Romanoff wants to take on TABOR
By Chris Barge, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published April 15, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff is preparing something for lawmakers to chew on as their session winds down - overhauling the Colorado Constitution by repealing parts of TABOR and other amendments he says cripples government.
Legislation the Denver Democrat plans to introduce this week also would create a constitutionally protected savings account for public education.
Lawmakers discussed the need to revamp the state's 131-year-old founding document before the current session began in January, saying various amendments have tied their hands to the point where they no longer have the necessary discretion to craft a sound state budget.
Romanoff said Monday he believes he has a solution, less than a month before the General Assembly adjourns.
"I've tried to address the concerns I've heard over the last few months and I'm hopeful that we can build a consensus," he said.
Romanoff's House concurrent resolution would need to be approved by a two-thirds vote of the House and the Senate to make it on the November ballot.
Romanoff said it took him this long to finalize the plan because of difficulty in finding bipartisan support.
'Political chicken'
"It's tough," he said. "I think we're trapped in a game of political chicken where nobody wants to blink first."
Romanoff said his proposal does not violate the single-subject rule, which prohibits bundling multiple proposals in one ballot measure, because it fits broadly under the single subject of "how the state funds public education."
"It's a pretty ingenious way to do it," said bill co-sponsor Sen. Steve Johnson, R-Fort Collins.
Their bill would permanently repeal the spending limitations imposed by the 1992 Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, while preserving the requirement that all tax increases be approved by voters.
It also would repeal a major provision of Amendment 23, which was passed after TABOR to require spending on K-12 education to increase regardless of whether TABOR forced government to limit overall spending increases.
And it would create a rainy-day fund within the $3 billion K-12 education budget, essentially freeing up lawmakers to make funding decisions they've never been able to contemplate.
Johnson said he and Romanoff are aware that many Republicans will object to doing away with the TABOR provision that mandates refunds to taxpayers once the government spends up to its TABOR limit. He pointed out, however, that state revenue is forecast to stay below the TABOR limit for the next five years anyway.
Permanent account
The co-sponsors said that while Amendment 23 supporters won't like having K-12 education funding increases taken off autopilot, they will approve of shoring up the State Education Fund with a permanent savings account.
"It's a coalition deal," Johnson said. "That's the only way we're going to get this done."
Romanoff has quietly sought support for his concept in meetings with Gov. Bill Ritter and various lawmakers and interest groups over the past couple weeks.
Revamping the constitution "is the biggest issue facing this state," Johnson said. With Referendum C, "Gov. (Bill) Owens did a Band-Aid for five years. But eventually we're going to need to stitch up the wound or change the Band-Aid or something."
Ref C, which voters narrowly approved, allowed the state to spend an estimated $3.7 billion it otherwise would have refunded to taxpayers under TABOR between 2006 and 2011.
Romanoff emphasized that his plan does not increase or create any new taxes.
"This is more of a structural fix, I think, than a short-term infusion of cash," Romanoff said.
Ritter, who has also been talking about how to loosen TABOR restrictions on state spending, stopped short of endorsing Romanoff's plan Monday.
"We've been talking with Speaker Romanoff for some time about how to untangle Colorado's conflicting constitutional mandates and modernize our fiscal rules," Ritter's spokesman Evan Dreyer said. "There are a number of considerations we've been discussing. One of them is ensuring that we don't fix one problem only to create new ones."
bargec@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5059
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
Featured
-
Legislature Blog
Read live updates from the opening of the 2009 legislative session.
-
Rocky multimedia
The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.
-
Who's next?
Complete coverage of the Broncos' search for a new coach.
-
Rocky year in photos
View an audio slide show of staff selections from 2008.
-
Winter Escapes
Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.
-
Sam Adams' Open Mic
Open Mic: Two-man advantage with Avs
-
Shanahan's career
See photos from Mike Shanahan's career as Broncos coach.
-
12 days of Drew
Look back at the year that has been with Drew Litton.
-
A dream fulfilled
A Rocky Mountain News and MediaStorm production
April 15, 2008
2:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
Domino writes:
If we get rid of TABOR, does that mean that Douglas Bruce will cease to exist?
All joking aside, with state revenues dropping, TABOR (taxpayers bill of rights, what a stupid name!) mandates that spending will never reach previous levels. Those levels were insufficient to fund schools and universities at reasonable levels. But, that is what Bruce wanted - a way to destroy public schools and all other state services.
