AFP-CO takes a hard look at upcoming issues in the 2009 legislature. Click here to read more on the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR), transparency in government, energy policy, and the state budget. Find out how you can join our grassroots team and make a difference in Colorado.

Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR)

We expect the Colorado legislature this year to continue a course of greater spending and increasing government. In 2008, Governor Ritter signed into law a freeze on the mill levy which in effect raised taxes across the state. A judge blocked the measure because it violated our state constitution's ban on tax increases without a public vote. We expect similar legislation will be presented this next year in some form as a way to challenge TABOR again. Liberals in Colorado despise TABOR because it has successfully blocked their tax and spend programs ever since it was passed. With your help, we can lead the charge for reduced government.

Transparency in Government

For the last three or four legislative sessions, bills to open up state government checkbooks to online access and available to the public have have been killed in legislative committees. We urgently need this legislation passed in Colorado so that we can hold our government more accountable.

Energy Policy

Americans for Prosperity with the help of various congressmen including Sen. Wayne Allard declared Energy Freedom Day on October 1, 2008. The ban on offshore drilling and oil shale here in the Mountain West finally expired. Now we need to move forward and develop the estimated 800 billion barrels of oil shale here in Colorado. This will take a big effort to persuade our Congressional delegation and Governor Ritter to move quickly to open up our energy resources to create the jobs and opportunities here in our own state.

We are still concerned about the effects of Global Warming Alarmism here in Colorado. It is likely that more regulation of the energy industry is on its way which will mean hire taxes, less jobs and less freedom.

State Budget

The Colorado budget last year increased more than 6.5% from the previous budget. This was about a $1.15 billion spending increase, and millions of these dollars were directed toward pet political projects. We need to call upon the legislature to cut back spending. We need your help as we urge fiscal responsibility in Colorado.

The Agenda will require a grass roots army

We need your help to hold the line on increased spending. Please join with us as we build a grass roots army for change in Colorado. Here are some needs we have:

1. We are looking for volunteer writers and people who can do research so we can get information out in a quick and efficient manner.

2. We need many of you to commit to showing up at rallies and other meetings as often as possible. Please let us know if you can participate in these events from time to time.

Email us at infoCO@afphq.org and let us know we can count on you as we storm the Capitol with an army for freedom from government excess in Denver.