OPED: Rep. Nikkel in defense of TABOR
Submitted by: State Rep. B.J. Nikkel, R-Loveland, House District 49
Setting the Record Straight on TABOR
Recently, some have attempted to assign the blame for our current state budget cuts on the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights.
The truth is that the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights has not contributed to our current budget troubles. In fact, without the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights, there is no doubt that Colorado’s budget troubles would be much worse.
TABOR, as the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights is more commonly referred to, has actually served to cushion the effects of the current economic recession on Colorado’s state budget. This fiscally conservative budgetary provision keeps spending low when times are good, leaving state coffers in better shape when the times turn.
For example, under TABOR, in times of economic prosperity, excess tax revenue in Colorado is returned to taxpayers. By preventing the state from over-spending in good years Colorado is forced to make fewer drastic budget cuts during the bad years. In other states, like California, continually increased taxes have gone into expanding the government budget. When the economy slowed, deficits soared and California’s government has nearly gone bankrupt.
Thanks to the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights, Colorado has largely avoided that fate.
Here is why. In 1992 Colorado voters passed the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights amendment, placing spending and taxing controls on the legislature. Spending is not allowed to increase by more than inflation and population growth, and new taxes cannot be enacted without a vote of the people.
Because we also have a constitutional requirement to balance our budget, TABOR requires government to better set priorities and live within its means. This is the same for Colorado families. Just as families would no doubt like to spend money in many ways, they must set priorities and then live within their boundaries. The same should be true of government, and under TABOR, it is.
Another popular component of TABOR is the citizens’ right to decide on tax increases. When an increase in revenue is desired, the government has the opportunity to ask voters to retain refunds or to increase taxes. This important provision grants Coloradans the right to have their voices heard when it comes to the legislature adopting new taxes
With that in mind, why do some attempt to lay the blame for Colorado’s current budget troubles on TABOR? They do so because they believe that an expanded government, with nearly unlimited taxing authority, is the answer to our problems.
The truth is that the reason Colorado is running a deficit is because proposed spending for FY09-10 exceeds current estimates for anticipated revenues.
Along with the rest of the nation, we’re experiencing the prolonged effects of a troubled economy. Like you and I, the state must tighten its belt during tough economic times and not spend more than it has in its checkbook. Blaming TABOR for budget cuts that would be even worse without it makes no sense.
Colorado has gone through good times and bad, but TABOR has been there as a “guardian” to keep government spending in check, and to lessen the pain when the budget falls short of expectations.
So, when you hear these attacks against the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, don’t be afraid to set the record straight.
State Representative B.J. Nikkel represents House District 49 in Larimer and Weld counties in the Colorado House of Representatives
If you wish to learn more about the Tax Payers Bill of Rights, check out http://www.coloradobudget.com/. There’s also a lot of great links on Douglas Bruces website. I never met Mr. Bruce but I think he’s a great Coloradan and I think he should be appointed governor immediately. We need to be REBRUCED.
Today the state legislators meeting in Lakewood is touting the possibility of giving the opportunity for individual tax payers to give their opinions on the budget problems. The email I received gave a link to a website that I wont reproduce because it’s just like the RTD opinion campaign…they don’t actually want our opinion. They want our opinion of their opinions.
But I guess that we shouldn’t be worrying because according to the Federal Government the recession is over. If it’s over then why is our state in such poor economic condition. The 4th largest city in Colorado still has a $25,000,000.00 emergency fund to help it with revenue short falls this year.
And this isn’t a partisan issue. The party in power always seems to find more ways to spend our money. I’d like to see more “D. Bruces” to take active roles in our government financing. I’d like to see more transparency in our state spending. The governors transparency website is a joke. I’d like to see a Regional Transparency District created whose funding comes from the revenues that it saves our state. I’d like to see someone like Douglas Bruce or Natalie Menten be in charge of the RTD (”Regional Transparency District”).
The problem is that once the party not in power becomes the party in power they seem to change their colors. Obama’s been president for a year now? When are our troops coming home? When does he begin to live up to meeting the promises that made him president? The problem with government is that it’s job seems to be to create more government. We need more government transparency and less government. We need to be able to see all of the checks that are written on our account. We need a governor and a state court that upholds the Tax Payers Bill of Rights.