October 15, 2012 •
Monday News Roundup
Start the week off right with these government relations news articles:
Campaign Finance
“PACs attack: N.Y. seeing a flood of outside money” by The Associated Press in Pressconnects.com.
Florida: “Meet Florida’s big-time donors to super PACs” by Alex Leary in the Miami Herald.
“Md. referendum campaigns raise $53 million” by John Wagner and Aaron C. Davis in The Washington Post.
Lobbying
“Loopholes abound in some lobbyist gift bans” by Chris Joyner in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“Patton Boggs moves to reinvent itself” by Catherine Ho in The Washington Post.
“Lobbying Efforts From Tech Companies Surge On Capitol Hill” in Fast Company.
Kentucky: “Ellen Williams joins McBrayer lobbying team” by Tom Lotus in the Courier-Journal.
Pennsylvania: “Lobbyists could be subject to open-records law” by Dan Miller in the Patriot-News.
Pennsylvania: “Lobbyists’ checks buy lawmaker access” by John L. Micek in the Morning Call.
Ethics
“Jackson Jr. probe focuses on house” by Kevin Robillard in Politico.
Campaigns and Elections
“Candidates turn to geo-targeting in ads” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.
“For politically playful news orgs, the 2012 election means social interactivity” by Adrienne LaFrance in Nieman Journalism Lab.
“Campaigns Mine Personal Lives to Get Out the Vote” by Charles Duhigg in The New York Times.
October 12, 2012 •
One Last News Roundup for the Week
Have a terrific weekend everyone!
Lobbying
“Lawmaker Sues State Bar Over Lobbying” by Joe Harris in the Courthouse News Service.
“Long-time lobbyist to retire” by Bill Rankin in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Campaign Finance
“Changing campaign-finance laws might not deter corruption” by Lydia Coutré in the Columbus Dispatch.
“Top donors go all in on state ballot measures” by Will Evans in the Bay Citizen.
Ethics
“State Ethics Commission clears Sen. Gary Siplin in newsletter complaint” in the Miami Herald.
Social Media and Technology
“The Rise of Mobile in Election 2012” by Matt Petronzio in Mashable.
“Online, Next Presidential Debate Will Feature a Moderator that Wasn’t” by Micah L. Sifry in TechPresident.
“Code for America Accelerator Program Takes Shape” by Sarah Rich in Government Technology.
Legislative Issues
“Bill limits N.J. legislators’ unexcused absences” by The Associated Press in NorthJersey.com.
October 11, 2012 •
Thursday Campaign Finance and Lobbying News
Here is a short roundup of articles for you:
Campaign Finance
“How Citizens United has transformed campaigns: An introduction to Big Sky, Big Money” by Kai Ryssdal on Marketplace.
“Celebrities Recruited to Make Case on Campaign-Finance Reform” by Thomas Kaplan in The New York Times.
Lobbying
“Nats fever sweeps Congress, K Street” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
Government Tech and Social Media
“New App Opens Up Presidential Documents” in Government Technology.
October 11, 2012 •
State and Federal Communications Sponsors Keynote Speaker at WASRG Event
Today at 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
State and Federal Communications is proud to be the sponsor of Keynote Speaker Jennifer Duffy at the WASRG 2012 Summit today in Washington D.C.!
According to the WASRG site:
Join us on Thursday, October 11th as we gather from 12 – 2 p.m. for the 2012 WASRG Summit. Your Board of Directors has reimagined and streamlined this event for 2012 to include a lunch and keynote followed by the presentation of the WASRG Award of Excellence.
Thanks to the generous sponsorship of State & Federal Communications, we are pleased to have Jennifer Duffy, Senior Editor for The Cook Political Report, headlining our event. Jennifer is responsible for U.S. Senate and Governors’ races at The Cook Political Report. Founded in 1984, The Cook Political Report provides analyses of Presidential, U.S. Senate, House and gubernatorial races. Jennifer has 26 years of experience in campaign politics, the last 23 of which have focused on non-partisan political analysis. In 1985, she served as Press Secretary for the National Republican Senatorial Committee; she joined The Cook Political Report in 1988 as its first Assistant Editor. While continuing to work as the Report’s contributing editor, Jennifer also was a senior account executive with Hill and Knowlton Public Affairs Worldwide and an associate with the lobbying firm of Cassidy & Associates.
