Regulations Undercut the American Dream While Property Taxes Surge

On this Tuesday broadcast, Kim Monson examines the regulatory assault on affordable energy with Laramie Energy CEO Bob Boswell, while REMAX realtor Karen Levine and mortgage expert Lorne Levy tackle the property tax shockwave hitting Colorado homeowners and strategies to navigate rising rates and declining housing inventory.

Climate Regulations Threaten Energy Reliability and Affordability

Start listening at 30:33 – Hour 1

Bob Boswell, CEO of Laramie Energy, exposes the politically-driven assault on natural gas and fossil fuels. Boswell explains that climate change policy has become a tool for increasing regulation rather than addressing actual environmental concerns, which he describes as more of a 2050 problem than a pre-2030 crisis. He specifically targets Colorado’s HB 1294, introduced just one week before the legislative session ended, which would impose complicated emissions reporting requirements not just on oil and gas, but across industries including dairy and drilling.

The bill faced opposition from both the Colorado Chamber of Commerce and Denver Chamber of Commerce for its overreach into personal driving choices and commuting decisions. Boswell emphasizes that the U.S. has already reduced emissions by over 20 percent since 2013, while China and India continue building coal plants. The punitive regulatory approach, he argues, makes America less competitive globally while natural gas remains essential, providing 70 percent of the world’s fertilizer and a critical component of reliable power generation.

“The use of hydrocarbons is not going away. It’s important. And the population of the world continues to grow. If we’re going to supply food and electricity and other elements to these people, we need to continue to develop these natural resources, which have been a strong component of what we’ve been able to do in the United States from an economic point of view.”

Bob Boswell, CEO of Laramie Energy

Property Tax Shock Hits Colorado Homeowners

Start listening at 73:23 – Hour 2

Karen Levine, REMAX realtor with 35 years of experience, breaks down the property tax assessment crisis hitting Colorado homeowners. Many received notices showing 35 percent or higher increases in assessed valuations. Levine explains that counties used data from the two-year period ending June 30, 2022, which captured the absolute peak of the housing market. She notes that Jefferson County’s assessor stated publicly that over 90 percent of first-round protests will be denied, but encourages homeowners to persist through the appeals process.

For those seeking to protest, Levine advises gathering comparable sales data from that two-year window and verifying that the county has accurate information about square footage and home features. The deadline to file protests is June 8th. She also highlights how green initiatives and policy layers continue adding construction costs that get passed to homebuyers, making homeownership increasingly difficult for average families.

“There’s always opportunity, even in challenging times. But be wise. Think about when policy comes before you as a voter, when candidates come before you as a voter. Think about how they can affect or take away or give you more freedom. And we empower them to represent us, and that representation has been lost over time.”

Karen Levine, REMAX Realtor

Mortgage Strategies in a High-Rate Environment

Start listening at 62:50 – Hour 2

Lorne Levy of Polygon Financial Group addresses how homeowners can leverage their equity despite rising rates. With many locked into 2.75 percent first mortgages from the pandemic refinancing boom, Levy explains that second mortgages at 9 percent still beat credit card rates in the 20s. Credit card debt has reached over a trillion dollars nationally, and many homeowners could benefit from accessing home equity to consolidate high-interest debt.

Levy also dispels myths about reverse mortgages for those 62 and older. Contrary to common misconceptions, the bank does not take your house, the title remains in the owner’s name, and the loan can be paid off at any time. For those healthy enough to qualify for life insurance, he describes a strategy of using a portion of home equity to purchase a life insurance policy, potentially allowing heirs to receive both the insurance payout and any remaining home equity.

“Both Karen and I take pretty seriously about trying to help the listeners out. It’s free to talk to us. So if you have high credit card debt but equity in your home, it might be worth a phone call. If you think you’re stuck and you’re struggling every month, you may not be stuck.”

Lorne Levy, Polygon Financial Group

Vaccine Injuries and Medical Freedom

Start listening at 69:42 – Hour 2

Cora Matteson of Roots Medical reports seeing new vaccine injury symptoms weekly, ranging from neurological to vascular to gut symptoms. Many patients suffering since their original vaccination are not getting answers from traditional medicine. Madison emphasizes the importance of getting to the root cause of health issues rather than applying band-aid solutions. She notes that Roots Medical sees no reason to vaccinate anyone under 40 for COVID, and even those over 40 would need to be in a high-risk category for the practice to consider recommending it.

“Every week I see a new symptom and something different that people have been experiencing since they first got their original vaccine. Traditional medicine isn’t giving them answers. And so it’s been a good process and just sitting down with people, listening to them and walking through what medical records they have had.”

Cora Matteson, Roots Medical