Opposition parties say legislative members in Alberta are attempting to rush through campaign finance changes to disproportionately benefit the New Democratic Party.

NDP members have proposed a $4,000 annual limit on political contributions to political parties, constituency associations, nominated candidates, candidates seeking nomination, and party leadership contestants. Current limits are $15,000 to a political party and $5,000 to constituency associations, with the limits increasing to $30,000 and $10,000, respectively, in a campaign year.

Currently there are no set limits on political contributions for leadership and nomination campaigns; each party sets its own rules. Opposition members agree with reduced contribution limits, but argue limits in nomination races and leadership campaigns would reduce the available resources necessary for a party to effectively fight an election. The legislative committee examining the election financing legislation must complete its work before the committee is dissolved September 28.

Photo of the Alberta Legislative Building by Tkyle on Wikimedia Commons.

Lobbying

Michigan: “House Candidate Steve Marino Retracts Claims from Secret Recordings” by Paul Egan for Detroit Free Press

New York: “De Blasio’s Nonprofit Must Comply with Ethics Panel’s Subpoena, Judge Says” by J. David Goodman for New York Times

Campaign Finance

California: “Jury Finds Azano Guilty on 36 Counts in Foreign Money Case” by Dana Littlefield and Greg Moran for San Diego Union-Tribune

Colorado: “Colorado Supreme Court Set to Hear Appeal Over Legal Services Being Treated Like Campaign Contributions” by Tom McGhee for Denver Post

Florida: “Judge Orders Campaign-Finance Question Put on Miami-Dade Ballot” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald

Washington: “I-1464 Seeks Big Changes to Washington State Campaign-Finance System” by Rachel LaCorte (Associated Press) for Seattle Times

Ethics

Texas: “Empower Texans Escalates Battle with Ethics Commission” by Patrick Svitek for Texas Tribune

Virginia: “Prosecutors Will Drop Case Against Former Va. Governor Robert McDonnell” by Rachel Weiner and Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post

Elections

“Real-Time Election Day Projections May Upend News Tradition” by Nick Corasaniti for New York Times

“Hillary Clinton Is Set Back by Decision to Keep Illness Secret” by Amy Chozick and Patrick Healy for New York Times

The South Dakota panel assembled by Secretary of State Shantel Krebs to review campaign finance laws showed support of a proposal to allow direct contributions from individual organizations like businesses and labor unions.

The panel met Tuesday, September 6 and will meet two more times before finalizing proposals that will be requested from the Legislature in January. The panel is also expected to propose new campaign finance reporting requirements.

A judge has ordered a campaign finance ballot measure be placed on the ballot in November. After the County Commission rejected the proposal for containing legally insufficient language, An Accountable Miami-Dade filed a petition for a writ of mandamus last week.

The political committee asked the court to force the County Commission, the Mayor, and the Supervisor of Elections to place the measure on the ballot. Circuit Court Judge William Thomas granted the petition, stating the group met all of the requirements to get a proposal on the ballot, including gathering nearly 130,000 signatures.

The County has appealed the ruling and a hearing has been set for next week before the Third District Court of Appeal.

If successfully passed, the measure will reduce the campaign contribution limit from $1,000 to $250 and ban vendors, their lobbyists, and immediate family members from contributing to county candidates.

Lobbying

“Lobbyists Prepare for Clinton Win” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Campaign Finance

“Prolific Donor Trump, Often Skirted Rules, Paid Fines” by Drew Griffin, David Fitzpatrick, and Tom LoBianco for CNN

California: “Political Paradox? Prop. 59 Asks Californians to Condemn a Big-Money System Long Used Here” by Laurel Rosenhall for CALmatters.org

Illinois: “Judge: Illinois campaign finance law constitutional” by Michael Tarm (Associated Press) for State Journal-Register

Oregon: “Portland Reconsiders Public Money for Political Campaigns” by Brad Schmidt for Portland Oregonian

South Dakota: “Panel Ponders Allowing Businesses to Open Checkbooks for Candidates” by Bob Mercer for Black Hills Pioneer

Ethics

California: “Scandal Plagues City of Commerce, but Generous Services Help Blunt Public Scrutiny” by Adam Elmahrek for Los Angeles Times

