Welcome to the Kim Monson Show podcast. Kim Monson is your host. Election season, and it is important you know the candidates. Gubernatorial candidate and former Congressman Greg Lopez has a big announcement. Rep. Chris Richardson on Xcel’s attempt to take property for an industrial transmission line. Former Army Lt. Col. Brad Miller invites you to the documentary Duty to Disobey. William Switzer on his run for Colorado House District 30. Plus State Farm agent Roger Mangan. ————————————————————————————– The Kim Monson Show airs on KLZ 560 AM every Monday thru Friday, 6-8 AM MST. You can listen to the
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It’s the Kim Munson Show, analyzing the most important stories.
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The socialization of transportation, education, energy, housing, and water. What it means is that government controls it through rules and regulations.
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The latest in politics and world affairs.
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Under this guise of bipartisanship and nonpartisanship, it’s actually tapping down the truth.
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Today’s current opinions and ideas.
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On an equal field in the battle of ideas, mistruths and misconceptions is getting us into a world of hurt.
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Is it freedom or is it force? Let’s have a conversation.
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Indeed. Let’s have a conversation. And welcome to the Kim Munson Show. Thank you so much for joining us. You each are treasured. You’re valued. You have purpose. Today’s drive for excellence. Take care of your heart, your soul, your mind, and your body. My friends, we were made for this moment in history. And thank you to the team. That’s Producer Joe, Luke, Rachel, Zach, Echo, Charlie, Mike, Amanda, and all the people here at Crawford Broadcasting. Happy Monday, Producer Joe. Happy Monday, Kim. And we’ve got quite a show planned for you, so fasten your seatbelts. Check out my website. That’s Kim Munson, M-O-N-S-O-N.com. Join our community. We have created a community where we are connecting and conversing and contemplating these big ideas and these big issues. And so check that out at the website. You can email me at kim at kimmunson.com. The text line is 720-605-0647. And as you know, we search for truth and clarity by looking at these issues through this lens of freedom versus force, force versus freedom. Something’s a good idea. You should not have to force people to do it. And it’s not compassionate to take other people’s stuff, whether or not it’s their rights, their property, freedom, livelihood, opportunity, childhood, or lives via force. Enforce can be a weapon, but it can be policy, unpredictable and excessive taxation, fees, fear, coercion, government-induced inflation, legislation, the World Economic Forum and globalist elites and their agenda and their tools with the United Nations. But we’re seeing that play out down at this Colorado State Legislature with this governor all the way down to local government. And as you know, we focus on the issues on the show. We’ll talk about the people behind the issues. But we try to stay out of all the 8th grade girl fighting. There’s 8th grade girls and then there’s politicians, politics. And so that’s what we do. What we are doing here, we’ve got some special guests in studio. We’re going to keep one a secret until the bottom of the hour. But one of them is Greg Lopez, who is running for governor. Greg Lopez, welcome to the show.
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Hey, good morning, Kim. It’s great to be here. You know what? I’m looking out the window and what a beautiful day in Colorado it’s going to be.
SPEAKER 18 :
It is a beautiful day in Colorado, and you made a very interesting announcement this weekend, and that is your running mate.
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That’s right. You know, one of the pleasures that I have is to identify a lieutenant governor selection prior to any other candidate. Because as running as an independent, I must identify the complete ticket as we go out there and gather signatures. And we’re going to be starting gathering signatures this Thursday. So, yeah, you know, I’m very excited to introduce my lieutenant governor. This individual is someone that I believe is going to really help the state of Colorado in certain areas. And so I’m really excited for the opportunity to introduce them to the state of Colorado.
SPEAKER 18 :
I’m very excited about it as well. So stay tuned and fasten your seatbelt on that. So let’s get some of the things done that I do normally. First of all, I want to say thank you to the Harris family for their goal sponsorship of the show. I greatly appreciate that. And let’s get into, Greg, I was at church yesterday and our pastor is, he’s really got great theological chops, if you will. And he used a word that I’d never heard before. And it’s hermeneutic, H-E-R-M-E-N-E-U-T-I-C. So this is the word of the day and it could be interpretive or explanatory. Number two, unfolding the signification of or pertaining to interpretation or explanatory. So they use the sentence from the dictionary. It said hermeneutic theology or the art of expounding the scriptures is a hermeneutic So I thought, okay, let’s learn a new word.
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That’s right.
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So there you go. And then… Our quote of the day is, people are hurting because of high taxes, Greg.
SPEAKER 20 :
Yes.
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Property taxes, sales taxes, fees, all of these things. And so I went to Ralph Waldo Emerson for our quote. Okay. He was born in 1803. He died in 1882. He was an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, minister, abolitionist, and poet. And he was seen as a champion of individualism and critical thinking, as well as a prescient… a critic of the countervailing pressures of society and conformity. And he said this, if you tax too high, the revenue will yield nothing. And I think that we can see that with these businesses and individuals moving out of Colorado because taxes, fees, rules, regulations are too high. And so guess what? The taxes that we’re getting, and you’re seeing it in New York, moving out. So if you get government out of the proper role, the proper box, what happens is you have nothing because people leave.
SPEAKER 20 :
Yeah, that’s true. You know, Kim, and that’s one of the things that government loses sight of is that they’re kind of killing the golden goose, right? I mean, because of the taxes that they’re putting on, the fees and so forth, they are strangling families and small businesses. And when small businesses shut down, it hurts the economy and the community. Major corporations are leaving because of the regulations. You know, we’re one of the worst states in the nation as it pertains to regulations. And no one can argue that because you’re seeing major corporations and small business closing their doors.
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And individuals leaving.
SPEAKER 20 :
That’s right.
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And it used to be that people wanted to move to Colorado. So I thought, again, if you tax too high, the revenue will yield nothing. And zero of zero is zero.
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Isn’t it? It’s I find it so amazing that, you know, in those times, those individuals are so wise. Right. And they understood how everything worked. And today it seems like no one truly understands the complexity of what’s happening. And they just continue to do things that are hurting families. And they really don’t. I want to give them some grace. I want to say they don’t understand it, but it’s time to change that mindset out there.
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Right. If you keep doing the same thing and expect different results, it’s not going to happen. And again, that’s Ralph Waldo Emerson. Now, as you all know, I’m president of the Colorado Union of Taxpayers. And we’re going to have our board meeting this evening. And this is an all-volunteer group. This is our 50th year. We’d really recommend that you join us at coloradotaxpayer.org. It’s only $25 a year. That’s $2.08 a month, which is less than a cup of coffee. But I want to say thank you to this group of people, that’s Steve Dorman, Greg Golianski, Russ Haas, Bill Hamill, Rob Knuth, John Nelson, Wendy Warner, Marty Nielsen, Ramey Johnson, Mary Jansen, Dave Evans, Corey Onozorg, Paula Beard, and Ray Beard. The legislature concludes on Wednesday. But they’re still busy doing some, I think, things that are kind of naughty. And this is one, the team is taking a position on it. We’ve not collated all that information yet. But I was looking at these bills on Saturday morning, and this is Senate Bill 26193, Local Ordinances and State Employees. And the prime sponsors on this are Senator Judy Emma Bile, Democrat, Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, Republican, Representative Kyle Brown, Democrat, and Representative Rick Taggart, Republican. And I just read this first sentence and I thought, this is antithetical to the American idea. But it says, existing law authorizes the General Assembly to set compensation levels for employees of the state. Accordingly, the bill clarifies that for the purposes of laws concerning local minimum wages, and again, minimum wages should be a negotiation between the employer and the employee. Government should not be involved in that. But anyway, it says the term employer means a corporation, a proprietorship, a partnership, a joint venture, a limited liability company, a trust and association, a political subdivision of the state, an individual, or any other entity that employs an employee, which is just about everybody, except the next sentence stopped me in my tracks. However, employer does not include the state of Colorado. That’s crazy to me. So I’ve got to see what the team has to say. But this is a late-breaking bill, Senate Bill 193. So we’re going to talk some more about that. That’s your bill of the day. We have these discussions because I work with great people. And I’m talking with Roger Mangan with the Roger Mangan State Farm Insurance Team. And, Roger, we had talked about it a while back, but let’s revisit diminished value. What should we know about that?
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It’s a relatively new concept that’s three to five years old. but it’s very important to illustrate. I got a call from one of your listeners who happened to have state farm, but she called me because she was listening to your show. Nothing but praise was for you. Anyway, the question she had is she was struck by a car, not her fault. So her car was damaged and she got an offer way less than she thought it should be. And I think somewhere between and maybe $8,000 and the car’s book value was really like $12,000. So it was a significant difference. So other than having issues with the agreed upon, was an agreed upon disputed settlement class, the concept of diminished value was brought up by me for her uses a lever to get more for the car than what was being offered by the other company. But diminished value basically says that if your car is in an accident, it’s not your fault. And let’s say the damage was $10,000. The book value of the car is 20. When you go to sell that car, that accident is going to be on the record of that car. So the $20,000 isn’t 20 anymore. It could be 15. So the accident, which wasn’t your fault, diminishes the value of your car. So you now have a recourse under Colorado law. You have a two-year window to execute or bring claim against that concept. And the formula is normally 10% to determine the amount of diminished value. In the case of a $20,000 car, 10% would be $2,000. So you could make a claim. against that other company for that $2,000. Because when you go to sell that car, even if it’s repaired miraculously, it’s going to be on the VIN number ID and it’s going to show an accident. So everybody’s going to want to diminish the value. Okay, so you’re entitled to a possible $2,000 additional settlement after the other company has paid all of the claim costs. So that’s a pretty important concept.
