In Colorado, lawmakers wait for their JBC to introduce its bill. But the 1992 Taxpayer's Bill of Rights amendment, which places limits on government revenue growth and requires that excess revenue be returned to taxpayers, affected the JBC, too. That means the legislature can't change its own budget rules without voter approval. Straayer said he can remember when people stood in line to get a seat at party budget discussions. But now, with tax increases removed as a political possibility and spending defined by formula, interest in the budget has declined sharply.
Citizens ought to have that right.
But the revenue limitation has proved problematic at times. Cutting the rate of increase also reduces the base for all following years. It ought to come from a citizen initiative, he said. The only reason they're frustrated is because it's working like a charm and people realize taking power away from government is a good thing. People who run to get power are upset when they see we can actually do things for ourselves.