ASK FIRST: Clean Government
Governments Stop Serving as
"Collection Agents"
The Ask First policy takes government out of the business of collecting money for groups that influence elections, finance candidates, and lobby officials to change policies. All membership organizations - including labor unions or any other group that spends money on political activities - can solicit funds directly from supporters through private transactions.
The Rocky Mountain News wrote on September 20, 2007:
"We hope [Ask First] continues to gain ground, because governments should not serve as collection agents for any dues-based organizations...."
Labor unions, which have access to many government payroll systems in Colorado, made more than $4 million in contributions to Colorado political candidates and causes in 2006.
Ask First is designed to promote Clean Government
by:
1. Ensuring that government systems and personnel cannot be used to
collect money indirectly for political action.
2. Preventing government from using taxpayer resources to perform services for private membership organizations, including special interest groups.
3. Keeping government accountable to taxpayers first.
Ask First also is designed to promote Workers' Rights.
© 2007 Independence Institute
The information on these pages is published for educational purposes only, and not to advocate for the passage or defeat of any ballot measure.