The Metropolitan Voter Guide
Voting can be confusing. The government-provided blue book is not always
the most readable and understandable document. We want our readers to
be informed readers and informed voters. The following guide is intended
to make the voting process easier.
Senator Candidates | Amendments
| Referendums | County Clerk
Phone Numbers
Also available: The
MetOnline Election 2004 Info and Links
United States
Senator
Ken Salazar
Democrat
On Jobs and the Economy:
- Plans to address budget by enacting responsible tax cuts
- Plans to create jobs by ending
tax incentives that encourage companies to move business and jobs overseas
On Health Care:
- Plans to cover small business employess and the self-employed
- Plans to expand CHIP program and provide new tax credits to help parents
buy health insurance for their children
On Education:
- Plans to make college more affordable by increasing pell grant funding,
doubling the HOPE Scholarship tax credit, allowing multiple student loan
consolidations and eliminating student loan origination fees
Pete Coors
Republican
On Jobs and the Economy:
- Committed to reducing red tape, bureaucracy on business; simplifying
the tax code
- Believes in cutting taxes because Coloradans know how to spend their
own money
On Health Care:
- Supports efforts which would allow workers to use tax credits to purchase
their own health insurance if their employer does not offer it
- Plans to make access to primary care a priority
- Plans to expand community college nursing programs
On Education:
- Supports accountability and standards in public schools
Amendments
Amendment 34 - Construction Liability
If passed, would remove limits on a homeowner’s, ability to recover
damages when improvements to propoerty are not constructed in a “good
and workman-like” manner, such as limiting damages for pain and
suffering to $250,000. The amendment would also define such an improvement
as suitable for its purposes.
PROs
• Protects property owners by ensuring they can be fully compensated
for poor construction.
•Property owners will be eligible for compensation for the pain
and suffering caused by a defect.
CONs
• Some fear it will drive up the cost of housing, an increase in
lawsuits, and awards that result from those lawsuits.
• Anyone who makes improvements to a property, not just construction
professionals, can be sued.
Amendment 35 – Tobacco Tax
If passed, the tax on a pack of cigarettes would increase from 20 cents
to 84 cents. It would double the tax on other tobacco products 20 percent
to 40 percent. The new tax revenue will be used for health care services
and tobacco education. It would also continue funding levels for existing
programs as of Jan. 1.
PROs
• Funds will be provided to detect and treat cancer, heart and lung
diseases. More than $1 billion is spent in Colorado on treatment of smoking-related
diseases.
• Could prevent teens from smoking.
CONs
• Coloradoans who smoke a pack a day will each spend $234 more a
year.
• The tax increase could hit low-income smokers the most, who are
48 percent more likely to smoke.
Amendment 36 - Electoral College
Currently, the candidate with the majority of the state’s votes
receives all nine of Colorado’s electoral votes. Under this amendment,
the nine votes would be split proportionally according to the popular
vote, or actual votes cast. If passed, the change would apply to this
year’s election.
PROs
• The electoral vote will be more reflective of the popular vote.
• More people may be encouraged to vote because they will feel like
their vote matters.
CONs
• The state has only nine electoral votes and splitting those 5-4
or 6-3 may not be worth presidential candidates to bother campaigning
in Colorado.
• The amendment might allow third party candidates to win electoral
votes, which could leave the U.S. House of Representatives to decided
the next president.
Amendment 37- Renewable Energy
It would require certain Colorado utility companies to generate a portion
of their power from renewable sources by 2007. It limits the amount an
utility company can increase a resident’s energy bill to 50 cents
per month. It also allows a utility company to hold an election to either
exempt or include itself in the renewable energy requirement.
PROs
• Renewable sources are infinite.
• Electricity generated from renewable sources produces less pollution.
CONs
• Renewable energy is more expensive, which could lead to an increase
in energy prices.
• Utility companies are most likely to pass all of the extra cost
onto the consumer.
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Referendums
Referendum A - Personnel System
Would change the state’s civil service system by changing testing
and hiring procedures, exempting 140 state employees from the civil service
system, transfer oversight responsibilities and allow the legislature
to change certain polcies.
