One of the benefits of working for State and Federal Communications is the availability of Charitable Service Hours. These hours are provided by the company so employees can volunteer in the community and help out on various service projects.

This year I used my hours to work on a project for Mitzvah Day. Mitzvah Day Akron is a day devoted to helping various groups in the area. Started by Temple Israel in 2002, it has become a community service day involving many faith-based and secular organizations. In 2016, 14 organizations participated in this day of caring and service.

The project I worked on is Project Linus, which makes no-sew fleece blankets for patients at Akron Children’s Hospital. This was my fourth year working on this project. This year I spent three days assisting the project leader, Ruth Huber, (full disclosure, we are related) in preparing for the work to be done on Mitzvah Day and in finishing the blankets and delivering them to Akron Children’s Hospital.

The first day of prep work was mostly spent buying the materials. While it may sound fun, it actually requires a large amount of time. Shopping took a good part of the day because we needed to go to multiple stores to find enough material in a variety of colors and patterns. We ended the day with enough material for more than 40 blankets.

Finalizing the volunteer lists, sending volunteers reminders, and handling administrative duties rounded out the day. Given my writing and computer skills, I was drafted to handle the emailing.

The second prep day was spent preparing the material for the volunteers. While we bought it cut to size, we still had to remove the selvage. On each piece of fleece there are two edges where you can see machine marks from when it was woven. That area along the edge has to be trimmed off before the blanket can be made. Also, any uneven edges have to be trimmed so each blanket starts with four straight edges. Trimming took almost all day, as there were over 80 edges to trim and only three of us working.

On Mitzvah Day, Project Linus had 10 volunteers who produced 39 blankets.

The final day of work took place after Mitzvah Day. We finished four blankets, sent thank-you notes to the volunteers, and delivered the blankets to Akron Children’s Hospital so they could be distributed to the children.

And then we did a final good deed. All of the selvages we were left with didn’t get thrown away. Instead, we cut the long pieces into shorter lengths and tied them together: instant kitten toys. These we delivered to Kitten Krazy, a nonprofit rescue shelter in Medina.

All told, the volunteers of Project Linus were able to make dozens of kids and kittens happy.

Gov. Phil Bryant has called a special session for June 28, 2016. The Governor is asking lawmakers to give him authorization to use the state’s rainy day fund, known as the Working Cash Stabilization Reserve Fund, to cover the nearly $75 million budget deficit.

If approved, it will be the third time Bryant has had to take such action. The shortfall has been blamed on lagging tax collection so far this year.

Photo of the Mississippi State Capitol by Shawn Lea on Wikimedia Commons.

The Legislature’s special session has come to an end after lawmakers reached an agreement on school finance. After meeting for only two days, the House and Senate approved a compromise on Friday, June 24, to prevent the state’s public schools from closing on July 1.

The measure will use funds from the sale of Kansas Bioscience Authority. It now heads to Gov. Sam Brownback, who has indicated he will sign it.

Rebecca South, Federal Compliance Associate at State and Federal Communications, has been selected by Women in Government Relations (WGR) as its ‘2016 Distinguished Member of the Year.’

Ms. South attended the recent award ceremony held at the Willard Hotel in Washington D.C., along with her family members, and President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, Ms. Elizabeth Z. Bartz. The ceremony was the annual WGR Spring Reception, the organization’s premier event of the year that brings together members of Congress, congressional staffers and the government relations community to honor women leaders who embody the vision of WGR.

In addition to Ms. South, other honorees included Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA), Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA), and Ms. Catherine Knowles, Office of Representative John Culberson, 2016 Congressional Staffer. Ms. Bass and Ms. Comstock were recognized as outstanding women in Congress who have shown true leadership by exhibiting resilience in the face of adversity and who have worked to make America stronger.

According to WGR President Ms. Meredith Shue, this event has brought together the women of Washington to celebrate 41 years of advancing and empowering women. “This year we celebrated our legacy of leadership and the wisdom of our nearly 1,200 members,” she said. “Our honorees are paving the way for generations of future female leaders through their important work, proving that the glass ceiling can be broken.”

This reception saw more than 500 attendees from all corners of the government relations profession. As was the intent of the founder many years ago, all proceeds raised at the event will now be used to advance, empower and educate young female professionals who seek leadership roles in the government relations industry. WGR is the sole non-profit organization dedicated to this cause, and its members include women and men at all professional levels representing corporations, trade associations and professional societies, law firms, lobbying firms, non-profit groups and federal, state and local governments.

Ms. Elizabeth Z. Bartz is proud of the work that Rebecca South has done for WGR and its committees, especially in helping to plan out the future of the organization for leadership opportunities, mentoring, partnerships, networking and educational programming. “We believe strongly in the mission of Women in Government Relations and the entire State and Federal Communications organization has been solidly behind Rebecca in receiving this prestigious honor,” she states.

