The Best and Worst of Colorado Politics in 2021

On January 14, 2022, Kim Monson opened with the week’s major political developments including Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s defense of the filibuster and the Supreme Court’s ruling on vaccine mandates, then welcomed guests to discuss tax preparation, Colorado congressional races, local civic engagement, and a comprehensive review of the state’s best and worst political moments of 2021.

Tax Planning Strategies for 2022

Start listening at 15:18 – Hour 1

Steve Cruice of Three Points Financial outlines critical tax preparation tips as the 2021 filing season approaches. The IRS begins accepting returns on January 24th, with the filing deadline extended to April 18th due to Washington’s Emancipation Day. Cruice emphasizes the importance of checking electronic tax document delivery, as many banks and investment companies now send 1099 forms digitally. Missing these documents can trigger IRS delays since they receive copies directly from financial institutions.

For those seeking last-minute tax savings, IRA contributions for the previous year remain available until the filing deadline. Cruice also reminds listeners to retain letters regarding stimulus checks and advanced child tax credit payments received in 2021 to ensure accurate returns. Three Points Financial offers comprehensive services combining investment strategies, retirement planning, and tax preparation in one firm.

“Many times we see a communication gap between a person’s tax preparer and their financial advisor, and that can cause issue when those communication lapses happen.”

Steve Cruice, Co-founder, Three Points Financial

Congressional Race for CD7 and Federal Overreach

Start listening at 21:04 – Hour 1

Laurel Imer, candidate for Colorado’s Congressional District 7, addresses the departure of longtime Representative Ed Perlmutter, noting he joins a growing list of Democrats choosing to exit before facing voters in 2022. She takes a firm stance on vaccine mandates, asserting that medical freedom is a fundamental right that government cannot override, and expresses particular concern about forcing vaccines on children and the erosion of parental rights.

On inflation, Imer criticizes the Federal Reserve’s policies and the administration’s approach of printing money while paying people not to work. The 7% inflation rate, she argues, results directly from fiscal mismanagement. She also emphasizes border security as essential to national sovereignty, connecting unvetted immigration to public health concerns. On election integrity, Imer calls for voter ID requirements, a return to in-person voting on Election Day, and an end to mail-in balloting.

“We have freedom of choice in America, and we have medical freedom, and we have rights, and there is never an opportunity for the government to mandate what we put in our bodies or what we choose to do with our bodies.”

Laurel Imer, Candidate for Congress, CD7

Civic Engagement and Local Accountability

Start listening at 30:32 – Hour 1

Hal Van Hercke, owner of Castlegate Knife and Tool, reflects on Pam Long’s comprehensive op-ed covering Colorado’s 2021 political landscape. He observes that the battle between freedom and force is not abstract but plays out daily in local gymnasiums, town halls, and conference rooms across the state. Every minute, somewhere in Colorado, bureaucrats plot to restrict someone’s freedom.

Van Hercke highlights how citizen engagement made the difference in 2021’s political outcomes. When the public cornered elected officials and made them listen, positive results sometimes followed. He urges listeners to pick an issue, attend meetings, read newsletters, and call officials out when necessary, whether it’s the school board, city council, or county commissioners.

“Right this minute as we’re talking, there’s a group of bureaucrats somewhere in Colorado plotting how they can take somebody’s freedom away.”

Hal Van Hercke, Owner, Castlegate Knife and Tool

Colorado’s Political Year in Review

Start listening at 34:50 – Hour 1

Pam Long, West Point graduate and former Army captain, presents her extensively researched analysis of Colorado’s best and worst political decisions of 2021. She begins with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, noting that online-only meetings create barriers between officials and the public. Long questions whether state health officials are making evidence-based decisions or simply parroting CDC guidance on masks and vaccines.

Long names Jefferson County’s Don Comstock as the worst public health leader of 2021, citing her controversial self-hiring as public health director after changing eligibility criteria while serving on the board. Comstock’s public statements calling for unvaccinated residents to be banned from public places and her pressure on school superintendents drew particular criticism. A grassroots group of 5,000 people on Facebook now seeks her removal.

On Governor Polis, Long offers mixed assessments. His best decision was declining to extend the eviction moratorium, deemed illegal by the Supreme Court. He also chose not to renew statewide mask mandates, saying public health officials do not get to dictate what people wear. Long calls this “election year whiplash” as officials pivot from restrictive policies ahead of campaigns.

For best media coverage, Long recognizes doctors promoting early treatment protocols, including organizations like the American Physicians and Surgeons and the Frontline COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance. She contrasts their guidance on home-based treatments with mainstream messaging that offers no intervention between initial symptoms and hospitalization.

“If you don’t fight for what you love, don’t cry for what you lose.”

Pam Long, West Point Graduate and Army Veteran