FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2007

Contact: Jessica Rhoades 406-442-9520

 

 

McDonald: Rehberg Must Prevent Campaign Contributions from Influencing Policy Decisions

 

Calls for Erik Iverson's Recusal from policy decisions tied to Solicited Contributions

 

 

(Helena, MT) Today the Montana Democratic Party called on Rep. Dennis Rehberg to ask his Chief of Staff, Erik Iverson, to avoid a potential and obvious conflict of interest by agreeing not to raise campaign funds from anyone influenced by Rehberg’s office.

 

 

Yesterday, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) ruled that Iverson can continue to serve as Rehberg’s chief of staff if he is elected chairman of the Montana Republican Party next month.

 

 

The Chairman of the Montana Democratic Party today called on Rehberg to demand that Iverson recuse himself from any decision in the Congressman’s office relating to any individual or company from whom the Montana Republican Party solicits contributions.

 

 

Citing Iverson’s dual roles—involvement in key policy decisions as Rehberg’s Chief of Staff and his intention to solicit donations for the Montana Republican party—MDP Chair Dennis McDonald says Erik Iverson should additionally pledge not to solicit contributions from any entity over which Rep. Rehberg has influence.

 

 

“Montanans have a right to know whether or not campaign contributions are influencing policy decisions in Rep. Rehberg’s office,” said State Party Chair Dennis McDonald.  “Folks need to know that their Congressman is working for them regardless of whether or not they’re writing checks to the Republican Party.”

 

 

Even one of the FEC commissioners who reluctantly supported Iverson’s bid for Republican Party Chair had serious concerns.

 

During the meeting, Commissioner Steven Walther raised a concern about Iverson's case:

 

"I did have a difficult time with this, just because of the difficulty in being able to in the public eye separate the two roles, notwithstanding the fact that the two roles may actually be separated," he said.

He said that among similar cases the FEC has considered, Iverson's had the closest relationship. [Billings Gazette 5-4-07]

 

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