The House Democratic Caucus has issued a statement commenting on the outcome of today's House Ethics Committee on the conduct of Rep. Phil Hart. Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, said in the statement, "“I appreciate the Speaker forming a committee in response to my complaint and am grateful for Chairman Loertscher’s leadership of the committee deliberations. With that said, I am disappointed in the dismissal of the conflict of interest issue by a majority of the members of the committee and their implicit conclusion that Representative Hart’s behavior and actions were acceptable.” Click below for the full release.

Press release from the House of Representatives Minority Leader
For immediate release - Thursday, July 29, 2010

House Democrats Comment on Ethics Committee Vote
Boise – House Democrats are speaking out about today’s party-line votes by the House Ethics Committee in favor of dismissing the conflict of interest charges against Rep. Phil Hart and against reprimanding Hart and recommending his removal from the House Revenue & Taxation Committee.
House Minority Leader John Rusche said, “I appreciate the Speaker forming a committee in response to my complaint and am grateful for Chairman Loertscher’s leadership of the committee deliberations. With that said, I am disappointed in the dismissal of the conflict of interest issue by a majority of the members of the committee and their implicit conclusion that Representative Hart’s behavior and actions were acceptable.”

Representative Wendy Jaquet, the committee’s vice-chair, said, “I believe that the circumstances of this case merit a different outcome. The Legislature’s internal ethics rules are designed to protect the integrity of the Legislature as an institution and to sustain the public’s confidence in legislators, and the result of this proceeding does neither.”

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