On January 5, the Rocky Mountain News reported that two Republican state legislators -- Rep. Rob Witwer (Genesee) and Sen.-elect Joshua Penry (Fruita) -- asked Democratic leaders to form a legislative committee that would draft a bill to curb the influence of so-called 527 political groups on Colorado elections. But the article, by reporter April M. Washington, neglected to note that Democratic state Rep. Morgan Carroll (Aurora) since November has been publicly discussing her own plan to introduce 527 reform legislation in 2007.

So-called 527 groups are tax-exempt political organizations that can receive unlimited contributions for political activities such as voter mobilization and issue advocacy. As the News article noted, “In the 2006 election, 14 527 committees in Colorado spent more than $17 million to influence races for statewide office and the state legislature.”

The News reported, “Two Republican state lawmakers want to rein in independent political groups known as 527s, complaining they operate in the shadows and make candidates bit players in their own elections. Rep. Rob Witwer, R-Genessee [sic], and Sen.-elect Josh Penry, R-Fruita, wrote to Democratic leaders, asking them to create a committee in the upcoming legislative session to draft a bill aimed at 527s.”

The article also stated that, according to House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D-Denver), House Democrats “have formed a special committee on elections, and it will likely take up campaign finance reform.”

However, the article did not mention Rep. Carroll's announced plan to introduce 527 reform legislation in 2007, even though a December 9 News article reported that “a sampling of measures expected to be introduced in the legislature in 2007” included a bill that "[i]ncreases transparency for so-called 527 political committees responsible for attack ads, [introduced] by Carroll."

Furthermore, on November 24, KUSA 9News reported (video) that Carroll “will introduce legislation in January to require the '527s' to report their beneficiaries every month, rather than each quarter as currently required by federal law.”

The weblog Colorado Confidential also reported on December 9 that Carroll “will introduce legislation to close a campaign finance loophole exploited by 527 political committees,” and quoted from a press release by Carroll:

This straightforward, direct solution will require 527s operating in Colorado to disclose sources of contributions, expenses, and contact information to the Secretary of State, just as is now required for all other candidate committees and political committees.

“The public will be able to identify the sources of the very worst attack ads and mailings and hold those behind them accountable,” Rep. Carroll asserts. “Ending the ability of 527s and their supporters to be shielded from such obviously-needed disclosures will bring all these groups that have most abused the public in the recent campaign under state control.”

Additionally, The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction reported on December 17 that “Rep. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, said she and Sen.-elect Josh Penry, R-Fruita, have started to discuss a series of campaign finance reforms for the 2007 and 2008 sessions intended to reign in the largely unregulated 527 political committees.”

From the January 5 News article, “Lawmakers set sights on 527s,” by April M. Washington:

Two Republican state lawmakers want to rein in independent political groups known as 527s, complaining they operate in the shadows and make candidates bit players in their own elections.

Rep. Rob Witwer, R-Genessee, and Sen.-elect Josh Penry, R-Fruita, wrote to Democratic leaders, asking them to create a committee in the upcoming legislative session to draft a bill aimed at 527s.

“The last election had a proliferation of covert spending by 527 groups. We need to take a hard look at campaign finance,” Witwer said.

“The system is broken, and we need to get rid of unaccountable spending that's hurting good people,” he said.

Democratic and Republican 527 groups in Colorado raised more than $17 million for the November elections, according to a Rocky Mountain News analysis.

As a result, voters were besieged by mostly negative advertising created by 527 committees outside the control of the candidates.

House Speaker Andrew Romanoff said he had not seen the Penry and Witwer letter Thursday.

But Democrats, who control the Statehouse, have formed a special committee on elections, and it will likely take up campaign finance reform, said Romanoff, D-Denver.