AUGUSTA — What state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin says are politically motivated questions about his income reporting will be at issue today when Maine’s ethics commission meets.

The Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices will take up a complaint by the Maine Democratic Party that Poliquin, a Republican, failed to fully report his income on a disclosure form for the state.

The commission will decide whether to accept its staff’s recommendation that Poliquin not be fined for failing to fully report his income. The staff also recommends a finding that Poliquin failed to comply fully with the disclosure requirements.

Responding to the complaint, Poliquin amended his disclosure report to include $9,750 in membership dues from the Popham Beach Club, which he owns. The dues were more than offset by losses.

He also amended his submission to add his son’s income from a 10-week summer internship in 2010. The form requests income disclosures pertaining to immediate family members.

The case follows other questions raised by Democrats about Poliquin’s personal financial affairs. As treasurer, Poliquin has been a relentless critic of the financial dealings of the Maine State Housing Authority, which is led by former Democratic state treasurer and state senator Dale McCormick.

Democratic state Rep. Mark Dion of Portland asked for an attorney general’s opinion on whether the state Constitution prohibits Poliquin from engaging in “any business of trade or commerce” while serving in office.

In response, Attorney General William Schneider said Poliquin should disassociate himself from the active management of any of the entities in which he’s invested and any in which he is the sole owner.

Poliquin said the Constitution does not require the state treasurer to sell everything he owns.

This week, Dion said he wants the state supreme court to say whether Poliquin violated the state Constitution by engaging in commerce while in office and whether he should continue to serve as treasurer. To have the House of Representatives formally pose questions to the court, Dion needs support of a chamber in which Republicans hold the majority.

Poliquin was in Florida on Tuesday because of a family matter and is not expected to attend today’s ethics commission hearing.

When he was asked a question about his personal finances at a town hall meeting in Madison last week, Poliquin said the criticism leveled by Democrats is politically motivated.

Poliquin also has said he works as treasurer 80 to 90 hours a week, leaving no time for any outside business.

 

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