REUTEMAN: Sides poles apart over oil, gas taxes
You could fill a graveyard with the bones of contention between Gov. Bill Ritter and the group that formally opposes his ballot measure to increase the state's take of oil and gas severance taxes. Ritter's group, A Smarter Colorado, turned in 137,000 signatures Monday to get on the November ballot with an initiative that calls for eliminating a tax credit that allows energy companies to significantly cut their state severance tax. It would, if passed, raise about $320 million a year, mostly for college scholarships, but also for renewable energy and environmental efforts.