Today marks the end of the 2nd quarter, and candidates for political office are scrambling to bring in last minute cash to pump up their July campaign finance reports. Among them is Tom Lucero, a CU Regent and one of two announced GOP contenders in the 4th congressional district. In an e-mail sent at 4:30 this afternoon, Lucero is getting aggressive with his fundraising, albeit a little late in the day.
COLORADO'S FRONTPAGE
Face the State
Content Index: campaign finance
Follow this topic by RSSLucero's $700/hr sprint to midnight
June 30, 2009OpenSecrets launches Facebook application
June 22, 2009At Face The State we're big fans of databases, government primary documents and open records. One of the best sources for information on political contributions and campaign finance is OpenSecrets.org, the nonpartisan online guide that tracks money’s influence on U.S. elections and public policy. Recently, the site launched a Facebook application that allows users to view top donors and donations to their U.S. Senators and Representatives, targeted by zip code.
McInnis ramps up, but can't raise or spend money without committee
June 10, 2009Last month, Former Congressman Scott McInnis quietly filed paperwork declaring himself a candidate for Colorado Governor in 2010. Despite filing, McInnis has not set up a campaign committee with state elections officials nor created a Web site, two tasks normally a priority for new candidates. Without a committee, McInnis is prohibited under state law from accepting contributions or spending money to promote his bid for office.
Political cartoon for 5/31: Bennet's out-of-state dough
Face The State Humor
May 31, 2009
A Denver Post analysis of U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet's first quarter fundraising shows less than half of his donations came from Colorado. Face The State cartoonist Milton asks, who needs in-state support when New York and California can deliver the goods?
Buescher v. 'Ethics Watch'
A Face the State Staff Report
May 20, 2009
In its latest attack on a Republican candidate, liberal watchdog group Colorado Ethics Watch is calling on Secretary of State Bernie Buescher to launch an immediate investigation into one candidate's purported violations. The move is raising questions about what the role of the secretary should be when it comes to dealing with such allegations.
Ritter's latest fundraising blunder
A Face the State Staff Report
May 13, 2009
Face The State has obtained an invitation to a May fundraiser in support of Gov. Bill Ritter's 2010 re-election bid. Due to the event's timing, Ritter could be in violation of state campaign finance law.
Rice to stash some cash before shipping off
May 12, 2009You would think most members of the military preparing to ship out for active duty would spend their final night or two relaxing with family or packing a bag. But not state Rep. Joe Rice, an Army colonel headed for Iraq this week.
Has Pommer broken another law?
A Face the State Staff Report
April 22, 2009State Rep. Jack Pommer's campaign finance woes continue to pile up. After forking over $15,000 last month to partially cover fines incurred over delinquent campaign finance filings, his latest campaign finance report is becoming a source of additional trouble.
Update: Rep. Pommer files late again, accepts more than $5,000 in questionable contributions
A Face the State Staff Report
April 17, 2009Despite paying the state $15,000 for fines related to delinquent campaign finance filings just last week, Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, has since filed another late report. The latest document is raising eyebrows because it contains more than $5,000 in lobbyist contributions that may be illegal.
Reading the tea leaves in CD4 money chase
April 16, 2009
Incumbency has its advantages.
In the already heated race to oust Rep. Betsy Markey in Colorado's 4th Congressional District, Republicans are trailing far behind the freshman incumbent Democrat by six figures.
Kennedy campaign gearing up for 2010
April 16, 2009
Need a job? The Cary Kennedy for Treasurer Campaign is hiring!
RBI Strategies, the political consulting firm managing Kennedy’s campaign, is looking to fill an entry-level finance coordinator position. Basically, the campaign is looking for someone to help raise funds for Kennedy's re-election. Let’s just hope whoever they hire knows Colorado election law better than Kennedy’s campaign advisor Tyler Chaffee, who recently sent out a campaign invitation that landed his boss in hot water.
Pommer pays up
April 9, 2009Hours after a Face the State report exposed Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, for owing close to $20,000 to the state for fines relating to delinquent campaign finance reports, he appeared in the Secretary of State's office, check in hand and ready to settle.
3/19: Big money flips Colorado red to blue
Finally, some light on the shadowy organization that helped turn Colorado a solid shade of blue.
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Political cartoon for 3/10: Markey's motivation
Face The State Humor
March 10, 2009
U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey recently signed on as a co-sponsor of federal "card check" legislation that would do away with a federal requirement for a secret ballot in workplace unionization elections. Critics allege her actions aren't purely ideological, but practical: the Fort Collins Democrat collected nearly a quarter million dollars in campaign contributions from union interests in the 2008 election cycle.
Controversial Amendment 54 implementation now underway
A Face the State Staff Report
January 23, 2009The House State Affairs Committee will consider a bill next week that would establish funding for a state database of sole-source government contracts, as required through November's voter-approved Amendment 54.
