DENVER—Anti-tax advocates are facing legal questions over who is bankrolling their efforts to put three tax-cutting measures on Colorado ballots.
But the advocates testified in a Denver court Monday that they aren’t sure.
Five proponents of the anti-tax measures appeared in a hearing at the Office of Administrative Courts on a complaint over funding of three petition drives to put anti-tax measures on November ballots. Asked who is directing the effort, the anti-tax crusaders described their financial backer as “Mr. X.”
One of the proponents, Michelle Northrup, told the judge in the that she believes “Mr. X” is anti-tax crusader Douglas Bruce of Colorado Springs.
Northrup said that Bruce, a former state lawmaker behind Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights, called her at one point and said, “Watch your e-mail.” Soon after she said she got an e-mail with documents about the petition drive.
Northrup said Bruce told her to erase the e-mail. She didn’t.
Bruce was subpoenaed for Monday’s hearing but didn’t appear. The Colorado attorney general’s office said officials tried 29 times to serve Bruce with the subpoena, but Bruce refused to come to the door.
Bruce did not return a phone call from The Associated Press seeking comment Monday.
The ballot proposals in question would limit the ability of local and state governments to borrow and spend money.
The proposals would roll back property taxes, lower the state income tax rate, prohibit state government from borrowing and abolish most fees and taxes on vehicles and phones.
The anti-tax measures appear to have more than enough signatures to make November ballots, so opponents are challenging the petition effort itself. Opponents say the anti-tax camp has violated campaign finance laws about how signatures can be gathered.
One opponent said he fears voter approval is likely if the questions go to ballots because taxes are unpopular.
“People are mad, they’re fed up, but they’ve got to realize that these proposed new laws aren’t the answer,” said political consultant Rick Reiter, who is leading the opposition.
