Tax-and-spend Democrats sure hate competition.

And you're one of their biggest competitors, having the audacity to want to keep more of your hard-earned money.

Their other competitor? TABOR.

And to avoid the fiscal responsibility this constitutional amendment requires, Democrats are subjecting us to a financial death by a thousand fees.

Last year, HB25-1090 passed through the legislature and was signed into law. The bill seemed good at a quick glance, as it outlawed what are known as “junk fees” in Colorado.

Junk fees are those unexpected little charges that businesses like restaurants add to your total at checkout, like an “infrastructure fee” or an “administrative fee.”

But Democrats made sure to specifically exempt government from their own rule, so you still see those fees almost daily.

A “solid waste fee” of 31 cents per ton began last month. You pay a 10-cent fee for a plastic bag, and 27 cents for every delivery you receive. You get the picture.

Here are two more bills being considered this year to increase your total financial burden just for living in Colorado, without you getting the chance to vote on them directly, as TABOR mandates.

SB26-008: Mental Health Access

SB26-008 creates a new government enterprise to fund mental health programs by creating a mandatory surcharge on every internet account in Colorado.

This would function just like a statewide tax on internet access and clearly violates the spirit of TABOR, forcing taxpayers to fund a new bureaucracy through fees instead of an honest vote.

The bill is assigned to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and is under consideration, but has no hearings or votes scheduled yet.

SB26-042: Revenue Classification Taxpayers Bill of Rights

SB26-042 rewrites how the state classifies certain taxes, fees, fines, and penalties so they no longer count toward TABOR spending limits.

While it doesn't create a new fee outright, it opens the door for higher collections by shielding more revenue from voter oversight. This bill is a quiet attempt to give state government more spending flexibility by redefining what counts under TABOR, rather than asking taxpayers for permission.

If you're keeping up with us on social media, you may have already seen that the second reading for SB26-004, the Red Flag Expansion bill, was postponed from Friday to tomorrow (Monday).

The Capitol has been inundated with the voices of concerned Coloradans opposing this dangerous bill. Please continue to keep the pressure on. We will prepare a new digital contact form for you this week, and will share it via Facebook and X before it is available via email.

Grassroots pressure makes a difference, so stay loud, stay engaged, and stay focused!

Colorado Freedom Force

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