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"It is a matter of ethics and morals and not about expediency or efficiency. People who believe it is about expediency or efficiency should find another career." Gary Lindstrom
It is about Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay. It is about the money.
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that money is free speech under the First Amendment. The ruling said that giving money to candidates is a way to use your right to free speech. I agree with the ruling but I am not sure that what is happening is what they are talking about.
When I wrote my article about my election picks last week somehow Amendment 41, Standards of Conduct in Government, did not make it on the list. I had a couple of nice e-mails pointing this out and asking that I write something about my support. I also had a nasty e-mail accusing me of telling people how to vote. This is my opinion, folks.
I would never presume to tell anyone how to vote. Maybe some of you did not read last week's column to the very end. Here are the Cliff's Notes on my positions. I am in favor of legalizing small amounts of marijuana, I am for making petitioning government easier and I am for reducing the amount of money people can give elected officials.
Here is the question as it will appear on the ballot Nov. 7.
Amendment 41 Standards of Conduct in Government
When I wrote my article about my election picks last week somehow Amendment 41, Standards of Conduct in Government, did not make it on the list. I had a couple of nice e-mails pointing this out and asking that I write something about my support. I also had a nasty e-mail accusing me of telling people how to vote. This is my opinion, folks.
I would never presume to tell anyone how to vote. Maybe some of you did not read last week's column to the very end. Here are the Cliff's Notes on my positions. I am in favor of legalizing small amounts of marijuana, I am for making petitioning government easier and I am for reducing the amount of money people can give elected officials.
Here is the question as it will appear on the ballot Nov. 7.
Amendment 41 Standards of Conduct in Government
Amendment 41 provides new restrictions on gifts valued at $50 or more, including scholarships to all public officials and government employees, including firefighters, police, file clerks and independent contractors, as well as every government employee's immediate family members. An exception is made for gifts between personal friends and relatives of any government employee on special occasions only; prohibits statewide elected officeholders from lobbying certain state elected officials for pay for two years after leaving office; and creates an ethics commission appointed by elected officials with individual members having investigative and subpoena power.
Simple? Right? You can't imagine the anxiety this is causing among many elected officials and lobbyists. Someone I thought would support the measure commented that, "It would destroy government as we know it." Hmmmm. If that is the case then maybe we need to destroy government as we know it. This part of government is broken and out of control. I am not against lobbyists. I think lobbyists perform a very valuable service to government. Lobbyists get paid huge amounts of money to represent various groups and organizations. All the lobbyists I know do a great job. They normally will know more about what is going on at the capitol than anyone else.
The old joke is you can whisper something on the third floor of the capitol to someone, walk down to the basement and a lobbyist will walk up to you and tell you what you just whispered on the third floor. This is very close to the truth.
Lobbyists keep the wheels of government moving very smoothly but they can do it just as well without giving elected officials money and gifts.
Simple? Right? You can't imagine the anxiety this is causing among many elected officials and lobbyists. Someone I thought would support the measure commented that, "It would destroy government as we know it." Hmmmm. If that is the case then maybe we need to destroy government as we know it. This part of government is broken and out of control. I am not against lobbyists. I think lobbyists perform a very valuable service to government. Lobbyists get paid huge amounts of money to represent various groups and organizations. All the lobbyists I know do a great job. They normally will know more about what is going on at the capitol than anyone else.
The old joke is you can whisper something on the third floor of the capitol to someone, walk down to the basement and a lobbyist will walk up to you and tell you what you just whispered on the third floor. This is very close to the truth.
Lobbyists keep the wheels of government moving very smoothly but they can do it just as well without giving elected officials money and gifts.
The Denver Post published a list of the members of the state legislature who had received the most gifts valued at the greatest amount of money. There were individual elected officials who had received thousands of dollars in gifts. Many of the gifts were sports tickets worth thousands of dollars. Tickets to Broncos, Nuggets and Avalanche games. The people receiving these tickets are also the people most interested in seeing the measure fail.
As a personal disclosure, I have received money from lobbyists for my campaign and other expenses. I have reported everything I have received and it is on the Secretary of State's website. I have also donated most of the excess money to charity to allow the community to benefit. I have never received any sports tickets or junkets. I was offered sports tickets but turned them down because, quite frankly, I am not a sports fan. Never have been and never will be.
I think it is time we return integrity to government. I am not even sure if this amendment goes far enough. I think it should be a crime to accept anything at any time from any lobbyist or special interest group. A legislator's vote is not for sale and neither is the integrity of any other public official.
State Representative Gary Lindstrom of Lakeview Meadows represents Summit, Eagle and Lake counties. He can be reached at gary@garylindstrom.com, or visit www.garylindstrom.com.State Representative Gary Lindstrom of Lakeview Meadows represents Summit, Eagle and Lake counties. He can be reached at gary@garylindstrom.com, or visit www.garylindstrom.com.
As a personal disclosure, I have received money from lobbyists for my campaign and other expenses. I have reported everything I have received and it is on the Secretary of State's website. I have also donated most of the excess money to charity to allow the community to benefit. I have never received any sports tickets or junkets. I was offered sports tickets but turned them down because, quite frankly, I am not a sports fan. Never have been and never will be.
I think it is time we return integrity to government. I am not even sure if this amendment goes far enough. I think it should be a crime to accept anything at any time from any lobbyist or special interest group. A legislator's vote is not for sale and neither is the integrity of any other public official.
State Representative Gary Lindstrom of Lakeview Meadows represents Summit, Eagle and Lake counties. He can be reached at gary@garylindstrom.com, or visit www.garylindstrom.com.State Representative Gary Lindstrom of Lakeview Meadows represents Summit, Eagle and Lake counties. He can be reached at gary@garylindstrom.com, or visit www.garylindstrom.com.
