California ethics agency slaps fines on lobbyists and clients

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The state Fair PolitiCal Practices Commission is cracking down on state lobbyists and their clients for failing to disclose their activity or otherwise crossing ethical lines, handing out $53,000 in fines to seven firms and organizations.

The firm Sacramento Advocacy and principal Catherine Barankin face $22,500 in fines for failing to file timely lobbyist and lobbying firm reports from July 1, 2010, through Sept. 30, 2012, involving more than $500,000 received for lobbying services.

The lobbying firm Kammerer & Co. and Lori Kammerer have agreed to pay $2,000 in fines for sending a communication to state lawmakers on behalf of the fictional Coalition of Small and Disabled Veteran Businesses urging them to pressure the governor to issue an executive order to stop the California Prison Industry Authority’s plans to expand its Food Enterprise into areas where contracts have already been awarded to small and disabled veteran businesses.

An investigation found the coalition listed 10 members, but only two companies paid into the enterprise, so it did not qualify as a coalition.

Also caught in the crackdown is the California Industrial Hygiene Council and Jaime Steedman-Lyde, which face $10,000 in fines for failing to file lobbyist employer reports from Oct. 1, 2009 to Sept. 30, 2012, and failing to disclose $95,557 in payments for lobbying services.

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-- Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento