Colorado’s Highest Court Upholds Amendment 41
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PROTECTING ETHICS REFORM—Lobbyists wield a lot of power in Colorado’s Legislature. But after Colorado’s Supreme Court voted to uphold Amendment 41, we have an effective way to keep politicians honest. |
In 2006, Coloradans voted to strengthen ethics oversight and ban lobbyist giving to our leaders in Denver. Sixty-two percent of voters approved Amendment 41, a CoPIRG-supported initiative that was crafted to limit special interest control over politics.
In June 2007, Amendment 41 suffered a serious setback when a judge issued a temporary injunction to stop the law’s enforcement. But on Feb. 25, CoPIRG received great news: Colorado’s Supreme Court had struck down the injunction against the gift ban provision in Amendment 41. Gifts Exchanged For InfluenceIn 2005, prior to Amendment 41, Colorado’s 65 representatives in the General Assembly reported receiving $102,333 in gifts, tickets, entertainment, honoraria and travel expenses, an average of $1,570 per representative. Colorado’s 35 Senators reported receiving $41,102 —more than $1,170 per senator. Gov. Bill Owens received $57, 102 in gifts in 2005.
Why do lobbyists spend such large amounts of money on gifts to public officials? The answer is obvious. Trips, gifts and other “freebies” provide increased access to legislators and give lobbyists more influence at the policy-making table.
Unfortunately, ordinary citizens who cannot afford such gifts are often shut out of the decision-making process. Lobbyist funded gifts, entertainment and other expenditures bias policy debates on some of the most important issues for Coloradans, such as health care, taxes and environmental policy.
Injunction Spurs New GivingMany state politicians continued to turn down free event tickets and expensive dinners with lobbyists after Amendment 41 was put on hold seven months ago. However, according to a recent report from The Denver Post, some Colorado politicians—including the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general—have taken gifts that would have been prohibited under the voter-passed ethics law.
Gov. Bill Ritter accepted World Series tickets, a Stetson hat and a rug from the president of Afghanistan. He also received a shawl from a NATO commander and two tickets worth $1,424 to sit with the owner of the Broncos at a December football game.
Other state officials who received gifts after the Amendment 41 injunction took effect: Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien, who took two World Series tickets; Sen. Steve Johnson (Fort Collins), who accepted Avalanche tickets; and Sen. Jennifer Veiga (Denver), who also received Rockies tickets.
CoPIRG applauds the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Amendment 41’s gift ban, and will continue to work to make sure that the ethics law is implemented effectively.
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