KUSA - Democrat Abel Tapia, Libertarian Travis Mero and Unaffiliated Tisha Casida are going against Republican Scott Tipton.
The following questions and their respective topics were sent to each candidate:
GOVERNMENT
Is a government shutdown ever warranted as a means of achieving policy goals?
- Scott Tipton – Haven't received response yet
- Abel Tapia – No, we don't send our representatives to Washington to shut down government and take time off. We expect our representatives to make solutions, and not to stop working until a solution has been reached.
- Travis Mero – Haven't received response yet
- Tisha Casida – At some point the government would naturally have to be shut down because of the lack of attention to monetary policy and the means of funding programs that are technically bankrupt - so in following with how the government is set up in the Constitution, this would be warranted.
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
On balance, has the Affordable Care Act been helpful or harmful? What changes are needed?
- Scott Tipton – Haven't received response yet
- Abel Tapia – The ACA has been been helpful to many Americans, particularly to those who had preexisting conditions that they couldn't have covered before. Our middle class families have benefited because they are able to keep their college age children on their own health plan instead of having to pay for completely separate coverage. We need to change the portions of the ACA that allow insurance companies in Colorado to charge our rural population more than their urban counterparts for the same coverage
- Travis Mero – Haven't received response yet
- Tisha Casida – From what I have seen, it has been harmful. There is so much corruption and bureaucracy at the federal level of government, as well as with insurance companies that don't have to rely on the market for consumers to decide for themselves what is best. I think that health care policy would be better discussed at the Colorado-State-level of government where there can be more accountability and transparency with both representatives and industry.
ENERGY
Should the government use financial incentives to encourage the growth of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar?
- Scott Tipton – Haven't received response yet
- Abel Tapia – Yes, if we do not use financial incentives for the development of renewable energy, then foreign countries that export oil will be able to keep energy prices artificially low so that the demand will not develop for renewable energy until it is too late and the fossil fuels become too scarce.
- Travis Mero – Haven't received response yet
- Tisha Casida – I don't believe so because they have not been effective. What would be most effective in encouraging the growth and use of renewable energy sources would be to eliminate federal (and sometimes State and local) rules and regulations that make it near impossible to enter into the renewable energy industry. Some of the resources (and patents) to have a more efficient means of energy production do exist, however, our federal government has made using them illegal or has destroyed them (e.g. the work of Nikola Tesla) - the problem is government. For those of us who love renewable energy, we need government to get out of the way.
IMMIGRATION
What is the most important policy change needed in immigration reform?
- Scott Tipton – Haven't received response yet
- Abel Tapia – Immigration reform must be comprehensive and it must acknowledge that we need to do more than just focusing on militarizing the border. Our small businesses, many of which are in Colorado, need immigrant labor to survive and compete. For those people who contribute to our economy and who work to make our society better, there needs to be a policy that allows a path to citizenship and that reflects our American sense of family when creating immigration decisions.
- Travis Mero – Haven't received response yet
- Tisha Casida – We must make it easier for people to immigrate here legally. I have several friends who have immigrated from other countries that faced an uphill battle when trying to become a "legal" citizen. We must streamline the process for people who want to live and work here - we must make it easier for them.
MARIJUANA
Do you support the nationwide legalization of marijuana?
- Scott Tipton – Haven't received response yet
- Abel Tapia – I am not certain if the nationwide legalization of marijuana is beneficial to us in Colorado yet as our nascent industry is just beginning to find its role in our communities. Colorado is certainly a model at this point, and our forward role in this issue is drawing a lot of economic benefit to the state, I do not want us to lose that economic benefit as we also carry the brunt of figuring out how to find a role for this industry in our community.
- Travis Mero – Haven't received response yet
- Tisha Casida – Yes, although technically, consuming anything is a natural right granted by our Constitution and so we should never have to ask permission from the State to consume any type of food or medicine. People have a natural right to decide what they want to do with their body and brain. This includes consuming one of my favorite things - raw milk. I believe in Food Freedom and the right of individuals to purchase and consume foods (or medicines) of their choice from their local farmers and producers without the interference of government.
MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Should same-sex marriage be legal?
- Scott Tipton – Haven't received response yet
- Abel Tapia – Yes
- Travis Mero – Haven't received response yet
- Tisha Casida – Yes, although we should not have to ask permission from the State to "marry" who we love. Unfortunately, our fiscal policy makes this question more important because of the tax problems associated with such an answer. But, I believe that our Constitution says nothing about marriage and that everyone has an individual right to love who they want to, and "marry" who they want to.
INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE
Are more restrictions needed on the ability of intelligence agencies to monitor the communications of US citizens?
- Scott Tipton – Haven't received response yet
- Abel Tapia – Yes. There has to be a balance between national security and the ability of intelligence agencies to monitor the communication of US citizens. No matter what is said, once information is collected, it can be used or accessed without permission for many things beyond its intended purposes. By collecting so much information on our own citizens we may very well be creating a much greater threat to our own national security.
- Travis Mero – Haven't received response yet
- Tisha Casida – Yes - there should be citizen oversight of the NSA and other intelligence agencies. There should always be a warrant issued by a judge before information or data is collected on American citizens. We should not have the random and indiscriminate use of surveillance against American citizens who have committed no crimes. Unless there is a warrant for some crime that they have committed, then information should NOT be collected on American citizens. I believe that Edward Snowden is a hero and a whistleblower - not a traitor. The traitors are the representatives in Congress who are allowing American citizens to lose their privacy to out-of-control agencies within the federal government (NSA, Homeland Security).
2ND AMENDMENT
Do you support new restrictions on the sale or possession of firearms?
- Scott Tipton – Haven't received response yet
- Abel Tapia – No
- Travis Mero – Haven't received response yet
- Tisha Casida – No. I do not support any new restrictions on the sale or possession of firearms. I do think our country has a serious problem with the lack of mental health options for people, however, and this is a major issue that should be addressed by State and local governments. Criminals always find a way to get a weapon - and they don't follow laws. What is more important is that American citizens have the right and ability to protect themselves.
ABORTION
On abortion, do you consider yourself generally "pro-life" or "pro-choice?"
- Scott Tipton – Haven't received response yet
- Abel Tapia – I would consider myself generally "pro-choice". I am Catholic, I believe in the sanctity of life and I thank God that I have not had to be faced with the difficult choice, but for a woman facing that choice, it should be between her, her doctor and God, not the government.
- Travis Mero – Haven't received response yet
- Tisha Casida – I consider myself Pro-Constitution. The State should NEVER be able to tell a woman what to do with her body. I also believe that life starts early on, and that there should be a discussion at the State level of government about when this exact point is. I try to remind people on the abortion issue, who question my stance about "legislating morality", that if abortion is murder, then that is exactly why we have law - to protect people's property and lives. If there is a murder in your community, who do you call? Law enforcement, or the county sheriff. And I am all for empowering county sheriffs to execute the law. This keeps people accountable for using the constitutional law that is already on the books to legislate morality. It is already there. We don't need a law against the murder of unborn babies - we already have one. Now, for all of the people who claim to care about the issue of abortion, they need to take personal responsibility for knowing what is happening in their community. If people really cared - we would bring this issue into our communities, instead of depending upon a tyrannical federal government, or law, to fix it for us - because it won't. It will never fix the actual problem. This is a problem that will only be fixed by individuals and organizations in their own communities.
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