What's in a name? A lot, apparently, when it comes to distinguishing "state taxpayers" from "federal taxpayers."
COLORADO'S FRONTPAGE
Face the State
Content Index: Taxes
Follow this topic by RSSVoters get no referendum right on tax increases
Tax increases - put in place as a result of recent legislative action nixing certain exemptions - begin taking effect next week. Voters can't exercise their constitutional right to a referendum on the bills as they're deemed necessary for public health and safety. Taxes are good for you...
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2/5: A retirement double standard
Colorado's public-sector retirees argue they have an absolute right to their retirement. But the rest of us, shacked to Social Security, are still up a creek.
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2/4: Bennet and the national debt
Is Sen. Michael Bennet for or against growing the national debt? It depends, what day is it?
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2/3: Falling off the stimulus cliff
Where do all these stimulus-funded jobs go when the money dries up?
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2/2: Business taxes on the rise
Did your business lose money this year? Too bad, but the state's lining up to tax you, anyway.
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1/28: Hickenlooper's tax tap dance
John Hickenlooper is against tax increases. Except for when he's for them.
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Ritter's 2010 budget proposal
Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, this week presented his 2010 budget proposal to the legislature's Joint Budget Committee. Face The State has audio from his presentation as well as analysis from GOP budget hawk Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs.
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Trio of anti-tax petitions on deck for 2010
A Face the State Staff Report
July 27, 2009Three anti-tax petitions are being circulated in hopes of rolling back recently-enacted tax and fee increases at next year's election. Backers of the initiatives emphasize the grassroots nature of their endeavor, but Colorado's most prominent tax-cutting activists are at work in the background helping to shepherd the measures to the ballot.
FTS Humor: Perlmutterings
Face The State Humor
July 24, 2009By Andrew Ripemoff
Even as someone who didn’t vote for Bill Ritter, I have to admit that my heart was filled with regional pride upon seeing the governor of my state invited to our nation’s capitol, to the United States Senate, on national TV and everything, afforded the opportunity to suck up to that annoying Barbara Boxer.
Mr. Ritter was there to share his economic expertise with our nation’s lawmakers. And why not? Let’s be fair: If you really want a serious, bi-partisan roadmap towards creating jobs and improving the economy while solving a budget crisis, you will take note of what Governor Ritter is doing here in Colorado.
Hiring 'freeze' thawed, now Elliman's domain
FTS Opinion
July 21, 2009Despite substantial fiscal instability, the state hiring freeze quietly came to an end June 30. The moratorium on hiring, to which exemptions were liberally granted, will now be replaced by an even looser prior-approval process.
FTS Humor: Shocking! People Don’t Like Higher Fees
Face The State Humor
July 17, 2009By Andrew Ripemoff
Lots of surprising, attention-grabbing headlines in the news lately, starting with this recent one from the Denver Post:
NEW COLORADO AUTO FEES STIR SHOCK, ANGER
The story concerns the public’s reaction to the July 1st implementation of the Democrats' FASTER legislation. Amazingly, it turns out that some people - get this - don’t like sending more of their money to government.
7/15: Say 'no' to make-work train project
Watch out! The federal gravy train is heading straight for Colorado.
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Who are these mysterious 'federal taxpayers'?
July 13, 2009'The Buzz' on 1310 KFKA, 7/13/09 - Ritter's revenue estimates; GOP Guv race
FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1310 KFKA talk show host Amy Oliver. A recent Face The State analysis of state government budget projections shows the Ritter administration was slow to adjust its revenue estimates as the recession worsened. Also, the GOP field lining up to challenge the incumbent Governor grew to three with the weekend addition of state Sen. Josh Penry.
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A tale of two think tanks - and the state budget
Colorado's Long-Term Fiscal Stability Commission held its first hearings Wednesday and Thursday. Both the liberal Bell Policy Center and libertarian Independence Institute gave presentations on the future course of the state budget, and Face The State brings you the highlights.
