Freedom wins from the 2020 election
Freedom is a fundamental foundation of American society, and its advancement is crucial to the preservation of a prosperous American society. That is why we celebrate the freedom wins that took place this election. Among those included; voters rejecting tax hikes, and also regulatory measures infringing on liberties.
Where voters rejected tax hikes
A couple of states had ballot measures to hike taxes. California and Illinois voters rejected those measures. Coloradans voted for a tax cut. As reported by the Wall Street Journal,
In fiscally strapped Illinois, one of nine states with a flat income tax, Gov. J.B. Pritzker led a campaign for a constitutional amendment to allow a graduated or progressive tax. Mr. Pritzker promised it would hit only the rich and threatened voters with budget cuts and other broad-based tax increases. Illinoisans called his bluff, voting 55% to 45% against the tax hike.
In Colorado, all the left’s spending interests and structures tried and failed to get enough signatures for a constitutional ballot measure to allow a progressive income tax. But a countervailing effort led by Jon Caldara of the Independence Institute did get enough signatures. This was a simple reduction in the state income tax, from 4.63% to 4.55%. It passed, 57% to 43%.
Colorado voters also passed Proposition 117 to close a loophole in the state’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. That 1992 amendment to the state constitution, known as Tabor, limits the growth of government by tying it to inflation and population growth and requires the people to vote on any state or local tax increase. Over time, clever politicians found the courts would let them relabel tax hikes as “fees” not requiring voter approval. Coloradans voted 52.3% to 47.7% to close this loophole. Taxes by any other name will require a vote of the people.
California produced the original tax revolts of the 1970s and ’80s, and this year faint echoes could be heard of a time when ordinary Californians weren’t so complacent about Sacramento’s insatiable appetite for revenue. Golden State voters opted to protect Proposition 13, the 1978 amendment to the California constitution that limits annual increases on property-tax rates. Rates on residential and commercial property are capped at 1% of assessed value, and assessments can increase by no more than 2% annually. Democratic lawmakers, who hold supermajorities in both houses of the state Legislature, sought to raise $12 billion by abolishing those protections for commercial properties while maintaining them on residences. Homeowners realized that this was merely Act I of a two-act play and their protection against ever higher property taxes would be up next. California rejected this tax hike, 52% to 48%.
Regulatory Measures
Apart from tax ballot measures, states also rejected regulatory measures that would have infringed on economic freedom. In California for instance, voters rejected a measure that would effectively allow cities and counties power to implement greater rent controls. In addition, voters also approved a measure to exempt ridesharing services from the state’s AB-5 that forces workers in the gig industry to be classified and treated as employees.