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Chris Kolker's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Chris Kolker did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2024 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

What is the Political Courage Test?
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.

Colorado State Legislative Election 2020 Political Courage Test

Pro-choice a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Yes b) Do you support legalizing abortion when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
No c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
I believe a person's healthcare decisions should be between them and their healthcare provider. It is a personal decision. Each person's circumstance is different and I trust patients to make decisions regarding their own health, their body, and their life.
No a) In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
No b) In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
I believe in a progressive income tax system instead of a flat tax system, like our federal system. One that brings more equity across income brackets and where those making substantially more than the median income are able to afford to pay more in income taxes.
Yes a) Do you support a limit on campaign contributions to state candidates?
Yes b) Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
Yes c) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
No d) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
Yes e) Do you support automatic voter registration?
Yes f) Do you support awarding Colorado's electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote?
g) Other or expanded principles:
No a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
No b) Should an individual under 18 accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
No c) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
No d) Do you support the use of private prisons in Colorado?
No e) Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders?
Yes f) Do you support a ban on flavored nicotine products?
I prefer our prisons be run by the state, but we are in a budget crunch and at this time, use private prisons out of necessity. Reforming sentencing requirements will help reduce the prison population and the number of prisons in use.
Yes a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
b) Do you support lowering state income taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
c) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
No d) Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
Yes e) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Colorado?
Yes f) Do you support requiring employers to provide paid family leave?
Yes g) Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
Currently, I do not support lowering our flat income tax rate, but in principle I do believe lowering income taxes can promote economic growth. There are many factors to consider how and when to do so. I also cannot give a blanket yes or no answer to reducing government regulations on the private sector. It depends on the regulation, how it is implemented, and what effect is having both on the sector and the public.
No a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in Colorado?
No b) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
Yes c) Do you support increasing teacher salaries AND/OR benefits in Colorado?
Yes d) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Colorado high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
I believe we should place a higher priority on funding our public schools and paying teachers and staff. I believe imposing national standards does more harm than good as they do not account for multiple demographics in each state.
Yes a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
Yes b) Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
Yes d) Do you support the reintroduction of gray wolves into Colorado?
e) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
Yes b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
No c) Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom after passing gun safety training?
Yes d) Should a license be required for gun ownership?
e) Other or expanded principles:
Yes a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
Yes b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through Colorado's health care programs?
Yes c) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
Yes d) Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
Yes e) Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
Yes f) Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
I support paid medical leave during a health crises or any time. However, during a public health crisis as we have now, businesses should be provided support from government to pay the medical leave.
Yes a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Colorado's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Colorado's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes c) Do you support greater efforts by Colorado state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
d) Other or expanded principles:
Mental healthcare must become a priority and put on par with physical healthcare. Treatments should be covered under health insurance plans without stipulations. We also need to make it easier for mental health providers to be covered under Medicare and Medicaid. We need to address the high cost of health insurance and health care.
My top priority includes expanding mental healthcare coverage and enforcing the 2008 federal requirements to make mental healthcare coverage on par with physical healthcare. This should not require much in additional funding as it is enforcing existing law. Also, I would like to see education funding decoupled from TABOR so we can properly follow Amendment 23's requirements calling for minimum funding based on student enrollment, inflation, and disparities between school districts. We currently "owe" schools $1.1 billion due to underfunding. Funding will require a vote of the people to prioritize education over TABOR.

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