Gov. Bill Owens and other leading Republicans urged their fellow conservatives on Thursday to get behind the budget-reform package on November’s ballot.
Owens touted his conservative credibility, reminding a roomful of Republicans that he has signed 43 tax cuts and worked for passage of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR, in 1992.
This fall, voters will decide whether to let government keep about $3.1 billion in projected revenue surpluses over five years. That money otherwise would be refunded to taxpayers under TABOR. Supporters say the money would help restore more than $1.1 billion in cuts to state programs over the past four years and fund transportation improvements.
Owens, who was joined by businessman Bruce Benson, former House Speaker Chuck Berry and Sen. Norma Anderson, made their pitch at the headquarters of Denver Options, a group that supports people with developmental disabilities. Thousands of Coloradans with developmental disabilities are on waiting lists for services, advocates said.
Owens emphasized that the ballot questions don’t change TABOR but work within the tax cap to allow the state to recover from recessions.
“Because my party is the more conservative party … it’s obvious this party is where some of the concern might be unless we do a good job of explaining Referendum C and D,” he said.
Republican John Andrews, a former president of the state Senate, said a majority of Republican legislators didn’t vote for the proposal, and Republicans planning to run statewide next year are distancing themselves from the ballot questions.
“This kind of a huge tax increase doesn’t sit well with the Republican mainstream,” Andrews said.
The governor reminded the crowd they won’t surrender their regular income-tax refunds if Referendums C and D pass. The ballot question deals only with surpluses, not income taxes.
If the measures fail, Owens said, estimates show the surplus money would not reach average taxpayers because other targeted tax breaks would take first priority.
Staff writer Chris Frates can be reached at cfrates@denverpost.com or 303-820-1633.
