[From the Columbus Dispatch, June 14, 2007]
Armbruster abused office, ethics probe finds
Ex-senator should face prosecution, report says
Former state Sen. Jeffry Armbruster abused his office by mixing legislative business with efforts to reduce workers' compensation rates for his own company, the Joint Legislative Ethics Commission said today.
In what Armbruster's attorney Donald Brey called a completely unjustified decision, the bipartisan 12-member committee sent a report to Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien saying the Ridgeville Republican violated Ohio ethics law in early 2006. It was the first time in its history that the ethics panel has referred a lawmaker (or former legislator) for prosecution.
The report specifically cites a telephone conference call on Feb. 28, 2006, in which Armbruster allegedly talked to bureau officials about the need for new bureau-related legislation or a rule change. In the same meeting, he pushed to get his own company's rate lowered through an audit of Armbruster Energy Stores.
"Armbruster used his influence as a senator to obtain something of value; to wit: the discussion of legislation of interest to the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, while concurrently discussing changes to (his policy)," the report said.
Armbruster, who at the time was vice chairman of a committee that dealt with most bureau-related legislation, eventually got an 88 percent rate reduction for his gas stations. He left the legislature at the end of 2006 because of term limits.
The report said Armbruster violated a section of the Ohio Revised Code, including a portion that says: "No public official or employee shall use or authorize the use of the authority or influence of office or employment to secure anything of value ... that is of such a character as to manifest a substantial and improper influence upon the public official."
This should be a no-brainer. I am an Ohio state employee, and we all receive ethics training. We can't accept any gift of more than nominal value. And a former legislator manages to reduce his workers' comp rates by nearly 90%? Sounds fishy to me...