August 20, 2004

Legislators urged to look at ethics

Steenstra calls for changes to commission that investigates charges

By The Associated Press

With several lawmakers under investigation by the state Ethics Commission, the Legislature is being urged to revamp the watchdog agency and the laws that empower it.

"The Legislature has got to clean itself up. No one else can do it, outside of perhaps the U.S. attorney,'' said Norm Steenstra, executive director of the West Virginia Citizen Action Group.

His group filed the complaint against Sen. Mike Ross that has prompted the Ethics Commission to issue formal charges and schedule a November public hearing.

The complaint faults Ross, D-Randolph, for voting on a bill this year that allocated $750,000 in state funds to benefit the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport. Ross had helped finance the club's 2001 purchase, through a perk-laden loan agreement with the club's owners.

Ross said Thursday that he did nothing wrong. He blamed politics for the charges against him.

"I'd say there's a lot of politics involved. It's a political season and they're (the commission) certainly under pressure to do something with all of us. ... We're looking forward to the hearing,'' he said.

"I've already apologized to everybody in the state for voting for it, not because it's a bad project but because it created the presumption I was going to make a lot of money and that's not true at all.

"It's just part of the political game and I've been through it before. ... We'll weather the storm and keep on going," he said.

The case against Ross comes amid House Speaker Bob Kiss's announcement that Delegate Jerry Mezzatesta will no longer serve as House Education chairman. The Ethics Commission is investigating whether the Hampshire County Democrat improperly benefited his county's school system, where he is an administrator.

The citizens group has asked Kiss, D-Raleigh, and Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, D-Logan, to study ways to strengthen the Ethics Commission.

The Legislature will hold a three-day series of interim meetings each month until its regular session in January. August's interim meetings begin Sunday at Glade Springs Resort.