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MDE EXCLUSIVE: DFL SENATOR ASKS FOR “SUPPORT IN NEXT ELECTION” IN OFFICIAL E-MAIL
By Michael B. Brodkorb | April 8, 2008
Late last week, I was sent a copy of an e-mail sent by Senator John Doll from his official e-mail account about a moratorium on nuclear power plants.
Doll’s e-mail may likely violate numerous policies of the Minnesota Senate regarding the use of equipment for political campaigning.
From: Sen.John Doll
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 3:27 PM
To: [Name Redacted]
Subject: Re: Nuclear Moratorium
[Name Redacted],
Do you live in or near District 40? I would appreciate your support in the
next election. As for the issue of lifting the moratorium on nuclear power
plants. I am not opposed to the idea or having a discussion on the idea. I
believe that we should use our committee process to hear testimony for and
against before making any decisions. Given our continuing need for expanded
power generation combined with reducing our carbon emissions, nuclear must
be a choice we consider. I remain open to the idea but cannot state my
support at this time.
John Doll
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Doll
State Senator District 40
State Capitol G9C
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
St.Paul, MN, 55155-1606
651-296-5975
Please note the first two sentences that I highlighted in red. Doll’s e-mail begins with a plea for “support in the next election.
The Minnesota Senate publishes a handbook which detail the policies for “Senators and Staff” and according to Minnesota Senate’s policy on “Communications Equipment”:
“Senate communications equipment is for purposes of the Senate and the Legislature. It may not be used for any commercial purpose or for any political campaign.” Source: Minnesota Senate Policy for Senators and Staff, 1.50 Communication Equipment Policy
Senator Doll’s e-mail was sent from his official Senate account and specifically asked “[d]o you live in or near District 40? I would appreciate your support in the next election.”
Section 1.5 of the Minnesota Senate’s “Information System User Policy” states:
“1.5 Not for Commercial or Campaign Use.
Computer equipment, computer programs, and data communication facilities connected to the Senate Network or any state computer are to be used for purposes of the Senate and the Legislature. They may not be used for any commercial purpose nor for any political campaign.” Source: Minnesota Senate Policy for Senators and Staff
Again, Senator Doll’s e-mail was sent from his official Senate account and specifically asked “[d]o you live in or near District 40? I would appreciate your support in the next election.”
In 2004, the Star Tribune reported that DFL State Senator John Hottinger filed an ethics complaint against a Republican senator because an e-mail sent by the senator violated “a Senate rule that says Senate information systems ‘may not be used for any commercial purpose or for any political campaign.’”
It would be nearly impossible for anyone not to interpret Doll’s asking of “support in the next election” in an e-mail sent from his official e-mail account as a violation of the Minnesota Senate’s policies on communications equipment and systems use.
Legislative staff that have reviewed Doll’s e-mail believe it violates the policies of the Minnesota Senate.
Repeated e-mails sent to Senator Doll’s office requesting a comment for this post were not returned. I will publish any communication I receive from Doll’s office responding to the specific allegations.
Please check back to Minnesota Democrats Exposed for more information on this developing story.
Tags: Keith Ellison, Kevin Dahle, Uncategorized
Topics: Keith Ellison, Kevin Dahle, Uncategorized | 23 Comments »
23 Responses to “MDE EXCLUSIVE: DFL SENATOR ASKS FOR “SUPPORT IN NEXT ELECTION” IN OFFICIAL E-MAIL”
Comments
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April 8th, 2008 at 12:54 PM
So, your theory is that he has found a way around election law, and now people NEAR his district will be able to vote for him as well?
Weak soup, Michael.
April 8th, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Yawn
April 8th, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Mark Ritchie is at it again.
April 8th, 2008 at 1:07 PM
… and actually, the theory still is that Democrats are mis-using public resources for their personal gain.
Theft of public resources… yeah, that’s weak soup all right.
Goddam dumb Democrats.
April 8th, 2008 at 1:11 PM
I must have hit the bullseye if Zack is yawning.
April 8th, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Michael, have you sent Ron the Press Release yet?
