Kentucky lawmaker publicly reprimanded for ethics violation

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - The Legislative Ethics Commission has
publicly reprimanded state Rep. Keith Hall for an ethics code
violation.
The panel, meeting in Frankfort on Tuesday, also fined Hall
$2,000.
State Auditor Crit Luallen had referred information to the
commission earlier this year alleging that Hall's companies
received more than $171,000 through utility contracts that avoided
competitive bidding and public discussion.
The commission found no evidence that Hall had improperly used
his official position to secure the work. Instead, Hall was found
to have voted for a state budget in 2005 that contained money to
pay for the work he did on sewer projects in Pike County.
Hall's attorney, Brent Caldwell of Lexington, said his client
admitted no wrongdoing in a written agreement that resolved the
charge against him.