Energy Policy, Property Taxes, and School Board Accountability

On the October 31, 2023 broadcast, Kim Monson examines how federal and state policies threaten energy independence with Laramie Energy CEO Bob Boswell. Independence Institute fiscal expert Ben Murrey breaks down why Proposition HH would actually raise taxes despite ballot language claiming otherwise. Three school board candidates from Widefield and Ignacio discuss declining academic proficiency and the need for greater accountability. Federal Energy Policy Threatens American Prosperity Start listening at 33:52 – Hour 1 Bob Boswell, CEO of Laramie Energy, warns that Biden administration policies restricting oil and gas development on federal lands pose a direct threat to American prosperity and global food security. Seventy percent of the world’s fertilizer comes from natural gas, he explains, making energy policy inseparable from the ability to feed a growing world population now at 8 billion and projected to reach 10 billion. Boswell describes the regulatory assault as ideologically driven rather than practical. The administration claims to remove only non-prospective lands from development, but he points out that shale oil and gas formations considered worthless just 15 years ago now produce vast quantities of energy. Colorado faces some of the strictest regulations in the country, yet produces among the cleanest molecules. He argues that limiting resources drives up costs for lower-wage earners most severely. “Energy underwrites the economy, and the economy is indicative of our quality of life and the prosperity of the public. So as you make those costs higher by limiting the use of resources, it actually hurts the quality of life.” Bob Boswell, CEO, Laramie Energy Proposition HH: A Tax Increase Disguised as Relief Start listening at 71:49 – Hour 2 Ben Murrey, fiscal policy expert at the Independence Institute, exposes how Proposition HH represents one of the largest tax increases in Colorado history despite ballot language claiming to reduce property taxes. The nearly 50-page bill passed in the dead of night during the final week of the legislative session with no open debate, he says, with most Democrats told by leadership to vote for it without reading it. The measure creates new property subclasses including owner-occupied versus non-owner-occupied residential categories, generating legal complications around proving primary residence. Murrey describes an experiment where Independence Institute president Jon Caldara submitted an identical citizen initiative to the title board, which produced completely different, more honest ballot language. The legislature, unlike citizens, writes its own ballot language with no oversight. Republicans have introduced a backup plan offering property tax relief, income tax cuts, and senior homestead exemption portability without raiding TABOR refunds. “The legislature doesn’t need your permission to lower your property taxes. They could just do that with legislation. The only reason why HH is on the ballot is because they need your permission to raise your taxes. They need your permission to take your TABOR refunds.” Ben Murrey, Director of Fiscal Policy, Independence Institute Widefield School District Faces Academic Crisis Start listening at 18:17 – Hour 1 School board candidates Dave Boyd and Tina West describe a district spending $137 million annually while achieving only 17% math proficiency among sixth graders and 41% r...