May 16, 2012 •
Today’s Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Ethics News
Here is a summary of the latest news articles for you:
Campaign Finance
“Ads highlight cozy campaign-super PAC relationship” by Beth Fouhy in The Associated Press.
“Sen. McCain huddles with Dems on campaign finance reform” by Alexander Bolton in The Hill.
“Edwards’ campaign finance chairman paid mistress” by Michael Biesecker in Bloomberg Businessweek.
“Judges refuse to block disclosure ruling” by The Associated Press in Bloomberg Businessweek.
“Election decision may force disclosure of secret donors” by Matea Gold in the Los Angeles Times.
Lobbying
“Lobbying firms get big paydays in Tallahassee” by Jim Saunders in The Miami Herald.
“Law firm’s collapse leaves lobbying clients up for grabs” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
Ethics
“Ethics Panel Opens Inquiry Into No. 2 Leader in State Senate” by Danny Hakim in The New York Times.
“‘Stunt’ alleged in ethics pursuit” by Casey Seiler in the Albany Times Union.
May 15, 2012 •
Citizens United Making the News
From the U.S. Congress to a town in Massachusetts, reaction to the Supreme Court’s campaign finance ruling is in the news today.
Sen. Baucus’ constitutional amendment to dismantle the Citizens United ruling: “Baucus’ campaign finance amendment gets hearing” by The Associated Press in the Billings Gazette.
“Money Unlimited” by Jeffrey Toobin in the The New Yorker.
“Citizens United: The Untold Story” by Joe Palazzolo in the Wall Street Journal’s Law Blog.
“How a Kennedy Concurrence Turned into a Majority Opinion in Citizens United” by Debra Cassens Weiss in the American Bar Association Journal.
Needham, Massachusetts: “Needham Town Meeting calls for constitutional amendment on campaign spending” by Evan Allen in the Boston Globe.
May 14, 2012 •
Monday’s News Roundup
Keep up with the latest campaign finance, ethics, and redistricting news:
Campaign Finance
“FEC to Congress: Expand ban on personal use of political committee funds” by Rachel Leven in The Hill.
Ethics
Arkansas: “Group throws financial weight behind ethics reform initiative” by Rob Moritz in Arkansas News.
Florida: “Gov. Rick Scott’s chief of staff draws ethics complaint for using state staff to apply for a job” by May Ellen Klas in The Miami Herald.
Florida: “Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s Chief of Staff Resigns Amid Scrutiny of State Contracts Awarded Friends” by Mary Ellen Klas in Governing.
Redistricting
Alaska: “State redistricting board will meet Monday to address supreme court concerns in SE Alaska” by The Associated Press in The Republic.
Arizona: “Clean Elections Commission weighs in on redistricting suit” by Mary Jo Pitzl in the Arizona Republic.
Kansas: “Kansas redistricting fight may navigate to the courts” in the Kansas City Business Journal.
May 11, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 11, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
Crop of College Super PACs Answer Call of Stephen Colbert
Federal:
Super PAC Supporting Romney Rethinks Donations from Federal Contractors
From the States and Municipalities:
California
Bond Firms’ Campaign Gifts Linked to Sales Pacts
Connecticut
Legislature Splits with Malloy over Campaign Bill
Florida
Palm Beach County’s Lobbying ‘Cone of Silence’ Questioned
Georgia
Despite Gift Ban, State Leaders Taking Them
Michigan
SEC Says Kilpatrick Extracted Lavish Gifts
Nevada
Political Favors ‘Just the Way You Do Business Here,’ Lobbyists Say
New Jersey
N.J. Senate Minority Leader Introduces Bill to Expand ‘Pay-to-Play’ to Labor Unions
North Carolina
Democrats Ask for Ethics Review of Tillis’ Office
Oklahoma
FBI Behind Illegal Contributions to Oklahoma Lawmakers
West Virginia
Unpopular Obama: Texas prison inmate gets four in 10 votes in Democratic primary in West Virginia
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.
May 11, 2012 •
FEC Recommends Changes to Laws
Unanimous
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) unanimously approved five legislative recommendations to be submitted to the U.S. Congress.
One proposed change would require all Senate candidates and their committees to use electronic filing.
The FEC also recommends the Commission have permanent authority to assess administrative fines, Congress expand the prohibitions on fraudulent misrepresentation of campaign authority, and the personal use restrictions to all political committees be extended. Additionally, the FEC is advocating Congress amend the law to allow the FEC to create Senior Executive Service positions under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 in line with other comparable federal agencies.
May 10, 2012 •
Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Roundup
Keep up with the latest news items with the following articles:
Lobbying
“Panel discusses effect of campaign and finance reforms on lobbyist spending at St. Peter’s College” by Charles Hack in the Jersey Journal.
“Political favors ‘just the way you do business here,’ lobbyists say” by Joe Schoenmann in the Los Vegas Sun.
