Sunday, October 30, 2011

Colorado Faces Nation's Only Statewide Tax Vote To Raise Taxes For Education

Colorado Faces Nation's Only Statewide Tax Vote To Raise Taxes For Education:

Colorado Faces Nation's Only Statewide Tax Vote To Raise Taxes For Education

Colorado Tax Vote

IVAN MORENO and KRISTEN WYATT 10/30/11 12:43 PM ET AP



DENVER — The nation's only statewide tax vote on the November ballot asks Colorado voters whether they want to temporarily raise taxes to generate $3 billion for classrooms and colleges – a proposal that has stirred fierce opposition because of the stagnant economy.

The vote could serve as a test of voters' mood on tax increases and their frustration after endless rounds of education cuts in Colorado.

"If it should pass, it think it will get a fair amount of attention because no one is expecting anything with the words `tax increase' to pass," said Norman Provizer, a political science professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver.

Opponents, including the entire Republican delegation in Colorado's Legislature, insist tax hikes