Tester disputes Burns' 'slush fund' charge
2006-09-12
Source: Helena Independent Record
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rss feedDisputing Republican Sen. Conrad Burns' charges that he was operating a "slush fund," Democrat Jon Tester on Monday released an accounting of his constituency account that showed most of the nearly $7,000 was spent on gasoline and meals.
When Tester attacked Burns' ethics in a debate in Hamilton Sunday, Burns fired back by saying, "What is this little slush fund? You call it a constituency account no accountability, you don't have to report where you got the money."
In response, Tester's campaign spokesman Matt McKenna said, "For a fellow who's under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice to be raising a stink about some gasoline receipts is not only incredible but a sure sign of a guy who knows he's in danger of losing his job."
Under state regulations, elected officials are allowed to put leftover money from their campaigns into constituency accounts, said Dulcy Hubbert of the state political practices commissioner's office. These elected officials are not required to file reports showing how the money was spent, she said. Elected officials aren't prevented from donating money in the constituency accounts to other candidates, but they are forbidden from donating money to their own races.
McKenna said Tester was using the constituency fund "as it was intended, for elected officials to stay in touch with their constituents and to become better legislators."
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