Panel votes on ethics bill

Friday, Feb. 28, 2003 | 10:04 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- After hearing testimony from the Independent American Party, an Assembly committee approved a bill Thursday to trim the power of the state Ethics Commission in deciding whether political campaign statements are false.

Members of the IAP told the committee the ethics commission should not be in the position of deciding whether statements by political candidates are false and deceptive. It is a freedom of speech issue, they said.

Under the current law, the commission can fine a political candidate up to $5,000 for making a false statement about an opponent during a campaign.

The unanimous vote by the Assembly Elections, Procedures and Ethics Committee sends Assembly Bill 127 to the floor of the Assembly for a full vote.

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