The state ethics commission is dismissing a complaint over a newsletter Lt. Gov. Bill Halter used state funds to prepare, but says the newsletter came “very close” to being campaign material.
The panel on Friday voted 4-1 to dismiss the complaint filed against Halter over the “Capitol Watch” newsletter his office produced. The newsletter features pictures of Halter and offers a “midterm report” on the lieutenant governor, who was elected in 2006.
Halter’s office said it printed 18,000 copies of the newsletter, which cost about $9,000 to produce.
The commission said it dismissed the complaint because the brochure did not make reference to an election or ask for votes or contributions.