The Fair Political Practices Commission has proposed fining a former Sierra Club lobbyist $24,500 for failing to file quarterly disclosure reports for nearly two years.
Michael Endicott, a contract lobbyist based in San Francisco, did not file seven required reports to the Secretary of State from October of 2010 to June of 2012, according to the FPPC's case against him. It states:
"The failure to timely file lobbying reports violates one of the (Political Reform) Act's central purposes: that the activities of lobbyists should be regulated and their finances disclosed in order that improper influences will not be directed at public officials. The public harm inherent in these violations is that the public is deprived of important and timely information regarding the amounts and nature of lobbying activity. In this matter, (Endicott) failed to file seven consecutive quarterly lobbying firm reports. As a result, there was no disclosure of approximately $72,000 in lobbying activity."
The fine amounts to $3,500 for each report not filed, at the high end of the range for similar offenses. FPPC staff wrote that they recommend a steep fine because Endicott "recently received a warning letter for the same violation of the Act, did not cooperate with the investigation, and, to date, has refused to file the delinquent reports."
Endicott did not return calls from The Bee seeking comment.
The fine requires approval by the FPPC at its meeting on Feb. 28.
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