Letter: TABOR isn’t hurting Colo. economy ‘at all’

Quin Roberts 2:31 p.m. MST November 20, 2015

(Photo: Courtesy photo)

Dick Heyman on Nov. 12 wrote that “We need to repeal the TABOR amendment completely,” because voters should not be allowed to interfere with “efficient government.”

Colorado’s TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights) requires that tax increases and spending growth greater than the increase in population, plus inflation, be authorized by a vote of the people. It places no absolute limits on tax and spending increases. It simply makes our government get our permission to exceed the limit.

Mr. Heyman calls this requirement “stupid.” He is a reactionary and believes that TABOR creates an excess of democracy.

The original Progressives, who gave us the right to elect senators, to recall public officials and the right of women to vote, would be appalled by Heyman’s anti-democratic rant. The Progressive movement also gave citizens of Colorado and many other states the right to initiate laws by circulating petitions. TABOR resulted from such an initiative and popular vote in 1992.

Many of today’s self-styled “progressives” want to do away with this kind of direct democracy, because it sometimes produces results they don’t like — such as curbing runaway government growth. What are they afraid of?

Colorado’s economic growth was fifth fastest in the nation in 2014, and we ranked in the top 10 for job growth. It doesn’t look like TABOR is hurting our economy, at all.

Colorado trusts adults with pot and guns. I am glad that we also trust ourselves with power over taxes and spending.

Quin Roberts lives in Fort Collins.

http://www.coloradoan.com/story/opinion/2015/11/20/letter-tabor-hurting-colo-economy/76124248/