How will Colorado vote this year?
The Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, a US Senator, eight Congressmen, sixty five State Representatives, seventeen State Senators, and countless county and local offices are all on the ballot this year.
Colorado voters will also decide a number of State and local ballot initiatives.
The three initiatives to amend the State Constitution require a 55% majority. (All of which were referred by the State Legislature; Amendment D, Amendment E, and Amendment F)
The eight statewide propositions, require a simple majority. (FF, GG, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126)
Let’s take a deeper look at these initiatives:
Amendment D: New 23rd Judicial District Judges
Colorado has been divided into 22 Judicial Districts since 1964.
In 1964, Colorado’s population was 1,966,000 people. (source)
In 2020, it was 5,773,714. (source)
It’s time for a new judicial district, and that’s why in 2020, the Colorado Legislature passed the bipartisan HB20-1026, and it’s follow-up this year, HCR22-1005.
Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln Counties will be removed from the 18th District, and now be in the 23rd District.
Arapahoe County will remain in the 18th District, but will lose seven judges to the new district.
A new Judicial District also means a new District Attorney.
Amendment D exists to “ensure we have smooth transition,” in downsizing the 18th, and creating the 23rd, according to Terry Scanlon, Legislative Liaison for the state judicial department. (source)
Amendment D, if passed, will allow the Governor to reassign these seven judges from the 18th to the 23d District.
This Amendment protects the judges currently serving, by allowing them to keep their jobs in the new district.
If Amendment D fails, “the constituents in the 23rd Judicial District to select their own judges through their nominating commission,” according to Chris Forsyth, Executive Director of the Judicial Integrity Project.
Forsyth is in opposition, partly because “the proposed amendment is an example of the improper influence the judicial branch has over Colorado’s General Assembly. Seven judges can get the General Assembly to adopt a referendum for a constitutional amendment that would allow them to keep their jobs.” (source)
The Constitution does not need to be amended for this purpose.
The judges can compete for the new positions in the 23rd district by allowing the voters to decide if they should represent them in this new district.
Amendment D, seems to be the State Legislature protecting their friends in the Judiciary at the expense of representative government.
This is bad for liberty.
Amendment E: Extend Homestead Exemption to Gold Star Spouses
Many of Colorado’s veterans and seniors currently receive an exemption for a portion of their property taxes.
Currently, if a Colorado veteran or senior is 100% permanently disabled, then 50% of the first $200,000 of their residential property’s value is exempted from property tax.
If Amendment E passes, this exemption would expand to spouses of United States Armed Forces service members.
This was referred to the voters by the State Legislature in HCR22-1003.
This Amendment will allow more individuals to stay in their homes by saving them on their property taxes.
By reducing Property Taxes, the home owner will be better off.
And for better or worse, local governments will not lose any tax revenue, because the State Government will offset lost property tax revenue with their taxpayer money.
Although it would have been better to see an even larger exemption for property taxes, it would still be a win if this passes.
Overall, this Amendment is good for liberty.
Amendment F: Changes to Charitable Gaming Operations
Currently, a charitable organization must exist for five years before applying for a charitable gaming license.
Also, managers and operators are not allowed to receive payment for running a charitable game.
Amendment F changes both of these state laws.
If Amendment F passes, a charitable organization needs to only exist for three years before they can apply for a charitable gaming license.
After 2025, the Legislature will be able to change the length of time before a charitable organization can apply.
Also, managers and operators would be allowed to receive minimum wage for running the games.
After July 1, 2024, they would be allowed to make more than minimum wage.
Amendment F appears on the ballot because of HCR22-1006, passed earlier this year.
This Amendment allows for more Bingo games, pull-tab games, and raffles for Colorado residents.
This is good for charities who can use these games to raise funds and improve their community.
Charitable gaming, and gambling in general still have many restrictions imposed by the State Government.
Amendment F is very similar to 2020’s Amendment C, which failed with a vote of 52.35% to 47.65%. (Remember, Amendments need 55% of the vote to pass)
This Amendment allows for easier access to gaming money for charitable organizations.
And although Colorado still has a long way to go toward unrestricted gaming, this is a step in the right direction.
