May 2, 2019 •
Hawaii Legislature Adjourns Sine Die
![Hawaii Legislature Adjourns Sine Die](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Hawaii-Capitol-HD-e1556830071327-800x563.jpg)
Hawaii Capitol Building
The 30th Hawaii Legislature adjourned sine die on May 2 after 60 legislative days in session. During the session, House Bill 165 passed adding a new registration and reporting requirement for noncandidate committees. Committees that do not intend to receive […]
The 30th Hawaii Legislature adjourned sine die on May 2 after 60 legislative days in session.
During the session, House Bill 165 passed adding a new registration and reporting requirement for noncandidate committees.
Committees that do not intend to receive contributions or make expenditures of more than $1,000 in an election period must notify the commission of its intent in the committee’s organizational report by the fifth calendar day, before the due date of the preliminary primary report.
The 31st Legislature is scheduled to convene on January 15, 2020.
May 2, 2019 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
![Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/LCNR-scaled-e1662492841233-1000x563.jpg)
Campaign Finance Nevada: “One Month Left: Nevada Democrats still haven’t heard a single campaign finance reform bill” by James DeHaven for Reno Gazette Journal Elections Florida: “Former David Straz Staffers Say Nashville Consultant Played Big Role in Campaign’s Failure” by […]
Campaign Finance
Nevada: “One Month Left: Nevada Democrats still haven’t heard a single campaign finance reform bill” by James DeHaven for Reno Gazette Journal
Elections
Florida: “Former David Straz Staffers Say Nashville Consultant Played Big Role in Campaign’s Failure” by Charlie Frago and Christopher O’Donnell for Tampa Bay Times
Ethics
National: “Congressional Democrats’ Emoluments Lawsuit Targeting President Trump’s Private Business Can Proceed, Judge Says” by Jonathan O’Connell, Ann Marimow, and Carol Leonnig (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Mueller Complained That Barr’s Letter Did Not Capture ‘Context’ of Trump Probe” by Devlin Barrett and Matt Zapotosky (Washington Post) for MSN
California: “State Officials Keep Hiring Their Relatives. Will Newsom Crack Down on Nepotism?” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times
Kansas: “Former Salina Senator Pads State Salary with Travel, Food Vouchers” by Tim Carpenter for Topeka Capital Journal
Ohio: “Ex-Dayton Commissioner, State Lawmaker Arrested; More Arrests Coming, Feds Say” by Laura Bischoff, Josh Sweigart, Thomas Gnau, Cornelius Frolick, and Mark Govaki for Dayton Daily News
Legislative Issues
Colorado: “Colorado Lawmakers Have a Dog Office for Dog Business (De-stressing)” by Kevin Beaty for Deverite
Lobbying
Massachusetts: “For Sale in the Pot Industry: Political influence” by Andrew Ryan, Beth Healy, Dam Adams, Nicole Dungca, Todd Wallach, and Patricia Wen for Boston Globe
New Jersey: “The Tax Break Was $260 Million. Benefit to the State Was Tiny: $155,520.” by Nick Corasaniti and Matthew Haag for New York Times
May 1, 2019 •
Montana Legislature Adjourns Sine Die
![Montana Legislature Adjourns Sine Die](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Montana-Capitol-1000x563.jpg)
Montana Capitol Building - gillfoto
The Montana Legislature adjourned Sine Die on April 25, 2019, three days before it was scheduled to adjourn on the 90th legislative day. During the session, Senate Bill 150 passed changing the method for filing and reviewing ethics complaints. The […]
The Montana Legislature adjourned Sine Die on April 25, 2019, three days before it was scheduled to adjourn on the 90th legislative day.
During the session, Senate Bill 150 passed changing the method for filing and reviewing ethics complaints.
The Legislature also passed Senate Bill 326 adding a new provision prohibiting campaign contributions from foreign nationals. Included in the prohibitions are expenditures for electioneering communications.
Other notable bills of the 375 passed during the 66th Legislature include a re-authorization of the state’s Medicaid expansion and several anti-abortion bills likely to be vetoed by Gov. Steve Bullock.
