National Agendas Exposed

Should Colorado C&D be Debated in D.C.?

By Howard Rothman, 10-12-05

If anyone needed proof that there’s more to opposition of Colorado's Referendums C and D than meets the eye, it came today in a revealing story appearing in both the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News. Seems one of those making a lot of noise in opposition to the dual ballot issues, high-profile Republican anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist, has offered to debate pro-C and D Gov. Bill Owens on the topic -- but only in Washington, before a national conservative audience that attends Norquists' weekly roundtables. "This is a debate that should be before the people of Colorado, not at Norquist’s office," said an Owens’ spokesman. We heartily agree, as C and D proponents have long blasted as inappropriate the out-of-state interest in a local measure that would suspend tax-surplus rebates and temporarily ease the onerous restrictions imposed by TABOR, the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights. If national figures want to ride this one for their own purposes, they should at least have the courtesy to do it here so those of us voting on the measures Nov. 1 can actually benefit from the debate.

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