Campaign Finance

“Political Spending Sets New Records During Tumultuous Year” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.

California:  “Lawmakers try to curb anonymous political donations in California” by Michael J. Mishak in the Los Angeles Times.

Canada: “ $100 lid on private political donations enacted” by Marian Scott in the Montreal Gazette.

Idaho: “Campaign Finance Loopholes Have Some Wondering: Who’s Watching the Money?” by Melissa Davlin in the Twin Falls Times-News.

Lobbying

“In Congress, relatives lobby on bills before family members” by Mark Zaleski (Associated Press) in The Washington Post.

Tennessee: “Proposed bill limits make Tenn. lobbyists scramble” by Erik Schelzig (Associated Press) in the San Antonio Express-News.

Ethics

District of Columbia: “Year of convictions doesn’t end D.C. corruption probes” by Alan Blinder in the Examiner.

Georgia:  “Ethics likely on General Assembly agenda” by Michael Davis in the Jackson Progress-Argus.

Social Media

“Social Media 2012: A Look Back” by Pam Greenberg in NCSL’s The Thicket.

Legislative Issues

“From Congress to Halls of State, in New Hampshire, Women Rule” by Katherine Q. Seelye in The New York Times.

Ethics

“House Ethics Ends Countrywide Loan Probe” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

“House Ethics closes Countrywide probe without taking action” by Peter Schroeder in The Hill.

“House Ethics Amends Private Travel Rules” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

Louisiana: “Louisiana Board of Ethics to challenge Baton Rouge Mayor in appeals court” by Quincy Hodges in the New Orleans Times Picayune.

Campaign Finance

“Our states vouch for transparent campaign financing” opinion piece by U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Lisa Murkowski in the Washington Post.

“Lisa Murkowski crosses aisle to reign in Super PACs” by Jill Burke in the Alaska Dispatch.

South Carolina: “South Carolina campaign funding will face scrutiny” by Stephen Largen in the Post and Courier.

Lobbying

“Former lobbyist, state legislator John Quimby dies at 77” by Torey Van Oot in the Sacramento Bee.

Maryland:  “Gambling companies doubled down on lobbying Md. lawmakers over past year” by John Wagner in the Washington Post.

Elections

“Ed Markey to run for Kerry’s Senate seat” by Rachel Weiner in the Washington Post.

“Should Kansas switch dates for elections?” by The Associated Press in the Kansas City Star.

Legislative Issues

Michigan: “Michigan lawmakers get perks beyond salaries” by Kristen M. Daum in Lansing State Journal.

Since this is the last week of the year, I wondered which blog posts received the most visits, so I ran a content report for the past year and I thought I would share with you what I found. Here are the most-read blog posts of 2012:

The top spot goes to …

1. Highlighted Site Of The Week – All The Presidents’ Money by Emily Kesler (for the second year)

followed by

2. Eye on the Races – Electoral Math: A Brief Primer on the Electoral College by Jon Spontarelli
3. Who Were the One Term Presidents? by Nicolette Koozer

4. Living Interns in Akron by Maria Varonis

5. Ask the Experts – Using Federal PAC Funds to Contribute to State Candidates by Nola Werren (for the second year)

Take a look at last year’s Top Blog Posts entry here.

Julie Allen, the executive director of the Missouri Ethics Commission, will be leaving to work at the Secretary of State’s office as the director of elections and information technology.

For full news coverage, be sure to read:

“Missouri ethics chief headed to Kander’s office” by The Associated Press in Connectmidmissouri.com.

“Kander hires executive director of Missouri Ethics Commission to oversee state elections” by Jo Mannies in the St. Louis Beacon.

Lobbying

Maryland: “2012 lobbyist rankings” by Erin Cox in the Baltimore Sun.

Campaign Finance

Maryland: “Maryland panel recommends campaign finance reform” in the Capital Gazette.

Wisconsin: “Gov. Scott Walker voices support for limits on political fundraising” by Bill Lueders in the Daily Page.

Ethics

“Philadelphia Ethics Board plans crackdown on independent expenditures” by Dave Davies in Newsworks.org.

“D.C. Ethics Board Names New General Counsel” by Sam Skolnik in The Blog of Legal Times.

New York:  “Updated indictment filed against ex-NC lawmaker” by The Associated Press in the Winston-Salem Journal.

Social Media

“Answering government officials’ hesitation toward social media use” by Aimee Ingalls in the Washington Times.

Maryland:  “Ethics Commission: No new ethics law eyed for social media” by Sherry Greenfield in the Southern Maryland News.

Campaign Finance

“2012: Reviewing the year of the super PAC” by Nancy Marshall-Genzer on American Public Media’s Marketplace.

California: “FPPC to enforce county’s campaign finance reform law” in the Victorville Daily Press.

Lobbying

Alaska: “Alaska lawmakers will likely see more bills inspired by outside groups” by Richard Mauer in The Sacramento Bee.

Utah:  “Former Utah senator Bob Bennett will return to Capitol as lobbyist” by Matt Canham in The Salt Lake Tribune.

Ethics

Kentucky: “Kentucky Ethics Commission Judge Awarded Internationally” by Paul McRee in SurfKY News.

Missouri: “Secretary of State Scott Gessler rebuts ethics complaint” by Tim Hoover in the Denver Post.

Thank you to our intern Zack Koozer for creating this video.

Campaign Finance

“D.C. Council pushes campaign finance to ’13” by Tom Howell, Jr. in The Washington Times.

