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Lawmakers again facing freebie freeze

State officials told to act as if ethics law in effect

By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 26, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

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The Colorado Supreme Court ruling reviving a ban on some gifts to elected officials is expected to put the kibosh on freebies during the legislative session.

Say goodbye to lobbysts' wine-and- cheese parties, steak dinners and sports tickets under the Dome.

A Denver judge's May injunction freezing the Amendment 41 ethics law remains in effect for two weeks while those who challenged its legality ponder appeals.

Legislative leaders told lawmakers Monday to act as if the ethics law were in effect while awaiting advice from legislative lawyers.

"You are free to eat - with caution," House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, told lawmakers before they broke for lunch.

The amendment approved by voters in 2006 bans all gifts from lobbyists to elected officials, bars gifts from nonlobbyists worth more than $50 to elected officials, and prohibits an elected official from becoming a lobbyist within two years of leaving office.

House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, said he was disappointed that the Supreme Court simply ruled that the trial judge overstepped his authority.

Despite the legislature's request for high court guidance on the legality of Amendment 41, May said the court has "continually ducked this issue." Now it's bound to end up in a court challenge again.

Yet, the short-lived injunction appeared to have some lawmakers singing Happy Days Are Here Again! when the session opened last month. With the ethics law in limbo, legislators were schmoozing, eating and drinking again at events hosted by lobbyists and business and civic groups.

"When (Amendment 41) first went into effect, organizations were frankly afraid to hold anything because they thought no one would come," said lobbyist Dianna Orf, whose clients range from the mining industry to dental hygienists.

Indeed, few lawmakers showed at events that were held after Amendment 41 passed.

"I think people were more comfortable attending when the injunction was in place," Orf added.

She thinks the ethics law was too broadly written, treating gatherings between lawmakers and nonprofit advocates for low-income people the same as dinners with "professional lobbyists."

"I think that was one of the sad things about Amendment 41 - it chilled that kind of communication," said Orf, referring to lawmakers' contacts with constituent groups.

Lobbyist Totsy Rees said the return of Amendment 41 "hurt friendships and it will hurt coalition building among the (lawmakers) themselves."

"There are (lawmakers) who told me last year that they made more uninformed votes because we didn't socialize and make friends and talk to one another," she said.

Ultimately, Rees said, "I'll still have lunch with folks . . . it will just be Dutch (treat)."

Comments

  • February 26, 2008

    6:40 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    vudumom writes:

    I didn't realalize to be friends and be informed on issues and told how to vote ,you needed to be wined and dined.I suggest the $1 menu at any one of the major fast food chains.Also coupons can be helpful.The people voted for this law,stop trying to get rid of it.

  • February 26, 2008

    8 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    angka writes:

    The trial judge was a "she." Basic fact-checking would be nice.

  • February 26, 2008

    1:29 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    3rdGenerationNative writes:

    Vudu, many state legislators treat each other to lunch, and they are not in walking distance of any $1 fast food place (seen any buying hot dogs on the sidewalk or limousines in Taco Bell's drive-thru?). Hon. D. Bruce invited every other legislator out to 1-on-1 lunch as part of his corona- I mean initiation ritual. Good ole boys, maybe? Good thing nobody took the bait cuz' they already had his number. What about all those Reagan Jelly Bellies, flowers for his colleagues, attached to the comment "I know where the real power is"?

  • February 26, 2008

    5:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gfornander writes:

    Ultimately, Rees said, "I'll still have lunch with folks . . . it will just be Dutch (treat)."

    Sadly, Rees doesn't seem to see the irony in her statement. That's the whole point: She can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner anywhere she wants with whomever she wants and discuss anything she wants. She just needs to pay her own way!

    Are those legislators not going to meet with "nonprofit advocates for low-income people" without a reception? Can lawmakers not form friendships and build coalitions without free food? Do they become hermits if someone else is not picking up the tab? If they cannot do their job without the freebies, they can step aside and let someone else do it.