In a shocking display of journalism, Kyle Clark of 9News conducted a fairly fair fact check of the new ad supporting the bait and switch Prop HH and the false claim that it’s the only solution to rising property taxes, which are a byproduct of inflation and Bidenomics.
Just saw this Prop HH advertisement on TV tonight. You don’t need to look any further to find a list of people and organizations that want higher taxes and bigger government. Shame on you @denverpost for joining this group. #COPolitics #VoteNoOnPropHH pic.twitter.com/M4XVsZX0WR
— Watty Strickland (@wattystrick) October 19, 2023
Clark didn’t investigate the origins of the ad, but here’s the truths he did reveal.
The proponents of Colorado’s Prop HH tax measure managed to pack a lot of false and misleading claims into a 15-second ad. #copolitics pic.twitter.com/a4rzOSICTX
— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) October 19, 2023
It is indeed shockingly uncharacteristic of Clark to stand up to the old guard press and Jared Polis.
The whole point of Prop HH is to take away our TABOR tax refunds. Vote NO and then tell the Governor to call a special session to actually fix our property tax crisis. #copolitics #coleg pic.twitter.com/6j5OkFwNY1
— Michael Fields (@MichaelCLFields) October 18, 2023
But the 9News conversion didn’t last long. Just seconds, to be exact.
A report followed by Marshall Zelinger taking to task a mailer that grabbed voters’ attention because it was styled after a blank check from the non-existent Office of Taxpayer Bill of Rights Refunds (TABOR) in the amount of zero.
Zelinger warns the core 9News audience before they fall for the check and immediately rush out to cash it in order to collect zero dollars and zero cents:
“Do not be fooled by the fake check from the fake office of taxpayers Bill of Rights refunds it is not from the Colorado Department of revenue. It is a political mailer from Americans for Prosperity.”
How would voters know that? Because it says so on the return address who sent the political mailer. And, citizens of Planet Earth have grown accustomed over the decades to mail adverts that look like checks but are obviously fake.
This fact check goes on to quibble about the mailer supporting a no vote on Prop HH …
“That’s the ballot issue that would reduce the increase in your property tax in return for allowing the state to keep and spend more money each year which would reduce future TABOR refunds. Is it accurate to say TABOR tax refunds will be zero? No. Is it possible future TABOR refunds will be zero? Yes.”
“If HH passes, the state will be allowed to keep and spend more money than is currently allowed, and that’s money that would normally be refunded back to you.”
Voters would just do well to remind themselves that tax cuts do not require their approval at the ballot box, only tax increases do.