Illegal Anti-49 Electioneering Yields New Complaint
Illegal Anti-49 Electioneering Yields New Complaint
Well-Heeled Issue Committee’s Attacks Overstep Legal Bounds
ENGLEWOOD, CO – A leading proponent of a good-government initiative on this November’s ballot has filed a complaint against a group registered to oppose a different amendment.
Jon Caldara today submitted a formal complaint with the Colorado Secretary of State against the issue committee Coloradans for Middle Class Relief (CMCR). CMCR is officially registered only “to oppose statewide Amendment 47,” yet has mailed out flyers (links to images below) that also specifically oppose Amendment 49 (Ethical Standards) and Amendment 54.
A pair of formal complaints now have been submitted in the past week regarding anti-Amendment 49 activities that violate election law. On October 22, Colorado Springs resident and former school board candidate Reginald Perry filed a formal complaint against Protect Colorado’s Future (PCF) and another issue committee for an illicit transfer of resources.
Numerous media outlets further have called out PCF for its blatantly deceptive advertising.
“What we have now are well-heeled union lobbyists not only deceiving the public, but also breaking the law to do it,” Caldara said.
PCF and CMCR have combined to spend more than $20 million in the 2008 election.
“Some special interests clearly think they are blessed with the dual privilege of receiving government collection services and campaigning above the law,” said Caldara. “That only helps to make the case for Ethical Standards.”
Amendment 49 will prohibit governments from bundling money from public employees’ paychecks and delivering the funds to special interest groups. These special interests use the money to lobby the same politicians who just delivered the cash to them.
“It’s unethical for government to be the banker, accountant, and collection agent for political special interests,” Caldara said. “Government should be using our tax dollars and our civil servants’ time to provide crucial public services, not to funnel money to political organizations.”
Major newspapers supporting Amendment 49 include the Wall Street Journal, Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, Boulder Daily Camera, Pueblo Chieftain, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Colorado Springs Gazette, Longmont Times-Call, and Loveland Reporter-Herald.
Links to evidence of campaign finance violation
Flyer 1
Flyer 2: Side A & Side B
Posted: October 31st, 2008 under Press Releases.
Tags: accountant, Amendment 47, Amendment 49, Amendment 54, banker, Boulder Daily Camera, collection agent, Coloradans for Middle Class Relief, Colorado Secretary of State, Colorado Springs Gazette, Complaint, deception, Denver Post, electioneering, endorsements, Ethical Standards, flyers, good-government, government collection services, Grand Junction Sentinel, issue committee, Jon Caldara, lobby, Longmont Times-Call, Loveland Reporter-Herald, political organizations, Protect Colorado's Future, public services, Pueblo Chieftain, Reginald Perry, Rocky Mountain News, special interests, tax dollars, unethical, Wall Street Journal
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