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Colorado Legislator Ratings, archive (in PDF). To read these, you need the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to get it for free.

New! 2010 Ratings and newsletter.

2009 Ratings and newsletter.

2008 Ratings and newsletter.

2007 Ratings and newsletter.

2006 Ratings and newsletter.

2005 Ratings and newsletter.

2004 Ratings and newsletter.

2003 Ratings and newsletter.

2003 Grid

2002 Ratings and newsletter.

2002 Grid

2001 Ratings and newsletter.

2000 Ratings and newsletter.

1999 Ratings and newsletter.

1998 Ratings and newsletter.

1997 Ratings and newsletter.

1996 Ratings and newsletter.

1995 Ratings and newsletter.

1994 Ratings and newsletter.

1993 Ratings.

1992 Ratings and newsletter.

1991 Ratings and newsletter.

1989-90 Ratings and newsletter.

1989 Ratings and newsletter.

1987-88 Ratings and newsletter.

1985-86 Ratings and newsletter.

1985 Ratings and newsletter.

1983-84 Ratings and newsletter.

1980-81 Ratings and newsletter.

1979-80 Ratings and newsletter.

1977-78 Ratings and newsletter.

CUT Taxpayer Pledge
Full text of Pledge to oppose all tax increases.

List of all Pledge signers.

About CUT
--Greetings from Past President Penn Pfiffner

--Join CUT as a dues-paying member.

--Bylaws.

Links
Clear the Bench Colorado. Against retention of Colorado Supreme Court Justices who vote to nullify the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
Colorado Proposition 101. Roll back tax increases which evaded the requirement for voter approval by being labeled as "fees."
Amendment 60. Limit property tax.
Amendment 61. Limit Colorado debt.

Taxpayer groups. State, federal and international.

No more bailouts petition. National Taxpayers Union.

Congressional Ratings:

National Taxpayers Union ratings of Congress. Colorado delegation:

Name	2009 Grade & %	2008 Grade & %	2007 grade & %	2006 Grade & %	2005 Grade & %
Rep. Perlmutter	F 3	F 7	F 6
Rep. DeGette	F 2	F 7	F 6	F 14	F 15
Rep. Lamborn	A 93	A 90	A 93
Rep. Markey	D 19
Rep. Salazar, John	F 8	F 14	F 5	D 24	D 26
Rep. Coffman	B+ 88
Rep. Polis	F 8
Sen. Udall	F 8
Sen. Bennet	F 10

Americans for Tax Reform ratings of Congress. Colorado delegation.

Club for Growth RePORK Card.

Gubernatorial candidates who have signed the Taxpayer Pledge

Dan Maes, Republican

Jaimes Brown, Libertarian

For a list of all signers, click here.

CUT Statement on Lt. Governor Candidate Tambor Williams

The Colorado Union of Taxpayers is pleased that two candidates for Governor of Colorado, Republican Dan Maes and Libertarian Jaimes Brown, have signed CUT’s taxpayer protection Pledge. We are also pleased that Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate Tambor Williams is a Pledge signer. However, CUT is concerned that Williams’s votes, subsequent to her signing the Pledge on July 20, 2000, were often not protective of taxpayer interests.

CUT’s annual legislative scorecard is based on bills which receive floor votes. When Rep. Williams first joined the Colorado House of Representatives, she compiled a reasonably good record in protecting taxpayers. In 1997, she sided with taxpayers 69% of the time, according to CUT’s scorecard, compared to the House average that year of 46%. In 1998 her rating was 74% (House average 55%), and in 1999 it was 73% (House average 57%). So during her first three years in the Colorado House of Representatives, Rep. Williams voted pro-taxpayer about 20% more often than the average Representative.

For the 2000 legislative session, her record fell to 59% (compared to a 48% House average). In 1999, CUT had introduced the taxpayer Pledge, and on July 20, 2000, after the end of the legislative session, Rep. Williams signed the Pledge.

Surprisingly, Rep. Williams’s pro-taxpayer voting record declined subsequent to the Pledge signing. For the rest of her service in the House of Representatives, her pro-taxpayer voting rate was essentially at the House average: 40% in 2001 (House average 37%), 35% in 2002 (House average 33%), 33% in 2003 (House average 41%), 41% in 2004 (House average 41%).

CUT recognizes that from time to time, even a taxpayer champion may disagree with CUT on a particular bill. However, it is disappointing that a Pledge signer would accumulate such a consistently mediocre pro-taxpayer record after signing the Pledge. CUT is concerned that the tax and spending policies of a Maes-Williams administration might have more in common with Williams’ 21st-century voting record than with the taxpayer Pledges that Maes and Williams have signed.

CUT’s website, http://coloradotaxpayer.org/, contains all of CUT’s annual newsletters, which detail the bills on which Rep. Williams was rated, her votes, and explanations of CUT’s position on those bills. The website also includes a list of all CUT Pledge signers, and a copy of current text the Pledge.

For further information or comment, please contact CUT President Marty Neilson, at 303-747-2159, or e-mail her at marty5539@gmail.com. Founded in 1976, the Colorado Union of Taxpayers is our state's long-serving advocate for taxpayers.

Annual Awards Breakfast

Please join us for this special event!

Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 9:00 AM, Registration 8:00 AM

Embassy Suites, 7525 E Hampden, Denver, CO 80231

Keynote: Jonathan Williams, Fiscal Task Force for American Legislative Exchange Council and one of the authors of Rich States, Poor States (with Stephen Moore and Arthur Laffer)

Presentation of Awards to 2010 Legislative Champions and Guardians

Cost: $20 per person. Deadline for reservations is Sep 22, 2010. Your check is your reservation.

