This election season voters are being asked to make laws governing wildlife management, the
state budget, and occupational licensure. Don’t we pay people to do this work? Turns out we do!
Colorado legislators earn an average of $42,738 a year to pour over information about the costs and benefits of proposed laws, hear from stakeholders, and balance competing interests.
Yet, thanks to the much-abused initiative process, voters are being asked to conduct ballot box biology, ballot box budgeting, and ballot box business regulation without all of the information and with none of the pay legislators receive.
The past two Sundays, this column has explained how Propositions 127, 130, and KK and Denver Ordinance 309 will harm Colorado communities. They circumvent processes that ensure both the majority and minority populations are represented fairly by the law.
Colorado Proposition 129 is no different and it, too, will have unintended consequences. Like other ballot initiatives, this one sidesteps processes that demand full consideration of outcomes and input from those impacted.
Proposition 129 creates a veterinary professional associate (VPA) position that requires a master’s degree, registration with the state board of veterinary medicine, and supervision by a licensed veterinarian. Proponents cite a shortage of veterinarians in the field and cost savings if VPAs charge less money for a visit, as reasons to support the law.
The need to access affordable veterinary services is felt acutely by animal shelter providers many
of whom back the proposal. The Denver Dumb Friends League, one of the initiative’s sponsors,
cared for more than 44,000 pets and horses last year alone. In addition to providing animals a temporary home and the opportunity to be adopted, the Dumb Friends League offers low-cost veterinary care at the Colorado State University Spur campus at the National Western Complex. The service they provide is invaluable and I am grateful for the affordable spay service I obtained for an abandoned kitten I adopted.
Proposition 129 is opposed by local and national veterinarian associations which are concerned that VPAs would not have the hands-on instruction needed to safely perform surgery. There are currently no accredited VPA education programs. Unlike veterinarians who are required to pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, VPAs would not have to pass a national exam.
Proponents, All Pets Deserve Vet Care, have raised nearly $1.3 million and opponents, Keep Our Pets Safe, nearly a $1 million to make their case directly to voters. Wouldn’t it be nice if that money went into animal care programs and advocates and their counterparts took this occupational licensing idea to the people paid to consider such things? Both sides make excellent points but they need to be making them to legislators.
The legislature is not a perfect institution, no human institution is, but unlike the initiative process, its rules ensure competing concerns — in this case cost and availably of services versus animal welfare and public safety — are heard and reflected to some degree in the law.
As someone who has worked in both Congress and the statehouse, I can attest the process requires ideas be vetted during bill writing, in committee hearings, in committee mark-up, and during amendments on the chamber floor. At each stage, those who are impacted by the legislation engage with lawmakers as individual constituents and through their representative lobbyists.
The final bill must have the support of both chambers and the executive to become law. A bipartisan bill addressing veterinary care, House Bill 1047, emerged from the crucible of lawmaking with near unanimous support earlier this year. Shepherded by State Rep. Karen McCormick, a longtime veterinarian, the law increased the number of medical tasks veterinary technicians may undertake under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
By the time the legislature meets again after the New Year, lawmakers can ascertain whether the law is meeting its objectives or if additional legislation is necessary. It may be time to create a midlevel veterinary position. If so, it is essential that all stakeholders come to an agreement about how that program should proceed.
Let’s make lawmakers do their job. Vote no on Proposition 129.
Krista L. Kafer is a weekly Denver Post columnist. Follow her on X: @kristakafer.
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