Colorado, We Need a Tax Cut

Middle, working class and poor Coloradoans need a break.

Frankly too many of the state's residents are losing ground by being nickeled-and-dimed by fees and taxes -- special district taxes, municipal taxes, government fees, school fees, tuition increases, etc.

This circumstances helps explain why the issue of income inequality is rising in the public consciousness.

So, here is a proposal for the majority Democrats in the Colorado legislature to consider and refer to the November 2014 election ballot.

Reduce the state sales tax rate and make up the revenue lost with the creation of a new state personal income tax bracket for higher level earners.

The wealthiest residents of this state can surely afford to pay more to support the cultural and business environment here that has profited them so richly.

Sales taxes are regressive; they hurt most those who can afford it least. We could use some tax justice in Colorado and some relief for those most negatively impacted by the lingering effects of the Great Recession.

By the same token, making sure that the average Colorado family has a bit more discretionary spending money will undoubtedly also help businesses across the state.

Moderate, common sense Republicans (if there are any left in the state legislature), the majority Democrats and Governor Hickenlooper ought to pick-up this economic challenge; this issue is at least worthy of debate and discussion in 2014.

Democrats especially ought to find a way to practice what they preach and support a plan to economically empower the working, middle class folks they claim to represent.

While we are at it, perhaps a reset on Colorado's minimum wage, too. The latest inflation adjustment brought the wage all the way up to a whole $8 an hour. Surely we can do better than setting the minimum earnings for full-time workers at close to the poverty line.

Anyway ... a debate on bread-and-butter issues that affect the real lives of everyday Colorado citizens is much to be preferred to an election season now looking to be hijacked by the gun radicals.