Tracking what's destroying Colorado

This brazen wave of sprinkler system thefts in affluent Douglas County is yet another symptom of Colorado's self-inflicted affordability crisis. When hardworking families are crushed by skyrocketing property taxes—set to jump even higher in 2025-2026 as temporary relief measures expire and assessment rates climb—combined with a cost of living that's well above the national average (housing alone 15%+ higher), desperation breeds crime. People aren't stealing brass valves because they're career criminals; they're doing it because the state government's endless spending, regulatory overreach, and failure to control explosive growth have made honest living feel impossible for too many.

Colorado ranks middling in overall tax burden (around 8.7-8.9% of income), but locals feel the pinch hard: property taxes remain burdensome despite low effective rates in some rankings, local sales taxes pile on in places like Denver (pushing combined rates near 9%), and the flat 4.4% income tax doesn't offset the housing inflation driven by out-of-control migration and green mandates. Meanwhile, politicians push more fees, regulations, and spending that drive up costs without delivering safety or relief.

The real scandal isn't just the thefts—it's how high taxes and living expenses are squeezing middle-class Coloradans so tight that scrapping sprinkler parts starts looking like a viable side hustle. Time for real conservative fixes: slash unnecessary regulations, cap runaway spending, protect TABOR fully, and stop pretending endless growth without consequences is sustainable. Otherwise, expect more of these "scrap metal crimes" as people turn to desperate measures in a state that used to stand for freedom and opportunity, not financial suffocation. Homeowners, check your systems—but demand better leadership before the next cut isn't just a valve, but your quality of life.

This is what happens when radical leftists hijack local government: our hard-earned tax dollars wasted on rainbow indoctrination symbols that promote gender confusion and child mutilation agendas. Mayor Francis parading her fetish partner in a dog mask at a public event? Disgusting and unprofessional—it's not "inclusion," it's forcing deviant lifestyles down our throats while protecting illegal criminals with "stop ICE" stunts. Time to vote these woke clowns out and restore sanity to Fort Collins!

This is the ugly face of big government in action—Colorado's Democrat overlords under Governor Polis are squeezing hardworking seniors dry with these outrageous property tax hikes, all while pretending to "fix" the mess they created. Your dad's story hits home: a lifetime of responsibility, house paid off, yet the state demands $8k or they'll seize it like feudal lords. It's not a tax; it's eternal rent to fund their endless spending sprees on pet projects, green fantasies, and handouts that balloon the budget.

Remember, this surge stems from the repeal of the Gallagher Amendment in 2020—a "bipartisan" move, but let's be real, pushed by liberals who hate limits on government growth—leading to skyrocketing assessments as home values soared unchecked. Temporary "relief" bills like SB24-233 were just band-aids that expired in 2025, jacking up rates to 7.05% for schools and 6.25% for locals, even if your property value didn't budge. Result? Bills jumping 20-40% for many, forcing folks to sell or flee the state.

Conservatives have been warning about this: high taxes kill freedom and prosperity. Time to fight back—vote out the tax-and-spend crowd, demand permanent caps like the 5.5% revenue growth limit they half-heartedly imposed, and protect our elders from this predatory system. Colorado deserves better than being turned into another California exodus story. Hang in there; real change starts with us!

This is textbook Democrat corruption at its finest – a sitting leftist legislator like Lorena Garcia using her position to funnel hundreds of thousands of your hard-earned tax dollars straight into her own non-profit's pockets, all under the guise of "COVID relief" that's somehow still flowing in 2026. Garcia, who moonlights as CEO of the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition while representing House District 35, saw her org rake in $330,359 in just one month from the state's Economic Recovery and Relief Cash Fund. That's more than double what most other recipients got, and it's no coincidence: since she took the helm in 2018, the coalition's revenues exploded from about $517,000 to $2.7 million by 2023, largely thanks to government handouts like these.

Conservatives have been warning about this forever – big government creates endless slush funds that liberals exploit to enrich themselves and their cronies. Why is "COVID money" still being doled out six years later? Because Democrats can't resist turning a crisis into a perpetual ATM for their pet projects and personal networks. And get this: Garcia's own parents even scored $60,000 funneled through the coalition to their nonprofits in 2023, raising serious red flags about conflicts of interest and family favoritism. This isn't charity; it's cronyism on steroids, propping up leftist advocacy groups while everyday Coloradans struggle with inflation and overregulation pushed by the same politicians.