April 8th, 2008 at 1:48 PM
Perhaps Ron sent it to him.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Well, maybe for proofing – nobody on that side even bothers with “fact checking”!!!
April 8th, 2008 at 3:33 PM
The Democrats view using public resources to get re-elected as ok.
April 8th, 2008 at 3:43 PM
We got the idea from the misAdministration of George aWol Bush.
Rove was a master at it.
You do remember that, doncha?
April 8th, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Yawn
Exactly the response I expected to read from liberals. The idea a DFL’er abuses taxpayer equipment for private, political gain means nothing to these people because they have no conscience.
April 8th, 2008 at 3:50 PM
“…they have no conscience.”
As opposed to those in the misAdministration, that have no recollection? No memory? Don’t remember nuthin’ ’bout all them missing e-mails? The misAdministration meetings, on the public dime, gettin’ ready for the election?
No? You don’t remember that, either?
No surprise there!!!
April 8th, 2008 at 9:07 PM
Give the man credit.
More correctly perhaps the letter should have read, “Do you live in or near my back yard?
No nukes in my back yard [NIMBY]!
April 9th, 2008 at 9:18 AM
poor puddles, still just cannot address the story at hand and have to try and change the subject to a Republican.
At least you are consistant. A fool, but consistant. 
April 9th, 2008 at 9:27 AM
Obeying the rules is perhaps boring to liberals. It’s amazing that a party that spends as much money and time as they do on indoctrination and training for campaigns doesn’t do a better job of OJT for newly elected officeholders.
Asking for political campaign support on official email is as illegal as it is stupid.
April 9th, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Drew, we are talking democRats, “Stupid is as stupid does”.
Why does that comment make me think of puddles?
April 10th, 2008 at 7:19 AM
A state senator illegally abuses his office and we get:
weak soup
yawn
Rove did it
as responses? Are these same respondents hypercritical of ‘R’ wearing rule breakers? Do they often use the word ‘hypocrite’? Less than impressive, gentlemen.
April 10th, 2008 at 7:40 AM
Troy, here’s what you bootlickers don’t get: of COURSE it was wrong for Sen. Doll to do that, and of COURSE he should pay the price for his error.
But, for a republiCon to call him on it, after 7 years of the misAdministration of Boy Blunder, is hypocrisy at its worst. You bootlickers never called Dumbya on anything.
But, then again, republiCons like “worst” – you can’t spell it without Dubya…..
April 10th, 2008 at 7:56 AM
Why should anyone feel a need to “call him on” anything when irrational folks like yourself blame him for all the worlds problems. If he gets away with stuff that “republiCons” should find objectionable, I don’t know if I can blame them. How could they see through the veritable “screen of mud” you put up in front of this “misAdministration”? Why would they not ignore a bunch of chicken littles yelling “the president is being naughty” after your allegations are proved to be false the first few hundred times or so?
Doesn’t matter though. You aren’t any less a hypocrite for your misdirection. If “Rove did it” is really your argument, TwoPuttTommy, I’ll take it for what it’s worth, but that isn’t much. It’s worth even less with the juvenile name calling you seem so attached to. *shrug*
April 10th, 2008 at 9:42 AM
“It’s worth even less with the juvenile name calling you seem so attached to.”
Hey – I learned it from republiCons. Doncha hate it, when what your side does is done to you?
Thank you for reinforcing the “that was then; this is now, and bootlickin’ republiCons are (cheney)in’ hypocrites.”
April 10th, 2008 at 10:27 AM
More “they did it”? Is that really your justification? Wow. I can see why you think you are so much better than “republiCons”, TwoPuttTommy.
April 10th, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Troy, there is NO justification. Wrong is wrong, no matter WHO does it.
Unless, of course, you’re a republiCon.
Then, you ignore it when your side does it, but later on, jump all over the other side when they do what you’ve been doing all along.
It’s that ol’ consistent inconsistency republiCons are so well known for.
Do try to keep up, won’t you?
On the other hand, you’re doin a heckuva job demonstrating bootlicker (lack of) mentality, Troy.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:22 PM
More “they do it” with a side of insults. Pretty repetitive, TwoPuttTommy. Don’t hurt yourself.