The lobbying scandals in Washington, D.C., confirm what many have long suspected: The link between big money and politics leads to corruption. Jack Abramoff and his partners amassed enormous wealth, mostly by bilking Native American tribes out of huge sums of money, and then used it to buy favors from members of Congress and their staffers.
Unfortunately, many people are likely thinking, “Tell me something I don’t know.” After all, it is no secret that when you mix money, power and politics, someone is bound to come out dirty. It may not be a surprise that lobbyists handing out free meals, luxury box seats and resort trips as if they were favors at a child’s birthday party is a corrupting influence. But it may surprise you to know that Colorado operates under a wide-open scheme – lobbyists can give anything to state legislators with no limits.
Anything goes – lunches, dinners, drinks, sports tickets, trips, free stays in mountain condos – you name it. And lobbyists can give unlimited sums of cash directly to a legislator’s “office account” at any time during the 120-day legislative session.
It doesn’t take an attorney at the Department of Justice to know that lobbyists get something in return. When lobbyists grease the wheels and get what they want for their clients, whether for an insurance company, pharmaceutical manufacturer, developer or an oil company, those who need affordable health care, homeowners struggling to pay their heating bills and consumers pay the price.
This past week we got a window into the world of lobbyists’ giving to Colorado legislators. State lawmakers are required every January to partially report gifts they receive from lobbyists (gifts under $50 and all meals are exempt).
Last year, the typical array of tickets, trips and meals flowed to lawmakers. The receptions, meals and events all provide lobbyists, who spend many tens of thousands of dollars each year on these gifts, with critical personal with legislators. This is a level of access to and connection with legislators that everyday Coloradans often do not have.
In addition to the typical array of lobbyist gifts, there was a spike this year in contributions to those office accounts. (Common Cause is still compiling totals.) The pretext for giving to these accounts is to support constituent services. In reality, office accounts are often vehicles to support legislators’ re-election. How else to explain a disproportionate amount of office account contributions flowing to legislators facing tough re-election campaigns? There is no justification for allowing lobbyists or shadowy non-profits to give cash to legislators outside of campaign finance limitations.
But the good news is that we have the power to do something about this, right here and right now. Historically, scandal begets reform. The Republican-led progressive reforms of the early 1900s were a result of abuses by the corporate trusts that had near absolute control over members of Congress and many state legislators. The Nixon Watergate scandal led us to limit the flow of campaign cash to the president and Congress. For all of the shame the Abramoff scandal is bringing to our political system, the least we can expect is that it will serve as the impetus for real reforms both here in Colorado and in Washington.
Common Cause is asking our legislators to reform the role of lobbyists in Colorado. A comprehensive package of ethics reforms includes:
A ban on lobbyist gifts to legislators. No more free meals, sports tickets or travel.
Close down legislative office accounts. With scant disclosure, no ability to track how money from the accounts is actually spent and with lobbyists and others allowed to give unlimited amounts during the legislative session, these accounts are an open invitation to abuse.
Stop the revolving door of legislators leaving office and immediately taking lucrative jobs lobbying the General Assembly. Create a two-year cooling-off period before a former legislator can lobby his or her colleagues.
Follow Congress’ lead and ban outside speaking fees for legislators, the governor and other statewide office holders.
Join the other 30 states that have independent ethics commissions to oversee the application of ethics laws.
The congressional corruption we are witnessing in Washington is the result of a total system failure. Legislators, both Republicans and Democrats, need to seize this leadership opportunity and repair our system here in Colorado and strengthen public confidence in our system of government.
While history will judge harshly those corrupt Washington politicians and lobbyists, Colorado’s 65th General Assembly can be remembered as the one that stood up against influence peddling and lobbyist freebies by passing substantive ethics reforms.
Pete Maysmith is the executive director of Colorado Common Cause.
