Author of Colorado’s TABOR runs for Congress

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Doug Bruce, the author of the Colorado Taxpayer Bill of Rights, is running for the 5th Congressional District. That is the seat held by retiring Representative Doug Lamborn.

Bruce is a former state legislator and El Paso County commissioner who wrote the state’s constitutional amendment that requires voter approval for tax increases and taxpayers to be refunded when there’s a surplus in the state’s budget.

On his website, Bruce calls himself a “pro-life, traditional family values, social and fiscal conservative—a Ronald Reagan Republican.” He also says he challenged in court Colorado Springs’ streetlight tax, stormwater tax, cable TV tax, open space tax, and the library district’s illegal property tax increases.

But Bruce has also had his fair share of controversies. In 2012 he was convicted of tax evasion and filing a false tax return. He then was sentenced to prison for violating the terms of his probation in 2016. Bruce was also the first person to be censured by the Colorado House after kicking a news photographer at the state capitol.

On his campaign website, Bruce says his priorities, if elected, would be replacing the income tax with the sales tax, restoring fair elections, and “Stop genital mutilation.” Doug’s website says he also wants to end term limits, drill more oil, and “defund the left.”

Bruce joins a crowded race for the seat. Head of the Colorado GOP Party Dave Williams, Conservative Radio Host Jeff Crank, Former Colorado State University Football Player Joshua Griffin, and State Senator Bob Gardner will all be running against Doug in the Republican Primary.

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