Why Am I Running for House District 58?

During the past year, I’ve talked to hundreds of voters about the issues that are important to them, including:

WATER HEALTH CARE EDUCATION TRANSPORTATION		AGRICULTURE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT GUN CONTROL IMMIGRATION

WATER.   Keep it clean and keep it here!  There is no question about it — water is the lifeblood of Western Colorado.  The 58th must have strong representation that ensures our interests are protected and that this precious natural resource is available for all our present and future agricultural, recreational and residential needs.  I support policies that:

	Keep Western Slope water on the Western Slope
	Give the six counties of the 58th their fair share of state funds available for water- related projects Encourage conservation without jeopardizing a community’s or individual’s future ability to exercise their water rights
	Require large-scale new developments to demonstrate that they have an adequate supply of water going into the future
	Maintain and strengthen the ability of local communities to ensure that the quality of their source water will be protected

HEALTH CARE.   It is expensive and inaccessible for too many of our citizens.  If the federal government cannot deal with the health care issue, the state of Colorado must.  In fact, a workable health care system has the potential to attract new business to our state.  At the same time, any reform must provide for the unique problems of rural areas, including a lack of health care providers.  I support health care reform that:

	Has the ultimate goal of providing basic health care to everyone
	Reduces administrative costs so that more resources can be directed toward actual care
	Allows patients to choose their own doctors
	Has a strong preventive care component and provides incentives for people to make healthy choices in their everyday lives
	Ensures portability by separating health care coverage from employment

EDUCATION.  A sound public education system—including colleges & universities — is the cornerstone of our democracy.  Too many of our children are failing in school and, as a result, face dim futures.  I believe that a quality educational system happens as a result of a partnership between the state and local communities.  I support policies that:

	Are developed with the input of those serving on the front lines of education—teachers!
	Put accountability measures in place that actually improve instruction and measure the growth of individual students
	Reduce the bureaucracy that seems to have overtaken much of our education system
	Provide small, rural districts the tools they need to attract and retrain quality teachers

TRANSPORTATION.  During the past year, I’ve driven countless miles around the six counties of the 58th and have seen firsthand how immense our transportation needs are.  At the same time, the current state budget is insufficient to pay for even a portion of these needs.  Funding transportation in a fair and equitable manner will be one of our toughest challenges.  I support policies that:

	Do not unduly penalize those who—through no fault of their own—must work in one community and live in another
	Provide incentives for the private sector to play a larger role in transportation solutions
	Rely on a variety of funding sources, rather than one tax increase that will hurt working Coloradoans disproportionately
	Use only modest and incremental fee increases as part of the solution
	Provide a “shareback” to local governments to address local transportation needs

AGRICULTURE.  We need to elevate the position that agriculture holds in this country.  I believe that a vibrant, dynamic agricultural sector should actually be regarded as part of our basic infrastructure.  Here are the reasons: First, our ability to produce our own food has national security implications.  Do we really want to become a country that must import the major portion of its daily sustenance? Second, agriculture represents a vital component in our state’s economy.  In rural areas such as the District 58, we must have the ability to fully exploit innovative agriculture products and markets.  Finally, the presence of agriculture contributes to the quality of life that we enjoy in Western Colorado.  Agriculture is indeed one type of “open space,” but it cannot be one that we maintain on the backs of farmers and ranchers.  I am committed to developing policies and programs that strengthen agriculture in our state.

ENERGY DEVELOPMENT.  Unfortunately, in Colorado and the country as a whole, discussions about energy have become extremely polarized.  Politicians and industry alike engage in this polarization; but our energy future must be more than either/or.  We need “hybrid” energy policies—responsibly developing fossil fuels while at the same time aggressively pursuing clean, renewable energy solutions.  It is clear to me that the long-term future demands alternative and renewable energy.  However, we are kidding ourselves unless we understand that in the coming years we must rely on fossil fuels to provide a bridge to that renewable future.  I will work to make sure that Colorado serves an example—for our nation and beyond — of what a “new energy economy” looks like.  And I will work to assure that District 58 benefits from that economy.

GUN CONTROL.  As the wife of an avid sportsman and gun owner, I understand and appreciate what the 2nd Amendment means to Western Colorado citizens.  We do not need new laws that restrict gun ownership; the current laws need to be enforced.  All too often, newspaper and other media tell us about terrible tragedies involving guns.  But rather than restricting gun ownership, we need to address the issues—such as substance abuse and untreated mental illness—underlying these tragedies.

IMMIGRATION.  Many politicians at every level try to make “political hay” on the topic of immigration.  But for all the talk, there has been no concerted effort to deal with the mess that is our immigration “system.” And any politician who leads voters to believe that a solution to illegal immigration can be found at the state level is not telling the truth.  A comprehensive solution at the federal level is what is needed.  However, to the extent they exist, I will support policies at the state level that accomplish the goals of securing borders, stopping the flow of illegal drugs into the state, and providing a stable and legal workforce for our resort and agricultural communities. 

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