Following the death of Rep. Lesley Vance, a special election will be held to fill a vacant seat for Alabama House District 80.

A special primary election will be held on January 19, with a special general election to be held on April 12, 2016.

New legislation was introduced impacting the city’s campaign finance regulations.  One bill would eliminate the possibility of matching, with public funds, any contribution to a candidate for local office that is bundled by a lobbyist or person who has, or may have, business dealings with the City.

A second bill would extend the prohibition on the acceptance of contributions from non-registered political committees to candidates who are not participating in the public money matching program.  Currently, the prohibition only applies to candidates who are participating in the public matching program.

Photo of the New York City skyline by AngMoKio on Wikimedia Commons.

On December 1, 2015, new revisions to Canada’s Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct will take effect.  The updates to the Code of Conduct, which has not been updated since 1997, are designed to clarify the rules and restrictions on lobbying in the country.

New rules will prohibit a lobbyist from lobbying a public official if the lobbyist has campaigned for or has business interests with the public official.  New regulations addressing gifts will hold a lobbyist responsible for giving a gift the public official is not allowed to accept.

A special election will be held to fill a vacant seat for Iowa House District 21.

The special election is slated for December 8, 2015, following the death of Representative Jack Drake earlier in the year.

Governor Dayton ordered a special election to be held for Senate District 35 on February 9, 2016.  The election is being held to fill State Senator Branden Petersen’s seat after he announced his resignation in September.

If necessary, a special primary election will be held on January 12, 2016.

On November 18, a special session of the New Hampshire Legislature will meet to consider establishing funding for programs to battle the state’s rising use of heroin and other drugs. Gov. Maggie Hassan asked the Executive Council to vote for the special session after failing to convince the House and Senate leaders to call a session. The Executive Council voted 4-1 in favor of calling a special session.

“This is the most important issue facing our state, and it deserves the full and swift attention that comes from a special session of the legislature,” Hassan said, according to the Union Leader.

Photo of the New Hampshire State House by AlexiusHoratius on Wikipedia.

After multiple attempts, and multiple special sessions, the Florida Legislature adjourned the third special session of the year on November 5, 2015 without reaching a redistricting agreement for the state senate. The adjournment came a day earlier than expected after the two chambers reached an impasse on the latest version of the map.

Now a Tallahassee Circuit Court judge will likely choose a map from drafts submitted throughout the process. This latest roadblock has renewed calls for an independent commission to handle redrawing the map.

Photo of the Old and New Florida State Capitols by Infrogmation on Wikimedia Commons.

The 3rd special session of the 29th Alaska State Legislature adjourned sine die on Thursday, November 5. Lawmakers approved a $160 million spending bill for the state’s natural gas pipeline. Construction is still years away, but the money will allow study and planning for the pipeline to continue. Ultimately, if approved, the pipeline project could require a $15 billion investment from the state.

Photo of the Alaska State Capitol by Jay Galvin on Wikimedia Commons.

Voters in King County, Washington elected a new Elections Director.

Julie Wise will become the head of the King County Elections Division beginning January 1, 2016. Wise currently holds the position of Deputy Director.

National:

Neuropolitics, Where Campaigns Try to Read Your Mind
New York Times – Kevin Randall | Published: 11/2/2015

All over the world, political campaigns are seeking voter data and insights that will propel them to victory. Now, that includes the contentious field known as neuromarketing – or in this case, neuropolitics. Technologies like facial coding, biofeedback, and brain imaging have long been used by companies in the hope of pushing the boundaries of marketing and product development. But their use by political parties and governments is a growing phenomenon. The practice has come under attack, but the skepticism has not dissuaded political parties in many parts of the world. The campaigns of presidents and prime ministers on at least three continents have hired science consultants to scan voters’ brains, bodies, and faces, all with the aim of heightening their emotional resonance with the electorate.

