Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Tancredo Renews Call for Hickenlooper to Join Him in Committing to Oppose Tax Hikes

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO—Tom Tancredo, candidate for governor, today called on Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper to join him in committing not to raise taxes.
“John Hickenlooper is quoted in the Denver Post as saying that state government is ‘grossly underfunded,’ but yet he has not said how he proposes to increase funding for state government,” said Tancredo. “That sounds a lot like a pledge to raise taxes.”

As Denver Mayor, Hickenlooper has advocated for numerous tax hikes in the past, altogether totaling some $290 million in higher taxes. Hickenlooper was also a chief booster of Referendum C, the largest tax hike in Colorado history, and refused to tell voters where he stood on the so-called "Dirty Dozen" tax hikes earlier this year.

“Coloradans can’t afford any more tax hikes right now,” Tancredo added. “Colorado families and businesses have been tightening their belts for years, and it's time state government started doing the same thing."

Over the last two years, policymakers have generally avoided significant cuts in state spending, instead relying on tax and fee hikes, budget gimmicks, and one-time sources of money such as federal stimulus dollars and raiding state reserves and trust funds.

“Colorado voters deserve to know whether or not John Hickenlooper will raise their taxes," said Tancredo. "His recent statements and his actions as mayor suggest strongly that he will.”