Political Groups Fined for Failing to Report Spending to Defeat Formulary Bills

Monday, December 10, 2018 | 0

Two lobbying groups reportedly financed by a claimants' law firm were fined by the Pennsylvania Ethics Commission for late disclosure of contributions that funded Twitter and advertising campaigns against workers’ compensation bills, The Morning Call newspaper reported Friday.

The commission found that PA Works Now and Citizens to Protect Our Pennsylvania violated the state’s Lobbying Disclosure Law’s requirements. The groups spent more than $115,800 on lobbyists, online posts, billboard and flyers aimed at defeating Republican-sponsored bills that would have mandated adoption of a workers’ compensation drug formulary.

According to the newspaper, the Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano law firm financed the groups. The firm did not return the paper’s calls.

The groups agreed to pay a combined $29,080 in fines for failing to register with the Pennsylvania Department of State, according to the report.