More than 200 supporters of Referendums C and D rallied on the west steps of the state Capitol on Thursday – urging voters to pass the ballot measures that would let the state keep more tax money.
Speakers at the rally, organized by the Colorado Nonprofit Association, said the ballot measures are necessary to restore health care, education and transportation programs that have been cut since 2001.
“This campaign is not about politics,” said Al Yates, former president of Colorado State University. “This campaign is not about ideology or ego. This campaign is about us, our character, our compassion, our sense of community. This campaign is about our future.”
“Vote Yes on C&D” signs dotted the crowd, but not every message was warm and fuzzy.
One sign took aim at Jon Caldara, president of the Independence Institute and a leader of the opposition to C and D. The sign blared: “Caldera lies like a rug. Don’t be swept under. Vote Yes on C & D.”
Caldara was unfazed by the criticism.
“It goes to the logic of their argument: ‘Caldara is a bad person, so vote for this tax increase,”‘ he said. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
Five speakers in addition to Yates took turns at the microphone to explain how the ballot measures would help the state.
Barbara O’Brien, president of the Colorado Children’s Campaign, said passage of the measures would let managers shift their attention to people and not numbers.
“All of us are going to be staring at budgets rather than thinking about ways to make people’s lives better,” O’Brien said.
Referendum C would let the state keep an estimated $3.7 billion over five years to spend on programs such as health care, roads and schools.
Referendum D would let the state borrow another $2.1 billion.
Jerry Smith, president of Pikes Peak United Way, said nonprofits will not be able to pick up the slack if the state cuts programs to the needy.
While the speakers fired up the crowd, an opponent circled the Capitol tugging a statue of a larger-than-life pink pig on a trailer.
“We’ve got people,” said Anna Gelt, a Metropolitan State College of Denver sophomore from Denver. “They’ve got a pig.”
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-820-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
