Owens Asks Senator to Close 'Loophole' on Political Gifts
Rocky Mountain News, CO
A report that a mystery group paid nearly $84,000 for mailings for Democratic lawmakers prompted Republican Gov. Bill Owens on Thursday to ask the legislature to ban the practice. The legislature already is considering a bill that would prohibit state elected officials from taking monetary gifts.
Owens suggested in a letter to the sponsor, Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, that he also tackle the mailings "loophole" that allows lawmakers to accept in-kind contributions for printing and mailing. "If we ban monetary gifts and still allow in-kind contributions, we will have left the door open for potential abuse," the governor stated.
Without a ban, Owens predicted "we will see substantial increases in this type of contribution, which, as we have seen, can be just as questionable and can be nearly impossible to trace." Tupa responded that he had planned to amend the bill to ban in-kind contributions before he got the governor's letter.
] Owens' suggestion comes after the Rocky Mountain News this week reported that a group called Research and Democracy - which no one has publicly admitted funding - paid for the mailings for 10 Democratic representatives in 2005.
Feb 03, 2006
Rocky Mountain News, CO
A report that a mystery group paid nearly $84,000 for mailings for Democratic lawmakers prompted Republican Gov. Bill Owens on Thursday to ask the legislature to ban the practice. The legislature already is considering a bill that would prohibit state elected officials from taking monetary gifts.
Owens suggested in a letter to the sponsor, Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, that he also tackle the mailings "loophole" that allows lawmakers to accept in-kind contributions for printing and mailing. "If we ban monetary gifts and still allow in-kind contributions, we will have left the door open for potential abuse," the governor stated.
Without a ban, Owens predicted "we will see substantial increases in this type of contribution, which, as we have seen, can be just as questionable and can be nearly impossible to trace." Tupa responded that he had planned to amend the bill to ban in-kind contributions before he got the governor's letter.
] Owens' suggestion comes after the Rocky Mountain News this week reported that a group called Research and Democracy - which no one has publicly admitted funding - paid for the mailings for 10 Democratic representatives in 2005.
Feb 03, 2006
