Figuring Out Amendment 41 Not That Easy

Amendment 41, a bill passed this month by voters and formulated in an effort to prevent lobbyists from influencing elected officials, is making headaches for various politicians, including Bill Ritter.

The Ritter camp isn’t sure about the proper way to raise money for the Governor’s inaugural party, and others vying for a job on Ritter’s cabinet are also not certain on the implications of the new law. From the Rocky Mountain News:

But Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer said he believes Ritter’s volunteers are free to seek donations for the inauguration, which will be a “celebration . . . including a sit-down dinner and live entertainment,” Dreyer said.

“We don’t believe anything in the measure prohibits from raising private money for the inauguration,” Dreyer added…

Meanwhile, some lawmakers who are seeking Cabinet positions with Ritter are concerned that the new constitutional amendment may cost them jobs in government service.

Amendment 41 prohibits government officials from taking jobs as lobbyists – or from representing a government official or entity for money – for two years after leaving office.

According to the article, Attorney General John Suthers will clarify next week whether Ritter can accept corporate donations for the inauguration party.

Erin Rosa was born in Spain and raised in Colorado Springs. She is a freelance writer currently living in Denver. Rosa's work has been featured in a variety of news outlets including the Huffington Post, Democracy Now!, and the Rocky Mountain Chronicle, an alternative-weekly in Northern Colorado where she worked as a columnist covering the state legislature. Rosa has received awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for her reporting on lobbying and woman's health issues. She was also tapped with a rare honorable mention award by the Newspaper Guild-CWA's David S. Barr Award in 2008--only the second such honor conferred in its nine-year history--for her investigative series covering the federal government's Supermax prison in the state. Rosa covers the labor community, corrections, immigration and government transparency matters. She can be reached at erosa@www.coloradoindependent.com.

Comments are closed.