DENVER - The vote to cut $260 million from public schools last month brought several Democratic legislators to tearsand motivated others to apologize.
But school advocates who showed up at the state Capitol on Monday were interested in money, not tears.
“The ability to apologize but avoid doing anything about schooling in Colorado is no longer acceptable," said CarolBoigon, chairwoman of Great Education Colorado.
Her group is a prime backer of House Concurrent Resolution 1002, which asks voters to give the Legislature theauthority to raise taxes for education. The idea would effectively end the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights for schools andcolleges, the largest part of the state's budget.
The House Education Committee passed the measure 8-4 Monday - no surprise, given that all eight Democrats on the panelare co-sponsors of HCR 1002. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, voted no.
However, because the resolution needs a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, it will not survive the Housefloor unless several Republicans turn against TABOR.
TABOR advocates mobilized Monday to defend the constitutional amendment, although they were outnumbered by parents andteachers who say schools need more money.
Penn Pfiffner, a Republican former legislator, took the lead for opponents.
“The real purpose of this measure is a way to establish a frontal attack, to get rid of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights,"Pfiffner said.
TABOR is the country's strictest taxing and spending limit. It requires voters to approve any tax increase, and itlimits the amount of revenue government can collect.
Proponents cast the measure as a choice between tax policy and children.
“What's more important, educating our kids or lower taxes?" said Patty Bortz, also of Great Education Colorado.
TABOR's revenue limits are not hindering the state budget this year because voters suspended them for five years in2005. But when the recession hit, legislators had to either cut the budget or risk a ballot question that asked votersto raise taxes. They chose cuts.
HCR 1002 now is headed for the full House, where it will need 44 votes to pass. It has 29 co-sponsors, allDemocrats.
Democrats have 37 seats in the chamber.
