By Jen Schumann | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
A second Trump presidency has sparked significant concerns among some Colorado Democrats. They cite fears over federal overreach, social policy rollbacks and economic instability.
Left-leaning Colorado news media and Democrat politicians are sparing no time and revving up the fear-mongering engine.
Last week, Gov. Polis and his co-chair received national attention for launching “Governors Safeguarding Democracy” to fight against President Trump’s policies.
Polis stated, “We want to make sure that the American people can be certain that the elections are safe, that the separation of the courts and powers is safe, and that governors exert the powers that we have as states to make sure that we can protect freedoms and make sure that no federal government can get in the way of our constitutional rights.”
A closer look at the issues they’re targeting reveals an uncomfortable truth. It’s the radical left policies under Democrat leadership that beckon scrutiny.
President Trump has vowed to dismantle government overreach through his Agenda 47 platform. As he puts it, “I will shatter the Deep State, and restore government that is controlled by the People.” President Trump tasked Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to run the Department of Government Efficiency. Their charge? They must cut federal spending by $2 trillion by July 4, 2026.
In contrast, Colorado’s leadership raises questions over its overreach. It cut projected TABOR refunds by $3 billion during the 2024 session.
Rollback of social policies
Colorado Democrats are raising the alarm about the potential rollback of progressive policies, claiming same-sex marriage and gender rights are in danger. They have conveniently ignored how their policies exclude parental rights and harm children.
Take, for example, the documentary authored earlier this year by former state Sen. Kevin Lundberg and Colorado parents Erin and Jon Lee. It shares the story of how their 12-year-old daughter was entrapped by gender identity indoctrination and state laws in a Colorado public school. Art Club 2024 demonstrated a Colorado family’s fight to maintain parental rights despite the institutionalized ideology that almost drove their middle school daughter to suicide.
Even LGBTQ+ advocacy groups such as Gays Against Groomers with Denverite Rich Guggenheim are opposing the sexualization, indoctrination and mutilation of children under the guise of LGBTQIA+ activism.
President Trump has responded to this crisis by vowing to:
- End all programs that promote sex and gender transition at any age. This applies to all federal agencies, including the Department of Education.
- Make it clear that Title IX prohibits men from participating in women’s sports.
- Protect the boundaries of parental rights and ensure they control their children’s education, healthcare and moral formation.
- Impose standards on American colleges and universities. This includes defending the American tradition and Western civilization and protecting free speech. He will cut wasteful admin jobs that raise costs and remove all DEI bureaucrats.
President Trump also stated, “I will direct the Department of Justice to pursue federal civil rights cases against schools that continue to engage in racial discrimination. And schools that persist in explicit unlawful discrimination under the guise of equity will not only have their endowment taxed, but through budget reconciliation, I will advance a measure to have them fined up to the entire amount of their endowment.”
Threats to abortion rights
The reversal of Roe v. Wade during Trump’s first term returned abortion policy to the states. Despite this fact, Colorado Democrats campaigned on the claim that a second Trump presidency would threaten abortion rights.
Coloradans recently voted to pass Amendment 79. This amendment establishes a constitutional right to abortion at the state level. It also removes the ban on public funding for abortion services.
While Democrats celebrate this as a victory, the fiscal implications deserve scrutiny.
State officials say Amendment 79 has no fiscal impact. It codifies existing laws. But if Colorado lawmakers try to capitalize on the removed funding ban, state spending will increase.
Key areas of potential impact include:
- Medicaid Expansion: Covering abortion services under Medicaid could increase expenditures if demand rises.
- State Employee Plans: Adding abortion coverage to state health plans may further strain the budget.
Colorado’s healthcare spending, which has grown 429% over 20 years, now consumes 37% of the state’s appropriations.
Democrats could raise healthcare costs by funding abortion via Amendment 79. Though 39% of Coloradans voted against the measure, they face the threat of shouldering a financial burden under it.
Appointment of Controversial Figures
Colorado Democrats are concerned about Trump’s potential appointments. They fear that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s, vaccine skepticism could harm trust in health institutions. But recent research lends weight to Kennedy’s calls for transparency.
A review by Steve Kirsch found 73% of COVID vaccine-autopsy deaths linked to heart issues, like sudden cardiac death and blood clots. Now published after censorship, the study recommends a Class I recall of the vaccines due to serious health risks.
Such findings support Kennedy’s call for stricter oversight of Big Pharma and public health agencies.
President Trump is in agreement. He stated, “Every year, we spend hundreds of billions of dollars to treat these chronic problems rather than looking at what is causing them in the first place. Too often, our public health establishment is too close to Big Pharma — they make a lot of money, Big Pharma — big corporations, and other special interests, and does not want to ask the tough questions about what is happening to our children’s health. If Big Pharma defrauds American patients and taxpayers or puts profits above people, they must be investigated and held accountable.”
Critics fear Kennedy’s appointment could polarize public health debates. But, his focus on accountability matches Colorado’s need to fix its failing healthcare system, consuming 37% of the state budget.
Immigration Policies
Colorado Democrats argue that Trump’s immigration policies could hurt the state’s diverse communities and economy. They fear deportations, family separations and the effects on industries that rely on immigrant labor.
Supporters say Trump’s policies aim for fairness, safety, fiscal responsibility and the rule of law.
In May 2024, six Colorado counties sued to challenge state laws HB19-1124 and HB23-1100. They include Douglas, El Paso, Elbert, Garfield, Mesa and Rio Blanco counties.
The counties argue that Colorado laws restrict local collaboration with federal immigration authorities.
A quarter of the state’s residents live in these counties. They assert that these laws compromise public safety and infringe on their constitutional rights to intergovernmental collaboration.
A Trump administration could provide federal support for these counties. It would align with his emphasis on enforcing the law and local-federal collaboration.
President Trump vows to address illegal immigration by:
- Stopping federal agencies from granting automatic citizenship to the children of illegal aliens.
- Ending welfare for illegal immigrants.
- Restoring all Trump border policies and fully secure the border.
President Trump asserts, “The most important reform needed right now is a total ban on Biden using taxpayer dollars to free illegal aliens — and criminal penalties for administrative noncompliance, which happens every single minute of every single day.”
While Colorado Democrats fixate on Trump’s federal policies, a crisis looms at home under their watch. Unchecked spending and overreach threaten Colorado’s public safety and fiscal health.
Leveraging fears of Trump’s comeback looks more like an attempt to shift the blame from their own misguided actions.
Colorado’s economic and social challenges demand immediate local action, not a federal critique. With Trump advocating for state autonomy through his America First agenda, Colorado’s leaders have a chance to pivot. But first, they must confront their own governance failures.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.