Tag: Amendment 54

Today the state attorney general's office confirmed a report published this morning in The Colorado Independent that Attorney General John Suthers met with proponents of Amendment 54 -- the "clean government" constitutional amendment passed as a ballot initiative last November -- and that he agrees with them that the initiative does not unduly infringe upon expression.

In the months since voters passed Colorado's controversial Amendment 54 in November, and from the moment it passed into law on the last day of December, its expanding implications have slowly come into focus, spurring heated arguments for and against it. As a high-powered lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the amendment wends its way to court, detractors and supporters are pleading their cases in the court of public opinion, underlining the fact that the showdown over 54 is just the latest skirmish in a larger battle over the evolution in lawmaking away from legislatures and toward ballot initiatives.

First rule of political life: don't tick off the teachers and firefighters. A second lawsuit against a newly enacted "clean government" measure alleging seven constitutional and Colorado law violations has been filed by public employees and trade organizations representing Colorado educators and first responders.

A legal challenge to a controversial state constitutional amendment was filed today in Denver District Court on grounds that it violates federal free speech and due process rights.

Amendment 54, the “clean government” initiative targeting union supporters and their family members, looks likely to pass, sparking was could be another costly legal battle.

Colorado's gargantuan ballot includes more than 14 constitutional amendments and referenda even after four measures were withdrawn on Oct. 2 by proponents after a surprise alliance of labor and business interests joined forces to oppose three anti-union amendments that remain. The Colorado Independent is putting the press to the test — we're compiling newspaper endorsements, analyzing them and then tracking the persuasive talents of editorial boards statewide.

There are good robocalls and there are bad robocalls. And then there are robocalls that pretend not to be robocalls.

A campaign criticized for refusing to disclose its financial supporters recently purchased a series of television attack ads targeting "backroom deals for political insiders," the first of which assails a Democratic state senator for failing to disclose his financial ties to specific legislation.

The newest campaign finance reports are in and supporters of a measure targeting labor unions have reported another $405,000 in contributions, all of it coming from anonymous sources.

A so-called “clean government” initiative that would snuff out political contributions given by certain labor unions has a little-known clause targeting the immediate family members of union officials and supporters.