Here we go again… talking about the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). But wait, this is the first time to my knowledge that a Spider-Man reference has been brought into a TABOR discussion! THANK YOU, Jesse Paul!  Here’s a look at the Spidey reference and all the other facets of this week’s Colorado Inside Out Conversation:

Economic Uncertainty and Reaction to Tariffs:
I began this week’s episode by acknowledging how April is starting off with economic uncertainty. The University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business found that Colorado business leaders are feeling nervous and are taking a wait-and-see attitude when it comes to our state’s economy. That sentiment is due to many factors, including the new Trump Administration tariffs.

Push to eliminate TABOR:
The state budget for the next fiscal year is also up in the air. The legislature will no doubt be making revisions before the budget goes before Governor Polis. In the meantime, the need to cut so many programs from the budget is a source of frustration and Colorado Democrats are calling for a “reckoning” on TABOR aka The Taxpayer Bill of Rights. The panelists explain that TABOR limits the revenue Colorado can retain and spend, requiring any excess revenue to be refunded to taxpayers, and requiring voter approval to raise taxes. TABOR was approved by Colorado voters in 1992, but this week, Democrats introduced a resolution that would force the legislature’s attorneys to file against the state to overturn TABOR.

• Colorado Sun reporter Jessie Paul: “One of the interesting things about this is it’s kind of like that Spider-Man meme where a bunch of different Spider-Mans are pointing their fingers at each other because what effectively this would do is force taxpayers to foot the bill twice. They’d have to pay for the legislature to hire attorneys to sue the state, and then the attorney general’s office would be in charge of having to defend against the lawsuit. So effectively, everybody would be kind of suing themselves.”
• Advance Colorado Executive VP Kristi Burton Brown: “Colorado is actually the only state in the whole nation that has a Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, and it’s here to stay in Colorado. It fits the Colorado mindset. We know how to spend our money better than the government. And I think when you look at the lawsuit, it’s going to fail if it goes to court. The argument is that a Republican form of government guaranteed to us by the Constitution means that representatives should have the most power. It actually criticizes direct democracy… the power of the people, which is kind of odd coming from the Democrat Party, but that’s what they want to do in this lawsuit.”
• Ean Thomas Tafoya suggests that the increased number of Colorado residents who weren’t living here in 1992 when TABOR passed might have a different perspective on TABOR’s implications and that a “temperature check” via a ballot initiative could be worthwhile. “I work with a lot of people who feel like TABOR is holding them back from being able to deliver the American dream through the kinds of programs that our communities need, the roads that need to be built and the infrastructure that is lacking. There are still people in our communities that have lead in their water, among other things….so do we have enough resources? I don’t think so.”
• Denver Post columnist Krista Kafer: “They’re not going to get rid of TABOR, People love TABOR. People loved it when they voted for it to begin with, and they voted for it ever since. All I can say is ‘good luck, because it’s not going to happen.”

Rep. Brittany Pettersen’s Temporary Win over Proxy Voting in the U.S. House:
Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen is the lead on a bi-partisan bill in the U.S. House that would allow for proxy voting for new parents in Congress. Pettersen lobbied for the rule change before her son Sam was born (LINK TO Humanize: https://video.pbs12.org/video/barbara-brooks-representative-brittany-pettersen-and-yazmin-castillo-byta92/). Following his birth, Pettersen has been travelling back and forth between Colorado and DC with her infant in tow so that she can vote on measures. This past Tuesday, a procedural maneuver tried to block Pettersen and fellow supporters from bringing up a resolution allowing for proxy voting, but the idea received approval with a 206-222 with nine Republicans supporting the proxy bill, and Pettersen is now focused on having the resolution pass this Congressional session.