April 15, 2008
6:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
Armie writes:
To restrict Tabor would be insane. It is the only thing that keeps the never ending growth of government in check.
More money for education, how silly! It is a failing system now, there will never be enough money for it. It needs a TABOR.
People are better off under less Government not more.
When will people learn this?
The pro big government people are usually taking more than their share from Government and are as corrupt as the Politicians.
April 15, 2008
6:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
Buckwheat writes:
The citizens voted TABOR in. Obviously there was a reason. (maybe out of control spending, misuse of funds). You want to remove it, then let the citizens decide. Be careful what you wish for.
April 15, 2008
7:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:
How about a clause that automatically provides competing tax change? For example when the politicians and special interest groups present the voter with a tax increase they also have to present the voter with a tax DEcrease.
April 15, 2008
8:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:
Dominoe,
Although Douglas Bruce claims to be the self appointed King of Tabor, he is not. Tabor was a group effort that eventually required voter approval. It really is a shame that Bruce had offended so many and intrinsically linked himself to Tabor. Tabor is by the people and for the people.
What is wrong with citizen initiated, constitutionally imposed revenue and spending limits that allow government to grow each and every year at the rate of inflation plus population? If this formula is not enough then alls they have to do is ask for more.
The only people who hate this type of setup are SPENDAHOLICS
April 15, 2008
8:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
The only thing that is torquing off the politicians is their lack of power over raising taxes. The voters told the politicians to "stick it" when we voted in TABOR, and the politicians just can't handle that.
HEY POLITICIANS! Try working within a budget just like the rest of us. Maybe, just maybe, if you quit your infantile whimpering about your lack of power and grow up some day your parents, us voters, might give you some of your privliges back. Until then ... DEAL WITH IT!
Scott
April 15, 2008
8:26 a.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
Lowtax= is correct. Doug Bruce did not pass TABOR all by himself. It was a team effort of which the largest group on the team were the majority of the voters. The voters that voted "yes." The politicians will refer to the removal of TABOR restrictions as "de-Bruceing." This is just plain wrong. What these gutless entities should be saying is "de-votering." However, the politicians do not have the guts to call it what it is. Every time a politician say "de-Bruceing" they really mean that they resent what the voters did to them.
Scott
April 15, 2008
8:28 a.m.
Suggest removal
DougH writes:
The inherent problem with TABOR is the ratchet down effect that restricts spending to an set increase from the previous year. This never allows the State to recover from the effects of a downturn in the economy, but of course, all of you Taborites already know that. The TABOR amendment was the brain child of Douglas Bruce and the anti-government libertarians and sold to the people of Colorado as a fix for a problem that did not exist.
Romanoff should be commended for trying to get the State back on track and running like a real state government should.
April 15, 2008
8:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
mtb writes:
"state revenue is forecast to stay below the TABOR limit for the next five years anyway."
Just curious what will happen when revenues DO exceed the TABOR limit again. anyone else?
April 15, 2008
8:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
Mtnsjohn writes:
Oh DougH,
TABOR forced the state to be responsible. If I chose to spend more than I make, and can't just mumdy mumdy create a raise to accommodate my spending. I have to live within my means so why can't the State of Colorado?
The voters were "nice enough" to suspend TABOR until 2011, but isn't the formula based on growth and inflation good enough to justify increases in spending?
April 15, 2008
9:06 a.m.
Suggest removal
NotYours writes:
The votors passed TABOR.
The votors should repeal TABOR, if they feel it's appropriate.
If Romanoff, or any other legislator, feels the VOTORS inhibit the government's ability to operate -- that individual should immediately resign and pursue another line of work. That attitude has no place within a democracy. Period.
Do us all a favor and find another job, Andrew.
April 15, 2008
9:38 a.m.
Suggest removal
holekeeper writes:
I thought we just passed more tax increases for education? How much we talking and what would it go for? This new bonus plan for the job there people took in the first place, man I wish I couls make 40g a year and take off over a quarter of the year.......Im playing calm down you crazy dems!
April 15, 2008
10:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
bxwatso writes:
Ref C was SUPPOSED to be $3.7bln, but it will turn out to be more like $6bln.
What did Mr. Romanoff do with that money?
The far left has only one tool for every problem, more taxes.
