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: I would like to speak to restaurant owners and restaurant employees to know more information about this because I don’t have personal experience in this matter. However, I do believe that restaurant employees deserve to get paid a fair wage.
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: Companies are using gig positions to get around providing benefits for their employees. This has become an issue in other states, especially during a time like COVID when people need health insurance to combat the virus or help getting unemployment due to the economy taking a hit. I believe that full-time workers deserve the benefits they deserve.
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: I support whistleblower protection laws. People should feel comfortable speaking up against the wrongdoings of businesses without the fear of retaliation.
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?Did not answer
Comment: We’ve had issues with funding before COVID hit. The pandemic has only exacerbated this issue. I want to make sure that we have money to fund things like education, which is important to support educators and our kids.
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? Support
Comment: Like I previously stated, we need to generate funds to support the Colorado people, especially during a pandemic when we had to make public health a priority over businesses. It’s important that we make sure we have funds for education. Right now we are 50th in educator salary. Our schools are going without resources. We can’t afford to keep TABOR.
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? Did not answer
Comment: I believe all Coloradans deserve affordable and quality healthcare. However, I need more information on what exactly the public option entails so that I can make a more informed decision.
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: We’ve seen stories of people dying from diabetes because they couldn’t afford insulin. This is unacceptable. No one should have to worry about the price of medicine that ensures that they are healthy.
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 don’t believe that businesses should be completely immune from civil lawsuits during COVID, especially as the virus is potentially lethally dangerous no matter your age.
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? Support
Comment: Absolutely. America is a democracy and we should do everything we can to make sure everyone can vote.
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? Comment: I am unsure of my stance on this issue but I am an attorney and took an oath to uphold the constitution to the best of my ability.
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? Did not answer
Comment: I would like to look more into this legislation, but I think we need to make it easier for everyday people to run for office.
