Elected officials, lobbyists, office-seekers and political campaigns owe the secretary of state’s office more than half a million dollars in fines — money that would immediately help out the cash-strapped state.
Nearly all the fines resulted from the failure to do what Colorado voters decided seven years ago was crucial: file paperwork so the public can see who has contributed to campaigns and what interests are potentially influencing legislation.
“Voters said they wanted financial transparency, and that’s why we follow the law and fine (campaigns and lobbyists) when they don’t file,” said Rich Coolidge, spokesman for Colorado Secretary of State Bernie Buescher, referring to Amendment 27, which was passed in 2002.
Campaigns are fined $50 a day for late filings. Lobbyists pay a $10 daily fee.
Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, incoming chief of the committee that writes the state budget, has a long history of failing to file his campaign disclosures on time. Last year, for instance, he didn’t file his January paperwork until July.
This summer, Pommer paid $15,000 in accumulated fines to the secretary of state. He still had $9,120 to go. After being contacted by The Post last week, Pommer paid off the fines, using a chunk of his own money because he had only $5,871.64 in his campaign account.
“There is a cost to being stupid,” Pommer said. “I could appeal, but I don’t know what I would say.”
Under Colorado law, candidates are personally liable for their campaign committees, Coolidge said. Recovered fees go into the secretary of state’s cash fund.
Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers is on the hook for $605, according to the secretary of state’s office. Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, is listed as owing $150. But he gave the office a check for that amount, which is being held until a decision is made on his fee waiver application.
Rep. Wes McKinley, D-Walsh, has a tab of $157.50, but he’s been disputing it for months, saying he faxed in his documents on time. McKinley said last week that he’s dealt with both the secretary of state’s office and state collections five or six times but can’t make any headway.
“I’m going to go up there and tell that bald-headed Bernie Buescher that his staff is incompetent,” McKinley said.
Some issue committees owe thousands of dollars. Build the Future Education, a small donor committee financed by the local carpenters union, owes $66,894 — just over half of what it originally owed until the secretary of state’s office waived $57,175. The Conservative Caucus of Delta County has $67,900 in fines, even though the committee raised a total of only about $1,000. And the Colorado League of Taxpayers owes $7,150.
A number of candidates who made unsuccesful bids for office have racked up huge tabs. A former contender for House District 41 in Arapahoe County has a $13,087 bill, while another person who ran for House District 33 in Broomfield a few years ago owes $60,160. A district attorney in southern Colorado owes $12,870 in fees.
Lobbyists overall owe much less than candidate and political committees, likely because their daily fees are smaller.
Coolidge said the secretary of state has a waiver process that permits part or all of the fees to be wiped out. But once the matter is turned over to collections — usually in about 60 days — it’s very difficult to reduce them.
“Then our hands are usually tied,” he said.
Karen Crummy: 303-954-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com
