April 27, 2007 09:33 PM UTC

Dueling Memos

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: Ritter says that Suthers told him weeks ago that he wouldn’t seek his own opinion.

Governor Bill Ritter and Attorney General John Suthers have been engaged in a duel today over Ritter’s plan to freeze property tax rates in order to fund public schools, with memos being the weapons of choice.

The dueling memos are available after the jump…

ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN SUTHERS

Click here for the memo (PDF)

GOVERNOR BILL RITTER

Gov. Bill Ritter today issued the following statement in response to Attorney General John Suthers’ memo regarding the school finance stabilization plan:

“Stabilizing Colorado’s school funding formula, and thereby protecting the rest of the state’s General Fund, is the right thing to do for Colorado’s future. It is sound public policy and it stands on solid Constitutional ground.

“The nonpartisan Office of Legislative Legal Services has reviewed this issue twice, in 2004 and again in 2007. My legal office as well as numerous TABOR and education-funding experts also have scrutinized this plan over the past two months. They all have come to the exact opposite conclusion that the attorney general has reached.

“This debate has been going on for weeks. A bipartisan group of Coloradans from every corner of this state has expressed its support and enthusiasm. The attorney general’s argument, issued in an unsolicited and 12th-hour opinion, is flawed, and his timing is suspect.

“In 175 of 178 school districts across Colorado, voters have already voted to `de-Bruce.’ This proposal simply clears the way for implementing the will of the people as expressed through local elections.

“We look forward to moving ahead.”