Aflac: $2M to lobby Washington in '07

Health and life insurance company Aflac Inc. spent $2 million lobbying the federal government the first half of 2007, according to a disclosure form.

The Columbus -based company lobbied Congress on a bill to expand health insurance for low-income children, an American Indian health care bill and other insurance-related issues, according to the disclosure form posted online Aug. 14 by the Senate's public records office.

Under a federal law enacted in 1995, lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches. They must register with Congress within 45 days of being hired or engaging in lobbying.

(The Associated Press)

Realtors group faces record fine

The Georgia Association of Realtors might have to pay a record fine for breaking state ethics rules. The lobbying group failed to send in disclosure reports for more than 400-thousand dollars in campaign contributions to candidates in last year's election. It donated thousands of dollars to top state lawmakers, including Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle.

Bob Hamilton, the director of the Georgia Association of Realtors, says he found out only recently that his group violated state ethics laws.

"The person on the staff who was directly responsible for those reports came to me about a month ago. She had in her hand a letter from the ethics commission stating that an investigation had been opened because we had not filed the report".

Hamilton says the employee was fired. According to state law, the ethics commission could fine the group up to 100-thousand dollars for the violation. The realtors hope a hearing before a judge will reduce that amount.