Paul Weissman replies

GENERAL
What issue areas will your first five bills address? Provide as much
detail as possible.
I DO NOT FINALIZE MY BILLS UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION. I'D HATE TO "JINX" MYSELF.

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?
HONESTLY, I DID NOT SPEND ANY TIME WITH THE PARTY PLATFORM.

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 WORKING WITH SPEAKER ROMANOFF ON A PERMANANT TABOR FIX. I WAS ONE OF ONLY A FEW COSPONSORS OF THE MEASURE IN THE HOUSE.

PUBLIC EDUCATION
Where do public education and children's issues fit into your
priorities for the state budget?
THESE ARE FIRST ON THE PRIORITY AND MY RECORD SHOWS THIS.

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 SINGLE PAYER AND IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED, I WILL SEND YOU A PAPER I WROTE SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR A CLASS ON HOW I WOULD PAY FOR IT AND HOW IT COULD RUN.

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?
BOULDER COUNTY USES ALL PAPER BALLOTS. IF WE REQUIRE ALL COUNTIES TO DO THE SAME, WE WILL HAVE TO GIVE THEM TIME TO BUDGET FOR THAT. I DO NOT SUPPORT MANDATORY ALL MAIL BALLOT OR THE ELIMINATION OF PRECINCT VOTING. I SUPPORT THE STATE DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING OUR VOTING SYSTEM TO ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR OUTSIDE VENDORS.

IMMIGRATION
What measures do you propose to reduce abuses of undocumented
immigrants and detainees in Colorado?
I BELIEVE WE TOOK THE APPROPRIATE STEPS DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION. I DO NOT THINK THAT COLORADO, OR ANY STATE, CAN DO MORE THAN WE DID IN A HUMANE WAY WITHOUT FEDERAL HELP.

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?
EVEN WITH THE VETO OF 1072, A BILL THAT I SUPPORTED, COLORADO IS MOVING TOWARD A MORE WORK FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT. I SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.

GLOBAL WARMING
What would you do to promote new technologies and infrastructures to
bring Colorado into a new sustainable energy economy?
I'VE SUPPORTED ALL EFFORTS SHORT OF SUBSIDIES TO CORPORATIONS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

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