House and Senate Democrats: ‘Tax-No-Treat’

DENVER—The scariest thing facing Colorado’s working families and small businesses this Halloween doesn’t go bump in the night, or fly around on a broom.

The spookiest thing in Colorado is the Democrats’ “Tax-No-Treat” agenda.

“Despite Democrat scare-tactics, the Republican majority in the House showed that we could have a responsible budget that respects working families and job creators without raising taxes” said Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch.

When Democrats controlled the House and Senate they passed the “Dirty Dozen” tax increases, targeting businesses and families, including a tax increase on Halloween candy.

“Times are tough as it is.  But this Democrat tax increase means neighbors are still paying more to give the little goblins, pirates and princesses candy this Halloween,” McNulty added.  

Several Democrats, including Senate Pres. Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont, are now supporting Proposition 103, which will further increase taxes on all Coloradans.  According to the Associated Press, Colorado is the only state in the nation to have a tax increase on its ballot this year.  

“Democrats’ ‘Tax-no-Treat’ agenda would continue to hamstring our economy,” said McNulty. “The Democrat tax and spend agenda kills jobs and creates economic insecurity for families and small businesses. Their agenda defies common sense.”

McNulty added that House Republicans will continue to fight on the behalf of Colorado’s job creators and families, promising to reign in government spending without raising taxes on the backs of struggling Coloradans.

Last year, House Republicans successfully removed several of the Democrats’ onerous tax increases and blocked several mandates and regulations that would have made it more difficult for Colorado to emerge from this recession.

· Killing Small Businesses—Would have mandated specific wage and benefit requirements for certain businesses.  HB 11-1238

· Filling the Big Labor Treat Bag—Would have required certain state public works contractors to provide prevailing wages and fringe benefits to their workers. HB 11-1070

· Attacking Colorado Consumers—Would have forced manufacturers to pay a fee and implement recycling programs for certain electronic devices. HB 11-1052.

· Beverage Trick—Would have required consumers and beverage distributors to pay deposits on beverage containers and would have required distributors to fulfill certain registration and reporting requirements. HB 11-1247.

· Harassing School Districts—Would have required schools to satisfy expensive-energy efficient design conditions for new or redesigned buildings. HB 11-1204.

· Spending Limit—House Republicans passed a bill to create a Rainy Day Fund and reinstate the state spending limit that Democrats repealed in 2009. HB 1280.

· HOPE Act—House Republicans passed a bill to opt Colorado out of federal health care measures. HB 1273.

· Federal Balanced Budget Requirement—House Republicans passed a resolution calling on Congress to adopt a constitutional balanced budget requirement. HJR 1017.

· Regulation Limitations—House Republicans passed a bill to limit new regulations that increase the cost of conducting business in Colorado. HB 1044.

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Looper Applauds Success of Veterans Court

DENVER—State Rep. Marsha Looper, R-Calhan, praised the first graduates of El Paso County’s Veterans Treatment Court following a ceremony that took place Thursday afternoon.

Looper sponsored House Bill 1104 in 2010, which allowed the expansion of veterans courts across Colorado. The special court system sends veterans convicted with misdemeanors and certain felonies to treatment centers for drug and mental health problems instead of serving jail time.

“Post-traumatic stress disorder and drug abuse are often the result of a soldier’s sacrifice while fighting abroad. It is more important and beneficial that we help our servicemen and women, rather than sending them to jail,” said Looper. “I couldn’t be more proud of these graduates.”

Colorado Springs, home to Fort Carson, has seen a rise in veteran-related crimes since the Iraq War began in 2003. The U.S. Army deploys approximately 10,000 soldiers from Fort Carson overseas at any given time.

Six servicemen graduated from the treatment program, with another sixty veterans currently receiving treatment from the El Paso County Treatment Court in attendance.

“This celebration shows that Coloradans haven’t forgotten the sacrifice each soldier makes when they’re called to duty,” added Looper. “In just a year, this program has already proven its worth.”

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House GOP Statement on Appointment of Boatright to the Supreme Court

DENVER—Gov. John Hickenlooper announced his appointed of First Judicial Court Judge Brian Boatright to the Colorado Supreme Court. 

House Judiciary chairman, Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, issued the following statement regarding Boatright’s appointment:

“Judge Boatright’s commitment to applying the law as intended by the legislature and his experience as a trial court judge are welcome attributes to the Court.  I congratulate Judge Boatright on his appointment to the Supreme Court, and wish him the best of luck in his service on the bench for the State of Colorado.”   

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House GOP Concludes State Tour with Job Creators

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—House Republicans finished their Building a Better Colorado Tour today at a roundtable discussion on the economy and job creation with local small business owners. The Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce hosted the event.

 “We’ve met with job creators from across the state and have taken up their priorities as our own,” said Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch. “House Republicans understand that the road to economic prosperity for Coloradans begins by removing barriers to business and empowering job creators.”

The statewide listening tour began this past Wednesday with a visit to farmers and ranchers in Greeley and has since travelled across the Continental Divide and back again, visiting with leaders in agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and members of the small business community.

“From day one, this tour was about jobs,” remarked State Rep. B.J. Nikkel. “We wanted to establish a clear and focused dialogue with Coloradans from every part of the state so we can work together and begin to build a better Colorado.”

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House Republicans Visit Goodrich Brake Facility in Pueblo, Colo.

PUEBLO, Colo.—Earlier today, House Republicans took a tour of Goodrich’s Carbon Operations in Pueblo as one of the final stops on their statewide “Building a Better Colorado Tour.”

Goodrich manufactures braking systems using steel and carbon friction material for use on commercial, business and military aircraft. Their facility in Pueblo is one of their three carbon production facilities in the nation and one of two manufacturing sites in the state which supports hundreds of local jobs.

 “Colorado’s manufacturers represent a multibillion dollar industry that employs thousands in the state,” said state Rep. Keith Swerdfeger, R-Pueblo.

“House Republicans will continue to work on behalf of businesses like Goodrich, whose employees help make our nation’s air transit system safer and more efficient every day.”

Manufacturers in Colorado generate approximately $18 billion annually in output and employ over 125,000 Coloradans across the state.

“In this economy, we look to our government leaders to support business growth. We’re thankful for leaders like Speaker McNulty and Keith Swerdfeger who understand this,” said Mike Grondalski, Vice President of Operations for Goodrich. 

After finishing their tour of the Goodrich facility, House Republicans took to the road again to meet with leaders in both business and education CSU-Pueblo.

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House Republicans Meet with La Junta Residents

LA JUNTA, Colo.—House Republicans began the final day of their Building a Better Colorado Tour this morning with a town hall hosted at Otero Junior College. Area residents gathered to meet with Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, and House Majority Whip B.J. Nikkel on Colorado’s jobs and economy and to submit their own questions to the Republican leadership team.

“Colorado’s rural communities represent an integral part of our state’s economy,” said Nikkel, R-Loveland. “We recognize these communities are in no way immune to our state’s economic woes and will continue the fight together.”

In the past legislative session, rural constituencies heavily applauded a Republican measure to repeal the ‘Ag-Tax,’ one of the ‘dirty dozen’ tax increases Democrats passed when they controlled the state legislature. House Republicans have vowed to continue their work to lift burdensome regulations on Colorado’s job creators.

From La Junta, House Republicans will travel to Pueblo for a tour of Goodrich Aerospace’s manufacturing facility and a meeting with leaders in education and the business community at CSU-Pueblo.

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House GOP Concludes Second Day of Building a Better Colorado Tour in Durango

DURANGO, Colo.—House GOP Leadership ended its second day of their Building a Better Colorado tour with a town hall at Christina’s Restaurant in Durango. 

At the town hall, citizens and community leaders expressed concerns about the flailing economy, and engaged in a discussion of how to best create jobs. 

“We have heard the same thing everywhere we go—government needs to get out of the way,” said Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch.  “In order to create jobs, we need to get rid of the burdensome regulations that are stifling growth for many of the state’s most important industries, like energy, tourism and agriculture.”

State Rep. J. Paul Brown, R-Ignacio, added:

“Times are tough for Coloradans, and fighting for jobs is my top priority as a state legislator.  I’m proud that the House leadership made it down to southwest Colorado.  It just shows the importance that the Republican leadership believes this community is to the rest of the state.”    

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