Bill would require corporations, unions to report spending intended to sway elections

By Tim Hoover
The Denver Post
04/27/2010
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14964728

In the wake of court decisions allowing unions and corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money directly advocating the election of candidates, two Democratic state lawmakers are pushing a bill they said would at least show who is writing the checks.

Sen. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, and House Majority Leader Paul Weissmann, D-Louisville, say that if current law isn't changed, no one will know where the money comes from and foreign corporations could use their money to influence Colorado elections.

"If we do nothing, we will have literally an unlimited amount of corporate and labor union spending" without disclosure, Carroll said.

"What Coloradans deserve to know is, 'Who's paying?' " Weissmann said.

Republicans said they were open to reporting requirements but warned Democrats not to politicize the effort in the waning days of the session, which ends May 12. GOP lawmakers already have cried fowl over a bill Weissmann sponsored that would alter criteria for how courts should determine whether congressional redistricting plans are legal.

"If it's about transparency, Paul and Morgan will find a great deal of bipartisan support," said Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch. "If this is one more of a series of bills aimed at tilting the election in favor of the Democrats, it's going to be a long end of session."

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in January that a federal law barring corporations and unions from making independent expenditures advocating the election of a candidate was unconstitutional. Corporations and unions are still prohibited from making direct contributions to a candidate's campaign.

In March, the Colorado Supreme Court followed the federal decision by voiding a state law that barred corporations and unions from directly advocating for the election or defeat of a candidate.

Under the bill, corporations and unions would have to report any independent expenditures to advocate for a candidate's election or defeat that exceed $1,000.

Meanwhile, campaign ads would have to carry a disclaimer noting who paid for the message.

The bill would close what Carroll and Weissmann said is a loophole that would allow foreign companies to make independent expenditures.

Carroll said the bill would take effect before the August primaries.

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