Amy Paschal
District 18 - Democratic Party
How does your experience make you qualified to represent the people?
During my first term as Representative for House District 18, I passed 19 bills into law, nearly two-thirds of
which were bipartisan. I believe I’ve demonstrated that I understand how to craft bills with broad
acceptance and that I’m willing and able to reach across the aisle.I serve on the Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee, the Energy and the
Environment Committee and the Joint Technology Committee.
Previous to government service, I spent 20 years in the software/computer industry as a software
engineer and project manager and 15 years as a stay-at-home mom, raising my children and volunteering
in their school and in our community. I’m the daughter of two very elderly parents and have walked with
them as they’ve struggled with the aging process. I’m also a wife of 34 years to the most supportive
husband on the planet.
I’m a representative who focuses on creating practical solutions to real problems, not on culture wars and
political theatre. As an engineer, I take a disciplined approach to problem solving, creating
evidence-based solutions and repeatedly refining those solutions based on measured results. I listen to
my constituents and work hard on their behalf to create tangible results that impact their daily lives.
What are your top policy priorities?
I have two young adult children. They and their peers express a sense of hopelessness I believe stems
from a lack of opportunity. The cost of housing, education, and healthcare have skyrocketed while wages
have remained stagnant. It’s no wonder we are also in the midst of a mental health crisis as many feel
they are failing. They’re not failing - they are fighting a broken system. We owe them better than that. We
must strengthen the ladders of opportunity that have traditionally been the path to a vibrant middle class - great schools, affordable housing, and well-paying jobs.
Further, we must invest in the infrastructure including the energy infrastructure needed to catch up and
keep up with our rapid growth, but do so in a way that’s both economically and environmentally
responsible.
What is one issue you think is being overlooked in this race, and how would you address it?
I believe a major issue in Colorado right now is the state budget and what I believe can legitimately be
called a structural deficit. I’ve served two sessions in the General Assembly and have already seen three
budget crises. I believe there are two major causes: government inefficiency and insufficient funding.
Over the last six months we’ve had two state department directors removed from office for what I would
call poor management that resulted in inefficiently run departments and a waste of taxpayer dollars. As a
member of the Joint Technology Committee, I helped flag one such department for restructuring and deny a $5.2 million dollar wasteful budget request.
On the flip side, I believe our state funding is insufficient to deliver the services Coloradans demand
especially with regard to quality public schools, well maintained infrastructure including roads, and a
safety net for our most vulnerable such as the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled community.
I’m a big fan of the graduated income tax initiative in the signature phase right now that will lower income tax for 95% of all Coloradans while increasing revenue and not impacting TABOR refunds. I believe such a change would not only make our tax policy more fair, but also deliver the services Coloradans want.
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