Salem, OR – The Freedom Foundation today filed a formal ethics complaint with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission against a lobbyist for the state’s largest teachers union, the Oregon Education Association (OEA), alleging violations of state lobbying laws during legislative proceedings related to House Bill 3789.
The complaint alleges that the OEA’s lobbyist, Cynthia Branger Munoz, knowingly submitted an incomplete and falsified copy of a Freedom Foundation mailer to the legislature’s House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards for the purpose of supporting the OEA’s claims that the Freedom Foundation’s materials “falsely impersonate” union communications — the subject of HB 3789.
The mailer was the only “example” of false impersonation provided to House members by the unions supporting HB 3789 but omitted key identifying information — namely, that it was produced and sent by the Freedom Foundation.
A copy of the complaint, which includes an image of the mailer, can be found here.
“This is a clear case of a lobbyist misrepresenting evidence to mislead lawmakers,” said Ben Straka, Research and Government Affairs Associate at the Freedom Foundation. “The record shows that not only was the mailer edited to conceal its true source, but it was also the only example cited to justify HB 3789 in the House. Misleading the legislature like this is not just unlawful — it’s extremely ironic, given the subject matter of this bill.”
ORS 171.764 prohibits lobbyists from making false statements or misrepresentations to legislative officials. The Freedom Foundation’s complaint outlines how Munoz’s actions meet the definition of intentional misrepresentation under the law and calls on the Ethics Commission to impose appropriate civil penalties.
Munoz also happens to be the sister of Rep. Lesly Munoz, who sits on the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards that voted to advance HB 3789.
The Freedom Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to protecting worker rights and promoting government accountability, is leading the charge to restore transparency and choice for public employees. For more information or to schedule an interview with a representative of the Freedom Foundation, contact: abrown@freedomfoundation.com.
