Last Thursday pro-transparency advocates faced their first hurdle and achieved getting the Public School Financial Transparency Act (SB 057) passed through the Colorado Senate Education Committee despite being gutted by some senators on the committee. The bill now suggests that public schools put their spending and revenues online in a searchable database. Original bill language requiredschools to do this.

The bill survived the committee process because people are testifying, calling, emailing, and voicing their support of transparency at all levels. You can be part of this effort.

Pro-transparency senators will fight this Tuesday morning, February 3 rd, to get this bill amended back to meaningful legislation. They need our help. To support these senators, we're going to pack the Senate gallery on Tuesday. Senator Ted Harvey, the primary bill sponsor, will recognize us, and we'll stand to show our numbers.

Those willing to attend should be in the 2 nd Floor Senate Gallery by at least 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning, February 3.

If you can't attend, invest an hour calling or emailing our 35 Colorado State senators listed below anytime of day prior to Tuesday a.m. Even if you can only email your own senator, it will make a difference. The contact list follows.

Up to date information can be obtained by accessing the website of citizen activist Natalie Menten, nataliementen.com, or by emailing her at nmlakewood@gmail.com. Other transparency projects are also listed on her site.