Nuclear Family
Bottom Line Up Front: Our administration will put family first. We know strong nuclear families reduce the need for big government down the line – children raised in such environments are more likely to become self-sufficient, law-abiding, educated citizens. So, investing in families pays societal dividends. By making Colorado a place where nuclear families are formed and flourish, we secure a brighter future for our state.
a. Core Principle: The Nuclear Family – a married father and mother raising their children – is the fundamental unit of society. We believe government policy should protect and encourage the formation and maintenance of nuclear families. This belief is grounded both in design and outcome: by God’s design, as evidenced in Scripture, children are intended to be nurtured by a mother and father each bringing unique strengths (Ephesians 6:1-4 instructs children to obey parents and fathers to lovingly instruct children). Psalm 127:3 calls children a heritage from the Lord, implying parents have the chief responsibility to steward that gift. Empirical evidence affirms that children raised in intact two-parent families are, on average, less likely to live in poverty, do better in school, have fewer behavioral problems, and are less likely to end up in the criminal justice system. Nuclear family is not about excluding other family forms from respect or help; it’s about recognizing the gold standard we should strive for, because when families are strong, society is strong.
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b. Constitutional & Social Policy: While “family” isn’t defined by the Constitution, the Supreme Court has long recognized family integrity as a protected liberty (e.g., parental rights in Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925)). Our policies will respect the autonomy of the family. We oppose state interference in family life unless absolutely necessary to protect a child from abuse or severe neglect. Government cannot replace a family – and it shouldn’t try. Therefore, we will design welfare, tax, and educational policies to empower families, not supplant them. For instance, school choice (discussed elsewhere) empowers families to direct children’s upbringing (a parental right and duty). Homeownership and stable jobs allow families to stay intact and pass wealth to the next generation; thus, economic policies (like reducing property and income taxes) bolster family stability. The nuclear family ideal also informs our stance that marriage (the bond at the center of the nuclear family) deserves special recognition (we covered traditional marriage above).
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c. Colorado Policy Conflicts: In Colorado, certain laws and cultural currents have put stress on the nuclear family or devalued it:
1. Ease of Divorce: Colorado is a no-fault divorce state (as is every state now) and has relatively short waiting periods. While we don’t propose to outlaw no-fault divorce, we do want to mitigate the harm to children from family breakup. We’ll promote voluntary premarital counseling and make couples aware of covenant marriage options (if legislatively allowed) that involve counseling prior to divorce. We will also ensure that divorce courts enforce parental responsibility and equitable parenting time, because even if marriage dissolves, children still need both mom and dad in their lives. We might lobby for slight reforms like extending waiting periods for divorce when minor children are involved, to encourage reconciliation chances – policy guided by encouraging family unity.
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2. State Oversight vs. Parental Authority: Colorado in recent years has expanded certain youth health “rights” where minors can act without parental consent (e.g., minors 12+ can obtain counseling for mental health or substance abuse without parent consent by a 2019 law). While well-intended to help teens in crisis, such policies also chip away at parental involvement. We prefer solutions that involve parents. Similarly, any push in schools to keep secrets from parents (as in some states where schools won’t inform parents about a child’s gender identity issues) is unacceptable in Colorado. We will require parental notification for any significant issue involving their child at school. Strengthening the nuclear family means reinforcing parents’ central role in their children’s lives, not minimizing it.
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3. Tax Burdens on Families: The rising cost of living in Colorado (housing, energy, etc.) strains families, sometimes forcing both parents to work full-time when they’d rather have a parent stay home in early child years. We can’t dictate personal choices, but we can ease financial pressure. Eliminating the state tax on diapers and children’s necessities (already done in some jurisdictions) or expanding the child tax credit at the state level are ideas to help young families. Also, addressing property taxes (see Property Tax Elimination) will help families keep their homes. The repeal of the Gallagher Amendment in 2020 led to higher residential property tax assessments, threatening family budgets. While Prop HH failed, we will find ways to cap property tax growth to avoid pricing families out of their homes. A stable home is literal foundation for a nuclear family.
Furthermore, nuclear family emphasis will guide our approach to social ills: fatherlessness is a root factor in many problems (crime, dropping out of school). We will encourage mentorship programs (like Colorado’s fatherhood initiative) and partner with community organizations that work to keep dads involved. We’ll scrutinize any welfare rule that unintentionally incentivizes single parenting over married parenting. For example, if two single parents each get benefits but would lose some if they marry, that’s a marriage penalty; we’ll seek to remove that.
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We also support traditional family values in culture: we’ll use the public office to celebrate intact families. For instance, we might declare an annual Colorado Family Week with events highlighting successful families and resources for those struggling. We’ll encourage family-friendly workplaces through recognition programs.
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In education, we want curricula that honor family – for instance, including assignments that encourage kids to interview their parents or grandparents about family history. Let’s create a culture where building a loving family is seen as a top aspiration for youth. Not every child will have both biological parents (we will support and value single parents, adoptive families, etc.), but the goal is to move as many children as possible into situations akin to the nuclear family ideal. That could mean promoting adoption by married couples for children in foster care. Colorado has thousands of kids who need stable homes; aligning that need with couples who can provide a mother and father is a win-win.