Steffan Tubbs Show, Patrick Neville, January 29, 2019
Station: KNUS, 710 am
Show: Steffan Tubbs Show
Guests: Neville, Patrick
Link: https://omny.fm/shows/steffan-tubbs-show
Date: January 29, 2019
Topics: Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education, Abstinence, Planned Parenthood, LGBT, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Susanne Lontine, Don Coram, Nancy Todd, OneColorado,
TUBBS: [after playing clips of his interview with Jared Polis the day before, and specifically sections relating to safe injection sites] […] What’s your take [on Polis’ position on SIS]? Do you believe he is, in fact, skeptical? And, you know, maybe for those of us who don’t want this, maybe there’s a chance?
NEVILLE: He probably is skeptical. I think he’s been a pretty open book, so far—dealing with him, myself. He’s been kind of upfront and honest. My take on it, just from listening, is it’s probably something he doesn’t want to see on his desk. He would rather not have to sign anything in regards to that.
TUBBS: Yeah, I mean, would that be kind of a legacy thing? Kind of expand on why you think that
NEVILLE: Well, it’s just a controversial thing. So, I mean, a lot of us politicians like to avoid controversy, and anything that could be that politically toxic and that risky — one way or the other — it’s just something that he doesn’t want to see on his desk and doesn’t want to have to sign. He would rather champion full-day kindergarten and not be known as the governor who signed into law, you know, heroin shooting galleries.
TUBBS: Right. You guys have a very limited amount of time to deal with state issues. Obviously, [in] 120 days you can do a lot, or in some cases, in past years, as we’ve seen, you know, there’s gridlock and that kind of thing. But with this issue, not coming to him – and he kind of scolded me in a Jared Polis way. And that’s fine. I’ve known him a long time. I didn’t take it personally. But you know, “You keep putting the cart before the horse.” But at the same time, are you hearing anything about how close this is? Will it be coinciding with another big deal, as they try to –? I just don’t know how you slip this under the door, so to speak.
NEVILLE: You know, the only way they could do it is by introducing a late bill, and then probably do that – you know, like I’ve been saying, overall – they’ll wait for something big to be going on in one chamber. Like, so maybe it’s like the budget. And this year the budget starts in the Senate. So, I could see if, like, the budget is starting in the Senate and that’s a big controversy, and everyone is discussing the budget, and all the media, and meanwhile in the House they slip this over in the House and pass it on through. And then while we get the budget in the House and make a big deal out of that, the Senate passes this and it lands on the governor’s desk. So, I could see them using, like, that sort of tactic. There are some bills out there that – I mean, I guess if you’re really to do a – it’s a pretty big stretch, but they could try to amend this in there. But I don’t see them doing that. You know, Colorado is different from nationally, for those that don’t know, we have a single subject rule in Colorado. And all bills that are introduced have to stay within under the scope of that title. Now, that’s open to interpretation, right? So, there is some leeway, there. But typically they don’t – you know, giving credit to my Democratic colleagues — typically, they try to stick to that. So, it would be a pretty big stretch. Like, I think it’s House Bill 1009 kind of deals with some substance abuse issues. But if they were to amend this in there – I mean, with the amount of publicity this has, and your station has been doing what you’ve been doing in shining a light on this, I think it would just make it look even more worse, if they tried to slip this in in a different, separate bill, to try and skip a hearing – a committee hearing, — it would just make them look, like, really bad. So, I don’t see them doing that
TUBBS: Yeah, I agree with you. […] So, basically, right now, you’re not hearing any gossip through the hallways or whatever, as to, “Hey, maybe this is going to come up next week,” or anything like that?
NEVILLE: No. No, we’re not hearing it. And in fact, we’re kind of hearing what Jared Polis said – that’s kind of the talking points we’re hearing from all of my Democratic colleagues – that there is no bill yet. That’s what we hear. But again, none of them are willing to commit to how they would vote on such an issue. You know, I think it’s really clear for me, I’m an absolute ‘no’ and I think most of the –. I think all the House caucus – I’m not aware of any Republican in the House caucus that would support such a proposal.
TUBBS: That’s good to hear, my man. As we continue, I want to ask you – this is not, absolutely not self-serving or anything like that, but I am interested. And if the answer is ‘no’ – absolutely – the answer is ‘no’ and nobody was listening. But I don’t know, if from yesterday in our interview, you know he talked a lot more – and granted, I did ask him questions– about half of the interview time that I had, we talked about supervised injection sites. But again, his quote: “I’m skeptical of the overall concept,” did that get through to other lawmakers at the Capitol as recently as today, after he told us?
NEVILLE: Oh, probably – I’m sure it did. You know, and it’s a good talking point, too, because it’s kind of – it gives him a way out, but doesn’t necessarily commit one way or the other, either. So, it’s kind of ‘sit and wait, let’s see where this issue goes’ and I think right now, they’re just hoping that – you know, it’s mainly been your station that has been pumping this up, over and over and really talking about it a lot. They’re probably hoping that this issue dies down and maybe they can push it later on in the session. But, my guess is that’s not going to happen. You guys have been pretty steadfast on this.
TUBBS: Well, we owe it all to our great listeners that have been the ones sending emails and making phone calls. I want to ask you while I have you on, Patrick, about – are you cool to talk about House Bill 1032?
NEVILLE: You bet.
