Face The State has the details about the Boulder Democrat:
On the April 16 report, [state representative Jack] Pommer lists campaign contributions from registered lobbyists and special interest groups made on February 5. The date is significant, as it falls exactly a month into the legislative session. Under Colorado campaign finance law, it is illegal for lobbyists or special interest groups that lobby to give or solicit money for the campaigns of state office-holders while the legislature is in session.
“The way the law reads, it says lobbyists shall not give,” said Rich Coolidge, spokesman for the Secretary of State. “The burden falls on the lobbyist.”
Lobbyist contributions came from Jane Urschel of the Colorado Association of School Boards and consultant Thomas Shilling, as well as the Colorado Professional Firefighters, the Colorado Livestock Association, the Qwest Employees Political Action Committee, and the Boulder Valley Education Association. The total contributions from these six entities total $5150.
While the possibility exists that Pommer may have received the contributions prior to the start of the legislative session, state law requires that candidates report the contributions were [sic] they are received, not when they are deposited.
Jack Pommer — who recently paid off $15,000 of nearly $20,000 in delinquent fines with the Secretary of State — either has extraordinary problems with basic details, or there are numerous lobbyist organizations in flagrant violation of legislative ethics laws. Here’s guessing it’s the former. But even with that better-case scenario, it speaks poorly of Pommer’s judgment.
Maybe someone could just hire the man a qualified bookkeeper. But what’s a little shady ethics between friends anyway?
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