Taxpayer's Bill of Rights
Yesterday morning, as I was listening to KFAQ, I heard Brandon Dutcher, of the Oklahoma Council on Public Affairs, extolling the virtues of TABOR. So, I decided that maybe I should educate myself on this issue.
TABOR stands for Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. The essence of TABOR is that it forces the state government to only grow by a set amount each year: the rate of inflation plus the rate of population growth. If you’ve watched the out-of-control spending by the Oklahoma legislature for the past few years, you know why this is desperately needed. Furthermore, TABOR will stabilize the state’s budget. It creates a true emergency fund, just like a wise citizen would have, that can only be accessed in times of true emergency.
The battle lines that have been drawn on this issue are interesting. There are basically two camps: the taxpayers and the tax consumers. Organizations such as teachers unions, public television, and government-funded charities are adamantly opposed to TABOR, while organizations such as the Oklahoma Council for Public Affairs support it. (The OCPA is the same organization that releases a yearly Piglet Book detailing the outrageous waste in Oklahoma’s yearly budget.)
Rather than attempt to explain the entire issue, let me steer you to a number of sources that will be far more thorough and accurate than I could be:
A policy analysis on TABOR by Barry W. Poulson, Ph.D.
TABOR Objections Answered.
One of the most common “facts” the tax consumers cite is that TABOR has been a disaster for Colorado since they instituted it in 1992. Mark Nichols explains why Oklahoma’s TABOR amendment is different.
And Dr. Barry Poulson also covers “What Oklahoma Can Learn from Colorado’s Mistake.”
A written debate at the University of Central Oklahoma on TABOR.
“The debate over TABOR can be understood in terms of a battle between citizens and special interests -- that is, between taxpayers and tax consumers. Taxpayers want to limit the burden imposed by government taxation and spending. Special interests seek to preserve what they perceive to be their rights to that spending.” --Read the rest of the article at Americans For Prosperity.
Oklahoma public labor unions are terrified of TABOR.
Not directly related to TABOR, but Steven Malanga has written a piece on the power of public unions called, “The Conspiracy Against the Taxpayers.”
I stopped by 51st and Harvard yesterday afternoon to pickup a TABOR petition. I urge you to join me in taking this petition to your families, friends, coworkers, and others in your sphere of influence. TABOR will force the state government to reduce spending, and with its proportional tax refunds, will spur Oklahoma’s lethargic economy. TABOR will be good for Oklahoma.
TABOR stands for Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. The essence of TABOR is that it forces the state government to only grow by a set amount each year: the rate of inflation plus the rate of population growth. If you’ve watched the out-of-control spending by the Oklahoma legislature for the past few years, you know why this is desperately needed. Furthermore, TABOR will stabilize the state’s budget. It creates a true emergency fund, just like a wise citizen would have, that can only be accessed in times of true emergency.
The battle lines that have been drawn on this issue are interesting. There are basically two camps: the taxpayers and the tax consumers. Organizations such as teachers unions, public television, and government-funded charities are adamantly opposed to TABOR, while organizations such as the Oklahoma Council for Public Affairs support it. (The OCPA is the same organization that releases a yearly Piglet Book detailing the outrageous waste in Oklahoma’s yearly budget.)
Rather than attempt to explain the entire issue, let me steer you to a number of sources that will be far more thorough and accurate than I could be:
A policy analysis on TABOR by Barry W. Poulson, Ph.D.
TABOR Objections Answered.
One of the most common “facts” the tax consumers cite is that TABOR has been a disaster for Colorado since they instituted it in 1992. Mark Nichols explains why Oklahoma’s TABOR amendment is different.
And Dr. Barry Poulson also covers “What Oklahoma Can Learn from Colorado’s Mistake.”
A written debate at the University of Central Oklahoma on TABOR.
“The debate over TABOR can be understood in terms of a battle between citizens and special interests -- that is, between taxpayers and tax consumers. Taxpayers want to limit the burden imposed by government taxation and spending. Special interests seek to preserve what they perceive to be their rights to that spending.” --Read the rest of the article at Americans For Prosperity.
Oklahoma public labor unions are terrified of TABOR.
Not directly related to TABOR, but Steven Malanga has written a piece on the power of public unions called, “The Conspiracy Against the Taxpayers.”
I stopped by 51st and Harvard yesterday afternoon to pickup a TABOR petition. I urge you to join me in taking this petition to your families, friends, coworkers, and others in your sphere of influence. TABOR will force the state government to reduce spending, and with its proportional tax refunds, will spur Oklahoma’s lethargic economy. TABOR will be good for Oklahoma.
posted by Mike at 8:23 AM
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