In 1995, Jennifer rejoined Cook & Company full-time. She has served as an off-air analyst for NBC News on Election Nights from 1996 through 2010. Jennifer has been quoted in numerous publications and has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, PBS’ “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer,” and C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal.” In June of 2011, BusinessInsider.com named her one of the 13 savviest political analysts in the country.
A native of Rhode Island, Jennifer received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Government from Georgetown University in 1985.
WASRG is excited to bring this new format and new venue to the annual Summit. We hope you’ll take this opportunity to enjoy your friends and colleagues over a family-style lunch.
The Washington Area State Relations Group (WASRG) is one of the nation’s largest organizations dedicated exclusively to serving state government relations professionals. Since the mid-1970s, WASRG has been providing its corporate, trade association and public sector members with a unique and valuable opportunity to interact with their peers, key state officials and public policy experts.
October 10, 2012 •
Today’s Government Relations News
Take a look at the latest articles in campaign finance, ethics, and the political campaigns:
Campaign Finance
California: “Prop 32: Union and Corporate Campaign Contributions” by Ben Adler in Capital Public Radio.
New Mexico: “Non-N.M. Groups Give Thousands” by Dan Boyd in the Albuquerque Journal.
Texas: “Court hears DeLay appeal in campaign finance case” by Peggy Fikac in the Houston Chronicle.
Ethics
“Hawaii Ethics Commission Still Missing a Member” by Anita Hofschneider in the Honolulu Civil Beat.
“W.Va. Ethics Commission sets Jan. 28 hearing on allegations against Beckley mayor” by The Associated Press in The Republic.
Social Media and Government Tech
“Hardly Anyone Using Campaign Apps, Survey Says” by Nick Judd in TechPresident.
“Where is E-Government Communication Headed?” by Matt Williams in Government Technology.
October 9, 2012 •
Tuesday Campaign Finance and Ethics News
Keep up with the latest government relations news with these articles:
Campaign Finance
“Members’ PACs Test Unregulated Spending” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.
“Harvard Law professor talks campaign finance corruption” by Ben Atlas in the Michigan Daily.
South Carolina: “Groups calling for probe into Harrell spending” by Meg Kinnard (Associated Press) in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
Ethics
“Texas Ethics Commission fines Texas Rep. Allen Fletcher” by Caleb Harris in the Tomball Magnolia Tribune.
“Edward Wasserman: TV ‘watchdogs’ quiet as political ad cash rolls in” by Edward Wasserman in the Bellingham Herald.
South Carolina: “This year’s ‘hot’ SC campaign issue? Ethics” by Adam Beam in The State.
Elections
“Across the electoral map, a mixed picture for candidates down the ballot” by Karen Tumulty in the Washington Post.
October 8, 2012 •
Monday News Roundup
Start the week off right with these government relations news articles:
Campaign Finance
“Big donors give far and wide, influencing out-of-state races and issues” in NBC News.
“Prosecutors face off over suspect campaign activity” by Jeremy Duda in the Arizona Capitol Times.
“Connecticut firm at center of new ‘Citizens United’ controversy” by Michael Beckel in the CTMirror.org.
“Boutique PACs making big splash in surprise races” by Susan Davis in the Indianapolis Star.
Ethics
“Congressional ethics committees protect legislators, critics say” by Scott Higham in the Washington Post.
“Congress members back legislation that could benefit themselves, relatives” by Kimberly Kindy, David S. Fallis and Scott Higham in the Washington Post.
Florida: “Ethics commission ‘wish list’ waiting for Legislature” by Matt Dixon in the St. Augustine Record.
Campaigns and Elections
“Voter Data: What the Candidates Know About You” by Elana Varon in Mashable.
