The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission, approved by voters in 2006, struggles to do its work for lack of authority, resources and money, say critics who include former administrators.
Its limitations have made what might have been a graft-busting agency a panel of five political appointees who give their opinions and, at worst, charge a fine of double the amount of money in question.
The commission has declined to hear 86.8 percent of the complaints it has received since it was created.
Unless a public official or government employee received a gift worth more than $53 or seeks a job as a lobbyist, there’s little else the commission concerns itself with.