News You Can Use Digest – June 20, 2011

Federal:

Federal Election Commission Deadlocks on Greater 2012 Donor Disclosure

More Political Action Committees to Get ‘Super’ Powers?

U.S. Appeals Decision Overturning Ban on Corporate Donations to Candidates

Weiner Resigns in Chaotic Final Scene

From the States and Municipalities:

Colorado

Complaint Filed against Secretary of State Scott Gessler

Connecticut

Ethics Dispute Drained Local Budget of More than $630,000

Georgia

Shake-Up at Ethics Commission as Top Staffers to Exit

Hawaii

State Drops Campaign Gift Appeal

Massachusetts

DiMasi Found Guilty on Seven of Nine Counts in Kickback Scheme

No Fault Found in House Incident

Nevada

Justices Rule on When Lawmakers Should Recuse from Issues

New York

Ethics Clears Legislative Hurdles

Report: Grassroots lobbying in N.Y. skyrockets since 2008

Pennsylvania

Lawyers, Chamber of Commerce Oppose City’s Broad, New Lobbying Disclosure Law

Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s Union Law That Cuts Bargaining Powers to Take Effect Following Supreme Court Ruling

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.

Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.

Federal:

A Weiner Ethics Case Would Cover Uncharted Ground

Virginia Federal Judge Rejects Government Request to Reconsider on Donations

Democrat or Republican, National Party Committees Reap Campaign Riches from Registered Lobbyists

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama

Big Names in Alabama Politics Set for Bingo Trial Opening

District of Columbia

D.C. Attorney General: Council’s Thomas diverted public funds

Michigan

Koch-Backed Group’s Fake Eviction Notices Rile up Detroit

Nevada

Rory Reid to Pay $25,000 Fine in PAC Case

New York

Bill Not a Feast but Lunch is OK

Cuomo and Legislative Leaders Strike Deal on New Ethics Rules

N.Y. Finds a Growth Industry in Ethics Enforcement

Ohio

House Cozy with Charter School Lobby

Texas

Dallas City Council Rolls Back Some Changes to Ethics Ordinance

Washington

Former Evergreen Professor Fined $120,000 in Largest-Ever Ethics Penalty

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.

Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.

Federal

Campaign Finance Experts See Few Implications of Virginia Ruling

The Influence Industry: The fine lines between a Palin vacation and Palin tour

When ‘Coordinate’ Is a Dirty Word

From the States:

California

Former Vernon Official Pleads Guilty to Illegally Using Public Money

Colorado

Gessler Rulemaking on Campaign Finance Raising Eyebrows

Florida

Legislature Fails to Add Stronger Ethics Laws

Illinois

Senator Wants Charges Filed against Colleague

Louisiana

Mark St. Pierre is Taken into Custody after Jury Finds Him Guilty of Bribery, Conspiracy

Massachusetts

Financial Disclosure Forms Still Outdated

Minnesota

Campaign Finance Board Fines Alleged Felon Who Can’t Be Found

New Jersey

Christie Refuses to Reimburse N.J. for Traveling By Helicopter to See Son’s Baseball Game

Ohio

Cuyahoga County Offers First Ethics Training for Businesses

Tennessee

Tennessee Opens Door to Corporate Political Donations

Washington

Port Fined after Failing to File Lobbying Expenses

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.

Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.

Federal
Colbert at the FEC? Really

National
Fox Parent Company to Disclose Political Giving

From the States:

Arizona
Fiesta Bowl Seeks Repayment for Political Contributions

Illinois
Emanuel Jumps into Work, Signs Six Executive Orders

Maryland
Johnson, Ex-County Executive in Prince George’s, Pleads Guilty to Taking Bribes

Minnesota
Court Lets Minnesota Corporate Disclosure Law Stand

Tennessee
Four Named to State Ethics Commission

Virginia
Virginia Ethics Rules Questioned in Wake of Federal Case

Wisconsin
Officials Dismiss Ethics Complaints Over Anti-Union Bill

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.

Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.

The Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) was fined $548,000 by the state Attorney General’s office for violating the state’s campaign finance disclosure law. The fine is for $584,527 in undisclosed funds that went to the campaign against Gov. Christine Gregoire.

Here is the source article: “For Conservative BIAW, a $548,000 Fine,” by Joel Connelly in the Seattle Post Intelligencer on September 24.

Lawmakers adopted rules for candidates using social networking Web sites, making Maryland one of the first states to regulate such activity.

Here are two articles for further reading:

“Candidates Must Adhere to New Social Media Rules,” by Julie Bykowicz in the Baltimore Sun

“Maryland Lawmakers Pass New Election Law Restricting Facebook Today,” by Chet Dembeck in the Baltimore Examiner