Former Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper boasts of our state’s outstanding economic recovery. At the same time, he hems and haws over whether he’s a capitalist or not. But for the Democrats running the state’s government in the post-Hickenlooper era, they have chosen a different path.
With a divided legislature during six of Hick’s eight years, legislation that would have strangled Colorado’s economy was kept at bay. Most of it would die in the state Senate’s State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee on party-line votes.
But with the “Blue Wave” that swept every statewide elected office and complete control of Colorado’s legislature into the hands of Democrats, that very legislation became the top priority for the party that loses sleep at the thought that its most radical and active Twitter followers might condemn them as capitalists. The horror.
As in presidential politics, Democrats at the state level are engaged in a footrace to see just how far they can push the limit with liberal legislation. Bills are pending that would let localities all but banish oil and gas operations, ignore the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights to institute paid family leave, explore government-offered health insurance, and even to explore automatically enrolling workers into a government-run retirement plan. All the while, what’s left of the informal caucus of moderate Democrats are either keeping their mouths shut or acting in complicity with those that find great discomfort in their state’s economic success.
In Colorado, Democrats have made their decision: Capitalism died with Hickenlooper.
Colorado’s unemployment rate sits somewhere abound 2.8%, an entire percentage point lower than the national average. Our income tax rate sits flat at 4.63%, thanks almost entirely and absolutely to the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, the voter-approved measure that forces all tax increase proposals to go to a vote of the people. It should be noted that efforts to raise taxes were rejected on the same ballot that swept Democrats into office. Booms in the oil and gas, marijuana, and agricultural industries have brought prosperity to many, both in rural and metro areas of the state.
To those outside Colorado, the state looks like a libertarian paradise. Its low taxes, friendly business environment, and dedication to the Constitution probably was what libertarian firebrand Austin Petersen had in mind when he opined that he wanted “gay couples to be able to protect their marijuana fields with fully automatic rifles.”
While Coloradans may take solace in knowing that their legislative session only lasts 120 days, they may also fear the hundreds of bills that threaten the Colorado we all know and love. Legislation that will allow rent-control and minimum wage spikes — the kinds of laws that have choked the lower class of cities such as San Francisco and New York — are bad ideas waiting to happen. As of today, the clock is the only ally of liberty in Colorado.
In 2013, the last time Colorado Democrats had this level of control, state senators were recalled, giving the Senate president’s gavel back to the GOP. Those efforts have begun again, mostly due to the oil and gas legislation that was just signed, but there shouldn’t be a need to return to the ballot so shortly after an election. Unfortunately, just because something shouldn’t be doesn’t mean it actually isn’t.
Americans outside of the Centennial State should take note of what’s happening here. This shift has not occurred in a vacuum, and it isn’t confined to our borders. It speaks to the value of checks and balances, and the value of having somebody to say “no” when the activists begin to overwhelm. If it can happen in a bastion for liberty such as Colorado, it can happen anywhere.
Come 2020, or maybe sooner, depending upon the results of active recall efforts, Coloradans should have clarity as to what it means to elect Democrats to positions of power: a full, unwavering about-face from the Colorado of recent memory.
For Americans living outside the best state in the republic, I suspect the choice will most likely be quite similar.
Sage Naumann is a political professional and commentator based out of Brighton, Colo. He currently serves as the communications director for the Colorado Senate Republicans. Follow him on Twitter @sagenaumann.
