On The Issues
Colorado Workers and Economy
1
This year, Colorado raised the state minimum wage to $12/per hour. However, no more than $3.02/per hour in tip income may be used to offset the minimum wage of tipped employees. Do you support or oppose action changing how tip income is treated for minimum wage purposes and why?
Support
Comment: Minimum wage laws hurt economically disadvantaged people by making it more difficult to enter the workforce to develop skills and to advance in a profession. Entry level jobs are not meant to support families. They are a first step into the workforce and the easier it is to find such work, to more people enjoy taking home a paycheck.
2
A 2018 NPR/Marist poll revealed 20 percent of all American workers are contract workers hired to work on a specific project or for a fixed period of time. Do you support or oppose action that would provide gig economy workers access in Colorado to unemployment benefits, workers compensation, etc., and why? Support
Comment: Some very talented people do contract work. Their contributions to the economy should be no less rewarded/supported than those of "employees."
3
This summer, Governor Polis signed into law a bill that prevents an employer from discriminating, retaliating, or taking adverse action against any worker who raises a concern about workplace health and safety practices or hazards related to a public health emergency. Do you support or oppose enacting similar legislation to protect whistleblowers who sound the alarm about waste, fraud, abuse, corruption, or dangers to public health and safety from employer retaliation? Support
Comment: My support is conditional. I have not read this bill. If it has no safeguards against abuse by disgruntled employees, then it is not a good model. In general, sincere whistleblowers are heroes who should be celebrated, not punished.
Revenue/Taxes
4
The coronavirus pandemic has upended state budgets across the country, including Colorado’s. Do you support or oppose efforts to decouple state taxes from federal taxes and change how Colorado taxes corporations to responsibly raise revenue and why?Oppose
Comment: I support lowering corporate and business taxes to help the economy recover. Furthermore, I support defunding boondoggle projects that fail to deliver promised results or are otherwise wasting taxpayers' resources.
5
The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) prohibits Colorado from raising taxes without voters’ consent. TABOR also prohibits Colorado from establishing a rainy day fund to weather tough economic times. Colorado’s spending on essential services like education and transportation has lagged behind the state’s economic and population growth. Colorado ranks 47th in the nation in per pupil spending. The state also currently lacks funds to enforce labor and other laws in any meaningful way. Do you support or oppose efforts to revise or get rid of TABOR and why? Oppose
Comment: In a government by and for the people, it is not for legislators to ignore the will of the voting public.
Quality and Affordable Healthcare
6
This year, lawmakers introduced legislation to create a public health insurance option for our state. Do you support or oppose creating a public option in Colorado and why? Oppose
Comment: Health "insurance" bears much of the blame for the ridiculous cost of medical services in this country. Big pharma is another player in this travesty.
7
One 2018 survey of Colorado adults found that more than half (53%) reported being either “worried” or “very worried” about affording the cost of prescription drugs. Do you support or oppose policies that would make prescription drugs more affordable and why? Support
Comment: Rules that stifle competition hurt consumers.
Keep Communities Safe during the COVID-19 Pandemic
8
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, some states and localities rushed to grant businesses immunity from civil lawsuits related to the coronavirus. Do you think businesses should be shielded from lawsuits related to COVID-19? Oppose
Comment: I do not support frivolous lawsuits and I do not support immunity from responsibility. I do support a losing plaintiff in a lawsuit paying the legal fees of the defendant.
Voting Access and Constitutional Reform
9
Do you think Colorado should take additional action to protect low-income and voters of color access to vote? Oppose
Comment: I am unaware of any unreasonable obstructions to voter access for Coloradans of any stratum.
10
In past years, legislators have introduced legislation calling for an Article V constitutional convention to address a number of reforms. Do you support or oppose legislation calling for an Article V constitutional convention? Support
Comment: All three branches of the federal government have, over the years, violated their oaths to defend the Constitution. An Article V constitutional convention would enable the states to reinforce the values that gave birth to this republic.
11
This year, lawmakers introduced legislation that would place for the first time campaign contribution limits on school board candidates. Do you support or oppose this legislation and why? Oppose
Comment: Campaign contributions are equivalent to speech and, as such, should come under the protection of the First Amendment.