Elections

“Hillary Clinton’s ‘Invisible Guiding Hand’” by Shane Goldmacher for Politico

Minnesota: “U Launches First-of-Its-Kind Program for Elections Officials” by Kelly Smith for Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Texas: “Court Filing Accuses Texas of Misleading Voters Without IDs” by Michael Wines for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Tennessee: “Beth Harwell: Jeremy Durham expulsion vote will happen” by Joel Ebert and Dave Boucher for The Tennessean

On August 31, 2016, the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices adopted a rule clarifying the “house party” exception from the definition of contribution. Following complaints the exception amounted to undisclosed contributions, the commission adopted a rule stating the costs of food and beverages are exempt only if they relate to the personal services provided by the volunteer and only if paid for by a single volunteer.

The rule will be effective following certification from the secretary of state.

See what’s happening in government relations this week with our Video Digest. Enjoy!

Federal:

Addicted to Making Campaign Contributions?
The Atlantic – Russell Berman | Published: 8/30/2016

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders raised $231 million from more than 2.7 million donors in his campaign for president, depending on grassroots support rather than on wealthy bundlers. A benefit of relying on small donations from a large number of backers is that a campaign can go back to them repeatedly before they hit the $2,700 limit for individual contributions. And the Sanders campaign, like most campaigns in the modern era, did so, sending a barrage of urgent pleas for donations in email blasts. The excessive donations point to flaws in how the Sanders campaign managed and communicated with his most passionate supporters. Many of his donors were simply unaware of the federal limits, or if they were aware, they assumed the campaign would prevent them from contributing too much. It did not.

Breitbart Rises from Outlier to Potent Voice in Campaign
New York Times – Michael Grynbaum and John Herrman | Published: 8/28/2016

Breitbart News, once a curiosity of the fringe right wing, is now an increasingly powerful voice, and virtual rallying spot, for millions of disaffected conservatives who propelled Donald Trump to the Republican nomination. Known for bashing the GOP establishment, Breitbart now finds itself at the center of the party’s presidential campaign. Its longtime chairperson, Stephen Bannon, was named campaign chief by Trump, whose nationalist, conspiracy-minded message routinely mirrors the Breitbart worldview. The site received its biggest billing yet in the form of a scathing condemnation. In a nationally televised speech, Hillary Clinton identified Breitbart  as the Democratic Party’s leading media enemy, warning about a “de facto merger” between the Trump campaign and a news outlet that she described as racist, radical, and offensive.

Experts Poke Holes in Clinton Foundation’s Promised Donor Ban
The Hill – Jonathan Swan | Published: 9/1/2016

Ethics experts question the Clinton Foundation’s plan to avoid conflicts-of-interest during a Hillary Clinton presidency. The charity pledged not to accept foreign or corporate donations if she is elected. But watchdogs say it would be relatively easy for foreign governments or individuals to funnel cash to the foundation without the public being aware. It is not clear whether Chelsea Clinton would still raise money for the charity if her mother were to win the election. Bill Clinton has promised to step down from its board and stop fundraising if that happens. Assertions that donors to the charity got special access to Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of state have dogged her campaign.

How One Donor Is Profiting Off the Trump and Sanders Campaigns
The Atlantic – Russell Berman | Published: 8/28/2016

Entrepreneur Randy Treibel has contributed about $25,000 in total to Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, more than any other person has given to both campaigns combined. But Treibel is not donating all this money out of devotion to these unlikely political insurgents – he is just trying to make a profit. He has been buying Trump and Sanders campaign merchandise in bulk and reselling it through his retail company on Amazon at a considerable markup. A Trump sign that costs $10 on his campaign website, for example, will sell for $35 on Amazon, Treibel said. And it is all completely legal under campaign rules. When asked why he did not bother to buy up Hillary Clinton stickers and signs, Treibel responded, “That stuff just doesn’t sell; nobody buys it.”

