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: Ultimately we need to make sure that tipped workers are making at least minimum wage. We would need to make sure the tipped credit is enforced fairly and transparently without making it burdensome for small businesses to comply.
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: The gig economy will continue to grow as new opportunities come about and we need to make sure that these industries' workers have access to the same job security benefits that other employed workers have.
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: Whistleblowers can bring to light issues that otherwise would not be seen. The only way to fix corruption, waste, fraud and dangers to public health is to have a secure way for people to bring these issues forward without fear of losing their jobs or being retaliated against in some other way.
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: We need to work in every way possible to untangle ourselves from the restrictions of TABOR. We need to look at our income tax code and develop one that is more fair, graduated and closes corporate tax loopholes. We are the only state in the nation that has such restrictions on the ability to raise needed revenue.
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 an out of date amendment continues to harm us. We must work to get rid or seriously revise this amendment so that we can better fund needed government services.
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: Depending on the details of how this would work and its ability to exist sustainably I would support.
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: As an advanced nation we should be able to provide health care and prescription drugs in an affordable manner as many other advanced economies are doing. Having so many people living on the edge due to health care costs is not acceptable.
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: If businesses are operating with integrity they should not need to be shielded. We must protect workers from those companies that put profits over people and cause harm to public health.
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: Even though our voting system is the best in the country we must continue to make sure we aren't leaving people out. Continuing to increase the numbers of drop boxes throughout the state is a great step.
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: This would very much depend on the issue under consideration. So my answer is maybe.
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: Money in politics is already out of control. Putting limits in place where they don't exist is necessary.