“Campaigns Use Social Media to Lure Younger Voters” by Jenna Wortham in The New York Times.
October 5, 2012 •
Our Friday Campaign Finance and Lobbying News
Enjoy your weekend!
Campaign Finance
California: “Crosby, Stills, Nash and Morello rage against Prop. 32” by Michael J. Mishak in the Los Angeles Times.
Montana: “Montana appeals ruling as campaigns eye unlimited donations” by Mike Dennison in the Billings Gazette.
“James Bopp Jr. Gets Creative” by Jon Campbell in Slate.
Lobbying
Florida: “Butterworth skirts state lobbying laws with Broward contract” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.
Ethics
“Todd Akin Flubs Another Financial Disclosure, Amends 10 Years of Forms” by Neils Lesniewski in Roll Call.
Illinois: “Illinois powerbroker Cellini is sentenced to a year in prison” by Annie Sweeney in the Morris Daily Herald.
Pennsylvania: “Ex-LCB chairman Stapleton resigns amid ethics probe” by Angela Couloumbis in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
South Carolina: “Ethics Commission Owed $2 Million Plus in Fines” by Shawn Drury in the St. Andrews Patch.
Government Tech and Social Media
“Digital Campaigning: Meet the Marketing Wizards of D.C.” by Matt Petronzio in Mashable.
“Are Digital States Graduating with Honors, or in Detention?” by Kristy Fifelski in GovTech.
Photo of the U.S. Capitol by UpstateNYer on Wikipedia.
October 4, 2012 •
Thursday News Roundup
Here are a few articles for today’s government relations news summary:
Campaign Finance
“Campaign Fundraisers in D.C. Continue Despite Recess” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
New York: “Campaign finance reform uncertain” by Jimmy Vielkind in the Albany Times Union.
Lobbying
“US Rep. Frank: No paid lobbying after Congress” by The Associated Press in the Boston Globe.
Ethics
“SC lawmakers vow ethics reform” by Andrew Shain in The State.
Campaigns and Elections
“5 takeaways from the Denver debate” by Maggie Haberman in Politico.
October 3, 2012 •
Our Wednesday Government Relations News Roundup
Don’t miss the articles you need to keep up with the latest news about lobbying, campaign finance, and ethics:
Campaign Finance
“Freshmen rake in cash through PACs” by Kevin Bogardus and Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.
Connecticut: “When a candidate’s spouse is powerful, the goal of a campaign donation can be … complicated” by Ana Radelot in the CT Mirror.
Minnesota: “Campaign finance board rules Minnesota Majority’s Dan McGrath did not break lobbying rules” by Paul Demko in Politics in Minnesota.
New York: “NY progressives push for public campaign finances” by Michael Gormley in Bloomberg News.
New York: “Campaign finance firepower gathers” by Jimmy Vielkind in the Capitol Confidential.
Lobbying
“Activists Press Corporations to Cut Ties With Presidential Debate Commission” by Janie Lorber in Roll Call.
“Wis. lawmakers sued over emails with conservative group” by The Associated Press in the Chicago Tribune.
Ethics
California: “L.A. Councilman Richard Alarcon and wife ordered to stand trial” by Catherine Saillant in the Los Angeles Times.
Illinois: “Emanuel Revamps City Hall Ethics Board” by Hal Dardick in the Chicago Tribune.
Campaigns and elections
“Obama, on track to raise $1 billion, came close to that in 2008” by Matea Gold in the Los Angeles Times.
“Jim Lehrer on criticism of his recurring debate-moderator role: ‘It’s a rough, rough world’” by Andrew Beaujon in Poynter.org.
“Daily Ad Track” by Abby Livingston in Roll Call.
“Zac Efron, Leonardo DiCaprio and Selena Gomez all want you to vote for stuff” by Jen Chaney in the Washington Post.
Government Tech and Social Media
“For the Campaigns, Online Debate Response is All About Mobile” by Nick Judd in TechPresident.
“Social media: On the outside looking in at presidential debates” in Politics in Minnesota.
