News comes today from state economists that the Referendum C “forever tax increase” projects to yield $5.9 billion in revenue:
That amount is $2.2 billion more than originally expected in November 2005 when voters approved Referendum C, suspending the state constitution’s revenue limit for five years.
Most telling from the piece in today’s Denver Post is the defensive response from the governor’s office – responding to questions of how to justify further tax increases (such as this one):
Jim Carpenter, chief of staff for Ritter, said voters sent Ritter to the Capitol to “solve problems,” which is what the commissions studying health care, transportation and higher education will do.
“It’s an easy thing to throw out this comment, off-handed, about tax increases,” Carpenter said. “We’re keeping faith with the voters.”
What about keeping faith with the voters who the Constitution says must be asked to approve tax increases? Details, details….
It’s just further proof that the Ritter administration, true to its Democrat party label, is devoted to big-government liberalism, specifically the notion that the state has all the tools to solve your problems. Ref C – which 51 percent of voters approved for an anticipated $3.7 billion, following a multimillion dollar lobbying campaign by powerful interests – just isn’t enough for their insatiable appetite to devour your money.
Some enterprising researcher, journalist, or blogger needs to go through the state budget to see where this year’s record $18 billion was spent before we start succumbing to the siren song of alleged government solutions. Keep holding on to your pocketbooks!
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