Updated and revised, 9:35 AM Wow, this year's ballot initiative campaign gets stranger and stranger. The pro-Ref C Dead Governors have declared that their beloved tax increase is winning by 1 to 9 points in the "polls." Their source? I quote directly: No, we aren't going to tell you who did these polls, and no, we didn't just make this up. Trust them... right. Trust but verify. Let's be intellectually honest for a moment and admit we don't know exactly where public sentiment is on Ref C & D. If the pro-tax increase crowd had a credible survey showing momentum on their side, the results would be trumpeted on all the major news pages. Their silence speaks in abundance. My gut tells me the election will be close and the ballot … [Read more...]

For the handful of faithful blog readers who have survived the extended lull, I'm back. Snowy outside, warm inside... means it's time to post something, even if it's just a link to a great Monday column by the Post's David Harsanyi: "Referendum Supporters Betray GOP," using the plainest evidence to demolish the absurd claims that Colorado's fiscal health is somehow in crisis. Three weeks until Coloradans cast their ballots and decide against the "forever tax increase." With all the intraparty squabbles and dizzying number of tax measures to be decided, I can't wait for Election Day to come. Hurry now! Three cheers to Harsanyi for a great column to start off the week... … [Read more...]

Clarification: It has come to my attention that some confusion has arisen regarding the nature of action taken by the School Finance Interim Committee at its Tuesday, September 27 meeting. No formal votes were taken, but at the request of Senator Sue Windels - Committee Chair - informal straw polls were taken to indicate the committee's interest in taking future action on various ideas for legislation proposed by committee members. When Senator Windels introduced her "Referendum E" proposal, a straw poll of committee members showed four of the 10 objecting to taking future action. The significance of the legislators' interest in promoting a tax increase beyond Referenda C and D remains. DENVER - Amid a heated election contest to suspend … [Read more...]

Mike at Best Destiny has already commented on the story of Colorado Democrats being caught and receiving an unprecedented penalty for illicit 2004 campaign activities, so I can't add a lot. Kent Lambert of the Republican Study Committee deserves commendation for his perseverance and his thoroughness in pursuing the prosecution of an election law penalty, something with a high burden of proof. Mike is right - of course, we shouldn't be surprised. Hugh Hewitt wrote all about it in his 2004 classic, If It's Not Close, They Can't Cheat. If you haven't read it, or need a refresher, pick it up and give it a good perusal before the 2006 elections. Peter Blake of the Rocky Mountain News brought Lambert's intriguing story to light, one that … [Read more...]

The cannon fire is gaining strength within Colorado's Republican camp, as the Marc Holtzman team shoots back and asks where rival Bob Beauprez has been on the Referenda C and D campaign. Lest the Holtzman attack gets carried away too far, there is no doubt that Beauprez opposes the twin tax increase measures, though he may feel conflicted about making too public an opposition to his friend Bill Owens. Both sides have elements of truth on their side. Holtzman has been in the limelight and absorbed the public backlash far more than his opponent. Gradually, he is establishing himself as the political leader on the issue, building inroads into the GOP's fiscally conservative base and trying to establish his credibility for next year's big … [Read more...]