Spencer Swalm
Encyclopedia
In the 2007 session of the Colorado General Assembly
, Swalm sat on the House Health and Human Services Committee and the House Transportation and Energy Committee. Swalm's father, Paul Swalm, had served on the Denver, Colorado
city council and in the Colorado House of Representatives in the 1970s, and Swalm was assigned the same seat in the house chamber as his father.
That year, Swalm sponsored legislation that would require sex offenders to register their email
addresses and other online identities with the state. After being defeated in committee, the bill was resubmitted to apply only to sex offenders whose victims are children, and was signed into law. He plans on submitting legislation to extend the program to all sex offenders in future sessions.
Swalm also sponsored successful legislation designed to encourage Coloradans to purchase long term care insurance
rather than relying on Medicaid
, allowing Coloradans to participate in a federal long term care partnership program.
Between legislative sessions, Swalm served on the interim Health Care Task Force and on the Transportation Legislation Review Committee.
maintenance costs. As part of a set of Republican health care proposals, Swalm will sponsor legislation to create a low-cost state health insurance
plan and to encourage tax breaks for individual health insurance. He has also, working with Democratic Rep. Morgan Carroll
, introduced legislation to extend a fund to provide financial assistance to military families. The bill was passed by the legislature and signed into the law by Gov. Bill Ritter.
Swalm also introduced legislation to create the "Colorado Health Plan," a low-cost health insurance program to be run by the state, but the proposal was killed in committee. Democratic House Speaker Andrew Romanoff
has expressed interest in reviving the bill. Swalm also reintroduced his bill to require sex offenders to register their email addresses, which was again killed in committee.
to promote a bipartisan measure lowering the age limit for blood donations to 16.
Colorado General Assembly
The Colorado General Assembly is the state legislature of the State of Colorado.-Constitutional definition:The Colorado Constitution establishes a system of government based on the separation of powers doctrine with power divided among three "departments": executive, legislative and judicial...
, Swalm sat on the House Health and Human Services Committee and the House Transportation and Energy Committee. Swalm's father, Paul Swalm, had served on the Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
city council and in the Colorado House of Representatives in the 1970s, and Swalm was assigned the same seat in the house chamber as his father.
That year, Swalm sponsored legislation that would require sex offenders to register their email
Email
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
addresses and other online identities with the state. After being defeated in committee, the bill was resubmitted to apply only to sex offenders whose victims are children, and was signed into law. He plans on submitting legislation to extend the program to all sex offenders in future sessions.
Swalm also sponsored successful legislation designed to encourage Coloradans to purchase long term care insurance
Long term care insurance
Long-term care insurance , an insurance product sold in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, helps provide for the cost of long-term care beyond a predetermined period...
rather than relying on Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
, allowing Coloradans to participate in a federal long term care partnership program.
Between legislative sessions, Swalm served on the interim Health Care Task Force and on the Transportation Legislation Review Committee.
2008 legislative session
For the 2008 legislative session, Swalm plans to sponsor a measure that would create a special pass to offset state parkState park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
maintenance costs. As part of a set of Republican health care proposals, Swalm will sponsor legislation to create a low-cost state health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
plan and to encourage tax breaks for individual health insurance. He has also, working with Democratic Rep. Morgan Carroll
Morgan Carroll
Morgan Carroll is an American politician from Colorado. A Democrat, she is a member of the Colorado Senate, representing the state's 29th district....
, introduced legislation to extend a fund to provide financial assistance to military families. The bill was passed by the legislature and signed into the law by Gov. Bill Ritter.
Swalm also introduced legislation to create the "Colorado Health Plan," a low-cost health insurance program to be run by the state, but the proposal was killed in committee. Democratic House Speaker Andrew Romanoff
Andrew Romanoff
Harlan Andrew Romanoff is an American politician. A Democrat, he was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 2000 to 2008, serving as Speaker from 2005 to 2008...
has expressed interest in reviving the bill. Swalm also reintroduced his bill to require sex offenders to register their email addresses, which was again killed in committee.
2008 election
Because of the closeness of Swalm's 2006 election in a traditionally Republican district, Democrats targeted Swalm's re-election bid in 2008. Swalm faces Diana Holland, a Democrat and Littleton School Board member, and Constitution Party candidate Brian Olds in the November general election. Swalm's re-election bid was endorsed by the Denver Post. He ultimately won with 51 percent of the popular vote, nearly 2000 votes ahead of Holland.2009 legislative session
For the 2009 legislative session, Swalm was named to seats on the House Finance Committee and the House Health and Human Services Committee. Representative Swalm worked with Democratic Representative Sara GagliardiSara Gagliardi
Sara Elizabeth Gagliardi is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. A career nurse, Gagliardi was first elected as a Democrat in 2006 to the Colorado House of Representatives. She represented House District 27, which encompasses most of Arvada, Colorado, until her defeat in the 2010 election...
to promote a bipartisan measure lowering the age limit for blood donations to 16.