A legislative ethics board this afternoon began its review of whether Sen. Abel Tapia broke any laws or Senate rules in securing money for a state agency that paid his engineering firm.
Tapia, who disclosed that he’s received more than $800,000 total in state contracts since taking office, has asked the panel to focus specifically on contracts granted by the Colorado State Fair.
The fair granted him about $440,000 in contracts over an eight-year stretch.
The Pueblo Democrat both sponsored and voted for legislation to direct millions into the indebted fair’s coffers, including sponsoring one bill that secured an additional $1.1 million for a project his engineering firm apparently oversaw at the time.
It’s unclear how broad the four-person ethics panel, comprised of lawmakers from both parties and both chambers, will be in its address of Tapia’s question.
And lawmakers treading new ground have asked for an additional week to make a decision.
Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com.
