TABOR Dead or Only Dying?

The state Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to vote on the most recent version of TABOR (AJR 77) – most recently called the Taxpayer Protection Act (TP Act).

While opposition grows, the support for the bill seems to be dwindling faster than a martini at the Inn on the Park on a session night.

Unfortunately for its supporters (both of them?), it is getting attacked from the right and left and in directions that only physics could explain.

Most recently, Rep. Frank Lasee (R-Far Right) who is one of the original “fathers” of TABOR, criticized today’s vote as rushed since the newest version of TABOR was introduced only two days earlier. He further questions what the newest version actually does.

And Rep. Steve Nass (R-Even Farther Right) sent a memo to the bill’s author Rep. Jeff Wood criticizing the bill and the process as well.

On the left, the sentiment is pretty unified against the bill as it does more to make state government act like “Big Brother” than providing any real tax relief.

And local units of government hate the impact on police and fire protection, garbage pick up, education and more. Even the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce opposes the bill.

Watch for today’s vote, if there ultimately is one. In the mean time, you can start learning the lyrics, “another one bites the dust.”