RMPJC 2020 Voter Guide
Statewide Ballot
Amendment B - Repeal Gallagher Amendment
We endorse a YES vote on this amendment
Ballot Summary Text: “Repeal the Gallagher Amendment requiring residential and nonresidential property tax revenues to make up the same portion of total statewide property taxes as when the Gallagher Amendment was adopted in 1982, including the requirement that sets the nonresidential assessment rate at 29 percent.”
We endorse a YES vote on this amendment, because the Gallagher Amendment has made it more difficult for local governments to provide basic services including schools, hospitals, and fire protection, all while providing an unnecessary tax cut for homeowners in Colorado’s wealthiest neighborhoods. At a time when Colorado is facing a severe budget deficit, repealing the Gallagher amendment would ensure more funding for basic social services and provide a more equitable property tax structure for Coloradans.
Amendment C - Conduct of Charitable Gaming
We have chosen to remain NEUTRAL this amendment
Ballot Summary Text: “Amendment C proposes amending the Colorado Constitution to: a) reduce the number of years a nonprofit organization must operate in Colorado to apply for a bingo-raffle license from five to three; and b) ease compensation and organization membership restrictions for bingo-raffle workers.”
Amendment 76 - Citizenship Qualification of Voters
We endorse a NO vote on this amendment
Ballot Summary Text: “Amendment 76 proposes amending the Colorado Constitution to specify that “only a citizen” of the United States rather than “every citizen” of the United States is eligible to vote in Colorado elections.”
We endorse a NO vote on this amendment, because a revision in the constitution that specifies “only a citizen” can vote is exclusionary and divisive. Colorado’s election system would not become any more secure from this wording change, and if passed, this amendment could pave the way for further disenfranchisement of immigrant voters at a time when many are already being discouraged and disenfranchised. This amendment is strongly opposed by our allies at the ACLU.
Amendment 77 - Local Voter Approval of Casino Bet Limits and Games in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek
We have chosen to remain NEUTRAL this amendment
Ballot Summary Text: “Amendment 77 proposes amending the Colorado Constitution and the Colorado statutes to: a) allow voters in the three gaming cities — Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek — to increase or remove current bet limits and approve any new casino games in each city; and b) expand the current use of casino tax revenue for community colleges to include student retention and completion programs.”
Proposition EE - Taxes on Nicotine Products
We have chosen to remain NEUTRAL this amendment
Ballot Summary Text: “Proposition EE, if approved, would: a) increase taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products; b) create a new tax on nicotine products, including vaping products; and c) distribute the new revenue to expanded preschool programs, as well as to K-12 education, rural schools, affordable housing, eviction assistance, tobacco education, and health care.”
Proposition 113 - Adopt Agreement to Elect U.S. President By National Popular Vote
We endorse a YES vote on this proposition
Ballot Summary Text: “Proposition 113, if approved, would enter Colorado into an agreement among states to elect the President of the United States by a national popular vote once enough states join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.”
We endorse a YES vote on this proposition, because we believe that every person, regardless of where they live, should have the same say in who gets elected president. The electoral college system gives certain communities greater weight than others in determining the election, and has historically led to outcomes where a candidate won the popular vote but did not get elected.
Proposition 114 - Reintroduction and Management of Gray Wolves
We have chosen to remain NEUTRAL this amendment
Ballot Summary Text: “Proposition 114 proposes amending the Colorado statutes to require the state to: a) develop a plan to reintroduce and manage gray wolves in Colorado; b) take necessary steps to begin reintroduction by December 31, 2023; and c) pay fair compensation for livestock losses caused by gray wolves.”
Proposition 115 - Prohibit Abortions After 22 Weeks
We endorse a NO vote on this proposition
Ballot Summary Text: “Proposition 115 proposes amending the Colorado statutes to: a) prohibit abortion after 22 weeks gestational age of the fetus, except when an abortion is immediately required to save the life of a pregnant woman; b) create a criminal penalty for any person who performs a prohibited abortion; and c) require that the state suspend the medical license for at least three years of any physician who violates the measure.”
We endorse a NO vote on this proposition, because it sets a dangerous precedent for the government to erode a woman’s right to make choices about her own body. The measure, if passed, would not provide exceptions for extreme circumstances such as rape, incest, or risky pregnancy. We believe that the state should not have the authority to determine what should be a private choice between a patient and a medical professional.
Proposition 116 - State Income Tax Rate Reduction
We endorse a NO vote on this proposition
Ballot Summary Text: “Proposition 116 proposes amending the Colorado statutes to reduce the state income tax rate from 4.63 percent to 4.55 percent for tax year 2020 and future years.”
We endorse a NO vote on this proposition, because Colorado is currently facing a budget deficit of $3 billion, which will inevitably lead to cuts in basic social services such as health care, education, food programs, and public transportation. Reducing the state income tax would only exacerbate these budget cuts. A statewide income tax cut would disproportionately benefit Colorado’s wealthiest taxpayers, with over half of the tax savings going to the top 2% of income earners, while basic community services would be cut, making life harder for low-income earners who are already struggling financially.
