Legislators Ordered To Repay Postal Costs

Sun., March 21, 1999

Republican Reps. Tom Huff and Karen Schmidt broke a state law when they mailed, at public expense, a booklet that promoted a ballot measure the Legislative Ethics Board says.

Huff of Gig Harbor and Karen Schmidt of Bainbridge Island were ordered to reimburse the state $3,725, the amount it cost the House Republican Caucus staff to mail the 107-page booklet to news outlets last May.

Huff and Schmidt signed the order Wednesday, and the board chairman signed it Thursday.

The booklet, “Addressing the Transportation Crisis,” by the caucus staff concerned Referendum 49, the transportation funding measure that was approved by voters last November.

The ethics board concluded the booklet was intended to promote passage the referendum.

Huff is co-chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and Schmidt is co-chairwoman of the House Transportation Committee.

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