Gunnison GOP Recommendations

YES	Amendment G    (Constitutional) Modify Property Tax Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities
YES	Amendment H    (Constitutional) Judicial Discipline Procedures and Confidentiality
YES	Amendment I      (Constitutional) Constitutional Bail Exception for First Degree Murder
NO	Amendment J      (Constitutional) Repealing the Definition of Marriage in the Constitution
YES	Amendment JJ    (Constitutional) Retain Additional Sports Betting Tax Revenue
NO	Amendment K     (Constitutional)  Modify Constitutional Election Deadlines
NO	Proposition KK    (Statutory) Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax
NO	Amendment 79   (Constitutional) Right to Abortion
NO	Amendment 80   (Constitutional) Statutory Right to School Choice
NO	Proposition 127   (Statutory) Prohibit Trophy Hunting
YES	Proposition 128   (Statutory) Truth in Sentencing (Eligibility for Parole)
NO	Proposition 129   (Statutory) Establish Qualifications and Registration for Veterinary Professional Associate
YES	Proposition 130   (Statutory) Funding for Law Enforcement (Police Officer Fund)
NO	Proposition 131   (Statutory) Concerning the Conduct of Elections (Rank Choice Voting)

 More Information on Issues:                                        For Voter Information:

www.gunnisoncountyrepublicans.org                           GoVoteColorado.com

 Vote for: Jeff Hurd, Marc Catlin, Larry Don Suckla, Lisa Henry, Steve Bathje

BALLOT INITIATIVES 2024

AMENDMENT 79 (#112) Right to Abortion      VOTE NO

This initiative would create a constitutional amendment that would enshrine the right to an abortion in Colorado’s Constitution. The measure would also assure that state and local public employees and Medicaid recipients are covered for abortion in their health insurance plans. Taxpayers should not have to fund the poor decisions, poor planning, and/or disregard for life that their neighbors suffer from. Healthcare payors should not be forced to cover abortion and related procedures. 

AMENDMENT 80 (#138)  Statutory Right to School Choice       VOTE NO

This initiative enshrines the right to school choice into the state Constitution; the right for parents to direct the education of their child to enroll them in a public school, charter school, private school; homeschool them; or send them to another district through open enrollment. Given the repeated attacks on charter schools by the legislature and the failed state of public education, parents must continue to have options. Yet, some conservative groups are raising the alarm on the language in the measure which gives “a K-12 child the right to school choice” and that “all children have the right to equal opportunity to access a quality education” which they believe will give the government more control over every choice available and usurp parental authority. The language is short and concise, but readers should vote their conscience, as voters are wary of education bills that lead to bigger government.

PROPOSITION 127  (#91) Prohibit Trophy Hunting      VOTE NO

This initiative creates a ban on recreational trophy hunting and commercial fur trapping in Colorado. According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, hunting is one way in which the big cat population is effectively managed, and the populations at present are ideal. Animal extremists are using ballot box biology to scare voters about hunting and firearms, using misleading terms like “cruel death,” to accomplish other means, mostly anti-gun rhetoric.

PROPOSITION 128 (#112) Truth In Sentencing (Eligibility for Parole)     VOTE YES

This initiative would require offenders convicted of crimes that occur after January 1, 2025 to serve 85% of their sentence before being eligible for parole, versus the current requirement to serve 75% of their terms. Parole eligibility would remain the same for offenders convicted of crimes that occur before Jan. 1, 2025 and for offenders with two or more prior violent crime convictions, who must serve their full sentence before being eligible for parole.  This initiative gives victims and the public more transparent expectations about offender sentencing.

PROPOSITION 129 (#145) Establish Qualifications and Registration for Veterinary Professional Associate     VOTE NO

This initiative creates the profession called veterinary professional associate, which requires a master’s degree and registration with the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. These changes are a potential solution to the state’s shortage of veterinary care, while also expanding access in rural communities. Several models show that VPAs will decrease the cost of veterinary care. In addition, VPAs could also help fill the need for workers in animal welfare organizations. This is all hypothetical, the role of a VPA is undefined to this point and the word regulated is used in the description.  There are too many unknowns to vote yes at this point.

