Penn State Outspends Peers Lobbying Pennsylvania Amid Disclosure Gaps

Penn State University has significantly increased its lobbying expenditures in recent years, spending $1.7 million over the past two years, more than its Pennsylvania peers such as Temple University and the University of Pittsburgh. Despite this, Pennsylvania's lax lobbying disclosure laws and the university's exemption from the open records law make it difficult to fully understand who or what Penn State is trying to influence in Harrisburg. The university's lobbying efforts focus on broad topics including economic development, education, health care, and the state budget, but specifics on legislation or the individuals being lobbied are not fully disclosed. Transparency advocates like Philip Hensley-Robin of Common Cause Pennsylvania argue that current laws fall short by not requiring detailed information on lobbying targets or specific legislation. While Penn State internally collects detailed lobbying information, this data is not publicly available, limiting public insight into its influence activities. Calls for improved transparency highlight the need for clearer disclosure to better understand the scope and impact of Penn State’s lobbying efforts.