Latest news with #TaxpayerBillofRights
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pueblo Republican launches bid to unseat Nick Hinrichsen in Colorado Senate District 3
A local healthcare practice manager with nearly 25 years of experience is venturing into politics as a 2026 Republican candidate for Colorado State Senate District 3. Dana Charles told the Chieftain she is "not a politician," but is running for a state Senate seat because she is concerned about state fees, high taxation and legislative "attacks" on rights. Charles lists affordability, parental rights, Second Amendment rights, public safety, and preserving Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), among her priorities. "I just was so tired of questioning whether our Pueblo legislators were actually working for the people of Pueblo," she told the Chieftain. "I felt like enough was enough and I wanted to bring a voice to the state Senate that you don't have to wonder about." On her website, Charles said that recent legislation passed by members of the Colorado General Assembly has "tied the hands of law enforcement" and jeopardized the safety of Pueblo residents. She also told the Chieftain that taxes and fees have hampered residents' ability to afford living in Colorado. "Every single time we go to do absolutely anything — whether it's to renew our vehicle registration, whether it's going to the grocery store and paying bag fees — we are taxed and (made to pay fees) to death," Charles said. As a supporter of TABOR — a 1992 amendment to the state constitution limiting the amount of tax revenue Colorado government can retain and spend — Charles strongly believes Colorado does not have a revenue shortage and that Colorado residents, not state government, know how to best spend their money. In addition to having 24 years of experience in healthcare, Charles is a lifelong Pueblo resident who has raised two sons. "We have an amazing community, and I plan to tout that in every way when I'm in the state Senate. Many of the members of even our own city council, I have known for many years," Charles said. "While we may disagree on certain issues, I believe that we can communicate in a way that is positive and helps continue to move Pueblo forward." Senate District 3 includes all of Pueblo County. Senate Majority Whip Nick Hinrichsen has held the seat since February 2022. As of May 19, Charles and Hinrichsen were the only candidates who'd filed to run for Senate District 3, according to the Colorado Secretary of State's Office. Charles has already raised $11,915 in monetary contributions and has spent over $2,547, according to Transparency in Contribution and Expenditure Reporting (TRACER) information accessed May 19. Hinrichsen has received over $6,752 and spent over $5,551. City Park Bathhouse: Pueblo leaders respond to preservationists' frustrations over rejected bathhouse proposal Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo Republican launches 2026 bid for Colorado Senate seat
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers reflect on what did, did not get done during regular session
DENVER (KDVR) — State lawmakers have finished their work at the Colorado Capitol, for now. Both parties reflected on what they see as wins and losses for the state this year during their press conferences. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are glad they were able to end the session with a balanced budget that did not harm schools, but worries surrounding the fiscal shape of the state and its citizens still linger. Denver voted to not extend its Flock camera contract: Are ICE access concerns valid? 'While we worked really hard to address the $1.2 billion budget shortfall, I think there is still a lot more work to be done and we know that there is potential for more cuts coming forward,' said House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese. 'We are fearful that with the Trump administration, continuing to cut services in rural parts of our state, cuts to public safety, cuts to agricultural and water infrastructure, that there is more work ahead for us today,' said House Speaker Julie McCluskie. As lawmakers celebrate the end of the session, they also acknowledge they could be back this summer for two reasons: one being unfinished work at the state level, like delaying the state's landmark artificial intelligence regulation measure. 'We couldn't get that done. It was never the plan for this bill to be the final product. And I think that we will get working and whether we go into a special session or go into next year, I think we will be in a much better place with the policy and have more consensus,' said Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez. Another reason they could come back is the potential for cuts from the federal level, lawmakers could need to rework the state budget if the state does not get the federal dollars they planned for. Lawmakers act on artificial intelligence bills as Colorado session ends 'If we come back into a special session, it will clearly be on the polis administration and the tax and spend democrats in the legislature. I've said it before several times, probably at nauseam for some people, we do not have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem. The Democrats in Colorado have the same issue as the tax-and-spend democrats in Washington, D.C. They have a crisis of priorities, and they can't stop themselves from overspending,' said Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer. Leaders in both parties hailed the failure of a bill that would have allowed the state to sue over the legality of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights as a win for Colorado taxpayers. 'I'm always pleased to have one lawsuit less, so thank you for not suing us,' Governor Jared Polis said as he turned towards Democratic legislative leaders. 