Monday, May 23, 2011

House GOP Stands United with Colorado Citizens, Supports Taxpayers Bill of Rights

DENVER—The Denver Post reported today that a group including current and former lawmakers is filing a lawsuit against the state, alleging that the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights is unconstitutional. 

The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights is a voter-approved measure that constitutionally requires all tax increases to be approved by the voters. 

“The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights has played a pivotal role in keeping government spending habits in check, and has prevented Colorado from having the budget problems that other states like California and New Jersey have faced,” said House Majority Leader Amy Stephens, R-Monument.  “House Republicans will do everything possible to ensure that the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights is protected.” 

“While I respect Sen. Norma Anderson very much, I do not agree with her, or the other lawsuit proponents, that the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights has a constitutional flaw because it requires voter approval of tax increases,” said Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch.  “In fact, I view the requirement that voters approve tax increases as the most critical component of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.”

The lawsuit comes after Democrats realized that their days of unrestrained spending and questionable tax increases have come to end, thanks to the Republican Majority in the House of Representatives. 

“For the first time in years, Democrats realize that Republicans won’t let them continue their big-spending agenda in the statehouse, so they’re taking it to the courthouse,” said House Finance Chair State Rep. Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland.  “Coloradans don’t want their government to have a blank check; they want a government that is accountable to them.” 

House Judiciary Chair Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, added that if this measure is successful, it will have dire consequences on the state’s initiative process:

“Since 1912, Coloradans have had the right to change state statute and the constitution via the initiative process.  If the federal courts decide that the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights is unconstitutional because it passed by a vote of the people instead of the General Assembly, then everything from the repeal of prohibition to civil rights amendments will be called into question.”  

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