Category Archives: Elections

Feb 28

Fiscal Rules and ‘Learning by Doing’

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February 28, 2024

Fiscal Rules and ‘Learning by Doing’

By Barry Poulson

An important discovery in understanding productivity change and economic growth is the phenomenon of “learning by doing.” One of the first discoveries of this phenomenon was in the aircraft industry during World War II. Defense contractors discovered that in producing a particular aircraft, the labor force was more efficient with each successive contract. The labor force gained knowledge in producing aircraft in the initial contract that they applied in subsequent contracts.

Learning by doing is found to increase productivity across many industries. It is found in pursuing public policies as well. I gained insight into these learning effects as a member of the Colorado Tax Commission. We held hearings across the state to gain insight into citizen attitudes toward fiscal policy, and in particular to Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights Amendment (TABOR). If any government in Colorado wants to increase taxes, revenues, or issue public debt, it must have citizen approval. Citizens in Colorado have voted on hundreds of these ballot measures at all levels of government since TABOR was passed through citizen initiative in 1992. Continue reading →

Feb 27

We appreciate good feedback about TABOR Committee actions.”

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Voters in the Elk Creek Fire Protection District narrowly defeated a proposal on the Nov 8, 2023 election ballot that would have consolidated ECFPD with two other small and underfunded Front Range fire districts.  Consolidation would have seriously degraded the high level of service that ECFPD residents currently enjoy.  The TABOR Committee, particularly attorney Paul Cohen, contributed to the narrow defeat by responding to a request from opponents of consolidation for help in discouraging the ECFPD from suppressing our TABOR statements against consolidation.

In past elections, the union controlled ECFPD Board of Directors has illegally edited opposition TABOR statements into irrelevancy.  In 2023, our opposition campaign put ECFPD on notice that our attorneys participated in writing our TABOR statements, and that was enough to protect our TABOR statements from any editing occurring.  It also helped that one member of the ECFPD Board of Directors, Chuck Newby, was the very energetic leader of the opposition campaign.  Board meetings prior to the vote were exceptionally bitter and loud in their denunciation of Director Newby, and the Board has since censured Mr. Newby for his role in channeling the will of the voters.  We are undeterred and are anticipating that the same consolidation question will likely be on the ballot again in 2024.  We look forward to continued support from the TABOR Committee.

Our sincerest thanks to the TABOR Committee.  It is my hope that the TABOR Committee will offer its legal support in the future to other groups, as well, that are opposing government expansion and higher taxes.  I have been writing TABOR statements in Park County for thirty years and can attest to their value in forming public opinion and in defeating the constant drive for bigger government.  Many TABOR tax information booklets, in other districts, are mailed with only supporting statements and no opposing statements.

This is a huge missed opportunity to use the constitutional freedom of expression that patriots have.  Anything the TABOR Committee can do to encourage tax opponents to use their voices is sorely needed.  The important battles since Democrats took control of State government have been at the local level—and TABOR statements are a powerful tool conservatives need to use.  The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.

Gary Fisk
Pine, Park County, Colorado

Feb 23

Freedom Minute | Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR)

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Economist Dr. Paul Prentice explains Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) amendment. TABOR allows the state budget to grow each year at population plus inflation, while giving taxpayers the ability to vote on all tax and debt increases.

Feb 23

Freedom Minute | Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about TABOR

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Rob Natelson wrote THE BOOK on Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. As he puts it, “It’s everything you could ever want to know about TABOR.” Check it out here: https://www.i2i.org/the-colorado-taxp…

Jan 14

On this day last year, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of TABOR.

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On this day last year, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of TABOR.

Your Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights!

Keeping government in check and more money in your pocket is why Colorado approved TABOR on the November, 1992 ballot.

#ColoradoRejectedPropHH
#ItsYourMoneyNotTheirs
#DontBeFooled
#VoteOnTaxesAndFees
#FeesAreTaxes
#TABOR
#FollowTheMoney
#FollowTheLaw
#ThankGodForTABOR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan 12

ALEC on American Radio Journal: Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights Turns 30

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This month marks the 30th anniversary of Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), which was approved by voters in November of 1992 as a constitutional tax and expenditure limit (TEL). TABOR is considered the gold standard of state fiscal rules because it limits the growth of most of Colorado’s spending and revenue to inflation plus population. If the state government collects more tax dollars than TABOR allows, the money is returned to taxpayers as a TABOR refund. The receipt of tax rebates, totaling $8.2 billion since TABOR passed in 1992, has strengthened Colorado citizens’ confidence in the TABOR Amendment over the years. To learn more about TABOR and effective TELs, read our latest report and visit FiscalRules.org