Colorado's Amendment 66 ignites battle over PERA pension contributions
By Lynn Bartels
The Denver Post
The Denver Post
Posted:
10/21/2013 6:17 PM
The opponents of a $950 million tax
increase for education have seized on comments by Gov. John Hickenlooper
to bolster their claim that if Amendment 66 passes the money will be
used to "backfill" the state's pension system instead of going to
students.
The dispute signals a broader argument that has been brewing since the inception of Amendment 66. Opponents claim the tax hike is a coup for unions and an ailing retirement system, while supports argue language in the ballot measure makes it clear the money has nothing do with fulfilling current obligations to the Public Employees Retirement Association.
"PERA is a totally separate issue from Amendment 66," said state Sen. Mike Johnston, D-Denver, the architect of the ballot measure.
He and other supporters of Amendment 66, which is on the Nov. 5 ballot, called the PERA issue a red herring, a gotcha and the latest Hail Mary pass from opponents wanting to kill the measure.
The dispute signals a broader argument that has been brewing since the inception of Amendment 66. Opponents claim the tax hike is a coup for unions and an ailing retirement system, while supports argue language in the ballot measure makes it clear the money has nothing do with fulfilling current obligations to the Public Employees Retirement Association.
"PERA is a totally separate issue from Amendment 66," said state Sen. Mike Johnston, D-Denver, the architect of the ballot measure.
He and other supporters of Amendment 66, which is on the Nov. 5 ballot, called the PERA issue a red herring, a gotcha and the latest Hail Mary pass from opponents wanting to kill the measure.
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