It seems that a letter to the editor by Arn McConnell, Co-Chairman of the Mesa County Democrats, has set off a fire storm. McConnell took umbrage with Kelly Sloan’s blind support of TABOR, and pointed out that Kelly Sloan, as a representative of the Koch sucking American’s for Prosperity might not have a clear understanding of what prosperity means to an American. In the printed version of the Sentinel today there is a letter denouncing Arn as a tax and spend liberal, and there is one waiting in the wings in the E-mail version. This is all about TABOR and ideology, not common sense.
The history of TABOR is fascinating if one is a political junkie. It was originally the dream of Douglas Bruce, slum-lord. Bruce didn’t like having to pay property taxes on his run-down properties, or at least that is my theory. So he kept talking and talking until voters in Colorado agreed that people should vote on any increase in taxes. But TABOR goes farther than requiring a vote on increases in taxes. It also limits spending to a formula based on things like the rate of inflation and population growth in the state. Because of this formula there is a “ratchet” effect when there is any slowdown of the economy.
Douglas Bruce, darling of the taxes-are-a-theft-of-my-money sect, is a pretty slimy character. He allegedly sponsored the evil three tax initiatives that were soundly defeated last November. He failed to pay any attention to campaign finance laws while circulating petitions to get the measures on the ballot, and then spent months hiding from people wanting to see him in court to explain himself. Bruce may also be the only state legislator to be censured by congress in the history of the state. He was censured for his bad behavior aimed at a reporter, while waiting to be sworn in as a legislator. And he’s been indicted for not paying taxes. It is amazing that this guy is anybody’s idea of a hero.
The economic history is even more fascinating. Colorado’s TABOR was used as an example of what not to do when other states were considering enacting similar bills. In every other state that tried to pass TABOR, the initiative failed—because voters there saw a post-TABOR Colorado. Just one of the more egregious consequences of TABOR is the race to the bottom when it comes to higher education in Colorado. Or maybe I should say the race to elites-only in our colleges and universities. If you cannot afford to pay private school tuition or be willing to spend the rest of your natural life paying student loans, you need not apply to a Colorado University. You can just go to work flipping hamburgers or try dumpster diving for aluminum cans to support yourself.
Arn McConnell is right. There is no prosperity coming from Americans for Prosperity, unless you are a Koch Brother. And TABOR is destroying Colorado’s university system.
Homework:
CBPP Research on TABOR
Douglas Bruce Indicted
Bruce Illegally Practicing Law?
Rollie Heath Wants TABOR Vote on Taxes for Schools
Rollie Heath Speaks Out About Colorado Budgets
Support Our Schools For a Bright Colorado
Rumors About the Heath Plan
The history of TABOR is fascinating if one is a political junkie. It was originally the dream of Douglas Bruce, slum-lord. Bruce didn’t like having to pay property taxes on his run-down properties, or at least that is my theory. So he kept talking and talking until voters in Colorado agreed that people should vote on any increase in taxes. But TABOR goes farther than requiring a vote on increases in taxes. It also limits spending to a formula based on things like the rate of inflation and population growth in the state. Because of this formula there is a “ratchet” effect when there is any slowdown of the economy.
Douglas Bruce, darling of the taxes-are-a-theft-of-my-money sect, is a pretty slimy character. He allegedly sponsored the evil three tax initiatives that were soundly defeated last November. He failed to pay any attention to campaign finance laws while circulating petitions to get the measures on the ballot, and then spent months hiding from people wanting to see him in court to explain himself. Bruce may also be the only state legislator to be censured by congress in the history of the state. He was censured for his bad behavior aimed at a reporter, while waiting to be sworn in as a legislator. And he’s been indicted for not paying taxes. It is amazing that this guy is anybody’s idea of a hero.
The economic history is even more fascinating. Colorado’s TABOR was used as an example of what not to do when other states were considering enacting similar bills. In every other state that tried to pass TABOR, the initiative failed—because voters there saw a post-TABOR Colorado. Just one of the more egregious consequences of TABOR is the race to the bottom when it comes to higher education in Colorado. Or maybe I should say the race to elites-only in our colleges and universities. If you cannot afford to pay private school tuition or be willing to spend the rest of your natural life paying student loans, you need not apply to a Colorado University. You can just go to work flipping hamburgers or try dumpster diving for aluminum cans to support yourself.
Arn McConnell is right. There is no prosperity coming from Americans for Prosperity, unless you are a Koch Brother. And TABOR is destroying Colorado’s university system.
Homework:
CBPP Research on TABOR
Douglas Bruce Indicted
Bruce Illegally Practicing Law?
Rollie Heath Wants TABOR Vote on Taxes for Schools
Rollie Heath Speaks Out About Colorado Budgets
Support Our Schools For a Bright Colorado
Rumors About the Heath Plan
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