If Republicans were in charge, we'd audit this nonsense, slash these wasteful programs, and return the money to taxpayers where it belongs. Instead, we're stuck with Garcia and her ilk treating the state treasury like their personal piggy bank. Time to drain the swamp in Denver – vote these grifters out!

Wake up, Colorado—your impressive $111K median income is no accident; it's the fruit of a once-business-friendly environment attracting tech innovators, energy pros, and freedom-loving transplants fleeing blue-state disasters. But under Democrat dominance, you're barreling down California's failed playbook: endless tax hikes to fund bloated government programs that chase away the very wealth creators who built this boom. Just look at the latest— a whopping $4.1 billion income tax special session bills jacking up revenues by hundreds of millions annually, and ballot pushes for progressive taxes slamming high earners. Even local sales taxes are creeping up, like Westminster's jump to 4.25%.

This isn't "progress"—it's the same socialist squeeze that turned California into a high-cost exodus factory, where sky-high incomes barely cover the basics amid runaway regulations and welfare spending. Colorado's allure? Low taxes and minimal red tape once drew the best and brightest. Now, with these hikes, expect businesses to bolt for red states like Texas or Florida, where freedom and fiscal sanity still reign. Don't let libs tax your prosperity into oblivion—vote conservative, cut the waste, and keep Colorado golden, not broke!

This is peak Democrat entitlement on full display – Rob Andrews, the so-called "public safety" chairman in gang-infested Aurora, gets popped for DUI and thinks flashing his council badge will get him off the hook? Meanwhile, his punk stepson spits at cops like it's no big deal. These left-wing elites preach rules for thee but not for me, all while their cities crumble under crime waves they enable with soft-on-crime policies. Andrews isn't fit to lead a lemonade stand, let alone public safety. Resign now, or better yet, get recalled – Colorado deserves leaders who respect the law, not hypocrites who endanger lives and disrespect our police!

Let's face it: the government-consulting complex is one of the biggest scams fleecing American taxpayers today. A recent X post by @beaverd lays it bare, detailing how Deloitte has pocketed over $800 million from Colorado alone since 2011. And for what? Botched IT systems, failed audits, and endless "consulting" gigs that do little more than line the pockets of insiders while leaving citizens with glitchy services and ballooning deficits. This isn't incompetence—it's a feature of the system, designed to keep the money flowing to connected firms like Deloitte.

Take Kristin Russell as a prime example of how this revolving door operates. Her career trajectory reads like a blueprint for crony capitalism. Starting as a VP at Oracle before becoming Colorado's CIO in 2011, serving until around 2014, she jumped ship to head up the state's technology office as Secretary of Technology and Chief Information Officer. Appointed by Democrat Gov. John Hickenlooper, Russell oversaw IT strategies during a period when Colorado was ramping up contracts with big consultants. Then, in a move that's all too predictable, she slid right over to Deloitte in 2014 as Managing Director, leading their "digital government practice" for U.S. states, locals, and education sectors.

Coincidence? Hardly. At Deloitte, Russell leveraged her government experience to help the firm secure even more lucrative deals—deals that often involve the very states she once served. We're talking about pushing cloud tech, AI, and digital transformations that sound innovative but frequently result in overbudget projects and underperforming systems. Colorado's unemployment insurance debacle during COVID? Deloitte was front and center, with their outdated systems crashing under pressure, leaving hardworking Coloradans in the lurch while the firm cashed checks. Nationwide, Deloitte's track record is riddled with similar failures: Pentagon audits they couldn't pass, state systems that hemorrhage money, and all while billing taxpayers exorbitant rates for "expertise" that any competent in-house team could handle.

This isn't just a Colorado problem—it's a national epidemic. The left loves to talk about "public-private partnerships," but what they really mean is funneling your hard-earned dollars to globalist firms like Deloitte (headquartered in London, no less) through no-bid contracts and insider networks. Russell's path—from Oracle's corporate suites to Colorado's capitol, then straight to Deloitte—illustrates how these elites game the system. They regulate and award contracts in government, then cash in on the private side. It's cronyism at its finest, eroding free markets and bloating bureaucracy.