Proposition 117 - Voter Approval for Certain New State Enterprises
We endorse a NO vote on this proposition
Ballot Summary Text: “Proposition 117 proposes amending the Colorado statutes to: a) require voter approval for new state government-owned businesses, called enterprises, if the enterprise’s revenue from fees over its first five years exceeds $100 million; and b) require that specific language be included on the ballot when voters are asked to approve enterprises.”
We endorse a NO vote on this proposition, because it would make it more difficult for our elected governments to make decisions when navigating Colorado’s budget deficits. The proposition, if passed, would make it more difficult to pave the way for a public bank, an enterprise which we have endorsed as a way to mitigate statewide budget deficits and create more representative financial institutions in Colorado.
Proposition 118 - Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program
We endorse a YES vote on this proposition
Ballot Summary Text: “Proposition 118 proposes amending the Colorado statutes to: a) create a paid family and medical leave insurance program for Colorado employees administered by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment; b) require employers and employees in Colorado to pay a payroll premium to finance paid family and medical leave insurance benefits beginning January 1, 2023; c) allow eligible employees up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave insurance benefits annually beginning January 1, 2024; and d) create job protections for employees who take paid family and medical leave.”
We endorse a YES vote on this proposition, because we believe that paid family and medical leave is crucial for family wellbeing. It is especially crucial during this time of unprecedented job and health insecurity. People should not have to choose between taking care of their loved ones during a pandemic and keeping their jobs. This measure would help to offer financial security to new parents and health-compromised people.
City of Boulder Ballot
Ballot Issue 2B - No Eviction Without Representation We endorse a YES vote on this proposition Ballot Summary Text: Ballot Issue 2B would provide free legal representation for every tenant facing eviction in Colorado, and provide rental assistance for people who are vulnerable to eviction. A paid Tenant’s Committee would be established to oversee this program. We endorse a YES vote on this proposition, because it is important that tenants are able to access legal and financial assistance and tenant education, especially during this time of widespread housing insecurity. This initiative was driven by our allies at Boulder Democratic Socialists of America. Ballot Issue 2C - Public Service Company Franchise We endorse a NO vote on this proposition Ballot Issue Summary: Ballot Issue 2C would stall Boulder’s municipalization efforts, and would instead enter the City of Boulder into a 20-year franchise agreement with Xcel Energy as Boulder’s exclusive provider of electricity and gas. We endorse a NO vote on this issue, because it would block Boulder’s municipalization efforts, including the city’s efforts to reach 100% renewable energy by 2030, and lock the city into a 20-year contract with Xcel, a company that has not fallen in line with Boulder’s climate goals. Our allies at 350 Colorado, Wild Earth Guardians, Empower Our Future, and other environmental groups strongly oppose this franchise agreement. Ballot Issue 2D - Repurpose the Utility Occupation Tax We endorse a YES vote on this proposition Ballot Issue Summary: If Ballot Issue 2C passes, Ballot Issue 2D would repurpose the funds that would have been used to fund Boulder municipalization, and use these funds to pursue renewable energy projects, initiatives, and research in Boulder, to help the city meet its racial equity goals and meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. We endorse a YES vote on this issue, because although we support a firm NO on 2C, if 2C were to pass, this would allow additional money for local renewable energy projects, services, and research, as well as projects aimed at increasing racial equity in Boulder. Ballot Issue 2E - Direct Election of the Mayor We endorse a YES vote on this proposition Ballot Issue Summary: Ballot Issue 2E would give Boulder voters, instead of City Council, the ability to select the mayor. Mayor selection would occur through Ranked-Choice voting. We endorse a YES vote on this issue, because it is more democratic as it allows people to vote directly for the mayor. We also believe that ranked-choice voting is a system that is more representative of popular opinion. Ballot Issue 2F - Charter Amendment Related to the Boulder Arts Commission We endorse a YES vote on this proposition Ballot Issue Summary: Ballot Issue 2F would increase the size of the Boulder Arts Commission from 5 to 7 members. We endorse a YES vote on this issue, because increasing the membership of the Boulder Arts Commission would increase the capacity of this commission to manage and fund arts programs and projects in Boulder.
Join Local Get Out the Vote Efforts
With election day looming, it is critical that we do all we can to get out the vote as ballots drop.
Join our allies at 350 Colorado and the Environmental Voter Project for a non-partisan phone banking effort, calling on voters who prioritize environmental issues but are infrequent voters. The goal of this phone bank is not to endorse any candidate or issue, but to get out the environmental vote by giving people the information they need to have their vote counted in Colorado.
Phone banks are being hosted on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 8:30pm, and then every evening leading up to the election beginning on Wednesday the 28th.
