Victory for progressives in Colorado!!!

[rockymountaindem]

Last night our state passed a referendum supporting a suspension of the "Tax Payer's Bill of Rights" which was suffocating our state budget. From the Denver Post:

"Colorado residents have voted to suspend their Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, the strictest government spending limit in the nation, and give up more than $3 billion in tax refunds to help the state bounce back from a recession.

Fiscal conservatives were dismayed at the outcome Tuesday night and worried about its impact on other states considering similar spending limits.

But supporters said Colorado couldn't afford to vote no, not with higher education, health care and transportation already suffering from millions of dollars in budget cuts.

Douglas Bruce, an anti-tax crusader who wrote the 1992 Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, said Colorado voters caved in to government pressure."

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_3174790

Voters in Westminster also rejected a move by Wal-Mart to rezone land so they could expand there.

If we can make it in Colorado, we can make it anywhere. Take heart, and good luck in California, Virginia and New Jersey next week!

[Squatch]

1. Didn't they also legalize weed?

[Touchdown]

3. Only in Denver.

...up to an ounce of posession over 21 years old.

[Zhade]

21. Nice to see some SANITY regarding the beneficial herb!

Go Denver!

[GetTheRightVote]

2. Good work and way to go CO !!!!

:kick:

[expatriot]

4. Yes! we need to add some strength to the public sector....

before Norquist's dream of "drowning it in a bathtub" is realized.

[rockymountaindem]

5. Well, we gave it a serious body blow last night.

And, I might add, it's the first time I ever voted!

I should mention that the companion referendum, Ref. D, did not pass. That would have allowed the state to take out 1.8 billion in loans for transportation projects. On the one hand, I'm not a fan of government borrowing in light of what Bush has done on that front. On the other hand, I'm afraid that will allow conservatives to trumpet their pet issue of toll roads, which in this state have been very unpopular (I think E-470 is the only one in the state). I'm ambivalent about that one, but I sort of fear the consequences either way.

[BanzaiBonnie]

6. I especially like what the anti-tax CRUSADER had to say

Douglas Bruce, an anti-tax crusader who wrote the 1992 Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, said Colorado voters caved in to government pressure."


Because WE are the government --- of, by and for THE PEOPLE --- does he mean the people caved in to themselves?

[rockymountaindem]

7. Bruce. Is. A. Tool.

In fact, he's like the biggest tool there is. If like, Sean Hannity is a wrench, Bruce is a frikkin' jackhammer. His lawsuits against city tax initiatives often cost the city more money to defend against than they would have raised with whatever tax they were proposing. He also spent 15 days in jail one time for contempt of court. I guess he didn't connect with the downtrodden while he was in there.

Oh, he's also a slumlord on the local news' "landlord hall of shame". And he's an El Paso county comissioner!

[Traveling_Home]

8. What?

I've had trouble following this from the beginning and I've lived in Colorado for 30+ years (native born but moved away).

Republican Gov Bill Owens wanted this. It simply insures more development. The second largest contributor was the company that supplies material for more road building and who had gotten $70 million in state contracts in the last 2(?) years. Nursing Homes contibuted money. Let's support Nursing Homes instead of MiCassa legislation? NO-WRONG. Lot's of Pork in Colorado's budget. How is passing this other than a lesson in how not to look behind the curtain. Wait till we get to see what they are gonna do to the western slope's oil shale (oil sands like in Canada) and how we can now expand.

Go Denver on the marijuana passage, Boo on Colorado for passing C.

This wasn't progressive or specific projects (e.g. environment) would have been tied to spending. We gave them a free ticket to spend however the politico want.

Bad Colorado

[rockymountaindem]

9. Well, the Democrats unanimously supported this

And the Democratic controlled legislature has promised to spend the money for health care, college tuition and public education, in addition to transportation projects. The alternative, as I said above, is a continued push for private roads, which would be the worst possible option for the environment and Colorado drivers.

[Traveling_Home]

11. No - the alternative would

have been for the politicos (Dem and Repub) to say we want $100 million for roads - ok?; we want $300 million for education - ok? Instead they (Dems and Repubs) said give us $3 billion and trust us to spend it right and we promise to spend it on roads, etc.

It's like trusting a used car saleman who promises to fix the steering but won't put it in writing.

