Oregon Public Broadcasting

The man responsible for more than half of Oregon’s ballot initiatives this fall is in court this week defending a foundation he runs. Rob Manning has the latest on anti-tax activist, Bill Sizemore.

Sizemore lost a civil case against the state’s largest teachers’ unions in 2002. A jury found that Sizemore’s organization engaged in racketeering when it put two initiatives on the ballot in 2000.

Since then, Sizemore has faced repeated contempt citations and fines, for diverting money to political activities, rather than paying the unions.

This year, Sizemore is behind five of the eight initiatives on Oregon’s ballot, including measures aimed primarily at taxes and education.

In court, Sizemore has to defend the legitimacy of his American Tax Research Foundation.

The teachers’ unions contend that it's a shell, used to fund Sizemore’s political activities, and avoid paying the unions.

If the judge agrees with the unions, she could add to Sizemore’s multi-million dollar tab, or even send him to jail for contempt.