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama – More Lawmakers (and Two Ethics Commissioners) Who Got Free Trips on Alabama Lenders’ Dime
AL.com – Kyle Whitmire (Alabama Media Group) | Published: 8/31/2016

The Alabama Lenders Association has amended its last two years’ of lobbying activity reports to include two trips where the organization paid for lodging, meals, and entertainment for numerous state lawmakers and other public officials. Records show the association hosted similar events in earlier years. But it did not disclose those earlier trips because it had not registered as a principal. Because the association had not registered and did not submit lobbying reports, it is impossible to tell which lawmakers it invited on those trips and how much it spent on them.

Alabama – Pro-Marijuana Group Challenges Alabama Lobbying Law
AL.com – Mike Cason | Published: 9/1/2016

The Institute for Justice filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Alabama law that requires all registered lobbyists to attend an ethics training class in Montgomery. The suit was filed on behalf of Maggie Ellinger-Locke and the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). It contends that the requirement unduly burdens Ellinger-Locke because she lives in Arlington, Virginia and works at the MPP headquarters in Washington, DC. The Alabama Ethics Commission denied Ellinger-Locke’s request to take the class remotely. “If a person wants to talk to an elected official about a matter of public policy, they shouldn’t have to take a government-mandated class; instead, the only thing they should need is an opinion,” said Paul Sherman, a lawyer for the institute.

Connecticut – Inside the Political Fundraising Game
CT Post – Ken Dixon, Angela Carella, and Neil Vigdor | Published: 8/28/2016

A dozen contractors barred from contributing to state political candidates in Connecticut gave almost $1 million to the Democratic Governors Association, which in turn funneled $3.9 million to a PAC supporting Gov. Dannel Malloy’s 2014 re-election campaign. The transfer of money, though apparently legal, effectively circumvented Connecticut’s clean election laws, which are intended to limit the influence of wealthy special interests on state government. Michael Brandi, executive director of the State Elections Enforcement Commission, said it is hard to ferret out the source of campaign cash if donors want to remain anonymous.

Illinois – Chicago Insider Who Took $2 Million in Bribes in Red Light Camera Scandal Gets 10 Years in Prison
Los Angeles Times – David Kidwell (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 8/29/2016

A former Chicago transportation official embroiled in a corruption scandal over the award of a lucrative contract for red-light cameras was sentenced to 10 years in prison. John Bills, who served as assistant commissioner at the Department of Transportation, was convicted on 20 counts, including fraud, bribery, conspiracy, and tax fraud for taking up to $2 million in bribes and gifts in return for awarding $100 million in red lights camera contracts. The contracts went to Redflex Traffic Systems in 2003. Bills was also ordered to pay the city $2 million in restitution.

Maine – Paul LePage, Maine Governor, Now Says He’s Not Quitting
New York Times – Jess Bidgood | Published: 8/31/2016

Facing pressure to resign after comments many called racist and a profanity-laced voicemail left for state Rep. Drew Gattine, Maine Gov. Paul LePage told reporters he will not be stepping down and will seek spiritual guidance. LePage had hinted that he would not finish his current term after facing intense criticism for his latest actions. His six years in office have been marked by controversy. Even as he fueled outrage among Democrats and angst among many moderate Republicans, his well of support, fed by voters who are drawn to his unfiltered political style, never seemed to run dry. But the events of the past week have led to a rupture in his own Republican Party.

Missouri – Audit Finds Senate Slush Fund for Lobbyist-Financed Meals
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Kurt Erickson | Published: 8/29/2016

Missouri lawmakers overall do a good job managing taxpayer funds, but are too generous with time off for staff and too willing to accept lobbyist money for meals, according to a pair of audits that also criticize legislators for secrecy. State Auditor Nicole Galloway said the Senate should close a bank account used to solicit lobbyist donations to buy meals for lawmakers. The audit says a House interim committee asked lobbyists for contributions to pay for a tour bus. The Senate says it will look for other ways to pay for meals, but it does not see a solution that will work. The House noted representatives failed this year to ban lobbyist-financed travel for lawmakers.

Nebraska – Panel Tells Embattled Nebraska Senator to Resign by Friday
ABC News – Grant Schulte (Associated Press) | Published: 8/29/2016

State Sen. Bill Kintner, who is ensnared in a cybersex scandal, was given another opportunity to resign before the Nebraska Legislature’s Executive Board determines possible action against him. Kintner was fined $1,000 by the state Accountability and Disclosure Commission after admitting to the online sexual encounter on a state-owned laptop with a woman. The woman, who is believed to have ties to an Ivory Coast crime syndicate, later threatened to expose the encounter unless Kintner paid her $4,500.

