State TABOR modifications now proposed by two Republican lawmakers

As the controversial and conflicting Taxpayer's Bill of Rights heads into its 25th year, at least two Republican state legislators believe the law is in need of a tune-up.

Rep. Dan Thurlow of Grand Junction and Sen. Larry Crowder of Alamosa are heading down a road as bumpy as the crumbling state highways that have partially fallen victim to TABOR's spending constraints. The lawmakers are proposing that the state's spending cap formula be tied to personal income, rather than consumer inflation plus population change.

The battle ahead is long. It was once considered unthinkable for a Colorado Republican to imagine restructuring the TABOR formula so that government could grow when economic times are good.

Legislation - which would have to be referred to voters under TABOR - is planned for the upcoming session that begins on Jan. 11, with Thurlow carrying the bill in the House and Crowder sponsoring it in the Senate.

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