just $35,000 (with very little of that money coming from individuals in his district).

The story includes one detail that I'm both simultaneously relieved and embarrassed that I didn't notice:

Mr. Tevis's coup de grâce was to embed a hidden message, in the source code. He knew that only fellow techies would bother scrolling through the dense lines of programming, so he rewarded them with a message asking them to tack an extra 88 cents on to any donation so he would recognize them. Nearly 20% of his 5,700 or so donors have done that. Mr. Tevis has become such a fund-raising machine that he is fielding calls from legislative candidates in other states asking for advice.

Sure enough, when you pull up the source code, there it is:

Hello person who cares enough to read source code.

Please donate $8.88 to my campaign. Any amount with 88 cents at the end is flagged for me to let me know that it came from someone who I guess is a lot like me. You'll also be entered into a drawing to win a prize and it will help save the world. Thank you.

I just can't get over how terrific and clever this whole thing is.

As a native Oklahoman, it was my sad duty to tell my colleagues at the DLCC of the untimely passing of State Representative Terry Hyman of Leon, OK. Rep. Hyman died in a farming accident Friday night.

While I didn’t know Rep. Hyman personally, I was well aware of his reputation as a fair, gentle leader.

In the words of Democratic Leader Danny Morgan, “He was a quiet and steady legislator. He had respect among all of the members out there, both Republicans and Democrats. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

"Today, Oklahomans mourn the loss of a dedicated and beloved public servant," said Governor Brad Henry. "Terry Hyman was a true native son of Oklahoma. He loved farming and rodeo, and he was fiercely devoted to making a better life for his constituents. In the wake of his tragic and untimely death, I know I speak for all Oklahomans when I say Rep. Hyman's wife and family are in our thoughts and prayers.”

Here at the DLCC, we too pass along our prayers for Rep. Hyman’s family and friends.

Mrs. Hyman has asked that gifts be sent in Terry’s name to: Oklahoma Baptist Girls' Home, 1117 Anthony Lane, Madill, Oklahoma 73446, or securely online to or the Terry Hyman Memorial, Leon Baptist Church, Leon, OK 73441.