Also, in the last couple of sessions the state legislature raised numerous fees bringing the state millions of additional dollars.

Adding fiscal insult to injury, the Democratic-controlled legislature passed Governor Ritter’s unconstitutional property tax “freeze,” that brought another several hundred million dollars to the state coffers.

As a result, Colorado’s budget has nearly doubled since 2000: from roughly $10 billion to nearly $20 billion today. Still it’s not enough.

This November, Colorado voters may face upwards of three ballot measures that will raise taxes and increase state revenue.

Amendment 51 raises the state’s sales tax from 2.9 percent to 3.1 percent.

Governor Ritter’s Amendment 58 would increase severance taxes on the oil and gas industry.

House Speaker Andrew Romanoff’s SAFE initiative eliminates future TABOR refunds and increases state K-12 education spending.

Question: What did government do with the money it already has? Taxpayers should not accept general answers that are long on numbers but very short on detail.

For instance, it’s not enough to say higher ed is short $850 million. Taxpayers should demand a complete accounting of every penny, and if officials are unable to do so, then maybe budgets are too big already.

Thanks to the Sam Adams Alliance, Colorado taxpayers have a new motto: No taxation without information!

Read the rest

Click here to listen to the podcast with Jason Stverak of the Sam Adams Alliance and Brett Narloch of the NDPC as they discuss transparency, the NDPC and sunflowers back home in North Dakota.

The North Dakota Policy Council (NDPC) is a liberty-based think tank focused on North Dakota solutions to North Dakota’s problems. We provide credible nonpartisan expertise and research to help North Dakotans advocate policies that are based on individual liberty, individual responsibility, and limited government.

The NDPC seeks to broaden policy debates beyond the belief that government intervention should be the avenue of first, rather than last, resort. We believe that:

* Government can only give to one person what it takes away from another, and that the power to give presumes the power to take.

* Policies intended to affect one person or one group can affect all people and all groups, and that these unintended consequences often cause more harm to the many than any good done for the one.

* Freedom requires responsibility: where government largesse replaces individual foresight it destroys responsibility and, therefore, freedom.

* All times matter. Long-term consequences are as or more important than short-term impacts. Emotional reactions are not suitable substitutes for rational solutions.

Click here for the Buckeye Institute Interview

The Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions is a nonpartisan research and educational institute devoted to individual liberty, economic freedom, personal responsibility and limited government in Ohio.

Our podcast shows are recorded live and made available in mp3 formats. The recordings all also promoted throughout the Sam Adams Alliance network and newsletters, and can be obtained via iTunes and text messaging.

Would you like to be on the show? Contact us and let us know!

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE TRANSPARENCY PLANK

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-President Thomas Jefferson

These words were spoken over 200 years ago but could not have more relevance to the United States today. Spending is out of control at every level of government. The actions of elected officials are shrouded in secrecy. And citizens are on the losing end of an ever-widening government information gap.

It’s time to breathe new life into Jefferson’s words.

The Sam Adams Alliance aims to do exactly that. The “No Taxation Without Information” campaign will shine the bright light of sunshine and transparency on every corner of government in the United States. It will spotlight the efforts of different organizations, elected officials, and individual citizens as they fight for greater transparency and accountability from our government and its officials.

One of the government’s most powerful tools is the ability to tax and spend. This must be held up to the highest level of scrutiny and transparency. In the era of instant communication via the Internet, there is no excuse for the absence of information readily available for citizen review and inspection.

The need for transparent and accountable government is not a partisan issue. Every citizen, no matter their political affiliation, deserves to know how their government is spending their money. Therefore, one of the first actions of the “No Taxation Without Information” campaign is to encourage the Democrat, Republican, and Libertarian Parties to adopt the statement below as part of their party platforms and to encourage candidates of their party to actively campaign on and vote for programs and policies that promote open, transparent, and accountable government.

The era of “$500 million bridges to nowhere” must come to an end. We urge you to add your name to the thousands of fellow Americans that have already signed onto this campaign. Your voice urging transparent and accountable government will ensure that the era of bloated, corrupt spending and Congressional earmarks is defeated!