Environmental group fined by state ethics commission

One of Pennsylvania’s leading environmental organizations is being fined by the state ethics commission for failing to file a quarterly lobbying expense report on time.

PennEnvironment has 30 days to pay the $1,960 fine over its delinquent quarterly expense report from the second quarter of 2016. The group also has to pay $250 to cover costs the ethics commission incurred investigating the matter.

Under a state 2006 disclosure law, lobbyists are required to file quarterly expense reports. According to records with the Pennsylvania Department of State, PennEnvironment spent $66,534 lobbying last year.The group is active on a number of issues, including Marcellus Shale gas development.

A PennEnvironment spokesman declined to comment on the fine.

The Working Families Organization, which lobbies for progressive economic issues, was also fined by the commission for the same issue.

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