DENVER—A Denver District judge ruled that Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler overstepped his authority by raising the financial disclosure threshold for political groups from $200 to $5,000.
Judge A. Bruce Jones said Thursday that Gessler “went beyond his authority” in changing the $200 limit that voters put in the Colorado Constitution in 2002.
Gessler says he will appeal. He argues that his aim is to bring state campaign-finance laws in line with a recent federal appeals court ruling. He says the Jones’ decision will add concussion to a complex process.
Colorado Comon Cause and Ethics Watch sued Gessler after he made the change in May. They argued that raising the threshold would make it easier for political groups to avoid disclosing financial interests for ballot initiatives.
