Replies from Andrew Scripter
GENERAL
What issue areas will your first five bills address? Provide as much detail
as possible.
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?
1 Supporting Local Business- We can grow our own local jobs and companies
by doing more to promote and support local businesses. This includes tax
incentives, and government contacts to local business instead of out of
state corporations. Supporting local business is a quality of life issue
that will resonate and have a positive impact on the state's economy, education,
and environment.
2 Supporting Local Green Business- Tax incentives and tax breaks for local
business that are actively seeking and producing green and environmentally
friendly products. This will help Colorado transition to a sustainable economy,
grow green jobs, and improve our quality of life.
3 Education incentive- We need to attract the best teachers to our state
so that we have a strong and competitive system. We can do this by improving
teaching standards, and improving our support of teachers. One aspect of
this bill will include a scholarship for teachers that commit to 4 years
in a Colorado public school.
4 Veterans Support- I have a comprehensive plan to help improve the lives
of Colorado's veterans. For more information please visit my website.
5 Environment and Infrastructure- We need to invest our money in the infrastructure
of our state, including the conservation of wild space.
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?
I am a big supporter for revising the TABOR amendment. I will actively talk about Speaker Romanoff's ballot initiative. This amendment will help sustain and improve the quality of life we have in Colorado without raising taxes. With this amendment we can ensure that we have proper funding for all the states needs.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
Where do public education and children's issues fit into your priorities for the state budget?
Education and the Economy are my top two issues. Furthermore, I believe that the best way to have a solid economy in the long run is by having the best education system. Therefore, we need to make sure that the system is fully funded, and that we provide incentives to support our teachers.
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 am open to a single-payer model; however, I believe that the most important short term goal is to provide affordable health care for every Coloradoan.
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 fully support these planks, and I will resist any efforts to permanently
move Colorado to an all mail-in ballot state.
IMMIGRATION
What measures do you propose to reduce abuses of undocumented immigrants and detainees in Colorado?
The Federal government needs to pass comprehensive immigration reform. However, I will examine steps that we can take in Colorado that enforces our laws, but creates a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for growth.
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?
I believe that every work should have the right to unionize if they wish. However, I support the Labor Peace Act as a compromise for those who do not want to join a union. That being said I am actively against proposition 47, 53, and 59. I have been endorsed by the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, and the AFT.
GLOBAL WARMING
What would you do to promote new technologies and infrastructures to bring Colorado into a new sustainable energy economy?
We can make Colorado the most green-energy state in the country. We should be actively promoting local business that produce green-technology and create green jobs. Furthermore, we should be funding research that will keep Colorado always on the cutting edge of technology.