This is good for liberty.
Proposition FF: Healthy School Meals for All
Proposition FF would increase taxes by over $100 million to fund a State program to provide meals to public school students.
This proposition pulls money out of the economy, slowing economic activity, and decreasing the wealth in the free market.
All Colorado taxpayers who have over $300,000 in taxable income will have their taxes increased.
Although a $300,000 per year salary is higher than the $75,231 annual average in Colorado, it doesn’t mean these high-earners should be penalized.
The “wealthy” are the common scapegoat of the Democratic Establishment, which makes it seem that Colorado Democrats want everyone to be equally poor.
Proposition FF is on the ballot because the State Legislature passed HB22-1414 earlier this year.
According to the State Legislative Council Staff: “In tax year 2023, the bill is expected to increase Colorado taxable income by approximately $2.2 billion.“
This means more money for the State, and less money for free economic activity.
Those paying more in taxes are the job creators that our State relies on.
Proposition FF is absolutely terrible for liberty.
Proposition GG: Add Tax Information Table to Petitions and Ballots
Proposition GG, if passed, would require a longer ballot.
Ballots would show a fiscal summary of how different brackets of taxpayers would be affected by a tax change.
If your income tax rate will change, you will know by how much.
This change would show how the voter would be affected by the ballot measure.
Although this seems like a good idea, GG’s intention seems nefarious.
Proposition GG is on the ballot because SB22-222 passed earlier this year.
The Prime Sponsors of this bill, Pettersen, Moreno, Kennedy, and Weissman are no friends of liberty.
And there probably isn’t a tax increase that they don’t agree with.
So why would they put this on the ballot?
I think they believe that lower income voters will be more likely to pass tax increases that predominantly penalize higher income earners.
Lower income voters potentially outnumber higher income voters, so it may become more likely for a tax increase to pass.
Probably the biggest problem with GG is that according to Colorado Liberty Rockstar Natalie Menten, it “would require inserting a lenghty tax table on the ballot only for citizen initiatives…”
Natalie Menten is a trustworthy advocate for Freedom in Colorado, and her ballot handout presents her case:
Natalie is 100% correct, the Colorado Ballot Guide, or Blue Book, which is sent to Colorado voters already has tax tables listed in the detailed section on each ballot initiative.
Clearly, the only impetus for this initiative is to try to present the ballot to Colorado voters in a way that may lead to higher taxes.
This ballot measure is a direct challenge to citizen-led tax reduction initiatives.
Proposition GG is mostly bad for liberty.
Proposition 121: State Income Tax Rate Reduction
Proposition 121 would reduce Colorado’s State Income Tax for all Colorado taxpayers.
Currently all Colorado working taxpayers have 4.55% of their income stolen from them by the State.
If Proposition 121 passes, the State income tax rate would decrease to 4.40%.
This would mean $89 less in taxes for the average Colorado wage earner.
It would also mean an estimated $638 million decrease in State revenue for this fiscal year!
This means less money for the State Legislature to spend, and more money for the Colorado economy.
Colorado’s economy would experience a boost if this passes.
Workers would have more money to spend, entrepreneurs would have more capital for their next project, and high-income earners would be attracted to Colorado.
Proposition 121 is a big win for liberty, and a much needed boost for Colorado’s economy.
Proposition 122: Access to Natural Psychedelic Substances
Adults have a God-given right to natural medicine.
Naturally occurring plant medicine has been around since the beginning of human history.
Unfortunately, we live in the era of an authoritarian political machine that has criminalized the cultivation, and possession of these substances.
In 2012, Colorado made progress with Amendment 64, allowing cannabis to once again become legal.
And in 2019, Denver voters passed Initiative 301, which classified psilocybin mushrooms as “the lowest law enforcement priority,” and prohibited the city from “spending resources on imposing criminal penalties.“
Proposition 122 would create a “Regulated Natural Medicine Access Program for licensed healing centers to administer natural medicine services.”
122 would also decriminalize, for adults over 21, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ibogaine, mescaline (excluding peyote), psilocybin, and psilocyn.
