Jim Sedor, Author at State and Federal Communications

December 9, 2016 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – December 9, 2016

National: Gun Control Advocates Find a Deep-Pocketed Ally in Big Law New York Times – Jessica Silver-Greenberg and Ben Protess | Published: 12/7/2016 On the defensive, gun control advocates are now quietly developing a plan to chip away at the gun lobby’s growing […]

National:

Gun Control Advocates Find a Deep-Pocketed Ally in Big Law
New York Times – Jessica Silver-Greenberg and Ben Protess | Published: 12/7/2016

On the defensive, gun control advocates are now quietly developing a plan to chip away at the gun lobby’s growing clout: team up with corporate law firms. Together, the firms are committing tens of millions of dollars in free legal services from top corporate lawyers who typically bill clients $1,000 an hour or more. Although law firms often donate time to individual causes, and some firms have worked on gun control on a piecemeal basis, the number and the prominence of the firms involved in the new coalition are unheard-of for modern-day big law. Rather than fighting the political headwinds, the coalition is focusing on courts and state regulatory agencies, among the few places where they might still gain some traction.

Ontario Overhauls Campaign Finance Rules with Sweeping Reforms
Toronto Globe and Mail – Adrian Morrow | Published: 12/1/2016

Legislation that alters the political fundraising landscape in Ontario was approved recently. The new law takes effect on January 1, 2017. It will prohibit all provincial politicians, candidates, and senior political staff from attending fundraising events, ban corporations and unions from giving, and cap donations from individuals at $3,600 per political party annually, among other provisions. The reforms were introduced following revelations that corporate leaders and lobbyists seeking government contracts or favorable policy decisions had spent up to $10,000 to buy exclusive face-time with Premier Kathleen Wynne and members of her cabinet over cocktails and dinner.

Federal:

Business Since Birth: Trump’s children and the tangle that awaits
New York Times – Matt Flegenheimer, Rachel Abrams, Barry Meier, and Hiroko Tabuchi | Published: 12/4/2016

Since his election, Donald Trump has chafed at the suggestion that keeping his business in the family could create problems, despite several episodes during his transition that seemed to mix business and diplomacy. While he has insisted he faces no legal requirement to turn over the company, the Trump Organization said it is preparing an “immediate transfer of management” to Trump’s three eldest children, along with a team of executives. An examination of the professional histories of the three children shows how deeply the family, business, and politics are interwoven, raising doubts about how a meaningful wall can ever be erected between the president-elect and his heirs.

Justices Wrestle with Role of Race in Redistricting
New York Times – Adam Liptak | Published: 12/5/2016

Race and politics divided the U.S. Supreme Court along ideological lines in two cases that could affect the way state Legislatures draw election districts in the future. The court’s more liberal justices criticized maps drawn after the 2010 Census by Republican Legislatures in North Carolina and Virginia for focusing predominantly on the percentage of African Americans in various districts. The more conservative justices mostly defended the maps, either because race did not dictate the contours of the districts or because the motivator was political advantage, something the high court has not ruled against. Several justices expressed frustration that unless they define clearly what is allowed and what is not, they could be left with what Justice Stephen Breyer called “a set of standards that district courts can’t apply, which will try to separate sheep from goats.”

Trump Adviser Has Pushed Clinton Conspiracy Theories
Politico – Bryan Bender and Andrew Hanna | Published: 12/5/2016

Before the election, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who is Donald Trump’s choice for national security adviser, tweeted a fake news story that claimed police and prosecutors had found evidence linking Hillary Clinton and much of her senior campaign staff to money laundering, perjury, and other felonies. Flynn’s tweet is attracting renewed attention after a man fired a rifle inside a Washington, D.C. restaurant that was the subject of false stories tying it and the Clinton campaign to a child sex trafficking ring. Some say Flynn’s fondness for spreading fake news casts doubt on his fitness to serve as national security adviser, suggesting he either cannot spot a blatant falsehood or is just ideologically bent to believe the worst of his perceived enemies.

