The September 16th campaign finance reports are now out, and it would appear that Colorado Commits to Kids (that’s the group pushing the billion dollar tax increase) spent over one million dollars only to turn in a 54% signature validity rate for its petition to get on the ballot. The group had spent $777,000 with DC-based Fieldworks up until the September 16th filing, which revealed Commits spent another $280,000 on the mediocre effort.  For those who are math-challenged (we’re talking about you, Rep. Court), that’s $1,057,000 total.

As the Peak reported earlier this month, the Secretary of State reviewed a 5% random sample of the petition signatures and found just 56% of them were valid.  A line-by-line analysis found that just 54% were valid.  That’s $500,000 for invalid signatures.

That’s terrible, Curtis.  And, the proponents expect us to believe they will be responsible with the billion dollars per year that they hope to raise when they cannot even manage their own processes?

Then again, when flush with cash, who has to worry about minor details like being cost conscious?  The September 16th filing also revealed that the same special interest groups gave again to this effort.  By special interest, we’re talking about the following:

• Another $500,000 from the Piton Foundation (aka Gary Community Investment Fund), bringing its grand total to $700,000
• Another $250,000 from the union-backed Education Reform Now, bringing its grand total to $500,000
• Another $250,000 from Pat Stryker, who has given a total of $650,000

Interestingly, a new donor, Ken Gart, also has appeared on the filing.  Gart is the gentleman who hitched a ride on Hick’s state plane after he and his family donated thousands to Hick’s campaign, which led to an ethics complaint.

Ethics complaints, money spent willy-nillly, with all this cash, who has time for silly things like accountability and positive outcomes?  Oh wait.  But, isn’t that what this tax increase is supposed to be about?