Click here for a PDF Version of this Newsletter (Free Adobe Reader required)
The President's Message
by Peter Calcara
 They're Back!
Our friends at the Department of State are back with their plan to increase the biennial registration filing fee for lobbyists, principals and lobbying firms from $100 to $200. If approved, the fee increase will go into effect on January 1, 2011.
As you may recall, the Department published its proposed fee increase in the October 17, 2009, Pennsylvania Bulletin—a full 139 days after the statutorilymandated date of June 1, 2009. The Lobbying Disclosure Law (Act 134 of 2006) states unambiguously that the Department shall publish the adjusted registration fee amounts in the Pennsylvania Bulletin by June 1, 2009, and by June 1 every two years thereafter as necessary.
PAGR urged the Department to withdraw the proposed rulemaking. IRRC seemingly agreed with PAGR, but offered the Department the opportunity to further clarify its interpretation and explain how the fee increase is consistent with Act 134.
In the final-form regulation, the Department explained that by publishing the regulations on October 17, 2009, the Department is providing the regulated community with ample notice to adjust to the increased fee far in advance of the January 1, 2011 effective date.
PAGR maintains its position that the next legally permissible time the Department can publish a fee increase is on or before June 1, 2011, in order to for the fee to be applied to the biennial registration period beginning January 1, 2013.
Stay tuned. PAGR has submitted formal comments to IRRC and will be providing testimony at the June 3rd IRRC public hearing. All PAGR members are more than welcome to attend the hearing.
3rd IRRC public hearing. All PAGR members are more than welcome to attend the hearing. In other legislative news, PAGR is supporting House Bill 2162, campaign finance reform legislation sponsored by Rep. Babette Josephs (D-Phila.), which was reported out of the House State Government Committee on April 20, 2010.
The bill would impose contribution limits for individuals, political party committees and political action committees as follows:
from an individual to a:
- candidate for General Assembly, court of common pleas, county or local office -- $2,000 per election
- statewide candidate -- $5,000 per election
- political action committee -- $5,000 per calendar year
- political party committee -- $20,000 per election
no individual would be able to contribute more than $25,000 per election. from a political action or candidate's committee to a:
- candidate for General Assembly, court of common pleas, county or local office -- $2,000 per election
- statewide candidate -- $10,000 per election
- political action committee -- $5,000 per calendar year
- political party committee -- $20,000 per election
from a political party committee to a:
- candidate for General Assembly, court of common pleas, county or local -- $5,000 per election
- statewide candidate -- $100,000 per election
- political action committee -- $20,000 per election
It is unclear if or when the full House will take this bill up for consideration.
PAGR is also actively monitoring Rep. Bryan Cutler's House Bill 1434, which increases the penalties for lobbyists, lobbying firms and principals who fail to properly register or report in accordance with Act 134. The measure would increase the maximum administrative penalty that may be imposed by the State Ethics Commission for violations from $2,000 to $10,000 and the maximum lobbying prohibition from five to 10 years. In cases of negligent failure to register or report, the penalty would jump from $50 per day to $250 per day. The legislation also upgrades the offense of intentionally failing to register or report, or for filing a false report, from a second-degree misdemeanor to a first-degree misdemeanor.
The bill unanimously passed the House on April 20, 2010 and has been referred to the Senate State Government Committee. It is uncertain if and when the Senate State Government will be considering this bill.
If you have questions or comments regarding action PAGR is taking on these matters, I would like to know. Feel free to contact me directly at pcalcara@picpa.org. Your thoughts and opinions are important to me and the members of YOUR PAGR Board.
Important 2010 Dates
FALL - LOBBYPALOOZA 2010
MONDAY, OCTOBER 4 - MEMBERSHIP MEETING
11:30 AM—12:30 PM
Firehouse Restaurant, Harrisburg
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 - ELECTION RESULTS PARTY
8 PM—11 PM
Firehouse Restaurant, Harrisburg
MONDAY, DECEMBER 6 - MEMBERSHIP MEETING
4:00 PM—6 PM
Mcgrath's Pub, Harrisburg
Lobbypalooza 2010
Want to help plan this popular event? Contact Christine at the PAGR office.
Meeting Notice
Monday June 7, 2010
11:30 am—12:30 pm
Firehouse Restaurant
Third Floor
606 N. 2nd Street - Harrisburg
Our guest will be:
Rep. Frank Dermody,
House Majority Whip
ALL MEMBERS ARE FREE!
ALL GUESTS OF MEMBERS WILL BE
CHARGED $25
PLEASE RSVP BY June 4 TO
717-540-4391 OR INFO@PAGR.ORG.
2010 Board of Directors
Officers
President...............................Peter Calcara
Vice President..........Brinda Carroll Penyak
Secretary................................Gregg Taylor
Treasurer..............................Mark Richards
Board of Directors
Association...............................Brian Barno
Corporate..................................Kris Snader
Lawyer.......................................Tony Crisci
Independent......................Robert Archibald
At Large....................................Ted Mowatt
At Large............................Judy Eschberger
Immediate Past President
Andrew Hilt
Executive Director
Christine Corrigan
|
