Philip Morris, Publix failed to report donations

ATLANTA - Tobacco giant Philip Morris and Publix Super Markets failed to disclose $510,000 in political donations in Georgia since 1999, state Ethics Commission officials say. <br> <br> An investigation was opened Friday to determine why. <br> <br> Both companies discovered the mistakes recently and reported them to the ethics panel, officials said. <br> <br> Philip Morris and its subsidiaries Miller Brewing Co. and Kraft Foods North America Inc. made more than 400 unreported donations, including $127,500 to the state Democratic Party, $140,000 to House and Senate Democratic caucuses and $37,500 to Gov. Roy Barnes. By comparison, $15,000 was given to Republican candidates. <br> <br> Stephen F. White, a lawyer for Philip Morris, said the failure to disclose the contributions was accidental. He said an internal investigation was started to determine what happened. <br> <br> Publix was not represented at the hearing Friday. <br> <br> Commission officials said it appeared that all the candidates and political organizations that benefited had reported the gifts. <br> <br> But Robert Highsmith Jr., a commission member, said the failure by Philip Morris to report its donations prevented the public from realizing the magnitude of donations from a single source. <br> <br> ``There are statewide campaigns whose budgets don&#39;t get to that amount,&#39;&#39; Highsmith said. ``Those contributions were essentially hidden.&#39;&#39;