Coffee Joins Call For Probe Into Donations

Republican Senate leader Glenn Coffee today joined Republican State Chairman Gary Jones in calling for an investigation into donations that go "well beyond moral and legal limits."

Said Coffee: "The evidence presented today by Chairman Gary Jones shows a disturbing lack of regard for the spirit and the letter of Oklahoma Ethics rules and campaign law. The 18 PACs that were formed -- several within hours of the June 30 deadline for PAC-to-PAC contributions -- and received maximum donations from the Working Oklahomans Alliance PAC just prior to that deadline, are evidence of a clearly orchestrated effort on the part of a significant and affluent segment of the opposing party's campaign apparatus to assert influence on the election process that goes well beyond moral and legal limits.

"This is a very complicated matter. When one starts peeling back more layers of this onion, this thing could smell even worse.

"Considering the slow pace of justice, I trust that the appropriate authorities -- both at the state and federal levels -- will not let this matter fester, and will launch immediate investigations into this egregious breach of the public trust."

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Jones Seeks Ethics Panel Probe, Says 18 PACs Used To Funnel Workers Comp Donations

From The Oklahoma Republican Party ~ Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones said today that it’s time to quit playing politics with the issue of campaign ethics violations in Oklahoma and called on Oklahoma Democrat Chairman Ivan Holmes to join him in putting a stop to illegal contributions and ensure that no Oklahoma elections are determined with the use of illegal or unethical contributions.

“Several months ago I asked Chairman Holmes to join with me for the purpose of making Oklahoma elections fair and equitable,” Jones said. “If Chairman Holmes truly wants fair elections he will work together to help put a stop to the sleazy politics that have plagued our state’s past.

“In 2002 I had an election stolen from me with over $150,000 in illegal contributions to my opponent. It wasn’t until after the 2006 rematch that the majority of my opponent’s contributions were confirmed as improper,” Jones said. “I don’t want to see any other candidate, Democrat or Republican, have an election stolen as a result of illegal funding.

“Chairman Holmes stated he has concerns that he wants looked at. I, too, have concerns,” Jones continued.

“Let’s both just lay our concerns on the table and demand that the rules be followed.”

“Recent on-line reporting and internet access to contribution reports has allowed Oklahoma citizens to view reports and closer scrutinize those contributions,” Jones explained. “It was that access that helped make the connections that led to the indictment and conviction of many who violated campaign laws and violated the public trust.

“I am alarmed by the funds received and distributed by the Working Oklahomans Alliance PAC. The funds are collected from injured workers by their workers compensation attorneys; recent articles in the Oklahoman say the contributions could total over $1,000,000 and many supposed contributors say they didn’t know they were making political contributions,” Jones said. “Funds from the Working Oklahomans Alliance have been funneled into at least 18 other political action committees.

“These practices appear to be unethical and possibly criminal as well,” Jones asserted. “It is imperative that the Oklahoma Bar Association investigate this activity and the attorneys involved be held responsible, and possibly disbarred if appropriate.

“I call on the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to immediately open an investigation and a put a stop to this before any candidate gets elected with illegal or unethical funds,” Jones said. “Any candidate who has accepted these funds should immediately dispose of these tainted contributions.

“Recently Attorney General Drew Edmondson made a gift from his campaign funds to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. Chairman Holmes has been asking for more funding for the ethics commission. I hope he will join me in asking anyone who has accepted a contribution from anyone tied to this scheme give that as a gift to the Ethics Commission to investigate this and any concerns Holmes or others might have,” Jones concluded.

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Dank To Seek Second Term In HD85

Rep. David Dank (R-Oklahoma City) announced today he will seek a second term representing District 85.

“I was proud to sponsor one of the most significant pieces of legislation in the recent session, a major ethics reform bill that will remove the stain of ‘pay for play’,” Dank said. “However, there is much yet to do in the vital areas of ethics and property tax reform and I will ask my neighbors in District 85 to return me to the State Capitol so we can complete that work.”

Dank was the principal sponsor of the Oklahoma Clean Campaign Act, passed in the final week of the 2008 legislative session. The bill prohibits campaign contributions by lobbyists or those who employ them during each year’s legislative session and for five days after the end of those sessions, removing the close link that had existed for decades between lobbyist contributions and the passage of related legislation. (The bill is now on Governor Henry's desk; yesterday, the group The Center For Competitive Politics, based in Washington, sent Henry a letter objecting to a portion of the bill the group claims stifles free speech and thus, violates the First Amendment. The group, however, apparently was reacting to proposed Senate amendments to the bill that were rejected.)

Dank was elected in 2006, succeeding his wife, Odilia.

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Dank's Ethics Reform Measure Approved

The Senate and House today voted overwhelming approval for Rep. David Dank's ethics reform bill and it nows to Governor Henry for action.

House Bill 2196 bans campaign contributions from lobbyists and lobbyist principals during regular legislative sessions. The ban applies to contributions to the campaigns of state legislators and candidates for a state legislative office.