Conservatives have been sounding the alarm on this for years. We need real reform: ban the revolving door with strict cooling-off periods, mandate competitive bidding, and slash reliance on consultants altogether. Why outsource to Deloitte when AI could replace 99% of these overpaid gigs, as commenters on the X post rightly point out? Empower states to build their own efficient systems, cut the fat from budgets, and hold failures accountable—not reward them with more contracts.

If we don't drain this swamp, it'll keep swallowing billions while delivering nothing but excuses. Kudos to @beaverd for shining a light—now let's demand action from leaders who put America first, not consultants' bottom lines. Taxpayers deserve better than this endless grift.

Here we go again with big-government "consumer protection" theater in Colorado. Democrats in the legislature passed HB 25-1090 to supposedly banish those evil "junk fees," but as even left-leaning outlets like The Colorado Sun admit, the new rules just force businesses to slap the fees in bold print upfront instead of hiding them. Surprise: the fees aren't disappearing—they're just getting a bureaucratic makeover.

Landlords can still pile on charges for amenities, valet trash, or "smart home" nonsense, as long as they disclose them. Restaurants keep tacking on "kitchen appreciation" or service fees (which often aren't even going to workers as tips). Ticket sites, delivery apps, and hotels? Same story—convenience fees and resort fees live on.

This isn't protecting consumers; it's more nanny-state meddling that raises compliance costs for businesses, which inevitably get passed on to you and me through higher base prices. The real junk here is the idea that government micromanaging pricing transparency will magically make housing or dining more affordable. If anything, it discourages investment in rentals and small businesses while doing zilch about the actual drivers of high costs: sky-high regulations, taxes, and limited housing supply thanks to the same progressive policies.

Consumer advocates whining that disclosure "alone isn't effective" are half-right—for once. The solution isn't more laws; it's less government interference so the free market can keep prices competitive. File a complaint if you're truly misled, but don't expect Sacramento-on-the-Rockies-style overreach to fix what it broke in the first place.

It's high time we call out the NGO and nonprofit racket in Colorado for what it is: a bloated, unelected bureaucracy sucking the life out of hardworking Colorado taxpayers while pushing agendas no one voted for. These so-called "nonprofits" are heavily reliant on government grants and taxpayer dollars, often to advance open-border policies, influence elections through dark money channels, and contribute to social unrest.

Colorado has poured millions into nonprofit organizations through state programs, including migrant support grants from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), the Newcomers Fund administered by the Rose Community Foundation (which has distributed nearly $5 million to dozens of organizations serving immigrants across the state, from Denver to rural areas like the Yampa Valley), and various other funding streams for immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, and related humanitarian efforts. Nonprofits across the state receive substantial federal and state grants to facilitate mass migration, provide housing assistance, legal aid, and other services to newcomers—straining local resources, overwhelming communities, and burdening taxpayers who never got a say in these policies.

This isn't compassion; it's corruption. Unelected elites hide behind "nonprofit" status to bypass the will of Colorado voters, funneling public money into programs that prioritize globalist priorities over Coloradans' needs.

The influence extends to elections too, with dark-money nonprofits playing a major role in Colorado politics. In recent cycles, these groups—often refusing to disclose donors—have funneled tens of millions into super PACs and ballot measure committees. For instance, in 2022 alone, at least $42 million from such nonprofits flowed into state-level efforts, accounting for about 35% of super PAC funding and 31% of ballot issue donations. Groups like the Sixteen Thirty Fund (aligned with progressive causes) and others on both sides have poured millions into influencing Colorado races and initiatives, all while keeping their true funders hidden from the public.

Even the chaos of the 2020 George Floyd protests and riots hit Colorado hard, with Denver alone seeing over $5.5 million in estimated damages to the city and private businesses, plus millions more in overtime costs and ongoing settlements (the city has paid out over $18 million in related lawsuits). Nonprofits and advocacy groups tied to these movements often benefit from the resulting policy shifts and funding increases, all on the taxpayer dime.

