Two Chief Myths about Proposition 103 Debunked
Between a statement by Governor Hickenlooper and a new study by the Bell Policy Center, fatal holes have been shot through the two chief arguments that Proposition 103 opponents have been pushing over the past several months.
Myth #1: There is no guarantee that the revenues raised under Prop 103 will go to education.
Truth: The language of the initiative has always made it clear that the dollars would go to preschool, K-12 and higher education:
ALL REVENUES RAISED BY THE INCREASE IN TAXES IMPOSED PURSUANT TO THIS MEASURE SHALL BE APPROPRIATED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ONLY FOR THE COSTS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE AND PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AND SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO AND NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR MONEYS OTHERWISE APPROPRIATED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE COSTS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE AND PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION . . .
Now, Governor Hickenlooper has closed the door on any possibility that the dollars could be directed elsewhere. On Monday, the Governor told reporters:
“If it passes, I would certainly veto an effort to take that money away from education. If the voters of Colorado say they want something, my job is to make sure they get what they voted for.”
Bottom line: Every dollar will go straight to education.
Myth #2: Proposition 103 will result in job losses.
Truth: The study that opponents have been citing for this proposition has been debunked already. Now, the Bell Policy Center has issued a report that summarizes academic research on taxes and economic growth and presents data on the effects of tax increases enacted by other states:
In fact, analysis of more than 100 academic studies ….finds that spending on public services has a positive effect on economic growth….[I]ncreases in spending for infrastructure and education, in particular, were most consistently correlated with economic growth.
The report concludes:
[C]ontinued cuts in education spending will cost us jobs and, over the long run, will likely hurt the quality of our workforce, making Colorado less attractive to businesses and individuals looking to relocate.Passing Proposition 103 is good for Colorado’s students, their families and schools. It helps protect against future cuts in education spending, adds to our long-term economic competitiveness and does so without harming our economy.
Now to focus on the central question presented by Proposition 103: should Colorado voters take action to prevent a fourth year of education cuts and start reinvesting in our students, our economy and our future?
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