What bill or bills are you most looking forward to working on in the 2021
session? 

I’m already working on the state budget, also known as the Long Bill. With the current economic conditions, the shutdown of many businesses and the resulting revenue shortfall, it’s a challenge to balance the state budget while still providing the state services expected by Colorado citizens. I serve on the Joint Budget Committee, one of six legislators that craft the state budget, and look forward to finding creative solutions without raising taxes.

After a proposal for a “public option”-style health care program in Colorado was derailed by the pandemic last year, do you anticipate that the proposal will be debated during this session? What’s your opinion on it? 

I do expect to see another bill trying to build a “public option” system for health insurance. While I haven’t seen a draft yet, I was not in favor of last year’s bill for several reasons. First, the government has not proven itself to be effective nor efficient in this arena (note: the VA system.) Secondly, this would put the government in the position of competing with private companies in our state, an unfair advantage. Many people are satisfied with their current insurance situation and finally, creating a new system such as this is not the role of government.

What is the issue on which you feel you have the biggest disagreement with legislators on the other side of the aisle?

The size and scope of government and its overall influence in your day-to-day life. The role of government is to protect the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of the citizens.

On what issue or issues do you expect the two parties to be able to work across the aisle to accomplish something significant? 

To end the perpetual state of emergency and to maintain the proper balance of powers among the three branches of government.

In terms of economic recovery amid the pandemic, what’s the most important step the Legislature can take during this session?

To allow businesses to reopen and to open fully. Allow people to evaluate their own risks and make their own decisions, rather than the government utilizing “one-size-fits-all” solutions.