Here follows the text of the email I sent to the members of the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee in opposition to HB 18-1001 the FAMLI Family Medical Leave Insurance Program.

If you oppose this bill as well, please contact the legislators listed below and voice your opposition. Thanks!

Dear Representative [Name]:

I am writing to you today in opposition of HB 18-1001 the FAMLI Family Medical Leave Insurance Program.

I oppose this bill for two reasons.

First, providing any type of insurance is not a proper function of government. Where there is a demand, private companies offer family leave benefits as part of compensation packages designed to attract qualified employees, and other private alternatives exist. Government has no business providing these types of benefits to anyone.

Second, in a world where words mean things, any money taken by government force to fund government programs is a TAX, not a “premium” or a “fee”. Calling something a “premium” with the clear intent of avoiding the requirement of a vote of the taxpayers under our Colorado Constitution is misleading at best and dishonest at worst. This tax represents a 21% increase in the income tax rate paid by Coloradans. There is no assurance it would stay at the “initial” rate of 0.99%. It can be raised at will by a government bureaucrat without any input from the citizens, again a clear violation of TABOR.

If the citizens of our great state REALLY want to tax themselves to create a family medical leave insurance program, let them vote on it. Please vote “No” on HB 18-1001.

Thank you.

Richard Turnquist

February 6, 2018

Members of the Business Affairs and Labor Committee

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