Ballot initiative seeks to increase taxes by $1.6 billion
Published October 22, 2018Admin’s note: Vote NO on 73. It’s not “for the kids” as supporters of this TAX INCREASE say. This ballot question is a liberals spending dream and an end run around TABOR. Education already gets a funding increase every year since Amendment 23 passed in 2000. It’s too bad that student’s achievement results didn’t rise. More money does not equal better outcomes. TABOR will survive this misguided attempt.
Ballot initiative seeks to increase taxes by $1.6 billion; could end Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights
A controversial ballot initiative would raise taxes on Coloradans by $1.6 billion to increase funding for public schools if approved. Opponents argue it also would make the constitutionally protected Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) impotent.
Amendment 73, the Establish Income Tax Brackets and Raise Taxes for Education Initiative, seeks to amend the state constitution to replace Colorado’s flat rate income tax with a progressive income tax. Individuals earning more than $150,000 would be taxed more and the corporate income tax rate would increase. The revenue collected from the tax hikes would go into a newly created Quality Public Education Fund.
The state constitution requires a 55 percent supermajority vote for the initiative to become law.
“‘Take your success elsewhere’ should be the signs erected if Colorado approves Amendment 73,” Penn Pfiffner, former state legislator and chairman of the board of the TABOR Foundation, told Watchdog.org. “The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights properly treats everyone equally, requiring the same income tax rate be applied to everyone. Currently, if you make more money, you pay more, but only at the rate that everyone else pays. This proposal would change that, bringing an attitude that the upper middle class and wealthy should be attacked and made to pay increasing amounts. It is the worst concept in raising taxes.”
A group of opponents of the measure launched a “Blank Check. Blatant Deception. Vote No on 73,” campaign, arguing the ballot language is deceptive. It tried to have the question removed after the required deadline and Colorado’s secretary of state rejected its complaint. Continue reading
Posted in Ballot Issue, Colorado GOP, Economy, Editorial, Education, Elections, Issues, TABOR, TaxesJoin us for an Election Night Party with fellow Republicans
Published October 16, 2018
- Who: Adams County Republicans along with Reagan Club members
- What: Election night gathering with Hors D’ Oeuvres, coffee/tea/non-alcoholic lemonade and a cash bar
- Where: Wedgewood at Brittany Hill, 9350 Grant St, Thornton, CO 80229
- When: Tuesday, November 6th (election day evening) from 7:00pm – 10:30pm
- Why: Join fellow Republicans to celebrate election numbers for the local, state, and federal contests
- Suggested donation: $20
- With early registration, you can pay $18 per person with a debit/credit card online at http://www.reaganclubco.com/election-night-party/ or $20 per person at the door with cash or check
Please send an email to RSVP@ReaganClubCo.com with how many people will be attending so we don’t run out of food
See you there!
The Reagan Club of Colorado
Check the mail: Colorado’s Election 2018 ballots are on their way today. Here’s what you need to know.
Published October 15, 2018
Colorado’s county clerks will begin mailing more than 3 million ballots to voters on Monday as the state’s roughly three-week-long Election Day officially kicks off.
About 2 million of those ballots will pass through the U.S. Postal Service’s processing plant in Denver on Monday afternoon and Tuesday alone.
Voters this year have a range of ballot questions and candidates to decide on — from oil and gas regulations to who will be the state’s next governor, attorney general, treasurer and secretary of state.
It will likely be a few days before your ballot actually lands in your mailbox, but here are some things to know ahead of time:
Colorado’s voter registration numbers
As of Oct. 1, there were 3,883,317 registered voters in Colorado, about 600,000 of whom are listed as being inactive.
