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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 1, 2013 02:34 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Bryan Cutler |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Lobbyist Disclosure Forfeiture (Former HB 1060) |
| I am writing to invite you to join with me in cosponsoring a bill that I will be introducing in the near future that amends the recently enacted Lobbyist Disclosure Law to add a new penalty for violations of this important public law. Recently, I encouraged you to join myself and Representative Neuman in enhancing the existing penalties in the current law. I plan on introducing another, separate bill, which would provide for a new forfeiture penalty when a violation of the Lobbyist Disclosure Law occurs. Under my proposal, any “principal” that has realized a gain as a result of lobbying by that principal or by another person on behalf of the principal that has failed to register or report as required under the law shall be required to forfeit that gain or its monetary equivalent. The State Ethics Commission would responsible for determining the manner and the amount of the forfeiture. No company, industry or individual should be able to influence policy makers, ignore lawful requirements that regulate those efforts, and essentially realize a gain. The highly publicized example of a company which may reap a windfall of tax dollars but failed to follow the law is Lionsgate, a film company that hired a lobbyist, failed to make required disclosures and filings, yet still remains eligible to take advantage of efforts to enact a $75 million tax credit program that can directly benefit them. Please join me in cosponsoring this bill so that Pennsylvania’s new Lobbyist Disclosure Act accomplishes what it is intended to do – provide full disclosure of those who work to influence state government officials. PREVIOUS CO-SPONSORS: BOYD, GINGRICH, GRELL, HICKERNELL, KAUFFMAN, LAWRENCE, METCALFE, MOUL AND SWANGER |