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How would people know and what would be the process of trying to make this particular claim?
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Well, the party that caused the claim, the tortfeasor in this vernacular, the legal vernacular, the tortfeasor did the damage. And so in the claim process, it’s not going to come up. They’re not going to offer you diminished value. So as you’re getting into… The repairs to the car is completely done. You’re now driving it thinking everything is okay, and it probably is okay, but at the same time, it’s lost a portion of its value. So you need to initiate a claim involved with that claim on an additional claim to get diminished value.
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So would someone have, for example, your state farm holder, Would you, the agent, would you initiate that? Does the individual need to initiate that, or what does that look like?
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It would be the individual needs to do that. In this case, it can’t be you hitting someone. State Fire Armament, no company is going to give you a diminished value if you’re at fault in an accident. Right. It’s the company that caused the loss. You’re entitled to that lost value or that diminished value. So you need to initiate that because in the example you just put forth, the state firm wouldn’t have been involved in that claim at all if it was a claim caused by another company. You might call us. We might give you advice. And in the case of this other insured, your listener, she could have called her agent and he probably would have or she would have given her the same advice. But she called me because of yourself. So I gave her that Trump card. to play in the event, no one else brings that up to her.
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Okay. Wow. That is something that hadn’t even crossed my mind. It’s amazing what you can learn on the Kim Munson show from all of our great sponsors. And Roger, how can people reach you?
SPEAKER 06 :
Please give us a call at 303-795-8855. One other quick thing, and I know we’re always on limited time here, but I want to bring up an issue. where I had this car that was in the shop that couldn’t be put totally back together because of the complexity of the vehicle itself with all the computers aboard. And, you know, when you drive a car today, it’s like a jet airplane. There’s so many technologies inside of that car. And one of the technologies is you can press a button and it’ll keep your car in between the lines and you don’t have to really drive. You have to touch the steering wheel once in a while. That’s good, so they know you’re paying somewhat of attention to your driving. But in this particular accident, they couldn’t get that lane assist to work again. So if they can’t get it to work, and then three months later, the car is still in the shop, how do you get your car out? If you get it out, it’s really not the car it was before the accident occurred. So that’s another issue we could discuss on your show because I think it’s a very interesting and hot topic in today’s auto market.
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Okay. Well, we’ll keep that as a cliffhanger. And for any questions that you might have, reach out to the Roger Mangan Insurance Team. That number is 303-795-8855. Like a good neighbor, the Roger Mangan Team is there.
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April 26th, 1777. Colonel, the British are raiding Danbury and burning the town. I’ll go tell them. Sixteen-year-old Sybil Ludington mounted her horse and rode 40 miles through night and pouring rain. That’s twice the distance of Paul Revere to sound the alarm.
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Quickly, assemble at my father’s house.
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The Kim Monson Show is our modern-day Sybil Ludington, bringing us the latest breaking news in the battle for truth and freedom. Ben’s Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling is proud to stand with Kim. Will you stand with us? Get engaged with the issue that keeps you up at night so that you can influence your school and community with truth and justice. And for quality craftsmanship at a fair price, call or text Ben’s Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling at 303-995-1636. That number again is 303-995-1636. When Coloradans want the very best in firearms, they go to Spartan Defense, conveniently located in Colorado Springs. As the largest family-owned and operated gun store in the state, they offer an impressive inventory, including brands you won’t find anywhere else in Colorado. Owner Teddy Collins says their selection is built to serve everyone, from first-time buyers to serious firearms enthusiasts. Spartan Defense also offers training and an advanced shooting simulator designed to help you carry confidently and with purpose. And if you’re shopping for the best deal, they’ll match any competitor’s price on any firearm as long as it’s above their cost. Learn more about the impressive firearm inventory and next-level training at SpartanDefense.com. That’s SpartanDefense.com.
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Do you strive for excellence as you work with your clients and customers? Does it make sense for you to add a unique and focused branding opportunity to your marketing portfolio? Would you like to access a broad customer base that loves our country and wants to make life better for ourselves, our neighbors, our colleagues, our children, and our grandchildren? Then you may be a perfect fit as a sponsor or partner of The Kim Munson Show. To learn more, reach out to Kim at kim at kimmunson.com. Kim would love to talk with you. Again, that’s kim at kimmunson.com.
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And welcome back to the Kim Munson Show. Check out our website. That is KimMunson, M-O-N-S-O-N dot com. And are you looking for something more for your child’s education? Excalibur Classical Academy is a new private school opening this fall in Centennial, serving kindergarten through third grade with 100% scholarship tuition available. Their classrooms are rooted in a classical Christian tradition where students grow through phonics, math, music, art, and the great books that have shaped generations. We believe young minds thrive on wisdom, virtue, and truth, so give your child a strong foundation for life. Enrollment is now open, but space is limited. Visit ExcaliburClassicalAcademy.org. That’s E-X-C-A-L-I-B-U-R, ClassicalAcademy.org today. And on the line with me is former Lieutenant Colonel in the Army with the 101st Airborne, Brad Miller. And there’s a new documentary out that we are talking about. Brad Miller, welcome to the show.
SPEAKER 10 :
Jim, thanks for having me on. Always a pleasure to be with you.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, it’s great to have you as well. And this documentary, dutytodisobeyfilm.com, is a very important documentary. It will be released at the end of June, but tickets are available now. I’ve purchased my tickets already, Brad, so I’m planning on attending. But it’s important that people support the film by purchasing their tickets by the 15th of May.
SPEAKER 10 :
That’s right, which is this Friday. So this film, Duty to Disobey, is a documentary that will come out at the end of June, June 30th, and tells the story of what happened during the military’s unlawful COVID shot mandate, which was implemented in August of 2021, and the aftermath, the effects, all the individuals who not only were just injured, as many were, but also others had their careers destroyed. They were perhaps forced out of the service. So this kind of tells the story of everything that happened with the mandate, with the aftermath of the mandate. And it will come out on June 30th. But we are asking people to go ahead and buy their tickets. And the reason is because this documentary will be shown at more than 100 locations across the United States. But in order to reserve those locations at many AMC theaters across the country, we do have to have 50 percent of the tickets sold online. by May 15th, which is this Friday. And people can find those tickets at dutytodisobeyfilm.com. They can go there. They can purchase their ticket for the location closest to them. They can also donate. They can buy DVDs. And we would encourage people to do all of those things. Now, for your listeners particularly, they might be interested to know that in Colorado, there are four locations for viewings, for in-person viewings. And that is in Fort Collins, Denver, Castle Rock, and Colorado Springs.
SPEAKER 18 :
Brad, I would really recommend, even if people are not sure that they can attend, the tickets, I think, are $20 each. And even if you’re not sure that you can attend, purchase a ticket to support this. Because, Brad, you really put it all on the line. You were almost at retirement. And you said, I’m not going to take this unlawful order anymore. And both you and then I had General Arbuckle on, who’s retired Army as well, on Friday. And he also walked me through how this was unconstitutional on this requirement. Because it is important within the military that people do obey orders. But this was an unlawful order. And you put it all on the line. And so the least that all of us can do is buy a ticket to this film, Brad.
SPEAKER 10 :
Yeah, as you mentioned, the tickets are $20, so very moderately priced. I do understand that a lot of individuals in mid-May don’t necessarily know what their calendar will look like at the end of June. But I would say that even just by purchasing a ticket, you are already supporting the project. Remember, there are 100,000 service members. that lost their jobs because of the the mandate the um the official numbers that come from the pentagon tell you that only about 8 500 people were were kicked out were separated from the military against their will but they’re actually the the real number is more like a hundred thousand that they’d either left early they technically weren’t kicked out but they refused to re-enlist because of the mandate or they resigned like me or in some other fashion left early because of the mandate So that number is more like a hundred thousand. And so this was something that was, had a huge effect on the personal readiness for our units, but also because there were so many individuals whose readiness was affected and so many units whose readiness was affected. What the average American needs to understand is that our defense posture, our security and defense posture was impacted for years to come, not to mention the loss of trust that occurred between individuals and their unit leaders, individual service members and the senior Pentagon leadership, and even service members’ families and the way that they viewed the military because of what they saw their service member go through, whether it was their child or whether it was their spouse or their parent go through because of the mandate and its aftermath.
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Well, and also involved with the film is Pam Long, who is a former captain in the Army Medical Service Corps. She’s a West Point graduate, and she is a regular contributor as far as a writer and a guest on The Kim Munson Show. was also very involved in this. So again, my friends, these people that have put it on the line, this is a great way to support them. Tickets are $20. And again, what’s that website, Brad Miller?
SPEAKER 10 :
Yes, the website is dutytodisobeyfilm.com. And that duty to disobey is the name of the documentary. And it also calls to attention the fact that service members have a duty obligation to disobey unlawful orders.
