Campaign Finance Bill Advances Through Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee

January 30, 2019

January 30, 2019 Denver, CO - The Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee today advanced SB19-068, Expand Disclosure Electioneering Communications, a bill which would require expanded disclosure of funding behind campaign communications. The bill passed out of committee on a 4-to-1 vote and now moves to the Senate floor for second reading.   “Creating more transparency in our campaign finance system is not a blue or a red idea,” said prime sponsor Sen. Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada). “This bill will require anyone who makes campaign communications to step out of the shadows and publicly stand by their words, and it will give voters the information they deserve to make informed decisions.”   For too long, wealthy outsiders have not only had an outsized ability to influence our political campaigns, but they’ve also been able to do it in secret. Coloradans deserve to know who is behind the messages they see before they head to the polls.   SB19-068 would require anyone spending more than $1000 per year on electioneering communications to publicly state -- on the communication itself -- the name of the person making it. It would also increase transparency and accountability in our elections by expanding the definition of “electioneering communications” to include any point between the primary and general election.   “I am proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move such important legislation forward,” said Sen. Zenzinger. “This bill will help strengthen democracy in Colorado.” For more information about SB19-068, visit https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-068.

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