Affordability

From addressing the cost of housing and big corporations that rip off Coloradans with junk fees, to combating price gouging and ever-increasing insurance costs, Emily has been fighting for Colorado consumers, renters, homeowners, patients and taxpayers. Emily ended corporate tax giveaways, created the Colorado Child Tax Credit and boosted the state Earned Income Tax Credit; she banned junk fees from everyday purchases including rent; created the Universal Pre-K Program that is saving families an average of $6000 for their four-year-old; and boosted income for home care workers and child care workers. 

Healthcare

Affordable, accessible health care should be a right, not a privilege. A person’s ability to access quality, affordable health care should not be dependent upon one’s employment, income, or zip code. Emily has worked to lower prescription drug prices in Colorado, prevented insurance companies from interfering in the doctor-patient relationship, created the Colorado Option, supported the safety net, and brought transparency to hospital facility fees. 

Reproductive Rights

Emily has supported legislation to ensure that the government stays out of the relationship between the patient and the healthcare provider. Abortion rights are severely threatened in this country with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. But in Colorado, Emily has supported legislation that protects abortion rights, shields healthcare providers from prosecution from other states, and expands access to abortion for Medicaid patients. Emily will stand strong against the annual efforts of Republicans to roll back our rights to bodily autonomy. 

Workers

Emily has passed laws that ensure workers receive paid sick and family leave, cracked down on wage theft, and enacted collective bargaining rights. She co-sponsored the Worker Protection Act, and she supports legislation that strengthens the collective-bargaining rights of public and private sector workers, and laws that will prevent persecution against workers who form unions.

Environment

As the consequences of climate change continue to affect Colorado’s weather, air quality, public health, and economic growth, Emily understands why we need to take action to preserve our environment and our Colorado way of life. Emily served on the House Energy & Environment Committee for 4 years, where she supported landmark legislation to regulate the oil & gas industry with health and safety standards, establish Colorado’s GHG emission reduction goals, create statewide recycling infrastructure, ban the use of PFAS in many products, and establish an environmental justice framework in Colorado environmental policy.

Gun Violence Prevention

No parent should have to send their child to school in fear of a school shooting. People should be able to grocery shop without fear. Active shooter drills should not be the norm for our children. Emily will continue to advance legislation to protect Coloradans from gun violence and prevent Colorado Republicans from rolling back our existing gun safety laws. Emily has passed laws such as Extreme Risk Protection Orders and bans on gun sales to people convicted on domestic violence charges and others who should not have access to firearms. In 2024, in order to prevent the creation of more crime guns in Colorado, she passed legislation requiring anyone selling firearms in Colorado to have a state license.

Elections & Campaign Finance

Colorado has a gold standard election system. With universal vote by mail and automatic voter registration, we make voting easy and accessible for every eligible voter. Our system is secure and a model for other states. Emily works each year to make improvements to this gold standard, including adding a new election for those seeking to fill a vacancy in the General Assembly.

Money is at the root of what is wrong in politics. With the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court, an unimaginable flood of dark money has washed over our elections. While we as a state cannot override this federal decision, we can continue to make our campaign finance system as strong and transparent as possible. Emily created campaign contribution limits for offices that previously had none, implemented campaign finance disclosure rules for those seeking to fill vacancies in the General Assembly and strengthened transparency and financial disclosures for candidates for state office.