Trump Sold All Shares in Companies in June, Spokesman Says
Washington Post – Drew Harwell and Rodsalind Helderman | Published: 12/6/2016

Donald Trump sold all his stock back in June, a transition team spokesperson said, showing the president-elect has begun to address concerns about complicated entanglements between his business and new government life. Questions about Trump’s stock holdings came back into view after he criticized the costs of Boeing to build a new Air Force One. Trump’s portfolio included shares in a number of banks, oil giants, and other companies with business pending before the U.S. government and whose value could rise due to Trump’s decisions in office. Those stock holdings, ethics advisers said, offered a potentially troublesome facet of Trump’s private finances that could entangle his public decision-making.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama
Ethics Commission Pulls Opinion Over Nonprofit Concerns
Montgomery Advertiser – Brian Lyman | Published: 12/7/2016

The Alabama Ethics Commission withdrew an opinion that said the state ethics law’s definition of a principal – an individual or organization that hires a lobbyist – included not only a firm that hired the lobbyist but anyone in the organization with authority, including executives, officers, and members of boards of directors. Lobbyists and principals cannot provide legislators with things of value. The jury that convicted former House Speaker Mike Hubbard on corruption charges accepted a broad definition of principal favored by prosecutors. That stirred unease in the business community and among nonprofits. Representatives of nonprofits who spoke at a recent commission hearing said many of their chief donors had cut off funds over concerns about the principal definition.

California
EBay Faces Fines from State Ethics Watchdog after Failing to Disclose Sacramento Lobbying on Time
Los Angeles Times – Patrick McGreevy | Published: 12/6/2016

The California Fair Political Practices Commission proposed a $6,500 fine for eBay after the company missed deadlines for filing lobbying spending reports and failed to properly disclose campaign contributions. The commission will vote on December 15 whether to approve the deal. EBay representatives told investigators the failure to file the reports on time was “inadvertent” and caused by a transfer of responsibility for filing during a “corporate transition.” The firm also was late in filing statements required of major donors that disclose their contributions.

Colorado
Amendment 71 Made It Harder to Get Initiatives on the Ballot – What Happens Now?
Denver Post – Brian Eason | Published: 12/5/2016

Anyone able to raise enough money and signatures can propose an amendment to the Colorado Constitution through a ballot initiative, sidestepping the legislative process. But Amendment 71, approved by voters November 8, made that harder to do, so much harder, critics say, that amending the constitution is no longer an option for all but the most well-funded organizations. Statutory ballot measures that fall short of amending the constitution are still on the table, but there are downsides to that approach too.

Florida
Corcoran Offers Lobbyist ‘Training’ to Adjust to New Legislative Limitations
Sunshine State News – Allison Nielson | Published: 12/1/2016

The Florida House passed a sweeping set of rule changes during its organization session, with several of those changes directly affecting lobbyists. To help lobbyists transition to the new guidelines, the House will be holding training sessions on December 13 and December 14 in Tallahassee. The lobbyist training will cover disclosure requirements for lobbyists, as well as other rules.

Massachusetts
Businesses Seek to Overturn Massachusetts Ban on Political Contributions
MassLive.com – Shira Schoenberg | Published: 12/7/2016

Under Massachusetts campaign finance law, businesses are not allowed to contribute to candidates. Individuals can donate up to $1,000 per year and unions can give up to $15,000. Republican lawmakers have tried, unsuccessfully, to bring the amount unions can donate down to $1,000. The law has typically benefited Democrats, who get the bulk of union campaign contributions. Attorneys for two businesses recently tried to convince a Superior Court judge to allow businesses to make the same political donations as labor unions.

