Colorado Democrats’ reckless overspending and financial mismanagement have STOLEN your hard-earned TABOR refunds!
No more gaslighting—time to hold them accountable.
Aug
30
Category Archives: Enterprises
Aug
24
Colorado Democrats have long been critical of TABOR—the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
FYI:
Colorado Democrats have long been critical of TABOR—the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
? What Is TABOR?
TABOR is a constitutional amendment passed in 1992 that:
• Limits how much revenue Colorado can collect and spend.
• Requires voter approval for any tax increases.
• Mandates refunds to taxpayers when revenue exceeds a cap based on inflation and population growth.
It’s popular among many voters for its taxpayer protections.
?? Colorado Democratic Party position on TABOR
Colorado Democrats have consistently expressed frustration with TABOR’s constraints since it blocks their unlimited spending. Here’s what recent reporting shows:
• Ongoing Efforts: Democrats have tried for decades to dismantle TABOR. Despite controlling the state government for seven years straight, they’ve made little headway due to TABOR’s popularity and constitutional entrenchment.
• Recent Moves: In 2025, some Democratic lawmakers introduced a resolution to direct the legislature’s legal team to file a lawsuit challenging TABOR’s constitutionality. The argument was that TABOR violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of a “republican form of government” by requiring voter approval for tax increases.
• Internal Disagreement: While many Democrats agree TABOR is problematic, they’re divided on how to address it—whether through legal challenges, ballot measures, or incremental reforms.
• Platform Status: There’s clear evidence that “Repeal TABOR” is an official plank in the statewide Democratic platform and is certainly a recurring theme in their legislative agenda and public statements.
?? Political Reality
Despite Democratic control, TABOR remains intact because:
• Voter Resistance: Ballot measures to retain excess revenue (Propositions CC in 2019 and HH in 2023) were rejected by voters.
• Strategic Caution: Democrats are wary of political backlash, especially in swing districts or rural areas where TABOR is popular.
? Summary
So, while many Colorado Democrats strongly oppose TABOR and some have pursued legal and legislative avenues to weaken or eliminate it, it’s accurate to say the party has officially declared war on TABOR in its platform. The issue is deeply divisive, both within the party and among voters.
#HandsOffTABOR
#DontBeFooled
#ItsYourMoneyNotTheirs
#TABOR
#FollowTheLaw
#FeesAreTaxes
#VoteOnFees
#ReplaceThemAllForNotFollowingVotersWishes
Aug
19
Colorado’s 2025 Special Session: Background and Bills Released So Far – TABOR Refund News
Here we go again!
For the third year in a row, Governor Jared Polis has called the Legislature for a Special Session.
This year, they are meeting to address the nearly $1 billion shortfall that the State of Colorado is facing due to the tax cuts in HR 1, otherwise known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Natalie Menten is a Colorado politics expert and taxpayer advocate.
She joined me to provide background on the Special Session, and explain what bills have already been introduced.
If you want to become an expert on the Colorado Legislature, this is a must-watch!
Aug
19
???Chainsaw Caucus: Dems’ Tax Trick in CO! ???
ChainsawCaucus @ChainsawCaucus posted this today on X (Twitter):
???Chainsaw Caucus: Dems’ Tax Trick in CO! ???
? Democrats are dodging TABOR with a Motte-and-Bailey scam: claiming taxes haven’t risen or the budget is balanced (motte) while piling on fees that act like taxes (bailey). Coloradans are paying the price! ?
How It Works:
? Motte: “No tax hikes! TABOR ties our hands, so we use fees for roads, schools, healthcare.” They lean on the 4.25% income tax rate and small cuts (0.38% since 2018).
? Bailey: Fees exploded to $25.8B in 2024—$4,322 per Coloradan, a 3,369% jump since 1994. That’s a hidden tax hike equal to a 7.68% income tax rate!
Fee Fallout (2019–2024):
– ? College fees up 26.1% (e.g., CU Boulder + 14.28% to $41,943).
– ? DMV fees up $4 (HB25-1189), plus $3 car insurance fees (HB25-1303).
– ?? Restaurant fees + 25% (SB285).
– ?? $5.4B in transport fees (SB21-260).
– ? Non-education fees hit $1,382 per person (2024), up from $97 (2000).
The Trick: Dems use TABOR-exempt enterprises (10 new ones since 2020, $124.3M in FY24) and cite court rulings to avoid voter approval. They even pushed HJR25-1023 to challenge TABOR’s constitutionality! ?
Impact: Fees cost families ~ $4,500/yr (Advance CO). Voters rejected Prop HH (2023) by **18 pts**, showing **70%+** support TABOR on X. Stop the fee frenzy!
?? Fight Back: Initiative 2025-2026 #136 could require voter OK for big fees by 2027. Demand accountability! How are fees hitting you?
https://x.com/ChainsawCaucus/status/1957092257548648955
#HandsOffTABOR
#DontBeFooled
#ItsYourMoneyNotTheirs
#TABOR
#FollowTheLaw
#FeesAreTaxes
#VoteOnFees
#ReplaceThemAllForNotFollowingVotersWishes
Aug
06
Colorado’s TABOR-exempt revenue has increased nearly 30% since 1996, study finds
Colorado’s TABOR-exempt revenue has increased nearly 30% since 1996, study finds
State spending that is exempt from Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights has increased by nearly 30% over the past 30 years, according to a report by the public policy think tank Common Sense Institute.
While TABOR places a limit on how much revenue the state can retain each fiscal year, certain sources — such as voter-approved changes, federal funds, and state enterprises — are exempt.
According to the Bell Policy Center, enterprise funds are state-owned “businesses” that provide goods or services in exchange for revenue. Examples include the state lottery and the Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE).
Jun
12
It’s Worse: Local Governments use Taxpayer Money to Lobby Legislature for TABOR Repeal, Raise Taxes!
Local Governments want to raise your taxes.
Thankfully, we have the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) that prevents them from taking more of your money without voter approval.
Of course, Politicians and Bureaucrats have been working for years to subvert TABOR.
This year, Democrats in the State Legislature have sponsored a Resolution to initiate a lawsuit (paid for by taxpayers) to repeal our Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
And to make matters worse, local governments have been using their taxpayer-funded resources to lobby the Legislature in favor of this TABOR Repeal Lawsuit!
And as Natalie Menten explains in our video, we also have non-profit organizations (some of which have received taxpayer money) also lobbying in favor of repealing TABOR!
It’s wrong on so many levels!
Taxpayers and voters need to stand up and speak out against this blatant attempt to overturn the will of the people and attack our citizen initiative process!
Natalie also provides an update on the TABOR Repeal Lawsuit Resolution and shares video she took at the State Capitol during the Committee Hearing.
Links from Video:
Bob Marshall statement during testimony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsfSsvMGllk
Require General Assembly TABOR Constitutionality Lawsuit HJR25-1023: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hjr25-1023
Colorado Secretary of State Lobbyist Search: https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby/SearchSubject.do
Get on the Free State Col
Jun
12
Colorado’s TABOR Under Attack from Greedy Legislators! They Want More of Our Money!
Coloradans voted to protect themselves from government overreach in 1992 with the passage of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR).
Since then, greedy politicians have been trying to repeal TABOR, and raise our taxes to unlimited levels.
Thankfully, they haven’t been able to remove TABOR from our State Constitution.
But these sneaky politicians have found ways to skirt TABOR by increasing fees instead of taxes, and legislative schemes to steal more of our money.
Cory Gaines joined me to discuss this year’s legislation designed to subvert TABOR and grow government beyond what is constitutionally allowed.
Links:
HJR25-1023: Require General Assembly TABOR Constitutionality Lawsuit: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hjr25-1023
SB25-173: Revenue Classification Taxpayers Bill of Rights: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-173
Information on State Enterprises: https://leg.colorado.gov/publications/state-government-enterprises-1
May
06
Colorado Democrats fail to challenge TABOR as legislative session nears end
Colorado Democrats fail to advance their resolution challenging the Taxpayer Bill of Rights before the legislative session ends Wednesday.
DENVER — A Democratic-led effort to challenge Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) will not advance before the legislative session ends Wednesday, despite the party’s complete control of state government.
State Rep. Sean Camacho, D-Denver, who sponsored a resolution to initiate a lawsuit seeking to have TABOR ruled unconstitutional, confirmed the measure will not receive a vote before midnight, ensuring the resolution will not have enough time to go through all the steps in the House and Senate by Wednesday.
“It is not happening,” Camacho said.
He did not know why it was not being put to a vote, and as of Monday night, a spokesman for House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillion, had not responded to an 12:35 p.m. text message regarding the vote.
TABOR, which has been state law since 1992, limits how much revenue Colorado can collect and spend each year. It also requires refunds to taxpayers when the state exceeds those limits. Democrats have increasingly cited TABOR as the reason behind this year’s $1 billion in state spending cuts.
To continue reading the rest of this story, click (HERE) to go to 9 News
Apr
07
ICYMI Over The Past 31 Years, This Has Been Part Of Their Colorado Democrats Party Platform
#HandsOffTABOR
#DontBeFooled
#ItsYourMoneyNotTheirs
#TABOR
#FollowTheLaw
#FeesAreTaxes
#VoteOnFees
#ReplaceThemAllForNotFollowingVotersWishes
Apr
01
Democrats roll out tax and TABOR reform plan
Democrats roll out tax and TABOR reform plan to remake state finances, calling for “a reckoning”
Colorado lawmakers float legal challenge that, if successful, could kill TABOR outright
A group of Colorado lawmakers has unveiled a plan to fundamentally change state tax policy and attempt to eliminate the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR.
The plan, announced Monday afternoon by Democratic legislators, includes reclassifying chunks of Colorado highway funding so it doesn’t fall under the TABOR spending cap, which would free up money for other things. They also hope to end Colorado’s flat income tax and replace it with a system in which higher-income taxpayers pay higher rates than low-income filers.
Lawmakers also introduced a resolution Monday that seeks to launch a lawsuit challenging the legality of TABOR, which was passed by Colorado voters in 1992, under the U.S. Constitution.
“The state is coming to a reckoning on whether we can sustain ourselves,” said Sean Camacho, a Denver Democrat. “And all of these measures are critical to figuring that out.”
The lawsuit resolution has attracted a roster of co-sponsors, including some top legislative leaders. The proposals come as Colorado faces a budget hole of more than $1 billion because of the cap set by TABOR.
TABOR limits how much state spending can grow based on inflation and population growth. Certain sectors of government spending, chiefly mandatory Medicaid costs, have far outstripped the pace of consumer inflation, effectively eating into how much the state can spend on nonmandatory programs.
To read the rest of this article, click (HERE) to go to the Denver Post.