Amy Stephens
{{short description|American politician and lawyer}}
{{About|the Colorado politician and lawyer|the trans funeral director and US Supreme Court litigant|Aimee Stephens}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Amy Stephens
|image = Colorado-Rep-Amy-Stephens.jpg
|state_house = Colorado
|district = 19th
|term_start = January 9, 2013
|term_end = January 7, 2015
|predecessor = Marsha Looper
|successor = Paul Lundeen
|state_house1 = Colorado
|district1 = 20th
|term_start1 = January 10, 2007
|term_end1 = January 9, 2013
|predecessor1 = Lynn Hefley
|successor1 = Bob Gardner
|birth_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Republican
|spouse = Ron Stephens
|alma_mater = University of California, Los
Angeles
California State University,
Fullerton
University of Colorado,
Colorado Springs
}}
Amy Stephens is a Principal in Public Policy and Regulation Practice at Dentons, a multinational law firm;{{Cite web|url=https://www.dentons.com/en/amy-stephens|title=Amy Stephens|last=|first=|date=|website=Dentons|access-date=2018-03-29}} previously, she served as Colorado House Majority Leader and House Minority Caucus Chairman in the Colorado House of Representatives.{{Cite web|url=http://comaps.org/district20h.html|title=State House District 20|work=COMaps|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304221100/http://www.comaps.org/district20h.html|archive-date=2008-03-04|url-status=dead|access-date=2007-11-13}}
Biography
Stephens attended the University of California at Los Angeles and then California State University Fullerton, earning a bachelor's degree in communications. From 1991 to 2001, she worked as a public policy and youth culture specialist for the Christian ministry Focus on the Family. A sexual risk avoidance curriculum written by Stephens,{{Cite web|url=https://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/files/analysis/20120706riskavoidance.pdf|title=A Better Approach to Teenage Pregnancy Prevention|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}} No Apologies, has been translated into over a dozen languages.{{cite web|url=http://www.amystephens4hd20.com/bio.html |title=Biography |access-date=2007-11-14 |work=AmyStephens4hd20.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107125906/http://www.amystephens4hd20.com/bio.html |archive-date=2008-01-07 }} After leaving Focus on the Family, Stephens founded the consulting firm Fresh Ideas Communication & Consulting, assisting non-profit and faith-based organizations with communication, organization, and development issues. She also served as a panel expert on federal grant review committees for the federal Department of Health & Human Services.
Before running for the legislature herself, Stephens was a veteran of numerous Republican campaigns, including those of Colorado Governor Bill Owens, 4th Judicial District Attorney John Newsome, El Paso County Commissioner Wayne Williams, and U.S. President George W. Bush. She served as a member of the El Paso County Republican Committee and as a delegate to the 1996 and 2004 Republican National Conventions. Governor Owens also appointed Stephens to the Governor's Commission on the Welfare of Children.
Elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Republican in 2006, Stephens represented House District 20, which covers northern El Paso County, Colorado, including portions of Colorado Springs and the areas surrounding the United States Air Force Academy. She served as the House Majority Leader during the two years of Republican control of the House from 2010 to 2012. Following redistricting, Stephens was elected as the representative for Colorado's 19th House District. She sought the Republican nomination to challenge then-U.S. Senator Mark Udall in 2014, but withdrew from the race on February 27, 2014.{{Cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_25238764/amy-stephens-drops-u-s-senate-bid-calls|title=Amy Stephens drops U.S. Senate bid, calls Cory Gardner "the great uniter"|last=Bartels|first=Lynn|work=Denver Post}} In 2015 she was hired by Dentons, the world's largest global law firm, to lead their Denver Government Affairs practice.{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2015/02/18/former-rep-amy-stephens-joins-prominent-denver-law-firm/117279/|title=Former Rep. Amy Stephens joins prominent Denver law firm|last=|first=|date=|website=The Denver Post: The Spot|access-date=2018-03-29}}
Stephens is married; she and her husband, Ron (former Town of Monument Trustee), have one son, Nicholas.{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=65850|title=Representative Stephens|work=Project Vote Smart|access-date=2007-11-14}}
Political career
=2006 election=
In 2006, Stephens won a 3:1 victory over Democratic opponent Jan Hejtmanek{{cite web
|url = http://www.amystephens4hd20.com/campaign2008.html
|title = Campaign 2008
|access-date = 2007-11-14
|work = AmyStephens4hd20.com
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080118143109/http://www.amystephens4hd20.com/campaign2008.html
|archive-date = 2008-01-18
|url-status = dead
}} in an overwhelmingly Republican district.{{cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Wilson |title=District 20 is a GOP bastion|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20060928/ai_n16804764 |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=September 28, 2007 |access-date=2007-11-14 }} During her campaign, Stephens identified infrastructure issues, including water, as among her major legislative concerns.{{cite web|url=http://cfapp2.rockymountainnews.com/election/profiles/c_profiles.cfm?oper=cand_profile&id=11938&qa=1 |title=Amy Stephens - Colorado - State House District 20 candidate |access-date=2007-11-14 |work=RockyMountainNews.com }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
=2007 legislative session=
In the 2007 session of the state legislature, Stephens sat on the House Judiciary Committee and was the ranking Republican on the House Business & Labor Affairs Committee.{{cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/directory.nsf/HouCommWp?OpenView |title=House Committees of Reference |access-date=2007-12-11 |work=Colorado General Assembly}} Four bills introduced by Rep. Stephens were passed by the General Assembly,{{cite web
|url=http://www.amystephens4hd20.com/legAgenda.html
|title=Legislative Agenda
|access-date=2007-11-14
|work=AmyStephens4hd20.com
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119194039/http://www.amystephens4hd20.com/legAgenda.html
|archive-date=2008-01-19
}}
most prominently a measure that would prohibit criminal charges against illegal immigrants from being dismissed without their deportation.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=Bill aims to stop illegal immigrants from escaping prosecution |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5559442,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070729091241/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5559442,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 29, 2007 |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=May 28, 2007 |access-date=2007-11-14 }}{{cite news |first=Ed |last=Sealover |title=Casino smoking ban gets Ritter's approval |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20070602/ai_n19199589 |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=June 2, 2007 |access-date=2007-11-14 }} In November 2007, upon Rep. Bill Cadman's appointment to the Colorado Senate, the first-term legislator was elected to succeed him as House Minority Caucus
=2008 legislative session=
In the 2008 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Stephens sat on the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee and the House Judiciary Committee.
{{cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/directory.nsf/HouCommWp?OpenView |title=House Committees of Reference |access-date=2008-01-19 |work=Colorado General Assembly}} Stephens sponsored a bill to tax in-room pay-per-view movies sold by hotels to fund child advocacy centers; after facing opposition from the hotel industry, Stephen asked for the bill to be killed in committee.
{{cite news
|author=Staff Report
|title=Representative drops plans to tax hotel pay-per-view movies
|url=http://durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/08/news080213_8.htm
|work=Durango Herald
|date=13 February 2008
|access-date=2008-02-23
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215032818/http://durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=%2Fnews%2F08%2Fnews080213_8.htm
|archive-date=15 February 2008
|url-status=dead
|df=dmy-all
}}
Stephens also sponsored a bill, passed by the General Assembly, to streamline the teaching licensure application process for military spouses,{{cite news
|first=Ed
|last=Sealover
|title=Monday in the General Assembly
|url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/colorado_33819___article.html/health_senate.html
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123215654/http://www.gazette.com/articles/colorado_33819___article.html/health_senate.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=23 January 2013
|work=Rocky Mountain News
|date=3 March 2008
|access-date=2008-03-03
}} and sponsored another bill to provide unemployment benefits to military spouses forced to relocate out of state.{{cite news
|first=Steven K.
