CUT's Positions in 2009

KEY VOTE: HB09-1001

Concerning the creation of an income tax credit to incentivize Colorado job growth.

CUT opposes HB09-1001. Government interference in the free market always spells disaster. This bill creates a new commission (bureaucracy), specifies wages without consideration of real market wages, and attempts to implement through complicated and creative accounting a tax credit for certain employers who meet certain criteria.

CUT believes this bill's attempt to create jobs in a down economy is woefully ill-conceived. The free market will create jobs when the benefits of the marketplace are there. Government intervention just adds bureaucrats and false economies.

CUT urges a NO vote for HB09-1001.

KEY VOTE: HB09-1034

Concerning authorization for a Regional Transportation Authority to impose property tax.

CUT opposes HB09-1034. Currently, regional governments need to seek legislative approval to add a tax issue to the ballot. We believe that should remain as it might mitigate or prevent a larger, dominant area (county) from imposing a public policy/tax change on less powerful areas that are within the defined region.

CUT believes this giving up of authority to an RTA might shut out citizens who are prevented a forum locally when attempting to disclose shenanigans.

CUT urges a NO vote for HB09-1034.

KEY VOTE: HB09-1273

Concerning creation of a health care authority to develop a health care system that shall be the administrator for health care services in Colorado.

CUT opposes HB09-1273. This bill creates yet another state bureaucracy which will attempt to convert Colorado to a single-payer health care system. We strongly oppose socialized medicine.

CUT believes this bill, though, disguised as merely a study has a pre-determined outcome which is single-payer health care. Colorado will be spending time and resources on a "study" and ignoring the real health care issue of continually rising costs.

CUT urges a NO vote for HB09-1273.

KEY VOTE:  HB09-1288

Concerning the creation of a searchable database web site related to state finances, and, in connection therewith,

                                                                                           enacting the "Colorado Taxpayer Transparency Act".                                                                                   

CUT supports HB09-1288.  This bill will require the chief information officer of the office of information technology in the office of the governor to create and maintain a searchable budget database website, which shall include revenue and expenditure data from the state financial warehouse.  This will enable taxpayers to review on line how taxpayer dollars are spent and on which specific programs. 

CUT believes transparency in government is ever more required as the struggle for more and more taxpayer dollars continues.  Taxpayers will now be aware of just what kind of steward the State is of our dollars.

CUT urges a YES vote for HB09-1288.

KEY VOTE:  HB09-1293

Concerning hospital provider fee, and, in connection therewith, authorizing the Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing to charge and collect a hospital provider fee, specifying the allowable uses of the fees, requiring a post-enactment review of the implementation of this act, and making an appropriation in connection therewith.

CUT opposes  HB09-1293.  This is a tax without a vote of the people in direct violation of the State Constitution and TABOR.  Calling a tax a "fee" to skirt the constitution is not becoming of our state legislators who have sworn to uphold the State Constitution. 

CUT believes this bill's establishment of the hospital provider fee oversight and advisory board further expands an already too large state bureaucracy.  In addition, the bill also expands the eligibility for a taxpayer funded entitlement.

CUT urges a NO vote for HB09-1293.

KEY VOTE: SB09-068

Concerning funding to support domestic abuse services, and, in connection therewith, allocating a portion of the funding to assist military members and their families and making an appropriation.

CUT believes this bill is another tax disguised as a fee. The Legislature is blatantly robbing taxpayers to fund programs and projects when, in fact, it should be allocating available funds to those programs and projects most deserving.

CUT urges a NO vote for SB09-068.

KEY VOTE: SB09-088

Concerning the extension of state employee group benefits to domestic partners of state employees.

CUT opposes SB09-088. Colorado citizens have rejected at the ballot box giving homosexuals the benefits of traditional marriage. This bill ignores the will of citizens and conspicuously excludes heterosexuals who cohabitate outside of marriage the same benefits it proposes for homosexuals.

CUT believes this bill has nothing to do with attracting workers; but, is pandering to a special interest. During this time of budget constraints, offering additional benefits to a singled-out special group is very irresponsible.

CUT urges a NO vote for SB09-088.

KEY VOTE: SB09-228

Concerning an increase in the flexibility of the General Assembly to determine the appropriate use of state revenues.

CUT opposes SB09-228. This bill will illegally remove the 6% spending limit imposed by Arveschoug-Bird and put general fund spending on auto-pilot to grow ad infinitum funding more and more pet entitlement programs. This bill violates the spirit of TABOR and the will of Colorado citizens who repeatedly support spending limits.

CUT believes removing the spending limit will encourage Colorado to go the way of California and spend itself into bankruptcy.

CUT urges a NO vote for SB09-288.

KEY VOTE: SB09-273

Concerning changes in the laws governing Pinnacol Assurance to allow the State to make use of certain funds authorized by statute to be collected by Pinnacol Assurance, and, in connection therewith, augmenting state revenues by requiring the transmittal of certain surplus funds of Pinnacol Assurance to the State Treasury and clarifying the laws governing Pinnacol Assurance's funds.

