LITA 30: Why 97% of Coloradans Could Pay Lower Taxes Under Amendment 87 with Caroline Nutter

Ana and Deep sit down with Caroline Nutter, policy manager at the Colorado Fiscal Institute, to break down Amendment 87, the graduated income tax on your November ballot and the biggest structural change to Colorado’s tax code since TABOR passed in 1992. Caroline walks through what TABOR actually does and what 87 changes: it strikes one line of the constitution, replaces the flat 4.4 percent with brackets from 3.7 to 8.4 percent, and only raises rates above $500,000. The result is a tax cut for 97 percent of Coloradans and about $2.7 billion a year for healthcare, K-12, and childcare, held in a separate fund with annual audits. Then the myth-busting. Michael Fields claims 87 raises taxes on seniors and veterans. It doesn’t. Pension and Social Security deductions are untouched, and 97 to 98 percent of seniors and veterans get a cut. They also cover what happens if 87 and Prop 136 both pass, why 95 percent of small businesses pay less, and the 1,000 volunteers who gathered 75 percent of the signatures from Creede to Moffat to Durango. In Tea Time: why there are two different progressive coalitions fixing TABOR this year, Lauren Boebert’s $200,000 ethics complaint, the Tamale Act, and next week’s guest, Governor Jared Polis.

The LITA Substack Is Live

Check out our first issue: They Will Call the Graduated Income Tax Socialism. It's a Moderate Compromise. Harshy Kaur Badhesha's debut Harsh Take breaks down Colorado's three November tax measures (vote yes on NN, yes on Amendment 87, no on Prop 136) and makes the case that treating TABOR as untouchable is moderate cowardice. Plus Mile High Tea on the Michael Fields vs. Chris deGruy Kennedy twitter fight, Paper Trail on the TABOR repeal door left open in 2019, and where to show up this month. Subscribe to get the next one here: leftintheattic.substack.com/ 

Yes on 87: protectcoloradosfuture.com (phone banks twice a week, donate)

Colorado Fiscal Institute: coloradofiscal.org 

The Taxman, Colorado Public Radio (the Douglas Bruce story): https://www.cpr.org/podcast/the-taxman/ 

City Cast Denver: Lauren Boebert Can’t Lose: https://denver.citycast.fm/lauren-boebert-cant-lose-podcast 

Crux Politica Podcast with Jared Polis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yt-ey7BE 

Chapters

00:00 97% Get a Tax Cut

00:32 Today We’re Talking Taxes

00:51 No TV, Just Friends On YouTube

03:18 Meet Caroline Nutter

05:44 “What’s TABOR?” Said The State Rep

07:04 Doug Bruce Was A Landlord

11:04 What Amendment 87 Actually Does

13:26 Marginal Rates And The Buckets

15:17 Michael Fields’ $7.2 Billion Claim

18:47 Seniors And Veterans Get A Cut

24:29 What If 87 And 136 Both Pass?

26:53 95% Of Small Businesses Pay Less

28:32 Where The $2.7 Billion Goes

31:19 CCAP Is Frozen Everywhere

31:50 The Moment Of Courage

32:57 1,000 Volunteers, 75% Of Signatures

36:48 Text Your Group Chat

38:47 Tea Time: Why Two Coalitions?

45:39 Lauren Boebert’s $200K Hush Money

51:23 Next Week: Governor Jared Polis

53:56 The Tamale Act

56:49 Hot Takes And Wrap 

Meet Your Hosts

Ana Mitchell, Ph.D., is a former CDC scientist who was swept up in federal cuts and is now reinventing herself as a civic coach and creator. After a decade reducing disparities in health and education, she’s building Civically Fit (see civicallyfit.org) to make civic engagement accessible, authentic, and sustainable. A proud Latina and Colorado native, Ana is focused on helping people build community and power through everyday civic action. 

Deep Singh Badhesha is an attorney, political strategist, and government affairs professional with over a decade of experience shaping political campaigns and policy in Colorado. A former public school math teacher, Colorado Supreme Court clerk, and senior policy analyst, he now works across campaigns, ballot initiatives, and legislative fights. He’s South Asian, a new dad, and a longtime organizer who believes community—not saviors—will rebuild the Left. He also has way too many hot takes on everything stemming from food and sports to politics.  

Links:

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Email: LeftInTheAtticPod@gmail.com

Voicemail: (303) 416-2846