When Voters Say "No" and Politicians Say "Sue": The Real Danger Behind HJR25-1023

Let’s call HJR25-1023 what it really is - a backdoor attempt to erase the Taxpayer Bill of Rights and overturn the will of the voters through the courts. TABOR has been upheld by Colorado voters time and again, and no resolution - however cleverly worded - should be used to nullify their voice.”

This is the plain truth behind House Joint Resolution 25-1023, now under consideration at the Capitol. While its sponsors dress it up as a neutral legal inquiry into constitutionality, what it really seeks is permission from the courts to dismantle the very structure that protects Coloradans from unchecked government growth: the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR.

Let’s be clear - this resolution isn’t about clarity. It’s not about good government. It’s about eliminating accountability and handing the State of Colorado a blank check. And that check will be drawn from the budgets of working families who are already living under the pressure of inflation, tax layering, and a cost of living that keeps climbing.

TABOR was adopted by voters to impose one simple and powerful principle: government must live within its means. It ensures that before any new taxes or tax increases are imposed, the people must give their direct approval. It ensures that Coloradans, not politicians, control the size and scope of government spending.

That is exactly why some lawmakers want it gone.

And so, HJR25-1023 seeks to bypass the ballot box and run this fight through the courts - where unelected judges can be pressured to do what legislators cannot accomplish with a straight vote.

It’s deceptive. It’s manipulative. And it’s dangerous.

If the majority party truly believed in voters’ choice, they would accept that TABOR remains the will of the people. But what we’ve seen instead is a consistent pattern of trying to erode, dilute, or work around TABOR through wordplay, ballot tricks, and now, legal maneuvering.

This resolution does not seek justice. It seeks a legal shield to grow government without asking your permission.

I stand firmly against this resolution. I stand with the thousands of households in Colorado who depend on the voter protections that TABOR provides. I stand for the idea that the voters’ voice should never be put on trial by those who claim to serve them.

We don’t need more games with taxpayer dollars. We need responsible governance. That means respecting the Constitution, honoring the voice of the electorate, and remembering who we work for.

As this resolution moves forward, I ask every Coloradan to speak out. Contact your representatives. Call the Governor. Let them know that you will not stand by while the guardrails are torn down.

The left wants to talk about “voters’ choice” - unless the voters choose to limit government. Then they look for ways around it.

Let’s not let them.