Advance Colorado and Colorado Concern, two political organizations funded by millionaires and billionaires, have pulled a double whammy: they are both bullies and cowards. They forced the state legislature into “special session” to reach a “compromise” on a property tax bill, but were too cowardly to appear before the House Budget Committee to defend their Propositions 50 and 108.

It is obvious why these snooty people did not show up at the House committee hearing. They would have felt the rotten tomatoes that were sent to them in criticism of their tax initiatives that would dismantle virtually all of the government’s services and programs funded by property taxes.

Coloradans should take note of their cowardice and bullying. Don’t lose sight of the fact that Colorado Concern, led by such famous entrepreneurs as famed auto dealer Greg Stevinson, famed home builder Larry Mizel, and the presidents of First Bank and Alpine Bank, as well as Michael Fields of Advance Colorado, showed no regard for the well-being of the state’s citizens in order to further fill their overflowing food pantries.

Stay up to date: Sign up to receive daily opinions in your inbox Monday through Friday

Speaker Julie McCluskie noted at the House Budget Committee hearing that HB24-B1001 will provide predictability in the collection and distribution of the state’s property taxes. Tony Gagliardi, who represents about 6,200 small businesses in the state, acknowledged that the companies he represents, which have five to 100 employees, place a high value on tax predictability. His testimony to the committee contradicted recent comments by Colorado Concern’s Larry Mizel that small businesses’ number one concern is the lowest possible tax rate.

Of course, Mizel and his Colorado Concern colleagues, Norm Franke of Alpine Bank, Pat Hamill of Oakwood Homes, L. Roger Hutson of HRM Resources and Walter Isenberg of Sage Hospitality, are the ones who stand to benefit most from the commercial real estate tax cuts contained in their Propositions 50 and 108. These Colorado Concern board members are figuratively holding a gun to the legislature’s head to get many, if not all, of the tax breaks they want.

If HB24-B1001 passes, lawmakers and we citizens must assume that a letter from Colorado Concern and Advance Colorado – not a legal agreement – ​​will be enough to secure their promise that they will not introduce another property tax initiative for six years.

House Budget Committeeman Leslie Herod noted that this letter represents very weak security. Norm Franke’s Alpine Bank and John Ikard’s First Bank would surely require some kind of security or contract to reach such an important agreement. But no. This “compromise” is based on their unsecured promissory note.

Citizens deserve to hear from the leaders of Advance Colorado and Colorado Concern why it is a good idea to force the state’s public colleges and universities to raise tuition by 7 to 20 percent to cover budgets they would otherwise have to cut as a result of Propositions 50 and 108. Tuition increases would not be enough to address budget shortfalls, according to the leaders of CU, CSU, Metro State and the state’s community colleges.

Citizens deserve to hear from the leaders of both organizations why it is a good idea to cut $60 million in public support for rural hospitals, thereby jeopardizing these fragile but vitally necessary facilities.

Citizens deserve to know why it’s a good idea for counties to cut millions of dollars in Medicaid benefits, reduce social programs that protect children and the elderly, compromise the safety provided by adequately staffing sheriff departments, and slow or stop building roads and bridges.

Citizens would deserve to know why they have to keep buckets of water in their kitchens ready to put out every fire and why the adequate fire protection of their paid and volunteer fire departments is no longer as responsive to emergencies. Citizens might also be surprised to hear that the ability to respond to medical emergencies would be “compromised” by Propositions 50 and 108.

Finally, citizens deserve to know why public schools are returning to their messy existence just as school districts are recovering from more than a decade of the state’s “BS” factor, also known as the “negative factor.” That is, the draconian cuts to public education through Propositions 50 and 108 would funnel money to Sage Hospitality, which offers special experiences to its discerning customers who dine and vacation at Union Station and other luxury destinations owned and operated by the company, so it can increase its profits at the expense of public school children.

Some form of the bill will make its way through the legislature. But it will certainly be exciting if the final, amended form of the bill does not satisfy Advance Colorado and the esteemed business leaders of Colorado Concern. So until it’s all done, you better fasten your seatbelts. Keep them buckled for at least six years while the results of HB24-B1001 make their way through the budgets and programs of the counties, special districts, school districts and municipalities that affect every Colorado citizen.

Paula Noonan is the owner of Colorado Capitol Watch, the leading platform for tracking the state’s legislature.