Benjamin Franklin was right—we have a republic if we can keep it, but not if we let this shadow network of government-funded NGOs run rampant in Colorado. President Trump and DOGE need to swing the axe: defund these parasites, audit every grant and penny flowing to Colorado nonprofits, and ban foreign influence in our NGOs. Colorado First means putting hardworking residents ahead of globalist grifters and unelected bureaucrats. Let's drain this swamp once and for all!

Dear Rep. Pettersen,

Your email reeks of the same old Democrat playbook: demonize law enforcement, coddle criminals, and put American citizens last—all while ignoring the real threats flooding our borders thanks to years of your party's open-door policies. Let's cut through the hysteria and get to the facts on the tragic incident involving Renee Good.

First off, Good wasn't some innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of "Trump's agenda." She was actively interfering with a lawful ICE operation in Minneapolis, part of Operation Metro Surge targeting welfare fraud in the Somali community—a surge that's already netted arrests of violent gang members like Latin Kings affiliates stealing FBI gear. Video evidence and official reports show she weaponized her vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE agent, Jonathan Ross, who fired in self-defense after fearing for his life. The agent suffered internal injuries requiring hospitalization, consistent with being struck or nearly struck by her SUV. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem rightly called it an act of domestic terrorism, and President Trump backed the agent's actions as necessary to protect our brave officers. This wasn't murder— it was a split-second decision in a high-stakes enforcement action, the kind your party has obstructed for decades.

You whine about ICE "terrorizing" immigrants and ripping families apart, but where's your outrage for the American families destroyed by illegal aliens? Over the last few years, we've seen horror stories like Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungaray, and countless others raped and murdered by criminals who shouldn't have been here in the first place. Under Trump, ICE is finally deporting these threats en masse—nearly 200,000 removal proceedings initiated since his inauguration. Your claim that 75% of detainees have no criminal history? Conveniently ignores that many are here illegally to begin with, draining resources and committing fraud, as seen in Minnesota's Somali welfare scams that prompted this very operation.

As for your "solutions"—forcing ICE agents to go unmasked in unmarked cars? That's a recipe for disaster, endangering officers who face violent resistance from agitators like Good. Voting against funding detention centers? You're just ensuring more criminals roam free in our neighborhoods. And calling for Secretary Noem's impeachment? Laughable. Noem's cracking down on third-world migration with travel bans on killer-sending countries and ramping up enforcement against sanctuary city failures that let thugs like the NYC bail-reform beneficiaries shoot CBP officers. Her leadership is fixing the mess left by Biden-Harris, not failing at it. If anyone's violating public trust, it's Democrats like you hosting "Know Your Rights" events that coach illegals on dodging deportation.

Coloradans like me in your district are sick of the skyrocketing crime, homelessness, and break-ins fueled by unchecked illegal immigration—problems you enabled and now blame on Trump for cleaning up. We support President Trump's aggressive deportations and Secretary Noem's no-nonsense approach because they put America first. Your betrayal of that oath won't be forgotten come election time. Step up and back our heroes in ICE, or step aside.

Sincerely,
A Proud Colorado Patriot and Trump Supporter

This is absolute madness from the radical left in Colorado—protecting criminal illegals over law-abiding Americans! SB26-005 isn't just ignoring the Supremacy Clause; it's a direct assault on our sovereignty, letting invaders sue everyday citizens for daring to report them to ICE. If some thug gets "injured" resisting deportation because you called in a tip, boom—you're on the hook for damages. This is the Democrats' playbook: coddle lawbreakers, punish patriots, and turn states into sanctuaries for chaos. Time for real Coloradans to rise up, vote these traitors out, and demand federal intervention to crush this anti-American nonsense.

This is the invasion conservatives have been warning about—small-town America like Fort Morgan getting overrun by Somali immigrants whose population has exploded from a mere 200 in 2005 to over 1,200 now, making up 8-9% of the town, all while they demand outrageous special treatment like ditching the production line in packs of 11 for "prayer breaks" on company time! Cargill tried to compromise with 2-3 at a time, but no, these entitled folks stage a 3-day walkout, get justly fired, and then leftist courts hand 138 of them $11,500 each in a bogus discrimination payout—totaling $1.5 million taxpayer-funded nonsense, egged on by groups like CAIR. Meanwhile, Colorado's woke Dems shove our money into abortions and trans surgeries, ignoring real Americans and letting shady Somali stores pop up everywhere, threatening the charm of historic downtown. This isn't integration; it's a takeover! Time to deport the disruptors, secure our borders, protect our jobs and culture, and make America great again before every heartland town turns into a welfare-dependent enclave!

