TABOR Update
Looks like Phil Bredesen isn’t just a Republican in disguise after all:
Gov. Phil Bredesen said he is adamantly against putting a proposed “taxpayer bill of rights” into the state constitution, but he will not actively oppose an amendment to forbid gay marriage.
Questioned during an interview about proposed state constitutional amendments, the governor said he thinks popular election of the state comptroller, treasurer and secretary of state is a bad idea but is less strongly opposed to permanently banning a state income tax.
The “taxpayer bill of rights,” also known by the acronym TABOR, is modeled after a provision in the Colorado Constitution. Bredesen said it is “a disaster” in that state today after “some short-term success” in prior years.
“I think the taxpayer bill of rights is a bad thing that goes to the heart of my ability to operate government day-to-day as opposed to some of the other things that are out there,” he said.
I support anything that limits the government’s ability to tax. Bredesen has brought some long needed fiscal conservatism to Tennessee government. His opposition could indicate the first step in raising taxes or implementing new taxes.
January 28th, 2005 at 11:47 am
The TABOR amendment was a big part of the reason for Bill Owens being rated “Americas best governor”. The other reason was political gridlock in CO in the 90s. With the Donks now in control of both legislative houses this year, the Gov is now singing “I’m Just A Girl Who Can’t Say No” and siding with the Dems on a proposal to gut TABOR, and allow a resumption of crushing taxation and proflagerate spending.
Owens is a spineless RINO who’ll sign anything that lands on his desk.
January 28th, 2005 at 3:43 pm
The fiscal issues in Colorado can hardly be blamed on TABOR. See, Colorado voters have a sort of multiple personality disorder. We also have “Amendment 23” which mandates (as I understand it) certain spending increases in education. I’m not expert on A23, or how it interacts fiscally with TABOR, but everyone agrees it ain’t pretty.
The CO legislature will have to send an TABOR changes to the voters, and it will be a battle, I think, because it seems CO is swinging towards voting in more gov. spending.
For those interesed in Colorado’s TABOR, I recommend starting at The Colorado Freedom Report. Hit the archives.
Billll: I didn’t know Denver had a Mad Scientists Club. Maybe I’ll see you at the next meeting.
January 28th, 2005 at 3:44 pm
Ooops, forgot to mention that while Bill Owens could do a better job, he gets props in my book for vetoing the state DMCA law passed by the Republican controlled legislature a couple years ago.