Economic Vitality - Job Growth
As a champion of small business,
State Representative Mike May has worked hard to reduce the burdensome
red tape and government regulations placed on small business and create
a Colorado Economy that brings in new jobs. Mike received a 90% rating
by the National Federation of Independent Businesses for his support of
small business.Quality
Education
Through competition and
excellence in education, Mike May believes that Colorado can best serve
the needs of our students. That's why he supported legislation that
gives parents more choices over their child's education
Teen Safety
A strong voice for Teen Driver
Safety, Mike pushed for requirements for more stringent Teen Driver's
training and led the fight for passenger limitations for new teen
drivers.
Transportation Needs
Sustainable funding
(both revenue and debt) are necessary to meet the state’s transportation
needs (whether it be the $100 billion wish list or something a little
less – it’s still going to be a big number). Exacerbating the problem
is our current gas tax which is calculated by the gallon rather than
sales, so that as vehicles become more fuel efficient our tax base for
transportation declines proportionately. This a long term structural
defect in our road funding which needs to be fixed. Adjusting to a
sales method (on gasoline purchases) rather than per gallon – with no
near-term change in revenue collected – would allow the tax base to grow
naturally with the economy. Mike May was the prime sponsor of
legislation that created a Regional Transportation Authority for the
Denver Metro area (2005). This allows county and local governments to
band together to solve regional transportation needs. The law also
ensured that should regional governments participate in projects,
planned state funds could not be reduced or diverted (this is for metro
area as well as the rest of the state). The first use of the RTA in the
metro area appears likely as an alternative to the State’s plan for toll
lanes on C-470. With federal mandates and other restrictions on state
funds, the regional partnership model will be the most effective
in the future, with the State as a significant partner.
Water
Parker Water has done an outstanding job of working with other regional
interests to ensure water supply for this community while mitigating any
damage to other communities (the so-called fallowing bill this past
session was developed by Parker Water). The state water panel recently
formed is also making some progress. In the end, though, we need to
store what belongs to us for use by citizens of this state with as
little environmental impact as possible. Like transportation,
we’ll have to develop regional projects primarily managed by local folks
with input and support from the state. Parker’s new reservoir, coming
on line soon, uses that model (without state support, however) and now
includes several other communities such as Castle Rock.
Health Care
The State House
minority office staff has spend much of the summer (when not in special
session) reviewing law in all 50 states. Mike May's instructions to
them were that it’s not good enough for Republicans to just say no every
time Brand X proposes universal health care – we have to have a workable
market-based plan that can provide every citizen access to adequate
health insurance coverage – with several entry levels. Mike May has
pulled a bill title based upon that research, and will be prepared to
engage in discussions for real solutions with my colleagues from the
other side of the aisle as well as the new Governor.
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