Audit lobbyists, legislator says

Secretary of state pressed to determine compliance with law

Ivan Moreno, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 2, 2006 at midnight

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A state representative known for her policy of refusing to talk to lobbyists on the House floor has asked for an audit to see how well they're following the law.

Rep. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, delivered a letter to the Secretary of State's Office on Thursday in which she requests "a performance audit on current compliance and enforcement patterns of lobbyists with existing lobbying laws."

Colorado has never done a compliance audit of lobbyists, said Karon Hoover, assistant to the state auditor.

Dana Williams of the Secretary of State's Office said the office is considering the audit request.

It comes as two bills that would tighten oversight of lobbyists await the governor's signature or veto.

House Bill 1149, sponsored by Carroll, would require lobbyists to disclose their clients, the bills they're working on and whether they're for or against certain legislation.

Carroll said she's heard stories of lobbyists who don't register with the state, as currently required, or are vague about who they work for or how much they are paid.

"We know that there are violations of current law, (but) we don't know how widespread," Carroll said.

Carroll said that the Center for Public Integrity almost flunked Colorado in a study last year that analyzed lobbying disclosure.

"While I believe Colorado generally has good compliance with existing laws, we lost significant points on our 'good government report card' from the Center for Public Integrity for lack of enforcement," Carroll wrote in the letter to the secretary of state.

Also with Carroll at the Secretary of State's Office was Rep. Andrew Kerr, D-Lakewood, a first-year legislator who said constituents have told him they don't trust the government.

"There's so little known outside the Capitol of how the process actually works and how the lobbyists are ingrained in the process," he said.

Carroll said lobbyists have the power not only to influence legislation but to distract legislators while they debate and vote on bills.

It's common practice when either chamber is in session for lobbyists in the galleries to send their business cards to a lawmaker via the sergeant at arms, indicating they'd like to speak to the lawmaker.

Carroll declines.

She recalled that one of her colleagues, Rep. Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, missed his opportunity to speak against her bill regarding lobbyists this session because he was talking to one at the time.

"He looked at me and he says, 'I was, um . . . distracted,' " Carroll said about Cadman's response when she thanked him for not speaking against her bill.

Lobbyists outnumber legislators in Colorado 11-to-1, according to CPI.

Jerry Braden, a lobbyist for more than 20 years, said an audit is unnecessary because any lobbyist who breaks the laws can be reported to the secretary of state.

"As far as I know, every lobbyist I work with complies with current laws," he said.

Also awaiting action by the governor is Senate Bill 51 by Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, which restricts lawmakers from accepting thousands of dollars in donations from lobbyists and special interests for so-called "office accounts."

Lobbyists and lawmakers in Colorado

• Legislators are term-limited; lobbyists aren't.

• Legislators study about 800 bills each session; lobbyists study about eight.

• Lobbyists outnumber legislators 11-to-1.

Lobbyists can . . .

• Spend up to $50 on a legislator per month before being required to report expenses to the secretary of state.

• Research bills for legislators.

• Testify for or against bills.

Sources: Center For Public Integrity, Lobbyist Jerry Braden

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