More information on TABOR from Tennesseans for Fair Taxation (TFT) Including:

• The consequences of TABOR for Tennessee.
• TABOR and the corrupting role of big money in public referendums.
• Take action to stop TABOR today.

TABOR is a Taxpayer Bill of Restrictions designed to systematically de-fund our public schools, parks, and other public services.

One of the chief supporters of TABOR is Grover Norquist, co-author of Gingrich’s Contract On America, architect of the Tax Pledge, and President of the anti-government Americans for Tax Reform based in Washington, DC. It is Grover Norquist who once said his goal is to get government “down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.” In other words, to drag our schools, parks, police protection, fire departments, health care, and environment into the bathroom and drown them all.

What TABOR Actually Does in Tennessee

• TABOR, or Senate Joint Resolution 88, will begin the process for permanently altering the Tennessee constitution in order to restrict funding for education, children’s services, the environment, and other important public services. Specific measures of TABOR (SJR 88 as amended) include:
• Constitutionally cap state tax revenue at the current level (49th nationally) adjusted only for economic growth over time.
• Make tax changes more difficult by increasing the votes required to pass any tax increase from a simple majority to a 2/3rd supermajority.
• Require any tax increase not gaining a 2/3rd majority to be voted on in a public referendum where campaign finance laws don’t apply.

Click here to learn more about how TABOR will impact Tennessee.

TABOR – A Failed Experiment in Colorado

It’s clear from the experience of Colorado that TABOR hurts public schools, the environment, and other public services through the gradual erosion of funding. Since 1992 when TABOR was enacted in Colorado, the state has fallen several places in many key indicators, especially education.

• They fell from 22nd to 29th in per capita state and local spending for elementary and secondary education.
• They fell from 25th to 37th in public high school graduation rates.
• They fell from 3rd to 13th in percent graduated from high school.
• They fell from 8th to 19th in the “Most Livable State” index.

Primary data sources: A Statistical View of the 50 United States: State Rankings, Morgan Quinto, 1993 & 2003 editions; CQ's State Fact Finder, Congressional Quarterly, 1993 & 2003 editions.

Additional reading

• The TABOR experience in Colorado #1
• The TABOR experience in Colorado #2
• Tennessee's TABOR amendment language

Get more information on TABOR:

• Overview of TABOR as amended and the failed Colorado experiment.
• The consequences of TABOR for Tennessee.
• TABOR and the corrupting role of big money in public referendums.

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