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Ventura's announcing questioned
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The leader of the Minnesota Senate asked the state attorney general Monday whether Gov. Jesse Ventura's planned gig as an XFL announcer violates any ethical guidelines. Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe asked Attorney General Mike Hatch to clarify whether the governor is a state employee and therefore covered under a code of ethics for employees in the executive branch. "I think it is unethical, yes," Moe said. The code provides certain restrictions on the "acceptance of other employment or contractual relationship that will affect the employee's independence of judgment in the exercise of official duties." Moe said commentating for a football league might skew Ventura's opinion on whether to support public funding for a new Vikings stadium, for instance. Also, the governor's broadcasting job runs from early February through mid-April -- a "crucial" time for the Legislature, Moe said. Hatch already issued an opinion to Ventura on the subject on Jan. 15, 1999, but couldn't release it publicly because of attorney-client privilege. Ventura's office also refused to release the opinion Monday. Hatch planned to respond to Moe's question early next week. NBC and the World Wrestling Federation. "I haven't violated to my knowledge any ethics whether I am an employee of the state or whether I am not. ... To my knowledge, the XFL does not have a franchise in the state of Minnesota," Ventura said. Environmental activist Leslie Davis filed a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Employee Relations on Monday over the same issue. A phone call to department officials was not immediately returned. Ramsey County District Judge Kathleen Gearin last year dismissed a similar case filed by Davis. He had requested a temporary restraining order to keep Ventura from refereeing a WWF event. Even though the judge dismissed the case simply because Davis didn't have standing to bring it, she said afterward that Ventura's actions would ultimately be approved or disapproved by voters. The governor said last week that he would quit if the XFL content became too raunchy or he deemed it in "any way unacceptable" to his position as governor. Ventura agreed to work 10 Saturday night games from the XFL's early February debut through mid-April. He can miss games if state business demands his attention. Ventura's security and chartered jets are paid for by the league. The governor refused to disclose what he will make under the one-year deal. "I just think it's highly unethical for someone who was elected to a full-time job to be engaging in a very profitable venture," Moe said. As governor, Ventura makes $120,000 per year, has free lodging at the governor's residence, has a personal security team and a new car, Moe said. "Most families get by on that, and he ought to," Moe said.
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