The Colorado Independent

Monday, May 28th, 2012

Posts Tagged Colorado Common Cause

Controversial Colorado Open Records bill draws calls for veto

By | 05.17.12 | 1:30 pm

The bill was never really debated in the Senate where it was introduced, then it was tacked on to a House bill amid the blizzard of activity that marked the last days of the Colorado legislative session. Government watchdog and elections groups on the right and left are now asking Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto it, arguing the bill would deny citizens the right to inspect voter ballots and “gut” the state’s Open Records Act.

Colorado GOP donors fly below the radar with maze of 527 committees

By | 04.23.12 | 10:27 am

In Colorado, organizing, infrastructure and fundraising within the Democratic Party and progressive organizations are the stuff of legend. The story of how liberal mega-millionaires and single-minded cooperation on the left turned this formerly solid red state to purple and blue have been told and retold for years. The story of coordination among conservatives groups, however, and the way millions of dollars each election cycle slosh to candidates and causes on the right has received relatively scant attention.

Colorado county clerks baffled by Gessler ‘non-citizen voter registration’ claims

By | 03.08.12 | 8:15 am

“I really have no idea what he is talking about,” Republican Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Sheila Reiner told the Colorado Independent.

DeGette rallies state civil rights activists to spotlight, counteract new GOP voter laws

By | 12.12.11 | 10:56 am

DENVER– Colorado Democratic Congresswoman Diana DeGette and representatives of the state’s top civil rights organizations this weekend railed against efforts by Republican lawmakers and officials around the country to recast voter rules. Flooded with pale mountain sun on the west steps of the capitol, the speakers took turns detailing ways new registration and voting requirements and restrictions will make it more difficult for millions of Americans to cast ballots in presidential election year 2012.

Gessler rule slapped down by judge in campaign finance case

By | 11.17.11 | 3:24 pm

Denver District Court Judge Bruce Jones ruled Thursday (pdf) that Secretary of State Scott Gessler overreached last summer when, through rulemaking, he raised constitutionally established donation disclosure limits for issue committees in the state. Judge Jones signaled during arguments that he believed Gessler had taken it onto himself to amend the Colorado Constitution, an absurd stretch for a non-lawmaking official such as the secretary of state. Gessler said he is determined to appeal the decision. He dismissed Jones’s arguments as mere grandstanding for the press.

(Image: Flickr/John Dalkin)

Power to the people, say the people

By | 06.20.11 | 6:36 am

Despite the demise of a bill to increase the percentage of votes needed to pass a voter initiated constitutional amendment in the Legislature this year, grassroots advocates recently voiced their opposition to the move they see as part of a trend by legislators to limit the power of the people.

Deputy Secretary of State William Hobbs chairs a rulemaking hearing Tuesday (Kersgaard)

Secretary of State Gessler proposes rule requiring less frequent disclosure

By | 06.14.11 | 4:56 pm

At a hearing today, The Colorado Secretary of State’s office proposed a rule change that would result in the need for less frequent reporting of campaign contributions and expenditures.

Colorado secretary of state Scott Gessler

Complaint filed against SOS Scott Gessler

By | 06.10.11 | 3:39 pm

Colorado Common Cause and Colorado Ethics Watch on Thursday filed a complaint in Denver District Court against Secretary of State Scott Gessler that claims Gessler unlawfully weakened Colorado campaign finance laws through the Secretary of State’s rulemaking process.

Sec of State Gessler lands on legislative ‘loser’ lists for voter ID debacle

By | 05.12.11 | 4:10 pm

As the architect and main lobbyist for a failed voter ID bill, Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler is landing on “losers” lists for the just-wrapped 2011 state legislative session. He ranked number five loser on the lefty activist ProgressNow list brought out last week and this morning rated a photo and a brief write up in the Denver Post legislative losers column.

Video: Capitol press “April foolsed”

By | 04.01.11 | 11:35 am

Journalists showed up to an 8:30 a.m. press conference today where the identity of #coleg Twitter jokster(s) YO! JBC RAPS was to be revealed. It was an April Fools’ joke.

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