February 28, 2006

The Honorable Andrew Romanoff
Speaker of the House
Colorado State Capitol
Denver, CO  80203

Dear Speaker Romanoff,

We write to ask for a formal ethics investigation into the misuse of taxpayer dollars and possible criminal violations by Colorado House District 38 Representative and current Minority Leader Joe Stengel during 2005.

While it's legal for Colorado House and Senate leadership to be compensated for legislative work performed out of session, they cannot ethically bill taxpayers for days they didn't work.

In 2005 Stengel collected a check for 240 of the 247 days out of session, as reported by the non-partisan Legislative Council.  According to the Rocky Mountain News, Stengel claims that the seven days he didn't work were 7 major holidays.

Thus those 240 days Stengel billed included 5 days he spent vacationing in Hawaii, time campaigning for gubernatorial candidate Marc Holtzman, traveling statewide as Chairman of the campaign against Referenda C&D, and 2 full days taking the bar examination. (click here for a Stengel chronology)

We ask that you conduct a full ethics investigation into any possible violations and criminal misconduct pursuant to, but not limited to:  title 18, article 8, of the Colorado Criminal Code for Soliciting Unlawful Compensation and for First Degree Official Misconduct as well as for violations of title 1, article 45 of the Fair Campaign Practices Act.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

William C. Cisney
Constituent, HD 38

Jody Morris
Constituent, HD 38
Felice Sage
Constituent, HD 38

Diane Steen
Constituent, HD 38

Todd Soderberg
Constituent, HD 38