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April 04, 2007 03:36 PM UTC

Out Come the Robocalls

  • 20 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

It’s that time of year again, even in an off-year, as the Denver Post reports:

Two state lawmakers filed ethics complaints Tuesday accusing lobbyists for Colorado homebuilders of falsely claiming the legislators were pushing a bill that would raise taxes and help trial lawyers.

The allegations come amid an aggressive campaign by builders against a measure that would restore the ability of some homeowners to sue over construction defects.

“While this practice of hard ball politics seems to be a lobbying tactic, I find the practice of lying to my constituents completely unethical,” Borodkin wrote.

It is legal for groups to run ads about lawmakers, but the complaints cite a legislative rule that prohibits lobbyists from attempting to influence lawmakers “by means of deceit” or threats.

The complaint names Steve Durham, lobbyist for the Colorado Association of Homebuilders, and William Mutch, lobbyist for Colorado Concern…

“And I am angry that we have Amendment 41 that makes us look like a bunch of profiteering legislators, … when I think that people need to be looking at the lobbyists,” [Borodkin] said. [Pols emphasis]

Robocalls are cheap. If it’s shocking to see them used eighteen months away from the next election, it probably shouldn’t be.

Having said that, we’ve never heard of a constituent who wanted to receive one, and many insiders doubt their efficacy for anything besides inspiring backlash. In fact, some say robocalls would do more good if they backhandedly endorsed the opposite of their backers’ goals.

Which would probably be illegal…

Comments

20 thoughts on “Out Come the Robocalls

  1. Well, all I can say is that when they picked Borodkin’s constituents to pick on, they picked the WRONG legislator to mess with!
    I would not trade places with these guys for all the tea in China!

    1. Grass roots lobbying, motivating voters to call their legislators, is a legitimate polticial strategy, and it’s used by every special interest group one way or another.

      The builders made the mistake of lying and have been caught, big time, losing support in the process.

      That a builder would be deceptive in his lobbying suggests to me that I wouldn’t want to buy a house from that man.

  2. Didn’t Jared Polis hire the very same Steve Durham to fight for ethics reform?
    Is this yet another blackeye for the aspiring Congressman?

    1. I think that was Rep. Borodkin was getting at.
      http://www.rockymoun

      While all the scrutiny (repulsive rhetoric) is being applied to the legislators, it’s lobbying tactics like that of Durham and the Homebuilders that causes the public to be untrustful of the process.

    2. I would appreciate seeing where Polis hired a lobbyists. Google shows only accusations by bloggers such as yourself, but nothing that shows it directly. So where are you getting that info?  And if you have some inside info about it, that is cool, please share. But it seems to me that you are being less gadfly and are simply trying to swift boat this. Do you work for anybody yourself?

        1. Lobbyists have to register that they are lobbyists and WHO is paying them. As such, there should be a paper trail that properly says that Polis pays these guys. But I can not find it. All I find is what bloggers and a couple of reporters say.

          So is there real proof that shows that Polis has hired Lobbyists?

          1. that’ true when representing an organization to influence a bill.  Morgan Carroll’s bill that passed last year mandates that not only must all lobbyists be registered with the SOS, but what bills they are interested in and for or against. 

            I’m not sure that funding must be revealed, although if I am a lobbyist for the Organic Chicken Gizzard Assoc, that should be pretty obvious.

            But if a person that is a known lobbyist is being hired for expertise, but not to influence legislation, I would guess that that is not covered.

  3. The only good use of robocalls is to help alert voters of an upcoming election that is not hetting much press coverage, particularly municipal special elections.

    Had there been robocalls simply asking people to vote in the Denver special mail-ballot election in Jan. (rather that the call pushing passage of the measure), we have seen more than 12% turn out. Especially if the call from a generally respected, neutral voice.

  4. I’m serious.  If someone wants to advocate a position to me on my telephone, they have to get a human being to dial the phone and talk to me.

    1. And failing to ban them for all other purposes creates the jeopardy of people hanging up on reverse 911’s before they realize what kind of call it is, thus inhibiting our ability to get out emergency messages to the public quickly and effectively.

  5. There is no doubt that Jared Polis is paying Steve Durham. Jared Polis has admitted hiring him. Why is Jared Polis paying a Republican lobbyist who carries out unethical attacks on a Democrat  facing a tough reelection campaign?

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