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Vote no new taxes; vote no on Amendment 69

Amendment 69 is not all it's cracked up to be.

We are being told this government pay health care system will be good for all Colorado residents.

We can't know what the benefits will be because the "board" (that doesn't exist yet) will decide later. When I say "board" what I should say is a group of 21 people with no required qualifications that will work outside of the state government as their own entity to run this program.

A program that will cost Colorado about $25 billion (the current state budget) by way of additional employee (3.3 percent) and employer (6.7 percent) taxes! What if you are self-employed? Then you get to pay that 10 percent tax all by yourself. Will this be the first tax to create jobs? Not likely. Don't worry - if it ends up costing the state more, this board can vote to increase taxes. What if it costs less than expected? Well, that part isn't in the amendment, but I'm sure we'll see a refund check in the mail.

As the amendment is written, anyone can come here, rent a room and get health care at Colorado taxpayers' expense! What if a Colorado resident gets sick while outside of the state? You are on your own! It just keeps getting better, doesn't it?

Wait, there's more! This is an additional tax, so if this single-payer system passes but isn't implemented, the tax will stay because it will have become part of our state constitution.

Amendment 69 will cut your choices because, at government reimbursement rates, doctors WILL leave Colorado for higher reimbursement rates given in other states. The proponents want Colorado to believe this is good for us. IT'S NOT! We have no clue how doctor visit/procedure rates will be set, and we have no clue how the inequality of current health care charges in the state will work out. (We pay much more than Denver.)

We must also remind ourselves how great other government-run health care systems have worked out for us in the past, and if you aren't sure - ask a veteran.

Veronica Lasater

Bayfield