Smith ally confirms Senate Ethics violation
Smith used taxpayer resources to film a promotional, political video
for Oregon Right to Life
According to a recent article in The Bulletin, the head of Oregon Right to Life has confirmed that the video U.S. Senator Gordon Smith filmed in the U.S. Senate Recording Studio on behalf of the group “was always intended to promote her group's activities.” Senate rules explicitly prohibit the use of Senate resources for promotional or political purposes.
In an Oct. 24 article in The Bulletin of Bend, the Executive Director of Oregon Right to Life, Gayle Atteberry, also said that, "The original purpose was just to make an Oregon Right to Life promotional video to talk about Oregon Right to Life and the many things it does."
According to the U.S. Senate Ethics Manual, “Senate space may NOT be used for any...promotional...purpose whatsoever.”
Additionally, Smith's campaign manager seemed to recognize the video was a violation of Ethics rules. In the same article in The Bulletin, Brooks Kochvar, Smith's campaign manager, said he had asked Oregon Right to Life “to take the spot down” late last week.
The issue of Smith filming a political video promoting Oregon Right to Life came to light last week when NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon filed an Ethics complaint against Smith.
“Senator Smith has said several times that lawmakers should not be lawbreakers, but when it comes to helping his right-wing allies he's apparently willing to bend the rules,” DPO Chair Meredith Wood Smith said. “At the very least, Senator Smith should reimburse the taxpayers for using Senate resources for a political purpose.”
Posted October 28, 2008 Choice 0 comments
Comments
Post a comment