If you only knew how much your new car was going to cost, but not what kind of car or the quality of the car, would you go ahead and make the purchase? Most people would not consider that kind of transaction.

That’s exactly what supporters of HB 15-1057 that would require a “fiscal note” or the estimated cost of a proposed ballot question to be on circulated petitions. They refer to this as “transparency” and more information! But there will be no mention of the long-term benefits of petition proposals.

There is no doubt the more informed Colorado voters are, the better choices they are able to make. Giving them only part of the picture does not help make informed decisions.

If there is a question on the ballot to fund full-day kindergarten for all Colorado children, there should also be a statement of its long-term benefits to our economy and communities. If we ask voters to approve taxes to pay for wildfire and flood emergencies, then it should explain how that helps businesses, families and our economy.

Traditionally, Colorado voters turn to the voter guide Blue Book for both the pro’s and cons of issues on the ballot. The new law will require the estimated fiscal note be prepared in a short time frame before petitions are circulated. This is a “back of the envelope” approach that will not be as thorough or exact as the Blue Book analysis that is conducted for just the measures that appear on the ballot.

Over the last election cycle, only one in four ballot proposals actually collected enough signatures to make the ballot. Now we will pay staff to prepare fiscal notes for all proposals, regardless of whether petitions are ever circulated or they make the ballot. That’s just not a smart use of resources.

A lot of us would like to see some changes in our initiative process, but rather than consult with a wide range of groups, big business and special interests lobbied this bill heavily and narrowly got it passed.

The bottom line on HB 1057 is that it will not give voters the entire picture. And half the information does not result in better voter decisions.

– Steve Fenberg is executive director of New Era Colorado and a candidate for the Democratic nomination in Senate District 18