We'll play along this morning with Senate President Brandon Shaffer's BS, where he claims he hasn't decided he's running for Congress yet, despite the fact that he has told his Washington-master and Nancy Pelosi's deputy, Steny Hoyer, that he's already committed to the race. We'll put that aside for the moment because it doesn't matter on the issue of the day — TABOR. The legal assault on the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) is a state issue and one in which Shaffer needs to take a position, and action, as part of his current job.
He can't claim he's going on a family vacation in mid-June and will mull over his position on TABOR. He needs to act now. House and Senate Republicans have sent Shaffer a letter requesting he use his power as Chair of the Executive Committee of Legislative Council to call a meeting of the Executive Committee. Shaffer needs to a) call a meeting and allow discussion of what role the General Assembly can play in literally defending the Colorado Constitution OR b) reject the calling of a meeting and explain why.
Often times the phrase "defend the Constitution" is tossed around as political rhetoric when it doesn't really describe the issue at hand. But in this case, that is exactly what the General Assembly would be doing. Even if Shaffer wasn't seeking a promotion from Colorado voters, as the leader of the Senate, Shaffer has a responsibility to take decisive action on the TABOR lawsuit.
The lawsuit against TABOR strikes at the very heart of the Colorado Constitution and the interaction citizens have with Colorado's government. The suit, if it were to succeed, would fundamentally reshape the role the General Assembly has in lawmaking and its relationship to the citizens of the state. The fact that it has such an all encompassing impact on the General Assembly makes it clear the General Assembly must debate and discuss the issue in the light of day.
We wonder if the lawsuit was filed after the legislative session ended with liberals hoping they'd be able to keep their political brethren currently serving in the Capitol from having to take a public position or stance. That is not acceptable.
What kind of legislative branch does Brandon Shaffer want to preside over in the upper chamber? He owes it to the people of Colorado to allow that discussion at the Executive Committee. We're all ears Brandon. What say you?
“Fenster’s Folly” –
the anti-TABOR lawsuit filed by “superlawyer” Herb Fenster and supported by a litany of the usual suspects – is completely without legal merit.
The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled – conclusively – that the “Republican form of government” language in the Constitution’s “Guarantee Clause” is non-justiciable (i.e. NOT subject to decision by courts).
Fenster (and the other plaintiffs) know this, which qualifies this lawsuit as “frivolous and groundless.” Nonetheless, Colorado taxpayers will have to spend thousands defending against this legal farce and abuse of the courts.
Colorado taxpayers should pursue collection of all attorneys fees and costs from the plaintiffs for this frivolous and groundless lawsuit…
http://www.clearthebenchcolora…
one could make the argument CTB is also “frivolous and groundless” too
can’t we get this stuff deleted? Go pimp your website somewhere else.
come on Peak, don’t expect too much from a dimwit like him.
You forget that Shaffer was the primary sponsor of the proposed referendum that was an assault on TABOR–SCR11-001. He doesn’t support TABOR and NEVER has! My bet: he’ll either ignore the request and come up with a lame excuse to cover his tail.
Senate Resolution 1 would have made it just as hard to repeal TABOR as it would have been to change the rest of the constitution. It should be easier to change statute than the constitution.