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Trump-Pence campaign aide stays on Indiana payroll, despite unusual arrangement
A key aide to Donald Trump's vice presidential nominee, Gov. Mike Pence, continues to earn $23,000 a month as Indiana's sole Washington lobbyist even as he has taken a paid position with the Republican presidential campaign and regularly travels with Pence to political rallies across the country during working hours.
The dual, simultaneous employment of Joshua Pitcock is unusual. Legal and ethics experts contacted by The Associated Press said the government lobbyist should be subject to the same ethics rules as rank-and-file state employees, which generally prohibit such double-dipping. A separate prohibition against moonlighting bans Indiana state employees from accepting outside employment or undertaking activities that are not compatible with their public duties, would impair their independence or judgment, or pose a likely conflict of interest.
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Indiana's administrative regulation prohibits any state officer, employee or special state appointee from working or directing others to work outside the performance of their official duties during working hours except as permitted by policy or regulation.
Under Indiana law, state employees include anyone who contracted with the state for personal services, but Pitcock's professional services contract specifically said he "shall not be considered a state employee or special state appointee for any purpose."
The Pence administration said Pitcock's lobbying contract was reviewed by the state's contracting agency and the office of Indiana's attorney general.
Indiana's inspector general, Cynthia Carrasco said Pitcock never sought a formal opinion from the state ethics commission about his double dipping.
The dual, simultaneous employment of Joshua Pitcock is unusual. Legal and ethics experts contacted by The Associated Press said the government lobbyist should be subject to the same ethics rules as rank-and-file state employees, which generally prohibit such double-dipping. A separate prohibition against moonlighting bans Indiana state employees from accepting outside employment or undertaking activities that are not compatible with their public duties, would impair their independence or judgment, or pose a likely conflict of interest.
.....................................................................................
Indiana's administrative regulation prohibits any state officer, employee or special state appointee from working or directing others to work outside the performance of their official duties during working hours except as permitted by policy or regulation.
Under Indiana law, state employees include anyone who contracted with the state for personal services, but Pitcock's professional services contract specifically said he "shall not be considered a state employee or special state appointee for any purpose."
The Pence administration said Pitcock's lobbying contract was reviewed by the state's contracting agency and the office of Indiana's attorney general.
Indiana's inspector general, Cynthia Carrasco said Pitcock never sought a formal opinion from the state ethics commission about his double dipping.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-pence-campaign-aide-joshua-pitcock-20161102-story.html