Lobbying

“K Street embraces ‘go small’ approach” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“Lobbying on the Slow Track During Shutdown” by Elliott Jager in Newsmax.

“Business groups see loss of sway over House GOP” on CNBC.

“Yelp hires Issa aide as first lobbyist” by Brendan Sasso in The Hill.

Campaign Finance

“Obama says lifting caps on campaign contributions would shut regular Americans out of politics” by The Associated Press in The Republic.

“An upside-down campaign finance system” by Jennifer Rubin in The Washington Post.

“Sandra Day O’Connor bemoans Citizens United decision” by The Associated Press in the Portland Press Herald.

Hawaii: “Panel hears finance law challenge” by Derrick DePledge in the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

Michigan: “State extends probe into fundraising by Duggan, super PAC” by Darren A. Nichols in the Detroit News.

New Hampshire: “State senator wants more transparency for political groups” by Garry Rayno in the New Hampshire Union Leader.

New York: “N.Y. Comptroller Supporters Get Prison for Donor Fraud” by Patricia Hurtado in Bloomberg.

Ethics

Arkansas: “Arkansas lawmaker floats ethics bills for session” by Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) in The Republic.

Tech and Social Media

“Quién Manda: A Pinterest For Politician and Lobbyist Relations?” by Rebecca Chao in TechPresident.

“Government shutdown: Why are only some federal websites shut down?” by Andrew Restuccia in Politico.

“Government on Social Media: How Did Brimfield, Ohio (a Town of 10,000) Get 88,000 Facebook Likes?” by Heather Kerrigan in Governing.

Redistricting

“Could the government shutdown prompt congressional redistricting reform?” by Jason Noble in the Des Moines Register.

Campaign and governmental ethics regulators from across the country have announced the launch of the “States’ Unified Network (SUN) Center,” a website devoted to providing nationwide information regarding campaign disclosure and enforcement of campaign finance rules. According to Ann Ravel, Chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission (recently confirmed to the FEC), this is the first time states and cities are collaborating to share innovative ideas, strategies, and legislation related to campaign finance.

SUN Center will display proposed and existing legislation, current news, and enforcement cases related to campaign finance rules. The site will also develop a database of organizations making contributions in multiple states, allowing enforcement agencies to exchange information and coordinate enforcement efforts.

The group is nonpartisan and currently consists of regulators from New York, California, Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, Iowa, and New York City. The website is available here.

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed three bills sponsored by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) designed to promote government transparency:

• Assembly Bill 409 creates an electronic filing system for public officials who file annual statements of economic interest (Form 700), allowing greater public accessibility to the statements;
• Assembly Bill 552 gives the FPPC greater authority to collect fines from individuals and entities who violate laws regarding campaign finance, lobbying, and conflicts of interest; and
• Assembly Bill 1090 allows the FPPC to give written or telephone advice to public officials about conflicts of interest in government contracts.

Assembly Bill 409 takes effect immediately. Assembly Bill 552 and Assembly Bill 1090 are effective January 1, 2014.

Lobbying

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

Louisiana: “Veteran lobbyist leaves Louisiana Association of Business and Industry” by Julia O’Donoghue in The Times-Picayune.

Campaign Finance

“Justices clash over campaign finance law” by Sam Baker in The Hill.

“Supreme Court conservatives skeptical of campaign finance limits” by Josh Gerstein and Byron Tau in Politico.

“Chief Justice Roberts: A Campaign Finance Moderate Who Gets It?” by Rick Hasen in the Election Law Blog.

California: “Brown signs three FPPC bills, vetoes campaign finance bill” by Laurel Rosenhall in The Sacramento Bee.

Colorado: “Campaign-finance complaint filed against opponents of pot-tax issue” by Jeremy P. Meyer in The Denver Post.

Kentucky: “Supreme Court ruling in campaign finance case could affect Kentucky Senate race” by Sam Youngman in the Lexington Herald-Leader.

New York: “NY Minute: Will voters decide fate of publicly financed campaigns?” by Teri weaver in the The Post-Standard.

Ethics

California: “Gov. Brown gives public a closer look at elected officials’ finances” by Patrick McGreevy and Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times.

Georgia: “Ex-state IT specialist claims he removed documents from Gov. Deal ethics file” by Greg Bluestein in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Ohio: “Letters from Mandel show he lobbied for donor” by Joe Vardon in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

South Carolina: “SC senators not sold on independent ethics panel” by Adam Beam in The State.

