DENVER — All week long FOX31 is sitting down with the candidates for Governor — Democrat Jared Polis and Republican Walker Stapleton.
FOX31 political reporter talked to Polis and Stapleton to see where they stand on healthcare, transportation, education and energy.
We’ll tackle a different topic each night this week on FOX31 and update this article with the latest.
And for more on the candidates, and ballot measures, check out our Problem Solvers guide to voting in the 2018 Colorado election.
Healthcare
Walker Stapleton on Healthcare:
ICYMI: All week we are looking at the candidates for governor and where they stand on the issues. First up Walker Stapleton and healthcare. Will he roll back Medicaid? Why did he change his mind on Affordable Care Act? #copolitics #kdvr #cogv pic.twitter.com/Op8AFwbTDW
— Joe St. George (@JoeStGeorge) October 17, 2018
Jared Polis on Healthcare:
ICYMI: Each night this week we are going one on one with the candidates and the issues. Tuesday was all about healthcare. I posted Walker Stapleton's video earlier, next up Jared Polis. How does he defend Medicare for All? #copolitics #cogov #coleg #kdvr pic.twitter.com/TSJsxZjEDh
— Joe St. George (@JoeStGeorge) October 17, 2018
Differences on Healthcare:
Despite being against the Affordable Care Act originally, Walker Stapleton now says he has accepted it. Stapleton is committed to making medicaid sustainable but he told FOX31 he would not kick people off Medicaid who are now currently eligible.
“That’s a political scare tactic,” Stapleton said. Stapleton has a goal of creating low premium high deductible catastrophic plans for younger, healthier people. He denies the premise it would increase costs for those with preexisting conditions.
Polis is for Medicare for All, the belief that healthcare can be cheaper if the program currently reserved for seniors is expanded to everyone. Polis tells FOX31 he would like to worth with Democratic and Republican Governors to create a state option to health insurance.
Polis however has not put Medicare for All in his first 100 day in office plan, instead focusing on prescription drug prices. Polis demises the belief that Medicare for All is a program run completely by the government.
Transportation
Jared Polis on Transportation:
VIDEO: Our week long series continues interviewing @PolisForCO and @WalkerStapleton. Wednesday's topic — transportation. Here is Polis. #copolitics #cogov #kdvr #kwgn pic.twitter.com/W20f2PIqzg
— Joe St. George (@JoeStGeorge) October 18, 2018
Walker Stapleton on Transportation:
ICYMI: Our week long series continues with the candidates for Governor. Wednesday was all about transportation. I posted Polis earlier, here is Stapleton. #copolitics #kdvr #cogov pic.twitter.com/aqqfYnT6bM
— Joe St. George (@JoeStGeorge) October 18, 2018
Differences on Transportation:
Jared Polis has no position on Proposition 110 – the sales tax increase for transportation proposal saying “a sales tax isn’t where I would necessarily go.”
Polis is also opposed to Proposition 109 – the bonding measure for roads saying it would “create billions of dollars of debt for our state.” His goal is to assemble Democrats and Republicans together to find General Fund dollars to better fund roads.
Walker Stapleton is against the sales tax increase proposal but in favor of the bonding proposal.
Stapleton does not believe new bonds without new revenue is inherently always a risk. Stapleton estimates the “federal windfall” from the Trump tax cuts, which he supports, will be in the hundreds of millions.
Stapleton also wants to legalize sports betting; believing it is a one billion dollar a year industry in Colorado.
Education
Walker Stapleton on Education:
ICYMI: @WalkerStapleton on his education plans if elected governor. Our week long series going one on one with the candidates continue #copolitics #cogov #kdvr pic.twitter.com/hvKcdZeMpm
— Joe St. George (@JoeStGeorge) October 19, 2018
Jared Polis on Education:
ICYMI: Our conversation with @PolisForCO on education — how is he going to pay for all day Kindergarten? Our week long series continues….. #kdvr #kwgn #copolitics #cogov pic.twitter.com/4FLXB3fNF0
— Joe St. George (@JoeStGeorge) October 19, 2018
Differences on Education:
Walker Stapleton has promised to cut down on administrative costs in order to get more money into the classroom. He is opposed to Amendment 73 the income tax increase to better fund schools. Stapleton is also committed to an “income sharing” program at Colorado colleges—that is a program in which students would receive an education in exchange for giving the institution a portion of their income when they graduate.
Jared Polis believes the state should fund all day Kindergarten and Preschool. Polis is committed to doing it without raising taxes. Instead he wants to use the general fund and social impact bonding. Polis is also opposed to Amendment 73. Polis has also expressed support for “income sharing” programs.
Energy
Jared Polis on Energy:
— Joe St. George (@JoeStGeorge) October 22, 2018
Walker Stapleton on Energy:
ICYMI: Our week long series with the candidates for Governor wrapped Friday with a discussion on energy. Here is Stapleton. Full series can be found here: https://t.co/YWt8ColvTB #kdvr #kwgn #copolitics #cogov pic.twitter.com/LCP6lqqDm6
— Joe St. George (@JoeStGeorge) October 22, 2018
Differences on Energy
Jared Polis, like Walker Stapleton, is opposed to Proposition 112 — the state ballot measure that would increase setbacks to 2500 feet. Polis has supported increased setback measures in the past – however this time he says he didn’t support it because it doesn’t allow a homeowner to have a well closer to their home if they want. Polis has long championed 100% renewable energy by 2040. However he says he would achieve that without mandates.
Walker Stapleton is so opposed to Proposition 112 he says he would take it to court if it passes. Stapleton has said he would like to revisit the Colorado Clean Air Act to see if any provisions are hurting jobs.