Missouri
Lawsuit Seeks to Stop Campaign Contribution Limits Approved by Missouri Voters Last Month
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Kurt Erickson | Published: 12/7/2016

A lawsuit filed in federal court challenges the voter-approved referendum that reinstated campaign contribution limits in Missouri. The same group that unsuccessfully sought to block the ballot measure before the November election argues the change in the state constitution unfairly limits some businesses and associations from giving money to campaigns. In particular, the change would stop the Association of Missouri Electrical Cooperatives from donating to campaigns and PACs, violating the free speech rights of its members, the lawsuit notes. The legal action comes one day before the new limits are set to take effect.

New York
Anthony Weiner Fined $65,000 for Campaign Finance Violations
New York Times – J. David Goodman | Published: 12/1/2016

The New York City Campaign Finance Board ordered Anthony Weiner’s campaign to repay more than $195,000 in public matching funds he received as part of his failed 2013 mayoral bid. The board also ordered the campaign to pay a $64,956 fine for spending irregularities, including personal expenses not allowed under the current law. The campaign committed multiple infractions, the board found, including accepting 21 contributions that exceeded the legal limit, accepting contributions in excess of the limit for donors who have business with the city, and failing to demonstrate how some expenses were made in furtherance of the campaign. New revelations of sexually explicit text messages and photographs, sent to women after he had left Congress, came to light and derailed Weiner’s bid for mayor.

North Carolina
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) Concedes Closely Contested Governor’s Race
Washington Post – Amber Phillips | Published: 12/5/2016

Ending an acrimonious stalemate that dragged on for nearly a month, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory conceded in his bid for re-election, clearing the way for the ascension of his challenger, Roy Cooper, and giving the national Democratic Party a rare cause for celebration. Cooper, the current state attorney general, declared victory on election night, but McCrory’s allies lodged election challenges in dozens of counties. Most of the challenges proved to be of little consequence, however. As partial results of a recount of more than 90,000 votes that Republicans had demanded in Durham County showed no significant change in the results, McCrory had little choice but to admit defeat.

Washington
EPA, Tribe: State commission not venue for complaint
The Olympian – Don Jenkins (Capital Press) | Published: 12/7/2016

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a Puget Sound tribe say the Washington Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) should step away from an investigation into whether the What’s Upstream advocacy campaign violated state law. The EPA said a federal audit will answer whether What’s Upstream organizers misspent public funds. The tribe said the PDC has no jurisdiction over how a tribe spends money. Save Family Farming alleges What’s Upstream lead organizer Larry Wasserman, the tribe’s environmental policy director, failed to register his group as a political committee or grassroots lobbying organization. The complaint also named EPA Northwest Administrator Dennis McLerran and Seattle lobbying firm Strategies 360.

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.

December 8, 2016 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday News Roundup

Lobbying “Gun Control Advocates Find a Deep-Pocketed Ally in Big Law” by Jessica Silver-Greenberg and Ben Protess for The New York Times “Bob Dole Worked Behind the Scenes on Trump-Taiwan Call” by Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Eric Lipton for The […]

December 7, 2016 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday News Roundup

Lobbying California: “EBay Faces Fines from State Ethics Watchdog after Failing to Disclose Sacramento Lobbying on Time” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times Campaign Finance Maine: “Proposal Would Require PACs to Disclose Major Donors” by Steve Mistler for Maine […]

December 6, 2016 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update

Campaign Finance “FEC Asks Congress for Authority to Battle Shady PACs” by Kenneth P. Doyle for Bloomberg.com New York: “Council Bill Could Make Campaign Fraud Easier in New York, Critics Say” by William Neuman for The New York Times Wyoming: […]

December 5, 2016 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday News Roundup

Lobbying Florida: “Corcoran Offers Lobbyist ‘Training’ to Adjust to New Legislative Limitations” by Allison Nielson for Sunshine State News West Virginia: “Ethics Panel Puts Question about WV House Speaker’s Job on Hold” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette Campaign Finance […]

December 1, 2016 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday News Roundup

Lobbying “Wave of Lobbyist Deregistrations in Trump Orbit After Announcement of New Policy” by Catherine Ho for The Washington Post Campaign Finance “Ackman’s Fund Asks SEC for Exemption After Campaign Donation” by Svea Herbst-Bayliss for Reuters “Trump to Accept Inauguration […]

