Colorado will not stand for policies that hurt families

The recent passage of the Republican spending bill is a reminder of just how skewed Washington’s priorities have become.

This budget, which cuts deeply into health care, food assistance, and public programs while extending enormous tax breaks for the rich, is a direct attack on hardworking Americans.

At a time when economic uncertainty continues to weigh on everyday Americans, I’m grateful that Colorado Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet voted against this reckless proposal.

Even though the bill passed, their opposition sent a clear message: Colorado will not stand for policies that hurt working families to benefit the wealthiest few.

Under this budget, 62% of the cuts come from programs that help low- and middle-income Americans. Medicaid, education and nutrition programs will take the hardest hits, even as billionaires continue to reap tax breaks.

It’s an unacceptable tradeoff, and I’m grateful our senators refused to support it.

While this is a setback, it’s not the end of the fight. We need leaders who will stand up for working families when it matters most — not ones like Senator Schumer who will capitulate to Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

I hope Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet continue pushing for policies that put working Coloradans first, and I urge all voters to remember this moment when it’s time to elect leaders who truly stand for us.

— Charlotte Par, Boulder

College tuition should be based on income

College tuition funds should be on a scale based on the student’s or parent’s income. I am writing to you because most jobs require a college degree or a GED (General Educational Degree).

People are scared about going into debt so they go to tech school, or people end up taking out student loans. This will impact me when I’m older because I’m in 5th grade and when I end up going to college the prices will be really high for college so it will take a lot of savings to be able to go.

Most jobs require a college degree, but they or their parents can’t afford college. This causes people to end up going into debt taking out loans which leads to problems.

When people can’t get a job they can’t advance in life, (financially) so people end up living with their parents.

People are scared of going into debt so they go to tax school, problems with this are that there could be too many accountants, or jobs like scientists that require a college degree could not have enough people, and then we don’t have Weather Forecasts.

Also maybe most people don’t want to be an accountant because that is not their style of job.

Think of a time when you had to do a chore that you didn’t want to. This is what it’s like to do a job you don’t like but it’s every day! When people take out student loans blindly and not realizing about debt they end up having to pay debt when they are 40. They are more likely to not buy a car or a house, and more likely to live with their parents too.

— Lennox Rhodes, Bear Creek Elementary, 5th grade

Consumers should hit pause button right now

I don’t know what other consumers will do while the big boys throw rocks and mud at their supposed enemies over tariffs, but it feels like watching a gang of pre-pubescent school bullies yelling and picking fights with everyone else on the playground. I for one will postpone all but the most critical purchases for as long as it takes until the juvenile delinquents in the Trump administration are put in their place.

I urge consumers to hit the pause button in a big way right now and to especially consider Amazon for a boycott. When the economy slows to a crawl and warehouses and car dealer lots are full of unsold merchandise, “Trumpublicans” will pay dearly for the debacle that their dear leader is bringing on the country and world.

— David Bishton, Longmont