If it has to do with showing taxpayers how their money is spent, then the teachers’ union doesn’t like it.

According to the Colorado Secretary of State Web site, the Colorado Education Association, a taxpayer-funded lobbying organization, has taken a stance against HB 1288 the Colorado Taxpayer Transparency Act.  It seems odd that a lobbying organization that exists becauses of taxpayers dollars opposes a measure that taxpayers support. 

According to the CEA Web site the “State Treasurer is already working on this and a bill is not needed.” COST acknowledges that Treasurer Cary Kennedy said she was working on transparency, but if the Governor Ritter’s Executive Order is the result than the words that come to mind include unimpressive, weak and pointless.

COST wonders if the CEA’s real reason for opposing transparency is it doesn’t want taxpayers to know how their money is spent.  This isn’t the first time that the CEA has concerned itself with transparency.  While not taking an “official” position opposing SB 57 Public School Transparency Act, it was part of the lobby that killed it.

For the record, the Colorado League of Women Voters is listed as a supporter of HB 1288.  COST thanks the League for respecting taxpayers!

Having passed the House, HB 1288 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday, April 28.  If you have an opinion on transparency that you would like to share with members of the Senate Finance Committee, COST has listed legislators names and contact information below.

Senate Finance Committee
Committee Chairman Senator Paula Sandoval  303-866-4862
Committee Vice-Chairman Senator Evie Hudak 303-866-4840
Senator Greg Brophy 303-866-6360
Senator Rollie Heath 303-866-4872
Senator Keith King 303-866-4880 
Senator Jim Isgar 303-866-4884 
Senator Mark Scheffel 303-866-4869

nwden34@yahoo.com;
senatorhudak@gmail.com;
rollie.heath.senate@state.co.us;
isgarsenate@frontier.net;
mark.scheffel.senate@state.co.us;
greg@gregbrophy.net;
keith@keithking.org;