Posted in Ballot Issue, Candidates, Colorado GOP, Education, Elections, Energy, Issues, Jobs, TABOR, Taxes, TransportationHealth Care Crowds Out Jobs, Taxes in Midterm Ads
Published October 9, 2018Health Care Crowds Out Jobs, Taxes in Midterm Ads
Once mum on health care, Democrats are hammering the issue in political ads as GOP attempts to tout tax cuts and economy
By Brian McGill and Julie Bykowicz
Eight years ago, the newly passed Affordable Care Act was so widely criticized that it contributed to Democrats losing control of the House of Representatives. But in this midterm election, health care is the party’s most-mentioned topic in advertising—far above anything else, including opposition to President Trump.
Meanwhile, Republicans—who have made repealing the Affordable Care Act one of their top advertising messages since the 2010 election—are barely mentioning it this year, after the GOP-led Congress tried unsuccessfully to overturn the law last year. The party has instead turned its attention to touting the tax legislation Mr. Trump signed into law late last year.
The Wall Street Journal analyzed Kantar Media/CMAG advertising data on health care and tax and economic messaging in all House and Senate races from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30. Here is what campaign ads tell us about how the political conversation is changing.
Health Care
In 2010, about 29% of Republican political ads targeted the ACA while fewer than 6% of the Democrats’ ads did so—and even the Democratic messaging was split between positive and negative messages.
In the 2014 midterms, 44% of Republican ads attacked Obamacare while 31% of Democratic ads mentioned the issue. Continue reading
Posted in Candidates, Colorado GOP, Economy, Editorial, Elections, Immigration, Issues, Jobs, Liberal Logic, National GOP, ObamaCare, POTUS, TaxesThe Next Kavanaugh Stakes: Lessons from the confirmation fight as Election Day nears.
Published October 8, 2018
Posted in 1st Amendment, Candidates, Colorado GOP, Economy, Editorial, Elections, Issues, Liberal Logic, National GOP, ObamaCare, PC Police, POTUS, SCOTUS, TaxesJoin Us As The Reagan Club Breaks Down The November Ballot Initiatives on October 4th
Published September 29, 2018Join the Reagan Club this Thursday, October 4th as Michael Fields will discuss the pros and cons of each ballot initiative on your November 6th Mail-in Ballot. He will explain the who, what, why, when, and costs of each. So many questions to vote intelligently but we have the have the answers!
Doors open at 6:00pm with the meeting starting at 6:30pm and dinner served after the prayer and announcements. We meet at Amazing Grace Community Church, 541 E 99th Place in Thornton. Admission is $20 for Reagan Club members and $25 for non-members. Elected officials and announced candidates are $15.
Save $5 by buying your tickets before October 2nd on our website (www.ReaganClubCo.com/meeting-tickets).
Bring your questions as we’ll find out what is best for Colorado.
See you there!
Michael Fields is the Executive Director of Colorado Rising Action. He was previously the State Director of Americans for Prosperity – Colorado. He brings years of educational, legislative, grassroots organizing, and nonprofit experience. He has also served as a policy aide at the Colorado State House and as a press aide for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions. He taught both elementary and middle school at a charter school in Aurora – and now serves as the governing board president of that school. Michael graduated from Valparaiso University and earned his J.D. from University of Colorado – Boulder. He and his wife, Mele, and their three children live in Littleton.–
Michael Fields
Executive Director
Colorado Rising Action
720-218-9478
Michael Fields leaves Americans for Prosperity to lead Colorado Rising Action
Author: Joey Bunch – July 30, 2018 – Updated: July 30, 2018
Michael Fields (Photo courtesy of Americans for Prosperity)
Michael Fields is leaving Americans for Prosperity to head up a conservative organization that aims to press Colorado liberals on the issues.
Colorado Rising Action announced Fields as its executive director Monday. The organization is a state-based offshoot of America Rising Squared, which is an offshoot of America Rising, a group known for tracking candidates and opposition research.
The nonprofit is much like the liberal nonprofit ProgressNow Colorado, except for the right.
Colorado Rising Action said in a press release it plans to “advance conservative principles through cutting-edge research, rapid response communications, a nationwide tracking network, and digital platforms.”