SPEAKER 18 :
OK, and this is a very important film. Brad, again, the tickets need to be purchased to support the film. Of course, you can purchase afterwards, but but purchase. And even if you’re not sure if you can go support the film, that website is duty to disobey film dot com duty to disobey film dot com. OK, Brad, anything else to leave with our listeners this morning?
SPEAKER 10 :
We appreciate your listeners. We know that there are a lot of patriotic Americans out there. And again, I would encourage people to go to duty to disobey film dot com. Find the location closest to you and go ahead and purchase that ticket.
SPEAKER 18 :
OK, Brad, we’ll talk again soon. Have a great day.
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Bye bye now.
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Okay, and the two nonprofits that I highlight on a regular basis on the show is the Center for American Values, which is located in Pueblo on the Riverwalk. It was co-founded by Drew Dick’s Medal of Honor recipient for actions he took during the Vietnam War and Brad Padula, who is an Emmy Award winning documentary maker. And they’re focused on continuing to honor our Medal of Honor recipients with their portraits of valor and then great educational programs for K through 12 and educators as well, focused on these foundational principles of honor, integrity, and patriotism. So support them by going to AmericanValueCenter.org. That’s AmericanValueCenter.org. And then also the USMC Memorial Foundation is having their big fundraiser this weekend, or excuse me, this Thursday out at the Ridge and Castle Pines. And you can register for that. I think there might still be a few spots left to play golf. That website is usmcmemorialfoundation.org, usmcmemorialfoundation.org. And then Monday at Little Richie’s is a great… A great place for families. Little Richie’s is your local neighborhood spot where you can get authentic New York style pizza and pasta. They’re locally owned and have been serving Parker and Golden for over 20 years. Monday night is their best kept secret by one pizza. Get that second pizza half off. And that’s at Little Richie’s. That’s L-I-L-R-I-C-C-I-S in Parker and in Golden. And all these things happen. This independent voice we have on this independent station happens because of our sponsors. For everything residential real estate, talk to Karen Levine.
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The Kim Munson Show is expanding and augmenting our voice and reach. In addition to the Kim Munson Show broadcast, we have created the Kim Munson Newsroom and the Kim Munson Community. We call them the three presses, and they are foundational to free speech and engaging in responsible self-governance. Go to kimmunson.com, click on the newsletter tab, and sign up for the weekly email newsletter and the daily digest. And join the Kim Munson community, which is a modern salon where you can contemplate, connect, and converse around the principles we cover daily. Sign up today at kimmunson.com.
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All Kim’s sponsors are an inclusive partnership with Kim and are not affiliated with or in partnership with KLZ or Crawford Broadcasting. If you would like to support the work of The Kim Monson Show and grow your business, contact Kim at her website, KimMonson.com. That’s Kim Monson, M-O-N-S-O-N dot com.
SPEAKER 18 :
And welcome back to The Kim Munson Show. Check out our website. That is KimMunson, M-O-N-S-O-N.com. And your financial freedom is shaped by more than numbers. It’s shaped by planning for the realities of your life. And at Mint Financial Strategies, Jody Hensley and her team help you assess your current reality while planning for your future. They also do great events. And tomorrow evening, Tuesday, May 12th, 5 p.m., There is a virtual event regarding AI, and you can RSVP by going to Jodi at MintFS, so Mint Financial Strategies, MintFS.com, and they will provide the link for you. And they are helping so many people with their financial freedom. They’re helping me with mine. And you can reach them. That number is 303-285-3080, 303-285-3080. And in studio with me is Greg Lopez. He is a former congressman, and he is running for governor here in Colorado. Greg, welcome.
SPEAKER 20 :
Thank you for having me, Kim. It’s always a pleasure to be on your show.
SPEAKER 18 :
And you’ve got a big announcement.
SPEAKER 20 :
I do. You know what? I’m really excited to talk about… my selection for Lieutenant Governor. It’s very important for governor candidates to identify qualified individuals that will be their right-hand person, that if anything should happen to them, that they’re ready to take over and become the governor. And this is something that I don’t take lightly because, you know, when you’re the governor, you’re representing over six million people in the state, 64 counties with a lot of different ways of life scattered across the entire state. And so, yeah, you know, it’s it’s something that I’m very proud of the person that I’ve been able to select. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to it.
SPEAKER 18 :
OK, would you like to let everybody know who that is?
SPEAKER 20 :
I sure would. You know, I can tell you some of you may know of this individual. I’ve known her for a while now, a couple of years. But you know what? She is definitely going to compliment the ticket. And I know she’s going to be an awesome lieutenant governor. And I know the people of this great state are just going to be excited about hearing her voice. as she travels the state, as she starts sharing her agenda with our agenda as it pertains to that. So I’d like to introduce to the entire state of Colorado here on your show. This is the first time we’re doing it publicly, Kim. So thank you for allowing us to do this. But it’s Tara Lynn Romero.
SPEAKER 18 :
Tara Lynn Romero, welcome to the show.
SPEAKER 19 :
Thanks, Kim. It’s good to be back.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, and we have gotten to know each other years ago when you were having a property rights issue. But before we get into that, tell us about you. I know you were involved in the medical field, so give us a little rundown about you.
SPEAKER 19 :
Yeah, I’m a fourth-generation Coloradan. Let’s start there. And for the past 25 years, I’ve been a health care executive for one of the largest health care companies in the world. And just recently, I was one of many millions of Americans who was let go from their job. So, you know, I’m looking for the next thing, and I love this great state and really want to get involved in making it great again.
SPEAKER 18 :
Did you ever think that, first of all, Being let go, particularly when you’ve really put yourself into your career, it’s difficult, isn’t it? And when you say you’re looking for the next thing, I don’t think you were looking to run as lieutenant governor of the state of Colorado, were you?
SPEAKER 19 :
No, I certainly was not. No.
SPEAKER 18 :
I guess the reason, why? When Greg called, what was the process? Why did you say yes?
SPEAKER 19 :
You know, sometimes things come into our life for a purpose. And when Greg called and said, I’m running for governor, would you be interested in seeing if you’re a fit for lieutenant governor? It was just the perfect timing at the perfect moment for a purpose-filled life. And that’s really what I’ve always been after, is something that I can meaningfully pour my heart and soul into. And I thought, you know what? I’ve got a wide open path in front of me. And I think Colorado is at a very interesting point of strife right now. We have been for several years. And I was eager to get involved.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, and you mentioned that you are a fourth-generation Coloradan, and also that your family has a real military history, correct? They do, yes.
SPEAKER 19 :
My grandfather, brother, father have all served. Uncles and cousins have served as well in every branch of the military. Many of them are still there now, and a couple are retired and vets. So, yes, very strong military background in my family. Okay.
SPEAKER 18 :
And Greg Lopez, you are a veteran.
SPEAKER 20 :
I am. You know, I had the pleasure of serving in the Air Force for four years. I’m a disabled vet. You know, I lost 85% hearing in my right ear. But I tell people, you know, it was a good tradeoff because it was in the military. that I met my soulmate, my wife Lisa of 38 years. So, you know, when I hear about the film earlier, Duty to Disobey, I think I would encourage everyone to buy that ticket and go to the show because it’s important for people to understand the story, to hear what actually happened. But you know what? There’s a lot of patriots out there, and I tell people, you don’t have to wear a uniform or have stripes on your shoulders to fight for the Constitution or fight for your freedoms.
SPEAKER 18 :
Speaking of that, Greg, as you know, I have the other show, which is America’s Veterans Stories. And that show precipitated from a trip that I took in 2016 with a group that accompanied four D-Day veterans back to Normandy, France, for the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landings. And I realized that we need to know these stories and we because if we don’t know these stories we can’t appreciate what we have here, and when we look at Colorado right now colorado’s become dirty dangerous and. People are like, I want my Colorado back, right?
SPEAKER 20 :
That’s right. Yeah. You know, when I sat down with Tara Lynn and talked to her about what I was envisioning in my agenda, and we had a lot of great conversations. It wasn’t an easy process. I will assure you of that. But I can tell you that she went through the entire process with the team. And I determined that, you know what, she truly understands that. the history of Colorado and what it is that Colorado can be because it was once before a state where opportunity, hope and prosperity used to survive, you know, was part of our culture. And now that we’re losing that. So, yeah, you know, this is what we’re looking for.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, and so, Tara Lynn, you’ve not been really politically active your life, right? So tell me a little bit about that.
SPEAKER 19 :
About not being politically active?
SPEAKER 18 :
Yeah.
SPEAKER 19 :
Well, look, you know, I tried to stay as far away as I could from having to work with the government my entire life. And then, as you know, in 2022, when I was sued by Jefferson County, things really changed. And that was kind of my first glimpse into, you know, government and elected officials and kind of the politics that play behind the scenes. And ever since then, you know, I’ve been a bit more interested. But certainly as I read the headlines and hear about the things that are happening with our legislature and the feeling of being nickel and dimed to death, you know, I’m feeling it. All my friends are feeling it. I’m not the only person I know that’s been laid off. It’s just I’ve been paying more attention as of late.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, and… You and I met through this issue that you had after you’d been sued by Jefferson County. And one of the things both Greg and Tara Lynn is… We’re supposed to be a representative constitutional republic. That means that we elect representatives to represent us, we the people. And one of the things that elected representatives are to do is to keep government in its proper role and… to represent the people. And instead, what we’ve seen is, I call them now PBIs. There’s a difference between a representative and a politician. PBIs, politicians, bureaucrats, interested parties, they’re kind of like all in bed together. And you saw that firsthand, Tara Lynn. I did, unfortunately.
