AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY-COLORADO

2018 LEGISLATIVE
REVIEW
Defining the Pinnacle of Prosperity
TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEFINING THE PINNACLE OF

PROSPERITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

OUR PRIORITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

WHO STOOD FOR PROSPERITY. . . . . 9

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DEFINING THE PINNACLE
OF PROSPERITY
Americans for Prosperity-Colorado’s (AFP-CO) mission is to
transform Colorado by educating and mobilizing communities
of people toward policies that increase individual freedom
and opportunity.

On January, 26, 2018, AFP-CO released our legislative priorities

highlighting six key policy areas the Chapter would focus on
during the legislative session: pensions, occupational licensing,
energy, education, TABOR, and transportation. As recognition
for the twenty-two legislators who consistently supported
freedom, The Pinnacle of Prosperity Award was given to those
legislators who stood with us and our grassroots activists across
the state at critical points in the legislative process.

The votes referenced in this book highlight the policy areas that
were used to determine a legislator’s alignment with AFP-CO’s
priorities. Our grassroots lobbying activities, digital ads and
phone calls across the state centered around the following pieces
of legislation: SB18-193, SB18-236, SB18-088, HB18-1312,
HB18-1298, SB18-216, and SB18-118.

AFP-CO would like to recognize the legislators listed in this

book who stood for freedom by sponsoring legislation, voting
in committee, and voting on the floor of the legislature. The
recipients of The Pinnacle of Prosperity Award (noted by an
award icon) advocated for all Coloradans by allowing economic
freedom to flourish, empowering businesses and individuals to
innovate and support their communities.

Please join us in thanking the following legislators for their support!

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AFP-COLORADO’S PRIORITIES

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OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING REFORM
SB18-193 | Limit State Occupational Regulations | SUPPORT
SB18-236 | Impose Least Restrictive Regulations | SUPPORT
Colorado requires licenses—essentially government permission slips—for 34 lower-income
occupations. The average occupational license requires 260 days of education and costs $344
in fees, making them difficult for aspiring workers to obtain. Americans for Prosperity-
Colorado actively supported these bills, which would make it easier for those who want to start
their own business or get a job. Both bills passed the Senate but were defeated in the House.

DEFENDING TABOR
SB18-088 | Unconstitutional Revenue Collection | OPPOSE
Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) is the crown jewel of state policy that limits
how much the legislature can spend and limits their ability to raise taxes. TABOR curbs
government spending and is an aspect of why our state economy is one of the strongest in
the country. Americans for Prosperity-Colorado aggressively opposed SB18-088, which
circumvents TABOR and increases taxes without a vote of the people. SB18-088 passed both
chambers and was signed into law by the Governor.
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PROTECTING A FREE & OPEN INTERNET
HB18-1312 | Government Intervention of Colorado’s Internet | OPPOSE
Americans for Prosperity opposes any attempt to enact net neutrality. Government
intervention into how the internet functions is unnecessary and counterproductive.
Americans for Prosperity-Colorado actively opposed HB18-1312—a bill which sought to
impose net neutrality within Colorado. HB18-1312 passed the House and was defeated in
the Senate.

DEFENDING THE PRIVATE SECTOR AGAINST GOVERNMENT OVERREACH

HB18-1298 | Government-Planned Savings | OPPOSE
Proposed legislation would have required small businesses to enroll their employees in a
retirement savings plan directed by a politically-appointed board. Americans for Prosperity-
Colorado opposed this unnecessary government overreach into the private sector. Employers
should have the freedom to offer what benefits they see fit, and employees should have the
freedom to plan their own savings without direction from the government. HB18-1298
passed the House and was defeated in the Senate.
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KEEPING ENERGY COSTS AFFORDABLE IN COLORADO
SB18-216 | Taxpayer-funded Electric Vehicle Charging Stations | OPPOSE
Colorado’s energy policy should ensure energy remains reliable and affordable. This is why
Americans for Prosperity-Colorado aggressively opposed a bill that would have allowed utility
companies to force utility-consumers to fund the building of electric vehicle charging stations.
SB18-216 was defeated in the Senate.

