MPR Poll: Respondents say ethics an issue in legislative races
Jon Gordon, 5/27/96

A strong majority of voters surveyed in the Minnesota Public Radio/Pioneer Press/Kare 11 say the legal or ethical transgressions of DFL lawmakers last session will affect how they vote in statehouse races. That could mean trouble for the DFL, which is trying to hold on to majorities in the House and Senate. Minnesota Public Radio's Jon Gordon reports.

DURING THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION DFL LEGISLATORS WERE CONVICTED OF OR PLEADED GUILTY TO CRIMES INCLUDING MISUSE OF FUNDS, THEFT, REPEATED DRUNKEN DRIVING , ILLEGAL USE OF STATE TELEPHONES AND SPOUSAL ASSAULT. THERE WERE ACCUSATIONS OF SPREADING FALSE RUMORS ABOUT CONSTITUENTS AND BRIBERY. OF THE EIGHT DFLERS CAUGHT IN LEGAL AND ETHICAL SCANDAL, TWO RESIGNED, TWO DECIDED NOT TO RUN AGAIN, AND THREE SAY THEY MIGHT SEEK RE-ELECTION. THE POLL ASKED VOTERS HOW MUCH THE DFLERS' ETHICAL AND LEGAL TROUBLE WOULD INFLUENCE THEIR VOTE FOR STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES. 64 PERCENT SAID SOMEWHAT OR VERY MUCH. 30 PERCENT SAID NOT VERY MUCH OR NOT AT ALL.

ROSEVILLE DFL REPRESENTATIVE MINDY GREILING RESIGNED FROM THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE AFTER THE FULL HOUSE REJECTED THE COMMITTEE'S VOTE TO EXPEL REP BOB JOHNSON FOR REPEATED DRUNKEN DRIVING. GRIELING SAY DESPITE HER DISGUST WITH THE PARTY'S REFUSAL TO EXPEL JOHNSON, VOTERS WOULD BE NAIVE TO THROW OUT ALL DEMOCRATS BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF A FEW.

"My opponent said that I am an entrenched DFL incumbent aligned with the scandal-plagued DFL leadership. Haha. If my voters choose to believe that then they are really asleep at the switch. So I don't hink you can tar and feather a whole party with this. You need to look at individuals."

GREILING ADMITS HOWEVER THAT PEOPLE MAY _NOT_ VOTE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.

"The voters DON'T always vote intelligently and if we just get tarnished with an image which of course will be the goal of our opponent party than we will have to collectively hang for our transgressions in the last session."

THE DFL HAS PLENTY OF REASON TO FEAR A MASS HANGING. IT HOLDS A SLIM THREE SEAT MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE, AND IS EIGHT SEATS UP IN THE SENATE. SPICER REPUBLICAN TOM VAN ENGEN, A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE, SAYS HIS PARTY WILL TRY TO MAKE THE WELL-REPORTED ETHICAL AND LEGAL LAPSES STICK TO DFL'ERS.

"At least we are going to want to make it clear that yes it is at least related to years in power that the quanity of ethicl lapses have been what they are. I would never tell you that no Republicans will be unethical. But I think that connected with the politcal power, there has been a kind of arrogance that is the reason we have had so much problems."

THERE'S A POSSIBLE BRIGHT SPOT IN THE POLL FOR DFL'ERS. WHEN ASKED IF THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA ARE BETTER OFF WITH REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS IN CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE, 36 PERCENT OF POLL RESPONDENTS SAID DFL...35 PERCENT SAID THE REPUBLICANS. THIS MIGHT SUGGEST VOTERS DON'T DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PARTIES...THAT LEGISLATORS IN GENERAL ARE A SOMETIMES UNETHICAL LOT.

"Well there's no question that the legislature not dealing with the ethics lapses well enough has maybe given the general public the idea that all of us are like that. Admittedly we are going to have to try and draw a fine distinction between who's been doing this."

POLL RESPONDENTS SAY EMBEZZLING MONEY FROM AN EMPLOYER IS THE MOST SERIOUS ETHICAL LAPSE, FOLLOWED BY SHOPLIFTING FROM A STORE, BEING CONVICTED OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND FAILURE TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST ARE HAVING AN EXTRMARITAL AFFAIR AND RECEIVING A SPEEDING TICKET.

JON GORDON MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO