Fight the Multi-Billion Dollar Tax Hike in Colorado

DENVER. There’s a tax hike making its way through the Colorado legislature , and it’s being supported by Governor Bill Owens!

The governor and tax-and-spenders in the state legislature are trying to gut the “Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights” (TABOR) by spending tax refunds that are supposed to be returned to Coloradoans over the next five years. They’re trying to couch this measure as a way to ‘save’ TABOR, but it really amounts to a titanic $3.1 billion tax increase and will lead to massive overspending in Colorado. That’s why we need you to contact Gov. Owens and tell him to defend TABOR and oppose this tax increase.

TABOR has protected taxpayers for over a decade by limiting tax collection to population growth plus inflation. Many states dramatically increased the size of their governments during the boom of the 1990s, and they faced fiscal crises when the recession hit and revenues fell during 2001-2002. The Centennial State, on the other hand, kept spending down and gave excess revenue back to the taxpayers. Indeed, Colorado would have faced a deficit of over $1 billion during the recession if TABOR hadn’t been enacted!

Unfortunately, liberals in the state legislature are trying to undermine TABOR instead of finding ways to cut waste and spend efficiently. The state House and Senate have already passed bills that would spend your tax refund. What’s more, Gov. Owens has fallen out of touch with the conservative movement and is supporting this tax hike, even though he pledged not to raise taxes and promised to return all TABOR refunds.

The tax hike bill, HB 1194, gives the legislature a blank check and allows them to expand state spending drastically for the next five years like other states did in the 1990s. Luckily, a few principled anti-tax legislators realize this and are fighting hard to defeat this tax hike.

That’s why it’s critical that you tell Governor Owens to join other conservative leaders and oppose this multi-billion dollar tax increase. Use our contact automatic email system to write to Gov. Owens and urge him to honor his pledge of lower taxes and smaller government and give you your tax refund.

This fight is not just about the current tax hike—the future of TABOR is at stake. If this measure is enacted, Coloradoans are sure to face even more tax increases down the road. Contact the governor today and ensure that TABOR continues to protect taxpayers.