By THE VOICE OF AURORA
The Aurora Sentinel
Published: Thursday, April 2, 2009 10:31 AM MDT
A proposed state measure that would help ensure that statewide petition signatures are authentic and rightfully collected needs to make it the governor’s desk for a prompt signing into law.For years, Colorado’s initiative system has been suspect as out-of-state interests have moved into Colorado to essentially buy their way onto the law books.These well-funded organizations have taken advantage of Colorado’s priority on ensuring access to petition the government isn’t limited by bureaucratic roadblocks. That goal still needs to be state lawmakers’ priority when addressing the problem, but it’s time to admit that Colorado has a problem here.The problem stems from allowing those trying to put an initiative on the ballot to use paid petition collectors. That the state allows professional collectors isn’t by itself a bad thing, but that there is so little regulation of those who collect signatures is a serious concern. A good example of why change is needed comes from the General Election last year. Paid circulators here in Aurora asked an employee of the Aurora Sentinel if he was interested in protecting civil rights, and if so, to sign a petition to put an issue before voters. The collector failed to mention that signing the petition would help put a question on the ballot that ended affirmative action programs in the Colorado, hardly a working definition of civil rights.Past investigations have shown that huge numbers of signatures for past questions have been collected under questionable or downright illegal circumstances.
Full Editorial: http://www.aurorasentinel.com/articles/2009/04/02/opinion/editorials/doc49d4e84f98948030345507.txt
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