Today, the Colorado League of Taxpayers admitted that it violated campaign finance laws by failing to file an electioneering communication report last fall.  The Aurora-based non-profit group confessed that it sent a mailer to citizens in Garfield County advocating against a candidate running for Board of County Commissioners.  Colorado Ethics Watch had filed a complaint with the Secretary of State’s office on February 20, 2008, asking that the Colorado League of Taxpayers be fined $50 per day for each day the report is delinquent, as allowed by law.

On or about September 19, 2008, the Colorado League of Taxpayers mailed to voters in Garfield County a mail piece advocating against the election of Steve Carter, a candidate for Garfield County Commissioner.  State law requires any organization advocating for or against a candidate for elected office, within 60 days before a general election, to file an electioneering communication report with the Colorado Secretary of State’s office or, in this case, with the Garfield County Clerk.  Despite its confession of wrongdoing, there is still no report on file at either office from the Colorado League of Taxpayers.  By failing to file a report by the September 29 deadline, the Colorado League of Taxpayers could be liable for fines of $50 per day for each day the report is delinquent.  As of today, the maximum possible penalty would be $9,750. An administrative law judge will determine the penalty amount after a hearing today in Denver.

Chantell Taylor, director of Colorado Ethics Watch, released the following statement in response:

“The Colorado League of Taxpayers flagrantly skirted the law and ignored legal requirements for transparency.  Disclosure laws are meaningless if not strictly enforced and we will continue to hold groups like the Colorado League of Taxpayers accountable for illegally hiding their political activities from public scrutiny.”

More information regarding this case can be found here.