SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "State earns D+, a barely passing grade, in ethics"

Are you surprised?

Odds are, the common working folks out here are not going to be surprised at all to hear this.

Charles Ashby:
"DENVER — Though Colorado ranked better than many states in how it guards against government corruption, it still received a barely passing grade in the ethics and open-government laws it has enacted, according to a study released today.

The state ranked 33rd in the nation in such laws, but received only a D-plus grade in the State Integrity Investigation, a first-of-its kind computer-database report examining all 50 states’ ethics and open-government laws. It was compiled by the Center for Public Integrity, Public Radio International and Global Integrity.

Though the state ranked high in open-record and campaign finance laws, the report said its laws in openness in insurance, government pensions and ethics were lacking.

Overall, only five states received a B grade, and 19 were awarded Cs. No state got an A.

Colorado was one of 18 that scored Ds, while eight got Fs.

The report was released to mark the end of Sunshine Week, a national initiative designed to highlight the importance of open government and freedom-of-information laws...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "Some digging might be in order"

'SandBox Nanny' has stayed out of the public flap over powerful business people, elected officers of courts, cities and counties (and) the public in multiple counties mud-wrestling over whether or not documents that touch the public or public funds in any way are subject to anyone asking for them through CORA or FOIA.

Today, however.  She's going to toss up the calm voice in all the emotional storm of Maurice Emmer on this  rock-solid win for the public on the merits of Sunshine Law.

One really does have to look long and hard at any municipality or government entity in Colorado that even hesitates in releasing public information.

"....Recently I met with the district attorney to find out whether he believed the city has engaged in criminal conduct. I did so because I had read several criminal provisions of the Colorado statutes that seemed to me might apply to various aspects of the city's conduct.

I found out that a former councilman has been requesting from the district attorney information (emails, etc.) about contacts citizens have made with his office. The district attorney is obligated to disclose this information under the same Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) that permits citizens to examine anonymous ballots and other public records.

Why is a former councilman interested in whether citizens are curious about potential criminal conduct by the city? Is it idle intellectual curiosity? Is it attempted intimidation? Is it the whim of the former councilman or is it instigated by people now sitting in City Hall?


I could ask for records from City Hall under CORA to find out more about who is behind this juvenile activity. So could you. CORA is available to everyone."
(Maurice Emmer, Aspen)

(Read more?  Click title.  Don't know rights under CORA?  You should. Comment to discuss)

"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."