DNC group is green, thanks to Gallagher
By Todd Hartman, Rocky Mountain News
Published July 31, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Colorado's delegation to the Democratic National Convention will be green after all - thanks to Denver City Auditor Dennis Gallagher.
Gallagher dipped into his campaign funds to cover the cost of "carbon offsets" for 53 members of the state's DNC delegation. Total cost: $397.50.
The money goes toward projects such as wind turbines and facilities that generate electricity from farm waste. Those efforts are designed to offset the global warming emissions tied to the energy expected to be consumed by DNC delegates during the convention.
Twenty-six of Colorado's 79 delegates had already paid $7.50 each for offsets. That left 53 delegates who hadn't anted up - a potentially embarrassing outcome for the host state.
Colorado Democratic Party chair Pat Waak wouldn't say who had yet to pay up - and whether the groups included any big shots.
"I think that for most people, they hadn't gotten around to it yet," Waak said.
When Gallagher recently discovered Colorado wasn't "totally ramped up" on the offsets, he took care of it, Waak said.
"We (Denver and Colorado) have a long history of being in the forefront of addressing environmental issues. I wanted to make certain that our state delegation also be in the forefront of 'greening' this convention," Gallagher said in a statement.
Convention planners have asked all 5,000 delegates to buy the offsets through NativeEnergy, a Vermont-based firm that sells the credits to a variety of companies and individuals.
Critics have suggested carbon offsets are a dubious proposition, noting the efforts are unregulated, making it hard to verify where the money goes and how much environmental good the projects really do. Others scoff at the entire concept, calling it a way for the wealthy to alleviate their pollution guilt.
Gallagher said the offsets "are not the total answer, but they are a part of the puzzle" to address global warming.
"Every journey begins with a single step. To help erase this carbon footprint, we must take all the steps we can," he said. "I am glad to help the Colorado delegation take the step."
hartmant@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5048
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July 31, 2008
2:49 a.m.
Suggest removal
barleycorn writes:
What?! I can't believe the reporter didn't even investigate whether this is a legal use of Gallagher's campaign funds:
Denver Revised Municipal Code:
Sec. 15-38. Use of campaign funds restricted.
No candidate or treasurer of a political committee may use any contribution or contribution in-kind for
private purposes not reasonably related to influencing an election, to voter registration, or to political education.
(Ord. No. 125-91, § 1, 2-19-91; Ord. No. 649-94, § 1, 8-22-94)
July 31, 2008
3:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
barleycorn writes:
Wow...
Colorado Revised Statutes
1-45-106. Unexpended campaign contributions.
...(II) In no event shall contributions to a candidate committee be used for personal purposes not reasonably related to supporting the election of the candidate....
...(b) In addition to any use described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (1), a person elected to a public office may use unexpended campaign contributions held by the person's candidate committee for any of the following purposes:
(I) Voter registration;
(II) Political issue education, which includes obtaining information from or providing information to the electorate;....
Giving campaign funds to a private firm on behalf of DNC delegates isn't "political issue education" -- it's a *gift* to the delegates and to the private firm. Not allowed under campaign finance laws.
July 31, 2008
6:01 a.m.
Suggest removal
alwaysright writes:
Put him in front of a firing squad.