Tech and Social Media

“Chicago Candidate Wants to Transform Political Discussion” by Colin Wood in Government Technology.

Open Government

Maryland: “City broke laws by meeting in secret, state board rules” by Luke Broadwater in the Baltimore Sun.

State Key Dates and Legislative Sessions for 2014 are now available on State and Federal Communications’ website.

The Key Dates represent registration and reporting dates for those involved in lobbying and election and reporting dates for campaign finance.

Lobbying

Alberta: “Lobbying on the rise as Alberta prepares new tobacco bill” by Keith Gerein in the Edmonton Journal.

“Pfizer names new VP of lobbying team” by Megan Wilson in The Hill.

Campaign Finance

“McCutcheon v. FEC: Possible Implications for the States” by Karen Shanton in NCSL’s The Thicket.

“Supreme Court Hears Another Challenge To Campaign Finance Law” by Nina Totenberg on NPR.

“Let Bitcoins be used for political donations” opinion piece by Dan Backer in Politico.

Arizona: “Campaign finance changes increasing Arizona contribution limits may boost clout of business” by The Associated Press in The Republic.

Maine: “Ethics Commission calls for $32,500 fine against Lewiston casino backers for not disclosing source of campaign contributions” by Scott Thistle in the Bangor Daily News.

New York: “Gaming interests reward legislators” by Casey Seiler in the Times Union.

Ethics

Indiana: “Ethics panel to consider possible job change” by The Associated Press in the Evansville Courier & Press.

New York: “Cuomo’s Office Is Said to Rein In Ethics Board He Created” by Jesse McKinley and Thomas Kaplan in The New York Times.

Rhode Island: “RI Ethics Commission: OK for Chafee administration chief Licht to apply for judgeship” by Philip Marcelo in the Providence Journal.

Elections

Arizona: “Arizona plans to require citizenship proof for state elections” by Tim Gaynor in Reuters.

Massachusetts: “House Special Election Next Week Likely to Diversify Mass. Delegation” by Emily Cahn in Roll Call.

Tech and Social Media

“Government Tweets Down Sharply During Shutdown” by Joseph Marks in Nextgov.

Texas: “Conservative Officials Turn to Crowdsourcing” by Alexa Ura in The Texas Tribune.

Lobbying

“ALL Response to Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI-1) Suggestion to Ban Lobbyists from the Capitol” on the American League of Lobbyists website.

“K Street sidelined in shutdown fight” by Ann Palmer in Politico.

California: “California Strategies walks line between lobbying and public affairs” by Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee.

New Mexico: “Ex-official won’t lobby state, company says” by Thomas Cole in the Albuquerque Journal.

Tennessee: “Lobbyists spent more on entertainment in 2013” by The Associated Press in WRCB TV News.

Campaign Finance

“Three Things to Watch for in Tomorrow’s Campaign Finance Oral Argument at the Supreme Court” by Rick Hasen on the Election Law Blog.

“Supreme Court set to consider donor limits” by Byron Tau in Politico.

“After Citizens United, Campaign Finance Reformers Look For A Bold New Approach” by Paul Blumenthal in The Huffington Post.

“Get ready for ‘Son of Citizens United’” by Mary Sanchez in The Chicago Tribune.

Minnesota: “Attorney Christian Sande named to Minnesota Campaign Finance board” by Joe Kimball in MinnPost.

Ethics

Georgia: “Ethics lawyer says chairman pressured her to settle Deal cases” by Aaron Gould Sheinin in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

New York: “Ethics laws outdated, not used” by Alysia Santo in the Times Union.

South Carolina: “STATE HOUSE FOR SALE: SC ethics law a muddled mess” by Adam Beam in The State.

Virginia: “Gift scandal puts pressure on lawmakers to make changes” by Olympia Meola and Jim Nolan in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

West Virginia: “Statehouse Beat: Another bad mark for W.Va.” by Phil Kabler in the Gazette-Mail.

West Virginia: “Statehouse beat: A lot of road time on the state dime” by Phil Kabler in the Gazette-Mail.

On the State Ballots

“Pot, Gambling and GMOs on the Election Ballot” by Jake Grovum in Stateline.

Campaign Tech and Social Media

“Parnell campaign reports email error” by Becky Bohrer (Associated Press) in the Juneau Empire.