Kevin Matthews, and Veronica Lightning Horse Perez are the two leaders of the initiative, and they were kind enough to grant me an interview.
Please check it out: https://freestatecolorado.com/proposition-122/
If 122 passes, Coloradoans who need access to natural medicine will have it.
This includes veterans, and others who suffer from PTSD and similar issues.
Also, Coloradoans who want to self-medicate will not have to worry about criminal persecution.
Proposition 122 is a big win for liberty.
Proposition 123: Dedicate Revenue for Affordable Housing Programs
Proposition 123 would steal from your tax refund.
Your hard-earned money would instead go to a State housing scheme.
Over the next two years alone, it’s estimated that over $400 million in tax refund money would be funneled to several State-run Affordable Housing Programs.
These programs will continue for years, and taxpayers will be deprived of billions in tax refund money.
These programs would attempt to manipulate Colorado’s housing market, by subsidizing low-income housing, and expand “local government planning departments.”
These planning departments will likely make rent and houses even more expensive in Colorado.
Private property owners will have to compete against State-funded developers, and construction companies.
This Soviet-style central planning will steal money from Colorado taxpayers to fund State Housing.
This will increase the State’s power over the people as they are pushed into high-density government housing.
Proposition 123 is very bad for liberty.
Proposition 124: Increase Allowable Liquor Store Locations
Proposition 124 increases the amount of liquor store licenses that a single entity could own.
Currently, liquor store license holders can only legally have three locations per license.
If passed, liquor store license holders would be able to have an unlimited number of licenses by 2037.
It’s also important to note that grocery stores, and convenience stores that currently sell beer have no limit on the number of locations they can have.
With more options, Colorado’s alcohol drinkers should have lower costs and better selection.
Yes, some smaller liquor stores may lose business, but the State shouldn’t be protecting their interests in the first place.
It would be better if the entire liquor licensing scheme was abolished, but this is a step in the right direction.
Colorado drinkers will be better served by more options in the marketplace.
This is good for liberty.
Proposition 125: Allow Grocery and Convenience Stores to Sell Wine
Proposition 125 will allow wine to be sold in grocery and convenience stores.
This is the latest proposed change to Colorado’s liquor laws have been updated over the past few years.
In 2019 Colorado grocery and convenience stores were legally allowed to sell full strength beer.
Colorado’s craft beer has never been more accessible, and consumers have more choices than ever.
And wine is next on the list.
This initiative also includes wine coolers, sake, mead, and cider.
The sale of wine in grocery stores is already legal in Wyoming, Nebraska, and New Mexico, among other states.
Unfortunately, this initiative keeps Colorado’s ban on alcohol sales from midnight to 8 AM.
This measure will be great for Colorado’s wine industry, as well as providing more options to consumers.
Proposition 125 is a definite win for liberty.
Proposition 126: Third-Party Delivery of Alcohol Beverages
Proposition 126 allows for third party delivery of alcohol from liquor-licensed businesses.
Currently, these businesses can only legally deliver alcohol with their own vehicle and employees.
This will allow restaurants, bars, grocery stores, convenience stores, and liquor stores to deliver liquor to their customers.
If I’m not mistaken, Colorado’s craft breweries would be able to offer delivery as well.
Unfortunately, the maximum amount legally allowed to be delivered on each order is twelve cans of beer, two bottles of wine, and one liter of spirits.
This would be a great win for Colorado’s brewers.
And of course, the convenience and options available for Colorado consumers would be an improvement.
This could also keep more people off the roads, and potentially save lives by keeping intoxicated drivers at home.
This is a win for liberty.
Conclusion
Colorado voters have many decisions to make on this year’s ballot.
There are some opportunities to increase Colorado’s liberty.
Unfortunately, there are also some ballot measures that will decrease Colorado’s liberty.
Always defend TABOR, expand liberty, and vote against any tax increase!
I hope this was helpful, here are some of the resources you can use to make your own decisions:
You can read the Colorado Blue Book describing these initiatives here.
And here is the link to Ballotpedia’s section on Colorado’s 2022 Election.
You can also find more information on the Colorado Secretary of State’s website.
What do you think? Leave a Comment Below!
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