KRDO 2020 Voter Guide: Carlos Lopez
Carlos Lopez is the Democrat candidate for Colorado State Senate District 35.
What is your top issue for the next legislative session, and how do you plan to fix it?
Lopez: My top issue for the next legislative session is getting more funding for K-12 education by changing the percentages of monies from the Marijuana Tax Fund. Colorado Revised Statute 39 - 28.8 - 203 states that the share of retail marijuana sales tax filed in the fiscal year is divided in three ways. I want to increase the 12.59% to a larger percent for schools.
How can the legislature address the state's housing and cost of living issues?
Lopez: The state legislature needs to create a law that incorporates a housing development strategy for affordable housing between the private and public sector. In order to alleviate costs, we would need to invest in a lucrative enterprise that pays for itself and also has surplus funds that can be used as a subsidy to help our struggling families.
Should COVID-19 be handled more at a local level or from a top-level approach in the state?
Lopez: I feel that COVID-19 needs a cooperative approach from both the local level and the state level. Decisions and policies should be made with a collective approach in which the needs of localities are taken into consideration with the larger needs of the state. Most importantly... decisions have to be made with sound science data backing government policies.