Fields, 31, previously was state director for Americans for Prosperity Colorado. Last year he became senior director of issue education nationally for AFP’s foundation.
“Michael has years of experience at all levels of government and brings incredible insight into Colorado politics and policies,” Joe Pounder, America Rising’s founder and president, said in a statement. “Colorado is in danger of its status as a ‘purple state’ turning blue, but Colorado Rising Action has even more talent on the ground now to make sure that liberal politicians and special interest groups answer to Coloradans.”
To be clear, Colorado Rising Action is not affiliated with Colorado Rising, a group seeking to get an initiative on the November ballot to require 2,500-foot setbacks from homes and businesses for oil and gas operations.
Colorado represents the organization’s second foray into state politics, joining Missouri. Colorado, however, becomes the only state with an executive director and a press person, Lindsey Singer, the niece of billionaire investor Paul Singer, who is a major donor to America Rising. Lindsey Singer grew up in Boulder and attended Fairview High School and the University of Colorado Boulder.
They are joined by adviser Matt Connelly, who formerly worked on Republican gubernatorial candidate Walker Stapleton’s campaign. Though he continues to work for Denver-based Clear Creek Strategies, the firm running Stapleton’s campaign, he cannot by law coordinate between the campaign and the nonprofit.
“Colorado is a great place to live and raise a family, and the work I’ve done with AFP and will continue to do with Colorado Rising Action will ensure it stays that way,” Fields said in a statement Monday. “As a new part of the incredible network of conservative organizations in Colorado, we will make sure that Coloradans know what liberal special-interest groups and their politicians are doing, and the impacts they’ll have on our state.”
A former pitcher at Valparaiso University and teacher in Aurora, Fields joined AFP after working as a policy aide for Republicans in the Colorado legislature and for Wyoming Republican Sen. Mike Enzi, as well as working on local, state and federal political campaigns.
ProgressNow Colorado executive director Ian Silverii was amused by his conservative competition, characterizing it as “Regress Later.”
He pivoted to the November election. It’s what political advocacy groups do.
“This Washington, D.C.-based organization is a front group to help Walker Stapleton continue to fall upwards in his so-far disastrous career,” Silverii said in response to Fields’ announcement. “All the out-of-state money in the world can’t cover up the fact that Stapleton is an absentee treasurer, a sloppy campaigner and a vocal Trump supporter who does not deserve the promotion he’s asking Coloradans for.”
Singer responded to Silverii’s take:
“We’re looking at races from the governor’s race, AG race, some congressional, and state house, state Senate and even watching the ballot initiatives and what liberal groups are doing in Colorado It isn’t about one candidate or one race, and we’re going to be around long after the 2018 election season.”
Click (HERE) for the link to see and/or download the 2018 Colorado Blue Book.
Posted in Ballot Issue, Climate Change, Colorado GOP, Economy, Editorial, Education, Elections, Energy, Issues, Jobs, Meetings, TABOR, Taxes, TransportationHow Republicans Could Still Win
Published September 14, 2018How Republicans Could Still Win
A forthcoming poll suggests ways they can persuade voters in swing districts.
By Kimberley A. Strassel
Sept. 13, 2018 6:58 p.m. ET
Primary election voters at a polling station inside Boston City Hall, Sept. 4. PHOTO: CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE/REX/SHUTTERST/EPA/SHUTTERSTOCK
This was a week of gloomy midterm polls for the Republican Party, with a wave of results projecting a Democratic takeover of the House and maybe even the Senate. But not all polls are created equal. If Republicans bother to read just one, it should be a yet-unreleased survey that tells a more nuanced story.
The data come courtesy of the Club for Growth, a conservative outfit that plays to win. The club’s donors expect it to place smart bets in elections, which it can’t do if it relies on feel-good data. It uses WPAi, the data firm that in 2016 found Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson really did have a shot at re-election, then crafted the messages that got him the money and votes for victory.