New Generation of Trade Group CEOs Take More Aggressive – and at Times Unorthodox – Approach to Lobbying
Washington Post – Catherine Ho | Published: 11/4/2015

A new generation of trade group leaders are deploying a wide range of unorthodox lobbying tactics, a shift reflecting the new normal of the advocacy business. Some of the new CEOs are as much as two or three decades younger than their predecessors and came to power at the same time gridlock and chaos reigned in Congress. Rather than only forging relationships with federal lawmakers, they are turning to state-level lobbying and media campaigns to shape public opinion. These younger leaders are pushing to remake the image of some trade groups as a cushy track to retirement for former elected officials.

Federal:

Bush, Clinton Benefit from Lobbying Gray Area
Politico – Isaac Arnsdorf | Published: 11/3/2015

Campaigns are required to file reports detailing registered lobbyists who round up donations, but that number is only a small slice of the fundraisers who work in some capacity in Washington’s influence industry. A quarter of those who bundled $100,000 or more for Hillary Clinton work at lobbying firms or public affairs agencies, lobby at the state level, or otherwise make their living from influencing the government, even though they are not themselves registered to lobby Congress. For Jeb Bush, 58 of the 342 people who raised at least $17,600 are advocates and operatives linked to the influence industry, although they are not reported as federal lobbyists. The reliance on these power brokers shows how much both candidates are drawing on family and party networks forged over decades in politics to bankroll their presidential bids. It also illustrates the weaknesses in the rules meant to subject lobbyists to more public scrutiny.

Paul Ryan Lands at Center of a Rivalry for the Soul of the G.O.P.
New York Times – Carl Hulse | Published: 11/2/2015

The rise of the tea party-influenced conservatives who toppled John Boehner as House speaker has driven a wedge between the party’s right flank and the corporate interests and business advocates who were the embodiment of the Republican Party in years past. Now the term Chamber of Commerce Republican has been turned into a pejorative by hard-right conservative activists who rail against “crony capitalism.” It is an extraordinary political development, one that the new speaker, Paul Ryan, will have to navigate as he takes control of the House. And those on the hard right and in the corner offices are watching closely to see which way he leans.

Twitter <3 Enhanced Political #Disclosure
Center for Public Integrity – Dave Levinthal | Published: 11/4/2015

Twitter’s nascent PAC, which is poised to make its first-ever federal campaign contributions, plans to disclose them within 48 hours. “Timely disclosure is something we could do. We figured, ‘Why not?'” said Colin Crowell, Twitter’s head of global public policy. Twitter will also publicly disclose its trade association memberships and membership costs, as well as any financial associations it has with nonprofit organizations, which are not required to reveal their donors.

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona – Elections Panel Moves to Uncover Political ‘Dark Money’
Arizona Daily Star – Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) | Published: 10/31/2015

The Citizens Clean Elections Commission adopted a rule that spells out what will be considered to be a “political committee.” That designation is crucial because only political committees are required to report both contributions and expenditures. The new guideline says the reporting requirement applies when any organization spends at least half of its overall communications expenses on Arizona political races. Tom Collins, the commission’s executive director, said the rule is a direct result of heavy spending last election by groups that refused to disclose the source of their cash.

California – Tighter Rules for Lobbying Win S.F. Voter Approval
San Francisco Chronicle – Kevin Fagan | Published: 11/3/2015

Proposition C, which was approved by San Francisco voters on November 3, will require individuals or groups to register as lobbyists if they spend more than $2,500 in a month to encourage others to lobby city officials directly. The issue was placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the city Ethics Commission to try to rein in “Astroturf” lobbying, which refers to third-party influence efforts that try to disguise the real group or person behind a fake grassroots message. Many of the city’s grassroots and nonprofit organizations supported the idea behind Proposition C but said it would unfairly force them to abide by the same rules as more-moneyed traditional lobbyists. Proponents maintained that all lobbyists, big and small, should be equally accountable.

