News Releases

Colorado Ethics Watch Calls For IRS Investigation Into Campaign Activities Of American Future Fund, Colordans For Economic Growth, Freedom's Watch, and Western Skies Coalition

dstaggs — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:24:18 -0500

Today, Ethics Watch requested that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) launch an immediate investigation of four non-profit organizations: American Future Fund (AFF), Coloradans for Economic Growth (CEG), Freedom’s Watch, and Western Skies Coalition (WSC)

Colorado Ethics Watch Sues Senate Majority Fund LLC And Colorado Leadership Fund LLC For Skirting CampaignFinance Laws

dstaggs — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:25:58 -0500

Today, Ethics Watch filed a complaint with the Colorado Secretary of State against the Senate Majority Fund LLC (SMF) and the Colorado Leadership Fund LLC (CLF) asserting that SMF and CLF sponsored political ads that expressly advocate in favor of particular candidates in violation of state laws.

Ethics Watch Files Suit Against Three Lawmakers to Force Release Of Documents Related To Amendment 52

ltoro — Tue, 9 Sep 2008 13:42:13 -0500

Colorado Ethics Watch has asked the Denver District Court to force State Senator Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, State Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, and State Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, to comply with an open-records request seeking documents and communications regarding two proposed oil and gas severance tax initiatives, including Amendment 52.

Ethics Watch Calls On HD 64 Candidate Ken Torres To Immediately Return Unlawful Contributions, Resolve Campaign Finance Delinquencies

dstaggs — Mon, 4 Aug 2008 15:24:29 -0500

Ethics Watch calls on Commissioner Torres to immediately return the unlawful contribution from Las Animas County Republican Women's Club, which patently exceeds the $400 contribution limit, and immediately rectify his many other filing delinquencies.

Ethics Watch Complaint Forces Senate Majority Fund To Disclose Nearly $100,000 On Political Ads and Activities

dstaggs — Mon, 4 Aug 2008 12:05:01 -0500

The day after Ethics Watch filed a complaint with the Colorado Secretary of State against the Senate Majority Fund LLC (SMF), SMJ adjusted its reports to disclose nearly $100,000 in spending on political ads and mailings.

Colorado Ethics Watch Sues Senate Majority Fund For Violating Campaign Finance Laws

dstaggs — Fri, 1 Aug 2008 09:51:03 -0500

Ethics Watch, today filed a complaint with the Colorado Secretary of State against the Senate Majority Fund LLC, a political organization registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Colorado Secretary of State as a 527, for failure to report thousands of dollars in campaign spending.

Ethics Watch Testifies To Independent Ethics Commission

dstaggs — Mon, 7 Jul 2008 12:57:46 -0500

Ethics Watch testified today to the Independent Ethics Commission ("IEC") regarding the IEC's proposed rules.

Colorado Ethics Watch Files Petition to Bring Denver District Attorney to Court

dstaggs — Mon, 2 Jun 2008 11:06:35 -0500

Ethics Watch petitions to force DA Morrissey to explain refusal to prosecute Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany

Appeals Court Upholds Precedent-Setting Colorado Ethics Watch Case, Providing for Greater Transparency in Campaign Finance Spending

dstaggs — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:36:09 -0500

Today, the Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed a precedent-setting ruling that promotes greater transparency in campaign finance spending by affirming that political committees are liable for skirting the law.

Attorney General Misleads Independent Ethics Commission in Perceived Power Grab

ltoro — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:14:31 -0500

When voters approved Amendment 41, they created an ethics commission that is required to be independent from the officials it polices. The Colorado Supreme Court has interpreted this voter mandate to mean that, unlike other state boards and commissions, the Independent Ethics Commission must be “separate and distinct” from both the executive and legislative branches. As a member of the executive branch, the attorney general’s representation of the IEC would nullify that independence.

Ethics Watch Releases First Annual Corruption Report

dstaggs — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:21:22 -0500

Colorado Ethics Watch, a nonpartisan, nonprofit legal watchdog group, today released a new report entitled Ethics Roundup: Colorado’s Most Corrupt Public Officials, profiling 11 of Colorado’s most unethical public officials.

Ethics Watch Statement On The Campaign Finance Violations By Governor Ritter’s Campaign

dstaggs — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:17:02 -0500

The fact that Governor Ritter did the right thing by proactively investigating the misuse of his campaign funds does not abrogate the need for a formal investigation. The question left open is who will handle the matter?

CO Ethics Watch Urges Criminal Investigation of Beauprez for False Ads

admin — Mon, 7 Apr 2008 19:00:01 -0500

Ethics Watch called on Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey to launch an immediate investigation of former gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez.

Colorado Ethics Watch Finds That Secretary of State Mike Coffman is Using Taxpayer Time to Fundraise for Congressional Campaign

admin — Wed, 2 Apr 2008 19:00:01 -0500

Colorado Ethics Watch has identified significant blocks of time on the official calendar of Secretary of State Mike Coffman that were either used for meetings with potential funders of his congressional campaign, or are unaccounted for as private appointments and meetings.

Colorado Ethics Watch applauds the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission

admin — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:00:01 -0500

Today, the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission announced its nomination of the fifth and final member, Larry Lasha. Chantell Taylor, director of Colorado Ethics Watch, issued the following statement in response:

Colorado Ethics Watch Expands, Adds Legal Expertise

admin — Mon, 3 Mar 2008 18:00:01 -0600

Colorado Ethics Watch (Ethics Watch), a non-partisan, non-profit legal watchdog group, has hired three new staff members to help the organization target corruption in state and local government.

Ethics Watch: Supreme Court Decision Reinforces Need For Immediate Action By Independent Ethics Commission

admin — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:00:01 -0600

Ethics Watch releases statement in response to Supreme Court opinion overturning injuction on Amendment 41.

Ethics Watch Files Complaint With Independent Ethics Commission

admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:00:01 -0600

Today, Colorado Ethics Watch (Ethics Watch) filed a complaint with the Independent Ethics Commission asking it to penalize Secretary of State Mike Coffman for his continued egregious pattern of misconduct. This is the first complaint filed with the Independent Ethics Commission since it was approved by voters in November 2006.

Ethics Watch Seeks Transparency in Benson CU Presidential Search

admin — Thu, 7 Feb 2008 18:00:01 -0600

In light of recent controversy surrounding the selection of Bruce Benson as the sole finalist for the CU presidency, Colorado Ethics Watch issued several open records requests to the CU Presidential Search Committee (PSC) and the CU Board of Regents, including a request to inspect PSC executive session records, in an effort to make the selection process more transparent.

Colorado Ethics Watch Appeals Broomfield Campaign Finance Decision

admin — Tue, 5 Feb 2008 18:00:01 -0600

Today, Colorado Ethics Watch (Ethics Watch), a non-partisan, non-profit legal watchdog group, filed an appeal with the Colorado Court of Appeals challenging a recent decision with statewide implications.