One more data point discrediting this election as some sort of victory for conservatism: In all three states where TABOR-style spending caps were placed on the ballot, they were defeated. Just a couple years ago, TABOR initiatives -- which are slightly-odd acronyms for "Taxpayer Bill of Rights" -- were all the rage among the Grover Norquist crowd. They cap revenue growth at the rate of inflation plus population and demand spending beyond such limits be directly approved by voters. In doing, they vastly limit legislature flexibility and tear apart public services. Seeing the fiscal devastation, voters in recent years have repealed TABORs across the country, notably in Colorado, where the first one was enacted in 1992. Yesterday, the three new attempts to institute the rules were flatly rejected. Some victory for fiscal conservatism.
