http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=6497936
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Republican Party starts damage control
The Alaska Republican Party has been plagued with ethics scandals for
several years.
by Megan Baldino
ANCHORAGE --
The corruption probe fallout continues and the state Republican Party
says it is appalling and embarrassing to know that Republican
lawmakers were for sale.
Party officials say it will now return money it received from VECO
Corporation after two company executives pled guilty Monday to bribing
those lawmakers.
For the last few years Republicans have been the party in control, but
party leaders have been plagued with a rash of ethics violations,
including GOP Chairman Randy Ruedrich, who admitted in 2004 to
conducting party business while working as a commissioner with the
Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission for the Murkowski
administration.
Ruedrich later was forced to pay a $12,000 for violating state ethics
laws.
And now the largest political scandal in state history has identified
several corrupt Republican lawmakers who sold their votes on oil tax
legislation to VECO chairman Bill Allen and Rick Smith, the company's
vice president, both of who have been long-time Republican Party
supporters and campaign contributors.
North Pole Representative John Coghill, a Republican, says the party
and its lawmakers have taken a hit.
"But it is a truism that those of us who were in authority at the
time, though not having any responsibility in this matter, will take
some of the reputation for it," he said.
Coghill served as the majority leader of the House in 2006, when
charging documents indicate that two former legislators, Pete Kott of
Eagle River and Bruce Weyhrauch of Juneau, as well as Vic Kohring, the
current representative for Wasilla, sold their votes to Allen and
Smith in exchange for money and jobs.
The party is now attempting to move forward, albeit cautiously.
Bill Large, attorney for the Alaska Republican Party, released this
statement today:
"Our elected officials are stewards of the resources we hold in
common, and it is both appalling and embarrassing to know that these
individuals appear to have been for sale."
The statement went on to say that the GOP fully supports Governor
Sarah Palin's call to review any legislation from the 2006 session
that may have been influenced by individuals who have already pled
guilty.
It also says money donated by four VECO executives for the 2006
election cycle was never spent.
"Everything since the prior election was put on hold. We held those
funds -- $35,000 -- until we learned of the two guilty pleas," said
Ruedrich.
Ruedrich, who remained party chairman despite his own ethical
troubles, says the Republicans have asked the Alaska Public Offices
Commission what to do with the money.
Further, he says the party will then seek federal approval before the
money is dispersed.
Ruedrich says APOC's advisory decision should be released by next week
and the Party will continue to monitor the FBI investigation.
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Just another ongoing Republican scandal. So what's new.
Harry
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