Lasee Reintroduces TABOR Amendment

A Republican state representative has resurrected the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights, a proposed state constitutional amendment that would severely restrict the ability of governmental units to raise the resources they need to provide quality services.

Representative Frank Lasee said he was reintroducing the measure on Friday (April 15, 2005), the day that taxes are due, a ploy that WEAC President Stan Johnson said is further illustration of the fact that TABOR is nothing more than a public relations gimmick.

"We've been through this before," Johnson said. "Last year's effort to move this through the Legislature fizzled for lack of support. Most legislators and most citizens recognize that this is flawed and reckless fiscal policy that would devastate our schools, severely hamper the ability of local governments to provide essential services, and undermine local authority."

Lasee reintroduced the measure without the full support of leadership in the Assembly and Senate, both of which are controlled by Republicans.

Because it is a constitutional amendment, TABOR must pass both houses in consecutive two-year legislative sessions before moving to voters in a statewide referendum. The earliest a constitutional amendment could be sent to the voters is April 2007. The governor would not be given an opportunity to veto the measure.

WEAC is part of a large coalition that is opposed to TABOR and other gimmicks that would limit the ability of governmental bodies to raise necessary resources.

Four nonprofit organizations that are members of the coalition have created a toolkit with background information, in-depth analysis, talking points and other resources in preparation for another round of debate on the issue. The toolkit is available on the OnWEAC Members Only site.

OnWEAC Resource Page on Tax Gimmicks

Posted April 15, 2005