colorado constitution section V, article 43 - prohibited voting on bills with personal interest

[xiondavis]

I think there are a couple of house members that need to go re read section V, article 43 of the Colorado constitution. That article says any legislate member with personal and private interests in a bill are required to publicly disclose that fact and are prohibited from vote on said bill. Legislature members are elected to serve the people, not themselves. If the people you represent want something than vote on it. If you have a personal interest, such as an emotional interest, you are doing a disservice to the state and there are remedies for that. There are a couple of house members that have publicly and officially made it very clear that they have a personal interest in this legislation and that personal interest is affecting their vote. Per article 43; They must abstain from vote on said legislation.

[xiondavis]

Oh, and I just wrote to my representatives, something I have never felt the need to do before.

[Fmedges]

interesting. I'm sure they will disregard that as they do with the rest of the state and federal constitution.

[Cthulhu]

interesting. I'm sure they will disregard that as they do with the rest of the state and federal constitution.

True, but it may be a way to remove them from office or sick the judiciary branch on them. I really have no idea but would like to pursue every avenue available to defeat this BS.

[brutal]

This may be known, but should be pointed out nonetheless, to anyone that is in a position to act quickly on it.

I'm going to forward this to Chris Holbert and try to catch his attention.

[brutal]

On Sun, Feb 17, 2013 at 3:22 PM, Representative Chris Holbert <repholbert@gmail.com> wrote:

Personal interests as in financial gain.

If the standard was any subject for which the legislator has an interest, then I would have to be completely uninterested in the the subject on order to vote.


Even when the could be financial interest (gain) for a member, it must be unique and not part of a class. For example , the "retired" teachers who are now legislators and who are collecting PERA retirement, a legislator's $30K/year salary, and who can still vote on PERA issues when those PERA bills affect everyone in PERA equally.


I would encourage you to not expend time on this. There in no trick to avoiding the vote tomorrow.


- Chris

[xiondavis]

Thanks for that info.. That's why I'm not a lawyer. I still think its wrong to openly vote your emotions rather than for the people you represent. I guess that's why I'm not a politician either.

[neversummer900]

Love it. Tell Rhonda Fields "Sorry you can introduce but you don't get to vote on it" HAHAHAHAHAHA !
Just a bummer it doesn't apply.