The devil is in the details behind all the weekend media headlines proclaiming equal TABOR refunds, but only if voters approve Prop HH that is disguised as a property tax cut.
It’s a con job that would make Charles Ponzi proud.
The last hour bill comes as the legislative session grinds to a close today. It came with zero review or input from the public and most of your elected lawmakers.
The bill — sponsored by Democratic Reps. Chris deGruy Kennedy and Mike Weissman, as well as Democratic Sens. Chris Hansen and Nick Hinrichsen — was immediately heard Saturday afternoon in the House Appropriations Committee, where it passed on a 6-4, party-line vote. The measure’s introduction was such a surprise that the bill wasn’t posted on the legislature’s website when the committee hearing began.
Republicans in the House said they had no idea House Bill 1311 was coming and were furious. “Buckle your seatbelt,” said Rep. Rod Bockenfeld, a Watkins Republican, signaling the GOP will mount major opposition of the legislation.
🚨BREAKING🚨
❌HB1311 – limited to 1 hour@COHouseDem intro’d 1311 mere hours ago & just invoked RULE 14 to limit debate.
There’s been no time for stakeholdering, analysis, or public testimony from citizens.
Rushed legislation = bad governance for Colorado! #CoPolitics #coleg pic.twitter.com/ZTJV5mQqrf
— Colorado House Republicans (@COHouseGOP) May 7, 2023
It’s essentially a bribe of poorer taxpayers to give them more of other people’s TABOR refund for one year, in exchange for voting against a property tax increase that’s disguised as a temporary cut.
Democrats claim they wanted to make TABOR more equitable this year giving everyone the same refund, no matter how much they earned.
But that’s only for one year, then the TABOR refund slides downhill over an annual scale that will eliminate it altogether, screwing taxpayers of all incomes.
As for the property “tax cut,” it increases property taxes, just not as much as expected in this hyper inflated economy, and only for 10 years. Meanwhile, localities and school boards can still continue to raise property taxes. So … not a cut.
To no Democrat’s shame, including Gov. Polis who devised this whole scheme, grabbing even more taxes from Coloradans’ paychecks to jack up government spending will continue to inflate the economy and drive-up prices while taking away the people’s money who need it to keep up with government-caused inflation.
In short, it’s extortion and an attack on TABOR that will inflict even more economic damage to the state.
Republicans just don’t have the numbers to stop this con job from passing the Democrat-controlled legislature before the session ends tonight.
It will be up to advocacy and consumer protection groups to educate the people to vote down Prop HH.
No, they look to permanently end TABOR tax refunds for everyone with Prop HH. We’ll make sure Coloradans know. #copolitics #coleg https://t.co/A7uJaNxAxZ
— Michael Fields (@MichaelCLFields) May 6, 2023
Then the legislature will have to call a special session to issue a more reasonable cap on property taxes without making every Coloradan suffer for it.
The inflated property taxes, after all, were caused by out-of-control government spending in the wake of COVID, in which the economic damage was done by forcing so many Colorado businesses to close.
More taxes and more spending will not solve the problem.