Today, the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission (IEC) issued its first position statement interpreting the anti-revolving door provision of Amendment 41, which was approved by voters in 2006.  The IEC ruled that Amendment 41 prevents state legislators from serving as professional lobbyists or as "legislative liasons" hired by state agencies to lobby the legislature for two years after leaving office, but does not prevent former state legislators from becoming members of the governor's cabinet or serving in other public positions that have never been subject to lobbyist registration requirements.

"We are pleased that the IEC did not attempt to weaken the common-sense reform that the voters demanded in 2006," said Ethics Watch Senior Counsel Luis Toro.  "There is nothing unreasonable about expecting state legislators not to immediately cash in on their connections in the Capitol to get a paid lobbying position as soon as they leave office, and the IEC was right to recognize that fact.  The IEC's action makes it more likely that legislators will act in the best interest of their constituents, without influence from the possibility of securing a lucrative lobbying position when they leave office."

The IEC Rules of Procedure provide that the Commission may issue position statements to provide guidance to persons subject to IEC jurisdiction and the general public. In today's position statement, the IEC encourages people with more fact specific questions regarding the revolving ban to submit requests for advisory opinions or letter rulings from the IEC.

Also today, the IEC issued an advisory opinion approving a legislator's acceptance of a trip to a conference, finding that under the facts presented, the travel expenses fell under the exception to Amendment 41 gift ban found at Section 3(3)(f) of Article XXIX of the Colorado Constitution.

More information regarding the IEC may be found at Ethics Watch's Eye On The IEC.