PROs
• System has not been changed significantly in 85 years and needs
to updated to keep pace with work environment of 21st century.
• Would hire individuals who are most qualified and not simply those
who perform best on tests.
CONs
• Gives governors and their administrations too much power by being
able to appoint 140 individuals that fall under the governor’s ideology.
• More contracting with private companies could outsource jobs to
other states and possibly countries.
Referendum B - Obsolete Provisions
This referendum would strike obsolete provisions and references to one-time
events in the state constitution.
PRO
• Will update the constitution and delete unconstitutional language
that can be confusing and misleading to readers.
CON
• The constitution will lose some historical significance and researching
state laws and understanding the current constitution will become more
difficult.
Referendum 4A - FasTracks
Would add 119 miles of new rail lines to Golden, Lakewood, Aurora, Arvada,
Boulder/Longmont, Commerce City, Northglenn, Denver International Airport,
Thornton; 18 miles of bus rapid transit along U.S. 36, expanded suburb-to-suburb
bus service throughout the region, 21,000 additional parking spaces; 31
new park-n-rides; 57 new transit stations and 24 percent more bus services.
It would increase the sales tax 4 cents on every dollar.
PROs
•Increased means of transportation.
• Improves business efficiency.
CONs
• Rail lines can be more dangerous than buses. .
• Opponents say the project costs too much.
Referendum 4B - SCFD Renewal
Would continue a tenth of a cent sales tax for the Scientific and Cultural
Facilities District, which funds 300 cultural groups each year in the
seven-county Denver metro area.
PROs
• Funding goes towards cultural events such as visiting art exhibits,
free days at the zoo, and the botanic gardens.
CONs
• Too many taxes already.
• Not everyone benefits from the tax, some people don’t go
to the zoo or museums.
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County Clerk
Phone Numbers
Adams: 303-654-6030
Alamosa: 719-589-6681
Arapahoe: 303-795-4511
Archuleta: 970-264-8350
Baca: 719-523-4372
Bent: 719-456-2009
Boulder: 303-413-7740
Broomfield: 303-464-5857
Chaffee: 719-539-6913
Cheyenne: 719-767-5685
Clear Creek: 303-679-2339
Conejos: 719-376-5422
Costilla: 719-672-3301
Crowley: 719-267-4643
Custer: 719-783-2441
Delta: 970-874-2150
Denver: 720-913-8683
Dolores: 970-677-2381
Douglas: 303-660-7444
Eagle: 970-328-8715
Elbert: 303-621-3127
El Paso: 719-575-8683
Fremont: 719-276-7332
Garfield: 970-945-2377
Gilpin: 303-582-5321
Grand: 970-725-3347 x114
Gunnison: 970-641-7927
Hinsdale: 970-944-2228
Huerfano: 719-738-2380
Jackson: 970-723-4334
Jefferson: 303-271-8111
Kiowa: 719-438-5421
Kit Carson: 719-346-8638
Lake: 719-486-1410
La Plata: 970-382-6296
Larimer: 970-498-7820
Las Animas: 719-846-3314
Lincoln: 719-743-2444
Logan: 970-522-1544
Mesa: 970-244-1662
Mineral: 719-658-2440
Moffat: 970-824-9104
Montezuma: 970-565-3728
Montrose: 970-249-3362
Morgan: 970-542-3521
Otero: 719-383-3024
Ouray: 970-325-4961
Park: 719-836-4333
Phillips: 970-854-3131
Pitkin: 970-920-5180
Prowers: 719-336-8011
Pueblo: 719-583-6620
Rio Blanco: 970-878-5068
Rio Grande: 719-657-3334
Routt: 970-870-5556
Saguache: 719-655-2512
San Juan: 970-387-5671
San Miguel: 970-728-3954
Sedgwick: 970-474-3346
Summit: 970-453-3479
Teller: 719-689-2951
Washington: 970-345-6565
Weld: 970-304-6530
Yuma: 970-332-5809
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