Oregon Lawmakers Largely Silent on Rep. Greg Smith's Ethics Violations, Leaving Consequences to Voters
Oregon lawmakers have largely refrained from commenting on whether state Rep. Greg Smith, a Republican from eastern Oregon, should face legislative consequences for violating state ethics laws. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission recently fined Smith $12,000 for abusing his position as director of a federally funded public development authority, manipulating his pay, and approving his own vacation time. He was also found to have failed to disclose clients of his private consulting company on annual economic interest statements in two previous investigations, receiving letters of education. Smith denied intentional wrongdoing and agreed to pay the fine to conclude the case, though he has not repaid the $33,000 he received through the manipulated raise. Despite these findings, Smith remains a member of House Republican leadership and vice chair of the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee, though House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, removed him as co-chair of a budget subcommittee. 
