Updated at 7:57 a.m., Sunday, April 1, 2007
Oregon lawmakers fined for accepting Hawai'i freebies
Associated Press
SALEM, Ore. -- The Government Standards and Practices Commission yesterday approved settlements with seven current and former Oregon legislators who failed to report free trips to Hawai'i and other locales.
Last month the panel asked for slightly higher penalties against three of the lawmakers for accepting rounds of golf that exceeded the state's gift limits.
Republican Sen. David Nelson of Pendleton, Republican Rep. Wayne Scott of Canby, and former Republican Rep. Derrick Kitts of Hillsboro accepted two rounds of golf during a 2004 trip to Maui paid for by the Oregon Beer and Wine Distributors Association.
The men agreed to each pay $290 for the golf, and $450 in civil penalties.
