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Tag: Affordability

Colorado tax data complicates the “fair share” argument
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Colorado Accountability Project, Approved, Commentary, State

Colorado tax data complicates the “fair share” argument

By Cory Gaines | Commentary, Colorado Accountability Project High Income Coloradans pay an outsized share of income taxes As a follow-up to an earlier newsletter on Colorado’s income tax distribution (the graph headlining this post is from that newsletter), I did a summary op ed for Complete Colorado. That op ed delves into why a progressive income tax in this state would be foolhardy policy. More, including a link to my earlier newsletter with more context and detail, in the link below. https://completecolorado.com/2026/05/21/high-income-coloradans-outsized-share-income-taxes/ A different take on easing the tax burden for low income earners In the first post today, I shared an op ed I wrote which outlines why a progressive income tax (making t...
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Families Struggle as Colorado Climbs to Third Most Expensive State
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The Denver Gazette, Approved, State

Families Struggle as Colorado Climbs to Third Most Expensive State

By Breeanna Jent | The Denver Gazette Think of Colorado and what comes to mind? Majestic mountain views; skiing, sledding, rafting, hiking and more in the Great Outdoors; alpine forests and golden plains; ample sunshine, craft beer and breathtaking sunsets. Just to scratch the surface. But the cost of living and housing affordability in Colorado has drastically increased in recent years, gradually diminishing or even pushing these simple joys out of reach for the average person. At the end of 2025 the Colorado Scorecard, a report released by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, found that while the state is improving or leading in key sectors such as business friendliness, health and wellness and gross domestic product, Colorado continues struggling with housi...
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A ‘county average’ for pretzels: Colorado’s next price-control creep
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

A ‘county average’ for pretzels: Colorado’s next price-control creep

By Rep. Ken DeGraaf | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice HB26-1012“A PERSON IS PRESUMED TO BE ENGAGED IN AN UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE IF THE PERSON CHARGES A CAPTIVE CONSUMER A PRICE FOR AN ANCILLARY GOOD OR SERVICE THAT IS MORE THAN THE AVERAGE PRICE OFFERED FOR A COMPARABLE GOOD OR SERVICE SOLD IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE CAPTIVE CONSUMER PURCHASES THE ANCILLARY GOOD OR SERVICE” Welcome to bill #12 of over 700 to be considered and passed into law in 120 days of session. The Democrats keep piling on regulations that jack up costs for everyone, then act like the fix is squeezing vendors harder—instead of slashing the taxes, fees, and mandates they've created. They could drop sales taxes on basics, cut absurd airport fees, or repeal rules that inflate...
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Virginia Democrats Abandon Affordability Promises With Massive Tax and Policy Push
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The Daily Signal, Approved, Commentary, National

Virginia Democrats Abandon Affordability Promises With Massive Tax and Policy Push

By Jarrett Stepman | Commentary, The Daily Signal Remember when Democrats spent an entire election cycle talking about “affordability” as if that’s all they care about now? Well, if you bought that, then there’s a socialist mayor in New York who’s got a bridge to sell you. But New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani isn’t actually the one completely blowing up the affordability farce, it’s assumedly “moderate” Virginia Democrats. Much of the media touted Abigail Spanberger as the moderate Democrat gubernatorial candidate who could lead the party back to power. The Wall Street Journal even called her the “anti-Mamdani.” “Abigail Spanberger is seen as a potential moderate face for her struggling party,” read The Wall Street Journal’s subheadline. ...
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Denver Home Values Slipping Faster Than Any Major U.S. City
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DENVER7, Approved, Local

Denver Home Values Slipping Faster Than Any Major U.S. City

By Scripps News Group | Denver7 Zillow said the trend reflects affordability pressures, high mortgage rates and weakening demand across large swaths of the country. DENVER — Denver is leading the U.S. housing downturn, with 91% of homes losing value over the past year, according to new Zillow data. The Denver metro area posted the broadest declines of any large city, outpacing Austin (89%), Sacramento (88%), and both Phoenix and Dallas (87%). Nationwide, more than half of American homes—53%—saw their Zestimate values fall as of October 2025, a sharp rise from just 16% a year earlier. It marks the highest share of homes losing value since April 2012. Zillow said the trend reflects affordability pressures, high mortgage rates and weakening demand across large swaths of the c...
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Colorado Businesses Warn State Policies Threaten Economic Future
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DENVER7, Approved, State

