A runoff election for mayor will be held next month due to such close voting results in the August 6 Nashville municipal election.

Megan Barry and David Fox came in first and second, respectively, in a field of seven candidates. Barry, an at-large member of Metro Council, earned about 1,500 more votes than Fox, former chair of the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Board.

The runoff election will be held on September 10.

Mainers for Accountable Elections, an activist group advocating for stricter campaign finance law, has developed a ballot measure to be considered by voters in the November 2015 election. The measure proposes to establish gubernatorial transition committees to help finance a governor-elect’s inauguration; increase penalties for late filings and certain other campaign finance violations; and require independent expenditure communications to include a conspicuous statement listing the top three funders of the communication.

The measure also proposes several amendments to the Maine Clean Election Act related to public funding for candidates. The most ambitious section of the measure proposes to require lawmakers to eliminate $6 million in corporate tax breaks in order to fund the expansion of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.

The measure will appear as “Question 1” on the November 2015 ballot.

The City of San Diego Ethics Commission has proposed amendments to the city’s campaign finance laws related to the disclosure requirements applicable to referendum and initiative petitions.

The proposed amendments would require additional campaign disclosures of committees supporting or opposing the qualification of an initiative or referendum measure on the ballot.

The city Ethics Commission is scheduled to consider the amendments at its upcoming August 13, 2015 meeting.

Photo of the San Diego skyline courtesy of Tomcio77 on Wikimedia Commons.

The Brennan Center for Justice, on behalf of several New York lawmakers, filed suit against the New York State Board of Elections, challenging a 1996 board ruling that treats limited liability companies (LLCs) as individuals. The ruling has the result of creating a loophole allowing LLCs to circumvent stricter contribution limits imposed upon other business entities, namely partnerships and corporations.

The board had an opportunity to overturn its 1996 ruling at its April 2015 board meeting, but board members split along party lines to uphold the ruling, thus prompting the Brennan Center for Justice to file suit.

Plaintiffs allege the LLC loophole allows special interest groups to funnel tens of millions of dollars into political campaigns without transparency. Corporate contributions are limited to $5,000 per calendar year; partnerships are limited to $2,500 per calendar year at the partnership entity level. Under the 1996 board ruling, LLCs can contribute substantially more than other business entities because they are treated as individuals.

The lawsuit was filed in the Supreme Court of New York, County of Albany.

Executive Director of New York’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics Letizia Tagliafierro is resigning, effective July 31, 2015.

Tagliafierro has served as the executive director since October of 2013. She is moving to the state Department of Taxation and Finance where she will be a deputy commissioner, leading the criminal investigations division.

The next meeting of the JCOPE is scheduled for August 4 and the commissioners are expected to begin a national search for a replacement for Tagliafierro.

The Office of the City Clerk has proposed amended rules to chapter 1 of title 51 of the Rules of the City of New York pursuant to the enactment of Local Law 129 of 2013, which amended the city’s lobbying law.

The rules propose the following: set forth the procedure for enrolling in e-Lobbyist; define the roles of principal officer, designee, and compliance officer; provide requirements for retainers and authorization letters; indicate when filing extensions may be obtained; set forth the procedures for obtaining a waiver of late filing penalties; establish enforcement procedures; and create an amnesty program.

The amnesty program sets forth eligibility criteria for lobbyists and clients who have not previously complied with the city’s lobbying law, allowing such individuals to come into compliance without penalty for a given period of time.

A public hearing was held and the proposed rules are still under consideration by the Lobbying Bureau.

Lobby Comply will be taking a one-week break. We’ll be back on Friday, July 10, with our weekly News You Can Use Digest.

Enjoy your week!

Have a happy Fourth of July weekend from all of us here at State and Federal Communications.

July 3, 2015   Washington Nationals Game, Washington, DC

July 7-8, 2015   Wal-Mart Manufacturing Summit, Bentonville, Arkansas

July 12-15, 2015    CSG MLC Annual Meeting, Bismarck, North Dakota

July 13, 2015   WGR Toastmasters, Washington, DC

July 23-26, 2015   NGA Summer Meeting, Greenbrier, West Virginia

July 27, 2015   WGR Toastmasters, Washington, DC

August 4, 2015   Astellas National Women’s Executive Day, Akron, Ohio

August 3-7, 2015   NCSL Legislative Summit, Seattle, Washington

Enjoy these photos from recent June events.

BIO International Convention in Philadelphia, PA.

While at the BIO International Convention in Philadelphia, PA, Elizabeth Z Bartz connected with BIO President and
CEO Jim Greenwood[Top] and Sen. Linda Evans Parlette[Bottom] of Washington.

Akron Roundtable Luncheon with David Greene with reception afterwards at State and Federal Communications

On June 18, 2015, we invited David Greene[Top] of NPR’s Morning Edition to our office for a reception after an Akron Roundtable luncheon.  He generously spoke to many visitors from WKSU [our local NPR station] and friends of State and Federal Communications, Inc.

[photo left to right:  Amanda Rabinowitz, WKSU Reporter/Producer, and David Greene.]
[Photographs by Nikos Frazier, Social Media Intern]

State and Federal Communications employees acknowledged on their anniversary.

Elizabeth with Nola Werren, Esq., Client Specialist – 18 years.

Elizabeth with Nicolette Koozer, Sr. Graphics Coordinator – 14 years.

Elizabeth with Myra Cottrill, Esq. – 7 years.

Elizabeth with Lisa Kot, Research Assistant – 1 year.

Happy Canada Day!