SPEAKER 19 :
I like to say that my rose-colored glasses were punched right off my face when I saw how it really works. You know, I think I had an idealistic version coming from a strong military family of not only what America is and stands for, but how government is supposed to work for the people. And sadly, I think we’ve come a long way from the intention of our founding fathers.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, and it is property is inherent in our American idea, foundational. If everyday people can work and keep most of the fruits of their labor and own property, not only tangible property, but their intellectual property, then what could happen? Well, America could happen where everyday people can thrive and prosper. But what happened with you is the Jefferson County commissioners and all the PBIs there tried to take your land.
SPEAKER 19 :
And that’s right. Yep. And in the name of entitlement, you know, it was one of those situations where, just like many Americans, I worked my whole life to be able to afford my dream home. I did everything right, checked all the boxes, was diligent. beyond even what I think what most would consider good diligence. And I still found myself not only frauded, but having the government come after me because people in my community felt, they believed, that they had a greater right to my property than I did simply because they wanted access to it.
SPEAKER 18 :
So were they helping to pay the mortgage or the taxes on the property? No, of course not. And so… So Greg, this is, first of all, thank you, Tara Lynn, because this is going to be brutal.
SPEAKER 20 :
Greg. Well, I tell you, you know what?
SPEAKER 18 :
And I say that because I watch politics now. Of course. You know what?
SPEAKER 20 :
I mean, look, if it was easy, everybody would be in it, right? It takes strong individuals to step forward and try to stand in the gap and fight for the right things. And, you know, the Lopez Romero ticket is going to be what people are going to embrace because we understand the challenges of people. Look, we don’t come from money. We don’t come from great pedigree families. But we do come from a foundation that says we will fight for the right things. We will fight for the things that matter most for people. And so, as you mentioned, government today is taking everything. You know, they’re taking property. They’re taking our money. You know, people don’t understand that government doesn’t make anything. They take everything. And so when government is growing, the only way that they can get money is through our taxes and fees. And so they’re reaching their hands into our pockets. Small businesses are struggling because they’re taking more and more of their money. But we’re going to put an end to that. We’re going to start bringing the voice back to government. And we’re going to stop the divide because both sides want to divide us. You know, they don’t necessarily want to unite us like Colorado used to be. And we’re going to make sure that we unite the state again.
SPEAKER 18 :
And how will you do that, Greg?
SPEAKER 20 :
You know, a conversation at a time. We’re listeners, okay? We don’t play political party politics. We’re here for the people. And so I’m going to do the right things, make sure that there’s no harm that we’re doing, and we’re going to make decisions based on visionary classes. We’re not going to be making decisions based on the next election or what do the polls say, right? And a lot of individuals that are in office today, they’ve lost sight. They’ve lost sight that they work for the people. It’s not that the people work for them. They work for the people.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, and that is important to get that back into the proper role for sure. We’re going to continue the discussion with former Congressman Greg Lopez. He is a candidate for governor and his running mate, Lieutenant Governor Tara Lynn Romero. What’s the website? Has that been updated and everything yet?
SPEAKER 20 :
No, it’s still the same website because, you know, the campaign starts under a candidate. And so We don’t have to create a new campaign. We’re just enhancing the campaign with the Lieutenant Governor. So it’s still greglopez.co. Everybody can go to greglopez.co and find out all the information.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay, well, we are going to continue the discussion, and this happens because of our sponsors. For Everything Mortgages, talk to Lauren Levy.
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SPEAKER 05 :
With all the chaos and confusion in our world, how can you plant yourself on a foundation based on truth and clarity? The Kim Munson Show is here to help. Kim examines news, politics and opinion through the lens of freedom versus force, force versus freedom and shares human interest stories that will inspire you and make you smile. Tune in to The Kim Munson Show each weekday, 6 to 8 a.m., with encores 1 to 2 p.m. and 10 to 11 p.m. on KLZ 560 AM, KLZ 100.7 FM, the KLZ website, and the KLZ app. Shows can also be found at kimmunson.com, Spotify, and iTunes.
SPEAKER 18 :
And welcome back to the Kim Munson Show. Be sure and check out our website. That is Kim Munson, M-O-N-S-O-N dot com. And join our community. And it is, we’ve, this is thousands of dollars in investments, hundreds of hours of work to get this community together and also our newsroom. So we have three presses, the Kim Munson Broadcast, the community, and our newsroom. And we’re And the newsroom is writing stories with good journalistic integrity, which you hardly ever see that anymore. It’s both sides of the story. We source things. I give an opinion, but you know it’s an opinion. And so be sure and check all of that out. Greg Lopez is in studio, former congressman and is running for governor as an independent journalist. Tell me a little bit about that, because there are those that are saying that you’re a spoiler. So address this, please, Greg.
SPEAKER 20 :
Of course. You know, one of the best things about running as an independent is I don’t have a primary. So we’re going to go directly to the general election in November where people can actually make a decision. On what type of leader do they want to see take over the state of Colorado? And so when I people say, well, you’re going to split the vote. You know, I I kind of think to myself, do they really believe a party believes that they own the votes of people? Do they no longer believe that people have the right to decide how they’re going to exercise their vote? And I’m a firm believer that, you know, if a voter votes for me because of my vision, because of my experience and because of what I understand, the totality of the job, that’s not splitting the vote. That’s democracy. That’s democracy at work where people are actually choosing. individuals that they believe are going to do the best job and improve their quality of life, because we all want a better quality of life.
SPEAKER 18 :
And so with that, you have just announced your running mate, and that is Tara Lynn Romero. And what people would say that she’s a political outsider. How would you address that?
SPEAKER 20 :
Well, here’s the thing. When you say political outsider, what you’re really saying is that, you know what? She is one of us. She’s one of the masses. She’s one that understands all the struggles that every family goes through. And so her expertise in the health care industry. understanding healthcare is one of the biggest challenges that we all face with, right? And so she’s going to bring that knowledge. And she’s got this fight in her that she wants transparency. She wants to make sure that everybody understands how the healthcare system works. And she’s got this talent of explaining things that are complicated, explaining them in a very understandable manner so that everybody can understand these complexity issues.
SPEAKER 18 :
So, Tara Lynn Romero, I was talking with a young mom the other day, and she was talking about the cost of their health insurance. And it was well over, I think it was close to $1,000 a month. That’s a lot. Any ideas on how to address that?
SPEAKER 19 :
You know, I wish that there was a silver bullet. I really do. In my 25 years as a healthcare executive, affordability every single year was something that we were striving to do. And costs just went up and up. Because as each year goes by, more and more services and programs are added. So it’s layers upon layers upon layers. And as part of that, not only do you get extra health care benefits, but the bureaucracy around that and the administrative overhead also grows. And so we were really never able to make things more affordable. And that’s something I’m hoping to tackle. But it is very complex.
SPEAKER 18 :
It is very complex. And as the president of CUT, the Colorado Union of Taxpayers, I’ve seen different pieces of legislation mandating certain coverages, mandating these things that whenever you have things mandated, then that means the cost is going to go up. So I would love to get back to the old days, which before you were born, I think, which would was where people had they would pay for their insurance. Their doctors visits, but they had catastrophic. You know, if something really bad happened, they would have insurance that would cover that. I would love to get back to that. Greg, do you think that’s a possibility?
SPEAKER 20 :
I think it is. Look, I think the people are really upset with the rising cost of health care. And they have to wait in lines. And one of the things that I hear from doctors as I talk to doctors is like, you know, Greg, oftentimes I’m required by the bureaucracy of the hospital to run tests that I don’t think is necessary, but they want me to run test after test after test. In case there’s a potential lawsuit that we can show that, hey, we ran all the tests, and so it’s not really our fault. And those were – I believe that’s where the added cost keeps coming in. I think that makes a lot of sense. And so it’s time – like you said, it’s time for us to – Decentralize healthcare. Seems like everything these days is being centralized in big conglomerates, big organizations. And I would love, again, to see that clinic in the community, right? Where you can go and see your doctor, be with him for 15, 20 years, and they really are there to help you and heal you. not give you a pill, not send you home thinking you’re feeling okay, but more importantly, focusing on your health so that your quality of life gets better and you have trust again in the medical industry. I firmly believe we can get back there.
SPEAKER 18 :
OK, next thing, let’s talk about the wolf, because you and I need to go in and make my comments on the Federal Register. But you were instrumental in at least getting the wolf stopped or the introduction stopped right now in Colorado.
