Amendment 74 is nothing more than a retaliatory measure against Proposition 112, the safer setback ballot issue. Initiated by Protect Colorado, the PAC for the oil and gas industry, 74 would give property owners, particularly drilling companies with mineral rights, the right to sue state and local governments for reparations if regulations cost them income.
Like spoiled children, oil and gas is saying, ”If you’re gonna restrict our operations in any way, we’re gonna make your governments (and ultimately the taxpayers) pay through the nose with lawsuits.”
Property rights be damned, property owners don’t have the right to use their property to endanger their neighbors. Our governments do have the right and the obligation to protect citizens with regulations, zoning laws, and ordinances.
How can you look at what happened in Oregon in 2004 when a similar amendment was passed and not see that 74 would be bad for Colorado? A deluge of lawsuits cost the state $20 billion in the first three years. Reeling, Oregon voters repealed the amendment four years later.
Who will profit from Amendment 74? Not Colorado’s private property owners, that’s for sure. Any settlement they get in court will be wiped out by increased taxes caused by the massive awards given corporations. Out-of-state corporations and lawyers will be the only winners if Amendment 74 passes.
Fred Malo Jr.
Carbondale