On this date in 1867, the four provinces of Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia united together under the British North America Act to form the Dominion of Canada. Over the years, Canada expanded as more former British territories and holdings joined the Dominion. In 1999, the last territory to join Canada was Nunavut, which was carved out of the eastern Northwest Territories.

While most of us think of Canada as a great vacation spot or the birthplace of hockey, it is important to know how important Canada is to us.

Canada is the United States’ top trading partner. Every year, the U.S. takes in about three-quarters of Canadian merchandise exports. Canada is only behind Saudi Arabia and Venezuela when it comes to having proved oil reserves, and currently it ranks as the fifth-largest oil producer in the world.

Canada is important to the United States and U.S. businesses. This is why State and Federal Communications has an Executive Source Guide for Canadian Compliance for U.S. businesses. We want to ensure our clients are able to say “I Comply” (in English and French) when they do business in Canada.

Now, in honor of our neighbors to the north on Canada Day, here are 13 Random Facts about Canada:

1. In 1988, Canada and the U.S. signed the Canada-U.S. free trade agreement. The more famous NAFTA wasn’t signed until the 90s and took effect in 1994.
2. Quebec was originally called Lower Canada and Ontario was called Upper Canada. They were given these designations by Britain’s Canada Act. The designations of “Upper” and “Lower” were based on elevation and geographical features, not on which one appeared above the other on a map.
3. Geographically, Canada is immense. It is the second largest nation in the world, has the longest coastline of any nation in the world, and is the largest nation to share a border with only one other country. However, most of the population lives within 100 miles of the U.S. border.
4. The first transoceanic broadcast of a radio signal was received on Signal Hill, St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1901.
5. Canada is a constitutional monarchy, ruled by Queen Elizabeth II. Her representative in Canada is the Governor General. Since 1947, the governor general has had full authority to exercise the duties of the head of state, both in Canada and when abroad.
6. Canada is home to the oldest company in North America. The Hudson’s Bay Company, founded in 1670, controlled a huge area of land in Canada called Rupert’s Land and started as a fur trading company. Today, the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) holdings include the stores Hudson’s Bay, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5^th.
7. Canada introduced the $1 coin in 1987. With a loon on one side, it was soon nicknamed the “loonie.” Two dollar coins, or “toonies,” were introduced in 1996.
8. Newfoundland was the last province to join Canada. It was a British colony until 1949.
9. In 1918 Canadian women were granted the right to vote in federal elections.
10. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau introduced the Official Languages Act in 1968, which declared French and English as the official languages of Canada.
11. During World War I, the Centre Block building of Parliament burned down, except for the library. A quick-thinking employee closed the doors separating the library from the rest of Centre Block, thus saving it from the fire. Centre Block was rebuilt after the war, with the addition of the Peace Tower being added to the original design. At the tower’s base is the Memorial Chamber. This chamber is dedicated to all Canadians who have served and died for their country.
12. Canada’s first official stamp cost three cents and featured a beaver.
13. In 1962, Saskatchewan became the first province to offer a public health care system in Canada.

A special thank you to George Ticoras and Becky Campbell for their help with this post.

Sources:

The World Factbook (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook)

Parks Canada – Signal Hill National Historic Site of Canada (http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/nl/signalhill/index.aspx)

Global News (http://globalnews.ca/news/1420149/timeline-notable-dates-in-the-history-of-canada/)

Public Works and Government Sevices Canada (http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/collineduparlement-parliamenthill/batir-building/centre/tour-tower/tour-tower-eng.html)

The Hudson’s Bay Company – http://www3.hbc.com/

A Brief History of Canada by Roger Riendeau, 2000

On June 30, State & Federal Communications attended United Way’s Thirteenth Annual Power of the Purse Luncheon.  Elizabeth Bartz, the company’s president and CEO, introduced Dr. Beverly Warren, president of Kent State University and the event’s keynote speaker.  Dr. Warren gave a talk about the importance of philanthropy and the impact that women have on their community.  She gave numerous examples of women philanthropists from Kent State and around Akron.

The recipient of the 2015 Barbara Matthews Woman Philanthropist of the Year Award was Dr. Deborah Plate, a Family Practice Physician at Akron General Hospital.  Her award was presented by the 2014 recipient, Wendy Bolas.

Lobbying

“Lobbying World” in The Hill

“Lobbyist bundlers pledge allegiance to Team Bush” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill

“Coalitions of the willing are latest lobbying trend” by Catherine Ho in The Washington Post

Minnesota: “Reports offer peek at state Capitol lobbying in 2015 session” by Brian Bakst and Kyle Potter (Associated Press) in The Washington Times

Campaign Finance

“Presidential candidates defy campaign finance limits through well-funded outside groups” by Julie Bykowicz (Associated Press) in Newser

Kentucky: “Florida group challenging Kentucky law that bans corporations from making political contributions” by Jack Brammer in the Lexington Herald-Leader

New Mexico: “New Mexico AG wants more ‘transparency’ in campaign finance” by The Associated Press in The Washington Times

Ethics

“Charlie Dent got clearance for trip with donor to Nantucket” by Jake Sherman, Anna Palmer, and John Bresnahan in Politico

Florida: “Donald Trump cleared in Miami-Dade ethics probe” by Douglas Hanks in the Miami Herald

North Carolina: “Elections board points prosecutors to NC senator’s potential misspending of campaign money” by Emery P. Dalesio (Associated Press) in The Republic

The Iowa Legislature adjourned on Friday, June 5, 2015, after the Senate approved a state budget of $7.3 billion, effective for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015.

Gov. Terry Branstad now has 30 days to approve or reject the budget.

Photo of the Iowa State Capitol by Carol M. Highsmith on Wikimedia Commons.