The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "Gift and Ethics Law" ...
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Treasury Luxury Travel
The Oregonian's investigation spotlighted an obscure corner of state government where Wall Street practices became business as usual, where a set of high-paid employees were granted special exemptions to operate outside the scope of state gift and ethics laws, and functioned with little internal or public oversight. The newspaper revealed that state investment officers charged with monitoring more than $50 billion in state pension investments routinely travel in luxury, paid for by taxpayers and the Wall Street investment managers they are supposed to be overseeing. They stay at high-end resorts and five-star hotels, eat at celebrated restaurants and fly first class. The tab is often picked up by investment firms managing Oregon's investments, who are competing for hundreds of millions of dollars in fees that the pension fund pays annually. The state treasury didn't monitor that travel. It kept no record of the expenses or gratuities provided its employees. And it ignored the potential conflicts of interest.
Tags: State Government; Corruption; Finance; Wall Street; Exemption; Business; Gift and Ethics Law; Travel; State Treasury; State Employees
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Governor John G. Rowland
This ongoing investigation into corruption within the Rowland administration revealed a number of gifts to the governor from state employees and major state contractors. Among the findings: A contractor who renovated the governor's cottage and gave him use of vacation homes at nominal prices had received preferential treatment in obtaining state contracts; a businessman who made millions leasing office space to the state had paid his niece to rent a condo owned by the governor for three times the market rate; a law firm that gave Rowland free legal services had performed millions of dollars in work for the state. The governor resigned July 1 and on Dec. 23 pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge.
Tags: Governor John G. Rowland; no-bid; contracts; state government; pay to play; political ethics; conspiracy; gifts; FOIA
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"Winning Without Food and Cigars"
Using the face of Judy Taylor, a longtime Kentucky lobbyist, Swope describes the new world order under a strict statehouse lobbying law. The "no-cup-of-coffee" restriction barring gifts from lobbyists to legislators changed the Capitol climate, but Taylor says it's "more professional." Lobbyists must use new techniques, including getting into lawmakers' districts, to reach them in the new era devoid of lavish receptions.
Tags: lobbying; lobbyist; legislature; statehouse; capital; Capitol; Kentucky; wining; dining; ethics; ethical