🚀 go-pugleaf

On Wed, 23 Aug 2006 08:11:24 -0700, pjberg@webtv.net (Paul J. Berg)
wrote:

>
>What if Oregon could enjoy the fastest economic growth rate of any state
>over the next five years? What if, over the next two years, Oregon could
>build a rainy day fund in excess of $2 billion to help cushion
>inevitable economic downturns?
>
>The first scenario above is what actually happened in Colorado from 1995
>through 2000, the first five years of its citizen-imposed spending
>limitation, known there as TABOR, or Taxpayer Bill of Rights....

And then what happened?

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_4198747


editorial
GOP ticket an anti-C reunion
 
County leaders across Colorado showed plenty of gumption last fall in
supporting Referendum C against the attacks of anti-tax zealots. And
no wonder - local officials had witnessed firsthand the damage wrought
by TABOR to government services at all levels. 

Indeed, Colorado Counties Inc., which represents all 64 state
counties, actively campaigned for the budget rescue....

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/08/08/norquists_tax_ax.php

...TABOR was enacted in the early 1990s in Colorado and the results
were devastating. By 2005 when TABOR was suspended for five years to
restore funds to needed services, Colorado was reporting dismal
results in health, education and crime control:

Colorado was ranked 47th in the nation in funding for K-12 education
as a share of state income. The high school graduation rate in
Colorado fell from 76 percent in 1990 to 70 percent in 2004.
Colorado ranks 50th in the nation in on-time immunization rates.
Probation officers in Colorado carried an average of 238 cases�nearly
double the national average of 130.
The percentage of low-income Colorado children who lack health
insurance rose from 15 percent in 1991-92 to 27 percent in 2002-03.
(During the same period, the national proportion who lack insurance
declined from 21 percent to 19 percent.)
The other glaring problem with TABOR stems from the fact that such
initiatives become part of the state constitution. As a result, the
concept of democratic debate on state budgets is undermined, as so
many budget solutions end up off the table. In times of crisis, TABOR
protects big money interests from paying their fair share through
increased taxes. This, in turn, leaves low-income citizens who rely on
public spending to bear the brunt of the shortfall as public services
are slashed....

http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2006/08/03/colorado_business_groups_urge_defeat_of_tabor_proposals/

Colorado business groups urge defeat of TABOR proposals
August 3, 2006

DENVER --An alliance of Colorado business groups is urging
counterparts in Maine, Michigan and Oregon to oppose proposals there
that resemble the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.

 Colorado voters passed TABOR as an amendment to the state
constitution in 1992 to limit growth in government spending and
taxing. Voters last year approved suspending TABOR for five years,
allowing the state to keep an estimated $3.7 billion that otherwise
would have been returned to taxpayers....

http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2006/07/28/colorado_business_leaders_warn_against_maine_tabor/

..."TABOR is a proven failure in Colorado. We strongly encourage that
you do not repeat Colorado's mistake," said the letter signed by the
Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association, Denver Downtown Partnership
and Denver METRO Chamber of Commerce, among others....

http://www.enidnews.com/opinion/local_story_210002222.html?keyword=topstory