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Ritter budget numbers consistently rosier than Leg Council's
A Face the State Staff Report
July 10, 2009
Two state offices tasked with estimating government revenues have attempted to predict the recession's impact on tax revenue, with differing results. The Office of State Planning and Budgeting, within the Ritter administration, has been at odds with the non-partisan Legislative Council, with the latter being consistently more conservative in its estimates of general fund revenue.
FTS on 600 KCOL: Vehicle registration fees & budget woes
Face The State visits with 600 KCOL morning show hosts Keith and Gail to talk about state politics and preview the FTS Weekend Edition. County clerks are busy fielding complaints about increased vehicle registration fees, but there's little they can do to help ease the pain. Gov. Bill Ritter has said he'll push for late fee relief, but that won't happen until 2010. In the meantime, lawmakers are working to plot the future of Colorado's budget, but consensus is unlikely.
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'The Buzz' on 1310 KFKA, 7/6/09 - New Senate hopefuls; new fiscal commission
FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1310 KFKA talk show host Amy Oliver. This week: Two more Republicans have announced for the U.S. Senate in 2010, but who are they? Plus, the state's long-term fiscal stability commission gears up, but will its members find "consensus"?
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Fiscal Stability Commission set to kick off
July 6, 2009By Todd Engdahl
Education News Colorado
The Colorado legislature spent much of the winter and spring wrangling over money, and this summer that debate moves to a new forum – with some new voices.
FTS on 1100 KNZZ: Is the JBC prepared to cut the budget?
FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1100 KNZZ weekend host Rick Wagner to discuss state politics. Top of the list: Is Gov. Bill Ritter prepared to make the tough decisions about the state budget deficit? And is the Joint Budget Committee the best venue to ratify his decisions?
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Liberty never takes a day off, especially not July 4
July 3, 2009
Colorado will play host to another round of "Tea Parties" this July 4 holiday weekend. The rallies are a follow-up to the grassroots movement that began on April 15 - tax day - and drew a crowd of over 5,000 people to the capitol in Denver.
FTS on 850 KOA with Mike Rosen re: new gaming law
FTS managing editor Brad Jones, fresh back from Black Hawk and $80 poorer for the experience, visits with 850 KOA talk show host Mike Rosen about today's change in Colorado gaming law.
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FTS on Fox 31 News: New laws, new fees
July 2, 2009
Following Face The State's publication of details on the 51 bills hiking state fee revenue this year, Fox 31 reporter Eli Stokols reports on the real-world impact to individuals and businesses.
Longmont's Levison digs deep for tax revenue
July 1, 2009Politicians have long debated the "death tax," levied by the IRS on inter-generational transfers of wealth. Now, cash-starved local governments are looking to cash in on the deceased, too. At a recent Longmont City Council meeting, councilwoman Sarah Levison was so concerned a local estate sale was not collecting sales tax that she called authorities to "go out there and figure out what was going on."
7/1: Not too stimulating
Just how stimulating is the federal stimulus bill?
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51 bills raised fees $560+ million for FY 2009
July 1, 2009A number of new laws take effect today, with others slated to phase in over the rest of the year. Many increase the cost of government services, the most high-profile being a hike to vehicle registration fees. Face the State has obtained a spreadsheet (available here) from the state's Legislative Council detailing 51 fee increase bills and their impact on the state's bottom line: over $562 million in the fiscal year starting today.
6/30: WINS wants a raise
Colorado WINS is pushing for another taxpayer loss.
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'The Buzz' on 1310 KFKA, 6/29/09 - Rep. Markey's silence; Ritter's union problem
FTS managing editor Brad Jones visits with 1310 KFKA talk show host Amy Oliver to discuss U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey's selectivity in talking to media outlets, and Gov. Bill Ritter's difficulty in telling Colorado WINS "no" on their request for a raise.
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6/29: Can Ritter cut with confidence?
Gov. Ritter says he's open to cutting unnecessary government programs. Great! When do we start?
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Is the federal stimulus creating jobs?
Is the federal stimulus package, passed earlier this year to jump-start the economy, having its intended effect? As FTS staff writer Kate Melvin discovered, state data indicates few jobs, if any, are truly "created" by upping transportation spending.
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