A state lawmaker is again bringing a Taxpayer's Bill of Rights to the Legislature.
The proposal, known as TABOR, would limit state and local government spending increases to the rate of inflation, plus population growth and new construction. State Representative Frank Lasee (R-Bellevue) says it allows for natural growth, but requires a referendum if government wants to exceed those limits.
Lasee has been promoting the constitutional amendment for nearly a decade, with little success. He's not expecting it to go far this session due to Democratic control of the state Senate. However, Lasee says it's important to keep the discussion going because elected boards go forward with ideas that increase taxes, without asking the public.
Lasee says he wants to put power back in the hands of voters.