The United Way of Summit County held their 2014 Annual Meeting at the John S. Knight Center in Akron, Ohio on Wednesday, April 23. After a very successful 2013 campaign, for the sixth year, State and Federal Communications, Inc. received the “Highest per Employee Corporate Giving Award” in the category of a company with 49 or fewer employees.

State and Federal Communications, Inc. was also awarded with a Campaign Excellence Award for percentage of employee participation.

Thank you United Way of Summit County. This year marks the 13^th year of participation for State and Federal Communications, Inc. We are honored to be a part of the incredible work you do. We are also proud of the continued dedication of the State and Federal Communication’s staff. Your participation is truly unmatched and highlights the core values of our company.

Gov. Jerry Brown has appointed Judge Jodi Remke as the new chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).

Remke is currently the presiding judge of the State Bar Court, which is responsible for the discipline of attorneys.

The appointment fills a vacancy created by Ann Ravel’s appointment to the Federal Election Commission.

The Arizona Legislature adjourned its session sine die at 1:46 a.m. Thursday, April 24.

Gov. Jan Brewer has 10 days to sign or veto legislation transmitted to her or the legislation becomes law automatically.

Ohio lawmakers plan to introduce legislation next month making significant changes to state ethics rules for the first time in decades. The bill would double the amount lobbyists can spend on gifts to lawmakers but require lobbyists and public officials to report when a lobbyist spends more than $100 per year on an official for meals, entertainment, transportation, or other gifts.

State Sen. Larry Obhof, a Republican co-sponsor of the bill, maintains a higher reporting threshold is necessary to keep lobbyists honest, as many lobbyists seek to find ways to avoid the lower threshold.

Other notable legislative provisions raise the lobbyist registration fee from $25 to $35, strengthen whistle-blower protection guidelines, allow lawmakers to remedy reporting errors, require random audits of financial disclosure statements, and make changes to procedures for ethics investigations. Bill sponsors argue the bill is intended to increase transparency and accountability.

Photo of the Ohio State Capitol courtesy of Alexander Smith on Wikimedia Commons.

State senators are receiving a refresher in ethics and bills to require tougher ethics rules are advancing following a series of legal cases involving Democratic lawmakers.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg canceled committee hearings Wednesday, April 23 and ordered senators and their top aides to devote the day to ethics training.

The ethics proposals approved by a committee include a ban on fundraising during the end of legislative sessions, a reduction in the value of gifts officials may accept, and a prohibition on such items as spa treatments and golf games.

Photo of the California Senate chamber courtesy of David Monniaux on Wikimedia Commons.

A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has ruled the province’s law requiring registration for political advertising is constitutional, even if no money on advertising has been spent.

The Election Act requires individuals and organizations wanting to sponsor election advertising to register with the province’s chief electoral officer. According to The Globe and Mail, Judge Bruce Cohen wrote, “The salutary effects of the impugned measure outweigh the deleterious effects [by increasing] the transparency, openness and accountability of B.C.’s electoral process and promotes an informed electorate.” The B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association had argued the law discourages participation from individuals and groups without the means or ability to register.

The Board of Commissioners will consider adopting a new county ethics ordinance requiring additional disclosures from county candidates, elected officials, and certain county employees. In 2010, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation mandating local governments to adopt ethics laws at least as stringent as the state’s laws.

The Maryland State Ethics Commission approved the county’s proposed ordinance during its Feb. 27 meeting.

County Attorney Tim Burke will review the ordinance with commissioners in mid-May. It is then the responsibility of the commissioners to submit the ordinance for public review and to vote on whether to adopt it.

In light of the United States Supreme Court ruling in McCutcheon v. FEC, the Los Angeles Ethics Commission announced it would no longer enforce the aggregate limits on contributions to city and school board candidates.

Limits on contributions to individual candidates remain in place.

Photo of the Los Angeles skyline by Nserrano on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Jerry Brown has called a special session of the Legislature to convene on April 24, 2014.

Brown wants lawmakers to replace the rainy day fund measure currently on the November ballot with a new constitutional amendment establishing a dedicated reserve capable of paying down state debts and unfunded liabilities.
Photo of the California Senate Chamber by David Monniaux on Wikimedia Commons.

On April 16, the Rhode Island Board of Elections voted to support the creation of legislation eliminating aggregate political contribution limits. The vote was in reaction to McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, the April 2 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling aggregate contribution limits unconstitutional.

State law currently prohibits an individual from making contributions of more than $10,000 in the aggregate to more than one candidate, political action committee (PAC), or political party committee or to a combination of candidates, PACs, and political party committees within a calendar year.

According to the Providence Journal, Raymond A. Marcaccio, the board’s lawyer, told the board, “My observation is that [the state law limiting aggregate contributions] will be subject to a constitutional challenge so we should support legislation that would seek [its] repeal.”

