URGENT: The truth about Amendment 87

If you're a registered Colorado voter, there's a good chance you got a text message in the last few days warning that Amendment 87, the graduated income tax measure considered one of this year's most important ballot measures, would “hike taxes” on seniors and veterans.

This won't come as a shock to many of you, but sometimes in politics people say things that aren't completely true.

This is one of those times. Last night, 9NEWS fact-checked the questionable claims in these text messages and determined they are “not supported by the text of the measure.” [1]

Here's the truth: under Amendment 87, 97% of Coloradans get a tax break, and that includes seniors and veterans who make less than $500,000 a year.

Under state law, pensions and Social Security are subtracted before tax rates are applied, and Amendment 87 doesn't change that. Those deductions work exactly the same way under Amendment 87 as they always have. The only people who pay more under Amendment 87, no matter who they are, are taxpayers with roughly $500,000 or more in taxable income.

Thousands of voters received these false text messages. It's a huge problem. Ballots are arriving in Colorado mailboxes now, and it's a race against the clock to spread the truth faster than the well-funded opponents of Amendment 87 can spread misinformation.

What can you do? Take a moment right now to watch last night's fact check, and share it with your friends and followers ASAP. The message is simple: Amendment 87 is a tax break for everyone who makes less than $500,000 a year. That includes seniors and veterans.

Once you've shared this video with every Colorado voter you know, head over to the YES on Amendment 87 campaign website to volunteer and get more information. The only way we're going to stop this well-funded campaign of misinformation is by telling the truth to everyone we possibly can between now and Election Day.

Thanks to our local media, and to you, for doing your part to keep Colorado politics honest.

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