Repeal TABOR, Says New GOP Poll

Repeal TABOR vs. voting on fee increases

I think the poll shows something more interesting. It is showing that voters are now realizing TABOR is a largely responsible for the state's constitutional crisis. (note: I said largely and not solely)

However, they also want to keep the part that was sold to voters in 1992: public vote on tax/fee increases.

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by: JustAnotherDem @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 16:09:55 PM CDT

Your comments are in line with what we've always said about TABOR

In THEORY, it makes sense. But TABOR doesn't actually work in a manner that isn't crippling to the state. The sad story of what has happened in El Paso County says it all.

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by: Colorado Pols @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 16:14:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

But 68% want to vote on any fee increases

Clearly voters like their approval on taxes and fees> I think the support for repealing Tabor is likely due to the other pieces of it.

I actually thought Romanoff only down by 12 points was good considering he just got in.

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by: Retired @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 17:34:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The point was voters are now starting to get it

It has taken a few years for what the political wonks know to really sink in with the masses.

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by: JustAnotherDem @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 08:42:21 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

And the fact that increasing numbers of voters are "getting" it about TABOR

makes it that much more important that a well-crafted issue regarding Colorado's Constitutional fiscal mess be on the ballot in 2010.

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by: The realist @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 09:33:19 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Bad News for Speaker Romanoff

The poll has Bennet beating Romanoff 41% to 27%.  

This is not good news for any candidate scrambling to raise money. A good number to look for is who raised the most in contributions from September 16 when Romanoff announced to October 1.  

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by: ArdentAdmirer2 @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 16:25:52 PM CDT

Down 14 points

That's gotta hurt.  

"It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!" - Nietzsche  

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by: twas brillig @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 23:30:29 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I wish...

...that Bruce had failed and something more supportive of representative democracy had been implemented.

Something like, "No tax increase shall take effect until approved by two successive Legislatures" - so you always have an election between when a tax is first approved and the approval which puts it in action.  This gives people a chance to "vote the bums out!" if they want, and yet gives elected officials the opportunity to actually lead (with accountability).  And it de-clutters the ballot.

That, and I wish I had a pony.

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by: G Pulviczek @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 16:26:21 PM CDT

Likewise

I like your idea.  

My own is a limit on the size of government as a percentage of gross state income so that taxes can be changed quickly within the limits. Raise a tax or fee on one thing and lower it on something else. The limit could only be raised by either a super majority or a majority twice with the votes two or four years apart.

That, and I wish I had a Honda Insight.

Matthew

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by: MtSherman @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 10:14:22 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

and a surprising 61% in the Colorado Springs area--think that the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) should be repealed

Those who know Doug Bruce best like his brain fart of an idea least.

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by: One Queer Dude @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 16:39:36 PM CDT

The untold story about TABOR

is how it has helped facilitate turning Colorado from red to a blue state.  R's no longer have that worn out battle axe of "they are taxing us too much" to use against Democrats, although they do try with fee increases.   The opposite is even true, in that you see sane R's, like Owens, (as opposed to self-serving special interest shills like Penry) understanding that TABOR creates big problems for our state and propose patchwork fixes like Ref C., which flimflam man Penry also opposed.  

I believe I'm in the "Constitutional Convention" camp now as the surest way to address out conflicting laws and economic woes.  

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by: WesternSlopeThought @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 16:48:21 PM CDT

Should we start a new Party?

the Constitutional Convention Party.

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by: MADCO @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 17:06:13 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Ummmm

The "Colorado Policy Institute"'s media contact is Sean Tonner - Jane Norton and Scott McInnis's G.C., and the Facebook release was sent out by Monica Owens.

Have they completely lost their minds t try this? Trailhead got the Repubs in enough trouble but at least John Marshall didn't have the audacity to chair the group at the same time he was managing Beauprez.

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by: Leonard Smalls @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 17:42:18 PM CDT

Yeah, John Marshall is a smart guy, I guess.

At least in your opinion.

Whether his candidate won or lost, he managed to get himself a cushy job working for Tim Foster at Mesa State.  Success at your assigned job doesn't appear to matter.  You are who you know.

Are you saying he's smart?  Because I'm saying he's just well connected.

Best to kill them early instead of letting them possibly need food stamps.
--marilou, 2010

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by: Ralphie @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 20:46:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Huh?

Saying "at least he wasn't stupid enough to do this" was not an endorsement of his intelligence.

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by: Leonard Smalls @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 21:21:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The ratchet

To vote on fee increases was just white wash.  Bruce meant to cripple government with the small print.  And he did.  Hard to believe we fell for it.  Our kids will suffer for many years.

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by: Old Rep @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 21:18:33 PM CDT

Speak for yourself

I didn't vote for it. It was obviously brain-dead and anti-representative government.

Tom Tancredo Interview

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by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 21:25:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I Did Not Vote For It...

...But then I was too young and being a young Republican I probably would have enthusiastically voted for it had I had the opportunity.  

Matthew

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by: MtSherman @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 10:16:04 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yet Jim Carpenter insists there is not enough support for a change

I wonder what the polls need to show before he's willing to "lead" on this issue. Would 70% be enough?