May 1, 2019 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
![Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/LCNR-scaled-e1662492841233-1000x563.jpg)
Campaign Finance National: “‘No Corporate PAC’ Pledges Aren’t Always So Pure” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call National: “As Buttigieg Builds His Campaign, Gay Donors Provide the Foundation” by Jeremy Peters and Shane Goldmacher for New York Times Indiana: “Contractor […]
Campaign Finance
National: “‘No Corporate PAC’ Pledges Aren’t Always So Pure” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call
National: “As Buttigieg Builds His Campaign, Gay Donors Provide the Foundation” by Jeremy Peters and Shane Goldmacher for New York Times
Indiana: “Contractor Sues to Halt Pay-to-Play Ordinance” by Matthew LeBlanc (Associated Press) for Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette
Ethics
Colorado: “Another Allegation of Harassment Against Colorado Lobbyist Benjamin Waters” by Bente Birkeland for Colorado Public Radio
Illinois: “A Federal Jury Convicts Former Top Aide to Dorothy Brown of Lying About an Alleged Bribes-for-Jobs Scheme” by Jason Meisner for Chicago Tribune
Maryland: “Pugh’s Statement ‘Is Not True’: City Hall emails reveal how aides learned Baltimore mayor lied about book sales” by Doug Donovan, Talia Richman, and Jean Marbella for Baltimore Sun
New Hampshire: “Sununu Inaugural Team Releases Conflict of Interest Policy, Months After Declining to Do So” by Casey McDermott for New Hampshire Public Radio
Legislative Issues
Arkansas: “An Early Adopter, Arkansas Rethinks Lawmaker Term Limits” by Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) for Hot Springs Sentinel-Record
Lobbying
Nevada: “Disgraced Ex-Councilman Ricki Barlow Returns to Lobby City Hall” by Shea Johnson for Las Vegas Review-Journal
February 28, 2019 •
Dallas Campaign Finance Violations Rampant
This week, information was released showing many members of the Dallas City Council have committed apparent violations of the city’s campaign finance laws. Some councilmembers have said the violations are due to errors in reporting made in good faith. In […]
This week, information was released showing many members of the Dallas City Council have committed apparent violations of the city’s campaign finance laws.
Some councilmembers have said the violations are due to errors in reporting made in good faith.
In addition to receiving contributions from minors, many received contributions over the city-imposed limits. Currently, no body or office is responsible for oversight of campaign finance reporting in Dallas.
To further the problem, the city disagrees about whether the ethics panel could investigate campaign finance violation complaints, or whether the responsibility would fall on the city secretary.
The city has asked the Texas Ethics Commission to intervene, but the state commission has declined to get involved.
Currently, Dallas has a $1,000 individual contribution limit per election cycle for City Council races and a $5,000 individual cap on mayoral races.
February 28, 2019 •
Wyoming Legislature Adjourns Sine Die
The Wyoming Legislature adjourned sine die in the early hours of February 28. The House spent the final day of its 2019 legislative session overriding four of Gov. Mark Gordon’s 14 vetoes, but the Senate decided to only override two […]
The Wyoming Legislature adjourned sine die in the early hours of February 28.
The House spent the final day of its 2019 legislative session overriding four of Gov. Mark Gordon’s 14 vetoes, but the Senate decided to only override two of those four.
Earlier this month, Gov. Gordon signed Senate File 18 into law, which requires any candidate, political action committee, and candidate’s campaign committee to file an itemized statement of contributions and expenditures at least seven days but not more than 14 days before an election.
February 28, 2019 •
Hawaii Proposed Bill Progresses Through Legislature
A proposed House bill relating to campaign reports is progressing through the Legislature, passing its third reading and arriving in the Senate. House Bill 165 would require candidates who do not intend to receive or spend more than $1,000 in […]
A proposed House bill relating to campaign reports is progressing through the Legislature, passing its third reading and arriving in the Senate.
House Bill 165 would require candidates who do not intend to receive or spend more than $1,000 in an election period to notify the Campaign Spending Commission of this intention by June 30 of an election year.
The bill further provides that noncandidate committees that do not receive or spend more than $1,000 in an election period must notify the commission of this intention by the fifth day before the due date of the preliminary report.
The proposed bill would take effect upon its approval.
February 28, 2019 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Arizona: “Regulators Now Have the Votes to Subpoena Utility’s Political Spending Records” by Howard Fischer (Arizona Daily Star) for Arizona Daily Star Texas: “Most Dallas City Council Members’ Campaign-Finance Reports Show Violations – But No One Enforces Rules” […]
Campaign Finance
Arizona: “Regulators Now Have the Votes to Subpoena Utility’s Political Spending Records” by Howard Fischer (Arizona Daily Star) for Arizona Daily Star
Texas: “Most Dallas City Council Members’ Campaign-Finance Reports Show Violations – But No One Enforces Rules” by Corbett Smith for Dallas News
West Virginia: “W.Va. Senate Passes Bill to Change to Campaign Finance Law, Opponents Say It Lacks Transparency” by David Mistich for West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Elections
Illinois: “Chicago Poised to Elect first African-American Female Mayor After Lori Lightfoot, Toni Preckwinkle Advance” by Bill Ruthhart for Chicago Tribune
North Carolina: “Bladen County Operative at Center of NC Election Fraud Investigation Indicted, Arrested” by Ely Portillo and Jim Morrill for Raleigh News and Observer
Ethics
National: “House Democrats Forge Ahead on Electoral Reform Bill” by Zach Montellaro for Politico
Pennsylvania: “Pa. Audit Says Officials Took Freebies from Voting Machine Firms” by Liz Navratil and Angela Couloumbis for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Lobbying
New Hampshire: “NH Lobbyists Paid Record Fees in 2018 But Info Hard to Track” by Kevin Landrigan for Manchester Union Leader
February 27, 2019 •
Illinois Introduces Bill to Create Contribution Matching Fund
Illinois introduced legislation to create a small donor campaign contribution matching fund for candidates for certain offices, including governor, State Treasurer, and Secretary of State. House Bill 3712 introduced by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy would require the General Assembly to […]
Illinois introduced legislation to create a small donor campaign contribution matching fund for candidates for certain offices, including governor, State Treasurer, and Secretary of State.
House Bill 3712 introduced by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy would require the General Assembly to appropriate no more than $50 million to the small donor matching fund in any election cycle.
The bill also establishes penalties for violations by participating candidates in the form of a fine in an amount equal to twice the value of the funding unlawfully accepted or spent.
If passed, the bill would become effective immediately.
February 27, 2019 •
U.S. House Administration Committee Approves of Campaign Finance and Ethics Legislation
On February 26, legislation aimed at reforming U.S. campaign finance, lobbying, and ethic laws advanced in committee. The House Administration Committee approved of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, by a party-line vote of six to three. In the […]
On February 26, legislation aimed at reforming U.S. campaign finance, lobbying, and ethic laws advanced in committee. The House Administration Committee approved of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, by a party-line vote of six to three.
In the sweeping 571-page bill, corporate PACs would be required to make certifications annually with the Federal Election Commission. Those certifications would include affirming under penalty of law no foreign national participated in any way in the decision-making processes of the PAC; corporate board members who are foreign nationals abstained from voting on matters concerning the corporation’s PAC; and the PAC did not solicit or accept recommendations from any foreign national.
The legislation expands the definition of foreign national to include any corporation, limited liability corporation, or partnership that is not a foreign national but is owned or indirectly controlled by foreign nationals meeting statutory thresholds of ownership or voting. The threshold is five percent of voting shares if the foreign national is a foreign country, a foreign government official, or a corporation principally owned or controlled by a foreign country or foreign government official. The threshold is 20 percent if the foreign national is any other type of foreign national. Corporations not considered foreign nationals would fall under the definition when a foreign national has the power to direct, dictate, or control the decision-making process of the corporation with respect to its interests in the United States or with respect to activities in connection with federal, state, or local elections.
Additionally, the bill restructures the Federal Election Commission, amends the federal conflict of interest law, and expands the revolving door provision by prohibiting Members of Congress from serving on corporate boards. Introduced by Rep. John Sarbanes, the bill requires any organization involved in political activity to disclose its largest donors, creates a multiple matching system for small donations for political campaigns, and amends rules governing super PACs.
