Money, tactics helping shape Amendment 66
In the battle over Amendment 66, the school finance retooling that would be triggered by a $950 million tax hike, the sides have staked out positions of financial firepower and strategic terrain that point toward a classic showdown.
The latest campaign finance reports show the pro-66 camp, led by Colorado Commits to Kids, adding another $2.7 million in the past twoweeks, mostly from state and national teachers’ unions.
That puts the group over $7.7 million raised so far — plenty towage a robust television ad campaign.
By contrast, the opponents, behind Coloradans for Real Education Reform, have collected relatively little in theway of cash contributions—$10,000 from the conservative Independence Institute plus a few threefigure donations. But they occupy a traditionally advantageous tactical position in a statewide fight over taxes in an off-year election with low anticipated turnout, if only because “no” tends to be an easier sell.
A smaller player, Kids Before Unions, has remained largely in the background, raising $7,200.
Colorado political analyst Floyd Ciruli notes that while proponents of the tax hike may start froma disadvantage, “they’re very competitive with that money and given the interest group they represent. If they win, it’s news. If they lose, it’s very big news if they could not move the electorate with all that money.”
While Colorado Commits has raised millions to sell not only the tax increase but the benefits it would generate, opponents also have indicated they could place a significant ad buy as the campaign nears its conclusion.
Television ads paid for by an arm of the Independence Institute recently began to deliver an informational appeal that doesn’t directly mention Amendment 66 but discourages higher taxes for education.
But while money stands to play a pivotal role in the campaign, the sides also have broken down largely along ideological lines in terms of endorsements and support.
Colorado Commits has backing based in the K-12 education realm, led by the teachers’ unions but also including national and local reform organizations, child advocacy groups and more than two dozen school boards as well as diverse civic organizations.
Coloradans for Real Education Reform touts assorted business groups, some school boards and dozens of Republican legislators. Amendment 66’s school finance mechanism, Senate Bill 213, garnered no Republican votes as it made its way through the legislature.
In one sense, it’s what independent political analyst Eric Sonderman calls “the usual suspects” on both sides.
“Where the usual suspects breaks down,” he added, “is with regard to the business community, which is divided. On most tax proposals, the business community often as not is out in front in support. There are still some in front, but major organizations are on the sideline.”
He notes that major groups like the Denver Met- ro Chamber of Commerce haven’t taken an official position, largely due to proponents’ decision to advance a two-tiered income tax system, rather than a flat rate, to pump more money into education.
Ciruli said that a fractured business community could be problematic for any tax increase.
“They’re difficult to do,” he said, “and if the business community is divided — not just the business but also the political community— in a polarized way, that makes it very difficult to draw in unaffiliated and inattentive voters who might be more oriented toward their pocketbook than the state education system.”
But there’s a consequence to opposing the sweeping measure as well, Sonderman said. Opponents need to advance an alternative.
“The genesis of this proposal was kind of a grand bargain, where conserva- tives got reform and establishment types got revenue,” he said. “Is there a billion dollars of reform in there? That’s an open question. But the other is, if this doesn’t pass, the ball goes back to the Republicans. If not this, what would you require to support new revenue in education?”