A Path to Zero Income Tax for Colorado
When an interviewer recently asked Colorado’s Democratic governor Jared Polis what the state’s income-tax rate should be, he answered without hesitation: “It should be zero.” For many Coloradans, this came as no surprise: The effort to chisel away at the income tax has already gained steam in the state. Last year, voters reduced the tax […]
Backgrounder: $617 million in Hidden Taxes from 2021 Session
With the 2021 Colorado regular legislative session concluded, lawmakers have approved tax and fee increases on Coloradans of up to $617 million annually without voter consent. The new revenues are enough to give every schoolteacher in Colorado a $11,343.65 per year raise. The tax and fee increases amount to an average of $430 per year […]
How The Colorado Transportation Bill Circumvents TABOR and Proposition 117
Year-after-year, voters continue to send a message to Colorado politicians that they want a chance to vote on tax increases regardless of whether legislators call them “taxes” or “fees.” With this year’s transportation bill (SB 21-260), legislators have found multiple creative ways to disregard the will of the people. Their legal gymnastics to get around […]
Who Pays Colorado Taxes?
Linda Gorman writes about the 38 percent increase in Colorado state spending.
July 30 Colorado Energy Roundup: Clean Power Plan extension expected; a new Sagebrush Rebellion?
The Clean Power Plan’s timeline for compliance may see an extension, and the final rule itself may be revealed next Monday: The final version of President Obama’s signature climate change policy is expected to extend an earlier timeline for states to significantly cut planet-warming pollution from power plants, according to people familiar with the plan. […]
Amendment 66: Spend More, Get Less
IB-G-2013 (October 2013) Author: Linda Gorman PDF of full Issue Backgrounder Introduction: Amendment 66 will take the money you spend to benefit your children and give it to public education bureaucrats. Education bureaucrats do not necessarily use higher funding to benefit children. They will spend it on things that they like – generous pensions, higher […]
Colorado’s Competitive Standing to Attract Business
This paper explores a compilation of Colorado rankings from the “2013 State and Business Tax Climate Index.”
Legislature Has the Chance to Set a Standard on 64
by Harris Kenny and Leonard Gilroy Last month Colorado voters resoundingly passed Amendment 64 into the state constitution, legalizing both recreational marijuana and industrial hemp. So far, realizing the will of the voters is on track, but implementation risks threaten to undermine the intentions behind Amendment 64. Policy makers are contending with thriving black markets […]
Gaylord-style corporate welfare is unconstitutional
By what authority can the state government take tax money out of your pocket and give it away to a private corporation? The answer is that corporate welfare schemes, such as so-called “public-private partnerships,” flagrantly violate the Colorado Constitution.
How Colorado’s Tax Burdens Rank Nationally
Residents of Colorado should know how their tax burden compares with Americans throughout the nation. Colorado ranks 26th nationally, compared to all other states for the combined state and local tax burden, on a per capita basis.
Government Loans Bring Trouble
by Harris Kenny Solar panel-maker Solyndra has been in the headlines because it received $528 million worth of taxpayer-backed federal loans and then went bankrupt. But Denver residents don’t need to look at failed Solyndra to see the trouble that government loans can bring. Sadly, there are some prime examples closer to home. Last month, […]
Penn Pfiffner on the Tax Foundation Podcast Show
With the Proposition 103 tax increase heavily defeated this November, what comes next for Coloradans for low taxes and limited government? Senior fellow Penn Pfiffner was a guest on The Tax Foundation’s podcast show recently to discuss Prop 103’s resounding defeat, the nature of our state budget, government’s role in our lives, and the ongoing […]