'There was a resolution introduced with 31 Democrat members of the House on that resolution, 13 Democrat members of the Senate on that resolution and we worked diligently behind the scenes to make sure that an effort to destroy the Taxpayer Bill of Rights did not come to committee and did not have a vote,' said Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen. The parties, however, have differing opinions over societal policy measures that have been passed: bills protecting civil rights for immigrants and members of the transgender community. Republicans said they wished more measures addressing affordability and public safety had been prioritized this year. While the governor acknowledged some bills, like a measure addressing collective bargaining for unions in the state, were not able to reach solutions he liked, he all but said he plans to veto the measure. 'We were seeking a way to get a policy that would have the buy-in to be stable and unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the sponsors and our best efforts, and many in both the labor and business community, we did not quite get there,' Polis said. Lawmakers send rideshare safety measure to governor's desk on last day of session Polis has 30 days to sign or veto bills. Lawmakers said if a special session happens, it would come after details of the federal budget are more finite. 'I expect there is still going to be more because of this affordability issue that we are going to see Medicaid grow in terms of the number of individuals. So it will not surprise me if we need to come back and talk about that,' said Representative Rick Taggart. 'We're watching Congress, it's in the hands of our congressional delegation. The lieutenant governor and I, and many members of the legislature, have called on them not to cut Medicaid, we hope that they don't. But if those big steps are taken, it is quite likely that we would need to work with the legislature to see what that looks like,' said Polis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senators vote to override governor's veto of social media bill
DENVER (KDVR) — With less than two weeks left in this year's legislative session, state lawmakers are making a rare move by going against Gov. Jared Polis. Senators voted to override the governor on a bipartisan bill less than 24 hours after he vetoed it. There has not been a veto override at the Colorado State Capitol in more than a decade. State lawmakers made it clear today, they are not afraid to change that. Rattlesnakes emerge from viral 'mega den' of 2,000 rattlesnakes in Colorado Senators made a rare move Friday, voting to override a veto on a measure Polis just rebuked the day before. 'I rise today to urge you all to override the governor's veto of Senate Bill 86 because this bill is about one thing above all: protecting our kids. Under this bill, social media companies would be required to remove users who are using these platforms to sell drugs, alcohol, guns and sexually exploiting children,' said Sen. Lindsay Daugherty, a prime sponsor of the bill. 'I think it's time that we dig deep and find the courage that is within all of us. And the conviction that is within all of us to protect the children of Colorado,' said Senator Lisa Frizell, another prime sponsor of the measure. Senators voted to override the veto by a vote of 29-6. In his veto letter, the governor said the bill has good intentions, but it fails to guarantee the safety of minors and infringes on privacy and freedom of speech. The governor also vetoed a bipartisan bill looking to change Colorado's open records act to give record keepers more time to respond to requests unless the requests come from journalists. Senators moved to vote on that override next week, but lawmakers also recently rejected the governor's proposal to change the way enrollment is calculated for school funding. They are also advancing a resolution that would allow the state to explore the constitutionality of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, without the governor's approval. What does this all mean? FOX31's political analysts have some thoughts. 'The governor is considered a moderate governor, he typically is liked by both sides. He's also hated by members of both sides, too, I'm sure, but the reality is that the governor is trying to play right down the center on this, and what the Democratic-led House and Senate leadership particularly is saying right now is we are going to go our own way, regardless of what the governor is going to do,' said FOX31 political analyst Andy Boian. Colorado's 5th measles case of 2025 confirmed in vaccinated adult from Denver 'I think that is just the tension there, and really you have Governor Polis at the two last years of his term. Some would consider that a lame duck period, and therefore, the legislature gets a little bit more bold to push back. Because they are not as worried about the long-term consequences of potentially going against the governor,' said FOX31 political analyst Michael Fields. A majority of House members have to vote to override the bill, too, for it to be did not take up the matter on Friday, but sources said it could happen in the near future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
School Finance Act passes Colorado House despite state budget constraints
DENVER (KDVR) — The bill detailing the state's plan to fund public schools cleared the Colorado House of Representatives Thursday. Teachers and lawmakers alike are happy that education cuts did not happen during a tight budget. Rep. Evans speaks on first 100 days in office as constituents push for more access 'I want our teachers to know that we heard them. That we are not cutting public education and instead we are driving more dollars to them, in the classroom, making sure they have the resources, the staffing, the curriculum, the technology; everything they need to help kids learn,' said Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie. She is relieved that students in Colorado are set to see more funding next school year than they did this year. 