Senator blasts 'deceptive smear campaign' by teachers union

Colorado Senate News ^ | 03 May 2007 | Senate Minority Office

[george76]

Veteran GOP Sen. Ken Kester denounced an unsuccessful advertising campaign against him by the Colorado Education Association, charging it "twists and turns" his opposition to a pending statewide property tax hike.

A spokeswoman for the teachers union, meanwhile, confirmed that the Colorado Campaign for Children and Public Schools, named at the bottom of the newspaper ad as its sponsor, is the CEA's "527" political-spending arm. Records with the Secretary of State's Office show prominent Democrat lawyer Mark Grueskin filed the group's paperwork.

The property-tax hike -- on its way to the governor for his likely signature -- would freeze the property mill levy in almost all school districts statewide. As property values rise, so would tax bills for most Colorado home- and business owners.

"There was no mention in the ad that tax bills would go up after they dipped the first year in places like Canon City," Kester said, "and there was no mention of how property tax bills would rise right away in much of the rest of the state.

"The ad didn't say anything about how the school districts won't actually get any more money. The tax hike will just let the state give the school districts less funding so the legislature can spend what it saves on whatever else it wants."

Kester also faulted the campaign for failing to mention what he said is one of the most important reasons for voting against the tax hike: "The attorney general said this proposal should have gone to the voters, first, and I agree."

[george76]

Although Ritter says the tax hike doesn’t require a popular vote, Attorney General John Suthers last week issued an 11-page opinion that found the pending property-tax hike must be put to a statewide vote in order to comply with the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights in the state constitution.

That measure, enacted in 1992, requires all tax increases and bonded debt to be put to a vote.

[colorado tanker]

With the Dems dominant in the Supreme Court my guess is the Constitution won’t be enforced and Ritter will get away with it. OTOH, once property tax bills start going up, I think there’ll be a backlash.

[george76]

The county assessor value changes are going out now, thus property owners will be getting this notice.

Next January the property tax bill will likely be higher too.

If the commercial property tax rates also go up, then also food, gas...will go up.

[taxesareforever]

Wonder if Colorado has the right to Referendum. Now if this was Washington State the legislature would have put an emergency clause on it in order to prevent it from being run as a Referendum. Washington State is so considerate of its voters.NOT!

[george76]

Yes; that is how TABOR was passed.

If the state courts go along with their fellow DUmmies, then maybe a state wide Referendum ?

if Colorado has the right to Referendum

.