Stronger ethics rules on panel's agendaOKLAHOMA CITY -- Stronger ethics rules, including one crafted to stop political action committees from funneling multiple contributions to a candidate in a hot race, will be considered Friday by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.
Rep. Mike Reynolds, who spends time scrutinizing campaign reports, has proposed the PAC-to-PAC prohibition, which was strongly opposed by some House Republican leaders last spring.
Just before the Legislature adjourned in May, the Ethics Commission reversed itself and dropped the PAC-to-PAC prohibition. Rep. Trebor Worthen, R-Oklahoma City, who leads the House Republican PAC, opposed the rule, saying it would be unconstitutional.
Ethics Commission member John Raley of Ponca City, an attorney, said he has not been able to discover any validity to that claim, adding, "This rule is very necessary."
Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, said records indicate that candidates with close races were receiving $5,000 contributions from multiple PACs that were working together to contribute to a candidate.
Individuals and PACs are each limited to $5,000 contributions to an individual candidate.
James W. Loy of Chickasha, chairman of the Ethics Commission, is sponsoring the rule.
By law, a donor, including individ uals and PACs, cannot make a campaign contribution to a PAC with the stipulation that it must go to a particular candidate. This prohibition includes "recommending" that a cer- tain candidate should get the donation, said Marilyn Hughes, executive director of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. But Reynolds suspects that this is happening.
Regarding a proposed ban on giving lawmakers free football tickets, Raley said, "It is difficult for me to see how (receiving football tickets) can enhance good government."
"This is a way of purchasing access" to lawmakers, which is something the public does not have, he added.
OU reported this week that it had provided $300 each to 139 lawmakers for football tickets with the legislators picking up the rest of the cost, or about $35 per ticket. OSU gave 80 lawmakers tickets worth $288 each.
Rules passed by the Ethics Commission become law at the end of the legislative session, which adjourns in late May, unless the lawmakers vote to reject the rules. However, the governor can veto the lawmakers' actions.
The Ethics Commission meets at 10 a.m. Friday in Room 511A at the Capitol.
Meanwhile, two lawmakers have filed bills calling for strong ethics laws, including one that would prohibit lawmakers from accepting contributions when they are writing laws during regular session. Texas and some other states have adopted such a prohibition.
Mick Hinton (405) 528-2465
mick.hinton@tulsaworld.com
UNDER CONSIDERATION
Rules being considered by the state Ethics Commission:
A prohibition on transferring money collected while holding one state office to a race for another office. This proposal resulted after former House Speaker Todd Hiett raised $650,000 in that position and transferred it to his unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor.
A ban on lawmakers accepting free football tickets, which would end the tradition of legislators’ receiving tickets for the University of Oklahoma Sooners’ and Oklahoma State University Cowboys’ games.
A $200 limit on gifts that lobbyists can give to lawmakers annually, a reduction from $300.
A limit on how much a lobbyist can spend on a meal provided to a lawmaker, amounting to $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner. This rule is being proposed after lobbyists filed reports showing that several lawmakers were receiving free dinners costing more than $100. Rep. Dennis Adkins, R-Tulsa, who leads the powerful Energy and Technology Committee, led the list of lawmakers receiving free meals and other gifts during the last session.
A requirement that lawmakers would have to list the names of consultants and others who receive payment from the legislator’s campaign account. Lawmakers now list only broad categories of expenses, such as consultants and labor.
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