April 15, 2008
11:04 a.m.
Suggest removal
Konyok writes:
Looks to me like Andrew Romanoff is the only Colorado politician on either side of the aisle who is willing to take the risk to confront the slow motion train wreck of TABOR and amendement 23.
The most important part of TABOR is the tax raise consultation piece. Tying expenditures to a strict formula is a gamble that nothing ever happens - in an emergency we're SOL.
Amendment 23 is perhaps the best argument against voter initiatives that you could concoct. Pure feel good, fiscal suicide for the state.
Romanoff proposes a good compromise - dump 23 and pare back TABOR.
Colorado has a representative form of government, we shouldn't let our budget run on automatic pilot.
This is just the kind of compromise that will be needed to fix Social Security.
April 15, 2008
1:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:
DougH,
Tabor was created from hundred of years (if not thousands of years) of Libertarian thinking, not Doug Bruce. Doug was part of a very large group when Tabor was designed. To say that he invented or dreamed up the premise is non-sense. There is nothing new under the sun. Tabor was created by 3 attempts (with modifications each time) at the ballot box, not Doug Bruce.
The ratchet is highly over rated. Yes it does cause some volatile but if the gov did not have so much staff than a reduction in spending could be easily absorbed. Besides alls you have to do is ask the voter to increase any downturn amount. Tabor provided politicians all the money they could ever dream of as long as they get the vote.
If politicians were not power hungry, spendaholics the Tabor limits would be no biggy. If anything we need to amend Tabor so that even the citizens cannot increase spending in such absurd amounts.
17 Billion hardly seems like a low number. For Christ sakes my small town of 1300 people and 7.5 miles of streets allows the gov to spend 1.5 MILLION annually!!!!!!!! How much damn money do these folks need? 1.5 MILLION annually is a mansion each and every year.
April 15, 2008
2:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
DougH writes:
Until about 2 years ago, Republicans controlled the State Legislature and the Joint Budget Committee for 30 years. SO, where exactly was Colorado State Government spending money like drunken sailors ? Are you all saying that it is the Republicans that were big tax and spend guys, so that is why the voters demanded Tabor ? PLEASE , do you really think people are that stupid ?
Douglas Bruce is the guy that has Mr Tabor on his license plate. Everyone in Colorado has given him credit for Tabor until he showed up at the State house and the public got to see what a jerk he really is. Now all the libiterians are running away from Bruce like he had fleas or something.
TABOR is a crackpot idea, cooked up by a crackpot. It is time to rid ourselves of the Douglas Bruce Amendment.
Romanoff has an excellent idea and a sound compromise to get the State finances on a manageable footing
April 15, 2008
3:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
DougH,
Re-read my seconc posting. Doug Bruce did NOT singlehandedly approve TABOR. THE VOTERS APPROVED IT! It sounds like you are nothing more than a front for the sniveling politicians. Since TABOR and term limits the politicians' silken panties have been all in a wad. GET OVER IT! I have to live within a budget and so should that scum in the State Capitol.
Scott
April 15, 2008
3:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
Armie writes:
What section of the Government do you work in DougH.
Maybe you just sell something to them or maybe an educator??
Come join us honest hard working folks! Scare You Doesn't it?
April 15, 2008
6:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
longpasttime writes:
TABOR was the BEST thing to happen to our state in years! You may not like Doug Bruce, but even anti-TABOR people have to admit that we have saved on paying taxes since TABOR passed. If politicians want more money, all they have do is ASK! Is that so hard?
What we really need is an overhaul of Amendment 23. Whoever heard of putting spending on autopilot (with automatic increases built in, too)? That piece of idiocy, I'm proud to say, passed without MY support.
Politicians (of ANY party) are never satisfied! If people think there is a valid reason to give you more money, more often than not, they will vote for a tax increase. If TABOR is changed, hold on to your wallets!!
April 15, 2008
7:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
sandsassoc29 writes:
I applaud Romanoff for tackling TABOR - that was the best news I heard today. While he's at it, can he do something about changing the way the amendments are added to the state's Constitution. It's too ridiculously easy. Look how many amendments are on our nation's Constitution, and it was written 200+ years ago. Maybe our forefathers were brighter than the average citizen today.
April 17, 2008
9:11 a.m.
Suggest removal
Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:
Do you make informed decisions?
http://www.ntu.org/main/page.php?Page...