TABOR vs. reality

Missouri Republicans may believe they might have a rock-solid campaign idea thanks to a proposal from House Speaker Pro Tem Carl Bearden, R-St. Charles. Bearden's proposal would cap state spending and any future increase in spending would be linked to population growth and inflation. The plan is based on a Colorado referendum titled, Tax Payers Bill of Rights (TABOR).

However, Republicans may want to look to see how other states have faired with such fixed fiscal policies.

The current Governor of Colorado, Bill Owens, was one of the original supporters of the plan and rode it to success becoming the first Republican Governor in 24 years. Owens has now submitted a ballot proposal that would loosen the law's limits in order to deal with necessary expenses in a stumbling economy.

In Virginia, Republicans in the legislature also scrapped their anti-tax crusade and, backed by business interests, passed Virginia's largest tax increase since 1966.

These are not the only cases where fiscal reality has trumped ideology, but two of the most prominent. National Review named Owens "America's Best Governor" in 2002. Not the pedigree of someone gone of the reservation.