The government regulates speech in every conceivable way it can. From Tipper Gore’s effort to regulate song lyrics to the fact that every commercial claim must be passed through a legal sieve to avoid FTC and tort action. Of course, regular vulgarities are regulated as well. Jumping on the censorship bandwagon, this blog is a modest proposal to eliminate deceptive speech when it comes to tax increases.

Colorado Amendment 58 proposes to eliminate a favorable tax treatment for oil exploration and spend the extra revenues on certain popular projects like highways. Proponents of 58 suggest that this is not a tax increase because it is eliminating a “loophole” for an industry most lefties despise. Furthermore, 58 supporters suggest that the money will be well spent.

Well, no to both delusions. The far left planners in the Governor’s office know full well that any increase in earmark highway spending simply allows them to siphon regular highway funds into other projects. This way 58 will not increase highway funding at all, but simply allow for more spending on less popular programs that better fit with the collectivist agenda.

The loophole argument is similarly flawed. Sen. Obama, for example, likes to characterize his call to eliminate all of the Bush tax cuts, not as tax increases, but as “a moral imperative” to reverse tax breaks for the rich. Indeed, hardly anyone calls a tax increase a tax increase. Tax increases are sold as “investments,” “tax increases for the other guy,” or a “patriotic duty” per Sen. Biden.

A tax increase is a change in law or policy designed to take more money from the private sector than would have been taken without the change. It is that simple, yet tax raisers of all parties just won’t tell the truth. A good rule of thumb is that if you are voting on it, it’s a tax increase.

Why not a truth in advertising amendment for tax increases as well? TABOR already requires that the title of tax increases include the words “Increase Taxes,” so why not require advertising for such tax increases to simply mention that voters are requesting a tax increase?

Instead of conning voters into thinking a tax increase is really an education investment (remember Ref. C, which did nothing for education?), such advertisements should also mention the fact that they are a tax increase. Furthermore, the words “Tax Increase” should be in no smaller print than the largest print in the advertising piece.

So, here is the Tax Truth In Advertising Amendment:

Any advertisement relating to a ballot measure covered by Article X, Section 20 of The Constitution of The State of Colorado shall hereby be required to disclose that the ballot measure is a tax increase. Print advertisements must include the words “Tax Increase,” or “Increase in Taxes” in a print size no smaller than the largest print in the advertisement affirmatively stating that the ballot measure is a tax increase. Advertisements containing audio components must say clearly “Ballot Measure X is a tax increase” in the predominant language of the advertisement.

Let’s get busy and put this on the ballot for next year.