The Rocky Mountain News on February 3 published a correction to an earlier article that uncritically had repeated a falsehood from former U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis' (R-CO) spokeswoman that the wife of his potential rival in the 2008 Senate race, U.S. Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO), “is a lobbyist for the Sierra Club.” However the “correction” in the February 3 print edition of the News noted only that the article had “included inaccurate employment information about Udall's wife, Maggie Fox” and then stated that Fox “no longer works for the Sierra Club and is now president of the organization America Votes.” It did not acknowledge the original falsehood that claimed she “is a lobbyist.” Moreover, an edited version of the same article available on the News website as of February 5 merely omitted Smith's comments, thus avoiding any acknowledgement that the original article was inaccurate or that McInnis himself is a lobbyist.

As Colorado Media Matters noted on February 2, the original February 2 News article (accessed through the News' electronic edition and the Nexis database) reported that Udall “agreed to co-sponsor a bill that seems to be pointed at a past controversy involving campaign payments to the wife of former GOP congressman Scott McInnis, a potential rival” for the 2008 Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO). McInnis and Udall are considered the current front-runners for Allard's seat. According to a February 1 press release about the proposed bill from Udall's office, paying “an immediate family member a salary from a campaign account for campaign-related work ... is a gaping loophole in campaign finance law and ... the Candidate Anti-Corruption Act would close it and ensure that campaign funds go toward legitimate uses and not toward enhancing a candidate's lifestyle.”

The News article pointed out that McInnis had received “media scrutiny and complaints from Democrats when his campaign continued to pay his wife thousands of dollars per month to work as campaign manager even after he announced his intention to leave Congress,” making it appear that Udall's press statement was aimed squarely at McInnis.

The February 2 News article then reported that McInnis' spokeswoman, Susan Smith, “jab[bed] back, mentioning that Udall's wife is a Capitol Hill lobbyist for environmentalists” -- namely, “for the Sierra Club.” Fox has been president of America Votes, a get-out-the-vote action and educational group, since early 2006.

Additionally, the News in its original story failed to note its own earlier reporting that McInnis himself is a lobbyist. As News columnist Peter Blake noted on January 17, McInnis works for the Denver office of the law firm Hogan & Hartson, which “listed an amazing 2,992 clients with the U.S. Senate's lobbyist registry.” According to Blake, “McInnis' personal list of clients includes the American Red Cross (Katrina-related issues), EnCana (oil and gas), Cunningham Bounds (another large law firm; budget issues), Eclipse Snow Park (public lands), Anschutz Corp. (taxes) and even The Pueblo Chieftain (water).”

From the February 2 Rocky Mountain News print edition article, “Possible rivals for Senate seat trade potshots,” by M.E. Sprengelmeyer:

Two possible rivals in the U.S. Senate race in Colorado fired warning shots at each other Thursday, sounding themes that could echo from now until November 2008.

Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., agreed to co-sponsor a bill that seems to be pointed at a past controversy involving campaign payments to the wife of former GOP congressman Scott McInnis, a potential rival.

That prompted a McInnis spokeswoman to jab back, mentioning that Udall's wife is a Capitol Hill lobbyist for environmentalists.

It started when Udall issued a news release saying he was co-sponsoring an “anti-corruption” bill with Rep. Phil English, R-Pa. It would prohibit candidates or their immediate family members from drawing salaries from campaign committees for campaign-related work.

McInnis drew media scrutiny and complaints from Democrats when his campaign continued to pay his wife thousands of dollars per month to work as campaign manager even after he announced his intention to leave Congress.

Paying family members from campaign accounts is legal as long as the spending is for legitimate campaign work or expenses and it's at market rates. The practice is relatively common in Congress, and several current or past Colorado lawmakers are among those who have done so.

[...]

McInnis could not be reached for comment Thursday, but spokeswoman Susan Smith said that “any rules they put in place he has and always will comply with.”

Through the spokeswoman, McInnis also took a jab back at Udall, mentioning proposals to ban the spouses of members of Congress from lobbying on Capitol Hill -- another common practice.

"(McInnis) thinks that will be an interesting process to watch, primarily because Maggie Fox, Mark's wife, is a lobbyist for the Sierra Club," Smith said.

From the February 3 Rocky Mountain News print edition correction:

A story on Page News 5 Friday about potential U.S. Senate contenders Rep. Mark Udall and former Rep. Scott McInnis included inaccurate employment information about Udall's wife, Maggie Fox. She no longer works for the Sierra Club and is now president of the organization America Votes.