Pennsylvania election regulators will reportedly investigate whether a union-backed, liberal nonprofit that poured more than $1 million of "dark money" into ads slamming the former GOP governor and other conservatives violated political disclosure laws.
The Center for Public Integrity reports a spokeswoman for Pennsylvania's Department of State said it would open an "inquiry into apparent discrepancies" in the political spending reports filed by the liberal nonprofit.
Pennsylvanians for Accountability
came under fire in January for not filing a mandatory federal tax return on time, and the Center reports one Republican state lawmaker is considering holding a legislative hearing to look into the group's actions.
The Center, citing tax records, reports the liberal nonprofit spent more than $1 million during late 2012 and early 2013 on ads targeting former Gov. Tom Corbett and other conservative lawmakers.
The Center reports the group described nearly half of the money as "independent expenditure efforts" that consisted of "direct mail and digital advocacy" in nine state House and state Senate races. But it allegedly only reported making $61,000 worth of independent expenditures in two races to the Pennsylvania Department of State, the Center reports.
State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, Republican chairman of the House state government committee, says his committee may hold a hearing on political "dark money" groups like Pennsylvanians for Accountability, which he called "shady" for trying to "mislead the voters" by not identifying its funders, the Center reports.
"The electorate deserves to have good information and transparency in the election process," Metcalfe told the Center.
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