CINDY CARLISLE

GENERAL

What issue areas will your first five bills address? Provide as much detail as possible.

Issue areas will be, broadly, environmental protection, health care and patient safety, and social and criminal justice and immigration reforms. Most of the following bills I plan to introduce are set forth in detail on my website, www.cindycarlisle.com:

1. Colorado Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) - Twenty-eight states have 'mini-NEPAS'—statutes modeled on the National Environmental Protection Act of 1970, which requires environmental assessments and/or impact statements for projects involving major federal action which may significantly affect the environment. Colorado remains in the minority of states that lack any similar environmental review for state-sanctioned projects. As a result, unless federal action is involved, big developments in Colorado-shopping centers, mines, a new CU campus, industrial development—avoid the rigorous environmental impact evaluation most states mandate. CEPA, as I sponsor it, will apply to local as well as state action. Most important, it will permit citizen suits, giving individuals and grass roots environmental groups standing to challenge in court the adequacy of developers’ CEPA-mandated EAs, EISs, and other reviews. Consider what a CEPA suit over Cemex’s toxic and degraded air quality emissions could accomplish, or how such suits could aid challenges to U.S. Energy’s efforts to obtain town and county approval for molybdenum mining on Crested Butte’s Red Lady.

2. Anti- SLAPP legislation – a necessary partner to CEPA. "SLAPP" stands for 'strategic lawsuit against public participation.' SLAPPs are usually filed by developers against citizens who oppose their projects by speaking up at, for example, a planning commission. They typically seek millions in lost profits against the little people who stand in their way. The purpose of SLAPPs is intimidation, pure and simple: If you oppose my development, I'll ruin you.

No less than Justice Scalia affirmed that SLAPPs unconstitutionally abridge citizens' rights to petition their government, and most such suits are eventually thrown out. But that doesn't stop big developers from filing them to harass opponents. To stop such abuse, legislation that includes "SLAPP-back" sanctions awarding attorneys' fees and punitive damages against developers who file SLAPPs is crucial.

Over 20 states have anti-SLAPP statutes. Colorado needs one too.

3. A ban on new coal fired power plants. Coal-fired power plants are the worst industrial polluters in America, but utilities have 121 new plants in the permit queue. Why? To get as many as possible through before Congress cracks down on global warming. Colorado recently went along, greenlighting Excel's Comanche II new coal-fired plant in a complicated trade-off with environmental groups. These plants produce one-third of industrial CO2 emissions in the country. We have the technology today to leave coal behind, and we owe it to our children and the planet to do so. If Kansas can strike down new coal-fired plants three times, so can Colorado.

4. Campaign Finance and Lobbying Reform

a. I will soon propose legislation to enact a system of campaign finance reform modeled after Boulder’s in which candidates can opt into public funds if they choose to follow a set of criteria that will make them eligible.

b. I have proposed more frequent lobbying reports so citizens can track lobbying influence as it is actually taking place, rather than after the fact.

5. In-state tuition for immigrants – I have proposed legislation granting in-state college tuition to undocumented students if they meet three criteria: three years or more of Colorado residency, graduation from a Colorado high school, and an affidavit pledging to apply for legal status.

I will also soon announce in detail my support for new patient and worker safety legislation, and changes to Colorado mining laws. I was the first candidate in this race to declare for a complete system change to single payer and not just ‘universal’ health care. Please see my health care position papers at my website.

Your Support of Progressive Issues and Candidates: Which parts of the current Colorado Democratic Party Platform do you support? Explain why you do or do not support the planks that you consider most important. Have you supported the issues articulated in the current platform in previous elections, either as a candidate or a supporter or opponent of other candidates?

The top ten issues listed in the Colorado Platform

1. Iraqi War

2. Health Care Reform

3. Human and Civil Rights

4. Education

5. Environment

6. Energy Policy

7. Jobs

8. Campaign Reform

9. Reproductive Health

10. Science and Technology

I fully support the platform. The most important issues for state senate are nos. 2-9. In my previous elections to the Boulder City Council and CU Board of Regents I very actively supported issues 3-10. As a Boulder City Councilmember in the late 80s I helped lead a transformational progressive movement that put Boulder at the environmental vanguard nationally. I proposed Colorado’s first toxic exposure ordinance, first wildlife open space plan, and first greenhouse gas limitation, and we enacted the first two. I spearheaded the Boulder tributary trails and greenways plan. I chaired Boulder’s first transportation master plan that produced bike ways and lanes, the Hop, Skip, and Jump, and the Ecopass program. I was on the steering committee for Boulder campaign finance reform. I supported the “bubble ordinance” we fought to the Supreme Court to protect women seeking reproductive health care from intimidation and harassment. At CU, I was by far the most—and some might say ‘only’—progressive regent, in the forefront in engaging CU in energy, environmental protections, climate disruption, social and racial justice, and women’s safety issues. I have always been endorsed by the Sierra Club and PLAN-Boulder County.

