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Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission on uncertain course

The ethics commission is one of the three pillars of Amendment 41, the initiative that won 59 percent voter approval in 2006.
Credit: ANDREYKRAV
Over the holidays, Denver is a more popular travel destination than Miami.

COLORADO POLITICS — Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission is unlike any other in the country. And that’s not a good thing, according to those who have worked for and/or observed the commission in its 10-year history.

They say the commission’s structure, staffing and funding make it impossible for the public to have any confidence that ethics issues — whether it’s investigations into potential ethics violations, training for state or other government employees, or guidance — are handled in a logical or even timely manner.

The ethics commission is one of the three pillars of Amendment 41, the initiative that won 59 percent voter approval in 2006.

What Amendment 41 did:

• Set up a limit on gifts to lawmakers and government workers. The amendment initiated that limit at $50 with an adjustment for inflation. It’s currently at $59. It also outright banned gifts to lawmakers from lobbyists.

• Prohibited state lawmakers from lobbying the General Assembly or other elected officials for two years after leaving office.

Read more at Colorado Politics: https://bit.ly/2OxsteM

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