The campaign for No on C & D is sprinting to catch up in the yard sign wars. Below are four locations in Denver and southeast suburbs where you can get signs, starting Friday, Oct. 7. Notice the available times for each. "Call first" means don't stop by without checking by phone. Thank you for helping us defeat the tax increase.
Higher taxes? Obviously
By Brian Ochsner baochsner@aol.com Is Referendum C a tax increase? Well, to begin with, if it isn’t, why are Coloradoans voting on it? One of the great aspects of TABOR is that it makes government get voters’ approval for any future tax increases -- or anything that resembles one.
Ray Revenue mocked in radio ad
"Unless we panic the voters with false fears, the C & D tax increase is dead," two imaginary campaign strategists agree in a new radio ad that began airing on Sept. 28. Click to listen. The ad is entitled "Panic Button for Higher Taxes." It makes a serious point satirically, warning voters not to believe the sky will fall if politicians lose their bid for almost $6 billion in higher taxes and deeper debt under Referendum C & D. To do your part, click the volunteer button at right.
Taxers driven by Dracula syndrome?
By Brian Ochsner baochsner@aol.com Senator Sue Windels’ bright idea to raise taxes even more (see Ben DeGrow's scoop on this site a few days ago) confirmed my suspicions about the thought process of big-government Dems and Republicans.
I thought about what led to bureaucrats “needing” Ref. C & D for more government spending. When Amendment 23 and FasTax were passed, that gave big spenders renewed hope. This is probably what they said to themselves:
More taxes still, on top of Ref C? Windels wants'em
By Ben DeGrow (http://bendegrow.com/index.php?p=792)
DENVER - Amid a heated election contest to suspend taxpayer refunds, a leading Colorado Senate Democrat has moved forward in her plan to urge voters to adopt another tax increase to fund K-12 education.
At a Tuesday meeting, an Interim School Finance Committee composed of 10 state lawmakers agreed to proceed with crafting legislation recommending Colorado voters approve a new funding source to finance the state's schools. Committee chair Senator Sue Windels (D - Arvada) proposed the idea, which she styled as "Referendum E."
Windels said she would consider putting the measure on the statewide ballot in 2007.
Four committee members objected to forwarding Windels' idea for immediate action, including Senator Ron Tupa (D - Boulder), who cited the current contentious election battle over Referenda C and D as poor timing to raise the spectre of more taxes.
"I could see the Jon Caldaras of the world saying, 'Look, the government is out for more money,'" Tupa said. "My heart is with you, [Senator Windels], but my head just isn't."
On the ballot November 1, Referendum C asks voters to forfeit an estimated $3.7 billion in refunds under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) over the next five years and ratchets up the state government's spending forever. Referendum D, dependent on the passage of C, would authorize the state to borrow an additional $2.1 billion for transportation and school construction projects, and police and fire employee pension bailouts.
In a handout given to committee members and guests, Senator Windels described her proposed Referendum E as "Everyone's Effort for Equity and Excellence in Education." The plan calls for increased funding for full-day kindergarten and preschool with no price tag yet specified.
Senator Nancy Spence (R - Centennial) proposed that the committee should "craft a trade-off" by also endorsing the removal of Amendment 23 from the State Constitution.
Windels rejected the idea, stating that she did not want "to put K-12 on the chopping block" before voters make a decision on Referenda C and D.