A Weblog of Centrist Voices in American Politics
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A Weblog of Centrist Voices in American Politics | |
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March 27, 2005No lip reading requiredThe Washington Post today has an interesting article on the budget struggles of Colorado Governor Bill Owen. Governor Owens is now seeing the donwnside of the "Taxpayers Bill of Rights" (TABOR) that has constitutionally restricting the states power to tax and spend. Because of the slowed state economy he's asking the voters to suspend the limits of TABOR. Owens thus becomes another low-tax, limited-government advocate who has found those principles hard to hold onto amid a sluggish economy and a sharply diminished flow of federal money to the states.The article details not only Owens difficulties but similar difficulties in other western, republican states. As Governor Guinn of Nevada puts it "Some people say that makes me a bad Republican," said the former banker and corporate executive. "Well, I would be a worse Republican, and a worse grandfather, and a worse citizen, if I didn't find enough money to educate our children and fund our Medicaid program and provide decent prenatal care."Now here's an issue the Democrats can grow from. Apparently the Colorado Democrats have learned that lesson and turned it into electoral success. An interesting contrast is this editorial in the Arizona Republic. As part of her ongoing budget struggle with a conservative Republican dominated state house and senate, Governor Napolitano is horse trading over the "right" tax cuts. Interesting to see a Democratic governonr not "dig in heels" over tax cut proposals but negotiate about targeted tax cuts while the Republicans in other states learn some hard lessons about blanket tax cuts. Definitely an opportunity for the Democrats to shape themselves as "for tax relief" AND "responsible budgetary policy". Posted by c3 at March 27, 2005 04:50 PMComments
The Colorado budget deal also includes a small property tax cut in six years--after the revenue-retain measure expires. One irony of watching Owens' party publicly maul him is that the budget deal is not TABOR reform. It actually follows TABOR's guidelines on asking voters' permission to keep revenue. Even TABOR's author--Doug Bruce--is attacking Owens for this. For these folks, the real crime is in acknowledging that Colorado even has a budget problem. I'm sorry, I miswrote. It is not a property tax cut, but an income rate cut. Posted by: Stygius at March 29, 2005 06:31 PM |
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