HELENA – The commissioner of political practices is dismissing the ethics case against Gov. Brian Schweitzer.
The Montana Republican Party accused Schweitzer of using state resources to appear in a public service radio advertisement at the same time he was running for re-election.
Last summer, a hearings officer recommended a $4,100 fine for violating state laws that ban expenditure of state money for such advertisements.
But a deputy commissioner of political practices who was appointed to handle the case is rejecting that recommendation.
Bozeman attorney James Goetz says no “state funds” were spent on the public service announcements that ran for free on radio stations. He says Schweitzer’s use of public facilities to make the ad does not count.
The Montana GOP called the decision “laughable” and promised to pursue it further.