Colorado Association of REALTORS Opposes Amendment 38

With only one more day to go before the elections, it seems appropriate to comment on at least one issue that may impact not only REALTORS, but also investors and owners of Colorado real estate. Amendment 38 that will amend the Colorado Constitution seeks to expand the ability of citizens to propose changes to the state and local laws by making it easier to place measures on a ballot by petition.

The Colorado Association of REALTORS (CAR) Issues Political Action Committee is against Amendment 38 for the following reasons:

"Under Amendment 38, CAR's opponents could decentralize their anti-REALTOR [actions] by initiating growth moratoriums, restrictions to signage and marketing tactics, and instituting taxes or creating taxing districts that affect transactions, effectively 'cherry-picking' the most susceptible counties, municipalities, school districts or larger special districts where such issues could be vulnerable."

"Amendment 38 provides for narrow special interests to hijack our ballots to push pet projects."

"Amendment 38 is an expensive hassle for Colorado voters. Voters have twice before rejected similar amendments..."

"It will extend initiative and referendum (I&R) to all 2,500+ units of government in Colorado...Amendment 38 provides for the reduction in signatures to qualify a measure; relaxes or eliminates altogether the requirement that petitions may only address one subject at a time; and relaxes the stringent tests for verifying the accuracy of petition signers and circulators."

For further information contact CAR at http://www.coloradorealtors.com or review the 'Analysis of the 2006 Ballot Proposals' by the Legislative Council of the General Assembly at http://www.coloradobluebook.com .