November 30, 2016 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday Government Relations News

Lobbying “How Exactly Do You ‘Drain the Swamp’? Here Are 4 Ways It Could Be Done.” by Catherine Ho for The Washington Post Campaign Finance “Justin Trudeau Faces Criticism Over Fund-Raisers in Canada” by Ian Austen for The New York Times […]

November 29, 2016 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update

Lobbying “Trump’s Lobbying Ban Might Actually Make Corruption Worse” by Tim LaPira and Herschel Thomas for Washington Post Florida: “A Liberal Leader from Tallahassee’s Past Praises GOP Speaker’s Call for Change” by Steve Bousquet for Tampa Bay Times New York: […]

November 23, 2016 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday Government Relations News

Lobbying Indiana: “Holcomb Transition Team Enjoys Pacers Game at Team’s Expense” by Leslie Weidenbener for Indianapolis Business Journal Oregon: “Governor’s Respected Energy Chief to Step Down, Partly Because of Lobbyist Influence” by Scott Thistle and Tux Turkel for Portland Press […]

November 22, 2016 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update

Lobbying “White Nationalists Dress Up and Come to Washington in Hopes of Influencing Trump” by Lisa Mascaro for Los Angeles Times “Groups Ease Off Events for Lawmakers Under New Lobbying Law” by James Nord (Associated Press) for The Washington Times […]

November 21, 2016 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday News Roundup

Lobbying “Trump’s New Lobbying Rules Could ‘Drain the Swamp.’ But They May Be Illegal and Are Porous.” by Catherine Ho for The Washington Post Missouri: “Missouri Senate Moves to End Pizza-for-Play Bank Account” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch […]

November 18, 2016 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – November 18, 2016

National: Political Divide Splits Relationships – and Thanksgiving, Too New York Times – Sabrina Tavernise and Katharine Seely | Published: 11/15/2016 The election is over, but the repercussions in people’s lives may be just beginning as families across America contemplate uncomfortable holidays – […]

National:

Political Divide Splits Relationships – and Thanksgiving, Too
New York Times – Sabrina Tavernise and Katharine Seely | Published: 11/15/2016

The election is over, but the repercussions in people’s lives may be just beginning as families across America contemplate uncomfortable holidays – or decide to bypass them – and relationships among friends, relatives, and spouses are tested across the political divide. Democrats in some cases are refusing to sit across the table from relatives who voted for President-elect Donald Trump, a man they say stands for things they abhor. Many who voted for Trump say it is the liberals who are to blame for discord, unfairly tarring them with the odious label of “racist” just because they voted for someone else.

Rights Groups See ‘Unprecedented’ Support in Wake of Election
Washington Post – Sandhya Somashekhar | Published: 11/15/2016

Perhaps the most concrete action to follow the end of the divisive election season has been a surge in donations to various organizations whose agendas counter those proposed by President-elect Donald Trump. In recent days, groups that champion causes like civil liberties and women’s health, as well as focus on immigration rights and anti-discrimination initiatives, have seen record responses to the election in the form of contributions and volunteer applications. Left-leaning organizations say they are being forced to regroup in the wake of the election that gave Republicans control of both the White House and Congress for the first time in a decade.

Why Facebook and Google Are Struggling to Purge Fake News
Washington Post – Nick Wingfield, Mike Isaac, and Katie Benner | Published: 11/15/2016

Google and Facebook announced they would ban fake news sites from using their respective advertising platforms, a strategy aimed at cutting off some of the revenue sources for the sites, which have been under fire for stoking fears during the campaign. Facebook will bar all fake news sites from its Facebook Audience Network, while Google will ban them from using its AdSense ad-selling software. The move has raised new questions about long-standing claims by Facebook, Google, and other online platforms that they have little responsibility to exert editorial control over the news they deliver, even when it includes outright lies, falsehoods, or propaganda that could tilt elections.

