Andres Pico

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?
Oppose
Comment: I oppose minimum wage laws.
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: Short term workers are a large part of the economy across multiple business sectors. They should be able to use unemployment, etc. as long as they also pay into it. At the present time most contract workers do not which results in a lack of coverage and a shortage of funding in those employment funded programs.
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:

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:
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:

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:
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: I support making prescription drugs more affordable but how this accomplished must be approached with caution. Any effort that undercuts the ability of drug manufacturers to research, develop and distribute drugs could backfire and make it affordable for companies to do that.

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?
Support
Comment:

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: Any legitimate barriers to voter registration should be eliminated. At the present time I do not see this as being a significant problem since mail voting is pretty easy.
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: Any Constitutional Convention should be approached with caution and strictly limited to specific issues.
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:
Andres Pico
Running For: Colorado House District 16
Affiliation: Republican
Why are you running for this public office?: Take my experience in government and private industry to the Capitol. Bring a local perspective to the Legislature and defend businesses and local jurisdictions from the state overreach.
Other information

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