Colorado Businesses Warn State Policies Threaten Economic Future

By Dan Grossman | Denver7 The sentiment comes from the latest Colorado Businesses Roundtable fall outlook survey and points to Colorado's affordability issues and regulatory environment. DENVER — Colorado businesses said they’re almost twice as worried about our state’s economic future as they are about the nation’s. This is from the Colorado Business Roundtable survey that just came out. The survey asked 50 business executives about what’s concerning them. The responses point toward Colorado’s affordability issues and policies supporting workers. “What we've been seeing over time is really the layering on effect of regulation, rules for businesses that really add a cost of doing business to Colorado,” Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown said. “When the eco...
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Denver’s Cost of Comfort: $130k Needed Just to Get By
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Fox31, Approved, Local

Denver’s Cost of Comfort: $130k Needed Just to Get By

By Brooke Williams | Fox31 DENVER (KDVR) — Two Colorado cities are among the most expensive big cities in the U.S. to live comfortably in, a recent study found. Finance website GOBankingRates analyzed the country’s 50 largest cities to determine how much it would cost to live in each comfortably based on data points like home values, incomes and cost of living.4 Colorado towns listed among best small cities in US: Report The study calculated the income for necessities and applied the 50/30/20 budget rule, doubling the cost of necessities for a lifestyle that can include saving and discretionary spending. The Mile High City ranked as the No. 12 most expensive large city to live comfortably in. Meanwhile down south, Colorado Springs ranked at No. 20 12. Denver To...
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Proposed insurance fee hikes spark fears of worsening affordability crisis
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The Sum & Substance, Approved, State

Proposed insurance fee hikes spark fears of worsening affordability crisis

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance In an effort to try and stop a massive exodus of individuals from the private insurance market, Colorado legislators are looking again at raising fees on all health-insurance policies in order to subsidize the premiums of state residents who face the highest costs. Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, said Friday that he is considering bringing a bill during the upcoming special session that would allow the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise to raise fees on all plans sold in the state by as much as 0.75%. The bill also would seek to impose a new $3 per-member-per-month fee on all stop-loss insurance policies that are purchased by self-insured employers to guard against catastrophic claims. The two fees could together raise about $100 mil...
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Gingrich: Democrats abandon centrism for big government socialism
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Gingrich360.com, Approved, Commentary, National

Gingrich: Democrats abandon centrism for big government socialism

By Newt Gingrich | Commentary, Substack The big government socialist wing has become the dominant force in what used to be a much more centrist Democratic Party. This week Sen. Elizabeth Warren aggressively endorsed Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York and attacked former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Eric Adams. It’s clear where the energy and drive in the Democratic Party is. Of course, Mamdani’s win in the New York City mayoral Democratic primary was heralded by an astounding number of Democrats comfortable voting for explicit socialist Senator Bernie Sanders in his 2016 presidential campaign. Running against establishment favorite Hillary Clinton, the Vermont socialist received 43 percent of the vote. When 12 million Americans were willing to turn the White House over to an avow...
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Denver housing sales tracking at slower pace as inventory hits highest since 2011
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Denverite, Approved, Local

Denver housing sales tracking at slower pace as inventory hits highest since 2011

By Andrew Kenney | Denverite There were 14,000 single-family homes, condos and townhomes for sale around the Denver metro at the end of July.  That meant homebuyers had more options than at any time since 2011 — though it was only a slight increase in inventory from the month before, according to the latest report from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors. Housing inventory is piling up because homes are selling more slowly. Just a few years ago, most homes were selling in under a week. But the typical single-family home now takes 20 days to sell, and some sit around much longer.  The DMAR report covers 11 counties around Denver, including Boulder, Jefferson, Douglas, Adams and Arapahoe. The slower pace of sales also gives buyers more time and leverage to ask...
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