Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, whose legal battles against the state for not paying taxes has been ongoing for a number of years, used campaign money to pay for a lawyer during an ethics inquiry, according to the Idaho Statesman.

Idaho Secretary of States Ben Ysursa said the way in which the money was spent is within the legal bounds for campaign money spending. He said Idaho looks at federal law for direction and federal law allows such expenditures.