Federal:

Former Illinois Congressman with ‘Downton Abbey’ Office Is Indicted
Washington Post – Matt Zapotosky | Published: 11/10/2016

Former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, whose taste for first-class travel and a “Downton Abbey”-themed office design led to questions about his judgement and adherence to spending rules, was indicted by a federal grand jury on 24 counts, including wire fraud and theft of government funds. Ethics questions arose after The Washington Post reported on his opulent Capitol Hill office in 2015, which prompted a government investigation into whether he had improperly accepted pro bono interior design services. Schock personally paid back $40,000 for office renovations, which included a crystal chandelier and a plume of pheasant feathers. A New York Times article described the office as being decorated like a drawing room from “Downton Abbey.”

How Federal Ethics Laws Will Apply to a Trump Presidency
New York Times – Steve Eder | Published: 11/11/2016

A theme of Donald Trump’s presidency is likely to be the clash of his duties running the country with the remnants of his decades as a businessperson. But federal rules and precedent make a couple of things clear. Trump will have no immunity from lawsuits involving his corporate ventures, thanks to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling involving Paula Jones, one of former President Bill Clinton’s accusers. And nothing will stop Trump’s family from continuing to run its vast international web of businesses. Federal ethics laws and conflict-of-interest statutes that apply to other federal employees and cabinet members do not apply to the president.

Trump Draws Sharp Rebuke, Concerns Over Newly Appointed Chief White House Strategist Stephen Bannon
Washington Post – Jose DelReal | Published: 11/13/2016

Critics denounced President-elect Donald Trump for appointing Stephen Bannon to a top White House position as chief strategist. Civil rights groups, senior Democrats, and some Republican strategists have said that Bannon, the former head of Breitbart News, will bring anti-Semitic, nationalist, and racist views to the West Wing. Bannon has said while there are fringe elements associated with the right-wing nationalist movement, his critics are painting with too broad a brush. “These people are patriots,” he said. “They love their country. They just want their country taken care of.”

Trump Team Sets Broader Limits on Lobbying by Former Staff
New York Times – Michael Shear and Eric Lipton | Published: 11/16/2016

President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team announced it will require incoming officials to terminate their lobbyist registrations and agree not to lobby again for five years after leaving the administration. The sweeping post-employment restrictions could make it difficult for Trump, whose transition team has struggled to get off the ground, to attract experienced professionals in policy circles where lobbying is a common revenue stream. The policy is in some ways far more rigid than President Barack Obama’s groundbreaking lobbyist ban.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama – Strange’s Office Asked Groups for Input on Ethics Law
Montgomery Advertiser – Brian Lyman | Published: 11/15/2016

A few months after securing the conviction of House Speaker Mike Hubbard under the state ethics law, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange’s office solicited input about the law and its application to groups covered by it. The main point of unease grows from the Hubbard jury’s application of the ethics law to individuals and organizations who hire lobbyists, known as principals. The state’s ethics law forbids legislators from asking for or receiving any “thing of value” from a lobbyist or a principal. The Hubbard trial also led to questions about how state employees could find employment in the private sector without violating the ethics law.

Florida – Toll Board Lobbyist Accused of Foiling County’s Push for Transit Funds
Miami Herald – Douglas Hanks | Published: 11/11/2016

The private lobbyist Miami-Dade County hired to push transit legislation had another client on the issue that paid more: the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority. A report from the county’s ethics board criticized the lobbyist, Fausto Gomez, for not disclosing the “potential conflict” and recommended that the county commission ban his firm, Gomez Barker, from county lobbying contracts for up to three years.

