Ethics Watch and Other Groups Call on Governor to Veto Bill to Weaken CORA Access to Ballots
On May 16, 2012, several members of the Colorado Lawyers Committee Election Law Task Force, along with Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch and ACLU of Colorado, submitted a memorandum to Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, calling on him to veto House Bill 12-1036. Originally a bill to clarify provisions of the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) regarding investigative files, the bill was amended on the last day of the session to include the former Senate Bill 10-155 regarding public access to voted ballots under CORA. The groups believe that the bill unacceptably contradicts CORA's purpose of providing access to public documents by "any person" by creating a favored class of "interested parties" who would obtain greater access to these public records than the general public.
Click here to read the veto request.
Click here to read the Denver Post editorial calling on the governor to veto HB 12-1036.
In the News
June 13, 2013
Panel: Gessler violated ethics rules over spending
Associated Press (Ivan Moreno) Republican Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler, a potential gubernatorial contender, was admonished Thursday by an ethics panel over spending office funds to attend political events, a black eye to his candidacy before it’s officially launched. Read More ›
June 13, 2013
Panel: Secretary of State Scott Gessler violated ethics rules over spending
TheDenverChannel.com (Associated Press) Colorado Republican Secretary of State Scott Gessler has been admonished by an ethics panel over spending office funds to attend a GOP conference during the party's national convention in Florida last year. Read More ›
Legal Filings
June 13, 2013
Ethics Commission To Fine Gessler For Misuse Of State Funds
Today, the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission unanimously determined that Scott Gessler violated ethics standards when he used state… Read More
June 04, 2013
D.C. Circuit Vacancy Crisis Closer to Resolution
Ethics Watch urges the Senate to allow nominees to receive an up-or-down vote in the full Senate as… Read More