STATE OF MINNESOTA
CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE BOARD
. . . . . . . . .
Wednesday, July 24, 2002
. . . . . . . . .
Robert Whitaker Conference Room
First Floor, Centennial Office Building
. . . . . . . . .
Meeting was called to order by Vice Chair
Spear
Members present: Fluegel, Miller, Pauly, Spear
Chair Kelley and Ms. Chambers informed Board
staff that they would be unable to attend the meeting.
MINUTES
(June 6, 2002)
Ms. Pauly’s MOTION: To approve
the June 6, 2002, minutes as drafted.
Vote on MOTION: Unanimously passed.
CHAIR'S
REPORT
Board
Meeting Schedule
Next meeting is scheduled for August 28, 2002.
Ms. Olson submitted the following written
report:
·
Staff Activities
The Board’s redesigned website became active on Wednesday, July 17th. Staff continues to make the information more easily accessible and to increase the amount of information on the site.
Copies of the annual Campaign Finance Summary for 2001 and a compilation of Advisory Opinions issued from July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2002, were available for Board members.
Staff continues training in Finance 2002 and has scheduled sessions to assist clients in filling out the pre-primary Report of Receipts and Expenditures due August 26th. Sessions have been added in Duluth and Rochester.
July 15th was the due date for Lobbyist Disbursement Reports. This is the first report due following the effective date of the Board’s new lobbyist rules. Previously, about 3,100 reports were filed three times a year. Under the new system, staff expects about 2,100 or fewer reports will be filed each reporting period.
Staff is preparing additional mailings to clients about the August 1st law changes. The biggest item is the need for candidates to re-file a public subsidy agreement between August 1 and September 3rd to qualify for general account payments following the primary election. Staff is also updating handbooks in all programs to reflect the August 1st changes.
· Personnel
Jeff Sigurdson reviewed the performance of Joyce Larson which exceeds expectations. Ms. Larson will receive a step increase and a performance based raise under the terms of the AFSCME contract.
Ms. Olson introduced Leah Drilias and Monica Fuentes. Ms. Drilias began work in the Board office as the Compliance Officer on July 19. Ms. Drilias was previously employed by the Attorney General’s office. Ms. Fuentes began work in the Board office as a student worker on July 1. Ms. Fuentes is a senior at Hamline University. She will work part-time throughout the summer and will continue into the school year. The previous student worker resigned.
Patty Klinger, part-time employee, has taken the summer off and hopes to return in the fall.
Legislation
The “Phase Two” budget bill included no
further cuts in the Board’s permanent budget for this year. However, Ms. Swanson and Ms. Olson attend a
Department of Finance overview of the FY04/05 budget. They were informed that the Board, and all other agencies, will
have a permanent 10% decrease in base level funding for the next biennium. In addition, agencies will receive no
automatic funding for increases in salaries, other personnel costs, and rent
costs. Any additional costs will need
to be absorbed by each agency within the reduced funding. Because personnel costs account for about
87% of the Board’s normal funding, it appears that we may be unable to fill the
Program Assistant position with a full-time permanent employee.
·
Council on
Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) Conference (see June 6, 2002, minutes)
The Commissioner of the Department of
Employee Relations approved the Board’s request to travel to Ottawa, Canada,
for the annual COGEL conference.
Enforcement Report
Board Action: Authorization of a third certified letter to compel filing of the Lobbyist Disbursement Report due April 15, 2002, and collection of any accrued late filing fee and subsequent legal enforcement action if the report is not filed and the late filing fee is not paid. Two certified letters were sent and staff attempted to contact each individual by telephone.
Kathy Clouser, Sustainable Resources Center
Elizabeth Coover, Association of General Contractors of Minnesota
Gena Doyscher, Global Crossing
Ray Egan, ABATE of Minnesota
Ray Egan, Minnesota Motorcycle Riders Association
Bob Gustafson, TwinWest Chamber of Commerce
Robert Illingworth, Minnesota Motorcycle Riders Association
Barbara Kilbourne, Catholic Health Association of Minnesota
Kenneth Michaelson, Kenneth Michaelson
Bruce Miller, Common Cause of Minnesota
Francis Viggiano, Minnesota State University Student Association
Board
Action: Authorization of
referral to the Office of the Attorney General for failure to file the Annual
Report of Lobbyist Principal that was due March 15, 2002. Two
certified letters were sent and staff contacted each organization or one of
their lobbyists by telephone.
ABATE of Minnesota
Bob
Erickson
Carter–Wallace,
Inc.
Catholic
Health Association of Minnesota
Global
Crossing
Minnesota
Motorcycle Riders Association
Telaguard
Board Action: Authorization
of a third certified letter to compel filing of the Original Statement of
Economic Interest, and collection of any accrued late filing fee and subsequent
legal enforcement action if the report is not filed and the
late filing fee is not paid. Two certified
letters were sent and staff attempted to contact each individual by telephone.
Lynn Ayers, Medical Services Review Board, due March 8
Randall Brown, Board of Dietetic and Nutrition Practice, due March 19
Mr. Fluegel’s MOTION: To authorize the actions specified in the consent matters.
Vote
on MOTION: Unanimously passed.
Informational Items
Paul Krabbenhoft, Board of Water and Soil Resources: $5
Excess Anonymous Contribution Paid to State General Fund
Jon C. Saunders, treasurer, Dean Elton Johnson Volunteer Committee: $50
Rollin Bergman, treasurer, Roger Moe Volunteer Committee - During calendar year 2001, the Roger Moe Volunteer Committee accepted a contribution that facially exceeded the nonelection year contribution limit. Senator Moe returned the contribution, entered into a conciliation agreement on June 23, 2002, and paid a civil fine of $200.
Financial
statement and agency deposits
- Mr. Sigurdson submitted
reports covering July 1, 2001, through May 30, 2002.
Annual Agency Spending Plan
Board members reviewed the proposed agency spending plan for fiscal year
2003.
Ms. Pauly’s MOTION: To approve the proposed agency
spending plan for fiscal year 2003.
Vote on MOTION: Unanimously
approved.
ADVISORY
OPINION REQUEST
Advisory Opinion Request #342 - Mailings to members of an organization for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of a candidate is a campaign expenditure that must be made through a political committee
Board members reviewed the advisory opinion
request from an association who asks if the association may send letters to
members reporting on lawmakers past performance and voting record as measured
against the group’s rating criteria and if those expenses would be reported as
expenditures of the political committee of the organization.
Mr.
Miller’s MOTION: To lay over
Advisory Opinion 342 to the next Board meeting.
Vote
on MOTION: Unanimously passed.
Counsel Huwe presented the legal counsel report
outlining the status of cases, which have been turned over to the Attorney
General’s office (see copy of memo attached).
In the matter of the investigation of the Friends of (Hubert H. (Buck) Humphrey IV) Humphrey Committee – The Board issued a finding showing that there is probable cause to believe that the Friends for Humphrey Committee violated Minn. Stat. §10A.273 by accepting a contribution from a registered lobbyist during the regular session of the legislature in 2002. In lieu of forwarding the finding of probable cause to the county attorney in Ramsey County to pursue a judgment in district court, the Board imposes a civil fine of $100. The Board ordered that the finding and the record of the investigation be made a part of the public records of the Board (see copy of finding attached).
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting
adjourned.
Jeanne
Olson
Executive
Director