Since convening last month, the Colorado General Assembly has made one thing clear: they know better than you how to run your restaurant, therapy practice, or classroom. They know better than you how to parent your children. And they know who you should vote for. If you disagree, there will be a price to pay.
The speed with which the Democratic majority has rammed through controversial social issues and special interest legislation might surprise Coloradans who were expecting road funding and the economy to take precedence. Should these overreaching bills become law, the majority may find itself headed for the minority in 2020. The damage done by these coercive laws, however, will last longer than a brief term in office. Onerous laws undermine the rule of law and the legitimacy of government as people, hard pressed to maintain their freedoms, are compelled to cross legal lines.
This week, the legislature advanced House Bill 1032 which would force charter schools to meet the state’s controversial sex education standards regardless of the concerns of parents, students, teachers, or school board members. If a school teaches the reproductive system as science, it would have no option but to wade into sexual experiences and transgenderism. Parents would not have to be notified about school programming regarding gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation that occurs outside of official sex education classes. The legislation makes it crystal clear: politicians know better than parents, educators, and charter school boards what should be taught in the classroom.
The legislature is also poised to interfere with the professional freedoms of psychiatrists and licensed mental health providers and the lives of their patients. House Bill 1129 would dictate what counseling professionals can say or not say in sessions with minors. For example, if a boy feels he is really a girl, a therapist could not help the child accept his body and male biology in a counseling session. Only counseling that provides “acceptance, support and understanding” of such feelings would be allowed by law. This bill is an attack on professional freedom and free speech. Its supporters clearly believe they know better than mental health professionals.
Politicians also know better than restaurant owners and their staff about how to serve drinks. Politicians know whether you should be offered a straw or not because the government should have power over such decisions. House Bill 1143 would forbid sit-down restaurants from giving plastic straws to customers unless asked. Enforcement may be problematic. Will the state send in undercover agents posing as cola drinkers or simply wait for an outraged anti-straw advocate to report malfeasance on a straw violation hotline? Even someone like me who doesn’t use straws may be tempted to start an underground straw syndicate to smuggle contraband into the hands of patrons who do not ask for the forbidden drink accoutrement.
More pernicious is the effort to disenfranchise Colorado voters. If Senate Bill 42 becomes law and the interstate compact goes into effect, Colorado’s Electoral College votes will be pledged to the national popular vote regardless of how the majority of Coloradans actually vote. Imagine this: A majority of Coloradans vote for the Democrat presidential contender, however, across the nation she only received 35 percent of the popular vote, while independent candidate Howard Schultz received 25 percent, and President Trump 40 percent. Colorado’s electoral votes would go to Trump instead. Would that be fair? Why bother voting for president when politicians believe they know better.
Sadly, there is no reason to believe that the Colorado legislature will stop here. If enthusiasm for the Green New Deal on the left is any indication of liberal ambitions, your health care, diet, transportation, housing, vacation, employment, electric bill, and take home pay are all up for grabs. After all, they know better than you how to run your life.
Krista Kafer is a weekly Denver Post columnist. Follow her on Twitter: @kristakafer.
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