Douglas Bruce overcharges state on per diem
By Chris Barge, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 05:35 p.m., February 20, 2008
Updated 05:36 p.m., February 20, 2008
Photo by Evan Semon
Republican Rep. Douglas Bruce of Colorado Springs is sworn into office by House Speaker Andrew Romanoff last month.
Rep. Douglas Bruce made much of his decision to wait until five days after the opening of this year's legislative session to be sworn in despite appeals by his own party that he start on time.
But records show the Colorado Springs Republican charged per diem, and received payment, as if he had started on day one.
State law allows lawmakers such as Bruce who live outside the Denver metro area to receive up to $150 per day as compensation for living expenses. They are also allowed mileage reimbursement for up to one round-trip home per week.
For the month of January, Bruce charged the General Assembly $3,450 - the maximum allowable for 23 days of per diem expenses. He did not charge for mileage.
If he had been sworn in on the first day of the session Jan. 9, he could have been eligible to claim up to 23 days of per diem.
However, Bruce was only a sworn member of the General Assembly for 18 days in January. By law, then, he was only elibigle for up to 18 days, which would have totaled $2,700.
Legislative Council staff pulled Bruce out of a committee hearing this afternoon to inform him that he had overcharged the state $750. After the committee meeting adjourned, Bruce called to inform the Legislative Council office that he would return their uncashed check on Monday in exchange for a check for a lesser amount.
Bruce raised the hackles of fellow legislators when he announced he would delay being sworn in after being appointed to the House seat vacated by Bill Cadman, who moved up to the Senate this year to fill a vacancy there.
By not taking the oath until Jan. 14, Bruce will serve less than half the unexpired term and would be eligible for eight more years in office under Colorado term limits, instead of just six.
He was later censured after kicking a Rocky Mountain News photographer during the House's morning prayer on his first day of work.
Since his censure, he has refused to speak to either the Rocky or the Denver Post.
bargec@RockyMountainNews.com
or 303-954-5059
Comments
Posted by Tbone on February 20, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a douche.
Mr. Anti-tax himself, trying to screw the taxpayers....what's the word I'm looking for?
hypo.....
hypocondriac?....no, that's not it.
hippopotamus?....no, that's not it either.
hypocrite! ahh, right, that's it.
Posted by PMSXpress on February 20, 2008 at 6:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"... staff pulled Bruce out of a committee hearing this afternoon to inform him that he had overcharged the state $750."
Do you think he was hoping that no one would notice?
Posted by jbowen43 on February 20, 2008 at 8:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's fraud and the attorney general must investigate this crime.
Posted by Earl on February 20, 2008 at 8:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
and I will bet a dollar he is the only politician who has ever in history over charged anything. I have a feeling the next 8 years he will be watch so close nothing will be done except to complain about him.
Go Doug keep them on their toes.
Posted by pegasus99_aka_DR on February 20, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What an ass. Here we have a man who has a great message about keeping taxes for the citizens of Colorado low. And he has the chance to build on that good work (that was unfortunately whizzed all over by Hank Brown and for Gubna Owens for pet projects that didn't need done), and what does he do? He makes sure he shows his ass at every possible point. Great work Doug. Make yourself look like a hapless, conniving, dishonest half-wit to the people who supported you. Note to the people of Colorado Springs - "Next".
Posted by italiaboy9 on February 20, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I LOVE YOU DOUG!!! I love how he makes the good ole folks of Colorado Springs look even more retarded! WOOT! How can you not love this guy!?!?!
Posted by Johnboy on February 20, 2008 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Are you folks in the Springs proud of your representative? And you're so fond of Boulder-bashing.
Posted by farsidefan on February 20, 2008 at 11:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Earl,
I don't consider asking for money that doesn't belong to you, keeping them on their toes. Leg staff are some of the most dedicated people in the govt.
If this were Romanoff, you would be all over him as wasting taxpayer dollars. Why not Dougie ?
If he were the true taxpayer friend, why is he seeking $ 150 a day for housing when he goes home each day ? That money is given to out of metro pols who could use the money to rent an apt during the session. If he were such a spend thrift of taxpayer money why not give it back to the state ? Why not pay to park his car in the state parking lot like other state employees ? Parking costs $12-15 a day around the capitol this time of year. Look how much we taxpayers are losing out on by letting him park his car for free.