On October 2, Arizona Attorney General Thomas C. Horne joined with Secretary of State Ken Bennett by concluding the law under newly enacted House Bill 2593 requires separate candidate committees for the primary and general elections and contribution limits still apply to committee-to-committee transfers. The attorney general amended an opinion in which it had previously stated, “The best practice might be to set up two separate candidate committees (for the primary and general elections), but the statutes do not necessarily require it.”

The secretary of state has advised that transfers between committees for election in the same year are subject to the contribution limit of $2000.

National:

State Watchdogs Band Together to Take on ‘Dark Money’

Washington Post – Reid Wilson | Published: 10/3/2013

The States’ Unified Network Center, a project from watchdog groups to share information on campaign finance legislation across the country, will begin as a Web presence to highlight proposed bills and standing law. It will also organize a database of nonprofit groups that spend money in state elections, in hopes of stitching together the state-by-state patchwork of campaign finance databases.

Federal:

Government Shutdown: Wall Street angry at tea party it has no influence over

Politico – MJ Lee | Published: 10/2/2013

Wall Street’s frustration over the current fiscal impasse is shared by the larger business community, which has tried to convince lawmakers the threat of shutting down the government or failing to raise the borrowing limit should not be used as negotiating ploys. But wealthy financial services executives and their lobbyists have little leverage against tea party lawmakers, who do not care for big banks and do not rely heavily on the industry for campaign money.

Not ‘Essential’: Shutdown would hit FEC hard

Center for Public Integrity – Dave Leventhal | Published: 9/30/2013

The FEC, unlike some agencies filled with employees deemed essential, will effectively shutter under a government shutdown. All but the agency’s active commissioners, who are furlough-proof political appointees, would ultimately stay home.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – Ex-Lobbyist Joins Councilman’s Staff and Questions Follow

Los Angeles Times – Robert Zahniser | Published: 9/26/2013

Robert Katherman, a longtime Los Angeles lobbyist, said since joining city Councilperson Curren Price’s staff, he has avoided decisions affecting clients at the advocacy firm he founded and put his wife in charge of. As long as that continues, state conflict-of-interest laws permit Price to act on proposals that benefit Katherman’s wife and her firm.

Georgia – Ethics Commission to Ask for Special Investigator

San Francisco Chronicle – Christina Cassidy (Associated Press) | Published: 9/30/2013

The Georgia ethics commission voted to request that a special assistant attorney general be appointed for an independent investigation to look into the circumstances surrounding two lawsuits against the agency. Former commission Executive Secretary Stacey Kalberman and her onetime deputy, Sharon Streicker, allege they were forced out for pressing an investigation into Gov. Nathan Deal’s 2010 campaign.

Georgia – State Senator Balfour Indicted on Charges Related to Expenses

Athens Banner-Herald – Ray Henry (Associated Press) | Published: 9/27/2013

A grand jury charged state Sen. Don Balfour with illegally claiming legislative expense pay. The indictment comes after a Georgia Bureau of Investigation probe into expense vouchers from his work at the General Assembly, where Balfour sought reimbursement for mileage and per diem expenses at the Capitol when lobbyist disclosure reports show he was out of state.

Illinois – Appeals Court Denies Quinn Bid to Keep Pay Freeze

San Francisco Chronicle – Sarah Burnett (Associated Press) | Published: 9/27/2013

A judge overruled Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who had suspended the salaries of state legislators, and ordered the lawmakers to receive back pay with interest. Quinn suspended the paychecks this summer, saying lawmakers had failed to resolve a financial crisis worsened by the ballooning cost of state pension plans. Leaders of the Legislature challenged his authority to suspend the pay.

Iowa – Iowa Lawmaker Resigns over Bachmann Payments

USA Today – Jason Noble and Jennifer Jacobs (Des Moines Register) | Published: 10/2/2013

Iowa Sen. Kent Sorenson resigned after a special investigator found it likely he violated ethics rules by taking money from PACs connected to former presidential candidate Michele Bachmann and then denying he had done so. The report contains the most detailed findings yet in a scandal that has swirled around Sorensen since he defected from the Bachmann campaign days before the 2012 Iowa caucuses to support Ron Paul.

Michigan – Corruption Alleged after Detroit Pension Deal

Detroit Free Press – Robert Snell | Published: 9/30/2013

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick backed an investment deal that bankrolled a three-year spree of alleged corruption and helped push the city into bankruptcy. The deal cheated city retirees out of more than $84 million, led to criminal charges against six people, and compounded the impact of the money-losing Wall Street scheme, which could eventually cost Detroit more than $2.7 billion.

