LEGISLATION ACTION NEEDED IN COLORADO

I have information for you to pass on to as many people as possible for these bills will affect thousands in the state of Colorado. We are opposing HB 1064 the bill to license naturopathic doctors and support HB 1158, the Health Freedom bill which will protect everyone's right to practice. Please read the information below. You are also welcome to have people go to www.leg.state.co.us and read both bills under House and then click on the individual bills.

Update for Colorado Health Freedom Supporters!

This email includes information on:

Gathering before the Committee Hearing Feb. 4th
What to wear
Car Pooling
Testimony
Committee Hearing information
Yahoo Group
Why we oppose the Naturopathic Doctor bill

We are getting close to the vote on February 4th for both the Health Freedom Bill, (HB 1158) and the Naturopathic Doctor Bill (HB 1064).

We will be meeting in the cafeteria in the basement of the Capitol at 12:30 p.m., for those who are able to come early.

Also, since we are not allowed to have signs or wear buttons�we will all be wearing red. So if you have a red shirt, or red dress, etc� please try to wear red. If you don�t have red, that is okay too!

They have limited testimony on the Naturopathic Doctor bill to 45 minutes. I don�t know if they will also limit testimony on the Health Freedom bill or not. Because of that, if you want to testify, there may be a chance you will not be able to - due to the time constraints. I would highly recommend that you write your testimony and email and/or fax your personal letter to the members of the Health and Human Services. I will attach that list for you again.

The session begins at 1:30 p.m. This is held in Room LSB-A, which is in the building to the south of the Capitol. You can meet us in the Cafeteria and we can all walk over together. There are 4 bills on the docket. We do not know what order they will hear these bills. They could go in order or out of order. So we could be first at 1:30, or we could be the last two, and the hearing would go longer, maybe even into the evening. I just wanted to alert everyone to this so you can plan accordingly.

For those who have not ever attended a hearing - please act in a respectful manner. The committee members do not like to see others demonstrating, clapping, yelling, etc. Even if the �other� side does these things, we want to remain calm and respectful!

Some people have asked about carpooling. This is a good idea as parking is sometimes hard to find. If you will be driving and are able to take people, or if you are looking for a ride� the best thing would be to post this information on the yahoo group where everyone can make arrangements with each other. If you have not already joined the yahoogroup, please do this now. To join, send a blank email to: co4hfg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com I can also send you another invite to which you can respond and join as well. If you have problems, email me at: kimberlysharples@msn.com and I can help.


Some people are having a hard time understanding why the Naturopathic Doctor bill is not a good bill. "National Health Freedom Action's Law and Public Policy Director, Attorney Diane Miller, has come out with strong statements of support for the health freedom bill HB1158 and strong opposition to the mandatory licensing bill for naturopaths HB1064." Her website is www.nationalhealthfreedom.org.


I am going to list some points that may help when others ask why we are opposing this bill:

HB 1064 defines the practice of naturopathy and naturopathic medicine as the same thing, basically all of natural healing.


HB 1064 makes it unlawful for traditional naturopaths or natural health practitioners, from practicing anything within that definition. Those in violation can be charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor or a Class 6 felony.


HB 1064 also makes it unlawful to use titles or words, including naturopath or naturopathy, or ND, unless licensed as a Naturopathic Doctor as specified in the bill.


HB 1064 states that one must have only graduated from certain naturopathic medical schools, which eliminates thousands of other health care practitioners from practicing creating an exclusionary and monopolistic bill.


HB 1064 is poorly written with no honor of the traditional naturopaths and all natural health healers and practitioners.


Again, for questions contact me at: kimberlysharples@msn.com