Monthly Archives: April 2024

Apr 27

Colorado lawmakers are plotting to steal billions of your tax rebates

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Apr 22, 2024

Coloradans are supposed to get $2 billion back in their wallets through Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) tax refunds this year, but Democrat lawmakers have other plans to spend our rebates.

Their wish list already exceeds $1.5 billion with programs that are guaranteed to grow even more expensive year after year, reports Colorado Politics.

Topping the Democrats’ list is the reincarnation of cash welfare payments that were eliminated back in the 1990s because it kept families living in poverty and dependent on taxpayer programs for every necessity.

Colorado wants to revive government-dependence and pay people for each child they have and call it a tax credit — except it goes to people who pay a pittance in taxes.

The problem with these child tax credits is that it suddenly made sense for one parent to stay home and collect government checks rather than work.

PeakNation™ will recall Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet first convinced Biden and the Democrats to bring back cash welfare payments during COVID.

Bennet tried to make those cash payments permanent when he was campaigning for reelection.

To read the rest of this TABOR article, please click (HERE) to go to Colorado Peak Politics.

Apr 27

Martinez: Court sends a reminder; tax hikes require voter consent

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 By Tyler Martinez

In a major victory for taxpayers, a unanimous panel of the Colorado Court of Appeals agreed with the National Taxpayers Union Foundation’s Taxpayer Defense Center (NTUF) that an overnight doubling of the property taxes in a few Northern Colorado counties violated the Colorado Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR).

We represented James Aranci and his neighbors, who were shocked to learn in 2020 that their property taxes to the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District doubled from 2019 to 2020 (and the years thereafter). TABOR mandates a ratification vote of any proposed tax increase or new debt taken on by government entities–including water districts. But there was no vote from Aranci or anyone else. So we came to help in their challenge to this unconstitutional tax increase.

The court held in this case that the doubling of the rate increased the tax revenue to the water district, and thus there should have been a TABOR vote.  The court read the relevant case law in the same way as we did, holding that Huber v. Colorado Mining Association–which was about a ministerial tax adjustment based on inflation–did not apply here, where the water district had a lot of options for balancing its budget.

To continue reading this story, please click (HERE) to go to Complete Colorado.

Apr 15

Democrats unveil new plan to gut TABOR and direct money to anti-poverty measure

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Democrats unveil new plan to gut TABOR and direct money to anti-poverty measure

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Table showing child tax credit amounts for Coloradoans with children age 16 or younger under House Bill 1311 by adjusted gross income level, child’s age and filing status. The credit is available for single filers with an adjusted gross income up to $85,000 and joint filers with a gross income up to $95,000 and decreases as income increases.
Data: Colorado Legislative Council; Table: Axios Visuals; Colorado is forecast to refund $6 billion in surplus tax collections in the next three years.

Colorado is forecast to refund $6 billion in surplus tax collections in the next three years.

Yes, but: Democrats want to redirect one-third, or roughly $2 billion, to parents making less than $95,000 through a child tax credit under a new bill.

  • The maximum tax credit for a child under age 6 would be $3,200 and $2,400 for children 6-16.
  • The amount of the tax credit would decrease by hundreds of dollars for every $5,000 in income, a fiscal analysis shows.

Continue reading →

Apr 10

HB24-1311 Redistributes YOUR TABOR REFUND.

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Good day,
Natalie and I recorded this video last night.
It’s about HB24-1311, Family Affordability Tax Credit. This nefarious bill redistributes our TABOR rebate money into a tax credit.
It’s one of the biggest attempts in years to take away TABOR rebates.
Please watch and share: https://youtu.be/VgneAypMu-8
Thank  you,
Brandon Wark
FreeStateColorado.com

Apr 07

Colorado Voter Survey Reveals Major Disapproval to Proposed Alcohol Tax

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Colorado Voter Survey Reveals Major Disapproval to Proposed Alcohol Tax

Shawnee Adelson, Colorado Brewers Guild
https://coloradobeer.org/ 

A newly proposed 200 percent hike in alcohol taxes from Sens. Kevin Priola (D-13th District) and Chris Hansen (D-31st District) has been met with strong opposition from Colorado Voters.

