Celebrating Liberty Toastmasters and Fighting for Election Integrity

On October 31, 2024, Wendy Warner, Carol Baker, Rick Rome, Greg Morrissey, Marshall Dawson, Ross Klopp, Bennett Rutledge, Helen Raleigh, and Cory Ohnesorge joined the show. Analyzed Denver ballot measures 2Q and 2R, explaining how sales tax increases would disproportionately burden low-income residents while funding Denver Health and affordable housing programs Discussed the upcoming 15th anniversary celebration of Liberty Toastmasters Denver and explained how the club helps members develop communication skills in a supportive environment Shared.

Denver Tax Increases and Voter Impact

Start listening at 16:56 – Hour 1

Wendy Warner, Secretary of the Colorado Union of Taxpayers, breaks down Denver’s ballot measures 2Q and 2R, which would raise sales taxes for Denver Health and affordable housing. Warner warns that Denver residents already face a 25-30 percent property tax increase, new sidewalk fees exceeding $200, and trash fees. The proposed sales tax increases would compound the burden on the very people these measures claim to help.

Warner explains that Denver’s hospital, while providing valuable services to the indigent, functions as a regional facility serving patients from across the metro area. She notes that over $10.5 million in uncompensated care went to undocumented immigrants last year alone, a direct consequence of Denver’s sanctuary city policies. Both tax measures exempt themselves from TABOR caps, meaning revenue could grow indefinitely without voter approval.

“The very people that they say they’re helping with this and the affordable housing tax are the ones that are going to get hit with the sales tax, because the sales tax is the most regressive of all.”

Wendy Warner, Secretary, Colorado Union of Taxpayers

Liberty Toastmasters’ Fifteenth Anniversary Celebration

Start listening at 29:00 – Hour 1

Carol Baker, President of Liberty Toastmasters Denver, joins Kim in studio to discuss the club’s 15th anniversary celebration scheduled for Saturday. Baker describes Toastmasters as “adult speech class” that helps members develop communication skills in a supportive environment where they can explore ideas and learn to articulate them effectively.

Club members call in to share their wins. Rick Rome emphasizes how the program builds confidence for life challenges, from seeking public office to handling family matters. Greg Morrissey from Liberty Toastmasters North describes himself as a “lifelong student” who keeps learning from fellow members. Marshall Dawson, running for Congress in Colorado’s 2nd District, credits Toastmasters with refining his public speaking skills for the campaign trail.

“The challenge is to bring that out into the world and bring those skill sets that we practice every single meeting.”

Rick Rome, Liberty Toastmaster

Civic Engagement Through Public Speaking

Start listening at 39:15 – Hour 1

Ross Klopp explains how Toastmasters prepared him to testify at public hearings, including his testimony against a proposed firearms ban that could have cost Colorado $300 million annually in enforcement. Bennett Rutledge, running for Colorado State Senate District 16, describes how Toastmasters transformed his campaign approach from self-focused to voter-focused. He guides listeners on how to find write-in candidates on Colorado’s official election website.

“The good news is that not only can I win and they win, but the public can win. And it is possible for 100 percent of the voters to win in an election.”

Bennett Rutledge, Colorado State Senate Candidate

Free Markets and the American Dream

Start listening at 66:32 – Hour 2

Helen Raleigh, author and senior contributor at The Federalist, celebrates Elon Musk’s SpaceX achievements and Argentine President Javier Milei’s free market reforms. Raleigh, who immigrated from China, shares her personal story of growing up under food rationing where her family of five had to squeeze their food coupons to repay the government for a bureaucratic error.

Raleigh contrasts the abundance of American life with her childhood deprivation, recounting how winning a Hershey chocolate bar in college planted the seeds of her American dream. She warns that current policy trends, including efforts to limit meat consumption, remind her of the food rationing she escaped. Her piece “Long Live Liberty, Dammit” celebrates those who fight for economic freedom.

“I didn’t come here for liberty, Kim. I came here for Hershey’s chocolate bar, but I found both.”

Helen Raleigh, Author and Entrepreneur

Running for Office as a Calling

Start listening at 101:05 – Hour 2

Cory Ohnesorge, Republican candidate for Colorado House District 23, challenges incumbent House Majority Leader Monica Duran. Onusorg frames his candidacy as a matter of duty rather than desire, explaining that prayer led him to “pick up your cross and start walking.” He advocates for eliminating state income tax, returning zoning jurisdiction to city councils, and reversing House Bill 1313.

Onusorg highlights that unaffiliated voters have returned more ballots than either party in his district, making them decisive in breaking 18 years of Democratic gubernatorial control. He encourages voters to engage on X rather than Facebook, which he describes as a former Department of Defense project.

“It has nothing to do with want, Kim. It has to do with duty with God. I prayed about it. And what came back from prayer is pick up your cross and start walking.”

Cory Ohnesorge, Colorado House District 23 Candidate