Among its accomplishments, the free-market Independence Institute think tank counts:
– Colorado flat state income tax
– TABOR
– HOT Lanes
– Privatization of RTD routes
– School choice/open enrollment
– Charter Schools
– Licensed conceal handgun carry
– Preemption of Denver’s law allowing confiscation of guns and automobiles
– Reform of excessive sick leave accrual policy for state employees
– Eminent domain reform
– Environmental audits (companies can conduct self-audits of environmental compliance—beyond what is legally required–and not be punished when they discover a problem and fix it)
– Term limits for state and local officials
– Sentencing reform for drug possession
Its success when it comes to ballot initiatives and referendums in Colorado has been more limited. The think tank opposed:
– the education funding Amendment 23 (which passed),
– RTD’s FasTracks rail expansion (which passed, but finds itself in financial difficulty)
– and changes to TABOR including Referendums C & D (which passed and failed, respectively).
— Jessica Fender
