The question has arisen whether the passage of Amendment 54 would have impacted the campaign for the city of Grand Junction's spending initiatives.
The text of the amendment is listed below. Bear in mind that the issue most in question is a $10,000 donation to a committee supporting the passage of the tax increase and Tabor override by a contractor who had just recently been awarded an approximately $140,000 contract to study the project.
In reviewing the council notes from the meeting in question it appears that the selection was made as part of a general "Request for Proposal" and then awarded to the contractor in question.
Whether this took place without competitive bidding under the meaning of the amendment is probably the crux of the question.
At this point we are not certain of the answer and therefore cannot make a responsible response. But it does present an interesting question.
Amendment 54 to the Colorado Constitution passed this November.
"An amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning restrictions on campaign contributions, and, in connection therewith, prohibiting the holder of contracts totaling $100,000 or more, as indexed for inflation, awarded by state or local governments without competitive bidding ("sole source government contracts"), including certain collective bargaining agreements, from making a contribution for the benefit of a political party or candidate for elective office during the term of the contracts and for 2 years thereafter; disqualifying a person who makes a contribution in a ballot issue election from entering into a sole source government contract related to the ballot issue; and imposing liability and penalties on contract holders, certain of their owners, officers and directors, and government officials for violations of the amendment."