New York – Judge: Citizens United must disclose donor information to NY
ABC News – Larry Neumeister (Associated Press) | Published: 8/29/2016

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit in which Citizens United sought to block New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman from enforcing rules requiring the conservative group to disclose more information about its donors. U.S. District Court Judge Sidney Stein said the attorney general did not violate Citizens United’s First Amendment rights by requiring registered charitable organizations to disclose names, addresses, and contributions of big donors before soliciting funds in the state. Citizens United is best known as the plaintiff in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that allowed unlimited independent spending by corporations and labor unions in election campaigns.

North Carolina – North Carolina Republicans Accused of Dodging Order to Fix Election Rules
New York Times – Michael Wines | Published: 8/30/2016

When a federal appeals court overturned much of North Carolina’s 2013 election law in July, saying it had been deliberately intended to discourage African-Americans from voting, it also tossed out the ground rules for this year’s elections in a critical swing state. In each of the state’s 100 counties, local elections boards filed new election rules with the state. Now, critics are accusing some of the boards, all of which are controlled by Republicans, of staging an end run around a court ruling they are supposed to carry out. Like the law that was struck down, say voting rights advocacy groups and some Democrats who are contesting the rewritten election plans, many election plans have been intentionally written to suppress the black vote.

Pennsylvania – State Not Tracking Lobbying by Marijuana Companies
Allentown Morning Call – Scott Kraus | Published: 8/25/2016

It is very difficult find out how much has been spent trying to tilt the playing field for a potentially lucrative but also controversial medical marijuana industry that is in its infancy in Pennsylvania. That is because there is no category for lobbyists or the principals they represent to report marijuana lobbying, and state officials have no immediate plans to add one. The lobbying detected in the state’s search for The Allentown Morning Call was reported under the “other” category, where filers wrote in medical marijuana. Many states’ lobbying disclosure laws are weak and fail to track lobbying by subject at all, according to the Center for Public Integrity.

Virginia – The Money Floods in When the General Assembly Gathers
The Daily Press – Dave Ress | Published: 8/28/2016

Virginia lawmakers received more than $227,000 in campaign contributions over the past five years during the days they were actively considering bills, many of which affected donors, a review of more than 100,000 contributions found. State law bans legislators and statewide officials from accepting political donations “on and after the first day of a regular session of the General Assembly through adjournment.” Senate Minority Leader Dick Saslaw accepted $5,000 from Anderson Financial on the first day of the 2016 session. Saslaw said he believes it is legal to receive donations on the morning of the first day of the session, since the Legislature formally convenes at noon.

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.

On September 1, new provisions in the city of Austin’s campaign finance laws take effect.

Ordinance No. 20160623-020 increases disclosure requirements for nonprofits and independent groups making political contributions or expenditures in excess of $500. These organizations are required to report the identities of who contributed to them unless the donation was directed to not be used for political purposes. Contributions for investments and commercial transactions also do not require disclosure of the contributor.

Another part of the ordinance, not effective until February 1, 2017, requires intermediaries transferring more than $500 for political campaign purposes to disclose details of the transfers, including the occupation and employer of the person making the transfer and the purpose and description of each transfer.

The coat of arms of Austin, Texas by Glasshouse on Wikimedia Commons.

Lobbying

Alabama: “Lawsuit Challenges Alabama Law Requiring Ethics Training for Lobbyists” by Joe Crowe for Newsmax

Alabama: “More Lawmakers (and Two Ethics Commissioners) Who Got Free Trips on Alabama Lenders’ Dime” by Kyle Whitmire (Alabama Media Group) for AL.com

Campaign Finance

“FINRA, MSRB Pay-to-Play Rules on SEC Approval Path” by Antoinette Gartrell for Bloomberg BNA

Louisiana: “Dave Peralta Freed from Last of 30 Criminal Charges” by Wilborn Nobles III for New Orleans Times Picayune

New York: “De Blasio Donor Violated City Rules, Conflicts Board Says” by J. David Goodman for New York Times

