This file (AllItems.txt) is readable or downloadble at: http://tinyurl.com/24x5qoc Daniel Martin Longmont Colorado Last Update: 21 October 2010 I am writing to you as a private citizen, and not as a political candidate [my website: http://daniel4clerk.com/ ]. The office for which I am running has no power to make any law, tax or otherwise. The 2010 election in Colorado has seven very important Constitutional Amendments and two tax cutting Propositions. It took a long time, but I have read them all. As a citizen I have only one vote for each of the 9 measures, as do you. I have come to a definite position on each, without any reservation or uncertainty. Please inform yourself on each, and vote with thoughtful determination. There will be many other city, school, district, etc issues on your local ballot. None of these others (and no candidates) are discussed below - only the nine state-wide Amendments and Propositions. I would not presume to tell you how to vote, but still think you might be interested in knowing why I arrived at my conclusions. Most of the legislative text further below is copied from this "tinyurl" root link, and various sub-links: http://tinyurl.com/2adnda2 An alternate source of issue information may be found in the Colorado State "BlueBook" available here: http://tinyurl.com/23bzbzv (SOS) and http://tinyurl.com/25ae7md (955K .pdf) (Dan) Note: The Colorado County Clerks Association (a lobbyist organization) has great influence over the content of the BlueBook. The neutrality of its various "For & Against" sections has been questioned, especially those associated with Proposition 101 and Amendments 60, 61, and 62. ======================================================================== Here is the Executive Summary of the discussion further below: DAN WILL: Vote NO on Amendment P DAN WILL: Vote NO on Amendment Q DAN WILL: Vote YES on Amendment R DAN WILL: Vote YES on Amendment 60 DAN WILL: Vote YES on Amendment 61 DAN WILL: Vote YES on Amendment 62 DAN WILL: Vote YES on Amendment 63 DAN WILL: Vote YES on Proposition 101 DAN WILL: Vote YES on Proposition 102 ======================================================================== Amendment P: Colorado Regulation of Games of Chance http://tinyurl.com/25fgh8a Summary of text changes at: http://tinyurl.com/22syn4d Full text (39K .pdf) available at: http://tinyurl.com/29ont2g TITLE: "Shall there be an amendment to Section 2 of Article XVIII of the Constitution of the State of Colorado, concerning the regulation of games of chance by an authority specified by the General Assembly?" DAN WILL: Vote NO on Amendment P WHY: Status Quo is best. Do not spend ever more money to deploy risky, unwritten, new computer software to transfer authority and regulation of small bingo & raffle games from the Department of State to the huge Department of Revenue. Once absorbed by DoR, these simple games will likely become over-taxed, over-regulated, and overwhelmed within the sea of convoluted, casino-related gambling legislation. WARNING: *** Tax & Spend Monster *** ======================================================================== Amendment Q: Colorado State Seat Temporary Location http://tinyurl.com/27s4zc2 Full text (27K .pdf) is available at: http://tinyurl.com/25oc9xl TITLE: "Shall there be an amendment to Section 3 of Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Colorado, concerning a process for temporarily moving the seat of Colorado, concerning a process for temporarily moving the seat of government in a disaster emergency that substantially affects the ability of the state government to operate in the city and county of Denver, and, in connection therewith, requiring the General Assembly to convene in a temporary meeting location designated by the governor and authorizing the General Assembly to determine by law a temporary location for the seat of government of the state?" DAN WILL: Vote NO on Amendment Q WHY: Even though the "BlueBook" says there will be no fiscal impact, I can almost guarantee that - before the ink is dry - legislators and lobbyists will begin agitating to choose their OWN hometown(s) or district(s) so government can "be better prepared for disaster." Naturally new infrastructure (buildings, leases, communications, etc) will be required NOW in the new location(s). They will argue: 'Why not get ready NOW in several cities and counties at once just to be sure we are better prepared?' WARNING: *** Tax & Spend Monster *** ======================================================================== Amendment R: Colorado Exempt Possessory Interests in Real Property http://tinyurl.com/2bbs885 Full text (27K .pdf) is available at: http://tinyurl.com/2bprmlt Meaning of "possessory interest" at: http://tinyurl.com/2b7eo6p TITLE: "Shall there be an amendment to Section 3 (1) (b) of Article X of the Constitution of the State of Colorado, concerning an exemption from property taxation for a possessory interest in real property if the actual value of the interest is less than or equal to six thousand dollars or such amount adjusted for inflation?" DAN WILL: Vote YES on Amendment R WHY: Covers "possessory Interest" - valued at $6,000 (or less) - for private use of certain publicly owned REAL