My primary opponent’s record is also important. While he has never held elected office, he has consistently sided with big business and big insurance against injured workers, consumers, and the environment in very significant ways. From 1973-1990, he worked for no. 1 asbestos offender Johns Manville as a lawyer defending death and injury claims and breaking workers’ strikes, and as a senior executive. He touts this experience as a qualification for state senate, but Fortune Magazine’s annual poll found his company to be the least admired in America the last four years he worked there. He also did not become a Democrat for the first time in his life until retiring from Johns Manville in his fifties. From 1998-2002, he was a director of the board of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry (CACI), the industry lobbyist that has opposed 100 percent of progressive efforts to reform health care, regulate the environment, and protect workers and patients.

From 1998 continuing through the present, he has served on the board of IMA Financial, one of the country’s most influential insurance and claims adjusting companies. His identification as a born-again progressive should be carefully weighed against this 35 year record of siding against the people and with industry and insurance that still continues.

TABOR/TAXATION

Do you support the platform plank advocating simplification of the tax code and revocation of the TABOR amendment? Do you support more progressive taxation in Colorado? How will you persuade TABOR supporters that there are better and more just possibilities for limiting taxes?

The TABOR amendment restricts effective government by placing unrealistic and unsustainable demands on Colorado’s future. Because of the misnamed TABOR, Colorado finds itself with the most restrictive tax and spending limits in the country. TABOR was created in a boom economy when surpluses and regional growth were standard, but when the economy turns down and people move out of the region TABOR leaves Colorado’s citizens with little shelter from catastrophe. Restricted from securing adequate funds for a ‘rainy day,’ Colorado has seen state government shrink in many of its most important functions.

We obviously need to be shed somehow of the TABOR albatross. Romanoff’s plan is a good start. But my opponent’s call for a 30-year constitutional commission is wildly wrong. His commission’s report in fact praises TABOR and seeks to keep it. We’re not ready for a constitutional convention either, which could wind up worsening the fiscal straightjacket. So the best hope is incremental change, starting with elimination of the ‘ratchet effect,’ which will take hard work and outreach by reformers like us, sensitive p.r., and editorial support.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

Where do public education and children's issues fit into your priorities for the state budget?

Children and their health and education are our future, so these issues are at the top of my priorities for the state budget. I’m a strong advocate for public education, including workforce training and higher education. As CU Regent, I’ve seen the difference that education makes at all levels. As a supporter from inception of organizations like Intercambio de Comunidades, I’ve seen the importance of language skills to the least educated among us. Education levels the playing field, enabling all people the opportunity to succeed and see their children succeed. I’ve worked for six years as regent to bring public higher education funding up even to minimal national norms.

I will work with the department of education, local school districts, colleges and universities, and business to propose solutions to the ongoing ‘Colorado Paradox.’ Colorado finds itself with one of the most highly educated workforces in the country-- last year we ranked third, yet we graduate our own students from colleges and universities behind 26 other states. This is not a sustainable solution to the state’s long-term welfare or to our children and families. I will support early childhood education, creating a more robustly funded P-12 program, and incentives for students to enter higher education fields and stay until they graduate. The key is supporting Colorado students from early on, and rethinking how we educate in the 21^st century so that we meet the needs of students and society.

HEALTH CARE

What is your stand on single-payer universal health care, one in which health care is publicly financed and privately delivered? Please elaborate.

I support changing the current health care system to single payer and not some variant that looks like, but is not, single payer. I believe that health care is a right and not a privilege and that we must take profit out of the equation. Only the government or not-for profit companies (with oversight) should be providing health care to our citizens.

