Janet Buckner

Comment: I believe that all workers should earn an income that at the very least meets the minimum wage. We need to be working towards an economy where every worker is actually earning a living wage so that they can comfortably make ends meet. I support changing the way that tipped income is treated because we cannot let hard working Coloradans fall behind financially just because they happen to work in profession that depends on tipped wages. We can find a balanced solution that raises wages for tipped workers while also creating an environment where our vital small businesses thrive.

Comment: I think that it's clear that we need to stop the practice of misclassification of gig economy workers as contract workers, and finally acknowledge them as employees of the company that they work for. We need to ensure that they have access to the same benefits that people in other professions enjoy. All workers in Colorado need to have access to unemployment benefits and workers' compensation, especially as we navigate through this devastating pandemic and economic turmoil.

Comment: Transparency is very important if we are to have a safe and healthy state for all Coloradans. This means that no whistleblower should ever be retaliated against for bringing dangerous or corrupt practices to the attention of regulators. Legislators need to be made aware of such instances so that we can create policy that combats unsafe practices and hazards in the workplace and elsewhere.

Comment: Not only has the recession stemming from coronavirus pandemic hurt our budget, but TABOR has also hurt our state budget in drastic ways by restricting how we can raise revenue. We will again be facing budget shortfalls in the next fiscal year and I think that it is important that we consider many options for responsibly raising revenue. It's clear that hardworking Coloradans are paying their fair share of taxes, it's time we ensure that corporations do the same so that we can raise the necessary revenue to adequately fund our state.

Comment: It is abundantly clear that TABOR creates ongoing funding problems for our state and prevents the legislature from raising the necessary revenue for important programs and infrastructure priorities. Many Coloradans are not completely aware of the damage that TABOR has done, and I think it’s time that we launch public awareness campaigns that highlight the inherent problematic nature of the provision. There’s a reason that Colorado is alone in enacting such a damaging mechanism for raising revenue at the state level. We were sold a bad bill of goods with TABOR and it’s time to take corrective action.

Comment: We must do something to address the fact that many people are still either uninsured or underinsured in Colorado. I support the creation of a public option for health insurance as it will give more Coloradans the opportunity to access quality healthcare. With that said, I think it’s important that we also focus on a federal solution that not only covers all Coloradans, but all Americans. The Covid- 19 pandemic only underscores the need to find a solution to this problem as quickly as possible.

Comment: The price of prescription drugs are far too expensive for far too many people. We should do everything in our power to address the outrageous cost of prescription drugs, especially when it comes to life-saving medicine. I can't imagine that any legislator would not act on this issue, and I hope that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle join us in getting drug prices under control.

Comment: Businesses that act in reckless or unsafe ways should be held to account for their actions, especially as it relates to the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses that conduct themselves in dangerous ways should not be granted blanket immunity from liability. In order for our economy to recover, we need both small and large businesses to conduct themselves in ways that keep employees and the general public safe. Granting immunity from civil lawsuits as it relates to COVID-19 will send the wrong message and could encourage poor public health and safety practices.

Comment: We have seen attempts at voter suppression throughout the country and I think that we should take every step to ensure that low-income voters and voters of color are not disenfranchised. Fortunately, we have a great election system in Colorado, and we have multiple ways that an individual can cast their vote and register to vote. However, I am open to taking additional measures to protect the right to vote.

Comment: While I answered "support" for this question, the reality is that my support for an Article V constitutional convention depends on the nature of the convention itself. The issue here is that no one knows with absolute certainty what an Article V constitutional convention would look like in our current political climate. I would support an Article V constitutional convention for the narrow or singular purpose of undoing the damage of Citizens United v. FEC. This could be done by amending the constitution to prevent unlimited dark money in our politics and ending corporate personhood for the purposes of elections and campaigns. However, I would not support an "open" Article V constitutional convention where almost any constitutional protection could be revisited or undone. There are some groups out there who are calling for such a convention, with the purpose of changing some of the most important constitutional provisions that protect vulnerable populations in our country. My support of a constitutional convention wholly depends on the intent behind the proposal.

Comment: In an effort to control some of the negative effects that money in politics often creates, I think it's wise that all candidates running for elected office have some sort of contribution limit that they must abide by. This is an issue of preventing undue influence on candidates, and also encouraging confidence and faith in our election systems.