Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont House Republican PAC (“VHR PAC”) will pay a civil penalty of $2,000 for failing to register as a legislative leadership PAC and for soliciting contributions from lobbyist employers, according to Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell. In January 2014, the Legislature passed a law requiring legislative leadership PACs to register with the Secretary of State’s Office and prohibiting them from soliciting contributions from lobbyists or lobbyist employers. The Vermont House Republican PAC acknowledged violations of both provisions.
In late 2015, a representative of VHR PAC responded to inquiries from two lobbyists regarding the committee’s legislative leadership committee status. Despite active involvement in PAC activities by the House Republican caucus for the past three years, the representative incorrectly stated that the committee was not a legislative leadership committee. Relying on VHR PAC’s response, Altria Client Services LLC made a contribution of $1,000 and Pfizer, Inc. made a contribution of $2,000 to the committee.
Pursuant to the settlement agreement, VHR PAC will return the two contributions that were made improperly and will pay an administrative penalty. VHR PAC has corrected its registration with the Secretary of State’s Office.
Source: Vermont Attorney General Oct 4, 2016