SPEAKER 20 :
Yes, you know, and Kim, it really was because I understood the federal regulations, right, and the Endangered Species Act. And Governor Polis and CPW have violated the Endangered Species Act by importing wolves into Colorado. Now, they will tell you, no, that’s not true. We didn’t violate it. What’s interesting, though, if you didn’t violate it, then why did the Department of Fish and Wildlife send you a letter to say stop doing it? If you were doing it legally, why did they stop you? OK, so there’s a lot of times where you have people say, you know, this is not correct in the statements that former Congressman Greg Lopez is saying. But the proof is in the cease and desist letter that was sent to them. And right now, what a lot of people don’t understand, I was talking to someone the other night and they said, you know, Greg, I kind of like the wolf. I said, well, that’s great, but do you know what they’re doing to the small business ranchers and farmers as it pertains to fertility rates and so forth? And he goes, I had no idea. Now that you’re mentioning that, maybe it is wrong for us to have the wolf.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, then ultimately what that does, though, is it affects our food supply. It does. And if people are going hungry, that’s a real problem.
SPEAKER 20 :
Look, it’s a small business. Think about that for a minute. It’s a small business owner that’s relying on this product to give to the market, and then it’s being stolen from them from a predator, an apex animal, right? It’s kind of like having someone breaking into your restaurant and coming in and taking all your food. You know, how are you going to be able to make a living? And so it is a very important thing. And the wolves themselves, they’re not surviving. You look at all the numbers that are happening here in Colorado and they’re not self-sustaining. And that is why the United States Fish and Wildlife Service declared it. a experimental non-essential experimental population what that means is you know what if the wolf does not survive in colorado for whatever reason the population in the united states will still thrive it’ll still survive and so i think it’s time that we reevaluate that because it wasn’t based on science and the wolf is not doing anybody any good here in colorado
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, and yeah. So let’s see. We’ve got just a few minutes left. Tara Lynn, why don’t you share your final thought? This is a big deal. You’re stepping into this arena. And I didn’t make this point, and I meant to. And that is that from a military standpoint, I was talking about America’s veteran stories. We are in a big ideological battle now. This battle is to save, to reclaim our state, save this great American idea. And you’re stepping into a big arena. What’s your final thought you’d like to leave with our listeners?
SPEAKER 19 :
Well, I’d like to let the people know that just like them, I am desperate for something different. I am desperate for representatives that actually listen to us and put people over politics and don’t vote along party line every single time. And Greg and I are here to bring that back. We’re here to truly serve and to truly fight for the good people of Colorado.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay. And Greg Lopez, how would you like to wrap this up?
SPEAKER 20 :
You know, I would just like to everybody that’s listening today to evaluate because it is important to understand who is the team that’s going to lead us. And, you know, Tara Lynn is very modest because she’s been involved in a lot of different issues here in the state of Colorado, specifically with the Western Slope, the right to float, you know, property rights. And so she’s very knowledgeable. I am so proud to have her stand next to me. As we win this election, as we go out there and travel the state and listen to people. So I will leave you with this. Don’t ever believe that if you vote for the person you truly want to support, that you’re throwing your vote away. You’re exercising your democracy in action. And that’s really what our founding fathers wanted to see.
SPEAKER 18 :
And if people want to get a petition to help you, what would that look like?
SPEAKER 20 :
You know, they can go to our website, GregLopez.co, GregLopez.co, volunteer. There’s a place there where we can reach out to them. They can leave us all the information. The first day that we’re going to be meeting, that we start getting elections or signatures is this Thursday, May 14th. And I want to invite everyone to come to the Highlands Ranch Sunridge Rec Center at 7 p.m. We’re going to do a meet and greet. Tara Lynn and I are going to be there. But come, sign the petition. And the petition is not that you’re voting for us. The petition signature says, I want to see those names on the November ballot.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay. And thank you so much, Greg Lopez, former Congressman Greg Lopez. And thank you so much, Tara Lynn Romero. It’s great to have you here.
SPEAKER 19 :
Great to be here. Thank you, Kim.
SPEAKER 18 :
And our quote for the end of this show is Ralph Waldo Emerson. He said, successful is the person who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much, who has gained the respect of children, who leaves the world better than they found it, who has never lacked appreciation for the earth’s beauty, who never fails to look for the best in others or give the best of themselves. So, my friends, today be grateful, read great books, think good thoughts, listen to beautiful music, communicate and listen well, live honestly and authentically, strive for high ideals, and like Superman, stand for truth, justice, and the American way. My friends, you are not alone. God bless you. God bless America. Stay tuned for our number two.
SPEAKER 14 :
like a new moon rising fierce to the rain in lightning wandering out into this great unknown and i don’t want no one to cry but tell them if i don’t survive
SPEAKER 22 :
The views and opinions expressed on KLZ 560 are those of the speaker, commentators, hosts, their guests, and callers. They are not necessarily the views and opinions of Crawford Broadcasting or KLZ management, employees, associates, or advertisers. KLZ 560 is a Crawford Broadcasting God and country station.
SPEAKER 07 :
It’s the Kim Munson Show, analyzing the most important stories.
SPEAKER 18 :
The socialization of transportation, education, energy, housing, and water, what it means is that government controls it through rules and regulations.
SPEAKER 07 :
The latest in politics and world affairs.
SPEAKER 18 :
Under this guise of bipartisanship and nonpartisanship, it’s actually tapping down the truth.
SPEAKER 07 :
Today’s Current Opinions and Ideas.
SPEAKER 18 :
On an equal field in the battle of ideas, mistruths and misconceptions is getting us into a world of hurt.
SPEAKER 07 :
Is it freedom or is it force? Let’s have a conversation.
SPEAKER 18 :
Indeed, let’s have a conversation, and welcome to our number two of the Kim Munson Show. Thank you so much for joining us. You eat your treasure, you’re valued, you have purpose. Today, strive for excellence, take care of your heart, your soul, your mind, and your body. My friends, we were made for this moment in history. Thank you to the team. That’s Producer Joe, Luke, Rachel, Zach, Echo, Charlie, Mike, Amanda, and all the people here at Crawford Broadcasting. Quite the first hour, Producer Joe.
SPEAKER 13 :
Happy Monday, Kim, and yes, indeed, great first hour.
SPEAKER 18 :
And check out the website. Join our community. And you can do that by going to kimmunson.com. The text line is 720-605-0647. Thank you to all of you who support us. We are an independent voice on an independent station searching for truth and clarity. Thank you. And so that means I have editorial control subjects. But any candidate that reaches out to me, I will give them some time on the show. And I make that commitment. And so text me. The text line is 720-605-0647. And I did want to say thank you to Hooters Restaurants. They’ve been great sponsors of both the Kim Munson Show and America’s Veterans Stories for many years. I met them. It’s a classic story about freedom and free markets and capitalism and politicians, bureaucrats, and interested parties trying to control things. And the owners of the restaurant, the restaurants are great patriots, and they have locations in Loveland, Westminster, and in Aurora. And also, as the Avalanche, I guess they lost this weekend, so it’s 2-1 with the Wild. But we’ve got, I wonder, Greg, I don’t know if the game’s, you’re a little busy probably not watching sports like I am.
SPEAKER 20 :
You’re giving me the latest update on the Avalanche.
SPEAKER 18 :
But a great place to watch all those games is Hooters restaurants. And that is Greg Lopez, former congressman and also candidate for governor. And you are running as an independent.
SPEAKER 20 :
I am.
SPEAKER 18 :
And big announcement that you announced on my show in our number one.
SPEAKER 20 :
That’s right. You know, my lieutenant governor selection, Tara Lynn Romero, you know, she is a fourth generation Coloradan. She brings a lot to the ticket. I think people are going to realize, you know what, this duo truly understands the struggles of everyday Coloradans, regardless of zip code, regardless of income level, that we will keep our hands on the pulse of what the quality of life should be for everybody here in the state.
SPEAKER 18 :
So Tara Lynn, Greg just mentioned quality of life. And I’ve heard all these different issues, affordability, and I get that. But I think that is it. People want to be able to walk their dog, feel safe doing that, to be able to afford to meet friends, to go out for an evening, be able to afford soccer for their kids. I hadn’t really thought of that. And quality of life is, I think, what’s so important.
SPEAKER 19 :
I could not agree more. You know, in healthcare, we used to call it vitality. Kind of getting on the same thing, right? Are you thriving? Are you doing more than just surviving? And sadly, I think, you know, many Coloradans are feeling like they’re just surviving these days. They don’t feel safe. They don’t feel like the job market is good. And especially for the younger generations, I think the idea of even owning a home is so far out of reach that many have given up.
SPEAKER 18 :
And… I never ask a woman her age, but would you be like in that millennial group or?
SPEAKER 19 :
I am an elder millennial. And I did ask Gen X if I could be included in the Xennial. So with an X and they said I can join their group. So Gen X millennial.
SPEAKER 18 :
OK, well, this is rather refreshing, Craig Lopez.
SPEAKER 20 :
It is. You know what? One of the things about it was that, you know, the younger generation needs to be involved. They need to see someone that they can connect with, someone that can speak their language, use their words. As a baby boomer, I’m the last of the baby boomers. You know, I have a lot of experience in life. But at the end of the day, it’s a compliment ticket that represents the entire state.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay, and what’s that website?
SPEAKER 20 :
It’s greglopez.co, greglopez.co.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay, now let’s get into the word of the day. Greg, when I looked over, it’s like, you hadn’t heard this word, I hadn’t heard it. Tara Lynn, had you heard it? Never. Okay, but our pastor, who is a millennial, used it yesterday. Okay, Joe, I have to ask you, have you heard it? No, ma’am, I had not. Okay. It’s hermeneutic. It’s H-E-R-M-E-N-E-U-T-I-C. It could be, number one, interpretive or explanatory, or number two, unfolding the signification of or pertaining to interpretation or explanatory. And we should be able to use this in a sentence today. I’ve got to think about that. But I think in politics, I’m going to give this a stab. How’s this, Greg Lopez? I think you need you need to have a. a hermeneutic understanding of what people are feeling out there in order to be able to represent them properly. How’s that? Do you like that?
SPEAKER 15 :
I like that.
SPEAKER 18 :
Oh, good. And Joe’s clapping. Okay, there we go. Okay. Our quote of the day. He is from Ralph Waldo Emerson. He was born in 1803, died in 1882. And he said, if you tax too high, the revenue will yield nothing. And we can see that in Colorado, Greg Lopez. We’ve seen this legislature and this governor tax and fee businesses put on rules and regulations because they think that they’re going to get more from that golden goose. And that golden goose is leaving. And so what they’re getting is zero tax.
SPEAKER 20 :
Yeah, they’re not getting ahead. And that’s why every year, this past year, 1.5 billion. that they had to identify just to balance the budget. And the rumors say and the facts and the figures showing that next year it’s going to be $1.7 billion. So think about that. And they’re looking to do away with Tabor. They’re looking to do more fees. They’re looking to do more revenue generators. But to your point, and like the quote said, that revenue is not producing anything.
SPEAKER 18 :
And you did mention that was, I think, Senate Bill 175, which is referring a question to the ballot. For the kids, supposedly, for education. And basically, it would gut taper Colorado’s Taxpayers Bill of Rights. And what do you think about that, Greg Lopez?
SPEAKER 20 :
You know, I think, again, right, this is where the transparency comes in. They’re not being honest on how they’re using that money. You have to read the bill. You have to read the language to realize that very little of that money is going to go to the educational component. Right. Right. But they always use the children. They always use the children and pull on those emotional heartstrings to say, well, we’re going to help the children. People need to read the ballot question and really decide if that’s something you want to do or not. But if we lose the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, you can be rest assured our budget is going to get out of control.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, it already is, and that’s why the work of the Colorado Union of Taxpayers is so important. Join us. We have our board meeting tonight, and that is coloradotaxpayer.org. We’ve taken a position of no. on that particular bill, and we will be working diligently to protect Tabor, Colorado’s taxpayers’ bill of rights. A couple of things. I did want to mention that, let’s see, let’s get over here to, let’s talk a little bit about education. You just mentioned it. And this is so exciting about this new classical academy that is opening in Centennial. So what if your child’s education could shape not just what they know, but who they become? Excalibur Classical Academy is a private classical Christian school opening in Centennial this fall for kindergarten through third grade. Every student is offered full scholarship tuition. Through math, phonics, music, grammar, and the timeless classics, they cultivate wisdom, character, and a love of learning. This is education with purpose. Seats are limited and enrollment is now open. Discover a better beginning at Excalibur Classical Academy. That’s E-X-C-A-L-I-B-U-R classicalacademy.org. And we have these discussions because of all of our great sponsors. And another great sponsor is the Roger Mangan State Farm Insurance Team. They want you to feel safe and well-served and to understand your insurance coverage. Their office will respond to your call or text 24 hours a day. For that 24-hour peace of mind, call Roger Mangan now. That number is 303-795-8855. Like a good neighbor, Roger Mangan’s team is there.
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SPEAKER 18 :
Welcome back to The Kim Munson Show. Check out our website. That is KimMunson, M-O-N-S-O-N.com. And I wanted to say thank you to the Harris family for their goal sponsorship of the show. Pleased to have on the line with me Representative Chris Richardson, and he is one of our Taxpayers Protectors at the Colorado Union of Taxpayers. Representative Richardson, welcome to the show.
SPEAKER 09 :
Hey, good morning, Kim. It’s great to be on. Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, good to have you. And you’ve just about made it. So the legislature is supposed to close this session on Wednesday, right?
SPEAKER 09 :
That is true. I mean, they say that no man’s life, liberty, or property are more in danger than when the legislature is in session. And that danger is… is over in the next few days. So we made it.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay. However, what I’ve learned, though, is I call them PBIs, politicians, bureaucrats, and interested parties, are busy trying to come up with stuff for the next session, right?
SPEAKER 09 :
Oh, absolutely. And there’s still plenty of bad things rolling through just probably as we speak and later this morning.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, thank you. And you, let’s see, you represent Colorado House District 56, correct? Yes.
SPEAKER 09 :
Yes, I do. It’s seven counties that comprise the Central Eastern Plains. It’s the eastern rural parts of Adams, Arapaho, and El Paso, and all of Elbert, Lincoln, Kit Carson, and Cheyenne, about 100 miles from the edge of Aurora to Kansas, and 100 miles north to south. 88,000 people, 11,000 square miles, so a lot of property, very few people.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, and Representative Richardson, I grew up just across the border in Kansas. And so the eastern plains of Colorado, the western plains of Kansas are so near and dear to my heart. And these people that work there that feed and fuel us, they’ve been doing this. America. And they’re underappreciated, but they are under attack now through industrial solar projects, industrial wind projects, and these industrial transmission lines. And the commissioners of Elbert County and also down in El Paso County, have really worked to represent the people of Elbert County and said no to Excel on this industrial transmission line. And so Excel is doing everything possible to, I think, take people’s land to put this in. What’s the update on all this, Representative Richardson?
SPEAKER 09 :
All righty. Well, you covered the background pretty well. There’s this project that started back in 2021 conceptually called years before that, I am sure, based on the Colorado power plan, which was really the electrification of Colorado, kind of the bowing down to the green energy gods. But it calls for pretty much slathering the plains with solar panels and wind towers, and then the power lines associated with them to bring that power into the The metro area. So back in 21, when this project was originally made public, just prior to COVID, actually. So this has been going on for a while. I was a county commissioner in Elbert County at that time. It really raised concerns in the hearts and minds of my citizens. then and continues to because companies like Excel have been granted the authority to use condemnation or eminent domain to take people’s property for their public projects and the amount of land that the PUC authorized the company to to use to examine, to select their transmission routes through. Elbert County was about a third of the county. So a big portion, I mean, now the final route that they selected can cover half the county, but it did cover 52 separate properties transiting north to south. It’s part of over 500 miles of transmission lines that run across 12 counties in the Eastern Plains for this particular project. But for Elbert County, it was 52 properties. The application process, the determination of where they wanted their route to be took many years. The actual application for local land use came in just before I left office in the late fall of 2025. The county commissioners heard that application in public hearing in the early summer of 26 and denied that application because, frankly, it was incomplete. It didn’t meet all the requirements the county had made, and they were not.
SPEAKER 18 :
Hey, Representative Richardson, clarify that date. You said early summer 2026. Did you mean 2025?
SPEAKER 09 :
Yes, thank you for that. I’m sorry, I was a year off on that. So the application was made late fall of 24. I left office as a county commissioner at the end of 24 and came up to the statehouse in 25. Early 25, that’s Early summer of 25 Albert county did deny that application, because it was incomplete, and it was primarily safety considerations, this was after the Marshall fire. After the big fire in Texas that burned the summer before hundreds of thousands of acres and and that was an excel project down there that ignited it and they’ve admitted to that so fire danger. is always something we’re cognizant of and certainly something that landowners and farmers and ranchers are definitely concerned about at all times. So I think a very valid denial from my point of view. The Excel then took the denial and appealed it to the Public Utilities Commission, which earlier this spring um overturned the county’s denial the county has since asked for reconsideration so that project is still in limbo there is no final determination my suspicion would be that if the redetermination upholds the um overturning of the county’s denial, then this will proceed to the courts. If they side with the county’s denial, then I believe Excel will take it to the court. So we are many years out from a final decision on this particular routing. The county itself has never been against the transmission of power and they recognize the need for power to go to the cities, but they’ve objected to this specific route based on the way the application was made. So that’s kind of the big picture of where we’re at, but how we got here is tremendously disturbing in terms of the authorities that the state has granted to private corporations like Excel, that the impacts those can have on both property rights and just the the emotional and fiscal impacts that it has on property owners and citizens themselves. And I’ve seen all aspects of that. And frankly, none of them are good.
SPEAKER 18 :
So, Representative Richardson, eminent domain is something that is to be used very judiciously and hardly ever, basically. The founders realized that the idea that we would have government give the authority to a private entity to take people’s land is beyond me, Representative Richardson.