TUBBS: The Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education bill – I know for some people they’re just hearing about, “What’s 1032?” And this is, obviously, something that is very controversial. Can you put it into layman’s terms what this bill is? It was introduced by Lontine in the House and Todd and Coram in the Senate, and no shocker – I know this is editorial—but no shocker, the three of them are Democrats. This basically is saying –. Well, what is basically saying? I want to put it to you.
NEVILLE: Yeah, just a quick correction, there: Senator Coram is actually a Republican who is on this bill
TUBBS: Oh, my bad! I mean, I’m surprised at that, with the way this bill reads. I tell you!
NEVILLE: I am too, and sometimes he has his own motivations or he might be trying to influence the process. I don’t know what his motivations are. But essentially what the bill does it introduces a new sex education program, prevents any sort of religious or abstinence training from occurring. And it can occur from– I think, right now, the standards are from third grade on up. This will make it from kindergarten on up. But what essentially this does – for your listeners – they’re following the California model. This is basically a handout to Planned Parenthood to come in and teach your kids about sex education. And when I say sex education, I’m not talking like what I learned, when I was a kid, about–.
TUBBS: Yeah! The birds and the bees, yeah!
NEVILLE: Right. – about, “Here is how a baby is made.” It’s teaching things beyond that, that–. I don’t want to get too into details because there might be kids listening. But it starts at a very young age. It’s really concerning. And the fact of the matter is, too, that the program then becomes an ‘opt out.’ So, there’s no requirement to make sure that parents have the ability to opt in to this. They might not even know that this is occurring in schools.
TUBBS: Yes, it’s unbelievable!
NEVILLE: And then – next thing you know – Planned Parenthood is teaching their kids in the schools about all these different, you know, things. And, yeah—again – they would have to opt out, themselves. They can’t opt in.
TUBBS: That’s just absolutely crazy. […] Patrick was kind. Just in case you have kids listening, but I’m going to read for you. So, Patrick, this is on me, not you. This is page 6 of the bill that I have in front of me. I’m just going to read subsection F, as in ‘Frank’. [reading] “It is important for youth to learn about sex and and sexuality in the context of healthy relationships. Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education teaches youth about consent, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and the hallmarks of safe and healthy relationships. It also teaches youth about the different relationship models they and their peers may engage in, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender peers and how to be a safe and healthy partner in a relationship.” Now, I found it difficult enough to talk about the birds and the bees with my two sons. And we did not get into lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. And some parents out there, Patrick, may say, “Shame on you! That’s the world we live in today!” But it was hard enough – like I say – I’m just being honest. You know? It’s like, when they would ask me questions when they were younger, I’d say, “Uh, we’ll talk about that later. Do you want an ice cream?” You know? I just wanted to avoid it. So, based on what I just read, — this goes almost exactly to your putting it as, ‘Planned Parenthood’ and you may not even know to opt out!
NEVILLE: That’s correct. And it basically teaches – instead of the birds and bees,– pleasure aspects, I guess you could put it, for lack of a better term. And then, it goes on to state that things like gender norms should not be taught. So, I guess that having gender norms is now a bad thing that should not be taught.
TUBBS: So, where is this, I mean, in relation to – I mean, could this get through?
NEVILLE: Oh, yeah! It definitely has a chance of getting through. The first step is an open committee hearing tomorrow afternoon. I believe it’s—
TUBBS: Yeah, I was going to say, that’s tomorrow. Yeah.
NEVILLE: Yeah, [at] 1:30 [p.m.]. So, we need some input there. There’s obviously going to be a huge group in support of the bill that’s going to be there – you know, it’s OneColorado and Planned Parenthood. I hear they’re going to be holding rallies prior to this bill being heard. They’re obviously in favor of it. But we need some folks to get out there and support us, and try to defeat this.
TUBBS: Yeah, this is tomorrow, January 30, 1:30 p.m., and – I don’t know what this means, I’m not an insider – HCR 0107. Is that a room number?
NEVILLE: Correct. Yep, it’s a room number. And if it gets big enough, they’ll probably move it. So, basically, that’s the basement of the Capitol. And then if it gets big enough they might move it at the last minute to the second floor of the Capitol.
TUBBS: All right. Great to have you on! Welcome to the 4-7 [p.m.] time slot. And I greatly appreciate you going on two different directions. I know one is big enough, but I just – I couldn’t have you on without talking about [HB19] 1032, because I think it’s absolutely, potentially disastrous. I don’t know. And then, we haven’t even gotten into who’s actually teaching this. I mean, I don’t know about you, but it was my P.E. teacher that did our school thing. You know? Here’s the gym coach, and then he’s telling you about this, and pushing ‘play’ on a film projector. I know I’m dating myself, but –.
NEVILLE: Right.
TUBBS: Great to have you! Thank you, my man!
NEVILLE: Yeah, it was great to be on. And, hey, I’ve been listening to you for years — before I joined the Army. So thanks for what you do for the vets, and it was a pleasure to be on with you.
TUBBS: Hey, man, we’ll have you on the American Veterans Show. Thanks so much, and thank you for your service. That’s Patrick Neville—good guy, right there. And I know he’s had this attached to him his entire life, but there are a lot of new people to Colorado since 1999, and Patrick – amazing young man – he’s a survivor of Columbine [school shooting] – just in case you didn’t know. Greatly appreciate him and look forward to our next visit.
