Democrat's Pay-As-You Go Budget Bill is Deceptive

Fortunately, HB11-1052, sponsored by Rep. Dickie Hullinghorst (D- HD10 Boulder) and Sen. John Morse (D - SD11El Paso Cty)was PI'd (postponed indefinitely) in the Finance Committee.

HB1052 treats any bill that results in a “decrease in revenue” as if the money belongs to the State in the first place.

Colorado is already required to balance its budget. This bill is a superfluous measure that defeats any attempt by the legislature to prioritize spending, because each measure considered would receive the immediate attention and priority. Colorado deserves better than “budgeting at the margins”.

State revenue is dynamic. Under this bill, tax proposals will be viewed as static equations, without considering the unseen consequences. Tax rate decreases that might stimulate economic activity would not be allowed without a corresponding spending decrease. In our current budget crisis, we can not afford to ignore tax policies that will create jobs and economic growth simply because an offset is required.

Finally, we must oppose the underlying false premise that money belongs to the state, and that a tax rate decrease is an expense to the state. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights establishes that taxes first belong to people and businesses, and the legislature is required to ask permission of the people of Colorado to increase taxes.

Removing a tax exemption is a tax increase, and this bill is a cynical attempt to undermine the rights of Coloradans to repeal the unconstitutional removal of tax exemptions perpetrated by the 2010 Legislature.

Brian Vande Krol, Member, CRBC Legislative Issues Committee