Season Chapter Three of the Real Advocates of the Colorado Capitol
If 2024’s election results spurred you to take action, this is your hub for ways to tap in.
Don’t worry; we’re not writing a book (maybe when we retire). This year, we’re here to help you understand how the legislative session works, chat about the bills we are working on, and what legislators to watch…… we might have a couple of rants too. You can always catch up by reading the blogs below or checking out updates on our socials.
Between Jan. 8 and May 7, our team will be fighting for the Youth Agenda under the Capitol dome. This year, thanks to our electoral work, we’ve got New Era AF Certified Youth Agenda Champions in office who are willing to put in the work to invest in our future. Young people have always been at the forefront of justice movements, and we’re ready to do it again.
First time dipping your toes in the political waters? Want to help fight for the Youth Agenda? Want to play bingo with us so we can laugh about the state of politics together? We’ve got you covered.
Latest Updates
- April 24 VIDEO: Tax the rich!
- April 22 ARTICLE: ‘Online safety’ bill threatens inclusivity, youth civic engagement | OPINION
- April 22 VIDEO: Pass the Worker Protection Act!
- April 17 VIDEO: Testifying remotely to challenge TABOR’s constitutionality!
- April 15 VIDEO: Tax Day Rally calling for the wealthy to pay what they owe!
- April 3 VIDEO: Breaking down the proposed budget cuts.
- Feb. 25 BLOG + VIDEO: UNCENSORED: Testimony against wage cuts for tipped workers
- Feb. 10 BLOG: Colorado can – and should – lead the way in voting rights
- Feb. 6 VIDEO: Once a Youth Agenda champ, always a Youth Agenda champ
- Feb. 3 VIDEO: Testifying to protect our freedom to marry ⬇️
- Jan. 27 BLOG: How losing by 3 votes will inspire you to win
- Jan. 23 VIDEO: Fighting back against Trump’s immigration policies
- Jan. 16 VIDEO: Budget Cuts + Fiscal Policy ⬇️
- Jan. 13 BLOG: State and local politics remain critical levers for driving progressive change in our country.
- Dec. 23 SOCIAL POST: The Budget Mess
- Dec. 11 VIDEO: The Worker Protection Act ⬇️
Fairer taxes = brighter futures
We hear you – you’re broke. Our generation is tired of low wages, high rent, student debt loans we can’t pay off, and expensive healthcare costs. We demand a future where community leaders can actually fund health care, education, and housing through a fairer tax system that doesn’t just benefit the wealthy..
Right now, the wealthy dodge their fair share of paying into our communities while the rest of us are left struggling to make ends meet.
It’s not our fault we’re broke. We’re broke because of the state’s rigged tax system. We’re broke because Colorado chooses to underfund its own communities instead of asking the wealthy to pay their fair share!
The only way we can fix this is by doing it together. Get hype to take action with our economic justice playlist.
Colorado is Broke AF
Colorado is projected to cut $1.2 billion from the state budget primarily driven by our current tax system (*cough* TABOR and recent property tax cuts *cough*). On top of that, the federal government is playing chicken with our livelihoods (see: tax cuts for billionaires and corporations, federal budget cuts, and tariffs). Inevitably, programs that young Coloradans rely upon will be cut. But it doesn’t have to be this way! We have the power to protect our state from the impending harm.
Colorado’s tax policy is super outdated. It was made up (by another rich white man) to keep all of us, especially young Black and brown people, out of the conversation and let rich people control the flow of money. Passed in 1992 and written by Douglas Bruce (the evil mastermind and aforementioned rich white man), TABOR’s restrictive policies don’t represent our economy or most eligible voters now.
TABOR: Tired and Broke on Repeat
Our constitution currently forces our state and local government to cap any money raised for state programs based on inflation and population and limits the legislature’s ability to raise revenue. This formula does not take into account the lived reality of our communities and underestimates the real costs of a growing state.
Colorado is the only state with a constitutional revenue cap, forcing some of the lowest K-12 funding in the nation and limiting our ability to respond to crises like COVID-19, wildfires, and rising housing costs. With less spending in comparison to the population on public services than most states, we’re left with crumbling infrastructure, expensive college tuition, and underfunded health care.
Even when revenue increases are voter-approved, they can only be used for specific purposes stated on the ballot and cannot be allocated to other programs, even if there is an urgent need. What does that mean for you? If there’s an economic downturn or a wildfire emergency, lawmakers can’t reallocate money to help use excess money raised from taxes for another purpose. You can shift money around in your personal budget when emergencies happen, but our state can’t.
The Solution: REFORM TABOR!
We need our tax code reformed immediately in order to fund what we care about during the Trump era. Here’s our plan to get there:
- Question whether or not TABOR is constitutional. HJR25-1023 is a joint resolution that would allow for the courts to weigh in on whether TABOR is constitutional (the verdict we expect? Hell no). Our state legislators have the constitutional right to abide by their constituents and pass bills that Coloradans want–but they can’t pass anything right now because of our budget crisis. Email your legislators today and ask that they discuss this on the floor THIS legislative session.
- Remove the outdated TABOR requirement that places the tax burden on low- and middle-income folks (a.k.a. make the wealthy pay what they owe).