ESTATE. The COST OF COLLECTING taxes on these small values is probably MORE than the taxes themselves. Gives the small guy a "win-a-few" break. Some cattle ranchers who lease public land for grazing will get a tax break too, but large ski resorts who use public land will have to pay the same as before. Property tax on privately owned land is not affected by Amendment R. ======================================================================== Amendment 60: Colorado Property Taxes: http://tinyurl.com/22m47kj Amends Section 20 of Article X of the Colorado Constitution to add a new subsection. The new subsection reads (very simple) as follows: http://tinyurl.com/28eabry TITLE: "Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning government charges on property, and, in connection therewith, allowing petitions in all districts for elections to lower property taxes; specifying requirements for property tax elections; requiring enterprises and authorities to pay property taxes but offsetting the revenues with lower tax rates; prohibiting enterprises and unelected boards from levying fees or taxes on property; setting expiration dates for certain tax rate and revenue increases; requiring school districts to reduce property tax rates and replacing the revenue with state aid; and eliminating property taxes that exceed the dollar amount included in an approved ballot question, that exceed state property tax laws, policies, and limits existing in 1992 that have been violated, changed, or weakened without state voter approval, or that were not approved by voters without certain ballot language?" DAN WILL: Vote YES on Amendment 60 WHY: Amendment 60 lowers real estate property taxes and provides for a 10-year "sunset" for all future real estate property tax increases. All affected items phase in gradually to minimize revenue impacts. Restores compliance of all real estate property taxes, reversing where necessary, with the Tax Payer Bill of Rights ("TABOR") limits. Many real estate property taxes are at high, unconstitutional, levels. Many government jobs will be lost, and good riddance. For every government job lost I believe TWO NEW JOBS WILL BE CREATED in the private sector. The tax money saved by Amendment 60 will be returned to the People where it can be used to create REAL jobs. As usual, entities now attached to the Government Tax Teat ("GTT") are threatening to fire the teachers, release the prisoners, and let the bridges fall down if Amendment 60 passes. There is plenty of tax money, even AFTER Amendment 60, for teachers, prisons, and bridges if there were fewer GTTs devoted to feeding feel-good social programs and other porkulus projects. Like tobacco farmers, all the GTT folks need to wake up, update their resumes, and get ready to find a job in the real world like the rest of us. ======================================================================== Amendment 61: Colorado State and Local Debt Limitations http://tinyurl.com/2efvuzr Constitutional text changes are here: http://tinyurl.com/2cwlpwd A61 is a taxpayer initiatve forcing government to obey the constitutional rules of Taxpayer Bill of Rights ("TABOR"), detailed at this link: http://tinyurl.com/29dsnbj TITLE: "Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning limitations on government borrowing, and, in connection therewith, prohibiting future borrowing in any form by state government; requiring voter approval of future borrowing by local governmental entities; limiting the form, term, and amount of total borrowing by each local governmental entity; directing all current borrowing to be paid; and reducing tax rates after certain borrowing is fully repaid?" DAN WILL: Vote YES on Amendment 61 WHY: State and local Governments already collect monstrous taxes from We The People, and in addition these governments have run all their "credit cards" (loans) up to the max to boot - AND THEY STILL WANT MORE. Amendment 61 takes away the "credit cards" and forces government to live within its actual revenue stream, on a more or less cash basis. Yes, many government jobs will be lost, and good riddance. For every government job lost I believe two new jobs will be created in the private sector. The interest money saved by Amendment 61 will be returned to the People where it can be used to create REAL jobs. As usual, entities now attached to the GTT are threatening to fire the teachers, release the prisoners, and let the bridges fall down if Amendment 61 passes. And, as always, there is plenty of tax money, even AFTER Amendment 61, for teachers, prisons, and bridges if there were fewer GTTs devoted to feeding feel-good social programs and other porkulus projects. ======================================================================== Amendment 62: Colorado Fetal Personhood http://tinyurl.com/2btxngo The Constitutional changes are extremely simple, shown here: http://tinyurl.com/2ah3m4f TITLE: "An amendment to the Colorado Constitution applying the term 'person' as used in those provisions of the Colorado Constitution relating to inalienable rights, equality of justice and due process of law, to every human being from the beginning of the biological development of that human being." DAN WILL: Vote YES on Amendment 