A committee calling itself Restoring Ethics in Government said yesterday that it has filed a complaint against state House Speaker Calvin Say with the Hawai'i State Ethics Commission, alleging he improperly used state resources for political purposes.

The committee claims Say's office sent an e-mail survey to House Democrats in June asking them to identify bills that passed, or did not pass, during the session that might be helpful during their re-election campaigns.

"The correspondence promises that resources will be consolidated and used to assist Democratic legislators 'with better research and media communication services,' presumably for a campaign purpose," according to a copy of the complaint that was given to reporters.

The committee did not identify itself beyond its name. Several people at the state Capitol and Dan Mollway, the executive director of the ethics commission, said they had not heard of the group before yesterday.

Mollway said he is not allowed to discuss specific complaints but said the law contains a "pretty flat prohibition" against using state resources for politics.

"State resources cannot be used for electioneering," Mollway said.

Georgette Deemer, a spokesperson for House Democrats, said Say, D-20th (St. Louis Heights, Palolo, Wilhelmina Rise), would not comment until the commission sends him a copy of the complaint.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.