Posted on 05/01/2007 10:10:38 PM PDT by george76
In the face of a Republican outcry, Senate Democrats approved a fast-tracked property-tax hike today on most homes and businesses in Colorado, and they refused to put the issue to a statewide vote. It passed as part of the annual School Finance Act on a 19-15 vote, with all Republicans voting in opposition.
The tax hike -- which was pushed by Gov. Bill Ritter and will cost the public $1.7 billion over the next 10 years -- has been the focus of intense debate for weeks and has dominated hallway discussions at the Capitol. Republicans have assailed it not only for raising property tax bills on people of modest means and fixed incomes, but also because it comes with no guarantees its proceeds will go, as promised, toward shoring up the state's school-funding needs.
Republicans also have denounced the way the measure got rammed through -- flouting a state constitutional requirement that all tax hikes be put to a popular vote, while also skirting legislative procedure by dodging a public hearing in the Senate.
Appealing to Democrats this morning to reconsider, Senate GOP chief Andy McElhany, of Colorado Springs, asked why the General Assembly was demanding more from taxpayers when they agreed just over a year ago to open their wallets via Referendum C. McElhany said that measure already is raking in over $1 billion a year above earlier projections.
(Excerpt) Read more at coloradosenatenews.com ...
We have been invaded by illegals and urban liberals from other states...
” Have the people in Colorado been DUMBED down that much?..”
Just yesterday the Wall Street Journal reported an incipient property tax rebellion starting around the country including, of all places, Minnesota. Ritter seems to be going down this path at precisely the wrong time. I’m not impressed with his political skills.
My wife and I were planning to retire in Colorado Springs. we made a trip out there 3 years ago and really liked the place....then came the dems and we saw the writing on the wall. The dems will turn one of the wests greatest success stories into California central and not understand what went wrong...why all they need is a little more money.
We move to Idaho next month.
“It’s amazing this part of the country is beginning to think like this...simpletons”
Remember, about 1 in 5 citizens have moved their from California over the last decade and they bring the california rot with them.
Ritter wants to be popular and to be invited to all the social parties during the upcoming national convention.
He likely thinks that he might even get a future cabinet position like Pena ?
Hopefully, the state supreme court will throw it out ?
Sorry to hear. We could use more conservative voters.
However, Idaho has lots going for itself.
The Colorado Springs area is still conservative; the problems are elsewhere in the state.
A white male who claims to be a pro-life Catholic? Not a chance.
Ritter is asking for a big fight.
We all in Colorado just paid our property taxes and the property re-assessments are due from the county assessor soon.
Ritter and the DU Senators pushing this tax increase thru with no popular vote should be explosive ?
Hopefully, we can use this to help build a comeback.
This needs to be taken to the courts IMMEDIATELY and blocked if it really violates a Colorado Constitutional requirement of a popular vote for any tax increase.
Politicians need to learn that they are TEMPORARY custodians of the State government, while the Constitution is the embodiment of PERMANANCE in government.
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