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Panel approves ethics penalties
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Saturday, February 17, 2007 | No comments posted.
SALEM (AP) - Oregon's ethics watchdog panel on Friday approved settlements requiring four legislators, a former lawmaker and a lobbyist to pay penalties ranging from $150 to $4,100 for failing to report trips to Maui and other locales.
However, members of the Government Standards and Practices Commission rejected proposed settlements with two other lawmakers and a former legislator, saying they wanted higher penalties against the three for accepting rounds of golf that exceeded the state's gift limits.
The panel also began a preliminary review of whether another lawmmaker, Rep. Deborah Boone, D-Cannon Beach, was in violation for neglecting to report that a business group provided her two nights' lodging to attend an economic conference in Portland in 2004.
The imposition of penalties Friday closes the books on the ethics inquiry for six of those involved in the trips, and it comes as the 2007 Legislature is considering a tightening of the state's ethics laws.
The largest penalty imposed by the commission Friday was against Paul Romain, lobbyist for the Oregon Beer & Wine Distributors Association, who will pay $4,100 for 16 violations, including failing to report the legislators' trips to the ethics commission.
Romain's group paid $18,000 to host Republican and Democratic lawmakers at a Maui resort in 2002 and 2004. Neither the legislators nor Romain reported the trips as required by law until The Oregonian disclosed the trips last fall.
The civil penalties approved Friday were against Sen. Jason Atkinson, R-Central Point, $150; former Sen. Tony Corcoran, D-Cottage Grove, $150; Sen. Ryan Deckert, D-Beaverton, $150; and Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Hillsboro, $300.
In another penalty approved Friday, Rep. Karen Minnis, R-Wood Village, will pay $400 for failing to report three trips, including one to Israel that was arranged by Romain.
Ethics commission members voted to negotiate for higher penalties against three lawmakers who exceeded the state's gift limits by accepting two rounds of golf worth $145 apiece during the 2004 Maui trip - Sen. David Nelson, R-Pendleton; Rep. Wayne Scott, R-Canby; and former Rep. Derrick Kitts, R-Hillsboro.
The three had earlier agreed to pay $450 each in penalties, but commission members Friday said those amounts should be higher to reflect some of the value of the golf games they accepted.
While state law allows public officials to receive lodging and travel of any value for office-related events, they cannot accept entertainment or other gifts worth more than $100.
The ethic panel's preliminary review of Boone stems from an amended report she filed showing the Portland Business Alliance provided her two nights' lodging at a downtown Portland hotel, for a total of $177, during the December 2004 Oregon Business Summit conference.
Boone says she didn't initially report the trip because she didn't realize the cost of her lodging had exceeded the $71-a-day threshold at which such lawmakers must report such expenses.
The commission will decide within 90 days whether the case merits a formal investigation.
However, members of the Government Standards and Practices Commission rejected proposed settlements with two other lawmakers and a former legislator, saying they wanted higher penalties against the three for accepting rounds of golf that exceeded the state's gift limits.
The panel also began a preliminary review of whether another lawmmaker, Rep. Deborah Boone, D-Cannon Beach, was in violation for neglecting to report that a business group provided her two nights' lodging to attend an economic conference in Portland in 2004.
The imposition of penalties Friday closes the books on the ethics inquiry for six of those involved in the trips, and it comes as the 2007 Legislature is considering a tightening of the state's ethics laws.
The largest penalty imposed by the commission Friday was against Paul Romain, lobbyist for the Oregon Beer & Wine Distributors Association, who will pay $4,100 for 16 violations, including failing to report the legislators' trips to the ethics commission.
Romain's group paid $18,000 to host Republican and Democratic lawmakers at a Maui resort in 2002 and 2004. Neither the legislators nor Romain reported the trips as required by law until The Oregonian disclosed the trips last fall.
The civil penalties approved Friday were against Sen. Jason Atkinson, R-Central Point, $150; former Sen. Tony Corcoran, D-Cottage Grove, $150; Sen. Ryan Deckert, D-Beaverton, $150; and Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Hillsboro, $300.
In another penalty approved Friday, Rep. Karen Minnis, R-Wood Village, will pay $400 for failing to report three trips, including one to Israel that was arranged by Romain.
Ethics commission members voted to negotiate for higher penalties against three lawmakers who exceeded the state's gift limits by accepting two rounds of golf worth $145 apiece during the 2004 Maui trip - Sen. David Nelson, R-Pendleton; Rep. Wayne Scott, R-Canby; and former Rep. Derrick Kitts, R-Hillsboro.
The three had earlier agreed to pay $450 each in penalties, but commission members Friday said those amounts should be higher to reflect some of the value of the golf games they accepted.
While state law allows public officials to receive lodging and travel of any value for office-related events, they cannot accept entertainment or other gifts worth more than $100.
The ethic panel's preliminary review of Boone stems from an amended report she filed showing the Portland Business Alliance provided her two nights' lodging at a downtown Portland hotel, for a total of $177, during the December 2004 Oregon Business Summit conference.
Boone says she didn't initially report the trip because she didn't realize the cost of her lodging had exceeded the $71-a-day threshold at which such lawmakers must report such expenses.
The commission will decide within 90 days whether the case merits a formal investigation.
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