“Code for America Reveals 2013 Partner Cities and Counties” by Sarah Rich in Government Technology.
October 2, 2012 •
In Honor of the Presidential Debates
We cast our minds back
With the presidential and vice presidential debates coming, the news outlets are pulling up all kinds of footage of key moments from debates of the past. You can see bits of the Kennedy/Nixon debate, rediscover the best verbal zaps from Ronald Reagan, and choose your own favorite gaffes that candidates have made. Don’t miss Sen. Lloyd Bentsen telling Sen. Dan Quayle, “You’re no Jack Kennedy.” Have fun with these…
“Will You Smile or Cringe? It Depends.” by Leslye Davis, Jon Huang and Alexis Mainland in The New York Times.
“Presidential Debate Moments” video montage by David Frank in The New York Times.
“The Goofs and Gaffes in Presidential Debates” by Albert R. Hunt in The New York Times.
“The mistakes candidates make in debates” by Julian Zelizer in CNN Opinion.
“Top 8 Debate Zingers” by Sophie Quinton in National Journal.
“Debate ‘zingers’ over the years” by Bill Lambrecht in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
“Ten most memorable moments from presidential debates” in the San Francisco Chronicle’s Politics Blog.
October 2, 2012 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News
Keep up with the latest government relations news with these articles:
Lobbying
Via Eric Brown’s Political Activity Law blog – Missouri:“Mo. Sen. candidate wants ban on all lobbyist gifts to state lawmakers” by Marshall Griffin in St. Louis Public Radio.
Wisconsin: “Former Assembly speaker now a lobbyist” by Jason Stein in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Campaign Finance
“Rules of the Game: Shining a Light on Political ‘Dark Money‘” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.
Arizona: “Probe into Horne’s campaign finances leads to report over alleged hit-and-run” by Howard Fischer in the East Valley Tribune.
Social Media
“Mashable Special Report: How Digital Is Transforming Politics” by Josh Catone in Mashable.
“How the Internet will Change the Government” by Henry Brown in Govloop.
October 1, 2012 •
YouTube Covering the Presidential Debates for the First Time
Live coverage, commentary, and analysis
YouTube is making it very easy for anyone to follow the presidential debates in the coming weeks. For the first time, YouTube will offer the streaming video on their Elections Hub. Their blog lists other YouTube channels where viewers can find commentary and analysis. Here is the news release from the Official YouTube Blog post “The 2012 Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates, live on YouTube” by Olivia Ma.
For more news coverage, be sure to read:
“YouTube to live stream Presidential debates for the first time this month” in The Next Web.
“YouTube to livestream United States presidential, vice-presidential debates (Video)” by Andrew Moran in the Examiner.
October 1, 2012 •
Monday News Roundup
Start the week off right with these government relations news articles:
Campaign Finance
“‘Dark money’ flowing back to issue ads” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
Arizona: “Ex-aide charged with stealing Ariz. campaign cash” by The Associated Press in Tucson News Now.
California: “California voters rejecting change to campaign financing” by The Associated Press in the Mercury News.
Iowa: “Charges dropped in Iowa campaign contribution case” in the Muscatine Journal.
Texas: “PAC wants state approval for text donations” by Dave Nyczepir in Campaigns & Elections.
Lobbying
“New report outlines N.J. lawmakers’ use of controversial ALEC group” by Salvador Rizzo in the Star-Ledger.
Ethics
Pennsylvania: “In Pa., Where’s the Payback?” by Craig R. McCoy in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Rhode Island: “Ethics commission sets hearing on disclosure of paid trips for officials” by Philip Marcelo in the Providence Journal.
Technology and Social Media
“What Facebook’s Planning for the First Romney-Obama Debate” by Michael Catalini in the National Journal.
New Jersey: “New Jersey Mulls Ad-Powered Websites” in Government Technology.
Kentucky: “Ky. house candidate admits error in email” by The Associated Press in the Bangor Daily News.
Elections
“State probe looms for firm registering GOP voters” by Elisabeth Arriero in the Charlotte Observer.
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.
