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Phila. Ethics Board, PAC Linked To Local 98 Reach Settlement Agreement

By Steve Tawa

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Board of Ethics and a political action committee linked to Local 98 of the Electrical Workers' union have settled up on a 2013 investigation into campaign finance reporting violations. A spokesman for the union says it 'was so insignificant it's not worth commenting on.'

The settlement agreement provides for a $1000 fine to be paid jointly by Philadelphia Phuture PAC, and its treasurer, Ed McBride, who had long been associated with Local 98.

Ethics Board investigators say the PAC failed to file an independent expenditure of nearly $18,000 worth of flyers, sample ballots and door hangars promoting various candidates, including Controller Alan Butkovitz and District Attorney Seth Williams.

Staw law requires political committees to disclose within 24-hours any expenditures of more than $500.

It's similar to a settlement agreement earlier this year in which another PAC with Local 98 connections, Concerned Irish Americans of Philadelphia and its treasurer, Bob Gormley, were fined a total of $2000. Gormley is a member of Local 98's Executive Board.

Ethics investigators say IBEW Local 98's political action committee paid Concerned Irish Americans more than $70,000 to pay and feed poll workers to influence the 2013 Philadelphia primary election.

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