Protecting Parental Rights and Fighting Statehouse Overreach

On February 22, 2024, Rebecca Keltie, Nicole Neily, Karen Levine, and Lorne Levy joined the show. Rebecca Keltie, a retired military veteran running for Colorado House District 16, discusses the need for conservatives to take back seats in the state legislature and fight against excessive taxation and attacks on parental rights Nicole Neily explains how Parents Defending Education tracks classroom indoctrination nationwide and discusses strategies for.

Fighting for Conservative Seats at the Statehouse

Start listening at 17:01 – Hour 1

Rebecca Keltie, a retired military veteran running for Colorado House District 16, explains why she entered the political arena. The values she fought to protect during her military service are now under daily attack in Denver, where a Democrat supermajority passes legislation that erodes parental rights, burdens small businesses with excessive regulations, and funnels taxpayer money to illegal immigrants while neglecting veterans.

Keltie emphasizes that conservatives cannot simply vote and walk away. The real battle begins after Election Day when elected officials must be held accountable. She urges Coloradans across the political spectrum to unite, noting that death by a thousand cuts has left the conservative movement bleeding in this state. Without taking action and winning new seats, not just defending existing ones, the fight becomes meaningless.

“A lot of people think that the election is the end of the means. Okay, we’ve elected a conservative in there or someone who’s going to fight for what we want. That’s just the beginning. After the election is when the war begins. That’s when the fight begins.”

Rebecca Keltie, Candidate for Colorado House District 16

Exposing School Indoctrination Nationwide

Start listening at 31:29 – Hour 1

Nicole Neily, president of Parents Defending Education, reveals how her organization has tracked classroom indoctrination since 2021. Receiving 50 to 200 tips weekly from concerned parents and teachers, Parents Defending Education documents incidents of racial segregation through affinity groups, explicit gender material, and the Black Lives Matter week of action that diverts instructional time from reading, writing, and arithmetic to political activism.

Neily highlights a recent victory in Iowa where her organization sued a school district over compelled speech policies requiring students to use preferred pronouns or face expulsion. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals found this to be a First Amendment violation, and the district settled. Schools cannot force children to speak words they do not believe. Over 100 years of jurisprudence affirms that parents have the right to direct the care and upbringing of their children.

The indoctrination map on defendinged.org shows this is not just a California or New York problem. It happens in red states, private schools, and rural districts nationwide. Almost 100% of tipsters request anonymity, fearing retaliation against themselves and their children. Sunshine remains the best disinfectant, and public accountability changes the risk calculus for administrators who previously operated behind closed doors.

“You know, and if we really, you know, of course we want all children to succeed and all children to thrive, but the best way to help, you know, a disadvantaged child is to give them those fundamental life skills, not to tell them, hey, guess what, you have no shot at a happy future because of the color of your skin. I think that is the most cruel, condescending thing an educator could do.”

Nicole Neily, President of Parents Defending Education

Property Rights and the Assault on Colorado Homeowners

Start listening at 61:04 – Hour 2

Karen Levine, RE/MAX realtor, sounds the alarm on property tax increases devastating Colorado businesses. Susan Kochevar’s 88 Drive-In Theater saw taxes jump from $14,000 to $42,000 in a single year. This unsustainable burden, combined with inflation and regulatory costs, threatens to push small businesses out of the state they helped build.

House Bill 24-1175 would grant local governments right of first refusal on multifamily properties, injecting government into the housing market and removing properties from private competition. Meanwhile, construction defect legislation that has prevented affordable condo development for over a decade may finally see reform through Senate Bill 24-106, which would allow builders the right to remedy defects before litigation.

Levine reports robust market activity with sellers ready to list and buyers prepared to purchase, though pricing discipline remains essential. Properties priced appropriately sell within 30 days, while overpriced listings languish as savvy buyers wait for realistic values.

“I think what’s interesting is the light it is shining on situations, Kim, is the attack on small business. And small business is what built America. And I think it’s really sad, because many of these bills at the statehouse are taking away rights of small business.”

Karen Levine, RE/MAX Realtor

Navigating Mortgages Amid Rising Costs

Start listening at 61:04 – Hour 2

Lorne Levy, mortgage specialist with Polygon Financial Group, reports healthy market activity with values remaining stable and no appraisal issues. A new reverse mortgage product allows seniors to keep their low first mortgage rate while accessing a second mortgage with no monthly payment, providing relief for those facing crushing property tax increases.

Levy counsels buyers to consider county tax rates when determining affordability. Adams and Arapahoe Counties consistently have higher property taxes than Douglas County or Denver. The same $500,000 home can cost $100 to $150 more per month in a high-tax county, potentially determining whether a buyer qualifies for a mortgage at all. Credit card debt has reached all-time highs nationally as Americans struggle with inflation and rising costs of living.

“Because I just know off the top of my head what counties are more expensive than others. So I tell them, are you looking in Denver or are you looking in Douglas County? They tend to have the lower property taxes.”

Lorne Levy, Mortgage Specialist, Polygon Financial Group