1) Get energy and natural resources firms back to Colorado! = jobs, jobs, jobs!
How: By repealing the anti-drilling anti-business legislation put into place by Colorado's last Governor.
2) Get profitable viable entrepreneurial businesses back into our state = more and more jobs!
How: By emphasizing Colorado's great quality of life; by having the most favorable business and personal tax structure in the union; by continuing the advancements in the alternative energy sector; and by actively and vigorously recruiting firms to headquarter here in Colorado.
3) End the spending = less government.
How: Budget cuts across the board; 50% reduction in the Governor's staff; and not spending $200,000 on personal family photos!
Simply completing steps 1, 2, and 3 will allow us to balance the Colorado budget. Then we can:
4) Start to pay down our unsustainable debt level = less government.
How: Only spend what we make, and nothing more. Just like your family or personal budget - there is absolutely no difference if you are a "government."
5) Position Colorado for the opportunities of tomorrow = jobs, jobs, jobs!
How: By getting back to our state's rights! The federal government is too big, intrusive, and incompetent. Here are the general areas that can be governed much more effectively at the state level:
1. The Budget: For a solution focus on creating a "positive cash flow" for Colorado!!!!!
How to balance Colorado's budget and pay down our out of control debt:
1) Reduce the Governor's staff by 50% on Day 1. This may not even make a dent of more than a few million dollars in reducing the state budget deficit, but it shows leadership by example which is important for morale of other government employees and citizens of Colorado.
2) 10% across the board reduction in pay for the remaining Governor's staff. Again, this will not solve the budget crisis as a standalone cut, but leading by example is what leadership is all about.
3) 1% across the board reduction in the following general areas: health care, higher education, and K-12 schools. I know this is a highly sensitive and potentially divisive issue; however, with the situation we are currently in, there aren't any other viable, realistic, and implementable alternatives. With the proper oversight and cooperation this decision will be completely undetectable to students, faculty, and the quality of education received. Sort of like a family budget. Once you are use to your own budget, saving and investing the difference is easy as 1-2-3.
4) 2% across the board reduction in the following general areas: Corrections, Human Services, and Other (mostly from this bureaucratic albatross I am sure).
Coupled with the savings above, here are my revenue ideas for the state of Colorado:
1) Undo the disastrous anti-business anti-competitive anti-drilling measures imposed by Governor Ritter (D) on the energy and natural resources industries.
2) Return Colorado to a pro business state recruiting and encouraging all companies from a diverse variety of industries to headquarter here in Colorado.
Goal for Colorado: To be #1 in budget surplus per capita in the union.
"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance." - Cicero 55 BC
It is good that Colorado made the final 16 in the "Race to the Top" contest for federal education funds. However, we can do better Colorado! We finished 14 out of 16 beating out only New York and Washington D.C. This just simply is not good enough. I am not against unions. However, teacher unions must compromise on some issues relating to pay, tenure, and performance. Not discussing these issues is hurting our quality of education. We absolutely have to address tenure, teacher pay, and unjustifiably retaining incompetent teachers. Otherwise, we will get more of the same - closed schools (Manual High, 2006), closed libraries (all four in North Aurora, 2010), and no return of tax dollars we are sending to Washington. It is important to note that I am the only candidate for governor that has brought attention and awareness to the shortsightedness of closing the aforementioned libraries - all in North Aurora. I currently have a plan in place to reopen at least two of these libraries - one as a computer learning center, and the Mission Viejo location as if it never closed!
Goal for Colorado: To be #1 in the union with a 40% + college graduation rate.
"There Can Be No Thought of Failure." - Dwight D. Eisenhower
I am against Government run healthcare of any kind. Cover Colorado already addresses most of the issues (including pre-existing conditions) covered in the new federal legislation known as Obamacare. Whose interests were our elected officials representing when they voted for this bill - the people of Colorado, or the interests of their political party? Hard to say our elected officials were representing our interests when we already have a very good healthcare system in place. To make it better: increase the visibility and ease of use of Health Savings Accounts (HSA) to all Coloradans; allow insurance to be sold across state lines (increasing competition); tackle tort reform and Medicare/Medicaid fraud head-on (manual labor sentences for those found guilty of fraud); lastly, make illegal immigrants pay into the system they are using (not doing so is what is bankrupting the system).
Goal for Colorado: To operate the Colorado healthcare system in the black.
"There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him." - Robert Heinlein
This is almost entirely a federal issue. The Governor of Colorado can ensure that our laws and Constitution are enforced in regards to the illegal immigrants that are already here in Colorado. As the Governor of Colorado that is what I will do.
Goal for Colorado: To provide a workable implementable agreeable solution.
The Constitution of the United States...."its only keepers, the people." - George Washington
I am vehemently and passionately against the Wall Street bailouts & bonuses, GM and Chrysler bailouts, and bailing out irresponsible homeowners. It is wrong, has not worked, and will not work. We should be rewarding savers, investors, and hard workers not punishing them. We should give tax breaks, credits, and/or other incentives to banks and institutions that lend to and promote Colorado small businesses, Colorado families, and Colorado individuals.
Goal for Colorado: To promote growth and prosperity for Colorado and all Coloradans.
"If you are not free to choose wrongly and irresponsibly, you are not free at all." - Jacob Hornberger (1995)