Ethics

Maine: “Paul LePage, Maine Governor, Now Says He’s Not Quitting” by Jess Bidgood for New York Times

Elections

“Embattled Corrine Brown Ousted in Primary” by Staff for Roll Call

“Harry Reid and Koch Brothers Wage Proxy War for a Nevada Senate Seat” by Carl Hulse for New York Times

North Carolina: “North Carolina Republicans Accused of Dodging Order to Fix Election Rules” by Michael Wines for New York Times

Procurement

“Obama Order on Contractor Workplace Violations Takes Effect Soon, Despite Objections” by Joe Davidson for Washington Post

The California Legislature has been very active in the days leading up to the August 31 deadline for each house to pass bills. On August 30, Assembly Bill 700, a measure that would impose new disclosure requirements for political advertisements, failed by a single vote in the Senate.

Senate Bill 1349 had better luck gaining passage yesterday and is headed for Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk. SB 1349 will require changes to Cal-Access, California’s outdated online campaign contribution and lobbying database.

Photo of the California State Capitol by Griffin5 on Wikimedia Commons.

Lobbying

Missouri: “Audit Finds Senate Slush Fund for Lobbyist-Financed Meals” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Campaign Finance

“Addicted to Making Campaign Contributions?” by Russell Berman for The Atlantic

New York: “Judge: Citizens United must disclose donor information to NY” by Larry Neumeister (Associated Press) for ABC News

Tennessee: “Feds Open Investigation of Rep. Jeremy Durham” by Stacey Barchenger, Dave Boucher, and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Ethics

“Hillary Clinton and Her Family’s Foundation Aren’t Likely to Get the McDonnell Treatment. Here’s Why.” by Matt Zapotosky and Rachel Weiner for Washington Post

Connecticut: “CT Supreme Court Rules in FOI Case Involving Ritter, CRRA” by Mark Pazniokas for CT Mirror

Illinois: “Chicago Insider Who Took $2 Million in Bribes in Red Light Camera Scandal Gets 10 Years in Prison” by David Kidwell (Chicago Tribune) for Los Angeles Times

Maine: “Paul LePage, Besieged Maine Governor, Hints at Resignation” by Jess Bidgood for New York Times

Nebraska: “Panel Tells Embattled Nebraska Senator to Resign by Friday” by Grant Schulte (Associated Press) for ABC News

Pennsylvania: “FBI Seeks Kenney Campaign Records as Part of Union Probe” by Jeremy Roebuck and Mark Fazlollah for Philadelphia Inquirer

Campaign Finance

“How One Donor Is Profiting Off the Trump and Sanders Campaigns” by Russell Berman for The Atlantic

Connecticut: “Inside the Political Fundraising Game” by Ken Dixon, Angela Carella, and Neil Vigdor for CT Post

South Dakota: “Koch Brothers-Backed Group Says Ballot Measure Could Invite Lawsuits” by Dana Ferguson for Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Virginia: “The Money Floods in When the General Assembly Gathers” by Dave Ress for The Daily Press

Ethics

“Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin to Separate After His Latest Sexting Scandal” by Amy Chozick and Patrick Healy for New York Times

California: “State Worker Accepted 24 Pairs of Free Designer Sunglasses, Sold Boss a Pair for $20” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee

Florida: “Get This Vice Mayor Angry and He Might Sue” by Monique Madan for Miami Herald

Maine: “Pressure Is Building on LePage over His Behavior” by Dennis Hoey for Portland Press Herald

Elections

“FBI is Investigating Foreign Hacks of State Election Systems” by Ellen Nakashima for Washington Post

“Democrats’ Weak Bench Undermines Hope of Taking Back Senate” by Jennifer Steinhauer for New York Times

“Breitbart Rises from Outlier to Potent Voice in Campaign” by Michael Grynbaum and John Herrman for New York Times

Effective September 3, 2016, city elected officials in San Francisco will be prohibited from controlling candidate controlled general purpose committees.

The goal of the new ordinance is to stop elected officials from establishing such committees to use as slush funds for unlimited contributions.

Candidates controlling candidate controlled general purpose committees will be required to return, use, or dispose of all committee funds within 90 days of taking office.