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Tax-freeze flap heats up in court ( Democrats against Voters Voting )
The Denver Post ^ | 05/04/2008 | John Ingold

Posted on 05/05/2008 10:58:32 AM PDT by george76

A judge today will hear a case calling Gov. Ritter's move unconstitutional because voters didn't approve it.

The year-long controversy around Gov. Bill Ritter's mill-levy freeze spills into a Denver courtroom today, where a judge will decide whether the state has to give the money from the freeze back.

A group of taxpayers, organized by the conservative Independence Institute, filed suit late last year against the Colorado Department of Education, arguing that the property-tax freeze amounts to an unconstitutional tax increase because voters did not directly approve it.

The trial in the case is scheduled to start today in Denver District Court, and, as they have been throughout the controversy, both sides are confident.

"I'm feeling pretty good about it," said Jon Caldara, the Independence Institute's president. ". . .

In an April 2007 memo...Republican Attorney General John Suthers said he believes the plan is unconstitutional.

The freeze holds mill levies — the rate at which taxes are charged — in place when they would normally fall, allowing local school districts to collect more tax money and the state to use the money it saves in the deal for other purposes.

The freeze is estimated to bring in $117 million this year and $3.8 billion over a decade, up from an initial estimate of $1.7 billion when it was passed.

(Excerpt) Read more at denverpost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: billritter; corruption; ritter; tabor; taxes; taxpayers; unions
The Colorado Constitution requires a vote by the citizens for tax increases .

.

1 posted on 05/05/2008 10:58:32 AM PDT by george76
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To: colorado tanker; rellimpank; MtnClimber

The freeze is estimated to bring in $117 million this year and $3.8 billion over a decade, up from an initial estimate of $1.7 billion when it was passed.

Smells like an un-authorized Tax increase.


2 posted on 05/05/2008 11:00:44 AM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: Morgan in Denver; XeniaSt; GSWarrior; SunkenCiv; jazusamo; LucyT; moondoggie

Too bad that the Colorado Supreme Court is full of DUmmies.


3 posted on 05/05/2008 11:03:31 AM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: george76

Another good reason to donate to the Independence Institute

Their web site is http://www.i2i.org if anyone wants to see more.


4 posted on 05/05/2008 11:10:02 AM PDT by Morgan in Denver (The "P" in Democrat stands for Patriot.......)
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To: george76
Hey, George!

You don't really think the Liberal Colorado Supremes would ignore the Constitution, do you??? (sarcasm)

:-)

5 posted on 05/05/2008 11:16:56 AM PDT by moondoggie
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To: george76

Leave it to libtard politicians to figure out ways of getting around the will of the people.

This sounds just like the Rats that control our state of WA.


6 posted on 05/05/2008 11:20:25 AM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.org | DefendOurTroops.org)
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To: moondoggie; george76
---Nevada's sure didn't on a similar situation several years ago--

--(it was so blatant it even aroused the contempt of some liberals)---

7 posted on 05/05/2008 11:25:27 AM PDT by rellimpank (--don't believe anything the MSM tells you about firearms or explosives--NRA Benefactor)
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To: Morgan in Denver; moondoggie; george76

Isn’t there something else going on where the state wants to suspend Tabor tax refunds to build up a “rainy day” slush fund?


8 posted on 05/05/2008 11:54:34 AM PDT by MtnClimber (Obama pledges to give every typical small town white family a possum sandwich)
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To: MtnClimber; rellimpank; beaversmom
Unlimited state funding forever

.


9 posted on 05/05/2008 12:29:51 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: MtnClimber; moondoggie; george76
The word out, according to some legislators, is the Democrats are working towards eliminating TABOR all together.  I'm not sure how they think they can do this unless it's chewing away at it from the edges, one bit at a time, until it's ruined. 

With Democrats controlling the CO legislature and the governors office, there is not much to stop them.  Or so they think.  I also know various organizations are following it, to stop them as much as we can.

10 posted on 05/05/2008 1:18:04 PM PDT by Morgan in Denver (The "P" in Democrat stands for Patriot.......)
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To: Morgan in Denver

The Democrats are trying every strategy.

Death by a thousand cuts and also all at once.

Ritter has been using his office to grant gifts to union bosses and more.

Every small taxing authority is trying repeatedly to cancel TABOR.


11 posted on 05/05/2008 1:53:32 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: george76

I know the Colorado Republican Business Coalition and the Colorado Union of Taxpayers are watching this, along with the NFIB and others.

The problem is the Democrats keeps sneaking it into everything they can and the fear is they will get away with it if everyone is not totally on top of every bill.


12 posted on 05/05/2008 2:11:52 PM PDT by Morgan in Denver (The "P" in Democrat stands for Patriot.......)
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To: george76
Voters in this state have a right to have a say on higher taxes. If the court rules against the Democrats, the state is looking at millions of dollars worth of refunds. Personally, I hope the Democrats get b*tch-slapped for trying to go around the people on the issue.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

13 posted on 05/05/2008 3:18:44 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Morgan in Denver
Voters CAN stop them. The Democrats are suffering from a severe case of overreach. They think voters will be thrilled with new spending and higher taxes. Not in the current economic climate.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

14 posted on 05/05/2008 3:20:26 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: goldstategop

If this were correct we would not be dominated by Democrats now. I agree there are many of us keeping an eye on what the Democrats are doing, it is still true that too many Colorado voters are seduced by their rhetoric.


15 posted on 05/05/2008 5:39:46 PM PDT by Morgan in Denver (The "P" in Democrat stands for Patriot.......)
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To: Morgan in Denver

We often try to engage young people that they need to get involved as it is their future being destroyed.

It is amazing to see how many are still dis-connected.

Sad.


16 posted on 05/05/2008 7:03:25 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: george76

I used to tell people “don’t b!tch if you don’t vote” but today I tell them “don’t vote if you don’t know what you’re voting on.”

Even the mindset of our younger generation mirrors the political parties. Conservatives support issues and positons and liberals follow their emotions without realizing what they are asking for. It really is amazing to see the Hillary supporters as she says if elected she will take the oil company profits to spend on government programs. History must not be taught any more.


17 posted on 05/06/2008 3:30:57 AM PDT by Morgan in Denver (The "P" in Democrat stands for Patriot.......)
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To: george76; AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; ...

Uh-oh, my incredulous batteries just went dead. Thanks geo.


18 posted on 05/06/2008 10:42:40 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______________________Profile updated Monday, April 28, 2008)
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