Schaffer supports Amendment 52, contrary to debate opposition

UPDATED 4:45 P.M. 10/7/2008 

Although Republican U.S. Senate nominee Bob Schaffer said he opposed Amendment 52 during a Monday night debate, his manager said Tuesday that Schaffer misspoke and actually supports the proposal.

"Bob supports 52, he was unclear on the question last night," said Schaffer manager Dick Wadhams in an e-mail Tuesday.

Amendment 52, a ballot initiative backed by Republican lawmakers Cory Gardner (R-Yuma), Frank McNulty (R-Highlands Ranch), and state Sen. Josh Penry (R-Grand Junction),would tap into the state severance tax to pay for improvements to Interstate 70.

When Schaffer was asked Monday night by co-moderator Adam Schrager of 9News if he supported Amendment 52, Schaffer asked Schrager to describe it, saying he was "not familiar" with the proposal.

When Schrager said the proposed amendment would "use severance tax revenues for highways, or I-70," Schaffer responded, "no."

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Mark Udall said he opposes the proposal.

Gardner told PolitickerCO.com that he "honestly would have been very surprised to find" that Schaffer opposes Amendment 52.

"I commend Bob Schaffer for his staunch support of transportation funding and wish that other Democrats would get on board, like Governor Bill Ritter," Gardner said.