|last=Paulson
|title=Bill eases rule on jobless pay
|url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/17/bill-eases-rule-on-jobless-pay/
|work=Rocky Mountain News
|date=17 March 2008
|access-date=2008-03-17
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319054050/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/17/bill-eases-rule-on-jobless-pay/
|archive-date=2008-03-19
|url-status=live
}} She sponsored successful legislation to require hospitals to publicly publish charges for common medical procedures.{{cite news
|first=Michael
|last=Davidson
|author2=Ed Sealover
|title=This week in the Legislature
|url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/agenda_35494___article.html/legislature_week.html
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124121403/http://www.gazette.com/articles/agenda_35494___article.html/legislature_week.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=24 January 2013
|work=Denver Post
|date=20 April 2008
|access-date=2008-04-22
}}{{cite news |first=Paula |last=Moore |title=Governor signs business bills |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/05/26/daily24.html |work=Denver Business Journal |date=28 May 2008 |access-date=2008-06-13 }} Stephens led Republican opposition to the 2008 state budget, criticizing it for excessive spending.{{cite news|first=Joe |last=Hanel |title=State tackles budget |url=http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/08/news080327_3.htm |work=Durango Herald |date=27 March 2008 |access-date=2008-03-28 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite news |first=Alan |last=Gathright |title=House's OK of budget bill hailed, flailed |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/27/state-budget-clears-house-over-gop-objections/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=28 March 2008 |access-date=2008-03-28 }}
=2008 election=
Stephens again faced Democrat Jan Hejtmanek in the November 2008 legislative election.{{cite news|first=Perry |last=Swanson |title=Democrats contesting all 11 El Paso County seats in state Legislature |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/democrats_41972___article.html/voters_percent.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123213945/http://www.gazette.com/articles/democrats_41972___article.html/voters_percent.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 January 2013 |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=16 October 2008 |access-date=2008-11-01 }}
In September 2008, Stephens was named to the "Palin Truth Squad," representatives of the McCain-Palin presidential campaign tasked with countering alleged distortions concerning the record of Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.{{cite press release|title=McCain-Palin 2008 Launches Truth Squad to Counter Attacks on Governor Sarah Palin |date=9 September 2008 |publisher=McCain-Palin 2008 |url=http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/e015318a-8439-468e-97a8-2e1c1e5039a0.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101000658/http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/e015318a-8439-468e-97a8-2e1c1e5039a0.htm |archive-date=1 November 2008 }} In that capacity, she made a number of media statements in support of Palin during the 2008 presidential campaign,{{cite news |first=Ed |last=Sealover |title=Palin fires up state races |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/sep/22/palin-fires-up-fans-foes/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=22 September 2008 |access-date=2008-10-31 }} spoke at an October rally in Colorado Springs featuring Palin,{{cite news|first=Bill |last=Scanlon |title=Palin speaks in Colorado Springs, Colorado |url=http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20081020/NEWS/810209979/1078&ParentProfile=1062&title=Palin%20speaks%20in%20Colorado%20Springs,%20Colorado |work=Vail Daily |date=20 October 2008 |access-date=2008-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023030324/http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20081020/NEWS/810209979/1078%26ParentProfile%3D1062%26title%3DPalin%20speaks%20in%20Colorado%20Springs%2C%20Colorado |archive-date=23 October 2008 |url-status=live }} and delivered the invocation at a Denver rally featuring John McCain.{{cite news |first=Joey |last=Bunch |title=McCain fires up Sheraton crowd |url=http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_10620286 |work=Denver Post |date=2 October 2008 |access-date=2008-11-01 }} In October, Stephens, with other Republican legislators, participated in a statewide "Save, Don't Spend" RV Tour critical of Democratic policies.{{cite news |first=David |last=Montero |title=Colorado GOP takes message on the road |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/oct/17/colorado-gop-takes-message-on-the-road/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=17 October 2008 |access-date=2008-11-01 }}{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Hoover |title=Republicans on an austerity drive |url=http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_10739851 |work=Denver Post |date=17 October 2008 |access-date=2008-11-01 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081019234552/http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_10739851| archive-date= 19 October 2008 | url-status= live}}
