DENVER – Today, Democrats on the Colorado Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee killed an important piece of legislation that would have directly benefited Colorado disabled veterans and seniors.

Senate Bill 22-093, by Senator Larry Liston (R-Colorado Springs), would have expanded the Senior And Veteran Property Tax Exemption. Currently, qualifying seniors and veterans with a disability may exempt up to $200,000 of their home value from property taxes. This bill expands the exemption up to $400,000. According to the Zillow Home Value Index, the typical Colorado home in the middle price tier of listings was $224,000 in February 2012, but is now $536,000.

“This bill was an easy way to provide some relief for our most vulnerable,” said Senator Liston. “Our state government has a massive budget surplus and we should find ways to give that back. I am disappointed that Democrats were unwilling to advance this bill to the Senate floor for a full debate.”

Senator Liston also had an opinion piece published in the Colorado Springs Gazette this morning regarding the legislation.

“This was a great bill,” said Senator Cleave Simpson (R-Alamosa), a member of the committee. “The current property tax exemption is insufficient with how much home prices have increased in Colorado. Why Democrats would oppose this bill is a mystery to me.”

“One of the Democrats on the committee voted against this bill because it would mean $89 million less in government coffers,” said Senator Jerry Sonnenberg (R-Sterling). “Meanwhile, the Democrats are proposing putting $150 million into electric school buses this year. They could not be more disconnected from reality if they tried.”

The bill was supported by the Colorado Gerontological Society in committee. The bill is considered a Republican priority bill – a part of the Senate and House Republican Caucuses’ “Commitment to Colorado,” unveiled at the beginning of the legislative session.

The bill died on a party-line, 3 to 2 vote.