Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Andrew Sullivan: "I have friends who are alive today solely because marijuana helped them stay on their meds during the crippling over-dosing that occurred in the early days of anti-retroviral therapy for HIV. Of course, the pot may also actually provide these people with something called pleasure as well. But despite that drawback, the health consequences alone make this a no-brainer. It frustrates me that we even have to debate this. There is no rational debate to be had." Category: Denver November 2006 Election 5:45:53 PM

Legal Marijuana? From today's Denver Post: "Marijuana-legalization supporters threatened legal action Tuesday to temporarily halt production of the 2006 Colorado voter information booklet because they said it contains misleading information about the Alcohol-Marijuana Equalization Initiative. The guide says if the initiative passes, it would be legal for adults to give less than an ounce of marijuana to anyone over the age of 15. Mason Tvert, campaign manager of SAFER (Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation) said Amendment 44 would allow only those age 21 and over to possess up to an ounce of marijuana. Amendment 44 doesn't address a loophole that does not penalize adults who give marijuana to anyone younger than 21. But Tvert said the existing law of contributing to the delinquency of a minor already bars adults from providing marijuana to anyone younger than 18. Tvert accused the Colorado Legislative Council of bending to political pressure from federal drug enforcement agencies in crafting the guide's language. Kirk Mlinek, director of the Legislative Council, said the guide is crafted to explain the measure in plain language without speculating about what other laws might apply." Category: Denver November 2006 Election 6:58:15 AM

Beauprez for governor? Peter Blake looks at Bob Beauprez's proposal to end Colorado's gasoline tax in his column in today's Rocky Mountain News. He writes, "The most radical fiscal proposal by a candidate for Colorado governor this year (or almost any year) was unrolled almost casually by Bob Beauprez. No bells, no whistles, no press conference, not even an e-mailed news release. Beauprez proposed a complete overhaul of state road funding in answer to a question asked during an editorial board meeting last week with the News... "What he said he would do - voters willing - is eliminate the current state excise tax on gasoline - 22 cents a gallon - and replace the money with an overall 1-cent increase in the state sales tax. The sales tax on everything, not just gasoline. The current tax rate is 2.9 percent. (It isn't charged on groceries and prescription drugs, and Beauprez hinted these exemptions would continue.) But wouldn't this get away from the historic user-pays nature of gasoline taxes? He dismissed this notion. Even if you don't drive, he said, you depend on roads for everything you buy. Nevertheless, repeal of the excise tax would be a first in the U.S. Starting with Oregon in 1919, all 50 states imposed an excise tax on gasoline. They now range from 4 cents in Florida to 34 cents in Washington. An excise tax is generally charged to and paid by a wholesaler, but passed on to the customer at the pump. And it is levied on a quantity, such as a gallon, not on a retail price like the sales tax... "It turned out it would raise more, according to state budget experts. A penny increase in the sales tax would produce an estimated $670.5 million, considerably more than the $513 million the excise tax raised in fiscal 2006. Since Beauprez wants his proposal to be revenue neutral, at least at first, he's now suggesting the increase be 0.77 percent. Beauprez is either a little bit crazy or way ahead of his time - or both. Politically, he has a very hard sell. He's right in that everything you buy gets to you by road sooner or later, but try peddling a higher sales tax to the aging house-bound widow living on a pittance who watches gas-guzzling SUVs roll by... "Local sales taxes aren't allowed here on fuel. The cities and counties share in the proceeds to the Highway Users Tax Fund, which in addition to the gas tax is funded by motor vehicle registration fees (about $240 million last year). In Colorado, the HUTF is also supplemented, sometimes, by state sales taxes collected on auto tires, batteries, parts and accessories. 'SB 1' money, as it's called, has been around since 1997, but the proceeds go into the general fund and the legislature can't leave them alone in hard times. The Colorado Department of Transportation got $217 million in SB 1 funds in 2006, but that's the first time it's gotten even a dime since 2002. HUTF money is constitutionally protected but sales tax proceeds are not. True, they will go up as the economy rises (unlike excise taxes, which have been going down) but lawmakers will tap them. That's what happened in California, where voters in 2002 passed an initiative declaring that the sales tax on gas (imposed on top of the excise tax) should go to transportation projects except during 'fiscal crises.'" Category: Denver November 2006 Election 6:37:13 AM

Referendum J and Amendment 39 Rocky Mountain News: "Behind the fight over a November ballot initiative on school spending is a fundamental disagreement about what programs are necessary for education. Rep. Joe Stengel, R-Littleton, a leader of the group First Class Education, says more money should go to the classroom... "Stengel and [Sue] Windels were part of a debate on Amendment 39, which is backed by Stengel's group. The measure on the Nov. 7 ballot would require that 65 percent of expenditures by the state's 178 school districts go to the classroom. The debate airs at 9 p.m. Friday on KBDI-Channel 12. Under Amendment 39, classroom expenditures would include traditional teachers, special-education teachers, other classroom professionals, librarians and supplies, including computers and books. Windels supports an alternative, called Referendum J, which was referred to the ballot by the legislature. It requires that 65 percent of school expenditures go to educating students - but that would include services such as lunch and transportation." Category: Denver November 2006 Election 6:28:08 AM

Beauprez for governor? Bob Beauprez is hoping to generate some buzz around his gubernatorial campaign. Here's a short article from CBS4Denver.com. They write, "Following weeks of criticism of his campaign over his selection of a running mate and lackluster fundraising, GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez on Tuesday issued a written pledge to voters outlining his agenda and asked voters to hold him accountable. The pledge included affordable health care, a privately funded preschool program, more money for rural schools, $40 million in grants for water storage projects, more open space, and a plan to reduce annual state spending by $100 million. Beauprez said voters are skeptical and he put his promises in writing to show he was serious. He called it The Colorado Accountability Pledge & Plan of Action." Here's the coverage from the Rocky Mountain News. They write, "Congressman Bob Beauprez today unveiled at five-point plan that he says specifies what his administration would accomplish if he wins the race to be Colorado[base ']s next governor. 'Colorado's future is on the line and we owe it to ourselves to put politics aside, roll up our sleeves, and get things done,' Beauprez said in a statement posted on his campaign Web site. 'The issues of healthcare, education, water, transportation, and illegal immigration are too important to settle for anything less than specific action plans.'" Category: Denver November 2006 Election 5:41:53 AM

© Copyright 2006 John Orr. Last update: 10/1/06; 8:45:21 AM.