SPEAKER 09 :
Yes, and I agree. argued that as recently as Friday on the House floor as we were considering the reauthorization of the PUC. Earlier this year, I had brought a bill to address the situation, and yes, takings are considered and have boundaries put on them by our U.S. Constitution that land shouldn’t be taken for public use without just compensation. Within our state constitution, those restrictions are made even stronger because it goes on to say that whenever an attempt is made to take private property and the use is alleged to be public, the question of whether it’s truly public is judicial in nature and that the determination has to be made by a judge. without any regard to even a legislative assertion that the use is public. And that’s fairly tight, but paraphrasing our state constitution. So even as a legislature, we couldn’t say that this project is of overriding public need. That’s got to be determined by a judge and the system we have set up now allows this private entity, in this case Excel, to begin the process of eminent domain, which still has to proceed through the courts long before you even know what the final route is. So as I described earlier, before the county commissioners even heard the request for the specific routing of this line, they had already initiated condemnation to take property from, I believe it was between 13 and 18 landowners of those 52 in the county. So in my mind, that’s absolutely speculative in nature. If local authority is going to have any meaning, if land use at the local level with public input and public hearings is going to have any meaning at all, then you have to have a route identified and approved before you even begin to contemplate taking people to court to take their property. That’s the point where negotiations perhaps should start. And if negotiations fall apart, then maybe you proceed to that point, or you more likely and more properly would be considering another route, which is what the Elbert County commissioners have desired all along.
SPEAKER 18 :
Goodness. Well, well explained, Representative Richardson. And we’re going to continue the discussion with you on this because this is about people’s their property, their livelihoods. And this is this is just a very important discussion to have. We have all these important discussions because of our great sponsors. And one of those is Benz Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling. And if you’re having any challenges with your own personal climate, reach out to Benz Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling at 303-995-1636.
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SPEAKER 11 :
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SPEAKER 01 :
All Kim’s sponsors are in inclusive partnership with Kim and are not affiliated with or in partnership with KLZ or Crawford Broadcasting. If you would like to support the work of The Kim Monson Show and grow your business, contact Kim at her website, kimmonson.com. That’s Kim Monson, M-O-N-S-O-N dot com.
SPEAKER 18 :
And welcome back to the Kim Munson Show. Be sure and check out our website. That is Kim Munson, M-O-N-S-O-N.com. And each of us have unique goals for our lives. And with over 25 years of experience and the credentials of an accredited investment fiduciary, Jody Henze, and her team at Mint Financial Strategies can help you create a plan. Built just for you. She’s helping me with my plan. And they’re also doing great events. And tomorrow evening, Tuesday, May 12th, 5 p.m., is a virtual event regarding AI. And so it should be very interesting. She’s got a subject matter expert who will be addressing that. And you can RSVP, and then you’ll get the link by going to Jody, that’s J-O-D-Y at MintFS, like FinancialStrategies.com. That’s Jody at MintFinancialStrategies.com. On the line with me is Colorado Representative Chris Richardson. He represents Colorado District 56. We’re talking about Elbert County. And you’ve done an excellent job. of explaining this, Representative Richardson. I wanted to, Greg Lopez is in studio, former congressman running for Colorado governor. What’s your thoughts about this Elbert County transmission line?
SPEAKER 20 :
You know, I share the sentiments of Representative Richardson. You know, being a former mayor and city manager, I understand the importance of government protecting the rights of people. You know, and that’s one of the things why, you know, my lieutenant governor, Taylor Romero, she fully understands what it means when government comes in and starts taking property away from you. And the one thing that really upsets me on this scenario is here it is, elected officials. represented the population of Elbert County and they made a denial. And then you have appointed officials by the governor in the Public Utilities Commission overturning the denial of the elected officials. If that’s not backward.
SPEAKER 18 :
Or the elected representatives of the people.
SPEAKER 20 :
Exactly. Yeah. That’s where you really start questioning who’s actually making the decisions on behalf of the people.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, and Tara Lynn Romero, as you’re hearing this scenario, I can see that it is eliciting a response.
SPEAKER 19 :
Indeed. You know, I feel like when it comes to taking private property from citizens, there’s just always so many eager beavers. You know what I mean? And I find that the determination of whether or not something is a need or a want is a very gray area these days. And it’s a slippery slope. And we are headed in a very wrong direction because everywhere I look, someone seems to be in the crosshairs of an eminent domain taking.
SPEAKER 18 :
And so, Representative Richardson, you mentioned, and again, thank you for your service down at the Statehouse, and I do want to acknowledge that you have been noted as a taxpayer protector by the Colorado Union of Taxpayers. And how that works, Representative Richardson, is we take positions on bills throughout the legislative session, try to get that information over to our representatives, and we’re looking at how do we protect the taxpayer. how do we protect Tabor Colorado’s taxpayers bill of rights? How do we protect property rights and how do we protect parental rights? And you have been noted as one of our taxpayer protectors, and it’s not an easy thing to get to that point. Representative Richardson.
SPEAKER 09 :
Well, and thank you very much for recognizing that, um, you know, long before I really picked up this public leadership, um, role that I have, running for elections to serve people. I served 23 years in the Army. In that time, you know, five and a half years of that was overseas in combat zones, protecting the rights of others. And to come back home and see our own rights being taken is deeply disturbing to me. When we ended the last segment, and I appreciate the words of Greg Lopez, who has An over County resident and the constituent of mine, both as a, when I was a County commissioner, now I represent him and his family in the state house. Um, there really shouldn’t be a discussion here. I mean, the PUC issue is something called a certificate of public convenience. Uh, the convenience of others should always be secondary to the rights of an individual. And somehow we seem to have lost that in this individual process. As I said, I brought a bill earlier this year that recognized that condemnation is a valid authority of government, but that authority should not be granted until a local government has actually designated and approved and found that the route is necessary. That was backed up in the courts earlier this spring with a ruling from the Elbert County District Court that flatly stated that she, the judge, could not make a determination on whether this was actually public use prior to knowing if the route had been approved. So she put a stay on all of those cases that were before her until this ends. And as she ended the segment, talking about the impacts this has on people, I really wanted to share what I’ve heard in testimony, both before the PUC, um, earlier this year, and then, um, in, um, public hearing here at the Capitol. Um, we had one widow, um, who has taken up this charge because her husband, uh, opened the letter, a letter from Excel. informing them that their property was being considered as one that would be transited by this line. It turned out when the final application was made that this was not true, that they did not need their property. The route had moved along some adjacent corridor. But the stress of that, the thought of losing their dream home, their retirement property that they had just built and moved into, she believes firmly caused him to have a stroke and he later died of complications from that. We heard another gentleman who had planned to sell his property and retire a property where he had a small business, a smaller one about five acres and Excel is looking for a 150-foot right-of-way after which you cannot build or do anything essentially without their permission, and that strip’s nearly half his property that Excel desired. And he didn’t want to live under a power line, and I don’t blame him. So he sold his property, and he wound up getting about a half a million less than it had been valued at just a year prior. And because of that, His retirement has now been delayed by five to ten years. And then thirdly, and again, there are lots of stories, but the other was a rancher, the wife of a rancher that is getting up in age. She is fighting cancer. And she had made the decision that she was going to put her resources, her money into cancer. preserving her land so she could pass it on to her children rather than fight the cancer that will likely take her life. So these are not simply fiscal transactions where somebody can be compensated for what the value of a land is. They’re taking people’s lives, their legacies, and these are the things that have to be considered by elected officials that face the people in hearings where all aspects and all impacts can be taken into consideration. When you roll up to what Mr. Lopez rightly said was an unelected body, the PUC is three people making decisions for an entire state. Um, they live in the Denver Metro Boulder area appointed by the governor and Their decisions do not take into account the individual impacts of these property owners. They’re really just looking at what is flatly stated in the certificate is what is the convenience of the state as a whole. And I believe that is wrong.
SPEAKER 18 :
I totally agree with you as well. We’re talking with Representative Chris Richardson and CUT, Colorado Union of Taxpayers, took a position on this bill. This is our commentary. House Bill 1326, the sunset of the Public Utilities Commission. We said this bill extends the life of the Public Utilities Commission until 2037 and expands its mission and authorities. Expands, get that. The PUC under the bill would be authorized to conduct private conversations outside of adjudicatory matters and to use email in its business. The bill directs the PUC to investigate how the state can increase participation in income-based energy assistance programs, which that is not the proper role of government. study the finances of privately held water utilities, and study owners’ new regulations on rideshare companies. This summary cannot list all of the new elements of a 44-page bill. The bill empowers bureaucratic mission creep. The PUC was originally formed to protect consumers from monopoly utilities, and now it is merely a tale being wagged by a control-centric governor and a legislature. It’s become a favorite hammer for those politicians, bureaucrats, and interested parties, PBIs, under the gold dome who seek to control every aspect of hardworking Coloradans’ lives. The governor-appointed PUC board should be replaced by a board elected by the people. Representative Richardson, thank you for joining us. Thank you for the work of you and your colleagues this legislative session, because there was over 700 bills and resolutions that were proposed this legislative session, which ends on Wednesday. What’s your final thought that you’d like to leave with our listeners, Representative Richardson?
SPEAKER 09 :
Thank you, Kim. We’ve got a very, I mean, it’s every year we say that the election coming up is the most important ever. But just the sheer number of items on the ballot, some that are very good, the ones that protect kids, the ones that will ensure that our transportation dollars actually go to transportation. Several others are very good. There’s some that are very bad that have been proposed by the legislature to work around the people. But the actual people that we put in place have to be servants of the people and not servants of the state. We have one party rule here between the governor and the two chambers. There is no separation of powers. There is simply the tyranny of the majority at the moment. So we need to get better balance in our state government in order to stop the slide and then reverse course and get back to a state that Colorado once was, and that was one where folks could thrive and they had the freedom to do so. I could probably talk for more, but I know you’ve got more show to go on.
