Today, Ethics Watch filed a complaint with Rep. Terrance Carroll, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, asking the House to investigate Rep. Steve King (R-HD 54) and determine whether he received payment from the State of Colorado for travel expenses that were actually paid by his campaign committee.

State legislators, including Rep. King, can request mileage reimbursements from the state, but must certify that the amount requested "has not and will not be reimbursed to me from any other sources . . . and that I actually incurred or paid the operating expenses of the motor vehicle." Rep. King's campaign finance reports show that his campaign paid $1,408.33 in travel related expenses during the 2009 legislative session, including gasoline, repair and rental vehicle expenses. He requested and received $5,018.60 in mileage and rental car expenses from the state during the same time period, raising the question of whether he was “double-dipping.”

“The House should thoroughly investigate to determine whether Rep. King was obtaining travel payments from state funds under false pretenses,” said Luis Toro, Director of Ethics Watch.  “The system in place to pay necessary travel expenses to members depends on the members’ honesty, and any breach of that trust is a serious matter.”

Ethics Watch reviewed campaign finance reports from 100 legislators and requested records from the Legislative Council regarding those legislators whose campaign finance records showed payments of travel expenses during the first three quarters of 2009. Rep. King was the only legislator whose reports raised a strong suspicion that he may have been double billing the state and his campaign account for travel expenses related to his legislative work.  Today’s complaint asks for an ethics committee to be appointed to determine whether Rep. King billed the state for expenses that were also covered by his campaign account.

Under the Rules of the Colorado House of Representatives, the Speaker and the Majority and Minority Leaders must meet and determine whether the complaint states an ethical violation.  If they conclude that it does, they must appoint an ethics committee to investigate.  The committee may dismiss the complaint or recommend sanctions, such as a censure or reprimand, to the full House.