Connecticut – Joseph Ganim, Disgraced Ex-Mayor of Bridgeport, Conn., Wins Back Job
New York Times – Kristin Hussey | Published: 11/3/2015

An ex-convict who spent seven years in federal prison for corruption reclaimed the Bridgeport mayor’s office, completing a stunning comeback bid that tapped nostalgia for brighter days in Connecticut’s largest city. Joe Ganim, who was released from prison five years ago, declared victory in a race involving seven opponents. Ganim was mayor from 1991 to 2003, resigning after he was convicted of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars from people and companies doing business with the city. Eddie Moro, a security employee in the public school system, said he has no problem with Ganim’s criminal record. “He didn’t kill nobody,” said Moro.

Maine – Maine Backs Post-Citizens United Campaign Finance Initiative
Huffington Post – Paul Blumenthal | Published: 11/3/2015

Maine voters approved a proposal to expand the state’s public campaign financing system. It will increase public funding for candidates to as much as $3 million while allowing them to collect additional five-dollar qualifying donations. The initiative will also require organizations behind political advertisements to disclose the top three donors funding the ads and increase penalties for candidates who violate the state’s campaign finance laws.

Maryland – D.C. Law Student Takes Case against Md. Gerrymandering to Supreme Court
Washington Post – Robert Barnes | Published: 11/1/2015

Steve Shapiro worked on an assignment for a class at American University’s Washington College of Law, where he is a first-semester student. He pored over his brief due at the U.S. Supreme Court, where his battle against Maryland’s often-criticized gerrymandered congressional districts will be heard in a case that bears his name. It was his decades-long fight with Maryland’s political leadership over redistricting that, in part, fueled his decision to leave his job as a career federal employee and enroll full time in law school. Before he ever took his first law class, he served as his own lawyer, filing the original complaint in what is now called Shapiro v. McManus and a subsequent appeal after losing the first round.

New York – In Two Corruption Cases, the Culture of Albany Will Go on Trial
New York Times – William Rashbaum and Susanne Craig | Published: 11/1/2015

The former leaders of New York’s two legislative chambers face simultaneous public corruption trials this month in a federal courthouse. Former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, long one of the state’s most powerful lawmakers, goes on trial first on charges he used his office to collect millions of dollars in kickbacks and bribes. Dean Skelos, a former Senate majority leader, faces his own criminal trial on November 16. He is charged with taking official actions on behalf of several companies in exchange for payments to his son. The trials are the highest-profile cases in a string of corruption scandals. More than 30 state lawmakers have either been indicted or forced from office in recent years.

New York – Mayor de Blasio’s Hired Guns: Private consultants help shape City Hall
New York Times – Thomas Kaplan | Published: 11/4/2015

Several consultants helped guide Bill de Blasio campaign for New York City mayor in 2013, and they have remained at his side as a kind of privately funded brain trust, offering strategic advice and helping to shape the message that comes from City Hall. Their involvement also poses conflict-of-interest concerns; some of their firms have clients that do business with the city. Most of the money for the consultants has come from a nonprofit organization, the Campaign for One New York, that was created by political professionals from his mayoral campaign as a vehicle to push de Blasio’s initiatives, and whose donors have included real estate developers and unions.

North Carolina – McCrory Brokered Meeting on Contract for Friend and Campaign Donor
Raleigh News & Observer – Joseph Neff, Craig Jarvis, and Ames Alexander | Published: 10/30/2015

Last fall, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory personally intervened on behalf of a friend and major political donor who wanted to renew $3 million in private prison contracts over the objections of McCrory’s top prison officials. Graeme Keith Sr., a developer and retired banker, has pursued private maintenance contracts in state prisons since 1999. Keith’s contracts at two prisons were set to expire December 31, 2014; a third would have ended four months later. The governor convened an October 2014 meeting where, according to a Department of Public Safety memorandum, Keith told prison officials and McCrory that “he had been working on this project ‘private prison maintenance’ for over ten years and during that time had given a lot of money to candidates running for public office and it was now time for him to get something in return.”