This is exactly why Colorado's turning into a liberal wasteland—unelected radicals like Lorena Garcia slipping into office through backdoor appointments, cozying up to socialist groups like the DSA (let's call it what it is: communist-lite), and then watching their "nonprofits" rake in cash once they're in power. No wonder the state's circling the drain with skyrocketing crime, insane taxes, and policies that punish hardworking families while rewarding activists. Time to abolish these shady vacancy committees and demand real elections—let the voters decide, not some elite cabal! If Garcia wants the Senate, she should earn it the American way: by facing the people, not hiding behind endorsements from far-left extremists. Wake up, Colorado—reclaim your state before it's too late! 🇺🇸

This horrifying attack is yet another wake-up call to the chaos unleashed by years of Democrat "compassionate" policies in Denver—defunding the police, embracing sanctuary status for criminals, and prioritizing social workers over real law enforcement! A woman can't even jog in broad daylight without being assaulted, and thanks to understaffed cops, the response is a joke. How many more victims before we admit that soft-on-crime reforms and open borders are turning our cities into war zones? Kudos to the Good Samaritan, but we need armed citizens, mass deportations of illegals, and a full restoration of police funding to make Denver safe again. Women deserve protection, not progressive experiments!

Absolutely spot on—Colorado's liberal leadership under Polis is turning our state into a taxpayer-funded playground for failed progressive experiments! No TABOR refunds? That's straight-up theft from hardworking Coloradans who've earned those rebates under our constitutional protections. And $2 million blown on defending sanctuary city nonsense? Meanwhile, illegals strain resources, and citizens foot the bill—classic Dem priorities putting America last. Tina Peters' case reeks of weaponized justice; Trump's pardon should send a clear message against election witch hunts, but deep-state holdouts in Colorado won't let go. These unelected regulators jacking up energy and landfill costs? It's the green agenda on steroids, killing jobs and reliability for unreliable wind and solar fantasies. Kudos for calling out the childcare fraud freeze and vaccine sanity—finally, some pushback against big government mandates. We need more accountability, less spending, and a return to energy freedom. Let's vote these spendthrifts out and reclaim our state!

This is yet another glaring example of how left-wing politicians in Colorado are trampling on taxpayer rights to fuel their endless appetite for big government spending. Denver Public Schools' sneaky use of Certificates of Participation—essentially backdoor bonds totaling nearly a billion dollars—lets bureaucrats rack up massive debt without ever asking voters for permission. It's a direct assault on TABOR, the gold standard for fiscal responsibility that conservatives fought hard to enshrine in our state constitution to prevent exactly this kind of reckless overreach.

Think about it: $850 million in outstanding principal, hitting every Denver resident with a $2,000 bill they never signed off on. And this isn't just schools—Democrat-controlled state government pulls the same stunt, renaming debt as "leases" to skirt the rules and keep the cash flowing to their pet projects. If we let them dismantle TABOR, it'll be open season on our wallets: higher taxes, more waste, and zero accountability.

Conservatives know the real solution isn't more revenue for bloated bureaucracies—it's cutting wasteful spending, enforcing voter oversight, and holding these officials accountable at the ballot box. Time to vote out the spendthrift Democrats and restore true fiscal conservatism in Colorado. No more loopholes, no more excuses—protect TABOR, protect taxpayers!

Colorado's so-called "progressive" approach to welfare has finally hit the wall, and it's about time the federal government stepped in to clean up the mess. For years, Democrat-led administrations in the state have overseen a system riddled with fraud, waste, and outright incompetence, funneling billions in taxpayer money to the undeserving while hardworking Americans foot the bill.

Take the HUD scandal: An audit uncovered housing benefits going to 221 dead people, 87 confirmed ineligibles, and over 2,500 more needing urgent verification across dozens of public housing agencies — with Denver's being the worst offender. This isn't just sloppy bookkeeping; it's a glaring example of how loose verification standards under prior lax policies allowed abuse to flourish. The Trump administration's HUD is right to demand repayments and tougher checks — taxpayers shouldn't be subsidizing ghosts.

