What bill or bills are you most looking forward to working on in the 2021 session?

As we see the devastating effects of COVID-19 on our communities, I want to make sure Colorado builds back better, with bills that support increased access to our health-care system — not just fighting the virus, but addressing disparities the pandemic has exposed. Public education plays an important role, and I support increasing resources to schools and teachers and freeing them from onerous requirements that don’t make sense to impose this year. We will continue to work on criminal justice reform and police accountability. We will address climate change by reducing emissions, fighting plastic pollution, and increasing renewable energy.

After a proposal for a “public option”-style health care program in Colorado was derailed by the pandemic last year, do you anticipate that the proposal will be debated during this session? What’s your opinion on it?

Yes, we will see a public option. There are many groups at the negotiating table, so I am hopeful this year we can find a path forward that works for the people of Colorado, the business community and the health-care industry.

What is the issue on which you feel you have the biggest disagreement with
legislators on the other side of the aisle?

It has been frustrating to see my colleagues refuse to follow COVID safety protocols at our Capitol, to cast doubt on election integrity, and to support the insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol. It’s hard to find middle ground there.

On what issue or issues do you expect the two parties to be able to work across the aisle to accomplish something significant?

In Colorado we do a good job of bipartisanship. Last year over 90% of our bills had bipartisan support. Our police accountability measure (SB217) was a good example of that with only one no vote in the Senate. Personally I always seek support from the other side of the aisle and have found common ground on many issues involving vulnerable people in our population: children, foster youth, assault survivors, the disabled and the elderly.

In terms of economic recovery amid the pandemic, what’s the most important step the Legislature can take during this session?

Building back our economy will take several steps but as a working mother I will be particularly focused on making sure our childcare, preschool and K-12 public schools have the resources they need to return to in-person learning without jeopardizing the safety of our teachers, staff, and families.