A second complaint filed Thursday alleging lobbyist Nate Gorman misled lawmakers in order to secure passage of a bill was dismissed by legislative leadership, sources familiar with the case say.
Gorman still faces an ethics complaint filed last week by Rep. Wes McKinley, D-Walsh, who says Gorman threatened to cut out his tongue and stuff it down his throat.
A three-lawmaker ethics panel was slated to hold its final hearing on McKinley’s complaint Thursday but the chair abruptly adjourned the meeting so legislative leadership could consider the additional accusation in private.
Gorman has said McKinley’s complaint was lodged to discredit him, and Gorman declined to comment on the new allegation.
Rep. Jim Kerr of Littleton is one of two Republicans who signed onto the new complaint.
“There are two kinds of lobbyists: the lobbyist that will spin and the lobbyist that will tell you who is for and who is against a particular issue,” Kerr said. “(Gorman) only tells you what he thinks you need to hear for him to make his point.”
Kerr said Gorman told a lawmaker that parties interested in a health care bill were either supporting or neutral on the legislation, House Bill 1371. But Kerr said at least one critical participant — himself — was opposed to the bill.
Kerr sits on the House health committee that would hear the bill.
Sen. Ken Kester, R-Las Animas, is the other lawmaker signed onto the complaint, Kerr said.
Both Republicans testified on McKinley’s behalf at an hearing earlier this week.
The ethics panel meets again today to further consider McKinley’s original grievance. Legislative leadership has asked them to deliver their findings by today.
Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com
