Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I have called this press conference today to expose what I believe are intentionally misleading and legally questionable activities by the Citizens Victory Fund. It has come to my attention that the group, which according to official state records, is headquartered at this address, has decided to finance campaign related activities on behalf of my opponent.

We are unable to identify what the group stands for, there seems to be no grand social cause they espouse. I suspect rather that power and money are the primary motivators. I have concluded that this is an attempt for a lobbyist or perhaps his clients to gain undue influence over Colorado’s law making bodies. Whose interests are they truly serving? At this time we have no idea. We can presume, though, that it is not the interests of Colorado voters. The only conclusions we can draw are based upon the facts we have. The Citizens Victory Fund is registered not as political committee or as an independent expenditure, but as a corporation with the State of Colorado. The registered agent of the group is a gentleman by the name of Frank L. "Poncho" Hays. Mr. Hays is a highly paid lobbyist whose client list includes USWest, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., and Lorillard Tobacco Co. Without disclosure all are suspect.

I am not questioning Mr. Hays’ or his clients right to free political speech, but I am asserting that they should be held to the same standard of disclosure that campaigns, corporations, political committees, or political parties are held to.

This morning I have filed a formal complaint with the Secretary of State’s office for what appear to be violations of Colorado campaign laws governing political committees and independent expenditures. I am certain that if they have not violated the letter of the law, they have violated the spirit.

I call upon my opponent, who has benefited from the activities of the Citizens Victory Fund, to join me in my pledge to stop this sort of "back-room" politics and to contact Mr. Hays and ask him to cease any further activities on his behalf. Further, I would encourage any of Mr. Hays’ clients who object to these tactics, and who have not participated, to issue a public statement to that effect and to urge Mr. Hays to discontinue his activities.

Only when we make this process clean again, will we fully regain the people’s trust. Thank you.