An October 26 article by Alan Gathright in the Rocky Mountain News uncritically reported Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's (R) claim “that unlike Democrats, [Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob] Beauprez isn't shackled by special-interest obligations that prevent him from revamping public education or the state health care system” and that Republicans are “not tied to any special interest.” However, campaign contribution information compiled by The Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets website shows that Beauprez took nearly $2 million in political action committee (PAC) money for his congressional campaigns, including significant funding from insurance and pharmaceutical PACs.

According to the News, Romney visited Colorado “to energize Bob Beauprez's Colorado gubernatorial bid Wednesday.” Speaking at an October 25 fundraiser for Beauprez, Romney, according to the News, “praised Beauprez as a bold leader who will carry on the trailblazing legacy of Gov. Bill Owens.” The News then quoted Romney's comments regarding “special-interest obligations”:

“Republican governors are increasingly associated, not just with public safety and transportation and keeping government running well and lean ... but you're seeing Republican governors are known for improving schools and education and the environment,” Romney told 100 state Republican power players, including Owens, at the Cool River Cafe in Greenwood Village.

“We care about those things just as much as Democrats do, and we have one big advantage: . . . We're not tied to any special interest.”

The News article also noted that “Romney's remarks echo those of Beauprez, who says Democratic opponent Bill Ritter won't shake up the education system or maintain lawsuit damage limits because the former Denver district attorney is too beholden to teachers unions and trial lawyers.”

However, the News failed to point out that -- Romney's statements notwithstanding -- Beauprez has taken nearly $2 million in donations from PACs for his campaigns for the 7th Congressional District, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The Center noted that 36 percent of the contributions for Beauprez's congressional campaign coffers have come from PACs.

According to the Center, a PAC is “a political committee organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. Most PACs represent business, labor or ideological interests."

While the News article reported Romney's comments regarding Democratic “ties to trial lawyers and labor unions handcuff[ing] Democrats' freedom on health care reform,” the same article failed to note that Beauprez has taken significant federal campaign contributions from insurance and pharmaceutical PACs.

The following table shows some, but not all, of the PAC money that Beauprez, who is serving his second term as the U.S. representative for the 7th District, received for his congressional coffers. The information comes from OpenSecrets:

Type of PAC contribution

2002 cycle PAC contribution examples

2004 cycle PAC contribution examples

2006 cycle PAC contribution examples (includes only federal contributions for his congressional seat)

Oil & Gas

$18,000

$51,500

$8,000

Tobacco

$11,500

$12,000

$1,000

Insurance

$15,000

$54,000

$14,500

Mining

$2,500

$14,000

None

Electric Utilities

$1,250

$20,750

$6,000

Pharmaceuticals/ Health Products

$1,000

$27,000

$8,000

Beer, Wine & Liquor

$15,000

$22,500

$12,000

Labor - Transportation Unions

None

$11,000

None

The Center for Responsive Politics “is a non-partisan, non-profit research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics, and its effect on elections and public policy” and “conducts computer-based research on campaign finance issues for the news media, academics, activists, and the public at large.”

From the October 26 Rocky Mountain News article, “Star touts Beauprez”:

Romney praised Beauprez as a bold leader who will carry on the trailblazing legacy of Gov. Bill Owens. He said that unlike Democrats, Beauprez isn't shackled by special-interest obligations that prevent him from revamping public education or the state health care system.

“Republican governors are increasingly associated, not just with public safety and transportation and keeping government running well and lean . . . but you're seeing Republican governors are known for improving schools and education and the environment,” Romney told 100 state Republican power players, including Owens, at the Cool River Cafe in Greenwood Village.

“We care about those things just as much as Democrats do, and we have one big advantage: ... We're not tied to any special interest.”

With less than two weeks until Election Day, Romney urged people to rally voters for Beauprez, calling him “this great new governor here who's going to fight for one thing: the people of this great state.”

Romney's remarks echo those of Beauprez, who says Democratic opponent Bill Ritter won't shake up the education system or maintain lawsuit damage limits because the former Denver district attorney is too beholden to teachers unions and trial lawyers.

[...]

Likewise, he said, ties to trial lawyers and labor unions handcuff Democrats' freedom on health care reform.