Terrible TABOR

From Missouri NEA Legislative Update
by Otto Fajen

The House perfected HCS/HJR 87 (Allen Icet) on March 22 by a nearly party-line vote of 88-66.  HCS/HJR 87 is a constitutional spending limit similar to the Colorado provision known as “TABOR”, or the so-called “Taxpayer Bill of Rights.”  The HJR would impose a permanent, constitutional spending limit on state government and would limit annual growth in state appropriations to a cost of living adjustment factor plus a population growth factor.  The HJR even includes requirements for imposing further, permanent state income tax cuts if the spending limits are operational.
Missouri NEA strongly opposes this unneeded restriction.  Legislators should be able to construct a consensus revenue estimate and appropriate according to that estimate.  HJR 87’s limit would cause Missouri government to shrink year after year relative to the size of the overall economy.  TABOR-style limits are a proven failure and will permanently diminish the state's capacity to invest in education and other services we need in Missouri.

Watch a video on what TABOR has done to Colorado at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbF3_CiOtoM