Lobbyists have banded together to voice their collective opposition to a ballot initiative seeking to eliminate the government's ability to use public payroll systems to transfer money directly to special interest groups. Well, maybe the site is satirical, but it's still dead on.
LobbyistsAgainst49.com
"Lobbyists Against [Amendment] 49" have set up a Web site to tell voters how hard it would be for lobbyists to get their fees from public workers if the measure passes. The Web site, lobbyistsagainst49.com, says lobbyists just want voters to know that they “are people just like you (only more influential and better dressed),” and what a “BIG favor” the government does by collecting dues from their clients who work for state and local governments.
The site was set up by an anonymous union adversary who pokes fun at the labor lobbyists and points out they clearly stand to profit most if Amendment 49 is defeated.
Amendment 49, billed as the Ethical Standards initiative, would restore an executive order signed by Gov. Bill Owens in 2001 that ended the practice of the government collecting union dues for free. Currently, unions take a significant portion of the freely collected membership dues and use them to finance political advocacy and pay lobbying fees. The Amendment would expand this policy to all levels of government. Gov. Bill Ritter repealed the order soon after taking office in 2007.
Amendment 49 is one of three ballot measures targeted by Protect Colorado’s Future, a union-backed coalition that recently got a big boost from the business community. Amendments 47 and 54 are also being targeted.
Asked if it was just another one of his witty publicity stunts, Amendment 49 backer Jon Caldera disavowed all ownership of the Web site and only said, “it’s not ours, but I wish it were.”