End of 2023 Session Letter
6.26.2023
Kim Monson, President: Colorado Union of Taxpayers
Which is big and which is small? That is the question! As government becomes bigger, each individual (no matter the descriptor), becomes smaller. Laws passed by the 2023 Colorado Legislature and signed by the governor grew government significantly at the expense of everyday, hard-working Coloradans. Most Coloradans just want to live our lives; do our jobs; grow our businesses; take care of ourselves and our families; and spend time with friends. We’d like to keep more of our money too!
Politicians, Bureaucrats, and Interested Parties (PBIs) from both sides of the aisle work together through legislation, ordinances, rules, regulations, overreaching taxes, etc. to fund their special interest agendas which are antithetical to the proper role of government.
681 pieces of legislation, most multiple pages long, were introduced by Colorado senators and representatives in 2023. This is irresponsible because there is no way that Colorado representatives and senators have read and analyzed these bills. What this means is that laws are being proposed, voted on, and signed by the governor that representatives have not read and do not understand. This is antithetical to good governance.
It is important that each of us understand that there is no “free” stuff. PBIs use “free” stuff to garner votes but PBIs must take “steal” from one individual to “give” free stuff to someone else. While I understand the attractive narrative of “free” stuff, it’s important to understand that if PBIs will use government power to take away someone else’s stuff; speech; thoughts; money; etc. then ultimately, PBIs will use government power to take your stuff too. This is antithetical to a government of the People, by the People, and for the People.”
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (all volunteers) is standing for your economic freedom. We are extremely frustrated with the overreach of this 2023 Colorado legislature and governor. We work for smaller government and, fewer and lower taxes so that you have more money in your pocket; to keep PBIs constrained; and to protect your Constitutional Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR).
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) analyzed and took positions on 213 of the 681 bills proposed using the CUT Pledge as our guide. There were big themes this legislative session: property rights; the Constitutional Right for citizens to protect ourselves against bad actors; freedom of mobility; access to reliable, efficient, affordable, and efficient power; parental rights; housing; abortion; the Colorado Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR); and more. We will publish our in-depth 2023 report very soon.
Our Colorado Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) was passed by the people of Colorado in 1992 as an amendment to the Colorado Constitution. TABOR is basically about good manners. TABOR asks three things: 1) if PBIs want to raise our taxes, they just have to ask us and we vote on it, 2) if PBIs want to incur debt that we have to pay off, they just have to ask us and we vote on it, and 3) if PBIs collect and want to keep more of our money above a very generous formula of population plus inflation, they just have to ask us and we vote on it.
Ballot questions, that we vote on, can make it onto your ballot three different ways. They can be referred by the legislature (referred measure), by petition with citizen signatures (initiative), or referendum. Which brings us to Colorado SB23-303 now known as Prop HH. Prop HH is a measure referred to our 2023 ballot via legislation passed by the 2023 legislature and signed by the governor. Prop HH is a “band-aid” fix for increasing property taxes in exchange for Coloradans giving up our TABOR tax refunds. Instead of a property tax “band-aid” it is time for a serious conversation regarding property tax reform.
Colorado homeowners are facing significant property tax increases because of recent increased property value assessments. Colorado renters are facing higher rents because of increased property assessment values for landlords. Prop HH purports to give relief to increased property taxes. However, Prop HH asks us to relinquish our TABOR refunds into the future. While we may vote to relinquish our TABOR refunds, it is unvirtuous to relinquish our children’s TABOR refunds because they have no voice in the matter. Prop HH should be defeated on this point alone. What we really must work on is property tax reform. Without serious property tax reform, I’m concerned that individuals will be taxed out of their homes and apartments because of unaffordable property taxes.
Lastly, the Colorado budget approved by the 2023 legislature and signed by the governor is $38.5 billion. Article X, Section 16 of our State Constitution requires the Colorado legislature pass a balanced budget annually. However, this 2023 budget is not balanced. We are dismayed and concerned that the 2023 Colorado legislature and governor would not adhere to our Colorado Constitution. Additionally, we question where did the money go? Our roads and bridges are in disrepair. We drive over and through potholes in our roads and highways that are dangerous. Public education is letting our kids down. Recently a DPS school board candidate noted that only 5% of black and brown 3rd graders are proficient in reading. This is unconscionable. And crime is rampant. Colorado recently had the distinction of being number 1 in car thefts. Where did the money go? Obviously not to repair our roads, teach our kids, or fight crime.
The taxpayers of Colorado deserve better. We deserve a legislature that reads, debates, and understands all legislation proposed and passed. The taxpayers of Colorado deserve elected representatives who represent us, not special interest ideologue agendas. The taxpayers of Colorado deserve elected representatives who keep government in its proper role so that each individual is free to pursue their hopes, dreams, and happiness.
CUT continues its objection to the inappropriate use of the Safety Clause and the Gifts, Grants, and Donations (GGD) Clause.
House Bills
HB23-1311
Prime Sponsors: Rep. deGruy Kennedy, Rep. Weissman
Sen. Hansen, Sen. Hinrichsen
Identical Temporary TABOR Refund
Concerning the creation of an identical refund payment of excess state revenues from all sources as a mechanism to refund a portion of the excess state revenues for the 2022-23 state fiscal year only.
CUT VOTE NO
HB23-1311 is unfair and treats individuals who pay taxes unequally. HB23-1311 is being used to bribe individuals, via Prop HH, to give-up our Colorado Taxpayers Bill of Rights refunds in the name of a band-aid of property tax relief. Prop HH should be defeated.