PROTECTING EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM

SB18-118 | Removal of Due Process for Charters | OPPOSE
Colorado families deserve the freedom to choose the education that best fits their child’s
unique learning styles. Americans for Prosperity-Colorado opposed SB18-118, legislation
that sought to limit important appeal rights from charter school applicants. SB18-118 was
defeated in the Senate.

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WHO VOTED FOR PROSPERITY

EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM
SENATORS

COSTS AFFORDABLE
PROTECTING A FREE
LICENSING REFORM

DEFENDING TABOR

& OPEN INTERNET

KEEPING ENERGY
PRIVATE SECTOR
DEFENDING THE
OCCUPATIONAL

PROTECTING
Senator (District) SB193 SB88 HB1312 HB1298 SB216 SB118
SB236

Baumgardner, Randy (8)   - -  -

Cooke, John (13)   -   -
Coram, Don (6)  x - - - -
Crowder, Larry (35)  x - - - -
Gardner, Bob (12)  x - - - 
Grantham, Kevin (2)  x - - - -
Hill, Owen (10)  -  - - 
Holbert, Chris (30)   - - - -
Lambert, Kent (9)   - - - -
Lundberg, Kevin (15)   - - - -
Marble, Vicki (23)     - -
Martinez Humenik, Beth (24)  x - - - -
Neville, Tim (16)   - - - 
Priola, Kevin (25)  x - - x 
Scott, Ray (7)   - -  -
Smallwood, Jim (4)   - - - -
Sonnenberg, Jerry (1)     - -
Tate, Jack (27)  x - - - -
your legislator stood for prosperity x your legislator did not stand for prosperity - your legislator didn’t have a chance to vote on the legislation
Pinnacle of Prosperity Award-Winner
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WHO VOTED FOR PROSPERITY

EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM
REPRESENTATIVES

COSTS AFFORDABLE
PROTECTING A FREE
LICENSING REFORM

DEFENDING TABOR

& OPEN INTERNET

KEEPING ENERGY
PRIVATE SECTOR
DEFENDING THE
OCCUPATIONAL

PROTECTING
Representative (District) SB193 SB088 HB1312 HB1298 SB216 SB118
SB236

Becker, Jon (65)     - -

Beckman, Susan (38)     - -
Buck, Perry (49)     - -
Carver, Terri (20)     - -
Catlin, Marc (58) - x -  - -
Covarrubias, Phil (56) -    - -
Everett, Justin (22)     - -
Humphrey, Stephen (48)     - -
Landgraf, Lois (21) -   - - -
Lawrence, Polly (39) - x   - -
Leonard, Timothy (25)     - -
Lewis, Kimmi (64)     - -
Liston, Larry (16) -    - -
Lundeen, Paul (19)     - -
McKean, Hugh (51) -    - -
Neville, Patrick (45)     - -
your legislator stood for prosperity x your legislator did not stand for prosperity - your legislator didn’t have a chance to vote on the legislation
Pinnacle of Prosperity Award-Winner

Bills SB18-216 and SB18-118 did not advance out of chamber of origin.

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WHO VOTED FOR PROSPERITY
REPRESENTATIVES

EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM
COSTS AFFORDABLE
PROTECTING A FREE
LICENSING REFORM

DEFENDING TABOR

& OPEN INTERNET

KEEPING ENERGY
PRIVATE SECTOR
DEFENDING THE
OCCUPATIONAL

PROTECTING
Representative (District) SB193 SB088 HB1312 HB1298 SB216 SB118
SB236

Rankin, Bob (57) - x   - -

Ransom, Kim (44)     - -
Reyher, Judy (47) -    - -
Saine, Lori (63)     - -
Sandridge, Shane (14)     - -
Sias, Lang (27) -    - -
Thurlow, Dan (55) - x   - -
Van Winkle, Kevin (43)     - -
Willett, Yeulin (54) -    - -
Williams, Dave (15)     - -
Wilson, James (60) -    - -
Winkler, Alexander (34) - -   - -
Wist, Cole (37) -    - -
your legislator stood for prosperity x your legislator did not stand for prosperity - your legislator didn’t have a chance to vote on the legislation
Pinnacle of Prosperity Award-Winner

Bills SB18-216 and SB18-118 did not advance out of chamber of origin.

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