How has it come to this? Opponents of Referendum C now are playing the race card to scare voters.
A recorded message sent to absentee voters in Larimer, Weld and El Paso counties is designed to play on fears that illegal immigrants are soaking taxpayers.
The ad claims C would “take away your tax refunds and allow the state to use them on programs, such as services for illegal aliens.”
The calls, paid for by Jon Caldara’s “Vote No, It’s Your Dough” committee, are shameful and uninformed.
First of all, the only state money going to illegals is a small match required when they receive emergency Medicaid services. Dan Hopkins, spokesman for Gov. Bill Owens, says that money must go to illegals whether Ref C passes or not.
Second, Ref C doesn’t take away anyone’s state income tax refund. It would eliminate the Taxpayer’s Bill of Right’s rebate for the next five years – an average of less than $100 a year.
The state hasn’t given a TABOR rebate in four years, yet thousands of Coloradans still received income tax refunds. It’s an important distinction, glossed over by Caldara and his chorus of naysayers.
The no on C campaign has made an art of twisting the truth.
But playing the race card from the bottom of the deck is a new low.
