RMFU: Farmers Union Board Supports Yes Votes On Propositions CC & DD
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union’s Board of Directors is advocating for “Yes” votes on both Proposition CC and Proposition DD as presented to Colorado voters. The board, comprised of farmers and ranchers from across Colorado, discussed at length the ballot proposals before taking the action.
“After the last great recession, Colorado rebounded faster than other states in part because we have a well-trained workforce. Colorado’s students, teachers, and schools cannot fall behind due to shortcomings in funding for local education. We can do better and need to for the sake of building our state’s future economic and social health. Currently, at least 39 other states are better at funding education than we are,” says Dr. Dale McCall, president of RMFU.
“Colorado is falling behind in maintaining roads and other rural infrastructure critical to the essential businesses of farming and ranching,” says Jan Kochis, who chairs the RMFU board. “The bottom line is that the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) has restricted income for the state and subsequently reduced the revenue necessary to adequately and intelligently fix problems that will get worse in time.”
The RMFU Board says if Proposition CC passes, it will return responsibility to build for the future to the state legislature, governor, and other elected officials. “Just as with any family’s income or any business operation, too little money means cutting corners, delaying necessities, and giving up on future possibilities,” McCall adds. “We support removing the Gallagher, TABOR, and Amendment 23 provisions from the state constitution and returning tax and budgeting authority to those who have been elected by the majority to work for us.”
The RMFU Board also supports a “Yes” vote on Proposition DD, which would legalize sports betting while generating revenue to implement the Colorado Water Plan. “The past two years of excessive drought topped by excessive – but welcome – snowfall is a warning that we need to move forward with water projects. We have spent years developing a plan that works. Our member-based policy supports implementation of the Colorado Water Plan, and it can’t be fully implemented without proper funding. Now we need to get it right and manage our water needs before someone else steps in front of us,” explains Kochis.
Farmers Union is a general farm organization whose 20,000 member families make a living farming, ranching, and working in rural communities.