Alarmed that so many conservatives managed to get elected to the Douglas County School Board because, Democrats in the state legislature are moving swiftly to enact restrictions on funding in future races.
Conservatives have progressives outnumbered there now by 4-3, and that kind of aggression can not stand!
So, Democrats on the House State Affairs Committee passed on a party line Tuesday a bill they say will prevent anyone who can raise money from people who have money from ever serving on a school board.
“Our election system should provide a level playing field so that every candidate has a shot, not just those with a handful of wealthy friends,” bill sponsor state Rep. Emily Sirota, a Denver Democrat, told the (committee).
The bill is supported by a veritable who’s who of leftist causes, including Common Cause, Clean Slate Now, League of Women Voters, and Education Reform Advocacy Now.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold also supports the campaign finance limits of $2,500 from individuals and so-called small donor committees to $25,000, so there’s another warning sign.
Oddly enough, standing in opposition of this bill and in solidarity with candidates who know donors with money is none other than Colorado’s favorite socialist Democrat, Tay Anderson.
Oh snap!
The Colorado Black Caucus of School Board Directors wasn’t consulted?
Now they know how Republicans feel.
Anderson is vice president of the Denver Public School Board and backed by the teachers’ union, so he really should have been aware the Supreme Court has already ruled such funding is one of those pesky First Amendment, free speech burdens.
The bill wouldn’t limit spending by independent expenditure committees, which are protected by the U.S. Supreme Court decision Citizens United. Independent expenditure committees may take unlimited donations and spend unlimited amounts, but they can’t give directly to candidates and aren’t supposed to coordinate with candidate campaigns.
Democrats apparently reached out to the teacher’s union before moving on campaign finance limited, but Big Labor has yet to weigh in.