It’s burning outside, but that doesn’t mean the summer heat has gotten in the way of lobbying dough.
According to Secretary of State records, the pharmaceutical lobby is pumping out loads of cash. Then there’s the quashing of Amendment 41, an action which has been good to state Reps. Mike May and Cheri Jahn. Lobbyist disclosures show that the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), an advocacy group made up of pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, spent $23,875 in the month of June on lobbying. Firm Colorado Communique Inc. netted $15,000 of the expenses, while lobbyist J. William Artist received the rest. In May, PhRMA also gave Colorado Communique $30,000.
Without the restrictions of Amendment 41, which barred lobbyists from giving gifts to legislators, lobbyist Totsy Rees spent a total of $191 on Reps. Mike May (R-Parker) and Cheri Jahn (D-Wheat Ridge) in June–just one month after a judge granted an injunction against the measure.
Rep. May was treated to a $98 dollar lunch along with other amenities totaling approximately $20, disclosure records show.
Rees also spent $71 on Rep. Jahn, although it is not disclosed what for.
Rees represents a number of clients, including General Motors, AT&T, the GEO Group, a private prison firm.
