Right-to-work supporters raise $355,000, net new backer
7/8/2008 - 10:31amProponents of the right-to-work ballot initiative raised about $355,000 in funding during the latest reporting period, adding a major financial backer to the fold.
The group, called A Better Colorado, received nearly $155,000 from Arlington, Va.-based Free Enterprise Alliance, according to records filed late Monday with the secretary of state's office.
A Better Colorado spokesman Kelley Harp said the alliance is the issue advocacy arm of the Associated Builders and Contractors.
Golden-based CoorsTek provided $195,000 in funding during the period from May 27 through Wednesday, raising the total the company has given to A Better Colorado to $395,000. The group had about $249,000 on hand as of Wednesday.
The right-to-work initiative, which has been certified for the November ballot, seeks to ban forced union membership through the payment of dues or fees in Colorado.
The union-backed group fighting the initiative, called Protect Colorado's Future, raised about $177,000 during the latest reporting period. Much of that came from unions such as the AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union, the Teamsters union and other labor groups.
Protect Colorado's Future has raised about $2.2 million since January, which includes in-kind contributions.
As of Wednesday, the group had $853,000 in cash on hand. Protect Colorado's Future is also collecting signatures for a pair of ballot initiatives that seek to hold executives criminally liable for corporate wrongdoings and require companies to provide reasons for firing workers.
Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209 or avuong@denverpost.com
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Colorado..."The New Michigan"
A previous comment made reference to the fact the there was no percentage number attached to the comments about unions having made much of the contributions against the Right-to-Work initiative.
The fact is that the unions have made most of the contributions (over 80% to be in fact). The unions are trying everything possible to stop the Right-to-Work initiative. This will put a big dent in their pockets. With this initiative, people will have a right to choose weather or not they want to be a member of a union. The union's feel that if 50% plus one person wants a union, then everyone should have to join and pay dues even if you voted against it or did not want to participate.
This initiative puts a hurt on the unions ability to collect dues and they don't like it. This has nothing to do with protecting Colorado. This has everything to due with protecting the growth of the unions. Don't be fooled by the rhetoric. The unions are trying to make Colorado the new Michigan. High unemployment, businesses leaving, no new business coming in, super high taxes (the highest in the country). The auto industry has moved south to states like Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, etc...all right to work states. There is a reason for this. The unions have little control in theses states and these companies and state are thriving because of it. Don't let the unions fool you into believing that they are helping Colorado...they are only helping themseleves.
Intent or simply weak writing of "facts"
I will make this very simply. When you write conclusionary and parenthetical directives such as “Much of that came from unions,” you add dimensions to a news article which are at best inductive from your opinion and at worst irrelevant or wrong. What does “much” mean? 10%, 25%, 50%? This adds an illusion of fact but is simply weak inductive writing that adds nothing to the reporting of facts. Furthermore it actually clouds the “facts”. All I can suggest is stick to the facts, and don’t use the crutch of allude to circumstances as if they amounted to acts. Lazy and weak!