As usual, Democrats are losing their minds over something they created. See campaign finance reform. The latest comes from the outsized reaction to S.B. 09-108, which gave the Colorado Department of Transportation the ability to sign agreements with private entities that wanted to toll U.S. 36. In exchange for building and maintaining toll lanes on U.S. 36, companies would get to collect tolls on the roads.
Liberals are going crazy because they think this was the brainchild of a terrible (horrible!) alliance between former state Rep. Glenn Vaad. But, there’s a problem – this was their bill.
First, a columnist from the Boulder Daily Camera, Ann Butterfield, went nuts because a private company would receive a 50-year contract and because, supposedly, this was the brain child of American Legislative Exchange Council member Rep. Glenn Vaad. Good God, it almost sounds like ALEC would be going door-to-door to collect tolls from the residents of Boulder County.
Then, 14 Democrats sent a letter to CDOT expressing their concern. These 14 included: Senators Matt Jones D-Longmont, Rollie Heath, D-Boulder, Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton, Jesse Ulibarri, D-Commerce City, and Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, and Representatives Mike Foote, D-Lafayette, Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, D-Boulder, K.C. Becker, D-Boulder, Cherylin Peniston, D-Westminster, Tracy Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada, Joe Salazar, D-Thornton, Dianne Primavera, D-Broomfield, Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont, and Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City. A truly bipartisan crowd.
Then, CDOT quickly agreed to talk with them about their concern. The irony of the situation is that this law, also known as FASTER, was the brain child not of Glenn Vaad, but of Democratic Governor Bill Ritter and the Democrat-controlled legislature as a way to raise taxes by masquerading them as car registration fees to avoid TABOR limitations and a vote of the people. FASTER dramatically raised the fees that all Coloradans pay to register their vehicles and was sponsored by a who’s who of Democratic legislators. It was opposed by Republicans, and subsequently challenged in court as a violation of TABOR. Unfortunately the Denver District Court issued a partisan decision that held FASTER was constitutional. That decision is being appealed.
So, to recap, fourteen Democrats are freaking out about provisions of a bill that was originated by Democrat Governor Bill Ritter, and sponsored by no fewer than 32 Democratic legislators. A bill, incidentally, that was also opposed by every Republican (edited to add: except Al White) in the Capitol at the time. And yet, according to the Boulder Daily Camera’s columnist it was written solely for the benefit the right-leaning ALEC? Is this train of thought just another unintended consequence of the new recreational marijuana laws?
Both Heath and Hullinghorst, who are among the 14 Democrats hitting the freakout button, sponsored SB09-108 in 2009. Didn’t they actually read it the first time? Did they read it when they defended it in the Supreme Court?
There are MANY reasons why this is a BAD idea. I really feel that the Democrats in Co. are out of control and need to be STOPPED.
I don't pay my taxes… oh that's right… I'm homeless..
Theft by liberal taxation against the citizens of Colorado and all commuters that need to travel H36 daily. A TOLL TAX going each way. Just like OBAMACARE. "We need to pass this bill so we can see what is in it". Secrecy and jobs that go to Australian workers first. Wake up and stop the liveral liberals taking our money for their use's that THEY deem are good. God Save America…….God Save our Colorado from these thieves and crooks.
Craig Bonnot ,when are you people going to be satisfied with the amount of tax money stolen from the citizens?.What happened to ref C? we were told that was for roads and bridges and it was voted in.Tabor is ,as the left loves to say,the law of the land and was set up to help PROTECT TAXPAYERS,which you must not be one,or you are so elitist that you dont pay any taxes.How about 99 % of my wages? would thart satisfy the fucking gubmints need for cash? HELL NO,they would bitch because I was selfish with my 1 % I guess all your education never taught you anything about history and the will of the people mean nothing to you.Enjoy your economic slavery bitch.
Of course they did. They want to improve the infrastructure in the State. There isn’t enough money to do that because of TABOR, and the Democrats don’t believe voters will approve any statewide tax hikes (a valid assumption considering it’s never happened except with sin taxes).
I sent an email to the Governor’s Office last night. I got a form letter in response. It included this as the rational “With our state’s fiscal constraints, this agreement is a tool for Colorado to stay competitive. If we cannot use tax dollars, either through TABOR or voters' unwillingness to approve an increase, this is one way to provide needed infrastructure improvements to our highways and bridges.”
I honestly don’t care about this in regards to 36. As the Governor’s form letter points out:
When complete, US 36 will be a state-of-the-art facility for Colorado, providing more travel choices than any other highway in the state. Commuters will have the option of:
• Taking the new, rapid transit buses in a dedicated lane, without congestion
• Carpooling in a new, managed lane for free
• If driving without a passenger, taking the managed lane to get to a destination faster by paying a toll
• Biking
• Taking one of the two existing general purpose lanes for free
This is all well and good. Based on this, commuters should have ample options when traveling to and from Boulder. However, I also came across this article which clearly states:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/politics/controversial-privatized-toll-lanes-coming-to-us-36-between-denver-and-boulder
CDOT said toll lanes, which they call "managed lanes," are also planned on I-25 from Denver to Ft. Collins, I-70 through the metro area from I-25 to Tower Road, I-70 from Idaho Springs to Vail and C-470
Commuters on these roads will not have the option to ride a bus or bicycle to their destination. They will be forced to either pay an exorbitant toll or sit in grid lock forever.
You can blame the Democrat’s for this all you want, but the fact is we wouldn’t be talking about this now is TABOR wasn’t law in this state. Until we finally do something about the twin evils of TABOR and unchecked population growth, Colorado will continue to deal with more traffic problems and fewer solutions.
http://www.mountainstateslegal.org/cases/all-cases/tabor-foundation-v.-colorado-bridge-enterprise
Craig Bonnot. The Dems pushed this law through!
Craig Bonnot, see he pasted this law?