Date: 09/06/2006

Final
Referendum E

COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Amend the final staff draft, page 3, line 18, remoPASS


09:45 AM -- Referendum E

Mike Mauer and Josh Harwood, Legislative Council Staff, came to the table to describe the final staff draft of the ballot analysis for Referendum E. Mr. Mauer described Referendum E, which concerns a property tax reduction for disabled veterans. He walked the committee through the final staff draft, which explains how the program works, provides examples of the reduction for qualified veterans, provides arguments in favor and in opposition to the referendum and estimates the fiscal impact of the measure.


09:47 AM

Mr. Harwood described the arguments for and against the measure.


09:48 AM

The following persons testified:

 Senator John Evans, proponent of Referendum E, testified. Senator Evans thanked staff for their work on the ballot analysis. He addressed comments submitted to the draft. Senator Evans expressed concern with the use of the term "special interest." He expressed support for the term "special class" instead. Senator Evans described the number of veterans who would be eligible for the property tax reduction. He noted that the committee would hear from a disabled veteran on that issue. Senator Gordon thanked Senator Evans for his work on this issue.


09:54 AM

Mr. Douglas Bruce, representing himself, testified. Mr. Bruce went through his comments on the staff draft of the analysis. He noted that he feels the staff arguments are weaker than the arguments he is proposing. He described his suggested changes outlining his suggested arguments for the committee.


09:59 AM

Mr. Bruce continued his remarks. He said there should be at least three arguments for and against each measure, rather than the current two per side. Mr. Bruce highlighted his suggested argument, which addresses amending the state constitution. He continued, describing his reasoning for his argument concerning Referendum C. Mr. Bruce spoke to his argument that states that the measure provides unequal treatment. He spoke to the issue of a surviving spouse, to which, he said the tax break does not apply.


10:05 AM

Mr. Artie Guerrero, chairman of the committee to support Referendum E, testified. Mr. Guerrero expressed concern with the term "special interest." He said disabled veterans are not a special interest group. He noted this group has a special need. Mr. Guerrero said the text on page 3, line 15 of the final staff draft, concerning the federal government, should be removed. He expressed his concerns with argument number 2 against the measure. He spoke to a number of the arguments suggested by Mr. Bruce. He said citizens have a responsibility to veterans and asked the committee to keep that in mind.


10:13 AM

Mr. Guerrero responded to a question from Senator Spence regarding classification of disability. He also responded to a question from Representative Cadman regarding 100% incapacitation versus 100% disability classification and a question regarding taxation of disability benefits. He provided numbers of veterans that would qualify for the reduction under Referendum E. Discussion between Mr. Guerrero and Representative Cadman continued regarding Representative Cadman's questions.


10:19 AM

Speaker Romanoff put the draft on the table for amendments. The committee discussed the amendment proposed by Representative May.
BILL:Referendum E
TIME: 10:19:30 AM
MOVED:May M.
MOTION:Amend the final staff draft, page 3, line 18, remove the reference to what voters might believe. Not having received the required 12 votes to pass, the motion failed on a 9-7-2 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Harvey
VOTE
Butcher
No
Cadman
Yes
Cerbo
Yes
Garcia
No
Gordon
No
Groff
No
Harvey
Yes
Hoppe
Yes
Johnson
Excused
Madden
Excused
May M.
Yes
McElhany
Yes
Spence
Yes
Teck
Yes
Tupa
No
Windels
No
Fitz-Gerald
No
Romanoff
Yes
Not Final YES: 9 NO: 7 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL