By now you have heard that this year’s election is the most critical we have ever faced. This month and next we will look into the issues on the November ballot to see if this be true. Why the issues and not the candidates? Candidates, office – holders and appointees come and go. But their policies and laws and amendments we pass have staying power. And, we can factually examine the ballot issues whereas the politicians are subject to the prevailing winds and your own opinion and scrutiny.
So far there are seven questions approved for inclusion on the ballot. This month we will deal with some of the less critical to the erosion of our Liberty and our Constitutional Republic or just represent good or bad public policy.
So, herewith, in no particular order, are four of the issues by title and recommendation for your consideration. An analysis and reasoning will then follow for your reading pleasure.
House Bill HB20-1427 Cigarette Tobacco and Nicotine Products Tax
Vote No
House Concurrent Resolution HCR20- 1001 Bingo Raffles Allow Paid Help and Repeal Five-Year Minimum
Vote Yes
Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR20- 001 Repeal Property Tax Assessment Rates
Vote No
Initiative #107 Restoration of Grey Wolves
Vote No
And now for ‘the r-r-rest of the story’.
House Bill HB20-1427 Cigarette Tobacco and Nicotine Products Tax:
This bill promises to fund schools with only half of the expected revenue, the rest left to the discretion of the legislature. It also includes automatic tax increases over time and all would be exempt from TABOR. Furthermore, if history is to be our guide, the promised school funding will not happen. The legislature has in the past made these promises only to cut the General Fund appropriations to schools by an equal or greater amount. Vote NO
House Concurrent Resolution HCR20- 1001 Bingo Raffles Allow Paid Help and Repeal Five-Year Minimum
This one seems to reduce Constitutional regulation of the conduct and business side of charitable fund raising bingo-raffle licensees such as DAV, Elks, etc. Vote YES
Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR20- 001 Repeal Property Tax Assessment Rates
The first phrase you will see is ‘Without raising tax rates…’ Rest assured your property taxes will increase by virtue of valuation rates. That is the whole purpose of repealing the Gallagher amendment. While it is true that the Gallagher Amendment has had a negative impact at times, it seems that this is not a good solution. It leaves it in the hands of the legislature to adjust both residential and commercial property valuation rates. The rationale is to maintain funding levels for various local taxing entities—schools, fire districts, etc. In other words, while the Governor and Legislature toy with the economy, by law or regulation, usually to the detriment thereof as we are now experiencing, they think these taxing entities should be exempt from the effects. These local taxing entities should be subject to the same economic fluctuations as the private sector. Where is the exemption for your local restaurant or independent retail shop? There isn’t any. Vote NO
Initiative #107 Restoration of Grey Wolves
Talk about a bad idea? This one takes the cake. The Gray wolf already has habitat in Colorado on the West Slope. This is unnecessary. And why does this reintroduction only apply to the West Slope of Colorado. Because the folks in Boulder who promoted this don’t want them in their proximity. Might eat their pet cat. Well guess what. Wolves are not only predatory and territorial, they are also migratory. They will move and/or expand into wherever the food is. How will the Division of Parks and Wildlife prevent that? Hire more State hunters/trappers, or pay a bounty like Idaho has been doing? Vote NO
To read the referred measures from the Legislature (and a fairly good summary), you can go to https://leg.colorado.gov, click on ‘bills’ and enter the desired bill number in the left-hand box.
To read the initiatives use this link https:// www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/ ballot/contacts/2020.html
Currently there are three more initiatives undergoing signature review and 16 that have been approved for circulation but not yet submitted. August 3rd was the deadline for submission so we will know more about them shortly. These can also be read at the above cited link.
Next month we will tackle the more weighty issues of citizenship, life, and the so-called Electoral College (National Popular Vote) and any of the others that make the ballot.
Creston “Bud” Garner writes from Cortez, Colo.
