Ethics Panel Sets Rules for Morrisey Phone Meetings

The state Ethics Commission has issued rules for West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s taxpayer-funded telephone town halls.

According to The Charleston Gazette-Mail, the commission ruled Thursday that Morrisey can’t use his name on pre-recorded robocalls inviting people to participate. The caller can only be identified as the attorney general’s office.

Also, the commission said Morrisey can’t conduct the town halls within two months before any election.

The attorney general’s office has entered into a $77,000 contract with Tele-Town Hall LLC of Arlington, Virginia, to conduct up to 35 telephone town halls on consumer protection issues. Each session is capable of hosting up to 20,000 participants.

Morrisey asked the commission for guidance on the telephone town halls.