Minnesota – Emmer’s Internet Ad Could Prove Troublesome

Minneapolis Star Tribune – Jim Ragsdale and Jennifer Brooks | Published: 9/30/2013

A television ad featuring congressional candidate Tom Emmer vouching for a construction company may violate a federal law banning corporate contributions to candidates. Emmer appeared in an ad for Integrity Exteriors & Remodelers while noting his candidacy and standing by a banner spelling out his congressional ambitions. A YouTube posting for the ad said it had aired on a Twin Cities television station.

Mississippi – Hood Could Appeal Judge’s Ruling That Part of Miss. Campaign Finance Law Is Unconstitutional

Columbus Republic – Emily Wagster Pettus (Associated Press) | Published: 10/1/2013

U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock ruled that part of Mississippi’s campaign finance law creates an unconstitutional burden for individuals or organizations that spend at least $200 to support or oppose a ballot initiative. State Attorney Jim Hood an appeal could be difficult because federal courts have not been amenable to states’ defense of their own campaign finance laws.

New York – Elections Officials Narrow Scope of Collection Effort

Albany Times Union – Casey Seiler | Published: 9/26/2013

The New York State Board of Elections had planned to send letters in September to numerous campaign treasurers with judgments against them and the banks that held their funds, informing them the committees’ assets were frozen until their fines had been settled. But only two such letters have been sent.

North Carolina – Voter ID Targeted in North Carolina

Wall Street Journal – Devlin Barrett | Published: 9/30/2013

The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit challenging voting restrictions adopted by North Carolina, alleging they discriminate against minority voters. The suit challenges the state’s voter-identification requirement and limits on early voting. It also asks the court to require federal pre-approval for voting-law changes in the state.

West Virginia – Fishing Trip Underscores Close Ties between Suder, United Sportsmen

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Patrick Marley and Jason Stein | Published: 9/30/2013

Records show then-Wisconsin Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder accepted an invitation for a fishing trip offered by the lobbyist for a self-described sportsmen group just days before an affiliate of the organization won a $500,000 state grant. Gov. Scott Walker rescinded the grant after reports the group misrepresented its nonprofit status and its president had been cited for shooting a black bear without the proper license.

West Virginia – W.Va. Judge Resigns, Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy

San Francisco Chronicle – John Raby (Associated Press) | Published: 10/2/2013

A West Virginia judge pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme to conceal alleged illegal drug use and election-law violations by a sheriff who was murdered earlier this year. As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to drop an earlier charge that Mingo County Circuit Court Judge Thornsbury misused his office on several occasions over five years to try to illegally imprison the husband of his former secretary after she ended an affair with him.

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.

U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock ruled a portion of Mississippi’s campaign finance law unconstitutional as applied to a group of five Oxford, Mississippi residents backing a ballot initiative. The group desired to pool funds to purchase posters and advertising supporting a 2011 initiative, but determined doing so would trigger political committee registration under state law.

The group filed suit, alleging Mississippi’s $200 threshold unduly burdened their First Amendment rights. Judge Aycock agreed, finding the $200 threshold was “simply too low” for the “significant and onerous burdens on persons attempting to join together to raise or expend in excess” of the threshold.

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood indicated he may appeal the ruling, while Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, whose office enforces the state’s campaign finance laws, did not immediately issue comment on the case.

Lobbying

“No shutdown for K Street as advocates blitz Capitol” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

“Senate health aide joins top lobby firm” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

“Numismatists Have Lobbyists Too” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

Kentucky: “Ethics Reporter: $4.18M spent in four months as lobbying spending continues upward trend” by the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission in KYForward.com.

North Carolina: “Former Rep. and lobbyist Paul Pulley dies” in the News & Observer.

Campaign Finance

“State watchdogs band together to take on ‘dark money’” by Reid Wilson in The Washington Post.

“Zombie Federal Election Commission still wants your quarterly reports” by Al Kamen in The Washington Post.

Ethics

Florida: “Florida ethics commission investigating Rep. Jamie Grant’s business venture” by Michael Van Sickler in the Tampa Bay Times.

Iowa: “Iowa pol resigns amid ethics probe” by Katie Glueck in Politico.

New Jersey: “State agency: DiVincenzo misused, obscured campaign funds” by Matt Friedman in The Star-Ledger.

Tennessee: “Ethics watchdog files more Deal complaints” by The Associated Press in WRCB TV News.

