Issues

Education
Educating our kids is one of the most important responsibilities of our communities; protecting Jeffco’s school assets ensures that our taxpayer money retains its investment value.
• Kids deserve quality public education, no matter where they live or their economic circumstances.
• CSAP shouldn’t just be a report card on schools. Alternative, embedded assessments, should be another key to helping students succeed. These tests would give kids, their parents, and teachers a road map for future learning. We can make that happen.
• Science, Math, and English are key competencies for kids. The arts and physical education are also important elements of a good education as well as vocational education. A well-rounded public education must be adequately funded. Education of all students should include looking at differentiated diplomas for student. Encouraging the strengths of students where their interest lays be it college, vocational training and education, work place readiness or military.

• School infrastructure should be supported where necessary; underfunding in rural areas has caused severe infrastructure degradation. Our schools must be a safe learning environment for all of Colorado’s children.
• Public school choice should be fully supported, whether through neighborhood schools, magnet schools, open enrollment, or charter schools.
• Public schools must educate for the technological advances in our global society, in order for our students to be competitive in our future economy.
• Public schools reflect our public investment in our future. Vouchers are not an equitable use of our public resources.
• The quality of our colleges and universities secures our ability to have a top-notch work force as well as world class research facilities and are especially important to our success in alternative energy and biomedicine.
• Higher education must be as accessible and affordable as possible.
Healthcare
Health care costs are one of the greatest burdens on Colorado citizens and businesses. As costs go up, the number of insured goes down.
• Access to health care and cost relief go hand in hand. We need to work on common sense plans that help those who do not have accessible and affordable health care. The insured are already paying for the uninsured health care through higher doctor and hospital bills, health insurance premiums and taxes.
• Patients and doctors are the principal health care decision-makers, not insurance companies.
• 600,000 Coloradans are not covered by health insurance, and small businesses are especially hit with high insurance costs.
Economy
Colorado has remarkable economic strengths – terrific quality of life, efficient airports, attractive cities, and improved transportation infrastructure. I will work towards building two core industries: alternative energy and biomedicine. Alternative energy has the bonus of reducing dependence on oil and gas. Biomedicine will produce healthier Coloradans of all ages.
• The Colorado business property tax on equipment should be eliminated to allow business to bring in the best technology to operate efficiently, without tax penalty.
• Colorado must diversify its economy, focusing on creating a vibrant business environment for entrepreneurs and a dynamic higher education infrastructure for researchers and educators.
• Investment in ongoing worker education is critical to maintaining a competitive work force; Colorado’s community colleges and vocational and apprentice programs need our full support.
• We need to talk about the real world effects of TABOR, especially in relation to Amendment 23. In 2009 the exemption from TABOR will run out. Colorado’s budget and economy will again be at risk.
Environment
Colorado’s natural world makes this state one of the most desirable places in the nation to live. It’s our job to preserve this world for future generations.
• Our lands, state and federal, need to be protected. State and federal agencies should strive to keep natural lands intact and whole.
• State, county, and city agencies should coordinate efforts to maintain natural boundaries to protect water rights and endangered species. Efforts should be undertaken to respect property rights and the environment.
State parks and lands should be protected from encroachments; GOCO lottery funds should be used for land acquisitions to secure Colorado’s most prized asset—a natural world in which to experience the refuge of nature.

Together we can solve the problems associated with these important issues!