The Dems (fools in Colorado) might have all been for it, but what happens in 3 years if, as is traditional in Colorado, the Repubs get the control back. The money is still spent by the Joint Budget Committee (and yes I have testified to them - many years ago) - only then Colorado Congress will be Repub control. Think the money will just go back to Tabor when they're in charge?

Bad Colorado. Trusting Politicians. We all should know better. They are lower than used car salesman and almost all of them are attornies to boot. Sure - I trust them.

[rockymountaindem]

12. That's what Ref. D was about in part

And to be fair, the people who supported C also supported the restrictions of D. And secondly, the idea of this website is that we do trust Democratic politicians, at least in principle. If your whole game is to discredit politicians in general, I don't think you'll find a lot of support here.

[Traveling_Home]

13. So maybe I'll be censored

So far I haven't been restricted by saying that at times I think Dems are as stupid as Repubs, especially when as in Colorado they trust Gov. Bill Owens, Republican. I think our Democratic Party in Colorado needs some radical restructuring instead of just following the DLC.

If you think I should be censored for it go ahead. I'm sure I'll be told how I should rephrase it better and learn from that. In the mean time I reiterate that I am not convinced by your argument that it's ok for the Dems in Colorado to forget that Bill Owens was the man behind the curtain, that the Chamber of Commerce donated the most to C, that the road builder who got $70million in contracts was they second biggest contributor to C, that the NH industry that imprisons people with disabilities supported it instead of supporting MiCassa legisation. And I'll continue to rail at my Democratic Party, not support the DLC, and I guess not support YOUR Democratic Party.

Boo on Colorado.

[paulk]

15. RE: Bill Owens - so we should listen assholes like John Caldera and

Douglas Bruce instead???????

and as someone who voted for C, I don't appreciate being called stupid...

[Traveling_Home]

16. Read it and Weep

and pay - I'll pay too. It's my money - I earned the right to bitch at my government when they're treating us as fools.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5242365&mesg_id=5255046

[paulk]

17. and John Andrews, another fine model

for the anti - C & D crowd.

You do know that most of that refund had already been given away by Owens and the (previously) Republican statehouse, didn't you? Given away to their business friends and political supporters? That wasn't in the ads the Libertarian pinheads who opposed this ran, was it?

"It's my money" - typical selfish right wing logic


I'm with RMD - it's really strange to see sentiments like your's on this website.

[Traveling_Home]

19. Did you read the article from Channel 7?

I provided the link before but here it is again

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/5236337/detail.html

AS far as "You do know that most of that refund had already been given away by Owens and the (previously) Republican statehouse, didn't you?"

Yes and I would have been far more comfortable if they had rescinded some of those giveaways (since we now have control in the statehouse) prior to asking me for more money!

[WI_DEM]

10. Some people are beginning to realize that the only way we can

have quality education for our kids and improve our infrastructure is to pay for it--it's not going to do it on it's own. Good job, Colorado.

[Traveling_Home]

14. Progressive???? - Wanna buy a lump of coal?

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/5236337/detail.html

DENVER -- One day after voters agreed to let the state keep an extra $3.7 billion in taxes to bounce back from a recession, Democrats and Republicans were already disagreeing on how to spend it.

GOP Gov. Bill Owens said the money should be used to shore up transportation, fix crumbling schools, hold down college tuition increases and strengthen police and fire pensions.

Democrats said the state should restore Medicaid programs and help create jobs that will allow people to help themselves.

Both sides warned it could be years before voters know what programs are restored.
<snip>

==========================
I still do not buy that this was a progressive victory of any kind. I guess they'll make me pay for it even if I don't 'buy' it.

[rockymountaindem]

18. I still don't get it. I'd support any of those initiatives.

For once Owens isn't being a jackass because he's acting like a Democrat. I mean, when was the last time you heard a "mainstream" Repub. talk about holding down college tuition and improving pensions for public servants. Besides, one of the reasons I voted for it was to help my friends in Colorado universities.

Arguing over how to spend the extra money is fine with me. Let them debate it and come up with the best solution. Besides, we hold the legislature. I'm not worried.

I still don't see what your problem is.

[Traveling_Home]

20. OK

Time will tell - doesn't matter at this point. C passed and at least for now D didn't pass.

I don't like that it will be two years before we will know how the money has been spent according to the article. THat's OK.

I can live with it. Sorry if I offended you by disagreeing with you and not seeing passing C as progressive. No sarcasm just poorly worded.

;-)