🚀 go-pugleaf

	The following article appeared in the Nov. 14th issue of the 
Rocky Mountain News (Denver).  It was written by Denver Post staff 
writer, Michelle Johnston.

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	     OF THE PEOPLE FACES HEARING ON ELECTION LAW:
              PARENT RIGHTS GROUP DRILLED ABOUT FUNDING

	For the second time in as many weeks, Of the People, the group
that bankrolled the ill-fated Parental Rights Amendment, has come up a
loser. 
	On election night, the conservative Virginia-based organization 
watched its $400,00 investment in Colorado's Amendment 17 go down in 
flames as the controversial constitutional amendment lost 58% to 42%.
	And yesterday, a judge gave the go-ahead for a hearing to take 
place to determine whether Of the People broke state election law by 
funding Amendment 17 without ever registering as a formal political 
committee.  If it loses the case, it would mean the group would have to 
report the names of its donors which to date have remained secret.
	Of the People gave 97% of the money used to fund the 
pro-Amendment 17 effort, but it did not disclose any of its contributors 
because it characterized itself as a single donor, and funneled its money 
for the cause through a local group called the "Coalition for Parental 
Responsibility."
	The coalition registered as a political committee, and then 
reported Of the People as the source of virtually all of its funding.
	But self-proclaimed "citizen activist" Dan Willis objected to the 
group's purported donor role and challenged it by filing a claim with 
Secretary of State Vikki Buckley.  Specifically, Willis charged that for 
all intents and purposes, Of the People was itself the political 
committee that statute defines as an organization "raising funds and 
making expenditures... to influence passage or defeat of any issue."
	Buckley referred the issue to Administrative Law Judge Nancy
Connick. 
	In court documents, Of the People attorney James Rouse argued 
that the group was formed for "the sole purpose of engaging in political 
speech, to wit: advocating the adoption of parental rights amendments in 
all 50 states. OTP does not exist solely to obtain passage of a parental 
rights amendment in the State of Colorado.  It exists to advocate at the 
national level the general idea that a parental rights amendment should 
be passed in each of the states."
	Willis acted without an attorney, using his home computer to type 
up the legal briefs.
	He emerged victorious yesterday when Judge Connick denied all 
three motions to dismiss the case, finding sufficient jurisdiction and 
legal issues to set in motion a battle on the case's merits, probably 
before the end of the year.
	Greg Erken, executive director of Of the People, and Rouse did 
not return phone calls requesting comment on Connick's order.
	But Willis was delighted.  "These people have been having a 
significant impact on Colorado, and they have to be accountable to the 
laws here," he said.
	Of the People isn't the only group "running campaigns from out of 
state," Willis said.  "Colorado for Family Values runs campaigns in other 
states from here, the Colorado Employee Rights Campaign Committee was 
doing it... it's standard operating procedure for right wing groups to 
hid who their donors are.  You'd think if they were so hot-fired proud of 
what they were doing they'd want everyone to know they're giving money to 
it."
	Pat Steadman, one of the leaders of the anti-17 effort, said the 
implications of the final decision in this case could extend nationally.
	"Despite crushing defeat here in Colorado," Steadman said, when 
reached at home, "They're going to move forward in other states.  
Ultimately, we'll know who's behind it and who's funding it.  This is one 
step in a process towards finding out the truth, and it's still going to 
be a long road."
	Buckley will review Connick's decision on the merits of the case 
and make the ultimate ruling.  At that point, Of the People could appeal 
to U.S. District Court.  Buckley could not be reached for comment.