As the National Western Stock Show drew to a close today, many of Colorado’s ranchers and farmers in attendance were unaware that one of the guests of honor (Governor Bill Ritter), along with many in the Colorado legislature, was taking pot shots at their livelihood - aided and abetted by what amounted to a declaration of “open season” by the Colorado Supreme Court.

Although a coalition of business groups opposed to being targeted for elimination of tax credits and exemptions have already expressed concern about the impact of increasing tax burdens on struggling businesses, thus far little organized opposition appears to have coalesced against two of the thirteen (13!) tax exemptions targeted for elimination that will directly impact Colorado farmers and ranchers:

• Suspending for three years a sales tax exemption for pesticides. ($2.9M)
• Suspending for three years a sales-tax exemption for animal vaccines, hormones, animal drugs, bull semen and other compounds used in agriculture. ($1.5M)

Prior to last year’s notorious “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court, however, these tax credits and exemptions could not have been targeted for elimination in the first place - since, under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), a “tax policy change directly causing a net tax revenue gain to any district” (whether by directly increasing taxes, or by eliminating an existing tax exemption) must first be approved by a vote of the people.

It’s no bull - you CAN exercise YOUR right to vote “NO” on the four ‘unjust justices’ of the Mullarkey Majority (Michael Bender, Alex Martinez, Nancy Rice, and Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey) who need YOUR approval to continue taking away your constitutional rights: your right to vote on tax increases, your right to defend your homes and business from seizure by rapacious governments, and your right to enjoy the benefits of the rule of law, instead of rule by an oligarchy of activist, agenda-driven “justices.”  Help to Support Clear The Bench Colorado with your comments (Sound Off!), your contributions, and your “NO” vote on retaining these unjust justices this November!

Tags: Alex Martinez, Bill Ritter, Colorado Car Tax, Colorado Constitution, Colorado Courts, Colorado Gun Tax, Colorado Judges, Colorado Legislature, Colorado Mill Levy, Colorado Pols, Colorado Smoking Ban, Colorado Supreme Court, eminent domain abuse, FASTER, judical activism, judicial accountability, judicial evaluation, judicial retention, judicial usurpation, Know Your Judge, Mary Mullarkey, Michael Bender, Michael Roberts, Mill Levy Tax Colorado, Mill Levy Tax Freeze, Mullarkey Court, Mullarkey Majority, Nancy Rice, National Western Stock Show, Ritter Auto Tax, Ritter Candy Tax, Ritter Gun Tax, TABOR, Telluride Land Grab, unjust justices