62 WHY: This will establish equal treatment under the law for abortion related death. If a drunk driver, or a criminal, or anyone kills a pregnant woman and her unborn child, TWO manslaughter or murder charges are filed against the perpetrator. Obviously the unborn life is being considered a "person" by the court for such dual charges to be possible. Only when aborted is the unborn life NOT considered a person. Who will speak for the rights of the unborn childs father, the four grandparents, or the rights of the unborn future taxpayer herself? The lives of six other people are being torn apart (one of them terminally) so that the life of the mother will not be inconvenienced. For the very RARE cases of "rape or incest" then there are many adoption resources that are always available to whisk the unwanted person away. ======================================================================== Amendment 63: Colorado Health Care http://tinyurl.com/2dhlnsy Constitutional Changes shown: http://tinyurl.com/2ff45ze TITLE: "Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning the right of all persons to health care choice, and, in connection therewith, prohibiting the state independently or at the instance of the United States from adopting or enforcing any statute, regulation, resolution, or policy that requires a person to participate in a public or private health insurance or coverage plan or that denies, restricts, or penalizes the right or ability of a person to make or receive direct payments for lawful health care services; and exempting from the effects of the amendment emergency medical treatment required to be provided by hospitals, health facilities, and health care providers or health benefits provided under workers' compensation or similar insurance?" DAN WILL: Vote YES on Amendment 63 WHY: Guarantees the right of Colorado persons (including non-Citizens) to choose their own health care and prohibits any government entity from denying, restricting, or penalizing the right or ability of any person (even non-Citizens) to make or receive direct payments for lawful health care services. Impassable roadblock to intrusive 0bamaKare. YES WE CAN. ======================================================================== Proposition 101: Colorado Motor Vehicle, Income, and Telecom Taxes http://tinyurl.com/2eafqv7 TITLE: "Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Revised Statutes concerning limits on government charges, and, in connection therewith, reducing vehicle ownership taxes over four years to nominal amounts; ending taxes on vehicle rentals and leases; phasing in over four years a $10,000 vehicle sale price tax exemption; setting total yearly registration, license, and title charges at $10 per vehicle; repealing other specific vehicle charges; lowering the state income tax rate to 4.5% and phasing in a further reduction in the rate to 3.5%; ending state and local taxes and charges, except 911 charges, on telecommunication service customer accounts; and stating that, with certain specified exceptions, any added charges on vehicles and telecommunication service customer accounts shall be tax increases?" DAN WILL: Vote YES on Proposition 101 WHY: All the GTTs and unions are OPPOSED to it. All these GTT folks need to wake up, update their resumes, and get ready to find a job in the real world like the rest of us. On the less ideological side, a $10,000 price-exclusion on the calculation of sales tax on automobiles will be a real boon to everyone, and will create REAL jobs by stimulating auto sales. Proposition 101 also is a bird to fly up the noses of those politicians who thought they could get around TABOR by re-labeling taxes as "fees." YES WE CAN. ======================================================================== Proposition 102: Colorado Criminal Defendant Bail Bond http://tinyurl.com/23qhqgf Full text (57K .pdf) available at: http://tinyurl.com/2f4mtna DAN WILL: Vote YES on Proposition 102 WHY: Limits expansion of pre-trial release for all prisoners. Limits pre-trial release to first-time, non-violent offenders. Limits tax-payer guarantee of, and liability for, defaulted "public" bail bonds. Preserves victims rights by continuing use of private bondsmen (and their and bounty-hunters) to locate and arrest bail jumpers. See more info here: http://www.voteyesto102.com/ ======================================================================== By the way: DO NOT avoid voting about the retention of each judge - even if you neither know or care about who they are or how they dispense "justice." By not explicitly voting NO on "Shall [judge] be retained" you are implicitly voting YES to keeping him or her on the bench. Unless you personally know a given judge to be honest, fair, and non-activist, then vote NO for retention. OF HIGHEST IMPORTANCE is to VOTE NO on retention of Colorado Supreme Court Judges. We The People only get ONE CHANCE EVERY TEN YEARS to for for retention of Colorado Supreme Court Judges. On the bench right now are those judges who approved Gov. Ritter's "Dirty Dozen" tax increases where in many new taxes were called "fees" to obscure their TABOR-busting nature. ========================================================================