BERENS SHOULD CORRECT $20,000 CONFLICT OF INTEREST
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| Also listed in: Boulder County Progress | Broomfield County | Women's Network |
The Broomfield County Democrats call on State Representative Bill Berens (R-Broomfield) to return the $20,000 he accepted from the good old boy network of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association or at least give it to charity. Because Berens will sit on the Transportation and Energy committee if elected, this money represents an inherent conflict of interest as a legislator.
"Contrary to Mr. Berens' opinion, this issue is not about his golf game. Is it illegal for him to take such a large sum of money from an organization that he could help to regulate? I do not know. But I know it is definitely wrong," said Greg Rathmell, chair of the Broomfield County Democrats.
Colorado voters have repeatedly made clear that they expect their elected officials to avoid conflicts of interest. Berens supported Senate Bill 51 which lowered the value legislators can accept as gifts and went into effect on July 1 - one month before he accepted the money. This year, voters will consider a citizen sponsored initiative, Amendment 41, which puts severe limits on the ability of elected officials, government employees and their families to accept gifts of practically any amount.
"All we have to support our confidence is Berens' statement that he will not change his votes because of it. That is not good enough," Rathmell continued. "After 20 years of being a politician, he should know this. The public trust is not earned by the absence of criminal behavior. We deserve more."
"Contrary to Mr. Berens' opinion, this issue is not about his golf game. Is it illegal for him to take such a large sum of money from an organization that he could help to regulate? I do not know. But I know it is definitely wrong," said Greg Rathmell, chair of the Broomfield County Democrats.
Colorado voters have repeatedly made clear that they expect their elected officials to avoid conflicts of interest. Berens supported Senate Bill 51 which lowered the value legislators can accept as gifts and went into effect on July 1 - one month before he accepted the money. This year, voters will consider a citizen sponsored initiative, Amendment 41, which puts severe limits on the ability of elected officials, government employees and their families to accept gifts of practically any amount.
"All we have to support our confidence is Berens' statement that he will not change his votes because of it. That is not good enough," Rathmell continued. "After 20 years of being a politician, he should know this. The public trust is not earned by the absence of criminal behavior. We deserve more."
