In his Sunday column, Denver Post editor Dan Haley discussed "cloak-and-dagger" Democrats:The once-stealth cadre, united under the name Colorado Democracy Alliance, has not only heavily influenced state politics, it's become a model Democrats want to replicate nationally. Nothing they're doing is illegal, or at least it doesn't appear to be, but it has changed politics and policy-making in Colorado for years to come. Republicans last week could only stand by, slack-jawed and jealous. It was the type of operation they figured Democrats had. Only bigger. Politically speaking, the operation is genius, as it funnels money from wealthy donors — sometimes tax-free — to push political causes. But, ultimately, all of this skirting of … [Read more...]
Despite Ambiguities, Plan to Clean Up No-Bid Contracts Merits Support
The Rocky Mountain News reports about another citizens' initiative that may be on its way for Colorado voters to decide this November:Backers of a proposal to bar no-bid government contractors from contributing to political candidates submitted more than 125,000 signatures to the state Wednesday.... Colorado state government granted more than $386 million in contracts without taking competitive bids over the past year, said Tom Lucero, campaign chairman of Clean Government Colorado. This practice drives up the price of services, and current law that lets these contractors pad the campaign accounts of officials who may award the contracts creates tremendous cynicism among voters, said Lucero, a University of Colorado regent. Like … [Read more...]