It is an honor and a privilege to defend common sense in government as the Senator for District 15.

I believe that individual people, not governments, make the wisest choices on how to distribute their wealth. I believe that private businesses, not government agencies, create the best kind of jobs. Freedom is the true measure of the American dream, and fewer laws which are vigorously enforced, not volumes of new laws, more accurately reflect the values for which our forefathers fought and died.

My vote is for your ability to determine your own destiny.

As I look back over the past six years, I realize I have not chosen the easiest path in the legislature. However it is the only path I can take with integrity and with the confidence that my children and your children will have the best opportunities we can give them to thrive in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I trust that this web site will reflect these ideals and that it will be a useful resource to all who visit. My team of volunteers and I are working to make this an accurate and current report on my personal legislative work as well as some of the other significant issues we deal with in Colorado's State Legislature.

Another source of information we have available is our e-mail newsletter. If you would like to be included in our weekly updates, please sign up for that below.

Volunteers and the finances needed to fulfill all the areas of service to the people of Senate District 15 and others in our state who seek to limit government and preserve our moral foundation are always appropriate whether it's campaign season or not.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing freedom and for your visit here. Please email any ideas or concerns to Kevin@KevinLundberg.com.

Sincerely,

Senator Kevin Lundberg

End of Session Report

The final gavel came down for the 2010 legislative session on May 12. Several recent sessions have been leaning left, but I have never seen a more radical agenda than this year. With evidence everywhere that the mood of the country is tending more conservative, I expected the ruling party to at least exercise some caution with their agenda.

The opposite proved to be true. Here in Larimer County I have found that most people have simply had it with an ever growing government, more taxes, and seemingly endless regulations. Maybe it will take an election to get the point across...

For myself it was a busy session, with much debate on just about everything. None-the-less, given the difficult political terrain, I had a successful session. Some of my bills ended up on the governor`s desk, including a direct file bill, putting a process in place for district attorneys to file felony adult charges against minors (ages 14 -- 17).

In addition I did have several resolutions pass, the most significant, I believe, is designating Highway 56 in Berthoud as the Justin Bauer Memorial Highway.

This year the legislature passed bills to regulate boys and girls clubs, potato farmers, fire sprinkler installers, used cooking oil, medical supply manufacturers, and mortgage companies. Taxes were increased on agricultural chemicals, internet sales, soft drinks and candy, restaurant packaging products, direct mail, industrial energy, hybrid vehicles, and operating losses for businesses. All of these tax increases ignored the constitutional requirement for a vote of the people.

Needle exchange programs for drug addicts were authorized. End of life decisions were streamlined with a standardized form that has simplified check off orders to not resuscitate, give food or water, or provide life sustaining drugs and procedures.

The budget was tight, with revenues falling hundreds of millions of dollars behind the original projections. However, the spending never stopped. The ARRA funds (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) backfilled much of the shortfalls this year, the legislature also took tens of millions from designated cash funds, and the budget approved for next year is still nearly six percent higher than this year.

Many new mandates on medical insurance were passed, which may drive medical costs even higher. The legislature approved systems that will work toward "a comprehensive service delivery system for children from birth to eight years," monitor all medical insurance transactions, develop "a comprehensive, efficient, effective, and integrated behavioral health system," create more government oversight of private banking accounts for older citizens, and encourage medical professionals to turn all patient contacts into screening sessions for substance abuse.

Several new laws were passed that will drive up the cost of housing in Colorado with mandates on home builders, mobile home parks, and landlords. The renewable energy standard was raised, again, this time from twenty to thirty percent. Natural gas is being forced to replace coal, driving up energy costs, again.

Another remarkable aspect of this year`s session was all the bills that did not get past the first committee. There was a very efficient system in place to kill in committee all bills the majority party`s leadership did not want debated on the floor. Among them were measures I carried to repeal the $100 penalty for late vehicle registrations, create educational tax credits that could have saved the state millions of dollars and a resolution calling on Congress to end their unconstitutional mandate for all citizens to purchase federally approved medical insurance policies.

In addition to the many issues that broke along party-lines there were a few big policy decisions that did not have a decided partisan slant. I found these discussions refreshing, regardless of the subject. The river rafting bill and medical marijuana bills took a great deal of time and the final votes, for and against, crossed the party boundaries. On the last day of the session this was also true for a major bill adjusting the employment rules for public school teachers. In future years I trust we will have more of this type of debate and less party-line driven discussion.

Even with a tough session like this year has been, it is still a great honor and privilege to represent the citizens of Larimer County in the state legislature. I will continue to promote the constitutional principles of freedom and the proper limits for our state government for as long as the citizens of Senate District 15 see is best.

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