After winning re-election with 76 percent of the popular vote,{{cite web|url=http://coreports.ezvotetally.com/Reserved.ReportViewerWebControl.axd?ReportSession=jexpso55dlbays450fyzrmb4&ControlID=3a1b317069f040849b2b689d78addfc9&Culture=1033&UICulture=1033&ReportStack=1&OpType=ReportArea&Controller=dnn_ctr376_ViewRS2005_ReportViewer1&PageNumber=1&ZoomMode=Percent&ZoomPct=100&ReloadDocMap=true&SearchStartPage=0&LinkTarget=_top |title=Colorado Statewide Cumulative Report - 2008 General Election |access-date=2008-12-04 |work=Colorado Secretary of State }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Stephens was also re-elected Minority Caucus Chair by House Republicans, fending off a challenge for the post from Rep. Ellen Roberts.{{cite news |first=Ernest |last=Luning |title=Carroll named speaker as Colorado legislative leadership takes shape |url=http://coloradoindependent.com/14574/carroll-named-speaker-as-colorado-legislative-leadership-takes-shape |work=Colorado Independent |date=6 November 2008 |access-date=2008-11-16 }}
=2009 legislative session=
With Democratic Rep. Joe Rice, Stephens sponsored legislation allowing health insurance providers to offer discounts for participation in wellness programs.{{cite news|first=John |last=Schroyer |title=Lawmakers looking to make healthy lifestyles pay off |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/make_46651___article.html/denver_pay.html |work=Colorado Springs Gazette |date=21 January 2009 |access-date=2009-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204110513/http://www.gazette.com/articles/make_46651___article.html/denver_pay.html |archive-date=4 February 2009 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Mook |title=House panel OK's bill giving insurance breaks for wellness programs |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/01/19/daily29.html |work=Denver Business Journal |date=21 January 2009 |access-date=2009-02-08 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090207180027/http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/01/19/daily29.html| archive-date= 7 February 2009 | url-status= live}} Responding to a deal between labor and business leaders to remove several statewide referendums from the 2008 general election ballot, Stephens introduced legislation that would prohibit financial deals that would impact initiatives on Colorado election ballots.{{cite news|first=Peter |last=Marcus |title=Union deal angers GOP |url=http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=2086 |work=Denver Daily News |date=6 October 2008 |access-date=2008-11-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716231321/http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=2086 |archive-date=16 July 2011 }}{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Marcus |title=GOP seeking revenge? |url=http://www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=2972 |work=Denver Daily News |date=12 January 2009 |access-date=2009-01-12 }} The measure was defeated in a House committee.{{cite news |first=Lynn |last=Bartels |title=Ballot measure fails in committee |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/jan/28/ballot-measure-fails-in-committee/ |work=Rocky Mountain News |date=28 January 2009 |access-date=2009-03-12 }}
=2012 election=
As a consequence of redistricting in the state of Colorado, Representative Stephens ran for the State House in the 19th House District. The seat was previously held by Republican legislator Marsha Looper since the 2006 general election. Representative Stephens faced third party challengers from the ACN and Libertarian parties, but was reelected with over 80% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/43032/111283/en/summary.html# |title=CO - Election Results - Colorado Secretary of State |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314203900/http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/43032/111283/en/summary.html |archive-date=2017-03-14 }}{{cite news |url=http://data.denverpost.com/election/results/state-house/2012/ |title=State House 2012 Election Results - Denver Post |access-date=2012-11-09 |archive-date=2014-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708040426/http://data.denverpost.com/election/results/state-senate/2012/ |url-status=dead }}
=2013 Legislative Session =
In the 2013 session of the Colorado General Assembly, Stephens sat as Ranking Member on the House Health, Insurance & Environment Committee and House Public Health Care & Human Services Committee.
