Colorado’s primaries were remarkable for the fervor they ignited among voters, and that’s a good thing.
It was heartening to see a record- high primary election turnout of more than 40 percent for Republicans and Democrats.
We hope those who have been so energized by the electoral process will use the next three months before the general election to press candidates for substantive answers on important issues facing Colorado and the nation.
It may be convenient to paint candidates as Tea Party favorites, or Obama sympathizers, but those labels don’t always define the policy distinctions that could — and should — make the real difference for voters.
In the governor’s race, these are some of the issues on which voters deserve more than platitudes:
• Budget: Colorado has struggled to balance its budget as revenues have fallen during the recession. Because of constitutional strictures and other constraints, lawmakers and the governor have limited alternatives when it comes to making ends meet. What would candidates do? Cut spending? Increase revenue? Where and how?
• Higher education: Support for the state’s higher education system is the one large budget area that is not protected in the state constitution, and it has taken significant hits during the recession. How would candidates address the higher education funding predicament?
• Immigration: States are clamoring for an Arizona-style immigration law that cracks down on illegal immigrants. The Colorado legislature passed strict restraints in 2006. Should more be done, including the state joining the federal Secure Communities program, in which locals cooperate with federal authorities to identify illegal immigrants booked into jail?
• Constitutional changes: Does Colorado need a broad constitutional fix, addressing at the minimum the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights and Amendment 23, to alleviate the state’s cyclical fiscal dilemmas?
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In the race for U.S. Senate, the issues are more varied but also begin with the budget.
• Structural deficit: Entitlements such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security must be reformed so these programs don’t consume the federal budget. How to do so is the question.
• Stimulus spending: The economic recovery has stalled, but is additional stimulus warranted? If not, what should government do to spur economic growth?
• Immigration: The never-ending controversy cries out for a compromise.
• Afghanistan: What if the military “surge” doesn’t work? Should the U.S. abandon the country to the Taliban?
• New Energy Economy: Is it worth pursuing? At what cost?
The next three months present an opportunity for voters to press candidates for answers on these and other issues. If they don’t, they shouldn’t be surprised if what they get instead is politics as usual.
