Cost of Living
The cost of living in Colorado has skyrocketed. Three key factors drive inflation: the basic scarcity of products and services, monetary policy, and government spending. Republicans implement proven economic policies that effectively address these factors—an approach that has been neglected under the Democrat majorities governing Colorado at all levels.
Democrat monetary policies, such as quantitative easing (printing money), devalue the dollar, raise prices, and reduce wealth. By January 2022, the Federal Reserve's balance sheet had reached nearly $9 trillion. Alongside this growth, there was a dramatic increase in the money supply. From $15.4 trillion in March 2020, M2 (a measure of the money supply) grew to nearly $22 trillion—an increase of over 40% in less than two years, compared to approximately 5% annual growth in the money supply over the previous 40 years. This sharp rise in the money supply has significantly contributed to price inflation.
Democratic spending priorities have driven Colorado's budget to unacceptable levels. Republicans understand that government spending increases the cost of living. When the government spends, it harms our communities in two ways: first, by taking money from our paychecks, reducing families' buying power; and second, by contributing to inflation. Colorado Democrats have raised taxes and fees on almost everything and have allocated funds to non-essential "services," such as healthcare for illegal immigrants. Democrats have even created the Office of New Americans, which incentivizes breaking our laws and provides resources to illegal immigrants before aiding citizens. Republicans believe this approach is backward, counterproductive, and un-American. Only Republicans can bring the levers of Colorado inflation under control.
Colorado Democrats obscure the true cost of taxes by relying on fees. While taxes are capped by TABOR, Democrats have found a workaround—fees.
Some fee-based enterprises, including several established after 2020, provide no direct services to those who pay them. Instead, they function as tools to generate revenue for government projects or to discourage certain behaviors, such as the bag fee (effectively a tax).
Republicans are working to eliminate these fees, which could save families approximately $4,500 per year. However, with a Democratic majority in the legislature and governor’s office, these efforts are unlikely to succeed. The only way to remove these harmful fees is by voting for Republicans.