'The legislature has really come through, and now we are at a situation where every district will get at least the same amount of funding they did last year. And many will get a little bit more. That is a much better position to be in than where we first started,' said Kevin Vick, president of the Colorado Education Association. The work started with a new school finance formula that was passed last year and will now be implemented over seven years rather than six. Districts are set to see an increase of nearly $257 million, with more than $10 billion total to fund education once the session ends. The funding amounts to over $410 more per pupil, bringing the state's average to $11,863 in per pupil spending every year. The act's passage comes after lawmakers reached a compromise on the way student enrollment averages are counted in the state. The governor had originally proposed using one-year averages for student enrollment counts in each district, sparking a huge teacher rally at the Capitol earlier this year. 'The averaging tool in our formula has just been a way to help stabilize funding for districts. The governor had proposed eliminating that tool and it would have impacted our districts by about $147 million. We have kept averaging in the bill for next year,' McCluskie said. Northern Colorado manufacturers meet with Polis to discuss Trump tariffs While lawmakers kept the four-year enrollment averaging in place, it could change to a three-year averaging mechanism if the state is in better fiscal shape. With state budget leaders already warning that bigger cuts are likely to come next year, teachers said the state needs to find a better way to fund education. 'I continually refer to our current situation as the Hunger Games. We pit really need things that citizens want deserve to have here in this state against each other,' said Vick. 'I think TABOR [Taxpayer Bill of Rights] is one of the things we need to take a look at in terms of how it is artificially restricting our ability to even grow out of negative balance situations.' Speaker McCluskie also said it is time for the state to have a conversation about TABOR. While $10 billion sounds like a lot, teachers and lawmakers alike said the state could do better. Colorado is still down about $7,000 a year in per-pupil funding compared to the national average of $18, 614 according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The bill now heads to the Senate to go through the legislative process in that chamber. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State lawmakers want to sue over TABOR's constitutionality
DENVER (KDVR) — Lawmakers are in the process of approving tough cuts to keep this year's budget balanced. Some are now questioning if a constitutional amendment known as TABOR could be key to freeing up some more funding. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights has been in the state's constitution since voters put it there in 1992. Now, some lawmakers are asking if it's constitutional. New budget introduced at Colorado state Capital that addresses deficit 'We can be fiscally sound, we can make proper investments, we can have a strategy for pushing this state forward but currently we can't do that because of tabor. We all deserve an answer on whether or not it's constitutional or whether or not we are allowed to govern,' said state Representative Sean Camacho. The freshman representative is a prime sponsor of a new joint resolution at the state enough representatives and senators approve it, it would allow the Committee on Legal Services to file a lawsuit to explore the constitutionality of TABOR. 'We are elected representatives and we need the power to set fiscal policy for the state because, ultimately, we need to fund housing, healthcare, infrastructure, all the things that we are currently unable to do because of TABOR. A tax policy from 1992 that is not equipped for the challenges we face in 2025,' Camacho said. 'Have you seen our state budget? Those days are over, that is not happening, that is not the reality that we have anymore. And I think all of us as elected officials, our number one duty is to follow the law. The constitution is our supreme law of the land,' Camacho continued. 'We all deserve a question whether or not TABOR violates it. That's what this lawsuit is doing.' FOX31 political analyst and TABOR advocate Michael Fields said a federal court battle over TABOR already highlights potential obstacles to the effort. At least 4 international student visas revoked at the University of Colorado 'The door is closed and you are going up the 10th Circuit (court) because they already weighed in on this. So this is kind of the only other option: Is to go to state court. It's kind of ironic that they are challenging the constitutionality of a constitutionally passed measure, right? So it's a very interesting challenge that they are trying to do. I think they went this route because a lot of the other routes are already closed off to them,' said Fields. Reports of lawmakers weighing other proposals impacting TABOR, like one that would get rid of the state's flat income tax system in favor of a graduated system, are making their way around the capitol. Fields believes some of the ideas are symbolic of a desire for change. 'They want to try to do a progressive income tax but they need republican support which is never going to come to get it on the ballot,' Fields said. 'They can't get signatures, the polling isn't good. So they just say, 'you know what, we're going to throw this into the court's hands and throw it out totally, it's really popular, people won't side with us, so let's just hope the courts do this and overturn it.' I don't think that's likely to happen.' 'They keep complaining but the people are out there looking and saying, 'We like having TABOR. We like having a limit that government can only grow population plus inflation, that we get to weigh in on tax increases,' So I can understand how you are a legislator and you are frustrated that you can't raise taxes whenever you want but that's how it's been here for 33 years now,' Fields said. Because the legislation is a resolution and not a bill, lawmakers would not need the governor's signature to get the process going. The public will have a chance to weigh in on this once it gets to the committee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
