Wayne's Word

Wayne Laugesen, an award-winning journalist, creates the Wayne’s Word Podcast and op-eds. He's anti-communist, pro life, pro school choice, and based in CO.

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

Amendment 87 will drive business out of Colorado. Vote no on 87.

[Jorge @JorgesHotTakis]

Vote no on amendment 87.

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

Colorado: Vote 'No' on Amendment 87 and 'Yes' on Proposition 136

https://t.co/NcGGaGtuGg

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

I sued the Democratic nominee for Colorado's Fifth Congressional District, Jessica Killin, yesterday. See the full suit here. To see the certified version, I've provided a link to download a PDF version
https://t.co/tCdJSgxNjr

[Alicia Garcia @boomstickbabe]

🚨 COLORADO! VOTE NO ON 87 🚨

Why is Amendment 87 bad for Colorado?

It would trade modest tax cuts for most taxpayers for a much larger tax increase on higher-income individuals and businesses, remove the constitutional flat-tax requirement, and create tax brackets that do not adjust for inflation.

Those are real policy changes.

Who would suffer the most?

Restaurants.
Bars.
Waitpersons.
Kitchen staff.

All the regular people who work.

Rich people will be just fine, because they can afford to be.

1. It raises taxes substantially on some employers and business owners

Amendment 87 would replace Colorado’s 4.4% flat income tax with six brackets beginning in 2027. Higher marginal rates would apply to taxable income above $500,000, reaching 8.4% on the portion above $1 million. These brackets apply to both individual and corporate taxpayers.

That matters beyond wealthy people’s salaries. For businesses organized as partnerships or S corporations, profits generally flow through to owners’ personal tax returns—even when some of that money stays in the business. For owners affected by the higher brackets, opponents argue that a bigger tax bill could leave less available for hiring, equipment, expansion, or reserves. The threshold concerns taxable income, however, not gross sales.

2. Inflation would push more income into higher brackets

One of the clearest design criticisms is inflation: the proposed brackets are not indexed to it. As nominal wages and business profits rise, more income could enter higher brackets even without a corresponding increase in purchasing power. The Blue Book explicitly identifies this effect.

That does not mean ordinary-income households would immediately face the top rates. It means the fixed thresholds would become less protective over time unless the law changes.

3. It removes a constitutional taxpayer protection

Colorado’s constitution currently requires income to be taxed at a single rate. Amendment 87 would remove that requirement and replace the current system with graduated rates. For voters who value an equal-rate, predictable income tax, that is a fundamental change—not merely an adjustment to this year’s tax bill.

It would also exempt the additional revenue generated by the measure from TABOR’s revenue limit, allowing the state to retain and spend that money rather than subject it to the existing limit. The official estimate is approximately $1.972 billion in additional revenue in fiscal year 2027–28. The $2.7 billion figure on the ballot is the estimated maximum first-full-year increase required for ballot disclosure, rather than the central revenue forecast.

4. The tax increase is specific, but spending decisions remain broad

The additional revenue must support K–12 education, health care, and early childhood care and education. But legislators would decide which specific programs receive funding and how much. The amendment does not establish a fixed allocation to classrooms or a particular educational outcome.

The defensible criticism is that voters are approving a substantial, ongoing revenue increase while leaving important allocation choices to future legislatures. Calling it a completely unrestricted “blank check,” however, goes too far: the measure restricts eligible uses, requires the money to supplement rather than replace existing spending, and requires an audited annual report.

5. It could make Colorado less attractive for some investment

Opponents argue that higher marginal tax rates would make Colorado less competitive for business formation, expansion, and higher-income residents. Gov. Jared Polis and business leaders have raised that concern.

The possible consequence is broader than the taxpayers directly affected: if an employer delays hiring or expands elsewhere, workers and suppliers could feel it. The size of that effect—and whether it outweighs the benefits of additional public spending—is uncertain.

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

The Denver archbishop prayed for Trump. He might as well have been blessing Satan.

https://t.co/iVO0AyJ6Bf

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

Hope 'Springs' eternal: Could we still sell President Trump on the benefit of basing the new US Space Academy in Colorado Springs?

https://t.co/M4inbG32mT

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

A residency issue is the latest kerfuffle in Washington insider's campaign to turn Springs blue.

https://t.co/H8sN0stfyv

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

The article title: "Talarico up by 5!"

The headline is clearly wrong (Texas for Talarico!? are you crazy?), but you should still be concerned. Polls don't just measure races, they move them.

Beware The Bandwagon Effect.

https://t.co/wHlPnOEjhX

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

Far-left infiltration has destroyed Colorado's once-leading and enviable economy. Welcome to Democraric Socialism! Read free, and support this daily hedge against the left with a paid subscription easy to find in the article. https://t.co/hIXpYPf7vr

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

In Colorado these days, it's difficult to find meaningful and gainful employment. Why is that?

https://t.co/hIXpYPf7vr

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

Regulations are making it more difficult to have a career and a kid.

https://t.co/7z7bOhzQoY

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

Can Colorado come down from its Rocky Mountain High? The reduction in penalties for hard drugs correlates with an increase in overdoses.

https://t.co/MZlFHy80vN

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

Read how Colorado’s far-left authoritarians increase murders and other crimes by imposing excessive gun control laws. Support my Substack site's near-daily war on the left with a paid subscription. Anything helps. — Wayne of the Wayne’s Word Substack
https://t.co/SpFNaMNqla

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

Do more guns equal less crime?

https://t.co/SpFNaMNqla

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

Fundamentalist Islam: It's not just another "religion of peace," as I long believed. Read about it here and consider a paid subscription. I update the site 5-6 days of the week.
https://t.co/GKYnWdP6Na

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

The 1st Amendment provides freedom of and freedom from religion. It's important to consider this nuance when reflecting on the implications of the new Colorado Springs mosque.

https://t.co/GKYnWdP6Na

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

Casa Maldita: Labor woes haunt the Pink Palace
@SouthPark

https://t.co/HW6pTN6W39

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

Celebrate Columbus Day, Boldly!

https://t.co/nYaoPGBocO

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

Oops, she did it again. And again. And again. Serial SOS screwup Jena Griswold wants to be Colorado's top lawyer. Don't let her stumble her way into the AG's office.

https://t.co/zozJywH6vw

[Wayne's Word @WaynesWordPod]

Atlas Mugged: Ignorant, envious socialists seek the equal sharing of misery

https://t.co/FtE01ZytLe