(JUNEAU) - The Alaska Select Committee on Legislative Ethics unanimously adopted an advisory opinion today that the legislative ethics code does not prohibit a legislator with a conflict from taking action in committee.

With one member absent, the Committee approved an opinion stating that Alaska's legislative ethics code "does not prohibit a legislator with a conflict from taking other legislative actions such as introducing, sponsoring, amending a bill, chairing a committee considering a bill, and discussing and voting on the bill while in committee."

"I am gratified that the Legislative Ethics Committee looked into the issue and made a finding that confirms my conduct was ethical," said Sen. Scott Ogan, (R Mat Su/Chugiak). "Just disagreeing with decisions I have made is no reason for forcing an early election."

"The Division of Elections independent counsel stated that the accusations center entirely around my actions in committee. However, the record shows I went above and beyond the standards set in the advisory opinion," Ogan said. "The Ethics Committee's advisory opinion casts serious doubt on the validity of the accusations."

The Committee issued the opinion in response to a request from Sen. Ogan. The Division of Elections certified an application for the recall of Sen. Ogan April 9 by a group that claims his actions violated ethical standards.

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04-23-04: Senator Scott Ogan expresses his gratification that the Legislative Ethics Committee looked into the accusations made against him and have made a finding that his conduct was ethical.

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