I've had a boatload of people hammering me for the last 2 days for my being stupid enough to think the voters might consider a tax increase and/or a bond proposal. And yet... it turns out there is support for it.

So can we discuss a major bond proposal for this November's ballot now? Not agree, just discuss?

Tom Tancredo Interview

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by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 21:24:32 PM CDT

No.

(Did you know that it's almost October now?)

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by: Jambalaya @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 22:09:18 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

for this November's ballot

That ship has sailed, David.  

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by: RedGreen @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 22:26:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Robert Kennedy

"Some men see things as they are and say, 'Why'? I dream of things that never were and say, 'Why not'?"

If we do nothing, things will only get worse.

Tom Tancredo Interview

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by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 23:08:30 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You're adorable

"It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!" - Nietzsche  

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by: twas brillig @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 23:25:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Did Bobby Kennedy think ....

...300 days hath September?

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by: Jambalaya @ Thu Sep 24, 2009 at 23:51:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Bobby Kennedy

knew better than to try to get on the ballot a couple weeks before people started voting.  

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by: RedGreen @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 00:05:48 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

You guys should all go work for Ritter

With your chorus of "we can't, we can't" you'ld fit right in.

Tom Tancredo Interview

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by: DavidThi808 @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 08:58:25 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Then call the bluff, David

See if you can get a major bond proposal on this November's ballot -- and good luck to you with that!

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by: RedGreen @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 09:09:10 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

The governor can call a special session of the legislature

Bill Owens was able to do it - why can't Ritter at least try?

Tom Tancredo Interview

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by: DavidThi808 @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 10:29:51 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

You should totally roll out Bobby

to the SOS when they point out you need 77,000 signatures to get on the ballot, and other pesky items like "due dates" and "statutes."  

"It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!" - Nietzsche  

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by: twas brillig @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 09:15:53 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hate to break it to you...

But the deadline to submit ballot initiatives for 2009 was last spring. Trust me, I was working on one and was right up against the deadline.

But there is still plenty of time for 2010.  

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by: cunninjo @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 09:34:27 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Bobby Kennedy says you are a defeatist

"It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!" - Nietzsche  

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by: twas brillig @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 09:38:03 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Is it for ones that come from the legislature?

Tom Tancredo Interview

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by: DavidThi808 @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 10:32:54 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Some men say ... "why not?"

David, ballots are already printed for the 2009 election. People start voting in a couple weeks.  

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by: RedGreen @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 16:29:13 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

That's not the question though

The question is can the gov still call a special session, and then can that session put a bond issue on this November's ballot.

If that can be done at this point, I think people will agree that reprinting ballots is a small price to pay.

Tom Tancredo Interview

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by: DavidThi808 @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 18:38:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

David, read the statutes

Your question doesn't make any sense. Bobby Kennedy might have asked, "Why not?" but at least he had a firm grasp on reality.

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by: RedGreen @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 18:56:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Damn the law, full speed ahead!

David's daydreams are at stake

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by: Jambalaya @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 18:59:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I tried to find the appropiate law on this

I failed. If you can point me to it, I would appreciate it.

Tom Tancredo Interview

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by: DavidThi808 @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 19:46:34 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

All measures to be submitted to voters

must be listed by election officials this year by Sept. 4 (57 days before the election) 1-8-116(2) 1-1-106 (5);

Legislative Council had to publish title and text of all statewide ballot measures in all legal newspapers by Sept. 21 (at least 15 days prior to last day to register for 2009 election) 1-7-903(3);

Official ballots must be printed and in the possession of county clerks by Oct. 2 (at least 32 days before the election) 1-5-403(1);

Ballots must also be mailed by Oct. 2 to all overseas and military voters who requested them - 1-8-111(1);

Ballot issue information booklet (Blue Book) must also be mailed by Oct. 2 - Art. V, Sec. 1(7.5)(b); 1-40-124.5; 1-1-106(5).

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by: RedGreen @ Sat Sep 26, 2009 at 00:59:04 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

damn

Ok, Ritter twiddled his thumbs long enough that it no longer possible. To bad...

Tom Tancredo Interview

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by: DavidThi808 @ Sat Sep 26, 2009 at 16:30:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

"initiatives" can't come from the legislature

...if you're now talking about a referendum, which is not what you were talking about before, why the sudden switch?  Truth set you free?

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by: Jambalaya @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 18:26:18 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It's Saturday morning

If only we dared to dream, the guv and the leg could have this thing wrapped by Sunday night. The only thing standing in our way is pessimism. We'll do a new batch of ballots on recycled cardboard, thus saving the environment. Win-win! Synergy!

Let's do this thing!!!!

DOWN WITH PESSIMISM!  

"It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!" - Nietzsche  

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by: twas brillig @ Sat Sep 26, 2009 at 09:58:46 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

CPI connected to McInnis?

To second Leonard, didn't we already establish that CPI was possibly created as McInnis's 527?  That's what I thought.

http://facethestate.com/articl...

Maybe we should increase the size of the grain of salt with which we are taking this report.

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by: KinCO @ Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 00:27:48 AM CDT