WPAi just handed the club in-depth polling of the people who matter most this midterm—1,000 likely voters in 41 competitive House districts. The results are quietly making their way to Republican leaders, and the club agreed to give me an advance look. Bottom line: Many of these races are winnable—if Republicans have the courage of their convictions and get smarter in tailoring their messages to voters.
On the surface, the results mirror other recent polls. President Trump has a net-negative approval rating across these districts, with his unfavorable ratings notably high among women (57%), independents (58%) and suburban voters (52%). Those who answered prefer a Democratic Congress that will check Mr. Trump (48%) to electing Republicans who will pass his agenda more quickly (42%). The biggest alarm bell is the 12-point enthusiasm gap—with 72% of Democrats “very interested” in this election, compared with 60% of Republicans. In suburbia, the 12-point gap widens to 24.
Yet this thundercloud has silver linings. One is that Republicans still hold a 3-point lead on the generic ballot in these districts, meaning they have a real chance if they get their likely voters out. An even bigger opening: Approximately 25% of those polled remain “persuadable” to vote Republican—if they hear the right things. Continue reading
Posted in 1st Amendment, 2nd Amendment, Candidates, Climate Change, Colorado GOP, Economy, Editorial, Education, Elections, Energy, Immigration, Issues, Jobs, Liberal Logic, National GOP, ObamaCare, POTUS, Taxes, Terrorism, TransportationThe Other House Race Both parties want to wield the pen when states draw new districts in 2021.
Published August 29, 2018The Other House Race
Both parties want to wield the pen when states draw new districts in 2021.
There are two battles under way for control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The first and better known is over which party will have the majority when the 116th Congress meets in January. This will be determined by the roughly 60 competitive districts at play in the 435 elections for the House this November. Democrats now enjoy the upper hand.
The second fight—also crucial but less discussed—is over which party has the better chance of holding the House for the decade after states redraw congressional-district lines in 2021. This fight involves 6,066 contests for state legislative seats this fall and another 6,318 races next year and in 2020. Because most state senators serve four-year terms, many of those elected this November will cast votes on redistricting plans after the next census. Both parties want to hold the pen when the time comes to draw new congressional district lines.
Republicans held that power in many states in 2011, having picked up 721 state legislative seats and 23 chambers in the two years following President Obama’s 2008 victory. They were rewarded handsomely for it in the subsequent redistricting.
Today Republicans hold 67 of 99 chambers (Nebraska has a unicameral legislature) and hold unified legislative control in 32 states. In four states—Alaska, Colorado, Maine and New York—control is split, with each party holding one chamber. Democrats have legislative majorities in both houses in only 14 states.
Join us on Thursday, June 7th, for the Reagan Club monthly meeting
Published May 29, 2018Good evening everyone,
Join us on Thursday, June 7th, for the Reagan Club monthly meeting.
Attorney General Cynthia Coffman will speak on a number of legal issues that are currently “hot topics” in our state.
Cynthia H. Coffman serves as the State’s 38th Attorney General. Since she took office in January 2015, AG Coffman has focused on community outreach, consumer protection, and protecting public safety and Colorado’s sovereignty.
State Representative Alexander “Skinny” Winkler (HD 34 Northglenn/Thornton) will provide a review of the 2018 Legislative session.
The meeting will be held at Amazing Grace Church at 541 E 99th Pl. Thornton, CO. Doors open at 6:00PM-meetings usually end at 8:30PM.
Member tickets are $20, non-member $25. You can still get early bird tickets for $15 before Tuesday, June 5th. Early registration is encouraged, as it helps us to define our member count
for the catering service!
Make your reservation via the Reagan Club of Colorado web-site at:
The Reagan Club is asking attendees to bring donations for our meeting host’s food bank.
Non-perishable items are requested, the most useful being the following:
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Canned fruits and vegetables
- Cereal
- Soup
See you on June 7th,
Fred Ramirez
President
Reagan Club of Colorado
Recent Comments