Penry Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 16th, 2009 Contact:Joe Megyesy (303) 866-2195

COLORADO STATE SENATE STATE CAPITOL DENVER 80203

Sen. Josh Penry's statement on Supreme Court ruling Senate Republican Leader Josh Penry, of Grand Junction, today issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn a lower court ruling and declare Governor Bill Ritter's 2007 property tax increase constitutional: "It's fitting that the most partisan court in the land rubber stamped the governor's property tax increase on exactly the same day Senate Democrats are poised to repeal Colorado's landmark spending limits, and exactly two weeks after the Governor signed the largest increase in car taxes in a generation," Penry said. "With loyalist Democrats in charge of the Governor's mansion, the state House, the state Senate, and the Supreme Court, the Taxpayers Bill of Rights is on life support and the principle of fiscal restraint is in full retreat." Penry said. "Unfortunately for citizens, this property tax hike comes at the worst possible time-the moment when many Coloradans are struggling just to keep their homes," Penry said. ###