2010 Election
Nikkel targets taxes and fees
By Dan MacArthur
North Forty News
As a self-professed "conservative centrist," B.J. Nikkel maintained that
she can work in a bipartisan manner and expressed dismay with Republicans
nationally for their lack of fiscal restraint.
"Although I have an 'R' in front of my name, I do not believe that Republicans
have all the answers," she said about her candidacy. "Nor have they been
good stewards of the government they represented for years. They did not
hold true to their platform beliefs and in many cases lost their way."
Although disagreement is inevitable, Nikkel said, "it is important to communicate
and work together when we do agree on the issues."
She said, however, that does not mean that she will ever compromise on
her core beliefs or lose her way on her persisting path to limit government's
intrusion into lives and livelihoods.
"I believe in pursuing free market solutions that do not inhibit private
initiatives because that will leave more of your hard-earned money in your
pocketbook – not in the hands of big-spending government," she said. "I
will fight efforts of politicians to take more of your paycheck through
taxation and 'fees' and I will fight government mandates and regulation
which strangles small businesses. I promise to also protect your constitutional,
individual and personal liberties."
Although a vocal proponent of the Taxpayers Bill of Rights tax limitation
passed by Colorado voters in 1992, Nikkel, 53, of rural Loveland said she
could not support proposed Constitutional Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition
101. Collectively, they would reduce property taxes, roll back fees and
forbid state borrowing.
Nikkel said she is sympathetic to the measures, but she still believes
"these initiatives are an overreaction."
Nikkel said that she was suspicious of unintended consequences such as
those following adoption of a constitutional amendment authorizing medical
marijuana. Ultimately the legislature in the last session was forced to
devote untold time to creating a "monstrosity of regulations and bureaucracy"
to regulate it, Nikkel said.
She said she believes the unbearable tax burden on business is one of the
biggest obstacles to economic recovery. "When you tax businesses they leave,"
she said.
Noting that already thousands of dollars in additional taxes were imposed
on the Windsor Kodak plant, for example, Nikkel called for the restoration
of the "dirty dozen" tax credits repealed in the last legislative session.
District director for former U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, Nikkel was appointed
to the District 49 Colorado House of Representatives seat in 2009 by a
Republican vacancy committee. The vacancy was created when former representative
Kevin Lundberg was appointed to fill the remaining term of former state
senator Steve Johnson following his election as Larimer County commissioner.
She now is seeking a full two-year term in that office. The district includes
northern Larimer County.
Despite her late start, Nikkel notes that three of her proposed bills were
enacted that year and six in the last session.
She said among her proudest accomplishments so far are successfully sponsoring
one bill creating a new National Guard readiness center in Windsor, and
another enabling greater public scrutiny of the state budget.
Nikkel, a former senior development director for the National Guard Association,
said the readiness centers in Windsor, Alamosa and Grand Junction together
will create 400 new jobs
The Colorado Taxpayer Transparency Act puts the state's "checkbook" online,
allowing taxpayers to view the state's expenditures and revenues.
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