Sandy Adams Ad Prompts John Mica to Say US House Ethics Rules Appear to Have Been Violated

From Orlando Sentinel:

U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams is up with an ad attacking U.S. Rep. John Mica, her opponent in the increasing contentious Republican primary fight for the newly drawn congressional district they share. And it’s pretty gloves-off.
Intercut with images of President Barack Obama intoning ” Congressman Mica, whose leadership made this bill a reality” — apparently during the signing ceremony for the highway bill that Mica helped pass — the ad accuses Mica of “wasting money” on SunRail and allowing toll lanes on I-4. It ends by calling him “Obama’s best cheerleader.”

Today, 8/6/2012, via email from Team Mica:

“Adams Appears to Violate House Rules in Latest Ads

In their latest round of negative attacks the Adams campaign appears to have violated a long-standing rule established by the House of Representatives prohibiting use of House Floor proceedings by Members of Congress for political campaign purposes.

Washington, D.C. attorney Tom Spulak has sent notification to all broadcast outlets to pull the advertisement in question while the House Committee on Ethics reviews the matter.

The advertisement is a series of broadcast images that use footage from the State of the Union address and a House Committee hearing. In addition, pictures from the State of the Union were used in several mail pieces from the Adams campaign.

House Rules for are very clear with regard to coverage of House Floor and Committee Proceedings.  The House Ethics Manual states that

“Broadcast coverage and recordings of House floor proceedings may not be used for any political purpose under House Rule 5, clause 2(c)(1). In addition, under House Rule 11, clause 4(b), radio and television tapes and film of any coverage of House committee proceedings may not be used, or made available for use, as partisan political campaign material to promote or oppose the candidacy of any person for public office.”

“Throughout this election, the Adams campaign has used distortion and mistruths to attempt to win an election,” John Dowless, consultant to the Mica campaign, says. “In this last desperate attack it appears they crossed the ethical line, disregarding a long-standing Rule to prevent political use of official C-Span broadcasts.”

Throughout the six month campaign, Congresswoman Adams has constantly sent a barrage of negative attacks, hoping to discredit the reputation of Congressman Mica. Voters have resoundingly rejected the attacks, as Congressman Mica’s lead has doubled since the beginning of the campaign.

Sincerely,

-Team Mica”