TABOR! Why Craig Benson Is Our Hero, Part 2!

Gov. Benson continues to fight for the working families of New Hampshire.

WASHINGTON – Three months ago, Gov. Craig Benson (R) took on the spending interests in his state when he vetoed a no-tax-increase budget that raised spending by more than 8%. He insisted that such high rates of spending would require future tax hikes to finance. The state House sustained his veto by only 3 votes, and the hard-working taxpayers were spared.

Now, Gov. Benson is promoting what he hopes will be a permanent safeguard against reckless spending. The governor is pushing a constitutional amendment called a Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR), which would limit spending increases to the rate of inflation plus population growth, and would require a two-thirds majority vote to raise "taxes, assessments, or fees."

"Gov. Benson is a superstar," said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. "He has diagnosed the problem that has led most states into budget crises, and he has prescribed the ideal solution. For too long, states have spent recklessly during good times, then raided taxpayers\’ wallets during bad times. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights would force public officials to set priorities and conserve taxpayer money, rather than place ever-heavier burdens on the people."

States from California to New Jersey went on a spending spree during the boom years of the 1990\’s, then were shocked when they couldn\’t meet their spending commitments during the current economic slowdown. But states with a TABOR, like Colorado, have seen a different pattern. Since Colorado passed TABOR in 1992, spending has been restrained, and the people of Colorado have received more than $3.2 billion in tax rebates. Between 1995 and 2000, Colorado was ranked first in the nation for gross state product growth, and second in personal income growth. Colorado was one of only 5 states that didn\’t have a budget deficit in 2002, while most states scrambled to raise taxes and cut services.

"Craig Benson is taking on the business-as-usual big spenders in Concord," Norquist continued. "And he is putting the good of the people at the top of the agenda. Gov. Benson\’s TABOR proposal will stop the raid on New Hampshire\’s wallets, boost the economy and create jobs, and propel New Hampshire into the first tier of states in today\’s competitive economy. I urge the legislature to pass the TABOR amendment immediately!"