CUT opposes SB09-273. This bill would allow the State to raid and confiscate funds from a mutual insurance company established to serve Colorado employers. This could set precedence for the State to seize assets from other private entities.

CUT believes this bill would cause premiums to increase and benefits to diminish for Colorado businesses purchasing workers' compensation coverage for their employees. This bill is especially onerous for Colorado small businesses.

CUT urges a NO vote for SB09-273.

December 2008

To Colorado Legislators:  How you’ll be rated in the 2009 Session

The Colorado Union of Taxpayers has rated the votes of State Legislators for 32 years.  Our rating scorecards may be found on our website at “coloradotaxpayer.org”. 

Because our ratings are based partially on bills for which we have been unable to take a position in advance, several elected officials have asked about our rating guidelines.  We use our “Pledge to the Citizens of Colorado,” as a guide when our own Ratings Committee recommends the list of bills to be considered.   The pledge is available on our website.  Here is a summary of our principles: 

Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.  The past election confirmed that a majority of Coloradoans agree with TABOR.  Please be sensitive to the hype about the relationship of state budget problems to TABOR.  In the 2009 session, it will be important to investigate how to prioritize money better and more efficiently, including programs for Medicare, higher education, and more. 

New Taxes.  Government has enough of the citizens’ funds.  Look for alternatives and private solutions, not just more and bigger government.  Oppose any new net tax increase. 

Prioritize Spending.  Work smarter to shift spending from low-value programs to the highest priorities, and do not fund new spending with new taxes.

Education.  Please continue to allow parents the freedom to choose quality educational alternatives such as charter schools and vouchers to create competition and improve student performance at a lower cost.

Privatize.  Support constitutional measures to further privatization of government organizations and functions where appropriate, and to make them more efficient and less expensive.

Property Rights.  Defend private property rights from "takings" by government.

Spending Limits. Limit government spending to the growth of Colorado population and inflation.   Resist increasing or redefining fees to gain more taxpayer funding.  

Payroll Deductions.  Oppose unauthorized payroll deductions that are used for political purposes.

Petition Rights.  Support each citizen’s right to petition with rules as non-restrictive as possible. 

The November elections appeared to signal that Colorado’s voters prefer more efficient government to higher taxes.  CUT will continue to review legislative actions according to the above principles, and the 2009 ratings will reflect how closely the legislators follow these basic tenets to support Colorado taxpayers.

March 2, 2009

Republican Central Committee

House District 51

Dear Republican Leader:

You are part of a group of community leaders that placed Don Marostica on the ballot and then worked to elect him.  You sent him to the Capitol with the understanding that he would protect your liberties and would honor your independence and personal responsibility.  You are likely the best political pressure point to insist that Rep. Marostica retract a current policy proposal with terrible consequences.

The issue is whether to remove an internal control on how fast the legislature may grow the day-to-day operations of state government.  It’s known as “Arveschoug-Bird,” or the 6% spending limit.  To put this into perspective, please consider that California has no such limit, and can deficit-spend.  California’s state budget crisis is $42 Billion; if you adjust for its larger population, Colorado by comparison would have a $7 Billion budget crisis.  Instead, we have only $600 million (and only 1/3 is actual cuts, the rest is an increase the legislature counted on, but did not materialize).  So, for every $1 problem our legislature faces with Arveschoug-Bird in place, California has a $12 problem.  And Don Marostica is the House sponsor of a new measure (SB09-228) to move all of us closer to the situation in California.  Wasn’t he paying attention last fall when the voters turned down Amendment 59, the last attack on TABOR?

There’s also the arrogant refusal to follow his oath to be guided by the state constitution.  That foundational document rightly demands that significant changes in tax and spend go before a vote of the people, and for more than 16 years that interpretation has stood.  Rep. Marostica’s legislation would ignore the requirement, and SB228 intends the legislature to override your constitution.  It invites yet another expensive citizen lawsuit and thwarts the intent of TABOR’s proponents.

Man is not free unless government is limited.  There’s a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: as government expands, liberty contracts.  Ronald Reagan.

Frequently in stable economic times, TABOR allows the government to spend hundreds of millions of dollars above the operating costs covered by Arveschoug-Bird.  These funds purchase highway and bridge improvements and maintenance and improvements to university and state buildings.  If Rep. Marostica removes the internal spending control, there will be less available for transportation and other permanent assets.  Then, tax increases will be demanded.

A second, also dangerous bill (SB09-208), of which Rep. Marostica is a sponsor, will raid almost every existing state cash fund.  Unfortunately, this bill has already passed and will soon be on its way to the Governor for signature.

We look to your leadership to rein in your state representative’s mistaken steps.  Rep. Marostica will hold a town hall meeting in Loveland, March 14.   I hope that you will engage the debate. 

Yours for liberty,

Marty Neilson