SPEAKER 20 :
Well, and Representative Richardson, you know what? Let me first say thank you for representing my family, you know, out at the Capitol. I know it’s not easy. I’ve been there. I’ve seen the committees and how people testify. But just thank you and know this. Come 2027, where there is a new governor and a new planet governor with Lopez Romero, we’re going to work very closely with you to make sure that everything you just described and that bill that you introduced, that we will definitely make sure it sees the light of day and real debate and discussion will occur on it. Much appreciated, sir.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay. Representative Richardson, I know you’ve got three more days here, and thank you, and thank you for your update on this. And you know what? I guess the other question, though, what can we do? What can we do to try to help with this? I’m going to have Virginia Maka on tomorrow with Stand for the Land, and she’s in Kansas, and so she’s making that national. Is there anything that we can do right now to help the people of Albert County?
SPEAKER 09 :
I would… reach out and make all these concerns known. The voice of the people does make a difference when they are informed and activated. It can make a difference. We do so much that doesn’t see the light of day. The PUC operates openly but quietly. They need to hear from everyone that is concerned that someday A decision that they make will impact them, and certainly the PUC is already impacting people. As you said, they regulate monopolies. They’re supposed to be ensuring that our power is affordable and reliable, and it is neither. They are failing at their job, and they need to hear that loud and clear.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay, thank you. And you can go to coloradotaxpayer.org. We took a position on this and added it to Cut Engaged. You’re going to have to scroll around a little bit because all this goes on via… by the most recent date. So it’s House Bill 1326. And you can make your voice heard within like one minute by going to coloradotaxpayer.org and going to Cut Engaged. I’ll try to find where that is exactly. Representative Richardson, thank you so much.
SPEAKER 09 :
Thank you. Have a wonderful day.
SPEAKER 18 :
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SPEAKER 05 :
With all the chaos and confusion in our world, how can you plant yourself on a foundation based on truth and clarity? The Kim Munson Show is here to help. Kim examines news, politics, and opinion through the lens of freedom versus force, force versus freedom, and shares human interest stories that will inspire you and make you smile. Tune in to The Kim Munson Show each weekday, 6 to 8 a.m., with encores 1 to 2 p.m., and 10 to 11 p.m. on KLZ 560 AM, KLZ 100.7 FM, the KLZ website, and the KLZ app. Shows can also be found at kimmunson.com, Spotify, and iTunes.
SPEAKER 18 :
And welcome back to The Kim Munson Show. Be sure and check out our website. That is KimMunson, M-O-N-S-O-N.com. And do check out the USMC Memorial Foundation, their website. I think there may be just a few spots left for the golf tournament this Thursday. So go to USMC Memorial Foundation and register. And that’s USMCMemorialFoundation.org. And then also the Center for American Values located in Pueblo. Support them. They’re doing such great work. with these foundational principles of honor, integrity, and patriotism. In studio with me is former Congressman Greg Lopez, running for governor as an independent. It’s great to have you here.
SPEAKER 20 :
Thank you for having me, Kim.
SPEAKER 18 :
Have you had fun?
SPEAKER 20 :
I have a blast. I always enjoy being in your show.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay. And Tara Lynn Romero, you announced it on our show. Tara Lynn Romero is your running mate for Lieutenant Governor. Have you had fun? I have, always. It’s a pleasure. Great. And any candidate that reaches out to me, and the text line is 720-605-0647, I buy my airtime, and I am willing to give airtime to any candidate that reaches out to me. So I’m pleased to have on the line with me William Schweitzer, who is running for state legislature here. William, welcome to the show.
SPEAKER 21 :
Yeah, no, thank you so much for having me, Kim.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, and so what are you running for exactly?
SPEAKER 21 :
Yeah, so I am running for House District 30. So that is the Edgewater and Lakewood communities.
SPEAKER 18 :
And lots has been happening in Lakewood.
SPEAKER 21 :
Yes, that is true. I mean, we’ve had the Lakewood zoning rules. We’ve had kind of our representative currently going after Tabor and also her pushing the prostitution bill in the past as well. So we’re busy here combating all that.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay. So tell us about you, William Schweitzer.
SPEAKER 21 :
Yeah, no. I come from the business world. My wife and I moved out here about five and a half years ago from Nashville, Tennessee during COVID. I’ve worked in the music industry. I’ve done a lot of consulting with leaders on the local and national level, as well as like building startups is how I kind of got my start.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, why have you decided to throw your hat in the ring for Colorado House District 30?
SPEAKER 21 :
Yeah, no, my campaign’s main goal is to move Colorado forward, not just simply left or right. I think we need to restore bipartisanship back to the statehouse. We’ve kind of steered far away from that, unfortunately, in today’s world, and just kind of restoring a direct line back to the people. I think my district deserves a representative with a vision that can build a future, and I think my track record of not only building startups kind of puts me in the place for this year specifically, the type of leadership Colorado needs.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay. And you mentioned, or I mentioned Lakewood, you responded, where were you on this whole upzoning that was being pushed by the politicians and bureaucrats and interested parties in Lakewood?
SPEAKER 21 :
Yeah, no, I was on the winning side. We flipped it two to one to kind of return it back to where it was at. I think the left has an issue of over- dramatic sizing and having their ego kind of go after things like this. Um, I think there’s specific areas that if they would have pinpointed, they could have probably crossed out across the finish line. Um, but the fact that they made it district wide, um, definitely shot themselves in the foot.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay. And how can people get more information about you, William?
SPEAKER 21 :
Yeah, no, uh, I have a website. It’s William’s twice there for colorado.com. My name is William, W-I-L-L-I-A-M-S-W-I-T-V-E-R-F-O-R-C-O-L-O-R-A-D-O.com.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay. One more time.
SPEAKER 21 :
Yeah. William Schweitzer for Colorado.com.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay. And what’s the first thing that you would do when elected to the state house?
SPEAKER 21 :
Yes. No, I think the importance of Kind of just getting people back to the talking table. I mean, politics is so divided right now that we need to focus on kind of crossing aisles from time to time as well. But then for my biggest thing is we need to protect things that matter. Like we need to protect Tabor. We know they’re going after that. We need to get this extreme legislation off the docket. Why either standing and firm with against it or kind of just pushing it because our current legislations are not respecting the people that are paying the bill. So like pushing financial freedom and individual rights is where a legislator should be excelling at.
SPEAKER 18 :
To be a representative of the people instead of of interested parties. Well, William, now, where will people find you on the ballot? Republican, Democrat, independent? Do you have a primary? What does all that look like?
SPEAKER 21 :
So I do not have a primary. I am a Republican. I do lean very independent and I am seeing a lot of I defranchise Democrats as well as independents and Republicans all loving the message of coming to the table together to move us forward, not just kind of going along party lines. I think there’s a value of having representation for everyone. And that’s kind of what I bring to the table and what I have been hearing back from the people I’ve been communicating in my communities with.
SPEAKER 18 :
OK, well, William Schweitzer, thank you so much for joining us.
SPEAKER 21 :
Yeah, no, thank you so much for taking the time.
SPEAKER 18 :
And again, any candidate that reaches out to me, I’ll find time to get them onto the show. And I did want to mention, if you want to make your voice heard regarding the PUC, and you only have a minute to do that, go to coloradotaxpayer.org. We invested in this to create a Cut Engaged. And you’ll have to go down to the fourth line. And it’s the third box over. Cut opposes House Bill 26, 1326, Sunset Public Utilities Commission. Sounds like they’re going to sunset it. Nope, nope, nope. What they’re doing is giving it more life and more power. And so you can say no by going to coloradotaxpayer.org and making your voice heard. Former Congressman Greg Lopez, great to have you here and great to have you announce your running mate here on the Kim Munson Show.
SPEAKER 20 :
Well, thank you for having us, Kim, and it was a pleasure. It’s always a pleasure to be on your show.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay. And Terrilyn Romero, are you ready for this?
SPEAKER 19 :
I am ready, as ready as I’ll ever be.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay. Yes. And so you are on the Lopez-Romero ticket. That’s right. You’re running as independents. And what’s that website?
SPEAKER 20 :
It’s greglopez.co. greglopez.co.
SPEAKER 18 :
Okay. And our quote for the end of the show is from Ralph Waldo Emerson. He says, successful is the person who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much. who has gained the respect of children, who leaves the world better than they found it, who has never lacked appreciation for the earth’s beauty, who never fails to look for the best in others and give the best of themselves. So my friends today, be grateful, read great books, think good thoughts, listen to beautiful music, communicate and listen well, live honestly and authentically, strive for high ideals, and like Superman, stand for truth, justice, and the American way. My friends, you are not alone. God bless you, and God bless America.
SPEAKER 14 :
Like a new moon rising fierce Through the rain and lightning Wandering out into this great unknown And I don’t want no one to cry But tell them if I don’t survive
SPEAKER 22 :
The views and opinions expressed on KLZ 560 are those of the speaker, commentators, hosts, their guests, and callers. They are not necessarily the views and opinions of Crawford Broadcasting or KLZ management, employees, associates, or advertisers. KLZ 560 is a Crawford Broadcasting God and country station.
