Two Colorado state senators are resigning their seats early to avoid the two-year lobbying ban imposed by the recently approved Amendment 41.
Sen. Dan Grossman, D-Denver, resigned his seat Friday, and Sen. Ron Teck, R-Grand Junction, said Monday that he will give up his seat Dec. 15.
The senators said the amendment’s tough restriction on lobbying could affect their ability to do their jobs or pursue future employment.
Their terms end in about a month, but the legislators are resigning now to avoid being covered by the amendment, which takes effect after Gov. Bill Owens issues a proclamation declaring the election results.
“It was tough for me,” said Grossman, who joined the nonprofit Environmental Defense this year as Rocky Mountain regional director. “But there was too much uncertainty. There was too much risk.”
Teck, who resigned his position as acting manager of real estate projects for Mesa State College in August, said he was concerned that the amendment’s ban on lobbying could hurt his employment prospects.
“I don’t have any plans to become a lobbyist,” said Teck, who could not run for re-election because of term limits. “But I am interested in the public-policy arena. Amendment 41 would say you can’t do that.”
Grossman, who did not run for re-election this year, said he feared he would not be able to discuss environmental matters with his former colleagues.
“I spent some time reading Amendment 41 and talking with my employer,” Grossman said. “I came to the conclusion that I would not be able to advocate for a cleaner environment to leave our children.”
Grossman said he didn’t plan to actively lobby at the Capitol but that Amendment 41’s restrictions could prevent him from even testifying at committees on environmental issues.
Grossman said his resignation took effect Friday, the same day Colorado Secretary of State Gigi Dennis certified the results of the Nov. 7 election.
Amendment 41 passed overwhelmingly, with 63 percent of the voters approving the measure. Along with the lobbying ban, the measure bans gifts to state officials, prevents lobbyists from buying a meal for an elected official and creates an ethics commission to investigate complaints.
Owens’ spokesman, Dan Hopkins, said the governor has not yet issued the proclamation that will trigger the amendment.
Teck said he is “rolling the dice” by making his resignation official Dec. 15 rather than immediately, but he is hoping Owens will wait until after a four-day legislative meeting in Phoenix that begins Wednesday.
Both senators’ terms will expire Jan. 10.
Dana Williams, spokeswoman for the secretary of state’s office, said Grossman and Teck are the only lawmakers to submit resignations since Election Day.
Jenny Flanagan, executive director of Colorado Common Cause, which was one of the primary advocates for the amendment, said: “These guys have moved on to other things, and that’s fine.
“This wasn’t written to be retroactive.”
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-954-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
