TABOR
George Will’s recent column, “A republic, guaranteed,” generally scoffs at a lawsuit filed in federal court in Colorado attempting to overturn the state’s voter-initiated Taxpayer Bill of Rights amendment, which caps state spending. But while disagreeing with the goal of the lawsuit, Mr. Will seems to in part agree with those who filed it. At least when they argue in their legal brief that there is a “contest between direct democracy and representative democracy.”
Though Colorado’s famous Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR, was approved by voters in 1992, a group made up of career politicians has recently filed a lawsuit claiming that the measure violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of a “republican form of government” in every state.
Canon City council will ask voters in November to suspend tax rebates due to them under the 1992 Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABoR). Under TABoR the city must return any money beyond what it is allowed to collect to taxpayers. The ballot measure would suspend those rebates for ten years between 2010 and 2020.
The Colorado General Assembly is currently reviewing a Democrat proposal (SB 291) designed to punish local school districts if local voters return to restrictions set forth in Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution (i.e., the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights or TABOR).  Unfortunately, SB 291 is yet another attempt by Democrats to dismantle TABOR and rip away control from local voters.
Several state activists have used the initiative and referendum (I&R) process to pass Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) legislation.
TABOR is seen by some as a way of limiting the growth of government. It requires increases in overall state government spending to be tied to inflation and population increases.
TALLAHASSEE — Senate Democrats voted Wednesday in caucus to oppose a constitutional amendment pushed by Brevard County Sen. Mike Haridopolos to put spending caps on state and local governments in the midst of a severe recession.
Denver’s KBDI Channel 12 today broadcasted an interview with Paul Jacob, President of Citizens in Charge Foundation, discussing the ballot initiative and referendum (I&R) process. Host Jon Caldera of the Independence Institute asked Jacob questions on reforming the I&R process, its affects on voters and public policy.
DENVER ”¢ If Coloradans were hoping for a quiet campaign season after last fall’s record number of ballot measures, they may be in for a disappointment. A potential ballot measure is in the works that could be labeled “Son of Referendum C.”
House Majority Leader Paul Weissman, D-Louisville, is promising to introduce a referendum in late February that could extend Referendum C indefinitely. Referendum C, passed by voters in 2005, allowed the state to keep more than $5 billion in taxes that otherwise would have been refunded to residents.