For candidates my choice is rather simple: vote for the party that will be most likely to defend our freedoms. That is the Republican party. Some candidates are better than others, but either an “R” or a “D” will be elected and the “Ds” are the biggest threat we have to putting any limits on the growth and reach of government taxes, control, and busybodies. Additionally, for the U.S. Senate it is vitally important that Colorado re-elect Cory Gardner to insure Republican control of the U.S. Senate.
For the statewide ballot issues:
I am voting no on Amendment B.
Amendment B repeals the Gallagher Amendment. It is one issue that not all conservatives agree upon, but here is my analysis. Some point to the excessive commercial property tax rates as the reason for supporting this measure. But it does not lower their rates at all. What it does do is unlink the ratio between commercial and residential property taxes. If you listen carefully to the adds for repealing Gallagher, it sets up an expectation that residential rates will eventually take on a greater share of the property tax burden. That inevitably means a property tax increase.
The passage of Amendment B will also eliminate a residential property tax assessment reduction of about 13% for next year.
Bottom line, if you think your residential taxes are not high enough, vote for it. If you want to hold the line on paying more property taxes, vote no.
I am voting no on Amendment C.
Amendment C loosens the laws regulations bingo-raffle licenses for nonprofit organizations. The most significant part of this proposal is the nonprofits would be able to hire people outside of their organizations to manage the bingo and raffle games. Currently bingo and raffle games are allowed as an exception to the limits Colorado places on gambling in the state. Amendment C will allow an expansion of this form of gambling in Colorado.
I am voting no because I believe limits on the gambling industry are appropriate state policy and relaxing those limits inevitably expands the gambling industry. A recent example is the sports betting that is now legal in Colorado. If you think the new focus on sports betting in Colorado is a good policy for the state, vote for Amendment C, but for me it is a no vote.
I am voting yes on Amendment 76.
This amendment seems to make a minor change to the wording of who can vote in Colorado, but there is a lot more to Amendment 76. In explicitly saying only U.S. citizens 18 and older are eligible to vote in our state constitution this change will prohibit the legislature from lowering the voting age, of which there have already been serious bills introduced, like HB20-1149, which would have allowed 16 year olds to vote in all school related elections. It will also prevent opening up elections to non citizens.
San Fransisco has already started to allow illegal non-citizens to vote in school board elections (https://www.latimes.com/…/la-me-san-francisco-election-immi…). Currently the Colorado constitution could allow this policy, but with Amendment 76 only U.S. citizens 18 and older will qualify to vote in all elections.
I am voting no on Amendment 77.
Amendment 77 would allow betting limits to be determined by local elections in the gambling towns of Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek. Allowing the local voters to change the betting limits is like letting the fox into the hen house (just about everyone in those towns are dependent on the casinos). It is a statewide concern to limit the betting in those towns which are allowed, by state policy, to have the only casinos in the state. The limits on those bets should be a statewide decision.
I am voting no on Proposition EE.
Prop EE raises taxes on nicotine products. It was a last ditch effort by the legislature this year to raise more money for all of their new programs and out of balance budget. It is also a huge tax increase that is irresponsible public policy.
I am voting no on Proposition 113.
This is the National Popular Vote, which the legislature passed and the governor signed last year. For the first time in over 80 years the people of Colorado are voting to specifically overturn a legislative bill, which the Colorado constitution clearly allows. A no vote rejects the legislature’s decision to give away Colorado’s vote for president in future elections. I am a big no on prop 113.
I am voting no on Proposition 114.
I covered this measure in more detail in a previous report. Briefly, the state has no good reason to reintroduce wolves into our state and it opens up the possibility of heavy Federal regulations for a new “endangered species” in our state.
I am voting yes on Proposition 115.
This is a big step for Colorado in the right direction. Colorado is currently one of a very few states that allow all abortions up to birth. Prop 115 will ban late term abortions except to protect the life of the mother.
I am voting yes on Proposition 116.
It is a small, but important state income tax reduction, from 4.63% to 4.55%. Need I say more?
I am voting yes on Proposition 117.
Government owned businesses, called “enterprises” have become a loophole for getting around TABOR limitations on new taxes. This will close much of that loophole.
I am voting no on Proposition 118.
This is the mandate for paid family leave for private businesses. Prop 118 will kill jobs in Colorado and hobble private businesses. This is a big no!
