Doug Bruce faces Round 3 in contempt battle

By The AP
Thursday, September 2, 2010

DENVER — It’s Round Three in the government’s battle to have a Colorado Springs activist answer questions about his role getting tax-slashing measures onto state ballots.

Douglas Bruce has a hearing this morning in a contempt-of-court case. The government wants to compel Bruce to talk about whether he helped some tax opponents shepherd three tax-cutting proposals onto ballots this fall.

Bruce engineered the campaign to pass Colorado’s Taxpayers Bill of Rights, which limits government spending. Bruce has said he had no involvement in the ballot initiatives and wasn’t trying to avoid subpoenas. That lawsuit is pending on appeal.

Bruce’s contempt hearing in Denver comes after two continuances in his case.