Protecting Children and Reforming Public Pensions

On Monday, April 3, 2023, during Holy Week, Kim Monson welcomes a powerful lineup addressing religious freedom, fiscal responsibility, and child protection. Colonel John Priecko, retired United States Air Force, provides an update on the stalled In God We Trust license plate bill. Joshua Sharf from the Independence Institute breaks down PERA’s pension crisis and its burden on taxpayers. Vicki Sutter and Lisa MacLean from Winsome Ministries introduce their Be Brave movement calling Christians to stand against threats to children.

Understanding Colorado’s Public Pension Crisis

Start listening at 32:07 – Hour 1

In this segment, Joshua Sharf, Senior Fellow in Fiscal Policy at the Independence Institute, joins Kim to explain the complexities of PERA, Colorado’s Public Employee Retirement Association. Sharf explains that school districts contribute approximately 21% of payroll to PERA while employees contribute 11%, totaling 32% of salary devoted to retirement benefits.

Sharf distinguishes between defined benefit plans like PERA, where retirees earn a guaranteed monthly benefit based on years of service and highest salary years, and defined contribution plans like 401(k)s where individuals save and invest for their own retirement. He notes that PERA employees do not participate in Social Security, which partially offsets the high contribution rates.

The discussion reveals that PERA has been chronically underfunded, leading to multiple legislative fixes since 2004. In 2018, Senate Bill 200 added a direct taxpayer appropriation of $225 million annually from the general fund. Sharf also recounts how Governor Owens allowed employees to buy service credit at roughly 25 cents on the dollar, adding billions to PERA’s unfunded liability. The average monthly benefit for the school division appears to be approximately $2,500.

“My solution is, and always has been, to convert this over to a defined contribution plan and let people be responsible for their own retirement and not put that on the taxpayer.”

Joshua Sharf, Senior Fellow in Fiscal Policy, Independence Institute

Fighting for Religious Freedom on License Plates

Start listening at 17:42 – Hour 1

In this segment, Colonel John Priecko joins Kim to discuss the ongoing battle for Senate Bill 23-025, which would create an In God We Trust specialty license plate in Colorado. Priecko, who moved to Colorado from a state that offered such plates, discovered Colorado does not have this option despite offering numerous other specialty plates including one for a stegosaurus.

The bill passed the House Finance Committee and House Appropriations under a prior session but ran out of time. This year, reintroduced by Senator Baisley, it passed the Senate Transportation and Energy Commission 5-1 and the Senate Finance Committee 7-0. However, it has stalled in the Senate Appropriations Committee under Chairman Senator Jeff Bridges, who declined to meet with supporters, deferring instead to a legislative aide.

Priecko emphasizes that this plate would actually generate revenue for Colorado since, unlike other specialty plates, no portion of the fees would go to outside organizations. He and fellow advocates including Kathleen Chandler from the Independence Institute and Pastor Johnny Jenkins are scheduled to meet with Bridges’ aide to push the bill forward.

“We believe strongly that the bill deserves a fair level playing field, in the same respect and support and treatment that every other Colorado special license plate has had.”

Colonel John Priecko, Retired, United States Air Force

Be Brave: Christians Standing to Protect Children

Start listening at 73:13 – Hour 2

In this segment, Vicki Sutter and Lisa MacLean from Winsome Ministries introduce their Be Brave movement. Winsome Ministries began in fall 2021 with COVID care, helping over 120 volunteers connect patients with early treatment. In November 2022, they hosted author Eric Metaxas, whose book “Letter to the American Church” compares modern church silence to Nazi Germany.

The Be Brave pledge at BeBravePledge.org unites Christians around protecting children and strengthening families. Their recent four-week series attracted nearly 600 registrants from over 70 churches in northern Colorado. Sutter emphasizes that the church often wants to help but lacks direction, so Winsome provides organization and structure for effective action.

Lisa MacLean details concerning organizations targeting children. iMatter provides counseling to youth 12 and older without parental notification, with 33 of 53 sampled counselors specializing in LGBTQI issues. She explains that Colorado law requires counselors to affirm a child’s stated gender identity. Trevor Project, recommended by Poudre School District, offers Trevor Space where youth 13-24 can join clubs including “Chosen Family” and witchcraft, with quick-exit features to hide activity from parents. Both women stress that the real danger is parents not knowing what their children are being exposed to.

“We’re a part of this, we’re a part of the community, we’re part of the family of God, and we don’t have the right to be silent. We have to speak up.”

Vicki Sutter, Co-founder, Winsome Ministries

Hidden Counseling and Parental Rights Erosion

Start listening at 78:06 – Hour 2

Lisa MacLean provides detailed research on how children can access counseling and online communities without parental knowledge. Through a CORA request to the Colorado Department of Human Services, she obtained a list of 188 iMatter counselors. Her investigation included creating fictitious accounts to understand what children encounter on these platforms.

MacLean explains that Alliance for Suicide Prevention conducts presentations in schools and recommends Trevor Project for additional resources. She challenges the narrative that non-affirmation leads to suicide, citing decades of research showing suicide is not attributable to a single factor and that suicide is socially contagious. Studies indicate that 8 to 10 years after transitioning, individuals are 19 times more likely to be suicidal.

Sutter adds that even Christian counselors are legally required to affirm a child’s gender claims. Teachers face similar constraints and could lose their jobs for notifying parents when a child socially transitions at school. The Be Brave movement has already generated over 30 groups across northern Colorado, with plans to support teachers on the front lines and potentially provide scholarships for children to attend private Christian schools.

“Parents don’t know who their kids are going to be connected to when the kid goes in and calls.”

Lisa MacLean, Winsome Ministries