Today, Administrative Law Judge Robert N. Spencer imposed a fine of $7150 on the Colorado League of Taxpayers for its failure to report approximately $2,300 in spending on an electioneering communication targeting Garfield County Commissioner candidate Steve Carter in September 2008.  The fine represents a penalty of $50 for each day from September 29, 2008, the date the report should have been filed with the Garfield County Clerk, through February 20, 2009, the date Ethics Watch filed its complaint.   

On April 13, the League of Taxpayers filed a confession of judgment, admitting that it had not filed the requisite electioneering communication report.   The judge rejected League's argument at the April 15 hearing that the penalty should be reduced because the League was purportedly unsophisticated and had limited resources.  At the request of Ethics Watch, the judge took notice of the fact that the League had been fined for failing to file an electioneering communication report for a similar mailer sent to voters in Weld County, stating that the League "is not a stranger to this issue" because it had been fined in the Weld County case.

"Let this be a warning to outside groups that attempt to influence local elections in Colorado -- they too will be held accountable for violating campaign finance rules," said Ethics Watch Senior Counsel Luis Toro.  "We are pleased that the judge rejected the League of Taxpayers' attempts to excuse its flagrant disregard for Colorado law that requires transparency in campaign spending.  Ethics Watch will continue to hold accountable groups that attempt to illegally hide their spending from the public."

More information about Ethics Watch's complaint against the League of Taxpayers may be found here and here.