Posted by GeeTee on February 21, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bruce probably charged the max because it is probably the most money he has ever made in his miserable life. He's too f-in stupid to have a job in real life.
Who elected this goofball?!
Posted by AlanAardvark on February 22, 2008 at 5:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In his eagerness to make Doug Bruce look bad, Chris Barge sort of forgot to mention that Bruce says he gives all of his legislative pay to a Colorado Springs charity he founded -- this according to Jessica Fender's account in The Denver Post -- so there's no way Bruce was in a position to profit from his mistake.
But Barge's biased story certainly plays well to the gaggle of lefties still reading the Rocky, doesn't it?
Posted by 3rdGenerationNative on February 22, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Boy, AlanAA, have you got a ring in your nose. He's in a position to profit off the state treasurer because his very own exclusively- designated 'charity' is a money laundry for him, his mother and whatever lackeys he has left. Rings in their noses prevent them from smelling the coffee. When are you gonna wake up?
Posted by Lowtaxequalsfreedom on February 23, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Even the mighty Bruce will be sucked down by the same black slime that sucks ALL politicians down the drain. One more reason to limit government to the very minimum. These Bruce stories are getting old, they over shadow much larger crimes such as RITTERS illegal, unconstitutional mill levy freeze. Talk about screwing the taxpayer! Did you read about the Arapaho County Treasure working 3 hours per day? How about the Adams County manager only working 3 hours per WEEK! Oh yea the 3500-dollar dinner bill in Telluride from the ed. board. Politicians are slime. Bureaucrats will always be inefficient. Haven’t we the people had enough of all politicians and bureaucrats regardless of which side of the isle they fall on?
Posted by AlanAardvark on February 24, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
3rdGen, thanks for your exquisitely polite comment and for shedding some heat on the issue. Now to shed some light.
Douglas Bruce's charity, Active Citizen's Together, is a perfectly valid non-profit. There's nothing wrong with Bruce being the registered agent of his own charity and donating some of his own money to it, just like there's nothing wrong with Tim Gill sitting on the Board of The Gill Foundation and donating $11.5 million to it last year. Neither of these men is in a position to profit from his charity -- the law forbids that. The law doesn't require a charity to have zero administrative overhead, but staff members typically work for peanuts at best. Because of the nature of a non-profit, nobody in Bruce's organization would have personally profited had Bruce been able to charge for extra days. So your "money laundering" charge is really silly. Do you also think Gill was laundering his $11.5 mil?
The only relevant questions here are: was Bruce's overcharge deliberate, and was he in a position to profit from it? I believe the answers are "no" and "no."
So why would Chris Barge make such a big deal out of this mistake, and why have other Denver reporters gone on similar tirades against Bruce lately? I believe it's because they hate TABOR and now see a chance to kill or further cripple it -- what with Democrats in charge of everything -- and they're campaigning against TABOR in the news pages, much like they campaigned for Referendum C in the news pages, campaigned for Ritter in the news pages and campaigned for Denver measures A-H in the news pages, ad nauseam.
It's called "liberal-agenda reporting."
By the way, the purpose of Bruce's organization is to promote the understanding of constitutional rights such as freedom of speech -- which, as most lefties seem to think these days, is what gives them the right to say anything whatsoever in any place whatsoever with no consequences whatsoever, and to rudely shout down anyone who tries to disagree with them. If this is your interpretation, too, you may want to pick up one of Bruce's pamphlets and read it.
Posted by Diff on February 26, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Do you now the difference between Dougie Bruce and bag of Puke -
THE BAG.
This idiot has to GO!
Posted by EdwardGRobinson on March 1, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ardvark,
If you justify Bruce's abuse of taxpayer money by what private citizens do with their own money, you've been reading nothing else besides his pompous pamphlets and props that look like official government knockoffs. Why would you defend Bruce when an outdated TABOR is the only card he's capable of playing? Why do you imply that Ref C was not a vote of the people, when it's same public that installed TABOR? If he's sworn to uphold the constitution, what business does he have micromanaging the city of Colorado Springs from a county office? What about his attempts to tell Hickenlooper how to run Denver from a state house seat? The state treasurer may discover he's misusing his capitol office, paid time, staff and equipment to promote his micromanagement and his non-profits. And you blame the press, Dems, or angry veterans for his loss of credibility? He derides the majority when they don't go his way on overinflated petitions. Why would such a fickle public not be just as easily swayed by the Colorado press (not just Denver), Democrats, and now even his vacancy-appointment committee turn against him?
