Bid to simplify laws won’t be on Nov. ballot

Coloradans won’t be voting on a proposal to simplify the state’s income taxes in 2018.

The people behind Initiative 83 told the secretary of state’s office on Thursday they don’t plan to submit the necessary signatures to qualify for November’s ballot.

They needed to submit more than 98,000 valid signatures, like all people wanting to get an initiative before voters.

Initiative 83 would have reduced Colorado’s state incometax rate from 4.63 to 4.6 percent. It also would have slashed state incometax filings to just four lines and eliminated Colorado’s tax additions and credits.

If that sounds familiar, it’s because the initiative was similar to proposals from Republicans across the country to simplify the federal tax system, making it so most Americans could file on the back of a postcard.

Initiative 83 would have cost Colorado up to $12 billion per fiscal year, according to a fiscal impact statement from the Colorado Legislative Council staff.

Here are some initiatives with signatures pending:

Initiative 97 — This is perhaps the most controversial question facing Colorado voters in November. The proposal would prohibit oil and gas companies from drilling within 2,500 feet of an occupied structure or vulnerable area.

Initiative 126 — This would cap the amount of interest payday lenders could charge at 36 percent.

164 — Sup porters want to outlaw the sale of smartphones to kids younger than 13. These ask voters whether they want to authorize $3.5 billion in bonds for transportation projects. State lawmakers passed a bill during the 2018 session that states the legislature will put a bond measure on the ballot in 2019 if one of these measures doesn’t pass.

Initiative 169 — The “Public Safety Protection against Sanctuary Policies Act” is the brainchild of Republican Tom Tancredo. It would prohibit local governments from “creating, enforcing or administering policies, ordinances, or practices that obstruct, restrict or discourage communication and cooperation” with federal immigration agencies and law enforcement.