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Don't know if this thread is still alive, but a comment is in order.

Governor Owens is correct about Colorado not having the money to do the things politicians want to do. Owens is a Republican but he's also a politician who thinks his legacy and reputation is dependent on how much he spends on projects versus how much he saves. Colorado seems to have the money to spend on increasing social programs and pet projects but did not save for a rainy day. That alone proves you can't trust politicians to spend wisely. They will spend whatever money they can get from taxpayers, and demand more.

Colorado's spending controls have worked exactly as intended, which frustrates politicians of both parties. Our states fiscal conservatives remain in support of TABOR, contrary to what this article claims. TABOR can be suspended anytime a referendum is placed before voters for approval. The current referendum on our ballot wants to stop TABOR for five years and give a blank check to the state politicians. Had these addressed specific needs, they would stand a better chance of passing, as it's been done in the past. The blank check approach is not a responsible answer to Colorado's budget woes.

In fact, Colorado has two initiatives on our ballot. One to address the so-called shortfall in funding, Referendum C, which actually produces so much extra money that the second ballot question, Referendum D, is a wish list of projects the excess money would pay for.

The real question on the ballot is whether or not the media, politicians and special interest groups were able to scare voters enough to approve them.

I think the voters are smarter than the politicians and special interest groups give them credit for. As you mentioned, if there's a real need to spend more - Owens and the state's Democrats could have put forward a list of specific needs that have to be funded with more money. But a downright suspension of the spending cap for five years coupled with a blank check to the politicians is not the way to keep CO's fiscal house in order. We can all hope the state's voters say NO to the politicians' desire to spend without checks and balances. And TABOR is the only real check they have on the government being able to spend more than it takes in revenue. Its really called common sense.

("Denny Crane: Gun Control? For Communists. She's a liberal. Can't hunt.")