Colorado Lawmakers decline to investigate lobbyist; Repukes boycotts in protest

[Ian David]

Lawmakers decline to investigate lobbyist; GOP boycotts in protest

y Steven K. Paulson
The Associated Press

DENVER — With Republicans boycotting in protest, legislative leaders decided Wednesday at a closed meeting not to order an ethics investigation of a lobbyist for a teachers union.

A GOP lawmaker had accused the lobbyist of violating House ethics rules because she did not describe a school funding plan as a tax increase.

The decision not to pursue the complaint was made by the Legislature’s Executive Committee, made up of the leaders of both parties in the House and Senate. House and Senate rules require they meet in closed session to discuss ethics complaints.

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The complaint was filed against Lynn Mason, a lobbyist for the Colorado Education Association that represents about 38,000 union teachers across the state. The complaint said Mason sent a memo to union members asking them to ask lawmakers to support a plan by Gov. Bill Ritter to freeze residential property tax rates to raise more money from schools.

More:
http://www.longmontfyi.com/Local-Story.asp?id=15997