When Will Tax Payers Get An Answer?
As the budget debate draws closer for the month of March, we continue to see the consequences of over regulation. Recently, Colorado’s largest publicly traded company made the decision to leave Colorado for Florida. Palantir moved here in 2020 from California. Back then, Colorado had fewer regulations, while California had extensive regulations and taxes. Now, Colorado is the 6th most regulated state in the nation. Palantir has been a major cornerstone in the tech and defense industry and is valued at over $300 billion dollars. The projected loss of 544 high paying jobs and the small businesses that supported Palantir will have significant repercussions in the economy.
This is why I voted against HB26-1065, Transit and Housing Investment Zones. The state was seeking a new $50 million dollar per year tax credit in addition to three existing state housing credits. This is designed to put people in high density housing zones within walking distance of the RTD transit zones and the Light Rail transit zones. They will then be limited to taking multimodal transit (Bus and Trains) to their destination. The crime and drug use on the trains is already a reason that people don’t use the light rail. It also takes control from local governments and gives more authority to the state for planning and housing build. I opposed this legislation in the finance committee and will continue to fight against it on the House Floor.
Businesses, large and small, are being crushed under the weight of overregulation, crime, and the high cost of living. If legislation does not focus on creating an environment where businesses can grow and thrive, Colorado’s businesses will continue to seek out other states that have fewer regulations, lower cost of living, and lower crime.
According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, crime has spiked at air/bus/train terminals. CBS Story: RTD train operators exposed to meth, fentanyl on daily basis
RTD’s budget has been climbing as its ridership has fallen. Between 2019 and 2022, ridership fell 46% while its operating budget increased 3%.
Murder rates rose 300%, Drug violations went up 248%, and 202% rise in motor vehicle theft.
Read more stats from Common Sense Institute here, and a stabbing victim’s case here.
Do people really want to live and get to work under these conditions? Taxpayers deserve an answer.
Once again, Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), is reeling from charges of corruption and incompetence. An audit from the Office of Inspector General discovered 220,000 payments to health care providers on behalf of people who were dead. Also discovered was that 9,000 people still on Colorado’s Medicaid rolls are deceased. Colorado overcharged the federal Government more than $6 Million. The State’s Medicaid program overpaid transportation providers tens of millions of dollars over five years, and is now estimated that correcting this mistake will save approximately $90 million over approximately the next year and a half. How many more times will this happen before the taxpayers can gain accountability for the money that has been wasted? Read more here:
During legislative hearings, we repeatedly asked questions regarding spending for Medicaid and the cuts to provider rates. Time and again the responses were lacking with facts or accountability.