In a newly published survey by Nelson Research, the proposal, SB 24-181, “loses support among all major
demographic subgroups as more information is known about the funding mechanism and impacts on
economy, democratic process, small business/consumers, and overall lack of prioritization of current alcohol tax dollars.” Starting with a 2-to-1 general disapproval of alcohol taxes (48.9% opposed vs. 23.3% approve), the measure only fares worse once voters learn how the bill was structured to get around Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) provisions as well as its effect on Colorado’s economy. Its final disapproval rating is 58% with just 26% in favor.

In addition to the provision itself, voters also rejected the plan to label this tax as a “fee” by 61-21 percent.

This poll is clear and overwhelming evidence that Coloradans reject higher alcohol taxes. We hope that the bill sponsors listen to their constituents.

The survey was conducted from March 25 – March 27, 2024. The survey consisted of 538 registered voters in Colorado. The sample size (n=538) is sufficient to assess voter sentiment within a margin-of-error of +/- 4.2% at a 95% confidence level.

Further polling insights include:
? Opposition to a 200% tax increase: Results when told the bill raises the tax on beer, wine and liquor by
200% – or three times the current tax level. 22.1% In Favor & 66.0% Opposed
? Economic impact: Results when told Senate Bill 24-181 would hurt Colorado’s vibrant tourism
economy as it would cost local restaurants, brew pubs and craft breweries over $25 million in lost retail
sales. 16.6% In Favor & 70.4% Opposed
? Current tax allocation: Results when told the state already collects millions of dollars in alcohol tax
payments, but does not prioritize treatment and recovery services. Respondents were asked if legislators
should prioritize the way they currently spend their alcohol tax dollars instead of requiring more taxes.
65.0% Agree or in favor & 40.7% Opposed

Colorado Voter Survey Reveals Major Disapproval to Proposed Alcohol Tax

Apr 05

California Businesses Take On Gavin Newsom Over Tax Hikes

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Meanwhile, in the state known for its historic gold rush, a coalition of California businesses gathered enough signatures for a ballot measure that would require two-thirds of voters to approve most local tax increases and roll back some already in place.

 

California Businesses Take On Gavin Newsom Over Tax Hikes

Governor says ballot measure would decimate funding for basic services; backers say it is needed in the high-cost state

By Christine Mai-Duc
April 4, 2024 9:00 pm ET

California Gov. Gavin Newsom was featured in an ad calling the tax measure ‘dangerous, an overreach and irresponsible.’ PHOTO: DAMIAN DOVARGANES/ASSOCIATED PRESS

A coalition of California companies is going to war with Gov. Gavin Newsom and his Democratic allies over taxes it says have grown out of control in the Golden State.

The businesses have gathered enough signatures to put a measure on November’s ballot that would require two-thirds of voters to approve most local tax increases and roll back some recently enacted ones. If passed, it would be one of the most significant changes to the way California funds its government since 1978’s Proposition 13, a voter-approved law that severely limited property tax increases.

Backers say it is necessary to stop continued tax increases that are making it too expensive to operate in California and pushing companies to leave the state. Real estate businesses in Southern California are among the biggest funders, according to state campaign finance records, partly in response to a surcharge on luxury home sales that Los Angeles voters passed in 2022.

Newsom, local officials and labor unions say the proposal would decimate funding for basic services such as trash collection and firefighting and would make budgeting decisions near-impossible.

The companies spent some $16 million to gather signatures to put their proposal before voters and are gearing up for a fight political analysts say could draw tens of millions of dollars in advertising by both sides.

“The business community is fed up, they want to start stepping up to make a positive change. And they recognize that if they don’t do it, nobody will,” said Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, an advocacy group representing some of the state’s biggest businesses and leading the “yes” campaign. Continue reading →