Yet Another Account of Rich's Misdeeds

Follow the Fraud is a new website about the conservative front group U.S. Term Limits. The site tracks some of the shady characters behind the organization, as they travel from state to state, employing questionable tactics to get their extremist ideas on ballots throughout the country. Visit the website to find out what Howie Rich has been up to lately.


CATO Launches Politically Motivated Assault on Ballot Measure Donor Disclosure System

The CATO Institute and Institute for Justice recently called for more secrecy in political giving in ballot measure donor disclosure systems. This pro-corruption position was rejected by voters in several states last year when it was revealed that CATO board member Howie Rich was responsible for what one state judge called "a pervasive and general pattern of fraud" in his attempt to foist an extreme agenda on voters through hidden money and dirty tactics in the ballot initiative process. | Read news release (PDF)


Howie Rich Media Coverage Wins Prestigious Award

Exposing gimmicks by Howie Rich from New York City earned a Western magazine editor the 2006 Polk Award for Political Reporting. | Read more


Howie's phony 'charity' kicked out of Illinois

A Chicago-based "charity" bankrolled by Howie Rich from New York City has been forced out of Illinois for not following the state's charity laws. | Read more


Okla. Supreme Ct.: Out-of-state TABOR backers showed "pattern of fraud and wrongdoing"

In a harshly worded opinion handed down on Dec. 12, Oklahoma's Supreme Court ruled that out-of-state TABOR backers broke the law by paying non-residents to collect signatures in support of an Oklahoma ballot initiative. | Read More


Kennebec [Maine] Journal wants ethics investigation of TABOR backers

A Maine daily newspaper urges the state ethics commission to take complaints against TABOR backers seriously. | Read more


Same underhanded tactics, different name

Two front men for Howie Rich from New York City are busy forming a new tax shelter to use in their efforts to drain schools and basic public services -- efforts that failed across the country this election cycle earlier this month. | Read more


Maine Republicans: TABOR cost us votes

Maine Republicans are blaming the unsuccessful TABOR ballot measure bankrolled by Howie Rich from New York City for hurting their interests. | Read more


1 out of 35? Howie can't be liking that "success" rate

Howie Rich from New York City uses $15 million to push 35 radical ballot measures that, had they passed, would have undercut our schools, emergency services and public safety standards in states across the country. Howie's success rate — 1 out of 35 — shows what Mother always told us: There are some things money just can't buy. | Read more


On election day, The Wall Street Journal credits www.howierichexposed.com effort

Howie Rich from New York City is the subject of a WSJ feature on ballot initiatives in the 2006 elections — as is this website. | Read more


Nader report says Rich initiatives could bankrupt states

Public Citizen, the consumer protection organization founded by Ralph Nader, releases a report that says Howie Rich from New York City would "eviscerate state environmental safeguards in four Western states and threaten to bankrupt their state treasuries." | Read more


South Carolina asks: which mask will Howie hide behind this Halloween?

A South Carolina political web site calls Howie Rich from New York City's antics in South Carolina a "one-man costume party." Ross Shealy, political columnist and blogger, exposes Rich as he evades the law by pouring funds into campaigns against candidates who support South Carolina's public schools. | Read more


Will Howie Rich pull Colorado governor's "doublespeak" ads?

Colorado Governor Bill Owens is accused of doublespeak in Maine, where ads show him contradicting his own earlier criticisms of the TABOR initiative, the Associated Press and Denver's Ch. 7 report. | Read more


For Howie Rich, spending illegal money is a full-time job

Howie Rich from New York City's Chicago-based Americans for Limited Government (ALG) is in "hot water," according to the NBC-TV affiliate in Pocatello, (ID). ALG has been pouring money into 10 western states — even after the state of Illinois revoked its license to operate. | Read more


It's hard to hide $3 million -- even in California

The California Progress Report calls Howie Rich from New York City on the carpet for trying to hide $3 million for the ballot initiative to give developers special rights. | Read more


In a victory for Montana, high court tosses out Rich's $1.1 million initiatives

Keeping company with recent high court rulings in Nevada, Michigan and Oklahoma, the Montana Supreme Court unanimously upholds the lower court ruling and threw out Howie Rich's trio of ballot initiatives — just as Rich had funneled more than $1.1 million into the TABOR, takings and judicial recall measures. | Read more


Howie's lawyers go back to digging dirt — this time in Arizona

Howie Rich from New York City is resuming his dirt-digging tactics through an Arizona operative, calling on more than 300 Arizona state agencies to gather individual public employees' emails. The Peoria [AZ] City Attorney Steve Kemp told the The Arizona Republic that the exercise would take as long as eight years to complete. | Read more


Howie Rich pours $1.1 million on Montana ballot measure

Howie Rich from New York City has funneled a total of more than $1.1 million into the state of Montana to pass TABOR, takings and judicial recall initiatives as of October 23. All three of these initiatives have been deemed fraudulent by a Montana court. | Read more