Then there's the $40 million Medicare and Medicaid fraud ring, where executives from Colorado labs allegedly paid kickbacks to scam elderly beneficiaries into unnecessary genetic tests. These predators exploited vulnerable seniors through call centers, bilking federal and state programs while Democrat oversight looked the other way. Indictments are a start, but it underscores the need for stricter controls to prevent such greed-fueled schemes.

On SNAP, Colorado's threats to sue over "withheld" funds ignore the root issue: administrative inefficiencies and massive variances that invited federal scrutiny. Losing $120 million monthly isn't just a "dispute" — it's the consequence of failing to run programs cost-effectively, forcing reliance on contingency funds that aren't endless. States can't keep demanding endless federal bailouts while refusing reforms that curb waste.

Finally, Denver Health and other hospitals are buckling under "unsustainable" losses, with uncompensated care projected at $155 million annually — driven in part by federal policy shifts tightening eligibility and a surge in charity care for migrant populations. While open-border policies flood the system with uninsured patients, local taxpayers are left holding the bag, approving new sales taxes just to keep services afloat. This is the real cost of sanctuary-state virtue signaling: strained resources for citizens while rewarding illegal immigration.

Enough is enough. These investigations prove that unchecked government expansion breeds corruption and inefficiency. It's time for accountability, stricter eligibility, fraud crackdowns, and reforms that put American citizens first. Colorado's welfare debacle is a warning to the nation: Big-government handouts without safeguards only enrich scammers and bureaucrats at everyone else's expense. Federal oversight isn't "scrutiny" — it's salvation for the taxpayers who've been fleeced for too long.

Finally, some sanity prevails in Colorado! Kudos to HHS under RFK Jr. and the Trump admin for cracking down on this barbaric child abuse disguised as "care." These hospitals were pushing experimental drugs like puberty blockers on confused kids, risking lifelong damage—sterility, bone loss, and regret—for ideology's sake. It's no surprise they're only stopping now because their federal cash cow is at risk; their statements whining about "disrupted care" show they still buy into the woke delusion that mutilating minors helps them "thrive." This is a massive win for protecting innocence, but we can't stop here—time to root out this harmful agenda from every corner of healthcare and education. Great reporting on the money trail and the "Dirty Dozen"—keep exposing these profiteers!

Colorado conservatives, it's time to torch this taxpayer-funded farce—Denver Dems have funneled over $230 million into homelessness "solutions" since 2023, yet the streets are more packed than ever, with record highs in 2025 proving their big-government boondoggle is just lining NGO pockets and enabling addiction! Audits expose zero accountability, echoing failed schemes from Hickenlooper's era that wasted millions while problems ballooned—classic liberal playbook: tax, spend, fail, repeat. We need Trump-era reforms: slash wasteful programs, enforce vagrancy laws, prioritize American citizens over endless handouts, and audit every dime to drain the swamp in the Mile High City. No more funding failure—let's make Colorado accountable again!

Wake up, Colorado—Democrat darling Mike Johnston is selling out Denver to Venezuelan chaos, leading a pack of liberal mayors begging for more open-border handouts while our cities drown in migrant surges and gang violence! This isn't compassion; it's a calculated scheme to flood swing states with potential fraud votes, turning hotspots like Denver into crime-ridden wastelands under Biden-Harris leftovers. Johnston's puppet strings to billionaires and socialist ties scream corruption—time to deport the invaders, secure the borders Trump-style, and vote out these America-last traitors before they turn the Rockies into a Venezuelan outpost.

Colorado's liberal overlords have wrecked Denver, plummeting it to near rock-bottom in national safety rankings—worse than notorious hotspots like Chicago and St. Louis! Thanks to Democrat soft-on-crime nonsense, open borders, and endless virtue-signaling, our once-vibrant Mile High City is now a magnet for thugs, with sky-high violent crime rates that make families flee. WalletHub's data doesn't lie: Denver's abysmal scores scream failed policies from Polis and his crew, prioritizing criminals over citizens while the rest of us pay the price. Time to boot these big-government hacks, slash regulations, arm law-abiding folks, and restore real law and order—Trump-style toughness is what Colorado needs to make our streets safe again!

