The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) rejected a request made by several activist groups to grant an exemption from the donor disclosure requirement provided by New York law. Under the ethics law, a registered lobbyist, under certain circumstances, must report the names of each source of funding over $5,000 from a single source used to fund the lobbying activity reported and the amounts received from each identified source.

Under the same law, the JCOPE can grant an exemption to the donor disclosure requirement if that disclosure would put contributors at risk. The party requesting the exemption must demonstrate that the disclosure of their donors would cause harm, threats, harassment, or reprisals.

The JCOPE denied the exemption requested by Family Planning Advocates, the New York Women’s Equality Coalition, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms and the New York Civil Liberties Union. The groups can appeal the decision to an independent judicial hearing officer within 15 days of the JCOPE’s written ruling, which has not yet been completed.

At the same meeting, the commission also limited one exemption that it had already granted to NARAL Pro-Choice NY by scheduling the donor disclosure exemption to expire with the group’s next filing.

Lobbying

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

“K Street wants less bashing of lobbyists” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

“Lobbyist trades K Street for MLB” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

New York: “Ethics panel: Some groups can keep donors secret” by Michael Gormley in Newsday.

Campaign Finance

California: “San Bernardino County to revise its campaign finance reform ordinance” by Joe Nelson in the Daily Bulletin.

California: “Lobbyist accused in campaign finance scandal has bond approved, could be released” by Steve Fiorina in ABC 10 San Diego News.

Connecticut: “Legislators Again Look To Lobbyists For Money” by Jon Lender in The Hartford Courant.

Ethics

California: “State Sen. Roderick Wright found guilty of perjury, voter fraud” by Jean Merl in the Los Angeles Times.

Virginia: “Attorneys for former Va. governor McDonnell and his wife seek clarification of court order” by Matt Zapotosky in The Washington Post.

From the State Legislatures

“Alabama House goes home, Senate convenes” by Brian Lyman in the Montgomery Advertiser.

Ohio: “First-term Ohio House lawmakers finding their way” by Will Drabold in The Columbus Dispatch.

Due to inclement weather, Governor Bentley has re-scheduled the special general election for House District 104 in Mobile and the special primary run-off elections for House District 31 covering Elmore and Coosa counties and House District 53 in Birmingham, all scheduled to take place Tuesday, January 28, 2014.

The elections will now be held on February 4, 2014.

Lobbying

“K Street getting a big boost” by Kevin Bogardus and Erik Wasson in The Hill.

“Business eyes debt limit without fear” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

Alabama: “Birmingham powerbrokers spending less on lobbying” by Anna McFall in the Birmingham Business Journal.

Arizona: “Arizona Lobbyist Gets Community Service, Probation” by Brian Skoloff (Associated Press) on ABC News.

Missouri: “Lawmakers question Normandy School District’s hiring of lobbyists” by Elisa Crouch in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Campaign Finance

“Places with the Highest Rates of Political Giving” by Sreekar Jasthee in Nerd Wallet.

California: “Dumanis won’t return more donations” by Trent Seibert and Joel Hoffmann in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Texas: “Small donations add up for Texas politicians” by Anna M. Tinsley in the Star-Telegram.

Ethics

Alaska: “Fairbanks Mayor Eberhart attorney says APOC treating candidates differently” by Sam Friedman in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

California: “Ethics panel briefed by independent counsel on Sen. Ronald S. Calderon” by Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times.

California: “Mayoral Candidates Met with Man Charged in Campaign Finance Scandal” by Candice Nguyen and Wendy Fry in NBC 7 San Diego News.

Georgia: “Staffing situation worsens at GA ethics commission” by Christina A. Cassidy (Associated Press) in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Rhode Island: “RI House Speaker Fox fined $1,500 for violating ethics filing rules” by Tom Mooney in the Providence Journal.

Lobbying

“Lobbyist Spending Scaled Back 12 Percent In 2013” by Eric Brown in International Business Times.

“Lobbyists Take a Financial Hit With Do-Nothing Congress” by Eric Pianin in the Financial Times.

“Lobby firms sweep up new clients” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“The revolving door between Congress and K Street is moving faster than ever” by Chris Cilizza in The Washington Post.

Canada: “Strahl quits as federal spy watchdog, calls lobbying allegations ‘spurious’” by Jim Bronskill in the Global Post.

