Colorado ballots have been mailed out and Election Day is coming up real soon.
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The candidates in this upcoming General Election for House District 47 are Stephanie Luck (R) and Bri Buentello (D).
We sent out a questionnaire to the candidates regarding the recovery of COVID-19 economic impacts, legislation they hope to introduce and what they think should be done to help fund our schools. Here are the responses:
Stephanie Luck
Q: How should the General Assembly work to recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19?
A: Let’s be clear: Our state’s current economic situation was not caused by COVID-19. The disease itself did not cause medical facilities to empty, small businesses to shutter, or people to lose their jobs. Our current economic plight is due to government policies implemented by the executive branch via executive order. To speed economic recovery, the General Assembly should allow for businesses to open with whatever safety precautions those businesses deem appropriate; should reduce regulations that burden entrepreneurial and free market enterprises; and should strengthen law and order to create an environment conducive to trade.
Q: If elected, what is one piece of legislation you hope to introduce and why?
A: At this stage, I am more interested in removing statutes than in adding them. Our legal system was founded on the premise that people are self-governing; however, over the years, this foundation has been eroded by government actors who work from the assumption that every problem is theirs to solve. As such, they have unjustly taken authority away from parents, teachers, business owners, workers, and citizens generally. Ironically, in surpassing their constitutional authority, they have created more problems than they have solved. As much as is possible, I would like to help Colorado rebuild its foundational understanding of good governance under the rule of law, which inherently requires us to restore personal liberty and limited government, by reducing the number of laws that unnecessarily burden hard-working Americans.
Q: School funding has become a topic of discussion in recent years- what do you think needs to be done to fund our schools?
A: In 2016-2017, school districts received slightly more than $15,000 per student or $375,000 for a class of 25. Where are these dollars being spent? Are they being used to pay our teachers and supply our classrooms? Or are they being used to fund administrative overhead and regulatory compliance? Instead of asking how to provide more dollars for our educational system, we should first ask whether the dollars already allocated are being stewarded well.
Bri Buentello
Q: How should the General Assembly work to recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19?
A: Simply put we should give small business owners and working-class families access to every resource at our disposal. The economic ramifications have been devastating and we should continue to aid Coloradans with mortgage and rent payments to ensure they don't lose their home simply because they can't work through no fault of their own. We must primarily focus on recovering from the public health crisis. We cannot fix the economy fully until we address the virus itself. At such a crucial time we cannot allow coverage for pre-existing conditions to be stripped from millions of Americans. So first and foremost we must ensure that all Coloradans have access to covid testing and treatment, and can stay in their homes and still have jobs to go back to.
Q: If elected, what is one piece of legislation you hope to introduce and why?
A: If elected I would work harder to pass a version of my ninth-grade success grant program that unfortunately didn't make it through the legislature this year. Its vital that we take care of our most precious resource - our children. This bill would directly help students who are at risk of falling behind or dropping out and give them the skills needed to be successful.
Q: School funding has become a topic of discussion in recent years- what do you think needs to be done to fund our schools?
A: We must get rid of the negative effect and laws like TABOR that have prevented much-needed funds from going into our schools. I've worked hard to ensure that Pueblo money stays in our schools and benefits our students and teachers. If re-elected I would continue that work.
