Truth Test: Ads targeting CD8 Democratic candidate Yadira Caraveo

DENVER — If it feels like you’re seeing nonstop political ads featuring Democratic Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo and Republican challenger Gabe Evans, it is because you’re seeing nonstop political ads featuring those two candidates running in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District.

Two new ones attacking Caraveo have little do to with her work in Congress.

They focus on TABOR, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. That’s the portion of Colorado’s Constitution limiting what Colorado can keep and spend each year. Any changes to TABOR require voter approval.

There is not a TABOR limitation in Congress, and Congress can make changes to tax policies without asking voters for approval.

The two ads are from Strategic Majority PAC and RJC Victory Fund.

STRATEGIC MAJORITY PAC AD CLAIM: “When Colorado passed our Taxpayer Bill of Rights, we protected our money, but Yadira Caraveo didn’t like that so much. She said, ‘It handcuffed politicians’ and wanted to eliminate it.”

RJC VICTORY FUND AD CLAIM: “Yadira Caraveo supports eliminating TABOR.”

VERDICT: Yes, that is what is stated on Caraveo’s website when she ran for state representative in 2018.

Part of her platform on her state representative campaign website said:

“Ending TABOR: TABOR has handcuffed Colorado and keeps the state from using the funds it collects for the betterment of its citizens. Despite a booming economy, we have crumbling infrastructure and failing schools. Funding is key to addressing most of the issues we have in Colorado, and without the elimination of TABOR, funding in this state will always fall short of our needs.”

But TABOR is not something Congress has to be concerned about.

TABOR is in Colorado’s Constitution and caps how much the state budget can increase each year. Anything over that amount gets refunded to residents. Separately, TABOR also requires voter approval for all tax increases.

STRATEGIC MAJORITY PAC AD CLAIM: “Caraveo even backed a bill to try and let the government keep any extra money that should have been refunded to you.”

VERDICT: Yes, she did support that bill, but the ad leaves out the very important next step, that voters had the final say and rejected the idea.

In 2019, Caraveo and every other state House Democrat voted in favor of putting Proposition CC on the November ballot.

Voters were asked to allow the state to keep money beyond what TABOR allows for schools, roads and transit, meaning voters would be giving up future TABOR refunds when the state collects too much.

Voters said no with almost 54% against Proposition CC.

And even if it had passed, it would not have changed the part of TABOR that requires voter approval for any tax increase.

That part of TABOR was not up for a vote.

And again, TABOR has nothing to do with Congress.

Strategic Majority PAC has spent $642,000 on political ads, according to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). That group’s website simply has a photo and quote of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and a place to register to “Join us.”

RJC Victory Fund is the Republican Jewish Coalition. Colorado megadonor Larry Mizel is on the group’s board of directors.

RJC has spent $668,000 on political ads, according to FEC records.