Eric Brody

Like a solid majority of Americans, I agree with the Supreme Court’s 1992 affirmation of Roe v. Wade. It states: “Our law affords constitutional protection to personal decisions relating to marriage, procreation, contraception, family relationships, child rearing, and education…Our cases recognize the right of the individual, married or single, to be free from unwarranted governmental intrusion into matters so fundamentally affecting a person as the decision whether to bear or beget a child.”

Neutral

In 2021, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed its requirement that a doctor conduct an in-person consultation before prescribing the abortion drug mifepristone. An abundance of studies had shown the drug to be safe and effective and the FDA determined that the old restrictions were unnecessary. Requirements for continued reporting on reactions and outcomes are fine. However, insistence on unnecessary restrictions appears to be a ploy to obstruct access to the drug.

Disagree

Planned Parenthood provides an array of important health services and government support is appropriate.

Agree

A Fiscal Note that Colorado’s nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff produced this year notes that under Colorado law, “a mentally competent, terminally ill patient who resides in Colorado with a prognosis of less than 6 months may receive medical aid-in-dying by following a qualifying procedure.” These conditions on the allowability of medical aid in dying are appropriate and I support this law.

Strongly Agree

While I strongly agree in principle that “free enterprise” (along with private property) is an essential element of a productive economic system, I also support regulation that protects consumers and the public and makes appropriate provision for externalities. It is important to pay attention to ensure that regulations are performing effectively in the public interest and that they be subject to revision as appropriate.

Economists disagree about minimum wage laws both in principle and with regard to specifics. A high minimum can reduce the availability of low-wage employment in one place and be fine in another. I pay attention to the details.

Yes

Last July, Institutional Investor reported that on the whole, ESG funds perform the same as non-ESG funds. However, “impact funds” – a subset of ESG funds composed of companies that are more intentional about achieving social and environmental outcomes – perform less well than the market as a whole. It is appropriate for managers of public monies to invest in ESG assets that are competitive with non-ESG assets.

It would of course be wrong to persecute a church. At the same time, however, we are a nation of laws. It is appropriate that religious entities abide by the same public health and safety standards as their nonreligious counterparts, and temporary closure can be an appropriate step.

Neutral

“Individuals AND businesses” is too broad. The First Amendment’s explicit free speech protection implicitly encompasses individuals’ right to free association. However, businesses are not people. While their owners and executives of course have their personal moral and/or religious beliefs, the inanimate business entity does not. I recognize that courts have granted businesses the right to discriminate on the basis of moral and/or religious beliefs. I disagree with such decisions.

B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options.

Schools and entities that serve the sick and/or vulnerable should always be allowed to require vaccination (with medical and non-medical exemptions available). Government and private entities should be allowed in the context of medical emergencies.

Strongly Agree

There can be no question that the People's Republic of China poses a range of serious threats to the United States. In addition to the measures that the United States can undertake on its own to address these threats, it is important that the U.S. coordinate with allies and friendly nations in the region.

The relationship between the United States and Israel is very important. Israel is the most democratic state in the Middle East and North Africa. It is also an economic powerhouse. And the United States of course has long-standing strategic and cultural history with Israel. All of that said, the conduct of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government has created difficult challenges for the United States. American policy toward the region must be both strong and nuanced.

Strongly Agree

After months of negotiations with colleagues across the aisle, early this year Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford released a very strong border security bill. The 45th president, having emerged as the likely Republican presidential nominee, exhorted his Congressional allies to help his candidacy by killing the bill, which they did. It is outrageous that so many who shout about the situation at the border refuse to acknowledge this.

Disagree

In cases in which a student has special needs that can best be met outside of the public school system, it is appropriate that the state allocate resources to assist such students. As a general rule, however, the state should strive to enhance public education, not undermine it by diverting resources elsewhere.

Neutral

I reject the wording of this question. At a superficial level, one can only agree with it. However, the subtext that emerges clearly from the rhetoric of certain activists is that all who accept people who are transgender and are compassionate toward children experiencing gender dysphoria are “groomers.” Decent and sensible people distinguish between legitimate concern on the one side and pursuit of an abusive anti-trans agenda on the other. We address these issues in fair-minded ways.

Agree

With the exception of cases of abusive parenting, parents should indeed have the right to make decisions for their minor children. However, parents should not have the right to make decisions for other parents’ minor children.

