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Week 10, 2005
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Dear Friends and Supporters,
You may have read in the newspapers that Governor Owens made an agreement with the leaders of the Senate and the House about a budget proposal to be placed on the ballot this fall for your approval.
Under the plan, the state would keep all the revenue collected for five years, which comes to about $3.1 billion more than it's allowed to keep under current TABOR limits. In year six, the state will keep $100 million more than TABOR allows to help repay a $1.7 billion bond. That bond would include money for the Police and Fire Pension Fund, k-12 school construction and transportation
Please note former President of the Senate John Andrews comment:
"Will voters say yes this November on a tax increase of at least $2400 for the average family of four? That's the question from our Democrat-led legislature under this week's big budget deal with the Governor and a few GOP allies.
The math is simple. More than $3 billion moves from taxpayers to government between now and 2010. Fewer than 5 million people live in the state. Rough calculation gives $600 per person, $2400 per family. And that's the low end, since many residents pay no taxes at all.
Do Coloradoans agree with Dems and Owens that the state can spend those dollars smarter than individuals can? Would each family get back that much value in health care, college access, and better roads? The burden of proof is on those who say slower spending growth is just too painful. I've yet to see the proof myself. It's gonna be quite a campaign."
Attached is a file from "Americans for Tax Reform," a tax analysis organization in Washington, D.C., led by Grover Norquist. I recommend that you take the time to read this attached article.
In the Governor's answers to The Denver Post. Go to:
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~61~2770543,00.html
I have not committed to this new budget plan, but I am leaning strongly NO. I would like to review in detail what the essential needs of the state are and then compare them to the projected revenue flow according to our existing state sales and income tax structure. We need a budget that meets our essential needs and keeps taxes within the TABOR guidelines.
We do have the requirement for funding medicaide and k-12 education, which is about 65% of our general fund. There is the need for expansion of our prison population (we add about 800 - 1,000 new prisoners per year), for the growth of Human Services, for the funding of the "senior citizen real-estate exemption," transportation, and other government services.
This past week, we formalized the Republican Study Committee of Colorado for both the Senate and House. It is patterned after the program in Washington, D.C. Our purpose is to study issues in depth, give recommendations from the study, and promote legislation. Attached is a list of our "principles." I am one of the 9 founding members. A few of our plans are to study our budget, study academic freedom and tenure at our universities, study the problem with illegal aliens, and study k-12 education options. There will be other subjects as we move forward. I will share with you the results of our studies.
Attached is a list of "Bills in the News, Week Ending 3/18/05." This will give you a brief recap of most of the legislation we are now voting on.
Thank you for your support and prayers! May God bless our great country and you personally.
Rep. Jim Welker
House District 51
You may have read in the newspapers that Governor Owens made an agreement with the leaders of the Senate and the House about a budget proposal to be placed on the ballot this fall for your approval.
Under the plan, the state would keep all the revenue collected for five years, which comes to about $3.1 billion more than it's allowed to keep under current TABOR limits. In year six, the state will keep $100 million more than TABOR allows to help repay a $1.7 billion bond. That bond would include money for the Police and Fire Pension Fund, k-12 school construction and transportation
Please note former President of the Senate John Andrews comment:
"Will voters say yes this November on a tax increase of at least $2400 for the average family of four? That's the question from our Democrat-led legislature under this week's big budget deal with the Governor and a few GOP allies.
The math is simple. More than $3 billion moves from taxpayers to government between now and 2010. Fewer than 5 million people live in the state. Rough calculation gives $600 per person, $2400 per family. And that's the low end, since many residents pay no taxes at all.
Do Coloradoans agree with Dems and Owens that the state can spend those dollars smarter than individuals can? Would each family get back that much value in health care, college access, and better roads? The burden of proof is on those who say slower spending growth is just too painful. I've yet to see the proof myself. It's gonna be quite a campaign."
Attached is a file from "Americans for Tax Reform," a tax analysis organization in Washington, D.C., led by Grover Norquist. I recommend that you take the time to read this attached article.
In the Governor's answers to The Denver Post. Go to:
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~61~2770543,00.html
I have not committed to this new budget plan, but I am leaning strongly NO. I would like to review in detail what the essential needs of the state are and then compare them to the projected revenue flow according to our existing state sales and income tax structure. We need a budget that meets our essential needs and keeps taxes within the TABOR guidelines.
We do have the requirement for funding medicaide and k-12 education, which is about 65% of our general fund. There is the need for expansion of our prison population (we add about 800 - 1,000 new prisoners per year), for the growth of Human Services, for the funding of the "senior citizen real-estate exemption," transportation, and other government services.
This past week, we formalized the Republican Study Committee of Colorado for both the Senate and House. It is patterned after the program in Washington, D.C. Our purpose is to study issues in depth, give recommendations from the study, and promote legislation. Attached is a list of our "principles." I am one of the 9 founding members. A few of our plans are to study our budget, study academic freedom and tenure at our universities, study the problem with illegal aliens, and study k-12 education options. There will be other subjects as we move forward. I will share with you the results of our studies.
Attached is a list of "Bills in the News, Week Ending 3/18/05." This will give you a brief recap of most of the legislation we are now voting on.
Thank you for your support and prayers! May God bless our great country and you personally.
Rep. Jim Welker
House District 51
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