ALEC violated Minnesota campaign board ruling

[highplainsdem]

From the Minnesota Independent:

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On March 4, 2011, ALEC hosted an educational event in Bandana Square in St. Paul. In attendance were state lawmakers including ALEC state chair Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake) and an ALEC task force director, who traveled there for the meeting.

The event likely violated guidelines set in a 1995 opinion (below) offered by the Ethical Practices Board, now the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. Under the ruling, which was brought on by a similar event organized by the group at that time, ALEC was directed to register a lobbyist with Minnesota if “the issues forum and any written materials distributed include information that communicates with or urges others to communicate with officials in attempts to advocate a particular position to an official about legislative or administrative action.”

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The Minnesota Independent quotes Hamline University School of Business professor David Schultz, who pointed out that because this forum wasn't just educational -- because ALEC is seeking to influence legislation and legislators -- they're still required to register a lobbyist, which they failed to do.

Schultz weighed in on the possible outcomes of ALEC not registering a lobbyist with the state: “It looks like any event they’re going to be sponsoring in the future is going to require them to continue to be considered a lobbyist.” He added, “It could affect issues like their tax status.”

Opinions from the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board are interpretations of Minnesota statutes, in this case the one governing the state’s lobbyist disclosure requirements. Board investigations of statutory violations are generally triggered by public complaints. If a violation of statute is found by the board, it could lead to a civil penalty.

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Emphasis added.

For more information on this group and the harm it does, see the long compilation topic on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).