12/12: Chantell Taylor set back in the courts
A liberal lawyer who targets Republicans is licking her wounds after a big loss. But that won’t stop the lawsuit mill at Colorado Ethics Watch.
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Obama campaign for change still seeking yours
November 12, 2008
After a sweeping victory last week, President-elect Barack Obama wasted no time pleading with supporters to help replenish Democrat campaign coffers.
Segment 4 - Denver Firefighters violate campaign finance law
Tom Lucero, CU Regent and campaign manager for Amendment 54, has filed a campaign finance complaint alleging violations by the Denver Firefighters small donor committee. He also discusses the Amendment's potential impact and the campaign's progress to date.
Play audio - 7:42 minutes
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Jon Caldara's socks now available on eBay
October 22, 2008
With his Amendment 49 campaign operating on a shoestring, Jon Caldara is hoping to turn a pair of socks into a stack of cash.
But these are no ordinary socks. Up for bid on eBay are the authentic sock puppet stars of Caldara’s recent video advertisement explaining how Amendment 49 works.
"The Buzz" on Newstalk 1310 KFKA, 10/20 - The SD 19 race, and big union money
October 20, 2008
Face The State managing editor Brad Jones visits with Newstalk 1310 KFKA's Amy Oliver. In the race for state Senate in Senate District 19, what are voters to make of recent revelations regarding the Democrat candidate's past? And what impact is a huge infusion of union money having there?
Are your tax dollars being used for politicking?
A Face the State Staff Report
October 6, 2008Using public money and resources to advocate for or against a ballot issue is strictly prohibited under state law, but that doesn't appear to be stopping a growing number of state agencies and political subdivisions, who are now defending against allegations that they misused tax dollars to promote pet political causes.
FTS Investigation: Did Jeffco Schools violate campaign law?
A Face the State Staff Report
October 6, 2008
A Face The State investigation has discovered the Jefferson County School District is teetering on a violation of Colorado's Fair Campaign Practices Act by using taxpayer money to print a letter warning parents of $35 million in budget reductions over the next three years.
Democracy Alliance memo details Dem plan to "educate the idiots" and target minorities
A Face the State Staff Report
October 1, 2008
In a confidential internal memorandum obtained by Face The State, the Colorado Democracy Alliance outlines a roster of "operatives" who worked for Democratic victory in the 2006 general election. The document outlines specific tasks for various members of the state's liberal infrastructure, including a campaign to "educate the idiots," assigned to the state's AFL-CIO union. Among the operation's intended targets: "minorities, GED's, drop-outs."
Day 2 of FTS Investigation: Dem Heavy Hitters Play Key Role in Secret Documents
A Face the State Staff Report
September 30, 2008
This is the second in a week-long series making public for the first time internal documents from the Colorado Democracy Alliance, a secretive, high-level organization active in coordinating Democrat campaign activities. Today we examine the individuals involved in the operation and support of the Alliance.
9/19: Campaign 'reform' ushers in big money
Who’s really campaigning for your vote? The candidates on the ballot, or the shadowy groups bombarding your mailbox?
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9/9: Markey's about-face on campaign cash
Betsy Markey toes the line for Democrats, trashing “big oil.” But did she fund her campaign with – oh my – energy company profits?
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A post-primary campaign finance check-up
A Face the State Staff Report
September 8, 2008Since the August 12 primary, unions and third parties have stepped up involvement in Colorado's House and Senate races. Last month saw thousands of union dollars pour into Democrat coffers, translating into fancy mail pieces hitting suburban voting households multiple times each week.
"The Buzz" on Newstalk 1310 KFKA, 9/8 - Markey v. Musgrave, TABOR in the crosshairs
September 8, 2008Face The State managing editor Brad Jones talks with Newstalk 1310 KFKA's Amy Oliver about Rep. Marilyn Musgrave's new TV ad, opponent Betsy Markey's campaign finance hypocrisy, and state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff's effort to undo TABOR.
Political Cartoon for 9/5: Markey's campaign cash
Face The State Humor
September 5, 2008
Betsy Markey, a Democrat challenging incumbent Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, made a substantial contribution to her own campaign, despite declaring two weeks before not to spend any of her own money. A federal disclosure document suggests that the funds could have come from the sale of oil and gas stock. FTS cartoonist Milton imagines what a campaign fundraiser looks like.
Markey self-funds, despite a pledge not to
A Face the State Staff Report
September 3, 2008Congressional candidate Betsy Markey, a Democrat challenging incumbent Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, made a substantial contribution to her own campaign last year, despite declaring two weeks before not to spend any of her own money.
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7/3: Boulder food nannies
How about a cupcake for dessert? Not in Boulder!