This legislative session has been disappointingly different
To be very clear, the tone at the state Capitol has dramatically changed compared to my prior two years representing Colorado Senate District 4. I believe the message from the new majority in the state Legislature is no longer about making decisions that reflect the beliefs from voters from across the state, but instead it has become a movement to make Colorado a powerful, progressive stronghold. Having previously served in a split Legislature, I just don’t think that this is what Colorado is about.
Colorado Senate advances public option health insurance bill
Q&A with state Sen. Jim Smallwood
With Democrat majorities in the House, Senate and with control of the governor's office, I feel that we've seen a turn toward a top-down approach of governance, where politicians feel that their intellect and perspective surpass those who have sent us here. I strongly object and hope to see a course correction sooner rather than later.
Colorado lawmakers divided over whether sex education bill should go to voters
“Using the safety clause blocks people from the petition process and takes citizens’ rights away.”
The “safety clause” can be found at the end of House Bill 19-1032, and it means if the Democrat-led bill passes, the state’s voters don’t get a chance to kill it before it becomes law.
Bills aim to boost government role in Coloradans’ health care
The 2019 Colorado General Assembly is vastly different from the past two years. The Democratic Party has a majority in both the House and the Senate, which means that the Republicans do not have enough votes to block any of the partisan legislation that is proposed. We are already witnessing a number of extremely controversial bills being introduced, such as restructuring of Colorado’s comprehensive sex education curriculum, firearm seizures, and several healthcare bills.
Smallwood is opposed to a reinsurance program and worries about the impact of having the state involved in dealing with the highest cost claims.
Sen. Jim Smallwood, R-Parker, objects to the bills, saying the proposals do nothing to address the high cost of care
Still, Smallwood says that the government should not be the solution to the rising costs, and says he worries about the state competing with private insurance companies. Insurance companies already have to get their rates approved every year by the state Division of Insurance after public comment periods that follow the initial proposals.
“Having sort of the referees be sort of one of the players would seem unfair in any sport,” he said.