January 27, 2012
60% of employers now use credit scores in hiring practices, but there are material errors in credit reports of over 20 million Americans. No job = bad credit. Bad credit = no job. This practice disproportionately impacts minorities, single parents, deployed veterans. It impacts everyone who lost work in the last recession.
That's why I created a petition to The Colorado State House, The Colorado State Senate, and Governor John Hickenlooper, which says:
"• Nearly ¼ Million Coloradans have faced unemployment every month since the recession. (Department of Labor & Employment).
• Colorado’s unemployment rate reached a high of 9.3% and that figure is even higher in some regions of the state.
• The real impact of unemployment reaches beyond the one person who lost their job. Nearly every person in the State, directly or indirectly impacted by unemployment. For every one person unemployed, there is often a spouse and children who are impacted as well.
• When a person loses his or her job their credit score is very likely to suffer (i.e. may be impacted due carrying increased debt load or late payments.)
• 60% of employers are now using credit scores as part of their hiring decisions. (Discrediting America 2011)
• That means that people have been laid off or lost their job may be automatically barred for future jobs by as many as 60% of employers.
• Research has found that there are material errors in the credit reports of 20 million Americans. (Discrediting America 2011)
• Credit scores are not a valid indicator or predictor of the worth or skills of an employee, even according to FICO. (FICO)
• This practice has a disparate impact on blocking employment for minority communities, veterans, single parents, families with serious health problems, and college students.
THEREFORE, we respectfully request your help in removing unnecessary barriers to employment. Please support SB 3 and help people hurt in the economic downturn get back to work!
Will you sign my petition? Click here to add your name:
http://signon.org/sign/support-sb-3-end-misuse?source=c.fwd&r_by=2075266
January 12, 2012
THE SENATE JOBS BILLS
There are a package of bills from the Colorado State Senate that will be focused on growing our economy and putting Colorado back to work.
TOWNHALL REMINDERS
Thursday January 19, 2012
Townhall with Rep. Ryden, Rep. Fields and Sen. Carroll
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Community College of Aurora, Aurora
16000 E. Centretech Pkwy
TOPIC: Arapahoe County & Aurora Public Services & Safety Net
All welcome!
Monday February 6, 2012
Coffee with Carroll, Ryden, Fields
7:15 - 8:30 PM
Mimi's Cafe
205 S. Abilene Street, Aurora
OPEN FORUM
All welcome!
COMMITTEE CHANGES
There have been a few changes in my committee assignments for the 2012 legislative session. I will continue to Chair, Senate Judiciary committee and serve on Legislative Legal Services committee, but will no longer be serving on the Audit committee. Instead of serving on Senate Health & Human Services, I will now be serving on the Agriculture, Natural Resources & Energy Committee.
MY BILLS INTRODUCED SO FAR
SB 3: Employment Opportunity Act (Carroll - Fischer). 60% of employers are now using credit scores in their hiring and job-related decisions. Not only are there material errors in the credit reports of 20 million Americans, but most people who have been laid off or lost their jobs in the recession have seen a dip in their credit. Using credit scores for purposes they were not designed for is not only not a good measure of an employee's merit, but it is structurally prolonging the ability of people to get re-employed and back to work. This bill prohibits use of credit scoring in hiring unless relevant for the job position and gives disclosure the applicant if their credit was an adverse factor in the decision. No job = bad credit. Bad credit = no job. For more information about the uses and misuses of credit scores you may be interested in reading http://www.demos.org/sites/default/files/publications/Discrediting_America_Demos.pdf.
SB 56: Family Court Appointments (Carroll - Holbert). This bill requires that anyone appointed by the Court to make recommendations about a child's best interest by neutral and independent. The bill addresses potential conflicts of interest and ensures that the appointee does not have any prior relationship to any of the parties. Courts are relying increasingly on parenting coordinators, child family investigators and others to make recommendations to the Court. For the process to work as intended those appointees need to be independent and free of any conflicts.
BOOK UPDATE! :)
I am very excited to report that my book, Take Back Your Government: A Citizen's Guide to Grassroots Change, will be in bookstores on or before February 1, 2012. I am told that it can already be ordered online at Barnes & Nobel and Amazon now. You are invited to join me at any of the following book signings! Free, all welcome.
Friday February 10, 2012, 7:30 PM
Tattered Cover on Colfax
Saturday February 25, 2012, 2:00 PM
Barnes & Noble - Loveland, 5835 Sky Pond Drive, Loveland
Saturday March 3, 2012, 2:00 PM
Barnes & Noble - Lone Tree, 8374 Street, Lone Tree
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