Long silent on the subject of three Colorado tax-slashing ballot initiatives, Republican candidate for governor Scott McInnis reportedly told attendees at the state's Contractors Association convention at the beginning of the month that in fact he did not support the initiatives, which have been popular with Tea Party activists in the state. McInnis agreed with Gov. Bill Ritter, Denver mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Hickenlooper and other lawmakers,
including GOP legislative leaders, that the initiatives would destroy the state government's ability to function.