Illinois – Red Light Cameras Figure Given 2 1/2 Years in Prison for Massive Bribe Scheme
Chicago Tribune – David Kidwell | Published: 11/10/2016

The former chief executive officer of Chicago’s longtime red light camera vendor was sentenced to two-and-one-half years in prison for her role in a $2 million cash-for-cameras bribery scheme with a top City Hall manager who rigged the contract for a decade. In addition to imposing the prison sentence, the judge ordered Karen Finley to pay $35,000 up front in restitution and then 10 percent of whatever net income she makes for the rest of her life. The sentence will run concurrent with the 14-month prison term given to Finley in federal court in Ohio for her role in a smaller bribes-for-contracts scheme there.

Massachusetts – Federal Prosecutors Open Criminal Grand Jury Probe of Thornton Law Firm Donations
Center for Responsive Politics – Andrea Estes (Boston Globe) and Viveca Novak | Published: 11/15/2016

Federal prosecutors have opened a grand jury investigation into potentially illegal campaign contributions from lawyers at the Thornton Law Firm, a leading donor to Democrats around the country. The U.S. attorney’s office is one of three agencies now looking into the Boston-based personal injury firm’s practice of reimbursing its partners for millions of dollars in political donations. The law firm has insisted the donations were legal, but soon after the media revealed the firm’s practice, politicians began returning hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations. Federal prosecutors, as well as state and federal campaign finance regulators, are investigating whether Thornton and its lawyers violated the law by paying “bonuses” to firm partners in the exact amount of their political donations and often on the same day. The firm’s attorney acknowledges the payments went on for a decade.

New Jersey – GWB Scandal Puts a Light on the Benefits of Lobbying
Bergen Record – John Reitmeyer | Published: 11/14/2016

Wolff & Samson is one of the top “go-to” law firms in New Jersey, continuing the tradition of others that reap benefits when a particular political party or close ally is in power. Public records show the law firm headed by David Samson, who was legal counsel for Gov. Chris Christie’s 2009 campaign and led his transition team, also has earned millions of dollars doing legal work for numerous government agencies during Christie’s tenure. Wolff & Samson also employs lobbyists who have represented major corporations seeking favorable outcomes from state government.

New York – Cuomo, Stung by a Scandal, Offers Ethics Reforms
New York Times – Vivian Yee and Jesse McKinley | Published: 11/16/2016

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he is taking a number of unilateral steps designed to reduce potential conflicts-of-interest and fraud in the annual awarding of billions of dollars in state contracts. Cuomo said he will ban his political campaign and the state Democratic Party from accepting contributions from companies as they bid for state contracts. He will also create new watchdog positions to oversee the executive branch and the state’s higher-education system, among other reforms.

Tennessee – Legal Loophole Allows Donors to Obscure State Campaign Contributions
The Tennessean – Joel Ebert | Published: 11/14/2016

Andy Miller, one of the most significant Tennessee Republican Party donors in recent history, has used more than a dozen names, addresses, and job descriptions when giving as much as $550,000 in state contributions, making it difficult to track the money. The obfuscation of the donations to state PACs, incumbent state lawmakers, and legislative candidates illustrates a loophole in campaign finance law that helps wealthy donors skirt contribution limits, according to an analysis of more than a decade of campaign finance reports.

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.

November 17, 2016 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday News Roundup

Lobbying “U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue Announces Revamp of Group’s Lobbying Arm” by Catherine Ho for The Washington Post “Trump Team Sets Broader Limits on Lobbying by Former Staff“ by Michael Shear and Eric Lipton for The New York Times Alabama: […]

November 16, 2016 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday Government Relations News

Lobbying Florida: “Toll Board Lobbyist Accused of Foiling County’s Push for Transit Funds” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald Florida: “Ballot Questions Fail in Miami Beach” by Joey Flechas for Miami Herald New Jersey: “GWB Scandal Puts a Light on […]

News You Can Use Digest – December 9, 2016

Thursday News Roundup

Wednesday News Roundup

Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update

Monday News Roundup

Thursday News Roundup

Wednesday Government Relations News

Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update

Wednesday Government Relations News

Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update

Monday News Roundup

News You Can Use Digest – November 18, 2016

Thursday News Roundup

Wednesday Government Relations News

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