- Give our legislature the power to help us during an emergency.
NEC will be working hard and long to change our tax code, but it’s not going to be easy. Right now, even saying “TABOR” is taboo in Colorado’s general assembly. We need you to be part of this fight so we can fight off the oligarchy together!
The future we will see when we reform TABOR:
When the wealthy pay what they owe and share the tax burden with everyday people, we can fund programs that we all care about. This resolution would seek a legal ruling from a judge that could overturn or weaken TABOR. Meaning, we can put a stop to the top 1% paying the same income tax rate as everyone else and ensure Colorado can use revenue in economic emergencies. Everyone, especially young people, Black and brown communities, and workers, will see a Colorado that would fund education, housing, health care, transportation, parks, childcare, and infrastructure. We will see a more equitable, prosperous Colorado that would benefit all of us.
For far too long, the wealthy and one-percenters have drafted and created the rules for how and where we spend our money. Our tax system was created to restrict services and programs that Coloradans need. And in this economy, we NEED well-funded programs that everyday people rely on.
It’s time we rewrite these outdated rules that no longer work for us and build a new, equitable tax system to fund the future we dream of.
How it Works
Legislators have 120 days each year to make progress on the Youth Agenda and it’s our job to make sure it’s their priority. Bill-making is an extremely nuanced and thorough process. You can read more about how a bill becomes a law on the Colorado General Assembly’s website, but we recommend saving your eyes from glazing over and looking at this handy-dandy chart and video from the Office of Legislative Legal Services.
Advocating in the legislative session is a choose-your-own-adventure vibe. You can get involved in the bill-making process in several ways (listed in order of increasing effort – you choose what works for you!).
Stay updated.
The Real Advocates will keep you updated on our Youth Agenda policy priorities! Follow our Instagram and sign up to get our emails so you know when to take action on the issues you care about.
There will be a lottttt more bills introduced than the ones we talk about. Some are great; some are dumb, pointless, and scary. You can find all of them on the General Assembly’s website. If you want to stay in the loop on a specific bill, bookmark the link! As the bill progresses, you can find updated bill drafts, amendments, and where it’s headed next on its journey through the legislature.
You can also tune into the House and Senate chambers, along with all public committees (sometimes it gets real weird)! Just click this link to find what you’re looking for. If you prefer video over audio-only, the Colorado Channel is your go-to for anything happening in the full chambers! The Colorado Channel doesn’t stream committees, which is where the “Live Legislative Audio” section comes in. You can also use that section to listen to past hearings and sessions!
Contact your state Senator and Representative.
Find your state legislators by putting in your address at this link. Bonus points if you memorize their name and add them as a contact in your phone! Call ‘em, beep ‘em, send ‘em a message, set up a meeting. Don’t be afraid to tell them what you reallllllyyyy think. You’ve got a lot of ways to get in touch and urge them to support or oppose a bill you’re passionate about.
Remember: YOU are their constituent. That means they are responsible for addressing YOUR concerns (and if they’re not, let us know so we can have a niceeee lil’ convo with ‘em). You don’t need any professional experience to advocate for your community. All you need is life experience and a desire to make change!
Show up.
Lobby days at the Capitol are when groups of people supporting a cause flood the dome to talk to their legislators… and there is usually free food! These are a great way to dip your toes into the process with like-minded people. Register for One Colorado’s LGBTQIA+ lobby day here!
Lots of rallies happen during legislative session, too, to make sure lawmakers know what our communities care about.
Testify on a bill when it’s in committee.
The most impactful way to make change is sitting in front of a group of legislators and telling them your story. You don’t have to be the expert on every detail of the bill, that’s their job; Your lived experience is more than enough.
It might be intimidating to sit in a formal room and wait for your turn to speak, but remember that the legislators are everyday people and they’re likely bored, too (we’ve witnessed accidental naps and scrolling sessions in hearings). The best lawmakers give you a thumbs up for encouragement — plus, you’ll always have a pack of Real Advocates at your back.
The deets: You’ll have about three minutes to speak during a committee hearing, so it’s best to keep your story to one page. Be prepared to cut more just in case a lot of people sign up to speak because they might cut down on testimony time.
You’ll typically have to wait until the bill is scheduled for a committee hearing before you can sign up to testify. You’ve got three options:
- In person: *Cue the Jeopardy music as you await your turn at the mic* This option is GREAT if you’re able to spend some time at the Capitol! Legislators love listening to real people’s testimonies, and you can even try to chat with them after the hearing (unless they’re running to another one).
- Remotely via Zoom: This option is GREAT if you work from home or can stay online for a few hours but can’t make it to the Capitol building!
- Submit written testimony: This option is GREAT if public speaking makes you want to throw up! It doesn’t have to be long – just focus on getting your point across. The one downside with submitting written testimony is you can’t guarantee the committee members will actually read it (infuriating, right?). Pair that written testimony with an email and phone call, and they should hear or see at least one of them!
Play Bingo with Us
Sometimes, we can’t help but laugh about what happens under the golden dome. If you want to laugh at our political system while celebrating some wins, play bingo with us!
