The Independence Institute has violated Colorado campaign laws in its fight against a budget-reform measure on this fall’s ballot, according to a complaint filed Thursday with the secretary of state.
The backers of Referendums C and D accused the Independence Institute of funneling discounted staff time and out-of- state contributions into a campaign against the ballot measures.
“They have crossed the line, and they are trying to hide contributions,” said Katy Atkinson, spokeswoman for the Vote Yes on C&D campaign.
“If it quacks like an issue committee and it walks like an issue committee, it is an issue committee,” Atkinson said.
State campaign laws require groups that campaign on specific issues to disclose contributions and spending.
The institute has printed bumper stickers, sponsored radio ads and posted a website that claim the ballot measures are a tax increase.
But institute president Jon Caldara said it has not crossed any lines by telling the public that Referendum C is a tax hike.
“Our mission is to educate the public on free-market issues, and that is what we are doing,” Caldara said. “We never once tell anybody how to vote. We tell them what Referendum C is.”
On Nov. 1, voters will decide two measures: Referendum C, which allows the state to keep up to $3.6 billion that would otherwise be refunded under constitutional spending limits; and Referendum D, which allows the state to borrow more money.
The Independence Institute is a nonprofit based in Golden. Donors, who remain anonymous, can write off their donations as charitable tax deductions.
Caldara said the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, which has contributed $250,000 to the Vote Yes on C&D campaign, is hiding its donors.
“The laundry-machine sound you hear is the chamber bundling money,” Caldara said.
Don Bain, a lawyer for the chamber, said its donors are listed in the group’s annual report.
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-820-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
