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Colorado Ethics Watch 
Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 12:16:21 PM MST
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Colorado Sec. of State Scott Gessler has already embroiled himself in controversy when he tried to remain employed with his former partisan Republican elections law firm even as he was sworn in as Secretary of State.
Now, Gessler has decided to unilaterally overturn the state Constitution, specifically amendment 27, which stipulates any spending on elections over $200 must be reported to the Secretary of State. Now he has decided that a political committee for efforts like Personhood amendments or anti-labor laws can spend up to $5000 without reporting who they are or where they came from - somewhat copying on a smaller scale the Citizens United decision.
Fortunately, Colorado Ethics Watch and Common Cause are filing a lawsuit to stop this in it's tracks. I spoke to Luis Toro of Colorado Ethics Watch about this case.
(video)
(Crossposted at Huffington Post and Square State)
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Wed May 05, 2010 at 13:40:39 PM MST
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Good catch, Ethics Watch. From their site:
Clear the Bench is registered as an issue committee, the type of committee that is formed to advocate for or against a ballot initiative. Amendment 27, however, clearly states that judges being voted for retention on an election ballot shall be considered candidates, which means that outside groups formed to advocate for or against those candidates must register as political committees, which are subject to contribution limits. Claiming to be an issue committee, Clear the Bench has accepted contributions over the $525 political committee limit and is actively seeking large contributions. However, Ethics Watch points out that since Clear the Bench's sole purpose is to influence voters to vote against these judges as candidates, they must be held to the same campaign finance restrictions as a political committee.
If their status is found to be unlawful, will they have enough time to give their donations back, start re-collecting as a political committee (basically a PAC), and then re-promote their cause with a tarnished reputation as law-breakers?
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