RUKAVINA'S PHONE-Y ISSUE
Our View: Rukavina's Internet tirade is a truly phone-y issue
Lawmaker needs to get his numbers straight before worrying about where Pawlenty links
The next time state Rep. Tom Rukavina makes a fuss over someone's supposed campaign impropriety, he might want to call home first.
Or for convenience's sake, the Iron Range DFLer could call his campaign committee's phone, which is the same number as his home phone in Virginia, as well as the local listing under "Minnesota State Government Offices, State Legislature, House Of Representatives, District 5A."
Before anyone says, "So what?" know that it was Rukavina who brought up the issue in the first place, with his tirade against Gov. Tim Pawlenty for having the audacity to link his campaign Web sites (www.pawlenty2006.com and others) to the taxpayer-funded official governor's site.
"I think it's totally inappropriate to have a political site punching you directly into the governor's Web site," Rukavina railed at a news conference he called about the outrage Tuesday. "If it isn't illegal, it should be."
For his part, let's hope it isn't, because if it is, party stalwart Rukavina is going to have a tough time making a citizen's arrest of U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, the Democratic dean whose campaign site also links to an official page. And ditto for Republican Minnesota Congressman Jim Ramstad, whose campaign offers Internet links not only to the U.S. House but to the White House and CIA as well (we know that Web address was real because it kicked us off).
But back to Rukavina, who was so confident in his last campaign that he didn't bother with a Web site. He did file campaign papers, however, and listed the campaign phone number that doubles as his official district line.
So is that illegal?
"That's a good question," said Kent Kaiser, a spokesman for Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer, adding that he wasn't sure, but "our secretary certainly wouldn't do that."
Jean Olson of the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board also couldn't immediately address its legality but said the dual listing probably was "reportable."
"The question is, 'Is that an appropriate use of state resources?' " she said.
nd that's a really good question, because regardless of who's paying the phone bill, how exactly does Rukavina keep his campaign business separate from the state's when somebody calls to donate $500?
Maybe it's time for him to get a party line -- or better yet, stop spouting one over trivialities. Source: Duluth News-Tribune, March 17, 2005
Lawmaker needs to get his numbers straight before worrying about where Pawlenty links
The next time state Rep. Tom Rukavina makes a fuss over someone's supposed campaign impropriety, he might want to call home first.
Or for convenience's sake, the Iron Range DFLer could call his campaign committee's phone, which is the same number as his home phone in Virginia, as well as the local listing under "Minnesota State Government Offices, State Legislature, House Of Representatives, District 5A."
Before anyone says, "So what?" know that it was Rukavina who brought up the issue in the first place, with his tirade against Gov. Tim Pawlenty for having the audacity to link his campaign Web sites (www.pawlenty2006.com and others) to the taxpayer-funded official governor's site.
"I think it's totally inappropriate to have a political site punching you directly into the governor's Web site," Rukavina railed at a news conference he called about the outrage Tuesday. "If it isn't illegal, it should be."
For his part, let's hope it isn't, because if it is, party stalwart Rukavina is going to have a tough time making a citizen's arrest of U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, the Democratic dean whose campaign site also links to an official page. And ditto for Republican Minnesota Congressman Jim Ramstad, whose campaign offers Internet links not only to the U.S. House but to the White House and CIA as well (we know that Web address was real because it kicked us off).
But back to Rukavina, who was so confident in his last campaign that he didn't bother with a Web site. He did file campaign papers, however, and listed the campaign phone number that doubles as his official district line.
So is that illegal?
"That's a good question," said Kent Kaiser, a spokesman for Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer, adding that he wasn't sure, but "our secretary certainly wouldn't do that."
Jean Olson of the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board also couldn't immediately address its legality but said the dual listing probably was "reportable."
"The question is, 'Is that an appropriate use of state resources?' " she said.
nd that's a really good question, because regardless of who's paying the phone bill, how exactly does Rukavina keep his campaign business separate from the state's when somebody calls to donate $500?
Maybe it's time for him to get a party line -- or better yet, stop spouting one over trivialities. Source: Duluth News-Tribune, March 17, 2005
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