December 20, 2016 •
Another Special Session Called in North Carolina
North Carolina lawmakers will meet Wednesday for their third special session this month. Gov. Pat McCrory announced he will call a special session Wednesday to vote on repealing House Bill 2. House Bill 2 restricts which restrooms transgender people can […]
North Carolina lawmakers will meet Wednesday for their third special session this month. Gov. Pat McCrory announced he will call a special session Wednesday to vote on repealing House Bill 2.
House Bill 2 restricts which restrooms transgender people can use and blocks local governments from enacting nondiscrimination ordinances regarding the use of public bathrooms.
December 19, 2016 •
North Carolina Bill to Merge Ethics and Elections Boards Becomes Law
On Friday, December 16, Gov. Pat McCrory signed Senate Bill 4 into law. Senate Bill 4 merges the State Board of Elections with the State Ethics Commission and creates a new eight-member board split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. The […]
On Friday, December 16, Gov. Pat McCrory signed Senate Bill 4 into law. Senate Bill 4 merges the State Board of Elections with the State Ethics Commission and creates a new eight-member board split evenly between Republicans and Democrats.
The bill was introduced by Republicans in an attempt to limit the power of the executive branch before newly elected Democrats take power. Governor-elect Roy Cooper has stated that he plans to challenge the law in court as unconstitutional.
December 16, 2016 •
NYCU Video Digest – December 16, 2016
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
December 16, 2016 •
New York City Council Passes Several Campaign Finance Bills
Several bills related to campaign finance were recently passed by the New York City Council. Int. No. 1345-A will prohibit donations above $400 per year from people who are lobbyists, have city contracts, do business with the city, or non-governmental […]
Several bills related to campaign finance were recently passed by the New York City Council.
Int. No. 1345-A will prohibit donations above $400 per year from people who are lobbyists, have city contracts, do business with the city, or non-governmental entities controlled by a local elected official or their agents. Int. No. 1352 will require a notice regarding the contribution limits for persons doing business with the city be provided to contributors. Additionally, Int. No. 1361-A will require contributions in a special election be counted towards the threshold for eligibility and matching for public funds candidates.
Some of the more technical bills will require public funds candidates to deposit contributions by a certain date (Int. No. 1351-A), mandate the Campaign Finance Board to prepare electronic disclosure reports to meet state disclosure requirements (Int. No. 1349-A), allow candidates to return campaign contributions to protect their reputational interest (Int. No. 1353-A), and require the doing business database to display the date a person is considered doing business with the city (Int. No. 1361).
The bills are awaiting the mayor’s signature and are effective as listed in the respective bills.
December 16, 2016 •
North Carolina Bill to Merge Ethics and Elections Boards Passes Senate
Yesterday, Senate Bill 4 passed in the North Carolina Senate with a 30-16 vote. Senate Bill 4 seeks to merge the State Board of Elections with the State Ethics Commission and create a new eight-member board split evenly between Republicans […]
Yesterday, Senate Bill 4 passed in the North Carolina Senate with a 30-16 vote.
Senate Bill 4 seeks to merge the State Board of Elections with the State Ethics Commission and create a new eight-member board split evenly between Republicans and Democrats.
The bill is now headed to the House for consideration
December 16, 2016 •
New York Sued Over New Disclosure Laws
Minutes before midnight on December 12, 2016, Citizens Union (CU) filed a complaint against the State of New York alleging a violation of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. CU seeks declaratory and injunctive relief from disclosure laws […]
Minutes before midnight on December 12, 2016, Citizens Union (CU) filed a complaint against the State of New York alleging a violation of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. CU seeks declaratory and injunctive relief from disclosure laws passed in June.
The new laws lowered the annual lobbying spending threshold from $50,000 to $15,000 for 501(c)4 organizations. Additionally, the new laws require 501(c)4 organizations to disclose donors who give more than $2,500. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
December 15, 2016 •
FCC Chairman Wheeler Announces Resignation
On December 15, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler announced his resignation. Wheeler will leave office on January 20, 2017, the date of the inauguration of president-elect Donald J. Trump. Because Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel was not confirmed by the […]
On December 15, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler announced his resignation. Wheeler will leave office on January 20, 2017, the date of the inauguration of president-elect Donald J. Trump.
Because Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel was not confirmed by the Senate for a new term and will not be with the FCC after January 3, until new commissioners are appointed, the FCC will have a 2-1 Republican majority on the day Trump is sworn in as president. The five-member FCC may only have three commissioners from a single political party. One of the responsibilities of the FCC is enforcement of broadcast political advertising.
December 15, 2016 •
Surprise Special Session Called in North Carolina
Minutes after legislators finished work on a hurricane relief package in a two-day special session set by Gov. Pat McCrory, Republicans called a second special session Wednesday in an attempt to pass legislation to limit newly elected Democrats. Most of […]
Minutes after legislators finished work on a hurricane relief package in a two-day special session set by Gov. Pat McCrory, Republicans called a second special session Wednesday in an attempt to pass legislation to limit newly elected Democrats.
Most of the 21 bills introduced seek to limit the power of the executive branch. Senate Bill 4 would merge the State Board of Elections with the State Ethics Commission and create a new eight-member board split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. Current law gives a majority of the state elections board’s five members to the governor’s party.
December 15, 2016 •
Arguments Heard in Lawsuit Challenging MA Law Banning Corporate Contributions
Oral arguments were heard last week in a 2015 lawsuit filed in Massachusetts Suffolk County Superior Court challenging state laws allowing unions to make political contributions while barring corporations from doing the same. The lawsuit is being brought by the […]
Oral arguments were heard last week in a 2015 lawsuit filed in Massachusetts Suffolk County Superior Court challenging state laws allowing unions to make political contributions while barring corporations from doing the same.
The lawsuit is being brought by the Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation at the Goldwater Institute on behalf of two state business corporations against Michael Sullivan, the director of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), which enforces the law. In 1A AUTO, INC. v Sullivan, the plaintiffs allege, “There is no legitimate justification for allowing unions to contribute thousands of dollars to candidates, parties, and political committees, while completely banning any contributions from businesses.” The plaintiffs argue the law violates “equal protection, free speech, and free association protected by the Massachusetts and United States constitutions” and are seeking a permanent injunction preventing the OCPF from enforcing the law banning corporate contributions.
Both parties made their arguments on December 7 in front of Judge Paul Wilson, who will decide the previously filed motions for summary judgement.
December 14, 2016 •
Wisconsin Ethics Commissioner Resigns Amid Agency Dysfunction
Wisconsin state ethics commissioner Robert Kinney announced his resignation Monday. Kinney cited his disappointment in the agency as his reason for stepping down. He claims the relatively new Ethics Commission operates too secretly and does not adequately enforce ethics, campaign […]
Wisconsin state ethics commissioner Robert Kinney announced his resignation Monday. Kinney cited his disappointment in the agency as his reason for stepping down. He claims the relatively new Ethics Commission operates too secretly and does not adequately enforce ethics, campaign finance and lobbying rules.
Moreover, he contends several members of the commission demonstrate an obvious lack of commitment to the underlying purpose of the agency. In June, Gov. Scott Walker appointed Kinney from a pool of candidates provided by the Democratic Party.
December 12, 2016 •
Kennedy Wins Louisiana Seat in U.S. Senate
Republican candidate John Kennedy won a state run-off election on December 10 to fill Louisiana’s second seat in the U.S. Senate. Kennedy, Louisiana’s incumbent treasurer, won 61 percent of the vote to defeat Democratic candidate Foster Campbell. Kennedy will take […]
Republican candidate John Kennedy won a state run-off election on December 10 to fill Louisiana’s second seat in the U.S. Senate. Kennedy, Louisiana’s incumbent treasurer, won 61 percent of the vote to defeat Democratic candidate Foster Campbell.
Kennedy will take office January 3, 2017, creating a vacancy in his current position that will be filled in a special election to be held in March or October 2017. The First Assistant State Treasurer will take over as treasurer until an election can take place.
Campbell, a member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, was looking to increase the number of Democrats in the Senate and gained nationwide support and over $2 million in donations in the months leading up to the December 10 election.
With Kennedy’s victory, the Senate is comprised of 52 Republicans and 48 Democrats. Kennedy will hold the seat until he is up for re-election in 2022.
December 9, 2016 •
NYCU Video Digest – December 9, 2016
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
December 9, 2016 •
Palm Beach County School Board Enacts Lobbyist Registration Policy
Individuals who lobby the Palm Beach County School Board or top school district administrators are now required to register and disclose their activity. The School Board approved the new policy this week after more than a year of development. The […]
Individuals who lobby the Palm Beach County School Board or top school district administrators are now required to register and disclose their activity. The School Board approved the new policy this week after more than a year of development.
The policy targets professional lobbyists hired by businesses while exempting unions, parent groups, sales representatives, and those lobbying on behalf of their own companies. Lobbyists are also prohibited from providing gifts in excess of $50.
Registration is required prior to engaging in lobbying and expires each year on June 30. A statement of expenditures must be filed on or before August 1 and lobbyists must sign an appearance log prior to each visit with the School Board.
December 8, 2016 •
Maryland to Modernize Procurement Laws
Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd K. Rutherford, as chair of the Commission to Modernize State Procurement, released a report outlining a plan to update state procurement laws. The proposed regulations will update outdated statutory language and allow individuals to file applications […]
Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd K. Rutherford, as chair of the Commission to Modernize State Procurement, released a report outlining a plan to update state procurement laws. The proposed regulations will update outdated statutory language and allow individuals to file applications and reports online.
Along with the report, Maryland unveiled a new procurement website, which will act as a singular procurement communications portal providing online access to procurement information. The new procurement information website can be viewed here.
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.