Gov. Jerry Brown has announced his support of sweeping reforms to the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The overhaul comes as the PUC faces accusations of back-channel dealings and calls for change to create more transparency and independence from utility companies. The reform package will require people lobbying the PUC to register as lobbyists and ban former utility executives from serving on the PUC for two years post-employment.

Photo of the Edmund G. Brown State Office Building by Coolcaesar on Wikimedia Commons.

On June 16, the New Hampshire Legislature held a special one-day session to address the efforts of state and local law enforcement to combat the state’s rising heroin and opioid problem. Lawmakers passed a bill providing more funding for initiatives to battle drug usage. The bill was signed on the same day.

Photo of the New Hampshire State House by Alexius Horatius on Wikimedia Commons.

The General Assembly concluded its session and recessed on June 18. Any bills submitted to Gov. Gina Raimondo must be signed or vetoed by June 28. There is no pocket veto.

Photo of the Rode Island State Capitol by Garrett A. Wollman on Wikimedia Commons.

On June 23, the special session of the Louisiana Legislature adjourned. The governor wanted $600 million to address the state’s budget shortfall for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, but lawmakers would only approve legislation providing $263 million. The special session began the day the regular session concluded.

Boulder City Council has adopted two new ordinances creating a new municipal election code and updating campaign finance rules.

The city will no longer be dependent on the state election code, and city staff will no longer need to continually update the code for local elections based on state legislative changes. Other cities, including, but not limited to, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins, have adopted similar local codes.

The changes also clarify campaign finance disclosure requirements; campaigning done without cost, such as the use of social media, need not be disclosed. Critics believe the new provisions were rushed and encourage a lack of transparency.

A special session could be looming in Mississippi as the state continues to deal with budget woes.

Gov. Phil Bryant is currently considering calling lawmakers back into session to balance the budget. This may require the use of back-up funds and could cause a protracted fight to rework the current budget.

This would be Bryant’s sixth special session since taking office.

Photo of Gov. Phil Bryant by U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wikimedia Commons.

National:

Courts, Judges Become Top Political Targets in 2016 Elections
Kansas City Star – Dave Helling | Published: 6/17/2016

Experts say that while complaints about legal rulings are as old as the republic, politicians have started turning virtually every race into a referendum on the courts, threatening public confidence in an independent, apolitical judiciary. Not everyone is equally concerned. In a polarized, dysfunctional political climate, some say, making judges more accountable to voters and taxpayers is healthy and inevitable.

The Kochs’ Powerful Operation Isn’t Aimed at Helping Trump – But It Might Anyway
Washington Post – Matea Gold | Published: 6/20/2016

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) launched ground operations on behalf of Republican incumbents in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin, the earliest the Koch brothers-affiliated group has ever begun making explicit political appeals in the field. But AFP and other groups in the brothers’ political network are mute when it comes to Donald Trump. It is an odd situation for the powerful conservative operation, which was expected to harness its sprawling machinery on behalf of this year’s Republican nominee. But Trump’s incendiary rhetoric and inconsistent policy stances have dismayed Charles Koch, the billionaire industrialist who leads the network. Koch-backed groups are now training their resources on boosting vulnerable GOP Senate candidates.

Federal:

Democrats End Sit-In on House Floor While Promising to Continue to Press for Gun Votes
Washington Post – Karoun Demirjian, Kelsey Snell, and Ed O’Keefe | Published: 6/23/2016

U.S. House Democrats ended their sit-in protest after occupying the chamber’s floor for more than 25 hours, vowing to take the push for new gun curbs to their congressional districts. Even after Republicans had departed for a week-long recess, roughly a dozen Democrats held the floor, with more trickling in, after a night of loud confrontations with the chamber’s GOP leaders. The Democrats had demanded votes on legislation to expand background checks to all commercial sales and to prevent suspected terrorists from being able to buy guns. Republicans dismissed Democrats’ demands, saying they would not reward the minority party for trampling over the chamber’s rules.

Donald Trump Starts Summer Push with Crippling Money Deficit
New York Times – Nicholas Confesore and Rachel Storey | Published: 6/20/2016

Donald Trump enters the general election campaign laboring under the worst financial and organizational disadvantage of any major party nominee in recent history, placing both his candidacy and his party in political peril. Trump loaned his campaign $2.2 million in May and collected $3.1 million in donations, ending the month with less than $1.3 million in bank, a figure more typical for a campaign for the U.S. House than the White House. Hillary Clinton raised more than $28 million in May and started June with $42 million in cash. Trump has a staff of around 70 people, compared with nearly 700 for Clinton, suggesting only the barest effort toward preparing to contest swing states this fall. And he fired his campaign manager after concerns among allies and donors about his ability to run a competitive race.

