State paid NRA lobbyist $12,000 to assess gun law

HARRISBURG — A lobbyist for the National Rifle Association was paid $12,000 in state tax money last year by House Republican leaders to prepare a report assessing how well a 1995 state gun law has worked.

Rep. Dan Frankel, a Squirrel Hill Democrat and member of the House Gun Caucus, called the situation "outrageous." It shows that the NRA "not just figuratively but literally sits in the Republican Caucus," Frankel said.

Alan S. Krug, of State College, who retired three years ago from the NRA, continues as a lobbyist for the group, according to records at the state Ethics Commission.

State House records show Krug was paid $1,000 a month last year for professional services from a leadership fund controlled by state House Majority Leader John Perzel, a Philadelphia Republican. The fund is an $11 million general purpose expense account for the Republican Caucus.

The House recently opened records of expenditures by leaders and rank-and-file members for public review. The change in policy followed a series of articles on expense records last year in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Barry Kauffman, lobbyist for Common Cause of Pennsylvania, said there probably is no legal question about Krug being paid by the House. However, it raises an ongoing question about the relationships lawmakers have with some interest groups, he said.

"There certainly is a propriety problem," Kauffman said.

Krug prepared a draft report on the 1995 instant background check law that was reviewed at a public meeting Wednesday by a legislative and executive branch advisory committee. The committee members may create legislation to address what some see as problems with the law establishing the Pennsylvania Instant Check System.

Under the law, purchasers of handguns, rifles or shotguns are checked for criminal histories and involuntary commitment to mental facilities.

Krug said he sees no problem with the relationship. Some Republicans said that Krug knows the subject and added that only committee members would make decisions on any final report.

Krug said he was not lobbying last year. He said he received calls from legislators who needed information and that he served primarily as a backup for the head lobbyist, John Hohenwarter.

However, Krug receives a retainer from the NRA and attends political fund-raisers, said Stephen Pancoe, an aide to Rep. Merle Phillips, a member of the committee that hired Krug.

Krug declined to say whether he receives a retainer from the NRA. He said he had attended fund-raisers over the past three years, including last year.

Krug dismissed questions about his work for the committee as a technicality.

Krug's contract ran through January, said committee Chairman Brian Grove, an aide to Gov. Mark Schweiker. Krug no longer is being paid by the state, Grove said. That should mitigate any concern, he added.

Rep. T.J. Rooney, a Bethlehem Democrat active in a House caucus pushing what he calls "reasonable" gun control measures, said the decision to pay a registered NRA lobbyist out of a House account reflected arrogance by the House Republicans.

"There's no question in my mind the leadership in the House Republican Caucus thinks they are invincible," Rooney said. "It is blatantly offensive to me and patently offensive to the taxpayers of Pennsylvania."

Stephen Drachler, spokesman for Perzel, said, "If it's arrogant to try to get expertise, someone who had firsthand knowledge of the subject, then we're arrogant."

Phillips, serving on the advisory committee, said he needed money for research to get the committee rolling. The Legislature set up a committee to review the law. Critics have complained that through lack of action the state had not followed the law.

Phillips said he sought money for the research from Perzel, the GOP leader. Drachler said Perzel received the request from Phillips and complied.

"It was my understanding he (Krug) is not lobbying. He may be registered but he's not doing anything," said Phillips, a Republican from Sunbury, Northumberland County.

Phillips said Krug, who has a doctorate in economics, has "a tremendous wealth of knowledge" on gun issues.

Grove, who became chairman two weeks ago, stressed that Krug only provided a draft report. He said Krug would not be involved in the final report. Moreover, he said, those decisions would be made by committee members.