Universal health care may be possible without going to single payer but it is costly and wasteful. Governor Ritter’s Blue Ribbon 208 Commission demonstrated that only a single payer system would save the state billions of dollars and offer health care to all citizens. My opponent belatedly said he supports universal health care but he continues to hedge and qualify when pressed about single payer. Naysayers like him always raise as an issue that federal law conflicts bind our hands. I disagree. I am convinced ERISA and other federal conflicts can be readily worked out or waived with the new administration in 2009.

It’s time to say, enough is enough. Sever employment from health care. Make single payer our overriding priority--with Colorado leading the way.

ELECTORAL REFORM

The Colorado Democratic Party platform develops specific planks in the areas of election reform including the requirement that the paper ballot become the official record of voter intent, that any electronic voting machine produce a voter-verifiable paper record, and that proprietary software programs by vendors be eliminated. Will you support these planks? Will you resist efforts to scrap precinct polling places and move Colorado to a mandatory all mail-in ballot?

I support the CDP in the areas of election reform. I’ve long championed campaign finance reform, have worked to achieve it in the City of Boulder, and plan to push for fair elections at the statehouse. Creating a paper record of voting becomes more important with each election; it’s the only way a voter can verify whether her vote was cast and in the appropriate manner. When voters cast their ballot, they must have confidence that their vote is counted; otherwise, we’ve lost our democracy.

Our current system allows for voters to choose the most appropriate method to cast a ballot. That choice is imperative to voter turnout and should not be scrapped. Mail in ballots have produced higher voter turnout in other states, but have not been appropriately vetted in Colorado, so I do not support the mandatory mail in ballot initiative. I support it as an option, but not the only option.

IMMIGRATION

What measures do you propose to reduce abuses of undocumented immigrants and detainees in Colorado?

Alone, to my knowledge, among candidates for office this year, I’ve proposed a comprehensive set of modifications to our onerous immigration laws. Rather than repeat them here, please see my answer to question 1 above and read my position paper on my website. The website also contains a link to progressive immigration reform blogger Partha Banjeree praising the “courage and wisdom” of my proposals.

Additionally, I will work to develop humane legislation that keeps families together and provides undocumented immigrants and detainees with information about their rights. For the long-term future of Colorado’s welfare I am committed to reducing the harsh laws imposed by the Owens administration, including, for example, SB 06-90– the ‘anti sanctuary bill,’ which compels peace officers to report arrested undocumented immigrants to federal agents.

LABOR

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned the United States for suppressing workers' rights to unionize and bargain collectively. Governor Bill Ritter vetoed an attempt to change the Colorado Labor Peace Act (which restricts these rights). How would you guarantee the right of Colorado workers to form and join unions and bargain collectively?

The United States, and Colorado particularly, lag woefully in terms of workers’ rights. With only 14% of its workers organized, it’s an understatement to say that Colorado’s climate is less than union friendly. I support Governor Ritter’s executive order which gives workers the right to be represented, to be heard, and by majority vote to decide what happens to them in the workplace. I would support the executive order as an ongoing order, not ending with this administration. Further, I would carry a bill to change the Labor Peace Act to remove its onerous second vote.

GLOBAL WARMING

What would you do to promote new technologies and infrastructures to bring Colorado into a new sustainable energy economy?

What the grass roots and good science taught Boulder, Boulder can bring to the state, and Colorado can bring to the world. Colorado is uniquely gifted with an abundance of renewable resources on which cutting edge companies are looking to capitalize. If Colorado is willing to invest, and I believe it should, in the infrastructure to recruit green tech and clean tech companies to the Rocky Mountain region, these companies will come.

In the legislature I will work with Governor Ritter and his Energy Office to make his vision of Colorado as the renewable energy capital of the nation a reality.

I will work to continue incentives for small businesses and homes to lessen their carbon footprints. If Colorado is able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% before the renewable portfolio standard’s 2020 deadline then people will take notice. If Colorado is able to create an atmosphere of smart carbon use on a small scale then larger corporations will take notice. If the state begins to act in an environmentally responsible manner the country will take notice. Colorado will attract business by its commitment to the financial and environmental prosperity of Coloradoans and we will lead the way in renewable energy and innovation.

I have proposed legislation (see question one) to ban new coal fired power plants. I will work to continue making pollution a less attractive option for businesses. I will fight to bring polluting companies into compliance with EPA regulations, and thereby welcome cleaner corporations into the region.

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