Until 8 p.m. includes Twin Cities area

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Two veteran Minnesota House members were ordered Friday to reimburse their campaign accounts for thousands of dollars in personal cell phone bills and other expenses deemed to be in violation of spending laws.

The investigation into the campaign finances of Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights, started last October. The investigation into Rep. Joe Hoppe, R-Chaska, dates back to 2014.

Atkins, who is leaving the Legislature to seek a Dakota County commissioner post, was fined $10,532 in addition to having to repay $13,660 for years of lapses. Regulators 

that he improperly paid his family's cell phone bills from his campaign account and didn't follow rules when it came to buying meals for himself and volunteers. The fine, which can be paid out of the committee fund, was assessed for exceeding a campaign spending limit once all of the new costs were accounted for.

Atkins already made the personal reimbursement before the investigation was concluded, the campaign board said. Atkins said in a written statement that he thought he was in compliance and that no concerns were raised with past reports until recently.

"I was glad to see the board's review found no intentional wrongdoing, that my committee made a good faith effort to comply with the rules and that we have fully cooperated with the board," Atkins said. "I plan to have an accountant review all future reports."

Hoppe was similarly found to have misused campaign money 

. Regulators also took issue with expenses he accrued to his campaign account at a local Rotary Club; dues and meals were considered acceptable but additional purchases were not. He was ordered to personally repay his campaign account $10,550 but he faced no additional fines. Hoppe was instructed to hire a new treasurer after serving in the role himself.

Hoppe didn't immediately return a phone call.

According to the board, Hoppe has not settled up yet. Hoppe said he will make the reimbursement.

"The mistakes on reporting were inadvertent, and I take full responsibility for the errors that were made," he said in a written statement.

More broadly, the state campaign finance board made clear to all candidates they would do more to police spending on meals without a clear campaign purpose. In the Atkins findings, the board wrote that past ambiguity over where the line falls should be clearer now.

"The board further concludes that the noncampaign disbursement category for food and beverages at a reception or meeting related to legislative duties is limited to organized receptions or meetings and is not available for lunches or dinners with staff or colleagues, even if business is discussed at these meals," they wrote.

The board said it would develop further guidance to distribute to all of the candidates it regulates.

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Brian Bakst

Author

Minnesota lawmakers ordered to repay their campaign funds for family cell phone service plans and other improper expenses.

Two lawmakers penalized over campaign spending

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox