Rep. Kerr Marks 11th Anniversary Of the Columbine Tragedy

State Rep. Jim Kerr, R-Littleton, today took time out of a busy legislative schedule to ask the General Assembly to join him in a moment of silence to honor the 11th anniversary of the Columbine High School tragedy.

“Today marks the 11th Anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings,” Kerr said. “It is a day to acknowledge the many innocent victims who died that day. We want to let the families know that they are not alone and that our thoughts and prayers go out to them.”

Kerr remarked that Colorado should never forget the tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton Colorado, which left 12 students and one teacher dead and 23 other people wounded.

“We will always remember the Columbine victims and their families,” Kerr said. “This tragedy has changed the way we address school safety and other emergency responses so that similar events can be prevented. In fact, the lessons we learned from Columbine prepared the teachers and students of Deer Creek Middle School to recently avert a greater tragedy.”

Rep. Kerr represents Colorado State House District 28, home to Columbine High School.

House GOP Education Committee Rejects End-Run on TABOR

Republicans on the House Education Committee today are gearing up for what is expected to by yet another showdown over the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights.

At issue is House Concurrent Resolution 1002 by Rep. Debbie Benefield, D-Arvada, that would ask voters to allow the legislature the ability to impose tax increases for any education-related purpose without voter approval.

Rep. Tom Massey, Ranking Republican on the House Education Committee, says that the proposal violates the spirit of TABOR by allowing the legislature to impose tax increases without a vote of the people.

“Colorado voters approved TABOR in 1992 and now during a recession is not the time to push for a tax increase,” said Massey, R-Poncha Springs. “Their latest proposal would cripple TABOR and allow for massive tax increases merely to avoid cuts to education in lean economic times. Especially when every other state department is facing the same cuts as education is. That is just not good economic policy.”

Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, is concerned that is adopted, HCR 1002 would allow for unchecked government growth.

“Raising taxes and increasing government spending is not going to help put Colorado families back to work,” McNulty said. “Colorado families and businesses are looking for new solutions that respect their tax dollars and get our economy moving again. This proposal is just more of the same from the party in power.”

The House Education Committee will take up HCR 1002 today, April 19, at 1:30 pm in the Old Supreme Court Chamber. Members of the media and public can listen in to the proceedings live by clicking here and selecting the audio link for the Old Supreme Court Chambers.