Colorado PTA director tells Nebraska: TABOR is the 'worst thing'

Vicki Newell is a suburban Denver mom who was inspired to run for the Colorado State PTA board after first-hand experience with TABOR's disastrous effects on Colorado schools. Newell told Nebraskans through the Omaha World-Herald, "TABOR is the worst thing you can do to your state. It will hurt your schools." | Read more


Top Nebraska newspaper gives Rich's effort a one-two punch

In its Sunday edition, the Omaha World-Herald again skewers Howie Rich from New York City's TABOR initiative, this time for its predicted disastrous consequences for education and the economy. Influential columnist Harold Andersen rips Rich's operatives in Nebraska for hiding behind his money. Read news story | Read Andersen column | Read more


Religious leaders tell Howie Rich No Thanks

Religious leaders on both coasts are questioning Howie Rich from New York City's TABOR initiatives on moral grounds. | Read more


Oregon PTA finds there's no dressing up a bad idea

Oregon Parent—Teacher Association (PTA) members confronted the obnoxious prop that Howie Rich operatives have used in several states to persuade voters to degrade their state services through Rich's TABOR initiatives. The Oregon PTA struck back, making the point that that there is no dressing up that pig of an idea. See photos


Colorado Governor Owens — Looking for Job with Howie Rich?

Huh? Retiring Colorado Governor Bill Owens led the charge (QuickTime Movie) to roll back TABOR in his own state last year. Now he has cut a television ad (PDF) for Howie Rich from New York City in favor of the idea in other states. The problem is that those old positions tend to follow you around. Maybe the Governor is applying for an internship with Howie Rich from New York City.
• See the old Bill Owens (QuickTime video)
• See the New Bill Owens (PDF file)
• Update: view both ads on www.coloradopols.com


Despite denials by local front men, Rich-tied efforts are coordinated

Coincidence? The efforts by Howie Rich from New York City Rich-tied media firm handling the buys for at least two states: Nebraska and Montana. | Read more


State papers show Rich behind effort to give special rights to developers, other "planted" initiatives

Official filings (PDF) Official filings by the effort funded by Howie Rich from New York City in Idaho (PDF) and Michigan (PDF) show that the bulk of the money for this effort has come from front groups bankrolled by Howie Rich from New York City. The money for Idaho was laundered using a Montana PO Box. See page three of official document: Page 3 Excerpt (PDF), Full Document (PDF), Read more


Backlash builds in Nebraska against Rich and his front man, Mike Groene

North Platte Telegraph columnist Keith Blackledge takes Howie Rich from New York City to task in a new column. "Doesn't being manipulated by strange groups with strange names backed by folks who try to remain in the background make you uneasy? It does me," wrote Blackledge. Rich recently complained to the Los Angeles Times about people raising questions about his manipulation of politics in other states and his secretive funding as "character assassination." | Read column | Read LA Times story


Howie's Home-town Paper Exposes TABOR Efforts

Howie Rich from New York City is exposed by his home-town newspaper as the force behind the effort to pay developers not to violate the law -- and criticized by the conservative Arizona Republic for doing so. Read more


Rich-funded dirt-digging beginning to raise public ire.

The dirt-digging effort funded by Howie Rich in New York City is beginning to raise public ire in several states. Read more


Idaho Falls Post Register rips effort by Rich operatives to dig for dirt on sheriff's deputies, firefighters and school teachers.

Operatives based out of front groups connected to Howie Rich from New York City have begun abusing open records laws in several states... | Read more


Mogul's network bankrolls Prop. 90 Web of advocacy groups funnels millions to pass property rights initiative

The San Francisco Chronicle explores the web of front groups through which Howie Rich from New York City launders millions of dollars for ballot initiatives in other states. Read more | Read article


Omaha World-Herald Publisher confronts Howie Rich from New York City

Harold "Andy" Andersen becomes the latest Western VIP to confront Howie Rich from New York City about Rich and his associates, in Andersen's words, "buying their way onto the November ballot." Read More | Read Column


National TV show exposes Rich as muscle behind efforts

September 22 — Good, old fashioned investigative journalism is not dead, PBS's investigative show NOW showed tonight. The program exposed Howie Rich from New York City as the financial muscle behind the drive to mislead voters in many states into degrading state government services. Read More...


Nebraska Governor opposes TABOR, joining governors from Oregon and Montana

September 21 — The North Platte [NE] Telegraph notes that Republican Governor Dave Heineman of Nebraska is opposed to Howie Rich's efforts in his state, joining the group of state leaders opposing TABOR. Read More...


MT State Senator Admits Howie Rich is "Main One" Bankrolling Front Group in State

September 21 — Montana State Senator Joe Balyeat admitted on Yellowstone Public Radio that tycoon Howie Rich from New York City is the primary financial muscle behind the front group, Montanans in Action. Read More...