In regard to Jake Herrera's Nov. 8 column, 'The future of TABOR in Wisconsin,' TABOR is not 'dead' but will only be held in abeyance for a few years and will then kick in again. The 'downward ratchet' which reduces government spending during recessions has been eliminated (and doesn't even appear in Wisconsin's TABOR), but the restrictions on growth of revenue are still in effect after those early years.
It looks like the TABOR vote was a bait-and-switch. The social vultures are already squabbling over the increased revenues, and it looks like the fools who voted for the TABOR freeze are going to get a lot less for universities than they thought. The anti-TABOR campaign did not set specific amounts they were going to spend in any one area.
What Herrera overlooked completely is Colorado's superior economic performance to Wisconsin's over the TABOR years. This includes job creation and population growth. Colorado just had an announcement of a new jet-manufacturing facillity to be placed here, while Wisconsin is faced with nothing but decline in its manufacturing base.
Political science majors at UW ought to consider where they are going to get a job after graduation. If in Wisconsin, it will likely be at McDonalds.
The result of the vote may be unconstitutional, because TABOR was an amendment to the Colorado constitution and the anti-TABOR referendum was only a law. This vote will likely not stand up in court.
Doug Collman
UW-Madison
Alumnus 1973
Denver, Colo.
