September FREEDOM WATCH Online

Ref. O (C) Citizen-Initiated State Laws - Makes it more difficult to amend the state constitution by citizen initiative by increasing the number of required signatures to 6% of last general election for governor. 8% of signatures would have to come from each congressional district throughout the state. Makes it easier to amend statutory laws through citizen initiative by decreasing the number of required signatures to 4%. Protects statutory initiatives from being changed by the legislature for 5 years.

Amend. 46 (C) Discrimination and Preferential Treatment by Governments - The text of this measure is misleading. It states that it will "prohibit discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, ethnicity, or national origin in public education, hiring and contracting", but it will actually ban equal opportunity programs that seek to remedy existing disparities in access to public education, employment and government contracts. Race and gender-based quotas and point systems are already illegal. It has been imported to Colorado by California millionaire Ward Connerly and has passed in three other states, with dramatic impacts. Citizens Project opposes this measure because equal opportunity programs in Colorado are essential for a healthy economy and a vibrant community.

Amend. 47 (C) Prohibition on Mandatory Labor Union Dues - "Right to Work" Prohibits requiring workers to join and pay dues to a union as a condition of employment. Takes away employees' right to democratically form a union of all employees.

Amend. 48 (C) Definition of a Person - Defines a fertilized human egg as a person and protects the rights of such a person in the state Constitution. Does not define moment of fertilization. Would criminalize common forms of contraception including the pill, injectibles like Implanon and Depo-Provera, NuvaRing, the patch, and IUDs and would outlaw in vitro fertilization. Citizens Project opposes Amendment 48 because it is an extreme measure with dangerous implications that imposes a religious belief through government.

Amend. 49 (C) Limit Deductions from Public Employee Paychecks - Would deny public employees the ability to have their union dues deducted from their paychecks. Would allow deductions from payroll checks for items such as Social Security, Medicare, etc., and charitable contributions.

Amend. 50 (C) Limited Gaming in Central City, Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek - Increases the bet limit from $5 to $100 with 22% of revenues over that collected in fiscal year 2007 going to gaming towns and 78% to financial aid in higher education.

Amend. 51 (S) State Sales Tax for Services for People with Developmental Disabilities - Would allow a sales tax increase in 2009 of $.01 per $10 purchase and another $.01 per $10 in 2010 to fund long term services for those unable to care for themselves. Would relieve the backlog of 9,700 people currently on a wait list for basic services.

Amend. 52 (C) Use of Severance Tax Revenue for Highways* - Changes the allocation of the 50 percent of severance taxes on coal, oil, gas, & other nonrenewable resources that is currently spent by the legislature on state programs. (Recent allocations include loans for local water projects, regulating mining activity; low-income energy assistance and wildlife conservation.) The legislature's discretionary portion would be restricted to current spending plus inflation, with the remaining amount allocated to a new highway construction and maintenance fund. Priority would be given to relieving congestion on Interstate-70.

Amend. 53 (S) Criminal Accountability of Business Executives - Would establish criminal liability for executives of businesses found guilty of criminal conduct.

Amend. 54 (C) Campaign Contributions from Government Contractors - Would bar companies and shareholders of more than 10% of shares, unions, and officers as well as extended family from contributing to parties or political candidates for the duration of and two years after the contract, if they have a sole source-non-bid-contract over $100,000 to any governmental entity in Colorado. Has the effect of prohibiting unions from participating in the political process.

Amend. 55 (C) Allowable Causes for Employee Discharge or Suspension - Establishes allowable reasons for employee dismissal or suspension, thereby eliminating the ability of employers to terminate employees "at will," and requiring them instead to show "just cause."

Amend. 56 (C) Employer Responsibility for Health Insurance - Would require employers with 20+ employees to provide health insurance for employee and dependents or offer participation in a new state authority plan. Also requires the legislature to set up a state medical authority to administer the program.

Amend. 57 (S) Safe Workplace - Requires employers to maintain a safe and healthy workplace, and allows an injured employee to seek damages in court, beyond workers' compensation benefits.

Amend. 58 (S) Severance Tax on Oil and Gas Industry* - Ends the property-tax deduction for the oil and gas industry that allow producers to take a credit of up to 87.5% of the prior year's property tax liability from their severance taxes. New revenues would be allocated as follows: 60% to the Colorado Promise Scholarship Fund, 15% for local impact of the oil and gas industry on transportation and water quality, 15% for wildlife habitat, and 10% to clean energy projects.

*Some of the provisions of Amendments 52 and 58 conflict with one another. If they both pass, the courts would decide how the measures take effect. It is likely that the constitutional provision (Amendment 52) would prevail.

Amend. 59 (C) Savings Account for Education - Creates a permanent source of funding for public education while preserving the right of citizens to vote on taxes. Relieves the conflict between current mandated spending limits and mandated spending increases. Eliminates the current requirement that state funding for preschool through 12th grade (P-12) public education increase every year and redirects existing tax funds above the spending limits established by TABOR into a savings account for P-12 education. Citizens Project supports this measure because fiscally healthy schools create healthy communities and because it fixes the conflicting mandates for spending limits and spending increases in the state constitution.

Municipal and County Issues

Colorado Springs 200 - Fees for City Enterprise - Phases out customer payments to the City, except hospital charges, and makes customer payments to enterprises - including the Stormwater Enterprise - voluntary. This makes Colorado Springs the only major city in the state without a dedicated funding source to responsibly handle storm runoff into streams, and jeopardizes Colorado Springs' compliance with major federal and state regulations.

Colorado Springs 201 - Phase Out of Enterprise Payments to City - Phases out payments in lieu of taxes (PILTs) from City enterprises to the City, and hinders the ability of enterprises and the City of Colorado Springs to work together for operational efficiencies. Has the effect of eliminating PILT to the City's general fund in excess of $25 million, thus crippling vital services and potentially increasing fees at enterprises such as: Patty Jewett and Valli Hi Golf Courses, Colorado Springs Airport, and others.

El Paso County 1A - Safer Community Initiative - Would add a one percent sales tax ($.01 per $1.00 spent) to transactions in El Paso County, excluding food, fuel and medicine purchases. Funding for critical health and safety programs has not kept up with population growth, resulting in higher crime rates and more frequent incidences of infectious diseases that local authorities are woefully underequipped to address. Citizens Project supports this measure because it will help to alleviate the public health and safety crisis facing our community.

Measure 3E - Mill Levy Override - Allows Colorado Springs School District 11 to raise funds in order to strengthen educational curriculum by designating all funds to classroom instruction. Funds will cover: expanding course offerings, increasing teacher salaries, updating textbooks, expanding tutoring, music, art, and gifted and talented programs. For a home that is assesed at $100,000, the average property tax bill would increase by $5.70 per month.