The state Republican Party on Monday asked a group of House Democrats to provide records on $83,000 in contributions to their office accounts.
GOP chairman Bob Martinez filed public- information requests asking 11 lawmakers to turn over any documentation they have regarding donations made by a group called Research and Democracy.
The group paid for mailings sent to the constituents of Democratic lawmakers, most of whom are expected to face organized Republican opposition in November’s elections.
Martinez made note of several wealthy Democratic donors.
“It is well known that … financiers Tim Gill, Jared Polis and Pat Stryker are the ‘Puppet Masters’ behind the Democrats in the state legislature,” Martinez said in a statement. “All citizens should be concerned about the implication that these three rich tycoons are trying to buy votes and steer the legislature to vote based solely on their liberal social agenda.”
House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D- Boulder, dismissed the Republican call for records. She said the records request is too broad to reply to and is based on a groundless accusation.
“We weren’t even sure if anyone should disclose these, but we erred on the side of disclosure, and now we’re getting into trouble for it,” Madden said. “These accusations would be a little more credible if they were brought by a party that had fought for better campaign-finance disclosure.”
Al Yates, a spokesman for Stryker, said, “I don’t have any comments about the organization.”
He referred questions about Research and Democracy to the Democratic Party. He would not say that he was unfamiliar with the group, and he didn’t answer questions about whether Stryker was involved in, affiliated with or associated with the group.
Pat Waak, state Democratic Party chairwoman, said she has not heard of the organization.
Republicans requested information from Democratic Reps. Judith Solano of Brighton, Gwyn Green of Golden, Debbie Benefield of Arvada, Michael Merrifield of Manitou Springs, Bernie Buescher of Grand Junction, Wes McKinley of Walsh, Buffie McFadyen of Pueblo West, Jim Riesberg of Greeley, Morgan Carroll of Aurora, Mary Hodge of Brighton, and Madden.
Staff writer Chris Frates can be reached at cfrates@denverpost.com or 303-820-1633.
