Author: Ben Murrey

Ben Murrey Yesterday voters rejected Proposition HH not because they do not want property tax reform, but because they want a better deal. Now, Gov. Jared Polis will have to call a special session so the legislature can deliver it. At the May 1 press conference in which lawmakers unveiled Proposition HH, Senate President Steve…

Ben Murrey This year, a typical homeowner in Colorado is facing at least a $1,000 property tax increase. Friday, Gov. Polis announced a “property tax cut package,” which he hopes to roll out early next week. If history is any guide, the governor’s plan will provide little to no relief for taxpayers. The governor has…

Ben Murrey Citing record inflation, Colorado Democrats passed legislation last year that sent out TABOR refunds early. Last week Democrats voted along party lines to kill a bill that would have had the same effect. Their about-face opposition to the bill gives new life to previous allegations that Democrats sent out last year’s refunds early,…

Ben Murrey Voters this week cut Colorado’s income tax. It was the one bright spot in an otherwise bleak election year for conservatives in the state. It was also the second consecutive election in which voters approved an income tax cut on the ballot. If the organization behind the tax cut has its way, the…

Ben Murrey Thanks to the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, commonly known as “TABOR,” Coloradans will receive nearly $4 billion in excess revenue refunded from the state this year. That’s where those $750 checks for individuals and $1,500 for couples came from over the summer. On the ballot this year, Proposition 123 is asking voters to…

Ben Murrey On Monday, Independence Institute, where I serve as the director of the Fiscal Policy Center, published my latest report, which reveals that Gov. Jared Polis broke an important campaign pledge to reduce special-interest tax benefits. In fact, the report demonstrates that he increased such benefits by $640 million over 10 years. In a…

Ben Murrey Stepan Mysko Today at 8:30 a.m., the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis will release second quarter GDP numbers. If it reports negative economic growth as economists expect, then a technical recession has already begun in the United States. Colorado can insulate itself by reducing the state income tax. Understanding why an income tax…