EX-SAIF PRESIDENT ACCUSED OF VIOLATING LAW ON LOBBYISTS:

The former president of Oregon’s State Accident Insurance Fund, Katherine Keene, reportedly failed to register as a lobbyist and report her expenses, according to the Associated Press. A new state ethics report stated that Keene was reimbursed by the workers’ comp company for meals with legislators between October 2000 and December 2003 but failed to report her lobbying expenses. The Oregon Government Standards and Practices Commission also found that Keene did not notify the legislators of the value of the meals, which exceeded $100, so they could include the information in their ethics reports. Participants in the dinners reportedly could not remember the specifics of their conversations, but that they discussed SAIF at the meals. Keene’s attorney said that Keene did not violate any laws. The ethics report lists 36 violations with fines of $1,000 per violation, and the commission may dismiss or accept the report. In December 2003, Keene resigned from SAIF after reports that she mismanaged the company.