It is refreshing to see evidence of the good sense of average, hard-working Coloradans. Colorado Senate News once again took a camera to the 16th Street Mall and found plenty of passers-by willing to share their frustrations with Gov. Bill Ritter and Colorado Democrats for bypassing the state constitution's requirement to ask voters first when they imposed their massive property tax hike:The upshot? Everyday taxpayers surveyed along Denver's 16th Street Mall all agreed: Whether or not the state really needs the extra revenue--a projected $3.8 billion over the next 10 years--voters should have asked for permission first. They're not alone in that sentiment. Colorado Attorney General John Suthers issued an opinion last year saying that the … [Read more...]
Hummel Cartoon Highlights Backroom State Ed Board
It figures. I can write a lot of words about the State Board of Education's inability to hold a recorded public vote on litigation surrounding Gov. Bill Ritter's major property tax hike (see posts here and here). But the eminently talented cartoonist (and well-named) Ben Hummel - whom I had the pleasure of meeting in person earlier this week - says it better with a picture. Makes me jealous of visual artists... for a moment. Then it makes me grateful that we have a skilled artist on our side. Keep up the great work, Ben! … [Read more...]
I.I. Radio Ad Calls for State Board Transparency on Property Tax Hike
Following up on my post from yesterday... The Independence Institute - where I work my day job - has put out a radio ad today calling for a public recorded vote from the State Board of Education on the Governor's property tax hike. Here's a You Tube video, using the audio from the radio ad, that the I.I. tech team created (they're getting pretty good at this): If you have an opinion to share on this issue, don't leave a comment here unless you've first shared your opinion with the State Board. … [Read more...]
State School Board Should Stop Hiding from Public Vote on Tax Hike
The latest update in the saga of Gov. Bill Ritter's "school" property tax hike ... The State Board of Education, one of two defendants in a lawsuit from taxpayers who say they should have been asked first under the requirements of the state constitution, is hiding from public view:When deciding whether to fight or effectively bow out of a lawsuit challenging a politically volatile property tax freeze, the state's education board opted for secret meetings instead of a public vote, records show. E-mails obtained Monday by The Denver Post reveal internal turmoil between a cadre of Republican members, who argue that the governor-backed freeze is unconstitutional, and the panel's Republican chairwoman, who has blocked attempts at public … [Read more...]
Big Labor Has Ritter Running Scared
Writing over at Politics West, my Independence Institute colleague Jessica Corry ((no, we didn't collaborate) calls out Gov. Bill Ritter's plea for business and labor to get along as one-sided and politically motivated:A battle over labor issues could cost Ritter and the Democratic Party serious political capital. And with national Democrats coming to Denver this August for their national convention, the last thing Ritter needs is an extremist union agenda to impede his party's effort to appeal to moderate small- and medium-sized business owners. It's no surprise really then that Ritter is being ignored. Cross posted at Ritter Watch … [Read more...]
Speak Out for Florida Taxpayers!
A note from my Independence Institute colleague Amy Oliver:Our conservative brethren in Florida need our help and time is of the essence. Right now TABOR type legislation is being debated by a special Constitutional committee comprised of 25 private citizens, not elected officials. They have the power to put a positive version of TABOR on the ballot as a proposed amendment to the state constitution. The proposal is called the "Taxpayer Protection Amendment" or CP-45. The vote will be on Friday so if you could take just a few minutes to email (email address is below) Florida's Constitutional committee about how TABOR has been beneficial in Colorado and send this email/suggestion along to some of your friends to do the same it would help … [Read more...]
“If we can’t even cut waste, fraud and abuse out of the budget, we shouldn’t be here”
Those are the words of Republican state senator Steve Johnson, as the Democrats in the legislature seek to increase the discretionary budgets for State Board of Education members to dine in style ($200 - $300 a meal for catering from Pour la France?), and enjoy other amenities. Despite what some say, such expenditures cannot best be characterized as "prudent." There's outrage when people learn about this kind of stuff, though many in the public are tuned out, overwhelmed, or just plain cynical. … [Read more...]
State Democrats’ Budget Extravagance Out of Touch with Man on the Street
The clever crew at Colorado Senate News took questions about the Democrats' state budget to the man on the street and got some predictably disgruntled responses:Just under $700,000 to give more prison inmates their GEDs? How about another $20,000 for the state's wine promotions board so it can promote--what else--wine? Or, $676,000 for salary hikes to the state agency that runs Medicaid health coverage for the poor? And then there's $150,000 in legal fees to defend the governor against a lawsuit charging him with pushing through last year's property-tax hike in violation of the state constitution. Those and other line items in the Democrat-authored 2008-09 budget, now pending before the Senate, were put to the public today when … [Read more...]
Democrats Use Your Money to Defend Ritter Taking Your Money without Asking
Democrats in the state legislature are pushing a line item in the state budget that would give $150,000 in taxpayer funds to pay Gov. Bill Ritter's legal costs. For what, you ask? To defend a policy Ritter promoted and signed that levies a property tax increase on thousands of Colorado homeowners and business owners without a vote of the people, in violation of the state constitution. So let's get this straight: Bill Ritter thumbs his nose at the state constitution, choosing to force through a widespread property tax hike. Then he gets sued by taxpayers because he didn't get their permission as the state constitution requires. Now his Democrat allies are working to make sure the very people hit by the tax hike will foot the … [Read more...]
Statehouse Dems Pushing Colorado Farther Away from Tax Freedom
The Tax Foundation's yearly "Tax Freedom Day" report is out (H/T State Policy Network Blog), and the results as usual are not startling. The average taxpayer both in Colorado and nationwide has to work until April 23 to pay off their share of the tax burden:This year’s Tax Freedom Day falls three days earlier than in 2007. Fiscal stimulus rebates and a projection of slow growth in 2008 are the principal reasons for the earlier celebration. However, if the large projected deficit for 2008 were counted as a tax in the current year, Tax Freedom Day would fall on May 3. “Government continues to dominate the American taxpayer’s budget,†said Tax Foundation president Scott Hodge. “Americans will still spend more on taxes in 2008 than … [Read more...]
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