Rhode Island: “R.I. House Speaker’s November opponent cleared of campaign wrongdoing” by Philip Marcelo in the Providence Journal.

Lobbying

“K Street Files: Progressives Come, Single Out ‘Naughty’ Lawmakers” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Clock running out for passing big bills” by Kevin Bogardus and Bernie Becker in The Hill.

“APOC complaint accuses Coffey of failing to register as a lobbyist” by Lisa Demer in the Anchorage Daily News.

“Cup of coffee limit perks up again” by Rick Karlin in the Albany Times Union.

Lobbying

“The top 10 lobbying victories of this year” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

“K Street gathers strength behind Hurricane Sandy relief bill” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

“Former Texas Congressman Joins King & Spalding Lobbying Team” by Matthew Huisman in The Blog of Legal Times.

Wisconsin: “Milwaukee County’s lobbying list is somewhat vague” by Steve Schultze in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Campaign Finance

“Analysis: Campaign Finance Reform Takes a Step Forward in Albany” by Gabe Pressman on NBC New York.

Ethics

“House Names Conaway as Ethics Chairman” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

Campaign Finance

“The Question at the Heart of Citizens United” by Paul Sherman in Jurist.

“D.C. campaign finance misdeeds call for further inquiry” opinion piece by Colbert I. King in the Washington Post.

Lobbying

“New lobbying firm spans both sides of the aisle” by AnnMarie Timmins in the Concord Monitor.

Ethics

“House Ethics Confirms Cases of Owens, Schock” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

Oklahoma:  “Ethics Commission top post to be offered to 1 of 4 finalists” by Michael McNutt in Tulsa World.

South Carolina:  “Haley tells ethics panel their work will produce results” by Tim Smith in the Greenville News.

Legislative Issues

Maine: “Campaign tracking becoming year-round practice in Maine” by Glenn Adams (Associated Press) in the Bangor Daily News.

North Dakota:  “Finding room at the inn isn’t always easy for legislators” by Nick Smith in the Bismarck Tribune.

Texas:  “Seeking Fresh Policies and Faces, Lawmakers Push for Term Limits” by Ross Ramsey in the New York Times.

Open Government

South Dakota:  “Open government receives boost” by David Montgomery in the Argus Leader.

This holiday season the staff of State and Federal Communications participated in a giving tree with bit of a different aim. We worked with Summit County Children Services and their Emancipating Youth Program to help outfit apartments for children who reach adult age and will no longer receive services from the agency.

The wish list we were filling were all practical things – the things anyone would need to run a house – pots and pans, towels, lamps, kitchen items, cleaning supplies, etc. Children who have been receiving help from Children Services often become a forgotten group as soon as they reach adult age. This program helps each one of them get some of the things they need to start running their own home.

Thank you, Summit County Children Services, for this crucial program. We felt it was a privilege to do our part to help!

Every year the staff of State and Federal Communications gathers for a holiday celebration. This year we had a delightful dinner at Luigi’s Restaurant, and then came back to the office for a cubicle decorating contest, a round of Name that Tune, plus laughing, visiting, and lots of eggnog and desserts.

As a special treat, we had the chance to have our caricature done by a wonderful local artist named Kari Fry. What a hoot!

The party was a treat and we would like to say thank you to Elizabeth Bartz for making it happen!

Campaign Finance

“What’s Left for Campaign Finance Reform?” by Steven D. Schwinn in Jurist.

“Colbert donates super PAC funds to charity” by Dave Levinthal in Politico.

New York: “Campaign finance reform on 2013 Albany agenda” by Karen DeWitt on North County Public Radio.

District of Columbia: “DC Council to consider emergency ban on large money-order campaign contributions” by The Associated Press in the Washington Post.

Ethics

California: “Political ethics panel accuses brothers of money laundering” by Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times.

Florida: “Palm Beach County ethics commission to decide whether national search needed for director’s post” by Jennifer Sorentrue in the Palm Beach Post.

Lobbying

“Forbes-Tate Lures Boehner Aide to K Street” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Businesses Bet K Street Can Sway Debate” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Businesses Are Spending on Lobbying Instead of Jobs” by Jacob Feldman in U.S. News & World Report.

Campaign Finance

Minnesota: “Campaign finance board seeks new income to fund its work” by Rachel E. Stassen-Berger in the Star-Tribune.

Minnesota: “Minnesota’s Campaign Finance Board looks at expanding authority” by Cyndy Brucato in MinnPost.com.

Montana:  “Judge tosses Montana campaign finance case” by Marnee Banks in KAJ18 News.

New York:  “Local leaders push campaign finance reform bill” by Anthony Borelli in the Press & Sun-Bulletin.

New York: “Attorney General Seeks to Force Disclosure of More Political Donors” by Nicholas Confessore in The New York Times.

Ethics

“Empty Ethics Posts Draw Critics’ Ire” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

New York:  “Deposed State Sen. Monserrate Gets 2 Years for Campaign Finance Scheme” on CBS News.

Redistricting

Arizona: “Court rules Arizona redistricting commission must follow open meeting laws” by Paul Davenport (Associated Press) in the Arizona Capitol Times.

Ohio:  “New plan surfaces to redraw districts” by Jim Siegel in the Columbus Dispatch.

Government Tech and Social Media

“2012 Year in Review: Social Media” by Elaine Pittman in Government Technology.

“Feds with Klout” by Joseph Marks in Nextgov.