Amendment 49 Endorsements
Elected Officials
“Government shouldn’t be the bagman for special interests. Amendment 49 stops government from bundling and funneling money to special interests and their lobbyists through our payroll system.” - Former U.S. Senator Hank Brown
“The people of Colorado have a common-sense view that their government should focus on essential services. Amendment 49 on this year’s ballot protects and promotes that point of view.” - Former Governor Bill Owens
“Yes on 49 to keep government neutral in partisan politics.” - Former State Senate President John Andrews
“Groups from the National Rifle Association to the Sierra Club rely on voluntary contributions, so why can’t labor unions and other special interests?” - Former State Treasurer Mark Hillman
Former Congressman Bob Beauprez
Former State Senator Dave Owen
Arapahoe County Commissioner Rod Bockenfeld
Arapahoe County Commissioner Susan Beckman
Centennial City Councilperson Sue Bosier
El Paso County Commissioner Wayne Williams
El Paso County Commissioner Dennis Hisey
Colorado Springs City Councilman Darryl Glenn
Mesa County Commissioner Janet Rowland
Montrose County Commissioner Gary Ellis
State Board of Education member Peggy Littleton
State Senator Nancy Spence
State Senator Greg Brophy
State Senator Bill Cadman
State Senator Scott Renfroe
State Representative Cory Gardner
State Representative Amy Stephens
State Representative Jim Kerr
State Representative Steve King
State Representative Larry Liston
State Representative Kevin Lundberg
State Representative Frank McNulty
State Representative Jerry Sonnenberg
Teller County Commissioner James Ignatius
Town of Winter Park Mayor James Myers
Weld County Commissioner Bill Jerke
Weld County Sheriff John Cooke
Ed Phillipsen-Greeley Mayor Pro Tem
Media outlets
“Amendment 49 faces a difficult fight, in part because business interests agreed to spend $3 million to help defeat it in return for unions withdrawing four destructive ballot measures. Opponents are outspending supporters by something like 10 to 1. But it’s a tribute to the basic justice of the initiative that it still has a chance to pass. Colorado workers should hope it does.” - Wall Street Journal
“…Amendment 49 will stop the blatant conflict of interest that now allows politicians to collect dues that are used to elect and re-elect those very same politicians. Vote ‘yes’ on Amendment 49.” - Denver Post
“A number of jurisdictions - including Arapahoe and Douglas counties - have already enacted a local version of Amendment 49. A yes vote would extend this basic provision of fairness throughout Colorado.” - Rocky Mountain News
“The Camera supports a ‘yes’ vote on 49….” - Boulder Daily Camera
“We hope Colorado voters spread the word and pass the [Ethical Standards] Amendment in November. It’s just plain fairness and common sense for all.” - Colorado Springs Gazette
“Amendment 49 is an outstanding proposal that would restore the rights of government employees to control more of their own earnings….” - Colorado Springs Gazette
“‘The government shouldn’t be bookkeeper, accountant and collection agency’ for these groups….We agree, which is why we urge readers to vote ‘Yes’ on Amendment 49.” - Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
“Amendment 49 on this year’s ballot is a straightforward proposition. Vote YES for Amendment 49.” - Pueblo Chieftain
“Voters should cast their ballots in favor of Amendment 49….” - Longmont Times-Call
“The accounting system of the government shouldn’t be used to send money to unions or special interests that use the funds to influence campaigns. Plain and simple.” - Loveland Reporter-Herald
“Passage of 49 helps avoid conflict questions and gives employees choices in their paycheck deductions.” - Salida Mountain Mail
“Vote YES on Amendment 49.” - Jefferson County Mile High Newspapers
Organizations
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Action 22 Business Sub-committee
Alliance for Worker Freedom
Americans for Prosperity
Association of Builders and Contractors
Colorado Contractors Association
Colorado Farm Bureau
Colorado Health Care Association
Colorado Home Builders Association
Colorado Realtors Association Issue Committee
Colorado Republican Business Coalition
Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce
Colorado Springs Homebuilders Association
Colorado Union of Taxpayers
Douglas County Business Alliance
Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce
Greeley Chamber of Commerce
Libertarian Party of Colorado
Loveland Chamber of Commerce
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
National Taxpayers Union
Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation
Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance
Pikes Peak Association of Realtors
Rocky Mountain Family Council
Southeast Business Partnership
Community Leaders
“Government shouldn’t be dues collectors for labor unions and special interests.” - Mike Rosen, 850 KOA Radio Host
“Government needs to get its hands out of its employees’ pockets and let unions and other special-interest groups do their own collections….Amendment 49 deserves our support.” - Kathleen LeCrone, Centennial (Rocky Mountain News, October 21)
“This common-sense idea simply tells government to get out of the business of raising money for political special interests…” - Lynda Ryan, Colorado Springs
“The Ethical Standards initiative, Amendment 49, would prevent government payroll systems from collecting and bundling money to special interest groups that hire lobbyists and make campaign contributions….Government employees deserve the freedom to work without political pressure.” - Jim Eckersley, Greeley
“Although Amendment 49 will not completely unravel the special status that labor unions enjoy in Colorado campaign finance law, voting ‘yes’ on this amendment will be a step towards fully establishing fairness in our elections.” - Athena Dalton, Denver
“Amendment 49 prohibits our government payroll systems from being used to collect funds for private organizations (including union dues)….there is no reason for the taxpayers of Colorado to foot the bill as a collection agency for private entities.” - Steve Collins, Breckenridge
“Amendment 49 will clean up government, so they can pay attention to providing the services that matter to taxpayers like us….This is the kind of issue that average citizens can rally behind, even though the special interests are sure to fight it hard to keep their sweet deal going.” - Alan Farina, Clifton
“Most of Colorado’s 3,000 governments have no policy to stop the whole scheme. Because the politicians are all subject to the possible conflict of interest, it’s up to the people to amend the Constitution and fix the mess. Vote yes on Amendment 49.” - BJ Nikkel, Loveland
“I can see why the groups that have manipulated government for the special perks would fight Amendment 49. But the rest of us ought to demand that the government stays neutral and that everyone gets fair treatment.” - Shirley Seitz, Lakewood
“Amendment 49 reminds legislators and Governor Ritter that they have a duty to first represent the taxpayers, not unions. That’s a good thing.” - Jon Nicholas, Estes Park Trail
“Delta County and Montrose County both adopted ethical standards earlier this year. We have helped to set the stage for the whole state to get behind this commonsense policy and make sure our elected officials are focused on vital services to taxpayers, not on collections and bookkeeping for special interests and lobbyists.” - Linda Sorenson, Delta
“The ‘Ethical Standards’ initiative ends the shenanigans that transfer money through the public payroll system to labor unions, professional organizations and political action committees…. These groups can play on an even field with everyone else and ask for their funds directly. Get government out of the ‘bagman’ business.” - Amy Cooke, Greeley
“Amendment 49 would prohibit governments from automatically deducting union dues from employees’ paychecks. (Yes. Government shouldn’t be the bag-man for unions.)” - Andrew Boucher, Fort Collins
“Amendment 49’s reforms are working in 12 Colorado counties. With 49, the people can make one statewide standard, an Ethical Standard. Yes, we can!” - Paul Branum, Greeley
Former Arapahoe County Republican Chair Bo And Lynne Cotrell