PROPOSITION 130 (#157)  Funding for Law Enforcement (Police Officer Fund)   VOTE YES

This initiative creates the Peace Officer Training and Support Fund, which would provide $350M funding for law enforcement officer training, retention, and hiring, as well as up to $1M in benefits for spouses and children of officers or first responders killed in the line of duty. The ‘Back The Blue’ initiative ensures that Colorado makes a much-needed investment to fight back against the rising tide of crime and illegal drug trafficking without raising taxes. Since the initiative specifies that money can never come from raising taxes, funds will come from the general budget, taking money away from less valuable Democrat programs.

PROPOSITION 131 (#310) Concerning the Conduct of Elections (RANK CHOICE VOTING)     VOTE NO

This initiative establishes a top-four ranked choice voting system in Colorado for congressional, gubernatorial, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, University of Colorado Board of Regents, state Board of Education and legislative elections. RCV confuses voters, whose ballots will be discarded if all candidates are not ranked. In extreme liberal Colorado, RCV ensures the most extreme Democrats prevail, and less conservative choices for office end up winning elected offices. RCV is supported by Kent Thiry, whose goal is to eliminate parties and move to a centrist government.

Amendment G: Modify Property Tax Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities    VOTE YES               

A “yes” vote on Amendment G reduces the property taxes paid by some veteran homeowners by expanding the existing homestead exemption to include veterans whose disability is rated as making them unemployable. Veterans have served us, and this reduction is logical.

Amendment H: Judicial Discipline Procedures and Confidentiality   VOTE YES             

An amendment to create an independent adjudicative board to preside over ethical misconduct hearings involving judges; and allow for increased public access to judicial discipline proceedings and records. This Amendment increases transparency in government.

Amendment I: Constitutional Bail Exception for First Degree Murder    VOTE YES           

A “yes” vote on Amendment I allows judges to deny bail to a person charged with first degree murder when the judge determines that the proof is evident or presumption is great that the person committed the crime. Judges should reserve this right to remove violent offenders from the street pending trial.

Amendment J: Repealing the Definition of Marriage in the Constitution    VOTE NO          

In 2006, Colorado voters approved an amendment to Colorado’s constitution stating that only the union of one man or one woman is a valid or recognized marriage in Colorado. Amendment J repeals this language, which has been declared unconstitutional by state and federal courts. While the traditional definition of marriage is still relevant in Christianity, and all Christians should vote accordingly, the RNC has not taken a stance on marriage in 2024. The state of Colorado’s concern with this matter is moot, as it has been adjudicated via SCOTUS. A limited government stance-what two consenting adults do with their lives is not subject matter for voters or the legislature; liberty is afforded here. Importantly, the focus of any LGBTQ-related efforts should be on the trans agenda and children harmed within this state. Focus in LGBTQ issues by the GOP must turn to children and education.

Amendment JJ: Retain Additional Sports Betting Tax Revenue    VOTE YES       

The measure would allow the state to retain tax revenue collected above $29 million annually from the tax on sports betting proceeds. It is a reliable source of revenue for us to build projects and to conserve water here in Colorado. If it does not pass the casinos will keep all monies over the $29 million we passed on DD a few yeas ago.

Amendment K: Modify Constitutional Election Deadlines    VOTE NO         

Amendment K makes certain election filing deadlines one week earlier. Specifically, the measure moves up the deadline for citizens to submit signatures for initiatives and referendum petitions and for judges to file a declaration of intent to seek another term. Citizens already have an almost insurmountable battle when applying for ballot titling and signature gathering. Removing another week from this process is paving another burden on an already daunting task, as the legislature wants ballot initiatives to be difficult.

Proposition KK: Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax    VOTE NO          

Prop. KK will impose a 6.5% tax on firearms and ammunition for Coloradoans in addition to the Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax (10%-11% federal tax on firearms and ammo). This is nothing more than an attempt by Colorado democrats to price people out of their 2nd Amendment rights. This is another law to hurt law-abiding gun-owners.