Federal TABOR Resolution

Summary

This resolution urges Congress to enact federal Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) legislation.

Federal TABOR Resolution

WHEREAS, the federal government now spends more than $20,000 per family in the United States, the highest level of real federal spending since World War II; and

WHEREAS, federal spending is currently growing at a rate faster than any other time in the past forty years; and

WHEREAS, large federal spending increases contribute to federal budget deficits and imperil the important tax-cutting agenda in Congress; and

WHEREAS, federal spending crowds out investment in the private sector as well as spending on important state and local services; and

WHEREAS, many of the programs and services paid for by the massive increases in federal spending are best left to the states, localities, or the people themselves; and

WHEREAS, federal spending on grants to state and localities is also increasing, with the unintended consequence of increases in state spending and expanded state government; and

WHEREAS, increased federal grants to states and localities often make state spending reform even more difficult, and can contribute to state tax increases; and

WHEREAS, taxpayers at all levels should not be unduly burdened to pay for the cost of government; and

WHEREAS, many states have had success in enacting tax and expenditure limitations that statutorily or constitutionally limit the growth in state taxes and spending; and

WHEREAS, many of the states with tax and expenditure limitations experience higher economic growth than states without tax and expenditure limits; and

WHEREAS, we could expect similar benefits for the United States with a federal tax and expenditure limit;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That {insert state} urges Congress to enact legislation that would annually limit federal mandatory and discretionary spending to the rate of inflation plus population growth, and require a supermajority vote of both houses of Congress to override the spending limit.