Fattah Convicted of Federal Corruption Charges
Philadelphia Inquirer – Jeremy Roebuck | Published: 6/21/2016

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah was found guilty of all charges in a federal corruption trial. He and several associates had been charged with 29 counts related to bribery, money laundering, fraud, and racketeering. Fattah borrowed $1 million from a donor during his unsuccessful campaign for Philadelphia mayor and later repaid part of the loan by using funds from charitable and federal grants received by his nonprofit. Prosecutors said he also used funds from his mayoral and congressional campaigns to help pay off his son’s student loan debt. In addition, the indictment said Fattah accepted bribes while trying to secure an ambassadorship or appointment to the U.S. Trade Commission for former Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Herbert Vederman.

The Next ‘Citizens United’ Is Coming
Center for Public Integrity – Carrie Levine | Published: 6/22/2016

James Bopp, who successfully argued the Citizens United case before the U.S. Supreme Court, is now the lead lawyer in the most prominent of a series of lawsuits attempting to further rescind campaign contribution limits. The case brought by the Louisiana Republican Party addresses restrictions on how state and local political parties use soft money to influence federal elections. Bopp’s clients argue if independent outside groups such as super PACs are permitted to raise and spend unlimited amounts of such money, there is no reason why state political parties, acting independently of federal candidates, should be treated differently. Bopp says he will not rest until there are as few election rules as possible since he believes too many rules lead to more opportunities to game the system.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – California Political Watchdog Targets ‘Shadow Lobbyists’
Sacramento Bee – Taryn Luna | Published: 6/21/2016

The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) is considering a regulatory change to draw “shadow lobbyists,” consultants paid to influence legislation, into the public eye. Loopholes in the law can allow consultants to act as lobbyists without officially registering with the secretary of state’s office, disclosing their clients, or their attempts to sway lawmakers. The FPPC hopes the change increases the incentive for consultants and others working in and around the state’s lobbying industry to keep better records of their activities, while giving the agency more freedom to press cases against shadow lobbyists. The commission is expected to vote on the change at its regularly scheduled hearing on July 21.

Colorado – Colorado Supreme Court to Hear Case Challenging State Ethics Commission’s Role
Denver Post – Joey Bunch | Published: 6/21/2016

The Colorado Supreme Court agreed to hear issues in a case involving then-Secretary of State Scott Gessler, marking the first time the justices have looked at how the Independent Ethics Commission operates since it was created in 2006. The ethics panel found Gessler violated the public trust when he used money from his office discretionary fund to attend a GOP lawyer’s event in Florida. He extended the trip to attend the Republican National Convention (RNC). Gessler paid for his lodging and meals at the RNC with campaign funds. The Supreme Court will look at whether the commission exceeded its jurisdiction to ban gifts of more than $53 a year to public officials and bar them from becoming lobbyists for two years after leaving office.

District of Columbia – Close Council Vote Rejects Campaign Contribution Reform
DCist.com – Rachel Kurzius | Published: 6/21/2016

The District of Columbia Council struck down a proposal to ban campaign contributions from city contractors. Council Chairperson Phil Mendelson had included a provision in a bill to reform the city’s procurement process that would have banned donations from people or businesses that have or are seeking city contracts. He argued that doing so would improve the public perception of the city’s elected officials. But Councilperson Vincent Orange introduced an amendment to strike that language, saying it would lead to “dark money” flooding into city campaigns.

Florida –  Florida Lawmaker Wants to Give Away an AR-15
New York Times – Mike McPhate | Published: 6/21/2016

Florida Sen. Greg Evers, a Republican who is running for Congress, said he would hold a drawing whose prize would be an AR-15, a gun similar to the one used by Omar Mateen to kill 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando on June 12. Evers said he was considering the giveaway since before the mass shooting, intending to burnish his pro-gun credentials in Florida’s conservative western Panhandle, where he is running to fill the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller. But the timing of the announcement, even as funerals for the shooting victims continued, led many commenters on Evers’s campaign site and his Twitter account to express disgust.

Maryland – Here Are the Top Lobbyists in Maryland for the 2016 Legislative Session
Washington Post – Ovetta Wiggins | Published: 6/22/2016

The return of divided government to Maryland has brought about much change in Annapolis. But one thing that has remained the same since the election of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan is Gerard Evans’ upper hand in state lobbying. Evans, a longtime fixture in Annapolis, was the top earner among Maryland lobbyists during the recent legislative session. He reported billing his clients nearly $2 million between November and April, which is about $168,000 more than last year, when he was also the top earner. Bruce Bereano came in second both last year and this year, with reported billings of $1.4 million.

