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Ethics panel named to probe vote-buying allegations

By Ed Sealover, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 31, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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A panel of three Democratic legislators and two Republicans will decide whether further investigation is warranted into vote-buying allegations against GOP Rep. David Balmer.

House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, appointed the panel this week to look into a complaint filed against Balmer on Dec. 16 by House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker.

Balmer, R-Centennial, has until Jan. 8 to submit a written answer. May's complaint alleges Balmer may have coordinated with a lobbyist to offer campaign donations and a future committee chairmanship to another legislator in exchange for supporting Balmer in his race for minority leader.

A separate complaint has been filed against the lobbyist, who has given a sworn statement that he did not talk or coordinate with Balmer.

Democratic Reps. Kathleen Curry, of Gunnison, Joel Judd, of Denver, and Claire Levy, of Boulder, will sit with Republican Reps. Tom Massey, of Poncha Springs, and Ken Summers, of Lakewood, on the ethics panel.

That makeup is more Democrat-heavy than the most recent panel to investigate a legislator. When Rep. Douglas Bruce was accused of kicking a photographer in January, Romanoff named a committee of three Democrats and three Republicans to look into his actions.

The difference is that Balmer is accused of violating House Rule 49b, which dictates committees "shall be in proportion generally to the relative number of members of the two major political parties in the House," Romanoff said.

There are 38 Democrats and 27 Republicans in the body.

Likewise, both Jon Anderson, who is Balmer's attorney, and Rep. Bob Gardner, a supporter of Balmer's in the minority-leader race, said they are not concerned about the Democratic lean of the committee.

"We're confident that this body will do their jobs and look at the facts and make the determination," Anderson said.

Comments

  • December 31, 2008

    8:50 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    shrubsrock writes:

    Check your numbers. The newly elected legislators haven't been sworn in, so last year's numbers apply. They're not dead yet.

  • December 31, 2008

    8:50 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    shrubsrock writes:

    Check your numbers. The newly elected legislators haven't been sworn in, so last year's numbers apply. They're not dead yet.