Don Marostica is back in the news, but this time he's defending taxpayer protections.

More on that in a moment on the Face The State Radio Minute.

State Rep. Don Marostica found himself on the outs with fellow Republicans this legislative session for sponsoring a measure that would accelerate the growth of government. But Marostica is also making it clear he's a backer of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, if for no other reason than it's wildly popular with voters. "People really like it," he told us.

Republicans have questioned Marostica's loyalty to fiscal conservatism. But his plan to focus on Amendment 23 and the Gallagher Amendment before any talk of weakening TABOR is a move in the right direction.

Marostica will continue to find himself in the crossfire between fiscal conservatives and big-spending liberals, but he's right on TABOR. Spending mandates, not limits, are the real problem with Colorado's budget.

For FaceTheState.com, I'm Brad Jones.