The bill was coauthored Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

“This is a giant step forward for clean and open government,” Dank said. “It puts some important distance between giving money and passing legislation. We finally succeeded in separating the lawmaking process from campaign cash. I am less worried about Granny Smith sending ten dollars to her legislator than I am with deep-pocket lobbyists giving big bucks to the same people who are considering their bills.”

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Benge Says Ethics Reform Work Will Continue

House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, released the following statement in response to the passage today of ethics reform legislation, House Bill 2196, the Clean Campaigns Act: “I commend my House colleagues for moving this issue forward in a constructive way. We will continue to work on the bill throughout session as we attempt to craft a comprehensive ethics package. I pledge to work with all members to put together a fair and equitable ethics bill that all members can be proud of when the process is complete.”

Rep. David Dank (R-Oklahoma City), who has made ethics reform a chief goal, reacted with this statement: "I want to thank my House colleagues from both parties who voted to advance this important reform measure. The two key elements in the bill include a ban on contributions during the legislative session to erect a barrier between fundraising and lawmaking, and the prohibition of money transfers between political action committees. These elements emerged intact.

"Ethics reform remains a central goal of this session, with strong bipartisan support in both houses. We are well on our way to enacting this bill into law and to restoring the public's faith in the way we do business here at the Capitol. I intend to push for final passage of the bill at the earliest possible date."

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House Rules Committee Advances Dank Reform Bill

Rep. David Dank (R-Oklahoma City) today praised members of both parties who voted to advance his ethics and campaign finance reform bill from the House Rules Committee.

"Today's action is the first step to real, comprehensive ethics reform in this session," Dank said. "I am grateful to the Republican and Democratic leadership for taking a stand for this bill, which will help restore the trust of Oklahomans in their elected officials. I am also grateful to Senator Glenn Coffee for agreeing to co-sponsor the bill in the State Senate. It is no accident that so many of the recent scandals in Oklahoma government are related to shady campaign funds. HB 2196 will be a first step in removing those temptations and cleaning up the process."

The bill, named the Oklahoma Clean Campaign Act of 2008, prohibits fundraising by incumbent legislators or legislative candidates during and 15 days before and after annual legislative sessions.

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Ethics Commission Approves New Rules, Limits PAC-to-PAC Transfers, Lobbyist Expenditures

From News Reports ~ The Oklahoma Ethics Commission today unanimously approved a stringent rule to stop political action committees from funnelling multiple contributions to a candidate in a tough race.

The commission also voted to allow lobbyists to spend only $100 per year on legislators in an effort to halt certain lawmakers from being treated to high-dollar dinners. The previous limit was $300.

Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, said reports indicate political action committees are getting around the intent of the law by moving $5,000 to other PACs, which then transfer that money to a candidate. Ethics officials said they think this is the first such rule in the nation prohibiting PAC-to-PAC contributions.

Ponca City Commissioner John Raley wanted to set a limit of $25 on the price of any meal. However, the commission decided that would be too drastic a change in the rules. The new rules are scheduled to become effective July 1st.

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Cargill Reacts To Dank's Ethics Proposal

House Speaker Lance Cargill issued this statement Monday following an announcement by Republican Rep. David Dank of his proposed ethics reform legislation:

"I commend Representative Dank for coming forward with this proposal for ethics reform. For far too long in our state’s history, there have been too many problems with ethics in state government, from the Supreme Court to the Legislature to the governor's office. That’s why I was proud to author last year’s House Bill 2101, which has been described by many, including officials at the state Ethics Commission, as the most sweeping and comprehensive legislative ethics reform in years. House Bill 2102, among other things, banned contributions at the Capitol and honoraria payments to legislators. Obviously, anything we do must be constitutional, but we certainly support tough rules. I look forward to reviewing the details of Representative Dank's proposal."

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Lamons Backs Dank's Ethics Proposal

Rep. Lucky Lamons, D- Tulsa, today said he supports an ethics proposal by Rep. David Dank, R- Oklahoma City. (See story below.)

“The reforms that have been proposed in the past were bi-partisan proposals that would halt legislative members from soliciting or receiving campaign contributions during legislative session. In 2005, I filed House Bill 2014, in 2006, I filed House Bill 2449 and in 2007, I filed House Bill 1436, all with Representative John Trebilcock, R- Broken Arrow, and Senator Patrick Anderson, R- Enid, as co-authors. However, since 2005 none of these measures were never even allowed out of committee and have been killed by House and Senate leadership ever since.

“I applaud Representative Dank’s efforts to combat this perceived corruption and unethical behavior that takes place at the State Capitol. I look forward to working with him next session to have these measures signed into law.”

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Ethics Reform Proposal Now Bipartisan Effort

As a House committee on Monday advanced an ethics reform proposal, House and Senate leaders signed on as co-authors of House Bill 2110 in an effort to craft a final bipartisan plan. House Speaker Lance Cargill (R-Harrah) and House Democrat Leader DannyMorgan (D-Prague) said the bill is a work in progress that will change as bipartisan discussions continue.

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