AMENDMENT 69

AMENDMENT 69 INITIATIVE  Amendment 69 is a 2016 Colorado Ballot Initiative to create a Colorado-exclusive Single-Payer Health Care System  Coined “ColoradoCare” by proponents, the initiative has been cleverly pitched to voters as “a way to get out from under ObamaCare”  An initial proposed $25 billion tax per year increase  Opposition and coalition building from Coloradans for Coloradans – a bi-partisan, statewide, and diverse organization of Colorado citizens who have come together to oppose Amendment 69

TAX Massive tax increase - $25 billion annually - Colorado would immediately have the highest taxes in the entire country “ColoradoCare” will be outside TABOR limitations - allowing it to grow, unchecked. When costs exceed revenue, the members WILL be asked to approve a Health Care Premium Tax increase. Hits business owners and sole proprietors disproportionally by having them pay both sides of the tax – 10% in new employment taxes PLUS an additional 10% tax on all non- payroll income.

ADMINISTRATION Constitutional Amendments are purposefully difficult to amend or repeal Legislature may only work within the confines of the language of the Constitutional Amendment – resulting in unintended consequences and impractical workarounds Decisions related to its operations and policies would be subject to the discretion of a mere 21-person board Little to no oversight by Legislature or Governor for budgetary, operational, or policy procedures

COVERAGE No guarantees regarding levels or scope of coverage Coloradans would lose their existing coverage, and then hope the board of trustees decides to replicate their previous coverage Gross assumption that healthcare providers will be able and willing to find the new government-run health care terms acceptable Little insight into policies and procedures if a Colorado resident were to become sick or injured while travelling outside the state The Board also has the power to limit or remove benefits

ECONOMIC IMPACT Amendment 69 will have a negative impact on Colorado jobs & our economy The onerous payroll tax increase WILL stifle small businesses struggling to get by Dissuade larger corporations required to navigate a healthcare system which will be unique to only our state Amendment 69 will force companies to choose not to locate in Colorado or even move out of our state.

ACA & C4  Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act allows Colorado to obtain waivers to create their own health care system not controlled by any state executive, department, commission, board, bureau or agency.  Under Amendment 69, resources will be transferred from the Colorado Health Benefits Exchange to “ColoradoCare” for Medicaid, Children’s Basic Health Plan, Workers’ Compensation and allow “ColoradoCare” to receive funding provided by the Affordable Care Act.

FINANCING To finance the proposed $25 billion tax increase, a Transitional Operating Fund Taxes (TOFT) would be collected from Colorado residents by the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR). Initially, the Colorado Department of Revenue will collect TOFT from residents at 0.6% of payroll from employers, 0.3% of payroll from employees, and 0.9% from non-payroll income. DOR will cease collecting TOFT and will then collect and later transfer Premium Taxes (PT) to “ColoradoCare” as 6.67% of employer payroll, 3.33% of employee payroll and 10% non-payroll income.

DEFEAT AMENDMENT 69! Inform your clients, family, friends, employees and business associates about the negative effects of Amendment 69! Join the opposition online and sign up for updates at ColoradansforColoradans.com ColoradansforColoradans.com Complete a pledge stating your opposition to this Amendment.

CSAHU CSAHU has joined a broad coalition of business and community leaders to defeat Amendment 69. Need more information? Contact Jenn Penn - CSAHU Lobbyist Tammy Niederman - CSAHU Legislative Chair