DFLers press GOP for more evidence in Hayden inquiry

By Alejandra Matos

Staff Writer

Senate Republicans were pressed to present more evidence to support their claims that DFL Sen. Jeff Hayden threatened the Minneapolis School District to award a $375,000 to a community group with ties to his father.

A state Senate ethics committee deliberated for more than two hours Wednesday without coming to a consensus on how to proceed on an ethics complaint filed by the GOP. The committee, made up of two Republicans and two DFLers, could not pass a motion to dismiss the case because there was no probable cause.

The ethics inquiry stems from Star Tribune reporting that Hayden threatened to withhold state education money if Minneapolis school officials did not award a $375,000 contract to Community Standards Initiative, a group aimed at curbing the achievement gap.

Hayden's father, Peter, has represented himself as being a member of CSI, but insists he has never been paid by the group.

Senate Minority Leader David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, says Hayden violated Senate ethics.

The committee heard testimony from both sides to determine if Hayden used his influence to steer a contract to CSI.

State Sen. Tony Lourey, DFL-Kerrick, questioned Hann's reliance on the press accounts without doing his own investigation.

"We are public officials. People can, and do, say all kinds of things about us," Lourey said.

He said Hann's complaint relied on an unnamed source quoted in the Star Tribune saying Hayden and Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, threatened to withhold funding if it did not award the contract to CSI.

"I did not call the school board because no one would say that on the record without a subpoena," Hann said. "I think they will have to be compelled to come, and say if that happened."