Mail to Colorado Union of Taxpayers, PO Box 24594, Denver, CO 80224. Information: 303-759-9936 or 303-747-2159. www.coloradotaxpayer.org
 

Six Senators and One Representative Score 100% in "CUT Rates the 2010 Colorado Legislature"

This  year,  lots  of  politicians  are  claiming to be the taxpayer's friend.  A  report  released  today by the Colorado Union of Taxpayers  (CUT) shows   which  legislators  have  genuinely  taxpayer-friendly  voting records.

The  CUT annual scorecard is based on 25 key bills which were voted on by the full House and the full Senate.

This  year,  six Senators scored a perfect 100, earning them the title "Taxpayer  Champions":  Bill  Cadman,  Keith  King,  Mike  Kopp,  Scott Renfroe, Mark Scheffel, and David Schultheis. Rep. Kent Lambert also earned the Taxpayer Champion title, with a perfect voting record.

The  highest  scoring  Democrats  were  Senator  Gail Swartz (44%) and Representative  Wesley  McKinley  (50%)  who,  to their credit, bucked their  party  leadership  and  sided with the taxpayers about half the time.

The  lowest-scoring  Republicans  were  Senator  Ken  Kester (63%) and Representative Tom Massey  (71%.

The  12-page  CUT  newsletter  shows  every  key  vote for every state legislator,  and  explains  each of the 25 bills which were rated. The newsletter     is     available     free     on     CUT's     website, www.coloradotaxpayer.org.

For more information, contact CUT President Marty Neilson at 303-747-2159.

Founded  in  1976,  the  Colorado  Union  of  Taxpayers is our state's long-serving advocate for taxpayers.

Setting the Record Straight on TABOR

By Rep. B.J. Nikkel, R-Loveland
House District 49

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.
 

The Fiscal Irresponsibility Commission

By Marty Neilson

President of CUT

As a member of the state Long-term Fiscal Stability Commission, more aptly named by the minority, the Long-term Fiscal Irresponsibility Commission, here is the “rest of the story” from my view.

The Commission was a charade with predetermined agenda and outcomes set by the Chairman, Senator Rollie Heath. The charade encompassed eleven meetings where Commissioners were inundated with special interest groups and state bureaucrats claims of underfunded everything. Colorado citizens were relegated to one afternoon to make their claims of not enough or too much. Commissioners had no input into the agendas and were not privy to instructions given those who presented to the Commission. It was clear, however, the instructions were to declare their wish list in a perfect world.

The Commission failed miserably in its mission. The recommendations from the Commission all crafted by the Democrat majority do nothing to address the real issue of strategic planning for the long-term. Instead, the meetings were simply an opportunity for the state bureaucrats to come forward with requests for more dollars for each of their fiefdoms, the big six; K-12 education, higher education, health care policy and financing, corrections, human services, and judicial. Their Christmas wish list was an additional 9.271 BILLION more to be anted up by us taxpayer suckers! It was clear at the outset that the predetermined outcome of the Commission was to craft a “crisis” and come forward with their main recommendation to establish a “Fiscal Policy Constitutional Commission” to consist of unelected and unaccountable appointees to reach the conclusion that TABOR must go.

The other bills coming out of the Commission are more Democrat “act like we did something” bills: 1) allow more flexibility to institutions of higher education but not when it comes to setting tuition, 2) ask DU to do an “impartial” tax study (DU gave the recommendation for the Constitutional Commission and also gave us Referendum O), 3) set up a rainy day fund that will never get funded, 4) encourage private/public partnerships with non-profits. Partnerships with the business sector were sadly missing. Can you see how any of these address long-term fiscal stability for our state?

The elephant in the room “spending” was avoided like the plague! Any mention of too much spending fell on deaf ears! The Democrat majority had no stomach for saving. “We just don’t have the dollars right now” they all opined. Of course, they never will. The Committee Chairman, Senator Heath, scolded Colorado citizens for accepting TABOR refunds while he decreed that those dollars would have made a sizeable Rainy Day Fund. Does any sane individual believe that had it not been for us greedy taxpayers taking refunds, the legislature would have a $3 billion rainy day fund today? I have been watching the legislature for the past twenty-some years; and, Republican or Democrat controlled, they have never mustered up any stomach for saving. The cry is always for more dollars from taxpayers.

The 2009 election emphasized once again that Colorado taxpayers take seriously their right to vote on tax increases. The stunning defeat of tax increase measures in Greeley, Aurora, Colorado Springs, and even liberal Boulder sends a message to the Governor and his tax and spend majorities in the House and Senate. Families and businesses across Colorado are hurting. They must re-think priorities and adjust their budgets accordingly. Colorado government should be required to do the same. Colorado citizens are amused with the 9.271 billion Christmas wish list as they attempt to provide food and shelter for their families. Providing core functions; safety, infrastructure, education is government responsibility not attempting to be all things to all people. Implement priority-based budgeting with measured outcomes. Attack the ever-growing Medicaid spending by first conducting a full-fledged audit to smoke out fraud. Look to the successes of other states which have reformed their Medicaid systems, saved dollars, and provided better service to recipients. Competition in education would save dollars and give better results. It’s the spending!

The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) is a non-partisan taxpayer activist group whose mission is to help educate the public as to the dangers of excessive taxation, regulation, and government spending, thereby encouraging the reduction of taxes, regulations, and government spending.

"Kent Lambert named taxpayers' king." Westword. By Michael Roberts.