It's high time Colorado conservatives rally against this Democrat-driven disaster that's gutting our heartland for a phony green agenda! While Biden-Harris holdovers like Polis and his cronies virtue-signal about "saving the planet," they're throwing hardworking American miners under the bus, all while China builds coal plants faster than we can say "energy independence." This isn't progress—it's a deliberate attack on blue-collar families, prioritizing elite environmental fantasies over real jobs, mortgages, and communities. Global coal use is booming because the world knows reliable energy powers prosperity, not windmills and solar dreams that leave us in the dark. We need Trump-era policies back: drill, mine, and build American strength, not kneel to the climate cult that's enriching foreign polluters at our expense. Stand up, Colorado—vote out these job-killers and make America energy dominant again!

Absolutely spot on—Colorado taxpayers are getting fleeced while Democrats expand Medicaid without any real safeguards! Minnesota's massive fraud scandal, with billions siphoned from autism therapy and child programs through phony claims and kickbacks, should be a blazing red flag for us here. We've seen our own pediatric behavioral health costs explode 306% in just a few years, fueled by private equity greed and lax billing rules that let uncredentialed providers rake in millions. Federal audits are already eyeing clawbacks of up to $150 million for improper payments, and providers are suing to keep the gravy train rolling. Enough is enough: It's time to demand strict audits, cut wasteful expansions, and put fraudsters behind bars before Colorado becomes the next billion-dollar boondoggle. Protect vulnerable kids and hardworking taxpayers—crack down now!

Colorado was once a beacon of fiscal restraint, thanks to the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR), which limits government growth and requires voter approval for tax increases. But clever workarounds—like exploding "fees" exempt from TABOR—have undermined those protections, allowing unchecked revenue grabs that hit everyday Coloradans hardest.

A recent Common Sense Institute report reveals the stark truth: TABOR-exempt enterprise fees have surged over 3,300% since 1994, from $742 million to nearly $26 billion annually. These aren't optional charges—they're mandatory burdens on residents and businesses, outpacing any tax relief TABOR provides. Lawmakers have cleverly reclassified taxes as "fees" (think trash collection, recycling programs, or regulatory charges) to bypass voter approval, effectively raising costs without accountability.

In Denver, the pain is acute. Average households now pay $51,001 per year in combined state, local, and federal taxes and fees—a 48% jump from recent levels that far exceeds wage growth. This includes everything from property taxes to hidden fees tacked onto utilities and services. As one X user noted, new recycling mandates are inflating grocery bills, disproportionately hurting low-income families already struggling with inflation.

Voters have unwittingly contributed to the burden. Recent ballot measures approved tax hikes on higher earners to fund universal school meals and child care initiatives. In Larimer County, a 0.25% sales tax increase—generating about $28 million yearly—passed to support child care, adding 25 cents to every $100 spent (with exemptions for essentials). While these programs sound noble, they layer new costs onto a system already bloated: Colorado's state budget has ballooned over the past seven years, with spending growth significantly outstripping modest population increases.

Looking ahead, progressive groups are pushing a 2026 ballot measure for a graduated income tax, potentially raising rates to 4.6% (or higher) for those earning over $600,000, netting billions more in revenue. Proponents claim it cuts taxes for most, but critics warn it risks driving away high earners and jobs, further eroding Colorado's competitiveness.

Compounding the problem are federal tariffs under President Trump, which critics say have spiked Colorado's effective tariff rate from 3% to 21%—the highest in over a century. Businesses report millions in added costs, passed onto consumers through higher prices for goods, energy, and supplies. X discussions highlight real frustrations: accusations of government "stealing" funds for non-priority spending (like immigrant support amid hikes), fraud in programs, and rent fee bans leading to outright rent increases.

Public sentiment on X echoes taxpayer fatigue: complaints about "hidden taxes" via fees, budget bloat despite slow population growth, and programs benefiting few while costing many.

It's time for real reform. Strengthen TABOR to close fee loopholes, reject endless hikes disguised as "investments," and prioritize spending restraint. Colorado thrives when government lives within its means—not when it picks pockets through fees, tariffs, and endless expansions. Families deserve relief, not more burdens.