Colorado voters force the few to subsidize school lunch for all
Colorado voters on Tuesday passed Propositions LL and MM by wider margins than 2022’s Proposition FF, which first created the Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) program, thus subsidizing “free” lunch for all school kids regardless of a family’s ability to pay. The grim decision by so many Coloradans to force the few to carry […]
2025 Handbook on K-12 Policy Issues for Colorado
One of the Education Policy Center’s primary goals is to educate local education leaders about important education policy issues, thereby equipping them to make intelligent, well-informed decisions in their school districts. Biennially, we update our K-12 policy issues school board member handbook to provide leaders with historical and current information from a common-sense perspective on […]
Colorado falling further behind in state tax competitiveness
The non-partisan Tax Foundation just published its 2026 edition of the State Tax Competitiveness Index. Colorado — already in the bottom half of states for tax competitiveness — continues to slide in the rankings, and the current political trajectory will only exacerbate the situation. Colorado losing its edge In last year’s index, Colorado placed 32nd […]
Propositions LL & MM a warm up for much bigger tax hike
Colorado’s statewide Propositions LL and MM are ominous preludes to the so-called ‘progressive’ income tax proposition working its way towards next year’s ballot. But by rejecting LL and MM, voters can send a clear message to the legislature that Coloradans still believe in basic tax fairness and holding state government accountable. As I previously explained, […]
Denver’s Flavor Ban a Poor Solution Looking for a Problem
Voters residing in a city home to more than 70 breweries, 2,000 liquor-licensed establishments, 300 cannabis dispensaries, and psychedelic mushroom clinics will soon decide if they’re willing to prevent consenting adults from purchasing at least one commonly used substance: flavored nicotine products. As part of their 2025 ballots, Denver voters will be asked to weigh in on Referendum […]
‘Progressive’ income tax scheme threatens Colorado
Progressive income taxes don’t hurt the rich. They are penalties on upward mobility and hope that hurt everyone but the rich.
President Trump, the Constitution, and the National Guard Cases
Analyzing the law behind recent cases challenging the President’s authority to federalize the National Guard.
Surrounded by Leftist Propaganda: Proving Media Bias Over Time
During the 2021-2025 timespan, American newspaper writers used the political insult “right wing extremist” seventeen times more often than “left-wing extremist.”
Independent Inking: Fall 2025
In this issue:
– Read about our summer interns
– The 23rd Annual Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Party
– Colorado’s Clean Energy Plan
– The Democrat’s plan to dismantle TABOR
Propositions LL and MM: There’s Still No Such Thing as a Free Lunch
By Nash Herman and Jake Fogleman Executive Summary In 2022, Proposition FF created Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) program, offering free school lunches to all students regardless of family income, funded by capping state income tax deductions for households earning over $300,000. The program’s costs far exceeded expectations in its first year, creating […]
Jake Fogleman Talks Rising Energy Bills, the Role of State Energy Policy on Free State Colorado
Independence Institute Director of Policy Jake Fogleman appeared on Free State Colorado this week to talk about the forces currently driving increasing energy costs for Colorado households and businesses. He also discussed the role state lawmakers have played in imposing those costs in pursuit of a clean energy transition and what energy policy trends Colorado […]
The Case Against a ‘Progressive’ Income Tax in Colorado
The battle over Colorado’s future tax system has officially begun, and the stakes for families, businesses, and the state’s economy couldn’t be higher. Backed by a coalition of advocacy groups that consistently push for higher taxes as the solution to Colorado’s challenges, the Bell Policy Center submitted proposed language for the 2026 ballot that would […]
