On Monday the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee is scheduled to meet to decide whether to continue its investigation of House Speaker Gene Chandler.
Chandler has been accused of violating ethics guidelines by taking gifts of more than $250.
The Attorney General is also investigating the House Speaker for not reporting tens of thousands of dollars worth of gifts.
But Chandler isn't the only elected official to raise large sums and not report it.
Executive Councilor Ruth Griffin failed to fully report about 80 thousand dollars she has raised and used for personal uses.
But as New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein reports, unlike for legislators, there are no comparable ethical guidelines that govern executive councilors.
In 2004 Executive Councilor Ruth Griffin collected about 27 thousand dollars in contributions from lobbyists, political action committees and friends.
Griffin says she used the money for personal expenses.
The Councilor raised the money through a so-called Friends Committee.
State law considers money collected for personal use by an elected official as a gift.
And Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlon says the reporting requirements are clear.
T.33
:10 under RSA 15-B an elected official is required to report on June 15th every year gifts that were received in the course of the last 12 months....anything above 50 dollars.
Over the past four years, Griffin reported her Friends of Committee earnings...sort of.
In 2002 she reported that she received $25,868 dollars.
What she didn't do is include who gave her the money, as the law requires.
But Griffin at least filed something.
House Speaker Gene Chandler has held annual fundraisers since 1998, and only reported it once.
Both Chandler and Griffin did take financial gifts from individuals who had an interest in statehouse business.
Griffin, for example, received contributions from two construction firms that have state contracts.
State law says an elected official can't do that.
The Attorney General's Office has said it is investigating Speaker Chandler.
And Legislative Ethics Committee Chair Representative Shawn Jasper has called for the AG to investigate Ruth Griffin.
But Assistant Attorney General Bud Fitch declined to comment on specifics.
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:31 the AG's office is currently reviewing all gift filings, all lobbyist expense filings and contribution and expenditure filings. Beyond that...we have no further comment at this time.
Speaker Chandler is also under investigation by the Legislative Ethics Committee.
As the name would suggest, the Legislative Ethics Committee concerns itself only with legislators.
Guidelines were adopted for the Legislature ten years ago.
A decade later, the Executive Council does not have an equivalent.
But at least two councilors, however, say they would support such guidelines today.
Councilor Ray Burton.
2:21 I think it would be good for us to have some kind of policy, some kind of law. I have a feeling the House and the Senate, I hope they set up a kind of commission to review the laws, all the regulations that have to do with campaign money...let's get out ahead of this...and I would be willing to serve on this Commission.
If the councilors wanted to install ethical standards, it apparently is something they can choose to do.
Bryan Gould is special counsel to the Executive Council.
:34 the most reliable way of ensuring enforceable rules would be for governor and council to adopt such rules themselves.
Governor-elect Lynch says he plans to put in place a commission that will propose ethical standards for the executive branch with some real teeth.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
