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September 22, 2009 09:40 PM UTC

State Budget is Screwed Until At Least 2011

  • 17 Comments
  • by: cunninjo

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

I have noticed many of you here on ColoradoPols making various suggestions on how to fix the state budget. These ideas include a new ‘Ref-C’ type of ballot initiative, raising taxes and even calling for a constitutional convention. All of these require a ballot initiative. It’s just too bad it will be 2012 before anything will begin to patch our constitutional holes.

Legally, any ballot initiative whether it’s a new Ref-C, raising taxes or a constitutional convention cannot be placed on the ballot until November of 2010, and won’t go into effect until 2011. It would do nothing to help us in the current crisis.

Politically, the Democratic establishment WILL NOT support ANY controversial ballot initiative on the 2010 ballot. This is because they don’t want candidates to have to take a position on say a tax increase, nor do they want to spend money campaigning for such a measure in an extremely important election year (Can you say redistricting?). I know this from firsthand experience with a ballot initiative that I wrote this past spring. November of 2011 is the soonest any viable progressive measure will appear on a ballot.

In regards to what such a measure should look like, I have yet to hear any legitimate achievable ideas.

An extension of Ref-C will do exactly what Ref-C did. It will provide a temporary fix and after 3 years we will be calling for a new fix. What’s the point in spending so much time and money on a short-term solution.

I think a constitutional convention would go a long way. However, Republicans will never go along with it unless they are in power. Moderate voters would likely fear the politicization of the state constitution. I just don’t see enough people voting for it.

Tax increases will certainly help back-fill many of the cuts made, but Colorado voters typically shoot down any tax increase unless it has a specific purpose (i.e. FasTracks, TRex, etc). Simply saying ‘we need to increase state revenues’ will not be sufficient to pass on the ballot. Additionally, increasing taxes only solves the revenue problem. It does not solve contradictions in our state constitution and, again, will only be a temporary fix.

Personally, I think it will take many individuals with a whole lot of political courage to push for radical constitutional reform. In other words, we need to get rid of TABOR, specifically the requirement of voter-approved tax increases. We must restore some flexibility in the legislature and allow them to do the job we’ve hired them to do.

My suggestion to Ritter is to ignore the balanced budget requirement in the Constitution and say, that in his duty to protect the best interests of Colorado residents, the constitutional requirements bestowed on the state government are unachievable.

Why not? They’ve never met the Amendment 23 requirement to adequately fund K-12 education. If they can ignore that then why not ignore other requirements.  

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17 thoughts on “State Budget is Screwed Until At Least 2011”

    1. Ritter can just put a tax increase on the ballot – Ritter Chief of Staff

      I thought thousands of people (citizens and others aka ILLEGALS) were going without healthcare, lacking education, being kicked to the curb at Fort Logan, being furloughed … the state is in a free fall, etc…

      And all he can think about is how he keeps his own job???? because you know raising money for a “tax increase” would compete with funding to get re-elected too.

      David, you are so wrong on so many levels.  You sit where I sit everyday, and tell me that Gov. Ritter can just put a tax increase on the ballot this fall, find the money to fund a campaign to convince Coloradans to increase taxes on themselves in the midst of the worst economic downturn since the 1930’s, and expect that it succeeds.

      1. You highlight in bold groups of words that prove what?  That you really think Ritter can just put a tax increase on the ballot this fall?

        It is the anti-government fools like you that scream that government costs too much but when even in difficult times, Ritter remains pragmatic about cutting spending rather than raising taxes you go nuts asserting that he is going to raise taxes.  What goofy dishonesty.

    1. I’m not sure where this came from, but I believe you have me confused with someone else (perhaps JO from SquareState? That’s not me)

      Anyways, I’m glad you liked it.

  4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…

    Rep. Joel Judd has some great ideas in this post on the Huffington Post Denver. It is time to get rid of all these corporate tax loopholes in Colorado. The amount of money that closing these loopholes would raise is substantial. This is the kind of reform Democrats be they liberal moderate and conservative can unite in supporting.  

    1. I agree completely with Rep. Judd about closing tax loopholes. But as he mentioned in his post, many Democrats fold to pressure from groups like the Small Business Association, the Downtown Partnership and the Chamber of Commerce. All of which would likely take issue with changing the corporate tax code.

      We can only hope, and make phone calls.

       

      1. Good thing he’s term limited.

        Ahhh, there’s one good thing about term limits: those legislators are finally able to stand up and take on the issues instead of side-stepping them.

      2. Cut tax loopholes that do nothing for our State’s economy.

        Or, cut social service programs that provide care for those most in need.

        If Democrats act like Democrats the right thing will be done.

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