Report: Republican Sen. Chris Widener backed legislation that benefited a nonprofit he co-founded

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- A newspaper reports a state senator backed Ohio legislative actions that eventually benefited a nonprofit he co-founded by more than $800,000.

The Dayton Daily News reports that Republican Sen. Chris Widener of Springfield was in the Ohio House when he backed Senate changes to House Bill 160. The newspaper says the bill helped the Ohio Equine and Agricultural Association get out from under $413,877 in taxes and penalties. The newspaper reports Widener inserted an amendment into the 2009 state budget bill that allowed Clark County to levy a bed tax generating $412,890 in revenue for Ohio Equine.

Widener said in an email Sunday that he has maintained the highest standards of ethical conduct and those principles and the legislative inspector general's interpretation of ethics laws have guided his legislative actions.