The big money has started to come out in Colorado’s brewing ballot-initiative battles.
Two groups have reported raising more than $3 million apiece in June for their respective campaigns from deep-pockets companies.
Coloradans for a Stable Economy, which is fighting a proposed initiative to effectively raise taxes on the oil and gas industry, reported receiving $3.6 million in just five donations. All of the money comes from energy companies, with heavyweights Chevron and EnCana Corp. each shelling out $1 million.
Meanwhile, Coloradans for Sensible Solutions, which is backing an initiative to raise the maximum bet at Colorado casinos to $100, reported raising about $3.1 million. Most of that comes from various casinos, with Black Hawk’s Isle of Capri Casino contributing $1.5 million. John Ingold, The Denver Post
