Ethics issues raised at hearing

State official alleges Sweeney helped draw up guest list for a lobbying event in Lake Placid

13 Jul 2006 // A state official testified Tuesday that U.S. Rep. John Sweeney played a key role in drawing up the guest list for an annual congressional winter weekend in Lake Placid, a practice deemed inappropriate by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

Olympic Regional Development Authority President Ted Blazer, speaking at a state Assembly hearing, said invitations to the Congressional Winter Challenge -- an event held to highlight Lake Placid Olympic facilities in hopes of securing federal funding -- were "assembled by the Washington office of Congressman Sweeney and the United States Olympic Committee."

The event has been held annually since 1998. ORDA documents state that certain participants -- including fellow House members, past and present Sweeney staffers, members of his family and lobbyists -- were invited by the Clifton Park Republican.

Last August, Sweeney sought guidance from the House Committee on Standards. He said he planned to invite House and Senate colleagues and staffers to Lake Placid Jan. 6-8 this year for the Winter Challenge and sought an opinion "as to the propriety of members of Congress and congressional staff making the trip." He did not ask about the lobbyists.

The committee informed Sweeney he could follow up invitations made by ORDA and the USOC, but only after those entities issued the invitations "without your involvement."

Melissa Carlson, Sweeney's deputy chief of staff, insisted Tuesday that the congressman had nothing to do with the invitations.

"I don't know what he's talking about," Carlson said of Blazer's testimony. "The invitations are clearly sent out by the U.S. Olympic Committee."

Carlson said Sweeney's office has sought an annual opinion on the Winter Challenge from the House Committee on Standards "to assure members that the event is within ethics rules."

Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, D-Westchester, who chairs the Assembly's Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee, refused to say whether he will ask Sweeney to testify or subpoena him if doesn't cooperate. A call to the House Committee on Standards was not returned Tuesday.

Brodsky and Tonko held the hearing to determine why the New York Power Authority has been using public funds to pay for the Winter Challenge. The event began in 1998 under the late Rep. Gerald Solomon.

Brodsky noted that federal funding to ORDA has dropped during the life of the Winter Challenge, from $2.7 million in 1999 to $471,2000. He asked whether it was appropriate to use public funds provided by one authority to another for what amounts to a lobbying effort.

NYPA President Timothy Carey said he is satisfied that NYPA's investment in ORDA is worthwhile.