Dem files complaint on Daniels at Purdue

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A Democratic legislator is seeking an ethics investigation into Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' new job as president of Purdue University.

State Rep. Charlie Brown of Gary argues that Daniels violated state ethics rules when he used a state government email list to respond to stories about $380,000 in renovations being done on the Purdue president's office.

Brown also asked Inspector General David Thomas to reconsider an opinion clearing the Republican governor to lobby state lawmakers as soon as he takes over at Purdue in January. Thomas is a Daniels appointee who decided that a one-year "cooling off" period wouldn't apply to Daniels.

Daniels' spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Daniels asked Purdue officials last week to halt the president's office renovations following media reports about the project.