Legislature’s attempt to clarify ethics law
Re: “Get Amendment 41 mess cleaned up now,” March 5 editorial.
Finally, someone is making sense in the conversation regarding Amendment 41. I am a graduate student at the University of Denver, and I voted “yes” on Amendment 41 because I believed I was voting to raise the ethical standards for government in Colorado. I would never have supported this amendment if I believed the intention was to ban scholarships to students whose family members serve the public. It is absurd to think otherwise, and I am tired of being told that I did not know what I was voting for. I read the amendment and it was clear to me that the intent of Amendment 41 was to prevent any violation of public trust by accepting gifts for private gain. I have also read House Bill 1304 in detail and urge the legislature to do the right thing: Support the will of the voters and pass HB 1304.
Heather Arnold-Renicker, Denver
…
House Bill 1304 implements the will of the voters to promote ethics statewide. Amendment 41 is good but its language, interpreted at the extremes, can lead to absurdities that no one intended or wants. The bill responds by defining terms, clarifying what is and is not allowed. Professors may accept prizes and students may receive financial aid. People can accept help when they are in need, honors when they deserve them, and bequests when loved ones die. And state officials and employees may ask the ethics commission to make an exception for any gift if the commission deems it would not breach public trust.
Further, the bill addresses the danger of frivolous complaints by trying to make certain they do not see the light of day.
HB 1304 will provide a visible ethics program underlining Colorado’s commitment to ethical government.
Roy V. Wood, Director, Center for Civic Ethics, University of Denver
Why not copy Swiss mountain rescue service?
Re: “After fall, before death, reassurance,” March 5 news story.
The article on the snowshoer who died on Mount Evans reminded me of the Swiss helicopter rescue service, called Rega. Rega is a non-profit foundation, and for about $25 you can become a member, which entitles you to free rescue by helicopter anyplace in Switzerland. The foundation has helicopters throughout Switzerland that can be launched within five minutes and can reach people in need in a very short time. The helicopters have medical equipment and alpine rescue specialists on board, plus winches, such as the U.S. Coast Guard has, to lift patients from difficult-to-reach locations. It seems to me that such a service might well have saved the life of the injured man on Mount Evans.
Richard Hull, Centennial
Giving ex-city attorney benefit of the doubt
The Denver media have already tried and convicted former city attorney Larry Manzanares without due process. I’ve read that Larry must have snapped, or that it is reasonable to conclude that such an outstanding citizen with an impeccable record of public service could instantly turn into a liar or a thief. When I heard Larry’s own explanation, I too found it difficult to believe. Yet Larry’s explanation fits with everything I’ve known about him based on 23 years of friendship: He is a crummy liar. Have those of you who are so quick to judge Larry considered the possibility that he may actually be protecting someone?
This is a far more plausible explanation, and one that is entirely consistent with his outstanding record of integrity and community work. Even if Larry did have a moral lapse, isn’t it the job of the appointed investigator to make this determination, and not the media?
Janette B. Benson, Denver
Colorado’s laws on video lottery terminals
Re: “No special bill for the casinos,” Feb. 21 Al Knight column.
Al Knight complained about Senate Bill 47, a bill that limits a form of slot machine known as a “video lottery terminal” or VLT. These are devices that look, act and sound like slot machines, and for practical and legal purposes, that’s what they are.
Knight is concerned about competition being restricted. Maybe Knight should worry more about the state constitution, which permits the use of slot machines only in the gaming towns of Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek. The limited gaming amendment requires a statewide vote and a local vote before gambling is legalized in any other city or county. But that hasn’t stopped video lottery advocates from trying to use shortcuts to put these devices in communities across the state.
In the ’90s, the Lottery Commission agreed, as part of a five-year plan, to authorize these devices by itself. That wasn’t fast enough, and the legislature considered – and rejected – several proposals to put these devices up and down the Front Range. Then, in 2003, the racetracks placed a statewide initiative before the voters to authorize VLTs at the tracks, but this measure would have sidestepped the local approval requirement altogether.
SB 47 simply acknowledges what everyone knows: VLTs are slot machines, and it requires voter approval on both the statewide and local levels before they become legal. Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald and Rep. Claire Levy deserve voters’ thanks for drawing a line in the sand, one that can be revisited by voters but cannot simply be ignored by lottery expansion advocates.
Al Price, Chair, Board of County Commissioners, Gilpin County
Treatment of soldiers
Re: “Woes at Walter Reed; Army chiefs admit errors,” March 6 news story.
Everyone should be upset about the way our government is treating our men and women wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Let our president and the rest of government know that this will not be accepted. Write, call or e-mail our newspapers, president, senators and representatives. Try to make something good happen for these people who have gone to war for us. There should be enough money to properly care for these people who have had their lives and bodies shattered in these two conflicts. They can’t just be forgotten.
Janice Schwener, Rifle
“Wasted lives” in Iraq
In the last couple of weeks, both Barack Obama and John McCain said that U.S. troops killed in Iraq were “wasted lives.” Both men apologized for their remarks after public furor.
Since I am not a spineless presidential candidate who is willing to say and stand by only what people want to hear, I will put the issue back on the table, with slightly different wording.
U.S. troops killed in Iraq died for nothing. They died because of George W. Bush’s ego, and nothing more.
Kurt Freund, Loveland
Al Gore’s energy usage
Re: “Is Al Gore’s star on the rise?” March 1 editorial.
I believe Al Gore’s star is rising. He won an Oscar and has been nominated for a Nobel Prize for educating us on the evils of greenhouse gas-caused global warming. When recently confronted about the fact that he uses 20 times more than the average amount of electricity and gas in his Tennessee mansion, Al let us all know that he is carbon neutral. He buys carbon offsets that give him absolution for the amount of his carbon-based pollution. He has to change nothing. In fact, he can use as much energy as he wants as long as he buys enough carbon offsets.
He may have given all of us a way of solving global warming. We should all pay an indulgence to companies like terrapass.com. These companies have the power of forgiveness for our emission sins and may even sell us trophies like the ones given to Oscar presenters.
Stephen H. Cohn, Northglenn
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