Kansas: “Washington Senate Bill Prohibits Political Contributions While Legislature is Out of Session” by Ben Unglesbee in the Lawrence Journal-World.

Minnesota: “New coalition lobbying for more transportation dollars” by Mike Rose in Finance & Commerce.

Campaign Finance

California: “Lobbyist Accused in Campaign Finance Scandal to Appear in Court” by Candice Nguyen and R. Stickney in NBC 7 San Diego News.

California: “Roundtable: Campaign Finance Scandal, PACs In Mayor’s Race, Draining Lake Morena” by Pat Finn and Alison St John on KPBS Public Broadcasting.

Colorado: “10th Circuit Overturns Disparate Contribution Limits in Colorado Campaign Law” by Matt Arnold in the Examiner.

Missouri: “Missouri wide open on political throttle; campaign finance, lobbying reforms build momentum in Jefferson City” by Eli Yokley in The Joplin Globe.

Montana: “Commissioner calls to remove state rep from office for campaign violations; files more complaints” by Mike Dennison in the Billings Gazette.

Nevada: “Secretary of state candidates urge tougher laws addressing gifts to officials” by Andrew Doughman in the Las Vegas Sun.

New York: “Dinesh D’Souza indicted on charges of violating election law” by Sarah Pulliam Bailey in The Washington Post.

New York: “Look up who is giving money to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s campaign war chest and how he is spending it” by Steve Billmeyer in The Post-Standard.

Utah: “Utah lawmakers rake in cash before Legislature begins” by Robert Gehrke in The Salt Lake Tribune.

Ethics

“It Only Seems That Political Corruption Is Rampant” by Michael Wines in The New York Times.

Alabama: “Courtland woman appointed to state ethics commission” on WAAY TV News.

Florida: “Fresen’s case before Ethics Commission” in the Florida Current.

Kentucky: “Senate bill would give subpoena power to county gov’t” on WHAS 11 News.

Massachusetts: “State House Ethics Committee given power to take witnesses into custody, laying groundwork for possible expulsion of Rep. Carlos Henriquez” by Matt Murphy in MassLive.com.

New York: “Good-government group calls JCOPE a ʹblack boxʹ” by Jimmy Vielkind in Capital New York.

Virginia: “McDonnells plead not guilty to corruption charges” by Jim Nolan and Olympia Meola in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

From the State Legislatures

California: “Number of women dropping in California Legislature” by Don Thompson in the Orange County Register.

Iowa: “Does Iowa have too few lawyers in Legislature?” by Jason Noble in the Des Moines Register.

Michigan: “Committee to ʹrestore Michigan’s part-time Legislatureʹ submits proposed ballot language” by Jonathan Oosting in Michigan Live.

Missouri: “Mo. lawmakers to begin floor debate this week” by The Associated Press in the News Tribune.

Ohio: “State constitution panel has ʹhobbling startʹ” by Jim Siegel in the Columbus Dispatch.

Redistricting

Arizona: “GOP effort to void Independent Redistricting Commission continues” by Howard Fischer in the Arizona Daily Star.

Government Tech and Social Media

“Agencies ‘open the door’ to innovative uses of social media” by Shefali Kapadia in Federal News Radio.

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Lobbying

“Whose former staffers make the most as lobbyists? Lott, Frist, Hoyer top the list” by Lee Drutman and Alexander Furnas in the Sunlight Foundation Blog.

“Most Top Communication Groups Increase Lobbying” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

Alabama: “Alabama Legislature to take on two big issues on Thursday” by Max Reiss in WBRC News.

Connecticut: “Connecticut’s Big Spenders in Lobbying” by Joseph De Avila in The Wall Street Journal.

Campaign Finance

“Hillary Clinton foes file FEC complaint” by Byron Tau and Katie Glueck in Politico.

California: “Lobbyist charged in financing scheme” by Kristina Davis in The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Washington: “Senate Republicans want to alter makeup of state campaign finance regulator” by Brad Shannon in The Olympian.

Ethics

Louisville, Kentucky: “Senate panel votes to allow subpoena power for Louisville ethics commission” by Sebastian Kitchen in The Courier-Journal.

Virginia: “Experts: McDonnell’s corruption trial will test line between political favors, official action” by Carol D. Leonnig and Rosalind S. Helderman in The Washington Post.