If passed, the bill also requires presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns, prohibits partisan gerrymandering, increases oversight over election vendors, creates an automatic voter registration across the country, and changes registration requirements for lobbyists and foreign agents.
February 27, 2019 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Idaho: “Sunshine Bill on Electioneering Stalls in Committee, Amid Nonprofits’ Concerns Over ‘Donor Privacy’” by Savannah Cardon for Idaho Press Rhode Island: “Ex-GOP Candidate for Congress in R.I. Charged in Fraud” by Patrick Anderson for Providence Journal Elections […]
Campaign Finance
Idaho: “Sunshine Bill on Electioneering Stalls in Committee, Amid Nonprofits’ Concerns Over ‘Donor Privacy’” by Savannah Cardon for Idaho Press
Rhode Island: “Ex-GOP Candidate for Congress in R.I. Charged in Fraud” by Patrick Anderson for Providence Journal
Elections
National: “U.S. Cyber Command Operation Disrupted Internet Access of Russian Troll Factory on Day of 2018 Midterms” by Ellen Nakashima (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
Maryland: “Md. Lawmaker Apologizes for Allegedly Using N-Word with Her Colleagues” by Ovetta Wiggins for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
California: “California Lawmakers and Lobbyists Hustle to Write Hundreds of Bills, Many Not Fully Cooked” by John Myers (Los Angeles Times) for San Diego Union Tribune
Lobbying
Kentucky: “Kentucky Senate OKs Bill to Reveal Executive Branch Lobbying” by The Associated Press for Miami Herald
Michigan: “Lobbyist Spending Topped the Charts in Michigan Last Year, Reports Show” by Carol Thompson for Lansing State Journal
February 26, 2019 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Pennsylvania: “How Philly’s Electricians Union and Johnny Doc Converted Payroll Deductions into Political Influence” by Chris Brennan and Dylan Purcell for Philadelphia Inquirer Elections National: “Russian Spy or Hustling Political Operative? The Enigmatic Figure at the Heart of […]
Campaign Finance
Pennsylvania: “How Philly’s Electricians Union and Johnny Doc Converted Payroll Deductions into Political Influence” by Chris Brennan and Dylan Purcell for Philadelphia Inquirer
Elections
National: “Russian Spy or Hustling Political Operative? The Enigmatic Figure at the Heart of Mueller’s Inquiry” by Kenneth Vogel and Andrew Kramer (New York Times) for MSN
Ethics
Arkansas: “Arkansas Grapples with Ethics Cleanup Amid Federal Probes” by Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) for 4029tv
Ohio: “Even After FBI Probe of Ohio Speaker, Tracking Lawmakers’ Travel Remains Challenging” by Jessie Balmert for Cincinnati Enquirer
Legislative Issues
Illinois: “At Chicago City Hall, the Legislative Branch Rarely Does Much Legislating” by Mick Dumke for ProPublica
Oregon: “2 Oregon Lawmakers Demoted for Rude Behavior” by Sarah Zimmerman (Associated Press) for Portland Oregonian
Lobbying
California: “The Political Playbook of a Bankrupt California Utility” by Thomas Fuller and Ivan Penn (New York Times) for MSN
Louisiana: “Louisiana Cap on Legislative Wining and Dining Grows to $62” by The Associated Press for Tacoma News Tribune
February 25, 2019 •
Ohio Releases New Campaign Contribution Limits
The Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, released new campaign contribution limits adjusted for inflation each odd-numbered year. The changes include an increase in the amount PACs and individuals may contribute to statewide candidates from $12,707.79 to $13,292.35 per election […]
The Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, released new campaign contribution limits adjusted for inflation each odd-numbered year.
The changes include an increase in the amount PACs and individuals may contribute to statewide candidates from $12,707.79 to $13,292.35 per election period.
The new limits are effective today, February 25, 2019, through February 24, 2021.
February 25, 2019 •
NYCU Video Digest – February 25, 2019
New Gift Laws, Campaign Finance, Elections and Ethics; four stories from around the country you don’t want to miss!
New Gift Laws, Campaign Finance, Elections and Ethics; four stories from around the country you don’t want to miss!
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.