Tuesday, March 02, 2004

Lawyer alleges stealth lobbying by group (West Virginia)
Charleston Gazette story - " Employees of a government-funded mental health organization lobbied state lawmakers last week and were told not to reveal who they worked for, according to a complaint filed Friday with the secretary of state’s office. West Virginia Mental Health Consumers Association staff members called legislators to oppose the bill, according to the complaint by Morgantown lawyer Bill Byrne. They were directed to do so by the nonprofit organization’s interim director, Lorie Roberts, Byrne alleges. Several phone calls to Roberts were not returned. The bill (SB315) would create a pilot project in a few counties for outpatient commitment. Judges could order people with a history of mental illness to take medication, and if they didn’t comply, they could be taken to a mental hospital for evaluation and treatment."