• Jesse Paul covered a similar situation Pettersen was in when she was a State Senator in the Colorado Legislature: “She actually delivered a child during a session a few years ago… she was only the second state lawmaker to give birth during session. And so, there were a lot of discussions about how to make accommodations for her. I think it’s really fascinating to see her kind of at the center of this. You know, people go to Congress and often times the focus on them is about their policy making but, she’s really making a big name for herself on this. And as somebody who might be up for a U.S. Senate appointment, should Michael Bennet run for Governor of Colorado, I think this is an interesting moment for her.”
• Kristi Burton Brown: “As a Republican who’s very pro-life, very pro-family, I think these are the kind of things that should be an easy yes for other Republicans. I like that. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna from Florida is on this bill with Congresswoman Pettersen. She also had a child while she was in Congress… and she knows you can actually raise your children, take care of them and represent your people. But we should be giving them some accommodations to do that. That’s how a district is best represented. If they wanted to elect a young mother, they should let that young mother represent them.
• Ean Thomas Tafoya suggested the opposition might be politically motivated, concerned about the potential impact on close votes, especially given the current party balance in the House: “It’s pretty ridiculous. I think the fact is that Congress has been dominated by a bunch of old men. And so that’s why it’s even harder for them to get it through their head that women need time to recover, that people need time with their families.

THE BIG DEBATE: Colorado Energy Policies & Federal Funding Changes:
Colorado is described as being “aggressive on cutting emissions and growing renewable energy.” Governor Polis is reportedly staying focused on these areas despite federal-level policy changes. Ean Thomas Tafoya expressed concern about federal executive orders freezing contracts related to energy projects, leading to layoffs and harming communities. Kristi Burton Brown acknowledged the shared desire for “clean water and clean air” but highlights disagreements on the “how to get there.” From here, a debate ensued.

• Brown: “When we look at changes the Trump administration is making, for one thing, I find it interesting that the people opposing the removal of certain tax credits are typically the people who oppose tax cuts and tax credits, but they want them on environmental issues because it’s their pet issue. I think when you look at energy issues in Colorado, if we’re talking about cleaning up Suncor, someone who’s had a history of violations… that’s important work that I think everyone can agree on. Instead, we’re talking about making all school districts have electric school busses. I’m on the State Board of Education representing a lot of rural school districts. That’s not what these districts need. So, are we really zeroing in on the energy policies that give us clean air, that give us clean water, that protect our communities and our families?
• Tafoya: “I’ve worked on Suncor issues because I come from that community. I’ve never seen a Republican vote Yes on a bill that would rein in Suncor. I certainly haven’t seen any mandates that say, yes, you have to have an electric school bus. I have seen financial incentives be provided and resources for technical assistance, but never a mandate.”
• Brown: “When you talk to the school districts that are affected, they’re going to tell you that it is being pushed down on them. And so, it’s always a matter of perspective. Do you feel like you’re being forced by the government? Do you feel like you’re being incentivized by the government?”

Filling Leadership Positions and Vacancies:
Routt County rancher and former county treasurer Brita Horn is the new Chair of the Colorado GOP.

• Krista Kafer: “It’s good that she’s from the western part of the state. Usually it’s people that come from the Denver Metro area or the Colorado Springs Metro area.”
• Kristi Burton Brown, a former head of the Colorado GOP, attended last weekend’s party assembly meeting: “Almost everyone showed up. Lots of elected officials, three congressmen were there. People were really invested in the future of our party. And I think it’s because you have seen some things just not be normal at our party over the last two years and not represent the majority of Republicans here in Colorado who want to focus on issues, don’t want to fight each other, want to actually win seats and criticize the other party.”
• Jesse Paul did have one complaint regarding the state party’s organizational meeting where the election of Horn occurred: “Reporters were actually barred from attending that. We were forced to watch it online… press access is important. If you want us to cover your events accurately and responsibly, we like to talk to folks.”

An Extra Mention: HB 1315:
This week, Jesse Paul reported on the introduction of HB 1315 which would require lawmakers who got their position via a vacancy committee to then run for election and be elected within a year in order to keep their job. Take a look at the article. All of the Insiders supported the idea of this bill. Ean Thomas Tafoya: “I think a lot of people are very frustrated with vacancy committees appointing leaders, and it seems like it’s already an insider game politics and it’s already about who you’re connected to with the money.”

And here’s a final shout out to the Colorado Rockies, who have their Opening Weekend at Coors Field… maybe this is the year we win it all! GO ROX!