WASHINGTON -- Highmark Inc. agreed to pay a fine of more than $54,000 for using corporate dollars on fundraising events connected to former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

In announcing the penalty yesterday, the Federal Election Commission also said it assessed a $20,000 fine against a former Highmark vice president and a $7,500 fine against Mr. Santorum's political action committee, America's Foundation. The donations went toward three golf tournaments at the Country Club of Hershey and a private fundraiser, the FEC said.

The Pittsburgh-based health insurer voluntarily made the FEC aware of the apparent violations after an internal audit, the commission said. "We believe that Highmark's response to this matter demonstrates the value of its integrity program in facilitating the investigation, reporting to proper authorities and implementing remedial actions," said company spokesman John McDermott.

Mr. Santorum, a two-term Republican, lost his re-election bid in November to Democrat Bob Casey.