House and Senate Republicans Call on Shaffer to Convene the Executive Committee to Defend Taxpayers

DENVER—House and Senate Republican leadership called on Senate President Brandon Shaffer to convene a meeting of the Executive Committee of Legislative Council to decide whether the General Assembly should protect taxpayers.

In May, a group of current and former lawmakers filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. 

The letter that Shaffer, who chairs the Executive Committee of Legislative Council, received from Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, House Majority Leader Amy Stephens and Senate Minority Leader Mike Kopp, states:

“The proponents of the lawsuit claim that requiring prior voter approval of any tax increase violates the core principles of representative government and is therefore unconstitutional under the U.S. Constitution.  We believe that the right of Colorado voters to approve or reject any tax increase is clearly appropriate.” 

McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, said, “Legislative leaders need an open discussion to decide whether we are going to defend the will of Colorado’s voters, or take away the important taxpayer protections in our state Constitution.”   

“Elected officials should be fighting for working families and small businesses, not looking for new ways to raid their pocket books,” said Stephens of Monument.  “Even with the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights on the books, Democrats found ways to tax Colorado’s working families and job creators.  The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights has protected Coloradans from further tax hikes during this economic recession and has kept the state’s spending in check.” 

“The question before us is simple, do we defend the will of Colorado citizens or does the General Assembly stand silently on the sidelines?” said Senator Kopp, R-Littleton.   “We should stand firm in defense of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights and the right of Colorado voters to amend the state constitution by initiative.  We ask President Shaffer to help facilitate this conversation by granting a meeting of the executive committee.”

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