Work With Minnesota Senate
On January 16, 2012, Sviggum was named communications director and executive assistant for the Republican caucus in the Minnesota Senate. Sviggum replaced Michael Brodkorb, who had resigned in the wake of a scandal involving former Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch. Sviggum was criticized for his plans to remain a regent during his tenure with the senate. Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk said that he believed holding both positions was a conflict of interest.
Sviggum admitted that taxpayers should not have paid for pamphlets created by the Minnesota Senate Republican communications department and used by 15 Republican Senators for Republican attendees of precinct caucuses. Sviggum publicly apologized for using taxpayer's resources to produce campaign materials.
On June 11, 2012, the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings ruled that sufficient evidence existed for a complaint filed by the Minnesota DFL Party regarding the pamphlets could continue against Sviggum and 14 Republican Senators. The complaint filed against Senator Doug Magnus was dismissed.
Read more about this topic: Steve Sviggum
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