Caledonia Argus

GOP files complaint against Anderson

Posted: 8/5/03

by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

Four days after DFLers filed a complaint against the governor, Republican Party state officials replied with interest, filing two complaints against Democrats.

Republican State Chair Ron Eibensteiner announced Tuesday, July 29, the party had filed a complaint with the Campaign Finance and Disclosure Board against Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul.

In addition, Republicans filed a complaint against the DFL Party and DFL House caucus ó they want an investigation into how campaign contributions were placed in federal and state accounts.

Republicans accuse DFLers as engaging in a ìshell gameî with respect to the contributions.

Eibensteiner couched the complaints as necessary reactions against DFL duplicity.

DFLers cynically use words like ìaccountabilityî in their attacks on the governor, ìyet their accusations are replete with hypocrisy,î said Eibensteiner.

House DFL Caucus Director of Public Affairs Lou Harvin said the caucus was so certain Republicans were going to file a complaint on something, it considered putting out press release predicting one.

ìTheyíre just trying to steer everyone away from the governor at this point,î said Harvin.

As for the complaint filed against the caucus and party, Harvin said a clerk had been fired for improperly directing contributions and that DFLers have been open and forthcoming about it.

ìItís nothing weíre pleased about; something weíve corrected,î he said.

Eibensteiner argued that blaming an underlining was ìconvenient.î

In the complaint against Anderson, Republicans allege the four-term DFLer potentially violated state campaign law by failing to disclosure securities on her statement of economic interest.

Anderson on Monday (July 28) admitted she had a made a mistake in not listing the securities ó funds for her childrenís college education, she explained.

Anderson, whoís Senate commerce committee will hold a hearing on telecommunications on Monday (Aug. 4) making inquiries into Gov. Pawlentyís telecom connections, said the securities she failed to cite were listed on her husbandís disclosure form.

Anderson is married to former state representative Andy Dawkins.

Eibensteiner pooh-poohed Andersonís explanation.

How does someone forget investments made for their childrenís education, he said.

DFLers have gone through postage in mailings to the Campaign Finance and Disclosure Board as well.

In their complaint filed on July 25, DFLers allege Pawlenty may have violated state law in his handling of monies he received from the telecom industry.

Specifically, they question Pawlentyís nondisclosure of compensation from BAMCO and Associates LLC, a company wholly-owned by him.

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