Taxes & Budget

Rich Sokol, Contributing Editor 

We should be ashamed of ourselves for what we are doing to the financial security of future generations. As a point of reference, based on CBO's analysis of Obama's 10 year budget blueprint, government spending (inflation adjusted) will be double per person under Obama than under Reagan. We are heading in the wrong direction.

By Congressman Pete Olson (R-TX)
Earlier this year, the new Administration and the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate joined together to craft an $800 billion economic stimulus package, the goal of which was to reinvigorate our slumping economy.   At the height of hope and change sweeping Washington, DC, it was promised that this enormous amount of government spending would put us back on sure economic footing. 

Balancing a budget during a recession is a difficult, thankless job.  But balancing this year's budget didn't need to be this hard if only the leaders at the Capitol had learned from the last recession — or listened to those who experienced it

Faced with a budget that's hemorrhaging dollars, it was only a matter of time before one of our spendthrift legislators made headlines by erroneously pointing the finger of blame at Colorado's Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR).

By Mark Hillman, Contributing Editor
Contrary to popular belief, the citizen initiative process is not inherently – or even incidentally – conservative. Like government, the initiative is merely a reflection of the attitudes and principles of the people. Today, the people are not conservative – skeptical, irascible or cynical, perhaps, but not conservative.

By Bob Beauprez, Editor in Chief
Gov. Ritter is the chief proponent of a $321 million tax hike on energy produced in Colorado that is on the November ballot. Advertisements current blanketing the state claim that the scheme just removes a subsidy created thirty years ago to the oil and gas industry that is no longer necessary and creates an unfair advantage for the energy producers.

By Richard Westfall
A Denver district court recently struck down an unauthorized tax increase that cost Colorado taxpayers $117 million last year and would cost Colorado taxpayers $1.5 billion over the next five years. These figures alone demonstrate the significance of this ruling to Colorado citizens. This article summarizes the facts leading up to this legal dispute and the significance of this ruling to Colorado taxpayers.

By Bob Beauprez
April 15 – the income tax filing deadline – is nobody’s favorite. There’s more bad news, though - Americans have eight more days to work this year before they can hang on to their own pay check. According to the Tax Foundation the average American will work until April 23 this year just to pay federal, state, and local taxes.

At the end of the Clinton administration, Tax Freedom Day extended all the way to May 3. The 2001-2003 Bush Tax Cuts reduced the tax man’s bite back to April 16, letting American’s keep 2 ½ weeks of their own wages. With increased salaries pushing people into higher brackets, the government’s share is climbing again.

By Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-SC)
The President rolled out his budget nearly two weeks ago. $3 trillion dollars. That's Trillion with a T. After 5 years I'm still astounded at the numbers we deal with in Congress. Although, truth be told – all things considered it's a good budget. The President put forth a budget that addresses the immediate and long term economic challenges that are currently facing our nation. To the credit of President Bush in the Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) budget he proposed, he addresses unsustainable government and brings the budget to balance by 2012 without raising taxes.

By Bob Beauprez
Once upon a time not so very long ago the first woman Speaker of the House was pledging to end the war in Iraq and end the "culture of corruption" demonstrated by all those earmarks during the Republican's leadership. After a year on the job, she has broken both promises.

By Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26)
As we near tax day, I think it is important to let Americans know that there are ideas about alternatives to our current, dated and laborious tax system. I have a vision for fixing our flawed tax code.

By Congressman John Linder (GA-7)
You can see the signs of spring everywhere - flowers blooming, baseball fans enjoying the start of a new season, the feeling that warmer weather is right around the corner - and aggravated taxpayers across the nation wasting time filling out tax forms and searching for 1099 forms.

By Congressman Jeb Hensarling (TX-5)
The House of Representatives recently passed the first federal budget under the new Democrat leadership. Despite their campaign promises of fiscal restraint, the new Majority’s budget is the largest in history, weighing in at nearly $3 trillion. To put that in perspective, your Federal Government now spends over $23,000 per household.

By Bob Beauprez
An introduction to the topic of tax and budget policy by Bob Beauprez.

I'm sure you've heard the old adage, "If it isn't broke, don't fix it." That applies just about everywhere but in government, where the motto seems to be, "If it isn't broke, then fix it until it is!" The Democrats are certainly preparing to do that to our economy both nationally and in Colorado.

It seems that with the unpleasantries of April 15th and the Internal Revenue Service fresh on everyone's mind that this is a perfect time to further the notion of real, honest-to-goodness systemic tax reform.