KCNC CBS4 has yet to report on a story, detailed by The Denver Post in an October 12 article, that the CBS network paid for a trip 7th Congressional District Republican candidate Rick O'Donnell took to Panama while serving as head of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. The Post reported that, according to O'Donnell, “KCNC-Channel 4 gave him the trip, paid for by the CBS network, after the commission purchased television ads encouraging Latinos to attend college.”

The Post article by Christopher N. Osher detailing O'Donnell's trip to Panama was posted on the paper's website at 1:21 a.m. October 12. However, October 12 CBS4 News broadcasts from 5 a.m., 5:30 a.m., 6 a.m., and noon did not report on O'Donnell's trip. An Associated Press article about O'Donnell's trip was posted on CBS4's website at 9:48 a.m. October 12.

According to the Post article, “Walt DeHaven, KCNC's general manager, did not return telephone calls seeking comment.”

The Post reported on October 12 that “Republican congressional candidate Rick O'Donnell, who has blasted politicians who accept perks, took an expenses-paid trip to Panama with his girlfriend arranged by a TV station doing business with a state agency he headed.” As the Post reported, “Ethics has been a major theme in the heated 7th Congressional District race between O'Donnell and his Democratic rival, Ed Perlmutter.” The Post further noted that O'Donnell “insists” Perlmutter “would be a 'walking conflict of interests' if elected to Congress because his wife is a lobbyist.”

The Post reported January 26 that O'Donnell announced “he will resign [as head of the commission] March 10 to pursue a 7th District congressional bid.” According to the Post's October 12 report, “O'Donnell took the trip three weeks before he resigned”:

The Post further reported:

KCNC-Channel 4 gave him the trip, paid for by the CBS network, after the commission purchased television ads encouraging Latinos to attend college, O'Donnell said. Such perks -- called incentive trips in the industry -- are commonly used for heavy advertisers.

O'Donnell said he did nothing wrong.

[...]

He [O'Donnell] said he doesn't view his campaign stance as being at odds with the trip.

“This wasn't to lobby me to do anything,” he said. “This wasn't to lobby me to be favorable to a college. This was to say thanks for being our partner.”

According to O'Donnell's campaign website, “To once again put America first in Washington, D.C., Rick scoured the country for the best ideas and pulled them together in a 12-step Congressional reform plan.” O'Donnell's “12-Point Plan to Clean Up Congress” includes:

Ban[ning] corporations, trade associations, unions, foundations, and individuals from paying for the travel expenses of a Congressman or staff to attend a charity event. Too often these trips become all-expense-paid vacations for Congressmen and another way to peddle influence.

In light of CBS4's reported involvement in O'Donnell's trip and in the advertisements purchased by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education under O'Donnell's leadership, a news story by CBS4 might be able to address statements made by O'Donnell and reported in the Post:

• “This wasn't to lobby me to do anything,” he [O'Donnell] said.
• As for the CBS trip, O'Donnell said he asked whether he could auction the trip for charity or transfer it to one of the Latino youths targeted during the Higher Education Commission's media campaign, but he was told he could not.
• [Perlmutter spokesman Scott] Chase said O'Donnell should have refused the trip and asked for the money to be used to purchase additional commercials that would benefit the taxpayers.

The O'Donnell campaign, though, said he tried to do that but was rebuffed by the station.

CBS4 also might be able to address the following unanswered questions raised by the Post article:

• O'Donnell said about 20 others from Colorado were on the trip, but he couldn't remember who they were.
• He [O'Donnell] also said he could not recall how much money the commission spent on the ad buy.