in 2005, owens faced what former colorado governor dick lamm termed “the test of his time.” conflicting budget measures in colorado's taxpayer bill of rights (tabor, which caps government spending) and the voter endorsed amendment 23 (which mandates increases in education funding) combined with a nationwide recession to leave colorado's budget 17 percent below 2001 levels. a “glitch” – as owens termed it – in tabor prevented the budget from rebounding once the recession reversed.