Top Aide Gets Ethics Fine- Registered Late
by Robert Travis Scott - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

BATON ROUGE -- One of Gov. Bobby Jindal's top Cabinet members violated a state ethics law before joining the administration and has agreed to pay a $1,200 fine for failing to register properly as a lobbyist in a settlement approved Thursday by the state Board of Ethics.

Stephen Moret, Jindal's secretary of economic development, admitted to the infraction by signing an agreement with the ethics board that explained the circumstances and set the amount of the fine, which under Louisiana law could have been as high as $10,000. The board accepted the agreement at its monthly meeting.

Moret called it an "honest mistake" and said he has already made the payment.

A statement from Jindal's office expressed confidence in Moret.

"It is the governor's expectation that Secretary Moret (will) continue to retain and grow existing Louisiana businesses, while attracting new businesses and investment to our state to create more jobs," Jindal spokeswoman Melissa Sellers said.

Jindal's chief of staff, Timmy Teepell, has advised Moret to be more careful in the future, Sellers said.