National:

G.O.P. Campaign Outreach Tool: Gun sweepstakes

New York Times – Jeremy Peters | Published: 4/17/2014

Online gun sweepstakes are one of the fastest growing and most useful tools for campaign outreach in the 2014 Republican primaries. Across the country, from a race for sheriff in California to the U.S. Senate primary in South Carolina, candidates are using high-powered pistols and rifles as a lure to build up their donor lists and expand their base of support. But as a lot of candidates have learned, giving a gun away is not easy.

Federal:

For Hillary Clinton and Boeing, a Beneficial Relationship

Washington Post – Rosalind Helderman | Published: 4/13/2014

The State Department under former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton bypassed ethics guidelines to take a $2 million donation from Boeing, just a month after Clinton helped the company secure a multi-billion dollar contract with Russia. Clinton was attempting to resuscitate the dismal fundraising for the privately-sponsored U.S. pavilion planned for the 2010 World’s Fair in Shanghai. State Department officials had told planners to skip soliciting some firms with major business ties to the government, including Boeing, to avoid the appearance of a conflict-of-interest.

McCutcheon Lawyer Brings New Campaign Finance Case

Politico – Byron Tau | Published: 4/16/2014

Dan Backer, the attorney who won a landmark ruling when the U.S. Supreme Court threw out the overall limit on how much any donor can give to federal campaigns each election cycle, has filed a lawsuit looking to strike some of the restrictions still on the books. The latest lawsuit seeks to open the door for more money to flow from a PAC to a candidate or party committee. The suit objects to federal restrictions on transfers out of PACs based on the amount of time they have been registered.

From the States and Municipalities:

Connecticut – Rowland Indicted In Two Alleged Campaign Finance Schemes

Hartford Courant – Edmund Mahoney and Jon Lender | Published: 4/10/2014

Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, who resigned 10 years ago in a corruption scandal that sent him to prison, was indicted recently on charges he tried to hide his role in two congressional campaigns, one of them involving a sham contract written to conceal $35,000 he was paid for political advice to candidate Lisa Wilson-Foley. Rowland is also accused of pitching a similar phony consulting deal to Mark Greenberg during his unsuccessful 2010 race for Congress.

Florida – Builders, Lobbyists among Big Donors to Mayor’s Ball

South Florida Sun Sentinel – Andy Reid | Published: 4/12/2014

Donation records show lobbyists, developers, and others potentially vying to do business with local government were some of the biggest donors at the Palm Beach County Mayor’s Ball fundraiser. Many local elected officials, led by Palm Beach County Mayor Priscilla Taylor, were the main attraction at the fundraiser to help the homeless. It also tested new ethics rules which seek to limit opportunities for attendees at such events to curry favor with elected officials by contributing to a cause they support.

Kansas – Brownback Vetoes Bill Raising Spending Threshold for Lobbyist Registry

Topeka Capital-Journal; Staff –   | Published: 4/11/2014

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback vetoed Senate Bill 99, which would have raised the expenditure threshold triggering the requirement to register as a lobbyist from $100 to $500. A news release from the governor’s office said the bill was vetoed in the interest of promoting continued transparency in government.

Kentucky – Kentucky Rep. Jim Gooch Threw Women’s Underwear on a Dinner Table, Statehouse Staffers Allege

WFPL – Jonathan Meador | Published: 4/14/2014

Two legislative staff members who filed sexual harassment charges against former Kentucky Rep. John Arnold said they were also subjected to crude behavior by state Rep. Jim Gooch at the Southern Legislative Conference. Cassaundra Cooper and Yolanda Costner said Gooch approached a group they were sitting with, pulled a pair of panties out of his pocket, and tossed them on the table. Gooch said his actions were harmless and the two women are retaliating against him.

Maryland – State Won’t Enforce $10,000 Limit on Campaign Contributions

Baltimore Sun – Luke Broadwater | Published: 4/10/2014

Maryland election officials said they would not enforce the state’s $10,000 limit on aggregate campaign contributions during a four-year election cycle in the wake of a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The State Board of Elections announced that no person may donate more than $4,000 to any individual campaign, but may give that amount to an unlimited number of candidates.

New Jersey – Former Watchdogs Accuse Christie of Interfering with State Ethics Agency

Newark Star Ledger – Salvador Rizzo | Published: 4/13/2014

Three former New Jersey Ethics Commission officials are accusing Gov. Chris Christie’s office of unprecedented interference with an agency set up to be free of political influence. They say Christie pushed the commissioners to replace the executive director at a time when she was investigating a member of his own staff, thus crossing a line no other governor had before. The Christie administration called the charges without merit and denied any interference with the commission.

