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: Tip income should be adjusted at a percentage rate. The wage has far outstripped the tip credit, not to mention, the tip rate has gone from 5% to and average of 20% over the last 50 years.
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? Oppose
Comment: They can already purchase these insurances on the open market.
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? Oppose
Comment: I think we are overburdened by regulation that are open to interpretation by people who have never worked in the industry they are policing.
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 will support anything that limits the federal government’s influence on Colorado. Keep Colorado’s wealth in Colorado.
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: The taxpayer’s bill of rights keeps Colorado’s budget in check. We have many places to get money for what we need to sponsor and other avenues to deal with thing the government doesn’t need to be involved in. I would propose a zero base budget. Each department would report what the absolutely need for the next year instead of authorizing everything they spent the year before. Penalize departments who over spend and reward those who come in under budget. This takes away the incentive to spend everything they have.
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: Insurance is NOT healthcare. Open the market for providers and get the insurance companies out of setting prices. Insurance is a type of gambling. You are betting you are going to get really sick and the insurance company is betting they can raise enough money to cover the cost. When people are forced to buy insurance, the companies can set the price any level they want.
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: Opening the market and posting drug costs publicly would do a great deal to bring down the cost. Setting a limit on what drug companies can charge for R&D and patents will reduce the cost as well.
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: People should be allowed to shop, visit, support businesses they are comfortable with. If you don’t like a company’s policy, do not use that company. Education is more powerful than legislation.
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? Oppose
Comment: Everyone in Colorado has the ability to vote. If you don’t want to or can’t go to the polls, you can get a mailing ballot. There is no reason anyone in Colorado should not 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? Oppose
Comment: Most politicians today blatantly ignore the constitution now. Let’s start by hold their feet to the fire now and we won’t need a convention of states
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: I think the limit should be on how much can be spent on a campaign not how much can be donated. It’s disgusting to see billions of dollars poured into politics when children in this country need shoes.