Texas – Opponents of Houston Rights Measure Focused on Bathrooms, and Won
New York Times – Manny Fernandez and Alan Blinder | Published: 11/4/2015

More than a year ago, when Houston Mayor Annise Parker and her supporters first proposed an ordinance outlawing discrimination based on factors such as race, religion, and sexual orientation and steered it through the city council, they expected it to be welcomed in a diverse city that had become, with Parker’s election in 2009, the nation’s first big city to elect an openly gay or lesbian mayor. Instead, voters rejected the ordinance overwhelmingly. Opponents zeroed in on the measure’s gender-identity protections and focused the debate on a narrow issue whose very relevance was disputed by rivals: bathrooms, and access to them. What was clear was that a months-long effort by social conservatives to repeal the ordinance and reframe the issue had paid off, through tactics likely to be used again in similar battles around the country.

Washington – ‘Democracy Vouchers’ Win in Seattle; First in Country
Seattle Times – Bob Young | Published: 11/3/2015

Seattle voters passed a ballot measure that was seen as a national model for campaign finance reform. Under Initiative 122, every city resident would receive four “democracy vouchers” each representing $25 of public funds. The vouchers could be given to any local candidate of their choice, as long as that candidate opted in to the program. The measure also prohibits candidates from receiving contributions from any person or company with at least $250,000 in city contracts or $5,000 in lobbying expenses. It also will bar elected officials and their top aides from lobbying the city for three years after leaving their government jobs.

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.

Beginning November 1, the Virginia Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council assumed responsibility for all lobbyist registrations and disclosures. Created in the spring by the passage of House Bill 2070, the Council is required to review all disclosure forms filed by lobbyists, as well as state officers, employees, and legislators.

Paper and electronic versions of lobbyist registration and reporting are available through the Council’s website, however, electronic reporting will become mandatory beginning with the December 15, 2016 report.

House Bill 2070 followed an unsuccessful attempt to create the Council in 2014. In the previous instance, a battle over the state budget between the General Assembly and the governor resulted in the Council not receiving funding.

Governor LePage has requested a special session during an appearance before the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee. LePage is urging the committee to readdress the state budget and to reconsider additional funding to address the drug crisis facing the state.

In Maine, special sessions can be called by either the governor or the Legislature.

The Association of Government Relations Professionals is pleased to announce the following individuals will be recognized at the AGRP Annual Meeting (November 12) for their contributions to the profession and the organization.

Volunteer of the Year – Elizabeth Bartz of State and Federal Communications, Inc.
This award recognizes a volunteer member who has gone beyond the call of duty voluntarily in offering exemplary service on behalf of the Association of Government Relations Professionals — its mission, membership, and the profession.

AGRP established this annual award to appropriately recognize an individual who has displayed vision, support, and leadership toward improving the lobbying profession and unselfishly supporting the work of the association’s board of directors

Elizabeth Bartz is the founder, president and CEO of State and Federal Communications, Inc. from Akron, Ohio. She is the lead planner annually for the State Lobbying LCP program and regularly supports her staff in earning their Professional Lobbying Certificate. Ms. Bartz is also a supporter of AGRP’s initiative to recruit more state and local members and is sponsoring a new state lobbying series in 2016. Through her work in the states and outside-the-beltway, she has raised AGRP’s profile to this important audience. Since 2008, 11 staff from State and Federal Communications have completed the year-long Lobbying Certificate Program.

AGRP will also recognize Patrick Cooney from the DC-based The Federal Group as Government Relations Professional of the Year and Jim Clarke, from the American Society of Association Executives is receiving the Career Achievement Award.

About the Association of Government Relations Professionals
Originally established in 1979 as the American League of Lobbyists (ALL) – now re-named the Association of Government Relations Professionals (AGRP) – the association is the national professional society dedicated exclusively to government relations, public policy and lobbying. AGRP’s mission is to enhance the development of the profession, competence, and high ethical standards for advocates in the public policy arena; and to collectively address the challenges affecting the First Amendment right to “petition the Government for redress of grievances.” The goal is to contribute to openness, transparency, effectiveness, and ethical conduct in the pursuit of “good government” practices. For more information, visit http://grprofessionals.org

A territorial general election will be held on Monday, November 23.

The Commissioner of the Northwest Territories issued the Writs of Election for the 2015 Territorial General Election following the dissolution of the 17th Legislative Assembly on October 25.