Agree

The federal Medicaid program includes a set of benefits that are mandatory for states to provide. These include (among others): inpatient and outpatient hospital services, physician services, laboratory and x-ray services. States have discretion as to whether to cover optional services, such as (among others) physical and occupational therapy. Colorado’s Medicaid program appropriately covers gender transition services.

Neutral

Marriage has different definitions for different people. Those who uphold marriage as a holy sacrament between one man and one woman do so without interference from government. At the same time, marriage is a contract under civil law and no religious community has authority to impose its understanding of marriage on the wider society.

I am in broad agreement with teachings that are common among the great religious and ethical traditions. Principal among these is the Golden Rule, which in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus proclaimed as follows: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Our world would be far better were fewer people to elevate supernatural beliefs and other dogmas over the foundational values of compassion, forgiveness, and love.

Agree

Colorado has a very secure voting system. Photo identification is required for in-person voting. However, the overwhelming majority of voters mail in their ballots or drop them off. Voters sign the envelope that contains the ballot and election authorities match the signature against the one on the voter’s driver’s license or state identification card. This system works very well.

Agree

Under our Electoral College system, a handful of battleground states determine the outcome of the presidential election. In all of the other states, it is clear well in advance of the election which nominee will win in that state. This reality renders the choice that many individual voters in those states make almost meaningless. Every presidential vote ought to be meaningful in EVERY state, not just the battleground states. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact would make them so.

From the 2024 DHS threat assessment: [Domestic Violent Extremists]…are increasingly calling for and carrying out physical attacks against critical infrastructure, particularly the energy sector…[Racially/Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists] promoting accelerationism—an ideology that seeks to destabilize society and trigger a race war—have encouraged mobilization against lifeline and other critical functions, including attacks against the energy, communications, and public health sectors.

Neutral

I disagree with the most strident and expansive tenets of CRT. Not ALL American institutions are FUNDAMENTALLY racist. Not ALL disparities between blacks and whites are caused by discrimination. However, racism does persist in our institutions, including the criminal justice and healthcare systems, housing markets, and in hiring/firing decisions. Not everywhere, but significantly. People of decency and sense ought to acknowledge and address this sad reality, rather than deny and ignore it.

Neutral

Decent and sensible people reach solutions with regard to the presence and participation of transgender women in spaces and sports designated for women. Objection to participation in individual sports is entirely understandable considering the physical advantages the athlete may have attained through puberty. Participation in team sports may be acceptable. Objections to bathroom use often seem more about rejection than about legitimate concerns. Let’s elevate facts over fear-mongering.

It is urgent that we address the reality of climate change. Environmental laws and regulations are necessary. Whether a “stricter” law and/or regulation is necessary and cost/effective will vary from case to case. Generalizations are unhelpful. An all-of-the-above approach to power generation will be necessary for some time to come. As renewable and nuclear energy scale up, fossil fuel development may scale down.

Fossil fuels are currently the most reliable energy source. Long term, we will meet our growing demand with renewable sources (geothermal, solar, wind, and hydroelectric) and nuclear energy, possibly including fission reactors by century’s end.

No.

No.

Our government exists to do as the preamble to the Constitution enumerates: Establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

Lean Liberal

I find labels and assessments like this to be unhelpful. The terms mean different things to different people with respect to different policy areas. Consider that the views of a person who identifies as libertarian might to some observers be considered “liberal” and to others “conservative.” I select “lean liberal” because I believe in a vigorous role for the government to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty.

Disagree

I support robust funding for police departments, particularly for hiring and training forces of appropriate size. Funding of community programs should not come at the expense of police funding.

I agree with responsible gun owners who understand the need for measures like these: • Minimum age of 21 to own a firearm • No high-capacity magazines • Background check and/or permit requirement • Concealed carry requirement • Secure storage requirement • Felons prohibited from owning • Prohibition on ownership after a violent offense, domestic abuse, or stalking conviction • Prohibition on ownership while under a restraining order

Choose not to answer

I have found valid arguments on both sides of this question. On the pro side, a handful of incidents suggest that this concept could work. On the con side, other incidents suggest that the arming of teachers could prove disastrous. Consider also that the risk/benefit profile of allowing teachers to carry guns at school might look different in a rural community with slower law enforcement response times than for a suburban or urban community. I will give further thought to this question.