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: Tipping should be between the customer and the server. Tips should not be in lieu of a minimum wage.
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: Generally worker that work on individual projects of on short term projects charge at a rate higher than their compensation would be working for a company, but not as high as the said company as their overhead should be lower. This added income above the w-2 rate is meant to pay for benefits that companies traditionally provide. The inconsistent nature of gig work would make the probability higher for more frequent use and overall less fiscally stable.
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: When a person finds a company is working outside acceptable standards they have 2 choices. They can work to correct the issue. This may be a company issue and the solution difficult, but the choice remains. If the person is unwilling or unable to change conditions, they can always resign and then report the issues to the appropriate agencies. If a person does not agree with how a company operates and is unable to change the situation, why would they want to remain. The world needs more problem solvers, not merely problem identifiers.
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: Colorado, like every state is a sovereign unto itself and should generate taxes based on its own requirements. Each of us live in our state first and our primary taxes should be state not federal. People need to keep their hard earned money closer to home where they have a greater say in its distribution.
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: Most responsible parents teach their children to make accommodations for emergencies. Why should a state be any different. However, we have gotten into the habit of all or nothing. The state should be allowed to maintain a surplus in case of emergencies, but that amount needs to be capped.
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: The government has not demonstrated the ability in any area of being able to manage resources better than the private sector. That being said, greater attention needs to be paid as to how insurance premiums are calculated as the insurance companies are getting rich on the sweat of the people.
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: Traditionally, I do not support the governments regulating of anything. That being said, the insurance and drug companies , along with the physicians have created a system in which everyone wins but the patient. The best way to address this is to take away the vehicle of this corruption by setting a maximum charge based on actual coats
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: Current laws require employer to ensure workplaces are reasonably safe. The ultimate responsibility of ones safety is still themselves. greater knowledge as to legally expected working conditions should be known by all and greater effort should be taken to resolve such issues locally.
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: At this time, between , mail-in voting, early voting and election day voting, I cannot see how a person would not have a reasonable method of casting their 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? Support
Comment: The lack of term limits at the federal level has prevented constitutional amendments from being considered and as such the parties have stopped the public's voice. If the public's voice cannot be heard in Congress then perhaps the state legislatures will be better
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: no limit campaign donations have the potential to corrupt at any level and should not be tolerated