Virginia: “Virginia Delegates Start Work on Ethics Legislation” on WVIR NBC News.

Redistricting

Illinois: “Group pushes for redistricting reform” by T.J. Fowler in The Southern Illinoisan.

Indiana: “House sends redistricting bill to Senate” by Erika Brock in The Reporter-Times.

Lobbying

“Nightmare on K St. — the 2013 sequel” by Kevin Bogardus and Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“K Street mines for gold in Silicon Valley” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

“National Assn. of Realtorsʹ Lobbying Jumps 53%” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

Iowa: “Public sector spending on lobbying Iowa state government up” by B.A. Morelli in The Gazette.

Campaign Finance

California: “2 Charged for Illegal Campaign Contributions in San Diego Mayor’s Race” by Candice Nguyen in NBC 7 San Diego News.

Maine: “‘Clean electionsʹ advocates push for 2015 referendum” by David Carkhuff in the Portland Daily Sun.

New Mexico: “Courts limit reach of NM campaign finance law” by Thomas J. Cole in the Albuquerque Journal.

New York: “Cuomo takes a first step toward campaign finance reform” by Jessica Alaimo in Capital New York.

Texas: “Texas ʹDark Moneyʹ debate rekindled” by David Rauf in the Houston Chronicle.

Ethics

Florida: “Local lawmaker’s bill could ease ethics-reporting requirements” by Andy Reid in the Sun Sentinel.

Virginia: “McDonnell, wife charged with corruption” by Rebecca Shabad and Cameron Joseph in The Hill.

Redistricting

Ohio: “Can Ohio erase partisan pencils?” by Chrissie Thompson in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Open Government

West Virginia: “Ethics Commission works to rectify meeting violation” by Phil Kabler in the Charleston Gazette.

Lobbying

“Some Corporations and Associations Cut Lobbying Expenditures” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

“Top-Ranked Chamber of Commerce Increases Lobbying In 4th Quarter” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

“K Street pays top dollar for revolving door talent” by Lee Drutman and Alexander Furnas in the Sunlight Foundation Blog.

Campaign Finance

“The Consequences of ‘Citizens United’” by Ian Vandewalker in The Brennan Center for Justice Blog.

Maine: “Campaign watchdogs: Private groups will spend 80 percent more on Maine elections in 2014” by Mario Moretto in the Bangor Daily News.

New Mexico: “Report: PAC spending doubles after Citizens United” by Steve Terrell in the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Ethics

Washington: “Senate bill would shift control of Public Disclosure Commission to top legislators” by John Stark in The Bellingham Herald.

Lobbying

“Obama lobbying ban faces setback in court” by Andy Sullivan (Reuters) in the Chicago Tribune.

“Federal court orders rehearing on lobbying ban” by Byron Tau in Politico Influence.

“Congress and Lobbyists Are Going Downhill” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

Missouri: “Missouriʹs secretary of state proposes his own lobbyist restriction plan” by Phil Brooks in the South County Mail.

West Virginia: “Statehouse beat: Lobbyist spending for 2013” by Phil Kabler in the Charleston Gazette.

Campaign Finance

California: “Two groups that used secret political donations haven’t paid penalties” by Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times.

Louisiana: “Ethics board limits Vitter fundraising” by Marha Shuler in The Advocate.

Massachusetts: “Candidates cough up campaign costs” by Erin Smith in the Boston Herald.

New York: “Cuomo’s Budget Is Said to Include Ethics and Campaign Finance Reforms” by Thomas Kaplan in The New York Times.

New York: “205 campaign finance reports not posted because of errors” by Jessica Alaimo in Capital New York.

Rhode Island: “RI Board of Elections fines NRA for campaign law violation” by Philip Marcelo in the Providence Journal.

Utah: “Utah Senator Calling For Campaign Finance Reform” by Christine L. McCarthy in KUTV News.

Ethics

California: “Senate ethics chief calls allegations against Sen. Calderon troubling” by Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times.

Kentucky: “Legislative Research Commission pay to join larger ethics push” by Kevin Wheatley in The State Journal.

Massachusetts: “Mass. panel OKs new conflict of interest rule” by The Associated Press in The Boston Globe.

Virginia: “Gilbert introduces ethics reform bill” by Joe Beck in The Northern Virginia Daily.

Congress

“Welcome Back, Congress” from Roll Call.

From the State Legislatures

“Introducing ʹGetting Thereʹ: NCSL’s new mobility newsletter” by NCSL.

Government Tech and Social Media

Kansas: “Bill would put legislative committee meetings a mouse click away” by Scott Rothschild in the Lawrence Journal-World.

Lobbying

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

“How do people become lobbyists? Ask USA TODAY” by George Hager in USA Today.

“K Street’s Ogilvy adds firepower on taxes” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

Arizona: “Lobbyist pleads guilty to misdemeanor” by The Associated Press in the Casa Grande Dispatch.

Campaign Finance

“Schock donor tied to campaign finance case” by Catherine Skiba in the Chicago Tribune.

“Super PAC Boom Marginalizes Women, Report Says” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.

“Super PAC, Outside Spending Chiefs Make Big Bucks” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.

Delaware: “Veasey, task force to discuss campaign finance reform in Delaware” by Jonathan Starkey in The News Journal.

Mississippi: “Incomplete campaign-finance reports accepted in Mississippi” by Anita Lee in the Sun Herald.

New Mexico: “Poll: Big money in politics equals serious problem” by Thomas Cole in the Albuquerque Journal.

Utah: “House committee hears suggestions to change campaign finance law” by Billy Hesterman in the Daily Herald.

Vermont: “Vermont Senate to vote whether to ratify agreement on campaign finance bill” by The Associated Press in The Republic.

Wisconsin: “Dark money: How Wisconsin’s most politically influential organizations avoid disclosing their donors” by Jack Craver in The Capital Times.

Ethics

Arizona: “State legislator floats ban on free tickets” by Howard Fischer in the Arizona Daily Sun.

Missouri: “Missouri secretary of state unveils proposal on campaign finance, ethics” by Jordan Shapiro (Associated Press) in The Republic.

Missouri: “Ethics in politics? Missouri legislators will try, again, to tighten laws” by Virginia Young in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

South Carolina: “Don’t pay ethics fine, don’t get on the ballot?” by Andrew Shain in The State.

From the State Legislatures

Colorado: “Colorado lawmakers mourn death of ʹ101st lawmakerʹ Clarence Miller” by Lynn Bartels in the Denver Post.

Delaware: “Legislators return to Dover with full slate” by Jonathan Starkey and Jon Offredo in  The News Journal.

Hawaii: “Legislature honors its past” by Sarah Zoellick in the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

Missouri: “Missouri House Democrats pick new leaders” by The Associated Press in The News Tribune.

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma lawmaker’s plan would effectively eliminate the state House” by Graham Lee Brewer in The Oklahoman.

South Carolina: “SC speaker: Legislative session will go on despite ethics ʹsmear campaignʹ” by Jamie Self in The State.

Tennessee: “TN lawmakers begin session with tribute to Lois DeBerry” by Chas Sisk in The Tennessean.

Tennessee: “Tennessee Legislature opens with revenue worries” by Andy Sher in the Times Free Press.

West Virginia: “Lawmakers meet again after delay from chemical spill” by Dave Boucher in the Charleston Daily Mail.

Open Government

Mississippi: “Ethics chief Tom Hood wants more authority over public records law” by The Associated Press in The Republic.

With the appointment of Mel Watt to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the 12th Congressional District seat in North Carolina is vacant. Governor Pat McCrory announced that he will not call a special election for that seat, but instead will wait until the regularly scheduled primary and general elections, on May 6, 2014 and November 4, 2014, respectively.

The governor’s decision has caused much controversy as many North Carolina citizens feel they will be unrepresented in Congress for an unreasonable amount of time. The 12th District encompasses an area from Charlotte through High Point to Greensboro, containing approximately 700,000 citizens.

The North Carolina chapter of the NAACP has threatened a lawsuit against the state if Governor McCrory does not change his mind. McCrory’s decision to leave the seat vacant until the regularly scheduled 2014 elections is partly due to the large expense a special election typically costs taxpayers. Despite the threat of a lawsuit, McCrory has given no indication of calling a special election.

Lobbying

“Bottom Line” in The Hill.

“Lobbyists Ask, Then Write, ʹWhere The Jobs Areʹ” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Gillespie Senate run tests stigma of ʹlobbyistʹ label” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

Campaign Finance

“Why Campaign Finance Laws Make Things Worse” opinion piece by Jonathan Bernstein in Bloomberg News.

Louisiana: “Democratic Super PAC Funnels More Funds Into Louisiana” by Emily Cahn in Roll Call.

Missouri: “Missouri Democrats to outline campaign finance plan” in the Kansas City Star.

Nevada: “Political groups in Nevada continue stubborn fight against disclosing donors” by Andrew Doughman in the Las Vegas Sun.

New Hampshire: “Campaign finance reformers march through N.H.” by John Toole in the Eagle-Tribune.

Ethics

Georgia: “Grand jury scheduled to meet in Georgia ethics case” by The Associated Press in the Athens Herald-Banner.

South Carolina: “State grand jury to investigate ethics allegations against SC House Speaker Bobby Harrell” by Jamie Self in The State.

From the State Legislatures

South Carolina: “Legislature kicks off with old issues on agenda” by Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) in GoUpstate.com.

South Carolina: “Dueling rallies to greet returning S.C. legislators” by Adam Beam in The State.

South Dakota: “5 things to know about SD 2014 legislative session” by The Associated Press in the Capital Journal.

Washington: “Washington Legislature Convenes With Election Year Issues On Agenda” by Austin Jenkins in Northwest Public Radio.

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Legislature begins session Tuesday: 5 things to know” by The Associated Press in the Post Crescent.

Government Tech and Social Media

“How Government Leaders Can Stay Out of Social Media Hell” by Mark Schlossberg in Governing.

Lobbying

“The State of K Street” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Bitcoin Woos Washington to Ensure Lawmakers Don’t Kill It” by Julie Bykowicz and Carter Dougherty in Bloomberg Politics.

New York City, NY: “New York City Imposes New Rules To Increase Registration of, and Reporting by, Lobbyists” by Laurence A. Levy in the National Law Review.

Campaign Finance

“Does Bitcoin Have a Future in Politics?” by Tom Moroney and Peter Robison in Bloomberg Businessweek.

“Facebook PAC Corrects Excessive Contributions to Senators” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

Arkansas: “Darr says he won’t resign; legislative leaders say impeachment likely” in Arkansas News.

California: “Current, former lawmakers cited for alleged campaign violations” by Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times.

Minnesota: “More errors turn up in Minnesota political campaign finance data” by Rachel E. Stassen-Berger and Glenn Howatt in the Star Tribune.

Minnesota: “Minn. campaign board finalizes Senate DFL case” by Brian Bakst (Associated Press) in The Kansas City Star.

Utah: “Flagged Bill: HB 235 – Campaign Contributions Amendments, Rep. Powell” by Curtis Haring in Utah Political Watch.

Vermont: “State Revising, Raising Campaign Finance Limits” by Taylor Dobbs in Vermont Public Radio.

Vermont: “VPIRG: Higher contribution limits weaken campaign finance bill” by Anne Galloway in VTDigger.org.

Ethics

Knoxville County, TN: “Ethics Committee chairwoman looking to expand role of panel” by Gerald Witt in the Knoxville News.

State Legislatures

Mississippi: “Lawmakers back in session” by Emily Wagster Pettus (Associated Press) in the Clarion Ledger.

Missouri: “Missouri Legislature to convene amid election-year pressures” by Virginia Young in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

New Hampshire: “N.H. Legislature to convene 2014 session today” by Norma Love (Associated Press) in the Concord Monitor.

Vermont: “Vermont Legislature jumps right in to start session” by Terri Hallenbeck and Nancy Remsen in the Burlington Free Press.

Virginia: “General Assembly returns to divided government” by Jim Nolan in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Redistricting

Montana: “New battle lines drawn for legislative races” by Tom Lutey in the Billings Gazette.

Government Tech and Social Media

Alaska: “Juneau developing social media policy” by The Associated Press in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

Massachusetts: “Mass. big data centralized on a new website” by Callum Borchers in The Boston Globe.

At any given time, more than 1,000 legislative bills, which can affect how you do business as a government affairs professional, are being discussed in federal, state, and local jurisdictions. These bills are summarized in State and Federal Communications’ digital encyclopedias for lobbying laws, political contributions, and procurement lobbying and can be found in the client portion of our website.

Summaries of major bills are also included in monthly email updates sent to all clients. The chart below shows the number of bills we are tracking in regard to lobbying laws, political contributions, and procurement lobbying.