It's called "backlash"
By the way, what was the purpose of Commissioner Bruce favoring a Springs vendor's high bid for supplies, until someone blew the whistle? Bruce didn't tell you that business owner ran his campaign in the 90's and wrote letters of recommendation for his state appointment.
Don't like the heat? here's more: That vendor is a former 3rd string soccer benchwarmer from England, who lost his license to play in Colorado Springs after a halftime brawl in the 80's at Flanagan Park. He was able to teach DB the difference between a kick, poke, a prod, a nudge and a dirty professional foul. He continued HS refereeing into the 90's, until he was run out of the stadium by BOTH teams and most of the parents. It seems bullies flock together - Bruce violated the 100-foot limit at the Falcon, CO polling place a while back (passing out those tired pamplets). Then, as well as several times at formal city council meetings in the Springs, he's been escorted out bodily.
Shed some light on that, if you know him and his henchmen as well as you claim.
Posted by Lowtaxequalsfreedom on March 4, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
EdwardGRobinson,
The Ref C debate is not a simple as you put it. Ref C removed the ratchet from Tabor. Tabor does not allow the ratchet to be removed. You would have to amend the Constitution straight on rather than hide the removal in the legal "debrucing" called Ref C.
So there is much debate yet to be had nt he subject. Wait until Ref C expires and the new revenue and spending amounts are calculated, the battle will begin.
Posted by Lowtaxequalsfreedom on March 4, 2008 at 7:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
EdwardG,
What is outdated about Tabor in your opinion? I have some gripes with Tabor but they are probably different than yours.
Tabor should and could be better. Take away the ratchet and the debrucing clause. Then you would be left with population increase and local growth. Both can be adjusted upwards for inflation. New taxes or increases in tax rates can be had with voter approval.
Debrucing is ridiculous and should have never been included. The first 2 drafts did not include this feature. Think about it, your total mill levy is 60 or so. Your home is 200,000 or so. Your tax is 1200 annually. Normally Tabor would allow this 1200 to increase every year at the rate of inflation. Tabor would also allow any new property in the district to be kept. But then along comes the debrucing. Your home value doubles in 10 years to 400,000. Your mill levy is still 60 but now you pay 2400 in taxes. Debrucing is ridiculous. If anything it should only be allowed for 4 years per vote.
The savings amount could be increased from 3 to 5 % but then you run the risk of dishonest accountants using it as an increased spending mechanism.
You people who love to give all of your money and power to the State baffle me?
Posted by donco6 on March 8, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What's any of this have to do with Bruce being a crook?
Posted by 3rdGenerationNative on March 11, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Donco6,
Lame Doug vowed to never talk to Rocky in person again, the only way he can spout propaganda is by assuming an alias like "Lowtaxequalsfiefdom" From these posts, he will derail any topic where he's mentioned. The mask is off and he's exhausted his bag of tricks. You won't read anything new from him unless it can be exploited for election votes (what he calls his unsullied 'name recognition' - DenverMetro posters translate that as name-association, and it is anything BUT clean - finally we are back to the topic of DB being a crook).
DB, you with two first names and no middle name ('equals' is an empty contraction that modifies neither Lowtax nor freedom), said "You people who love to give all of your money and power to the State baffle me?(sic)" Is that a question, or are you so baffled that you don't know whom you are addressing? You forgot to say 'we the people'. Typical of blaming the voting public when they don't sing your praises, as EdwardG noted. But really, we got you so baffled that you have confused paying local county property tax with giving money and power to the state at large. Mark Waller, your REPlacement, will set you straight if you dare debate him.
Apropos debate, as if there were "...much debate yet to be had nt he (sic) subject. Tabor could ... be better. The first 2 drafts did not include this feature Wait until Ref C expires." THAAAT's why you wanted 8 years to represent 'we the people' you wanted to carve TABOR - minus Ref C of course - into the long-awaited rewrite of the state constitution!!!!!!!. sorry Charlie, as soon as 09 you'll have to do it from the cheap seats as ONE OF US.
