Howie Rich of New York City is key player behind TABOR efforts

Many of the money trails behind the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) initiatives throughout the country are leading to New York real estate mogul Howard Rich, who is behind Americans for Limited Government, the Fund for Democracy, and its various shell organizations operating in several states.

According to The Oregonian, the largest newspaper in Oregon, which faces 10 ballot initiatives including a TABOR-like constitutional amendment, organizations controlled by Rich have funneled more than $7.3 million into initiative campaigns, primarily to curb government and expand property rights. In Oregon, $1.1 million from Americans for Limited Government and U.S. Term Limits, both headed by Rich, account for one-third of the money spent promoting the 10 measures that will appear on the November 7 ballot in Oregon.

In September, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer challenged Rich to a public debate in Montana, where a TABOR-like tax-cut measure has made it on the November ballot. Schweitzer wrote: “I am writing to invite you to Montana to meet the folks whose lives you wish to change so drastically through your shady campaign. We would like to learn more about who you are, and about your motive to impose such a poisonous constitutional amendment on us.”

For more information on Howard Rich, who likes to be called Howie, go to www.nea.org/fundingthreats/moneytrail.html.

Posted September 22, 2006