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 be happy if, whatever plan is chosen, all restaurant workers are paid a fair wage, a livable wage. If that comes through tips, or tip sharing, a higher minimum wage, or something new and creative, I'll be satisfied. Oftentimes, when we only talk about tips in the restaurant industry, we forget about the hard work done in the kitchen.
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: Twenty percent is huge. And with that in mind, yes, we should make sure these valuable employees have access to benefits. That sector will continue to grow, and we should address their needs.
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: The waste, fraud, and abuse cost consumers money, and I believe whistleblowers not only save us money, they keep employees honest. The whistleblowers should be protected, because I believe they should talk, particularly about issues that affect public health and corruption.
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?Support
Comment: I support this, but know that my across-the-aisle friends who love TABOR will find a way to fight this, hard. If we can all work together on this, I believe we can make it happen.
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: TABOR is one of the worst things to happen to Colorado, particularly because the issues described in the question. Unfortunately, it is an amendment, which requires a vote; it is separated into about eight different parts, which all must be voted on; and when one is taken out, others are triggered. It's a mess. I support all efforts to take away an amendment to our constitution that not one state has ever copied because it is so bad.
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? Support
Comment: I do. This option offered competition to insurance providers, and since we have only one provider on the Western Slope, this is good news. It also lets people who like their private insurance to keep it. Rep. Roberts, the bill's sponsor, said he is polishing the bill for this upcoming session to address current concerns.
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: When drugs are prescribed, they are necessary, and often life-saving. When people don't purchase their prescriptions because they must use that money to buy food or pay rent, they become sicker, and eventually the rest of us will pay for them one way or another. Let's not enhance the paychecks of our drug companies on the backs of people who are least able to pay.
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: I wish there was a "depends" button. I don't know the issues surrounding the lawsuits, and am unable to answer with a clear yes or no. I understand the reasoning behind the immunity because everything in our economy was happening so fast, but I am sure there are unintended consequences for a sweeping immunity for all.
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: Colorado wants people to vote, and I believe any action we can take to encourage that from all sectors of our population should be done.
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? Oppose
Comment: I don't believe the state should get involved in a federal constitutional convention. I am afraid opening up this sacred document to change could cause more problems that it solves.
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? Support
Comment: I support this legislation. So much money is put into politics; curbing it is a good idea.
