The Tax Increase Crew has begun ratcheting up their campaign with guilt and scare tactics to kick off the Labor Day weekend. As reported by the Rocky Mountain News, the state announces that it has an overrun of revenues under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR), albeit a smaller amount than projected a few months ago. "This is evidence that the economy is improving, but we still have less revenues than we did in 2001," said Henry Sobanet, director of Colorado's Office of State Planning and Budget. Next year, taxpayers will receive $15 each in TABOR refunds, an amount that figures to rise in successive years. Or you can vote for Referendum C and give more money for the next 5 years - and beyond - to state government. Go back and … [Read more...]

David Harsanyi's Post column today is a valuable read. He exposes the scare tactics and duplicity of those conducting the campaign for the forever tax increase. Money quote: One wishes legislators would have had this level of interest in the Priority Colorado report when it was released in January. Perhaps they could have saved a couple hundred million dollars. But as you can imagine, the report was almost universally dismissed by legislators. "There's a reason the Independence Institute is a political think tank," said Joan Fitz-Gerald, Democratic Senate president, at the time. "They couldn't get elected to anything. ... They have only simplistic answers." Apparently, elected officials are the only ones with worthwhile ideas. … [Read more...]

Following the lead of the El Paso and Larimer County Republican Party organizations, my own Jefferson County Republican Party has taken a significant stand in opposition to Referenda C and D. Congrats to my JeffCo GOP, under the able leadership of Chair Renee Nelson, for passing the following resolution: Whereas, lowering the tax burden on Americans is one of the core principles of the Republican Party because Republicans believe that taxpayers know how to spend their own money better than the government does; Whereas, The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) was passed in by the voters in 1992 by a statewide majority; Whereas, The TABOR provides for regular, but controlled, increases in government spending in Colorado; Whereas, tax … [Read more...]

Marc Holtzman, Republican candidate for Colorado governor and ready to hit the road on a statewide tour, has unveiled his new blog: With the 2006 gubernatorial race beginning to take shape, I am excited to bring my campaign into the blogosphere. Bloggers are today's Minutemen, the often-time heroes who repeatedly astound us with their ability to expose Big Media's attempts to pull the wool over the eyes of everyday citizens. Just what you might expect to see from Colorado's former Secretary of Technology. This is a tremendous development in state politics and may begin to redefine how campaigns are run for the next generation or so. Of course, you should also stop by his campaign Web site. Holtzman's attention to detail, his … [Read more...]

The middle of August can be the grueling days of a Colorado ballot initiative campaign. When you're spending thousands of investor dollars trying to convince voters that a tax increase is not a tax increase, and your poll numbers are stagnating considerably below 50 percent, you need to find a laugh somewhere - for the sake of mental health, if nothing else. Taking out the pent-up angst with some jocular lampooning of your political opponents can be not only amusing but cathartic. Let them go ahead, I say, if it makes them feel better while spending money trying to confuse Coloradans about the state of the economy and the nature of the tax increase. But when the pro-Ref C crowd seeks to be serious with its radio commercials, it can be … [Read more...]

With Rutt Bridges' announcement that he won't pursue the Democratic nomination for governor, the crazy speculation begins. First, this obviously doesn't mean Bill Ritter is a shoo-in or even the anointed frontrunner for the Dem ticket. Second, the way Bridges stepped down suggests the party leadership is trying to rally the troops around someone else. So who do Pat Waak and Company want to run? Senate President Joan FitzGerald has been out on the stump with union organizers bashing Wal-Mart. With such a play to the base, maybe she is the logical choice. Rumors are also floating around Congressman Mark Udall and Mayor John Hickenlooper, but I'm on the wrong side of the aisle myself to give a good insiders' assessment. Finally, … [Read more...]

Vincent Carroll of the Rocky Mountain News reports that the Referendum C campaign has hired radical activist LeRoy Lemos as a consultant. As Carroll aptly describes him: Here's a fellow who can hardly open his mouth without accusing authorities somewhere, anywhere, of bigotry, coverup or some other lurid offense and whose October recreation includes joining the likes of Ward Churchill in suppressing the constitutional rights of those who march in the Columbus Day parade. I don't think your average, shrewd, middle-of-the-road tax hike supporter wants Lemos to be the face of his cause. Of course, though, he's not there to appeal to the independent or moderate voters who the pro-C campaign should be targeting at this point for support. … [Read more...]

Great advice (cough) for Colorado Republicans from consultant Katy Atkinson, via leftie columnist Diane Carman in today's Denver Post: support the forever tax increase known as Referendum C. Most of the column comes off as smarmy, coy, elitist, and patronizing. But what did you expect? Conservative Republicans in Colorado have always known that Carman has their best interests at heart... right! Remember this piece from the Post a couple weeks ago? Friendly observations from Denver's liberal media about how the ballot issue is dividing Republicans along its fault lines. There is some measure of truth, of course, but certainly overblown. On Monday, the Post's voice of reason David Harsanyi recorded this exchange with Republican National … [Read more...]