New York – 3 New York Police Commanders Are Arrested on Corruption Charges
New York Times – William Rashbaum and Joseph Goldstein | Published: 6/20/2016

Three New York City police commanders and a business consultant were arrested as part of a wide-ranging federal corruption probe that has also been examining Mayor Bill de Blasio’s campaign fundraising. The latest arrests mark an escalation of an investigation that has led to discipline for nearly a dozen police officers and forced de Blasio to answer questions about whether he engaged in inappropriate fundraising. A criminal complaint accused businessperson Jeremy Reichberg of plying Deputy Chief Michael Harrington, Deputy Inspector James Grant, and others with gifts including prostitutes, sports tickets and expensive trips. As a result, Reichberg was able to secure official favors. De Blasio has said he and his administration have acted legally in all respects. He has not been accused of wrongdoing, and the charges thus far are unrelated to his fundraising efforts.

New York – New York Lawmakers Leave Albany Without Big Ethics Reforms
Albany Times Union – David Klepper (Associated Press) | Published: 6/18/2016

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders agreed to an ethics package that aims to strip pensions from public officers convicted of a felony and add disclosure requirements for political consultants who advise elected officials. The session started in January with some bold proposals to fix the state’s porous campaign finance laws, beef up ethics enforcement, and put limits on the pay lawmakers can make from side jobs. But none passed during the six-month session. For good-government groups and officials long bewildered by Albany’s inaction, the resolution was as disappointing as it was unsurprising.

Oregon – Portland Auditor Says Revolving-Door Lobbying Rules ‘All but Unenforceable’
Portland Oregonian – Brad Schmidt | Published: 6/22/2016

A proposed ordinance in Portland would ban elected officials from lobbying the city and bureau directors from lobbying their agencies for two years after they leave office. It would impose a one-year lobbying ban on other city employees. The ordinance is a compromise. City commissioners expressed reservations about a more restrictive version of the bill that was introduced in April. City Auditor Mary Hull Caballero also wants to raise the fine for violating the city’s lobbying rules to $3,000. The new rules would require any group that spends more than $1,000 lobbying in a quarter to disclose a detailed list of each contact with city officials. Right now, that level of transparency is required only for groups that spend at least eight hours lobbying in a quarter, a provision that would continue.

Wisconsin – As the Government Accountability Board Ends, What’s the Future for Wisconsin Campaign Finance Regulation?
Capital Times – Katelyn Ferral | Published: 6/19/2016

Wisconsin’s Government Accountability Board, born in bipartisanship from a legislative scandal in 2001, was the only nonpartisan model of its kind in the country with six former judges appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. It was armed with a budget unfettered by Legislative oversight to investigate campaign finance, ethics, and lobbying complaints. Its dissolution, which came with a rewrite of the state’s campaign finance rules, is a necessary reform to some but step backwards for others who question whether violations of campaign finance law will be aggressively policed.

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

The first session of the 41st Legislature will adjourn for summer recess on June 30. They will return to session on October 3, 2016, unless members are called back by the speaker.

After summer recess, the first session is set to adjourn sine die on November 10, 2016.

The second session of the 41st Legislature will convene on November 21, 2016, with a speech from the throne.

Today the Portland City Council is scheduled to reconsider adopting new ethics reform measures to broaden the revolving door prohibition to two years and increase the penalties associated with repeated ethics violations.

The proposal would also close a loophole in registration requirements, requiring lobbying entities that spend more than $1,000 a quarter on lobbying activities to register.

The proposed ordinance is a compromise that is less restrictive than a similar ordinance that was introduced in April 2016.

In an end-of-session bipartisan push, the Legislature and governor have come to agreement on ethics reform measures.

Their five-point plan includes the following:

• With more disclosure measures in place, super PACs are now able to give and receive unlimited contributions if they do not coordinate with a candidate;
• Public officers convicted of corruption may face revocation or reduction of their pensions;
• First-time political consultants will be required to disclose when they simultaneously represent political officeholders and private sector clients with government business;
• The reporting thresholds for organizations who lobby on their own behalf has been lowered from $50,000 to $15,000 while individual limits have been lowered from $5,000 to $2,500;
• Contributions over $2,500 to organizations engaged in lobbying must now also be reported to JCOPE; and
• 501(c)(4) organizations will now be required to disclose funding if they engage in political activity and receive any financial support and in-kind donations from 501(c)(3) organizations.

Other new features from the plan include imposition of fines up to $10,000 or the amount of promised contingency fees for anyone violating the state’s prohibition on contingency fee lobbying, a delineation excluding all communication with journalists from the definition of lobbying, and more due process rights for individuals being investigated by the Joint Commission of Public Ethics (JCOPE), including the right to a hearing.