Campaign finance rule returns to court today

Dennis accused of extending what judges had tossed

Ann Imse, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 4, 2006 at midnight

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Secretary of State Gigi Dennis was accused Tuesday of trying to extend a campaign finance rule that was slapped down by the state Court of Appeals just last week.

But her deputy, Bill Hobbs, denied that is the goal of the proposed rule changes that go to a hearing at 1 p.m. today at the Secretary of State's office.

Last week, the appeals court said Dennis overstepped her authority in requiring unions and other membership organizations to get their members' approval to make political contributions to small-donor committees.

However, the issue remains in contention. Dennis says the court ruling applies only to two unions that sued the secretary of state, and the plaintiffs say it applies to everyone.

On Tuesday, plaintiffs' attorney Mark Grueskin said the proposed rules to be considered today include one that extends the requirement for written permission to anyone who contributes to small-donor committees. Many of these committees are set up solely for the purpose of collecting small contributions to political causes.

But Hobbs said the rule was not meant to be taken that way and may need to be changed.

Another rule up for consideration today would allow the Independence Institute to fund political campaigns without disclosing contributors, as it did when opposing Referendum C last year.

Hobbs said the rules on "multipurpose issue committees" are aimed at organizations like the Independence Institute, which have multiple functions besides campaigning.

The rules would allow them to fund ballot issue campaigns from non-earmarked contributions without disclosing the contributors. But contributions designated for a ballot issue campaign would have to be disclosed.

imsea@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5438

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