Lobbying

“Technology and lobbying in 2012” on Federal News Radio.

“K Street Files: Clark Lytle, Thorn Run Add New Partners” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Americans Believe the System Is Rigged Against Them: An Interview with Former Lobbyist Jack Abramoff”  by Elliot Resnick in The Jewish Press.

California: “Greuel faults DWP for bypassing bids on lobbying contracts” by David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times.

Campaign Finance

Arkansas: “Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson reports self to Ethics Commission giving campaign cash to girlfriend” by The Associated Press in The Republic.

New Jersey: “N.J. Democratic Party fined $42K for alleged campaign finance violations” by Matt Friedman in the Star-Ledger.

Texas: “Ethics Commission Fines Simmons’ PAC Over Donations” by Becca Aaronson in the Texas Tribune.

Ethics

“Report links McConnell campaign donations to legislative work” by Alexandra Jaffe in The Hill.

“House Ethics Reviewed 96 Cases During 112th” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

New York: “NY comptroller sues Qualcomm on political spending” by The Associated Press in The Wall Street Journal.

Pennsylvania:  “Gov. Corbett’s trip paid for by a businessman is subject of a complaint filed by activist Gene Stilp” by Jan Murphy in the Patriot-News.

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.

Federal:

FreedomWorks Tea Party Group Nearly Falls Apart in Fight between Old and New Guard

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama

Troy Gives Up on AEA Challenge to Ethics Law, Launches New Fundraising Campaign for PAC

California

Citigroup among 5 Banks Fined Over Muni-Bond Lobbying Costs

California

Labor Beat Prop. 32 Via Social Media

Florida

Senate President’s Hire Seems at Odds with Ethics Reform

Georgia

Ethics Changes in Georgia Senate Could Include $100 Gift Cap

Louisiana

Ethics Board Tactics Disputed

Maine

Outsiders Spent More than Maine Legislative Candidates

Maryland

2012 Lobbyist Rankings

Missouri

Missouri Ethics Chief Headed to Kander’s Office

New Jersey

Jersey City ‘Pay-to-Play’ Restrictions Made Stricter by City Council

South Carolina

Mark Sanford House Run: Former South Carolina governor seriously considering bid for Congress

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.

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.

The essence of the rule will force people who make independent expenditures to disclose funding and amounts spent by treating them as a political committee. Therefore, they will have to register as an independent expenditure committee and, for those elections in which they support or oppose a candidate, file reports before and after the election. The committee will also be responsible for filing periodic reports on January 15 and July 15 of each year.

Independent expenditures are defined by the state as expenditures made in support of or opposition to a candidate, expressly advocating for the election or defeat of a candidate, and made in complete independence from the candidate. Expressly advocate is defined as communicating with specific words calling for the election or defeat of a candidate, such as “vote,” “oppose,” “support,” “defeat,” “elect,” or “reject.”

Using these definitions, groups can avoid registering and reporting as an independent expenditure committee if they avoid using the special buzz words that would make their advertisements expressly advocating. The board of elections has said these rules are not completely new, but rather have been adopted to shed light on the rules and to ensure that people understand exactly what is expected when making independent expenditures. The rules have already taken effect and committees making these expenditures will next have to file a report on January 15, 2013.

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.

National:

NRA Power and Money Goes a Long Way in States

The GOP’s Electoral College Scheme

Federal:

Colbert Super PAC to Give to Charities

Crossroads GPS Claim: What Karl Rove’s dark money nonprofit told the IRS

From the States and Municipalities:

Alaska

Legislative Aide Resigns after Anti-Islamic Agenda Crosses into Public Role

Arkansas

Admitted Inappropriate Relationship Threatens McDaniel’s 2014 Bid to Become Arkansas’ Governor

California

More Valuable Gifts, Contributions Allowed to Politicians in 2013

California

State Political Watchdog to Enforce San Bernardino County’s Campaign Finance Ordinance

Louisiana

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu to End Contracts with Firm Tied to Ray Nagin Bribery Probe

New York

Cup of Coffee Limit Perks Up Again

New York

NY State Urges Aetna to Reveal Political Spending

Washington

House Bill Would Impose Fees on Lobbyists, Others

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.

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.

The Fair Political Practices Commission has made upward adjustments to gift and contribution limits, using a formula provided in the Political Reform Act. Beginning January 1, 2013, the maximum value of a gift allowed to be accepted by an elected official goes up to $440, from $420.

The maximum contribution a legislative candidate can receive from an individual goes up to $4,100, from $3,900.

Candidates for governor will be able to accept $27,200, up from $26,000. The commission also adopted new rules concerning the public tracking of who is paying to qualify ballot measures and how much is being spent independently of candidates.

The image of the Seal of the State of California courtesy of Zscout370 in Wikipedia.

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.

Federal:

Corporate Money Allowed for Inaugural Donations

Federal Court Hears Arguments on Senate Filibuster Challenge

From the States and Municipalities:

California

San Jose to Keep Strict Rules on Disclosing Lobbyists’ Texts, E-mails

Louisiana

Guilty Plea Seems to Set Stage for Charges against Former Mayor Ray Nagin

Maryland

Revolving Door for Government Staffers Questioned

Massachusetts

Jurors Deadlock on Corruption Charges against Cahill

Minnesota

Minnesota Watchdog Panel Wants to See Campaign Financing Overhaul

Missouri

Great Power Equals Greater Funding? Ethics Commission Hopes So

Montana

Judge: ATP engaged in ‘long-standing and pervasive’ abuse of discovery process

New Jersey

Bergen Insurance Broker Sentenced to Five Years for Illegal Contributions to Menendez Campaign

New York

Attorney General Seeks to Force Disclosure of More Political Donors

Ohio

Cuyahoga County Council Bans Corrupt Contractors

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.