Budget cuts: GOP fetish?

http://www.jewishworldreview.com ^ | George Will

[manny613]

This autumn's angriest political controversy is reaching a roiling boil in this state. Conservatives, especially, are arguing, with their characteristic internecine fury, about whether a change in fiscal facts should cause Colorado to change its mind about a rule restricting government spending. Come November, there will be a referendum on a temporary relaxation of the state's "taxpayer bill of rights" — Tabor.

[RoadTest]

Good ol' George! I wouldn't miss a column of his.

[Alberta's Child]

In 2000, Colorado voters, in an episode of cognitive dissonance encouraged by the teachers unions and the rest of the public education lobby, passed an initiative discordant with Tabor. It requires spending on education in grades K through 12 to grow significantly faster than overall spending.

This is exactly what makes a voter referendum/initiative process so dangerous. Quite frankly, many voters aren't bright enough to understand that decisions they make in the voting booth are often directly at odds with each other.

[layman]

all spending cuts must come from ... higher education, corrections and human services

There is no question that significant cuts in higher education could be made without adverse effects on actual education. Ward Churchill comes to mind.

[rellimpank]

---I agree. Most or all of the diploma mills with attached semi-pro sports teams would be improved by an across-the-board twenty percent budget cut---

[Reagan Man]

>>>>Gov. Bill Owens has cut taxes 41 times

That says alot.

The referendum in question prohibits tax increases. The first three words of the referendum, on page 23 of the blue book voters guide, specifically says: "Without raising taxes". This is money already collected by the state of Colorado.

>>>>Owens ... believes Colorado's Tabor will be repealed in two years unless the November referendum prevents politically unpopular budget cuts.

That is very possible.