New Mexico – Controversial Audio Leaked of Governor and Her Staff

KRQE – Gabrielle Burkhart | Published: 4/16/2014

Leaked audio recordings reveal New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez used profanity and offensive names to describe political opponents during her 2010 campaign. The tapes were part of an unflattering profile of Martinez by Mother Jones magazine. Martinez’s re-election campaign sent an email supporters noting she had referred to her general election opponent, then-Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, “using the B-word four years ago in a private conversation with close advisers.”

New York – U.S. Attorney Criticizes Cuomo’s Closing of Panel

New York Times – William Rashbaum and Susanne Craig | Published: 4/9/2014

Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, took control of confidential records of the commission probing public corruption that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo shut down following a budget deal with the Legislature. Bharara’s move on the Moreland Commission files was motivated by his interest in the unfinished probes, unexplored leads, and abrupt close to business of the panel that Cuomo or his aides reportedly interfered with through back channels.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association is Focus of Ethics Query

The Oklahoman – Nolan Clay | Published: 4/13/2014

The state Ethics Commission voted to investigate the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) for alleged violations of lobbying disclosure rules. Commissioners acted after The Oklahoman reported the association has provided free football and basketball playoff tickets to legislators for years. Records show the OSSAA has not reported those gifts to the Ethics Commission as required by law.

Texas – With Eyes on 2016, Perry Is Mired in the Past

New York Times – Manny Fernandez | Published: 4/16/2014

A judge seated a grand jury to look into the threat that Texas Gov. Rick Perry carried out to veto funding for the Public Integrity Unit under Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg. Perry last year said he would veto money for the unit, which prosecutes wrongdoing by public officials, unless Lehmberg resigned in the wake of a drunken-driving arrest. Texans for Public Justice filed a complaint with prosecutors over the threat, contending Perry abused his power.

Washington – Ethics Board Hears Call to End Free Meals for Lawmakers

The Olympian – Brad Shannon | Published: 4/15/2014

Washington lawmakers can accept free meals on an “infrequent’ basis during the course of doing their jobs. But the law it does not say what is infrequent. The Legislative Ethics Board held a public hearing to get comments on a proposal to clarify the statue. In addition, a staff proposal going before the Public Disclosure Commission would raise the threshold for itemizing spending on lawmakers from $25 for an event to $50.

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The Colorado Ethics Commission, which has long been accused of partisanship, is likely to face more criticism in light of a recent ruling. On Monday, April 14, the commission voted to dismiss a complaint against Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper.

Hickenlooper was accused of violating state gift law by allowing the Democratic Governors Association to pick up the tab for food and lodging expenses associated with a 2013 conference. In its reasoning, the commission claimed Hickenlooper’s policy expertise shared at the conference, and the hours he spent organizing it, exceeded what was spent on food and lodging.

William Leone, one of the commissioners who heard the complaint, argued an elected head of state “has a legitimate interest to present, discuss, debate, and hear about [the] policy initiatives . . . he chooses to advance.”

After ruling for Hickenlooper, the commission declined to revisit a decision handed down last year against Republican Secretary of State Scott Gessler for a substantially similar set of facts. Gessler believes the people of Colorado have no faith in a partisan ethics commission; he was saddened, but not surprised, by Monday’s decision.

The attorney for the eponymous plaintiff in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) has filed another challenge against the nation’s campaign finance regulations only two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic decision ruling aggregate contribution limits unconstitutional.

Stop Reckless Economic Instability Caused by Democrats (STOP REID) v. Federal Election Commission was filed on April 14 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia by Dan Backer of DB Capitol Strategies. STOP REID is a nonconnected political committee registered with the FEC. On the FEC webpage, Backer is listed as the treasurer of the committee.

This suit was brought because federal law currently has different contribution limits based on the classification of a political committee. For instance, the law allows certain political committees existing for more than six months, with other qualifications, to contribute up to $10,000 per candidate while newly formed political committees existing for less than six months are only permitted to contribute a maximum of $5,200 per candidate. The complaint argues the differing direct contribution limits for political committees to candidates violate the First Amendment rights of freedom of association and speech for committees and their members.

Today the Phoenix, Arizona City Council is expected to vote on whether to create a city ethics commission and whether to add a gift policy to its ethics policies.

According to the council’s agenda for the meeting, the proposed gift policy identifies permissible and prohibited gifts for elected officials, employees, board members, and volunteers.

It also identifies permissible gifts to elected officials required to be disclosed on a form submitted to and posted by the city clerk.

According to AZCentral.com, the proposed ordinance would allow officials to avoid disclosing event tickets, food, drinks, transportation, or lodging they received as long as such gifts were related to economic development, tourism promotion, or a sister-cities program.

If passed, the ordinance would also create an ethics commission authorized to receive allegations of ethical violations, investigate, take testimony, and engage in any other activity in order to oversee the investigation and enforcement of the gift policy and other conflicts of interest.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.