Stephens played a critical role in passing a bill that identifies mandatory reporters for incidents of elder abuse and applies a class 3 misdemeanor as a penalty for failing to do so (SB 111 Require Reports Of Elder Abuse and Exploitation). She also made it easier for mental health care providers from other states to work in treatment facilities operated by the U.S. Armed Forces (HB 1065 Federal Professionals Mental Health Authority). Additionally, Stephens passed a piece of legislation targeted at reporting waste-prevention in health care (HB 1196 Report Waste-Prevention Methods Accountable Care), as well as another bill assisting home-schooled students in participating in extracurricular activities in public schools (HB 1095 Home School Students Participation in Activities).
=2014 U.S. Senate race=
{{main|2014 United States Senate election in Colorado}}
Stephens organized a campaign for U.S. Senate to run against Mark Udall. On February 26, 2014, while in the process of raising campaign funds and gathering signatures to petition onto the June Republican primary ballot, she announced her intentions to drop out of the race and support Cory Gardner.{{cite news |title=Amy Stephens drops U.S. Senate bid, calls Cory Gardner "the great uniter" |url=http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_25238764/amy-stephens-drops-u-s-senate-bid-calls|work=Denver Post|date=27 February 2014 | access-date=2014-02-27 |first=Lynn |last=Bartels}}
Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Act
Noting that the Affordable Care Act had already been passed in Colorado,{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/politics/us-house-passes-american-health-care-act-onto-senate-217-213-see-how-colorado-reps-voted|title=US House passes American Health Care Act onto Senate 217-213; see how Colorado reps voted|last=Miller|first=Blair|date=2017-05-05|work=7NEWS|access-date=2017-07-08|language=en-US}} Stephens and Senate President Pro-tem Betty Boyd co-sponsored bill SB-11-200, the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Act, dubbed by some critics as “Amycare,” in an attempt to create a free market within the healthcare system.{{Cite news|url=http://gazette.com/our-view-amycare-protects-us-from-obamacare-poll-video/article/117233|title=OUR VIEW: Amycare protects us from Obamacare (poll, video)|work=Colorado Springs Gazette|access-date=2017-07-08}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.coloradoindependent.com/95090/colorado-house-majority-leader-stephens-under-siege-from-the-right|title=Colorado House Majority Leader Stephens under siege from the right|date=2011-08-03|work=The Colorado Independent|access-date=2017-07-08|language=en-US}} "AmyCare" was not well received by fellow Republicans and Coloradans in general.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coloradopols.com/diary/53767/greg-brophy-slams-stephens-amycare|title=Greg Brophy Slams Stephens, "Amycare"}} “The bill allowed individuals and small businesses to band together and negotiate in marketplaces for health care coverage the way large companies do.”{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2011/04/12/a-second-life-for-health-exchange-bill/27640/|title=Stephens says health exchange bill still alive and kicking|website=The Spot|access-date=2017-07-08}} “Stephens sponsored the legislation that created{{Cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/2014/08/25/rep-amy-stephens-to-advise-colorado-health-institute/|title=Rep. Amy Stephens to advise Colorado Health Institute|last=Post|first=Lynn Bartels {{!}} The Denver|date=2014-08-25|website=The Denver Post|access-date=2017-07-08}} the Connect for Health Colorado insurance marketplace, arguing, “The only thing to decide was if we would exercise our state rights or put people in a federally run exchange.”{{Cite news|url=http://gazette.com/stephens-takes-heat-for-sponsoring-amycare-bill/article/115093|title=Stephens takes heat for sponsoring 'Amycare' bill|work=Colorado Springs Gazette|access-date=2017-07-08}} Stephens set up an implementation review committee to provide oversight and hold the exchange accountable to the legislature and to state audit.{{Cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2011a/csl.nsf/billcontainers/7233327000DC9A078725780100604CC4/$FILE/200_01.pdf|title=SB-11-200|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070924170644/http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/house/members/hou19.htm Legislative home page]
- {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart= | fec=C00551598 | congress= }}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Amy}}
Category:California State University, Fullerton alumni
Category:Focus on the Family people
Category:Republican Party members of the Colorado House of Representatives
Category:People from El Paso County, Colorado
Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni
Category:University of Colorado alumni
Category:Women state legislators in Colorado
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century members of the Colorado General Assembly