State Legislatures

Colorado: “Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper will not call special legislative session on flooding issues” by The Associated Press on KMGH-TV News.

New Hampshire: “N.H. Panel Delays Vote On Medicaid” by Ben Leubsdorf in the Valley News.

Oregon: “Lawmakers celebrate end of special session on PERS, taxes, GMO (2013 special session)” by Yuxing Zheng in The Oregonian.

Lobbying

“Shutdown can’t stop lobbyists from their appointed rounds” by Byron Tau in Politico.

“What’s a Hill Résumé Worth on K Street? Maybe Not $500K” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

Nevada: “Former Nev. lobbyist sentenced to 2 years in prison” by Martha Bellisle in USA Today.

Campaign Finance

“Wealthy Donors’ Influence May Rise After Next Supreme Court Campaign Finance Case” by Paul Blumenthal in the Huffington Post.

“Donation limits help keep politics honest” opinion piece by Meredith McGehee on CNN News.

Mississippi: “Judge blocks part of Miss. campaign finance law, calls it unconstitutional” by Emily Wagster Pettus (Associated Press) in the Clarion Ledger.

Ethics

“Ethical limits on federal employees would continue in shutdown” by Eric Yoder in The Washington Post.

“As shutdown commences, federal open government databases go dark or dormant” by Stephen Stirling in The Star-Ledger.

“Government shutdown shrinks FEC to just four employees” by Dave Levinthal in The Center for Public Integrity.

Elections

“Election Laws Challenged in Only State to Act Since Supreme Court Ruling on Voting Rights Act” by Wendy Underhill in NCSL’s The Thicket.

Alabama: “Special election scheduled to fill Rep. Barry Mask’s legislative seat” by The Associated Press on Al.com.

Nevada: “More Nevadans register nonpartisan in September than other two parties combined” by The Associated Press in the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Government Shutdown

“GOV Unplugged: Your Guide to What’s Shut Down During a Shutdown” by Joseph Marks in Nextgov.

Government Tech and Social Media

“Feds Warm Up To LinkedIn” by Mark Amtower in Information Week.

State Legislatures

Oregon: “Oregon Legislature: Vote count still tight in special session” by Hannah Hoffman and Anna Staver in the Statesman Journal.

Lobbying

“Lobbyists prepare for government shutdown” by Byron Tau in Politico.

“Lobbyists swoop in to defend investor visas” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

Hamilton, Ontario: “Lobbyist registry delayed again” by Matthew Van Dongen in The Spec.

Campaign Finance

“Lobbying, Campaign Finance, and IRS Reports Keep Moving During Shutdown” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine Blog.

“House Members Shut Down Gov’t. Money Going Out, But Not Contributions Coming In” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine Blog.

“The Next Citizens United?” by Richard Hasen in Slate.

“The case for eliminating contribution limits” by Ann W. Herberger in Campaigns & Elections.

“Top U.S. political donors in 2012 among country’s richest men” by Gabriel Debenedetti in Reuters.

Alaska: “APOC: No immediate action on complaint against Stiver” by Sam Friedman in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

Maryland: “Maryland’s new laws at a glance” by John Wagner in The Washington Post.

Ethics

FEC: “Not ‘essential’: Shutdown would hit FEC hard” by Dave Levinthal in The Center for Public Integrity.

Georgia: “Ethics commission to ask for special investigator” by The Associated Press in the Athens Banner-Herald.

Ohio: “Son of indicted donor’s lawyer works for Mandel” by Joe Vardon in The Columbus Dispatch.

Government Tech and Social Media

“Government Social Media Feeds Will Go Dark During a Shutdown” by Joseph Marks in Nextgov.

Elections

Ohio: “Ohio lawmaker’s election reform bills include voter ID requirement, reduced early-voting times” by Jeremy Pelzer in The Plain Dealer.

Pennsylvania: “Challenge to Pennsylvania’s voter ID law not affected by Justice Dept. lawsuit against N.C.’s law” by Jan Murphy in The Patriot-News.

Effective today, Nevada Senate Bill 246 revises the definition of “committee for political action” to include new threshold levels.

Entities in Nevada whose primary purpose is to affect outcomes of elections are now defined as those with more than $1,500 in contributions or expenditures in a calendar year. Entities whose primary purpose is not to affect outcomes of elections have a $5,000 calendar year threshold. Committees must register with the Nevada secretary of state no later than seven days after qualifying under the revised definition.

The changes in the bill were modeled on similar statutes previously enacted by the state of Maine.