Posted by EdwardGRobinson on March 11, 2008 at 9:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Donco6,
point taken. He tried an end run under the Lowtax= alias, refusing to acknowledge his past shady deals/association with known thugs. Nothing new, really ask any of the following how he grandstands off-topic, forcing meetings and court hearings into overtime:
Salie Clark, Denis Heisey, Lorne Kramer, Bob Isaac, Craig Blewitt (even smearing his name; you'd think DB himself would know how to blow assignments), John Hazelhurst, Richard Skorman, Amy Lathen, Terry Harris, Dick Zickefoose, Bill Comer (may he rest in Peace), Hickenlooper, Ritter, Owens, Pena, (shoot, even Vanderhoof and Bill Mcnichols), front range building code/zoning officials, numerous city & district court judges in CA and CO, etc., ad infinitum. It's so easy to get on his hit list: regardless of your real job, regardless if you are a voting citizen, just dispute any of his overblown claims and he'll call you a politician or a toady waiting for a handout.
Posted by Lowtaxequalsfreedom on March 12, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
EdwardGRobison made claims that Tabor is outdated and Ref C is perfectly legal but when asked for specifics he could provide none.
3rd Gen native could not provide any either so he just resorted to chalking me off as an alias for DBruce.
Nothing like watching the liberal mind in full funtion.
Posted by 3rdGenerationNative on March 13, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
3rd Gen didn't bring up TABOR and that's not the topic at hand anyway - It was EdGRob's segue.
Wait until you have more of an audience. If, in later headlines to come, it's germaine to the subject we'll continue. However, be advised that your quotes from Feb. 21 & 22 could be reported as threatening a public official. If, however, you are who I identified, that could be reported as false reporting of threats by a public official.
Either way, is there any reason the Rocky shouldn't bar you from further posting?
Posted by Lowtaxequalsfreedom on March 13, 2008 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
3rdGen,
You are an idiot(Neolib). The past comments I made were a total rip(joke,sarcasm,ploy,) at the liberals like you who cry the sky is falling any time Doug Bruce speaks or Tabor is mentioned. Liberals and their communist counter parts are the only ones who take freedom loving, tax hating individuals like Doug Bruce to the edge of town.
Posted by Lowtaxequalsfreedom on March 13, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
3rdGen,
I just reread your earlier rant about my screen name and the comments I made about being baffled.
Low tax does equal freedom. On the other hand high tax most certainly equals unfreedom.
Like I said before, you people who graciously give your money and power to the State baffle me. State as in all of it. I do not understand why you think other people (State) can spend your money and make your choices better than you can. It must be genetic.
Keep fantasizing DB is actually having a conversation with you. I am sure it helps you sleep at night.
Posted by EdwardGRobinson on March 13, 2008 at 10:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
everybody's left the building, Lt. nobody cares. You'll have to sleep alone until the next article when there's an audience.
In your dreams, rerun those Klebold/Harris videos - they thought it was a total rip(joke, sarcasm,ploy). Keep fantasizing.
Posted by Lowtaxequalsfreedom on March 14, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
EdG3rdgen,
Let me break this to you gently, THE JOKE IS ON YOU. I was pretending to be you and people like you. People who overreact to nearly everything. You people freak out on DB. He is no big deal. Just another guy expressing himself. You people think every one who marches out of step should be taken to the edge of town. When I posted I purposely over dramatized the situation. I was trying to imitate you so that you folks could see how ridiculous you are. You still don’t get it. You are now completely erroneously comparing me to the Columbine incident. Once again a complete over reaction on your part. You people must be scared of your own shadows.
I was pretending to be a weak minded person who is easily offended, I thought it was obvious. I guess not. Sorry I will not play around in the future.
Posted by 3rdGenerationNative on March 14, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No, I said keep him up there in Denver, we got our airport and Frontier's maintenance base in a fair trade. While he's up there, he needs to represent his constituents, not express his own overbearing self or steal from us, hoping we won't notice - guess that's why the big leap to characterize me as a commie.
Another thing regarding fair representation, we need a fitting example of Colorado Springs as one of the 10 top-fit cities in the country. I fear for DB's health and from the pictures I pray that he doesn't expire from natural causes before his term expires. He really needs to run - and I don't mean run for office.
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