Lobbyists, Senate Leader Shop at the 49 Dollar Store

Since Colorado voters passed Amendment 41 in November to bar lobbyist gifts and those valued at $50 or more to public employees it’s been slim pickin’s for some legislators who enjoyed perks like sporting event tickets, paid junkets, and swanky dinners.

However, as the days of bread and roses wound down last year, one lobbying firm found an ingenuous way to gear up for life under the Amendment 41 ban. In Do As I Say, Not As I Do: The Amendment 41 Truth Test, Colorado Confidential first reported that Senate President Pro Tem Peter Groff (D-33) had collected gifts and trips worth $12,215 from 2004 – 2006.

In his most recent gift and honoraria report, Sen. Groff reported receiving three gift cards valued at $49 each from Collon Kennedy, Peter Minahan, and Beth Minahan on December 1, 2006.


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While an extra $147 can sure come in handy just before the holidays, it becomes a little more curious that the undescribed gift cards are as near to handing over cash as anything reported by a legislator.

It’s also troubling that the gift cards were delivered to Sen. Groff by the principals of the lobbying firm, Colorado Communiqu

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