Jack Abramoff makes another statement in “Ex-lobbyist: Lawmakers, not lawbreakers, to blame” by Ross Ramsey in the San Angelo Standard-Times.
Campaign Finance
Connecticut: “Legislature splits with Malloy over campaign bill” by Mark Pazniokas in the Connecticut Mirror.
Louisiana: “Senate moves Jindal ethics bills” by Marsha Shuler in the Baton Rouge Advocate.
New Hampshire: “NH Senate considers campaign reporting today” by Grant Bosse in the New Hampshire Watchdog.
New Hampshire: “Campaign finance bill targets nonprofits” by Ted Siefer in the Union Leader.
Vermont: “State senator resigns from committee over campaign finance bill” by Olga Peters in The Commons Online.
Super Pacs
“Dem pollster: Independents want candidates to address money in politics” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
“Insight: Super PACS: Follow the money – if you can” by Marcus Stern, Kristina Cooke and Alexander Cohen (Reuters) in the Chicago Tribune.
Bill now goes to Governor Malloy
The Connecticut House and Senate passed House Bill 5556 on May 8, 2012. The bill makes changes to Connecticut’s campaign finance disclosure law, requiring corporate board authorization for campaign-related expenditures exceeding $4,000 and disclosure of donor identities for donations aggregating $1,000 or more.
The bill now awaits action by Governor Dannel P. Malloy, although the governor’s general counsel has indicated that there are constitutional concerns with the bill, raising the possibility of a veto.
May 8, 2012 •
Mass. OCPF Director Reappointed
For new six-year term
Michael Sullivan, the Director of the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, has been reappointed for another six-year term to the agency.
According to the Boston Herald, the decision was unanimous to reappoint Sullivan, who has been the director for almost 18 years.
For full news coverage, read:
“Michael Sullivan reappointed as OCPF chief” by Gintautas Dumcius in the Boston Herald.
A thank you goes to Jim Sedor, Editor of News You Can Use, for alerting us to this news.
May 4, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 4, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
Crowd-Sourcing Site Aims to Give Voters Lobbying Power
Federal:
Conservative Group Seeks FEC Approval to Keep Donors Secret
Obama Campaign Puts Bo on the Trail
From the States and Municipalities:
California
Lawmakers Mix Work with Fundraising in Sacramento
Illinois
Mayor’s Ethics Panel Offers Tweaks, Plans to Take Bigger Steps
Kentucky
Audit: Richie Farmer abused system
Maine
Lawmakers Decry Corruption Claim
Maryland
Legislation Would Give State Voters More Political Gift Information
Montana
Groups Ask That Montana Judge Toss Ban Restricting Campaign Donations
North Carolina
Second Tillis Staffer Admits to Inappropriate Relationship with a Lobbyist
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Ethics Panel Reprimands OU Doctor for Accepting Excessive Speaking Fees
Texas
Austin Approves New Campaign Finance Rules
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.
May 2, 2012 •
Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Ethics News
Take a look at our latest news roundup:
Campaign Finance
New York: “Senate Democrats call for campaign finance reform” by Bill Lambdin on WNYT.com.
Vermont: “Campaign finance bill sent to Judiciary Committee” by Terri Hallenbeck in the Burlington Free Press.
Lobbying
North Carolina: “Second Tillis staffer admits to inappropriate relationship with a lobbyist” by Dan Kane and John Frank in the Charlotte Observer.
Texas: “Texas legislator fined for failure to disclose gifts” in the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
Ethics
District of Columbia: “D.C. Council Backs Off Pressuring Mayor to Select Ethics Panel” by Tom Sherwood on NBCWashington.com.
South Carolina: “SC House votes to open investigations into its own if ethics committee finds probable cause” by Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) in The Republic.
April 30, 2012 •
Today’s News Roundup
Keep up with the latest campaign finance, ethics, and government tech news:
Campaign Finance
“FCC’s political ad rule disappoints supporters and foes alike” by Andrew Feinberg in The Hill.
“The FCC Makes Campaign Finance (a Bit) More Transparent” by Kirsten Salyer in Bloomberg.
“FCC Approves Political Ad Rule” by Amy Schatz in The Wall Street Journal.
Ethics
“Former State Senator Is Sentenced to 7 Years in Vast Bribery Case” by Benjamin Weiser in The New York Times.
“Illinois Gov. Ryan’s Corruption Appeal Sent Back to Lower Court” by The Associated Press in Governing.
“Aaron Schock hit with FEC complaint” by John Bresnahan in Politico.
Campaign and Government Tech
“With the 2012 Election Looming, NRCC Names a New Digital Director” by Nick Judd in TechPresident.
“Philadelphia Embraces The World Of Open Data” by Sarah Lai Stirland in TechPresident.
April 27, 2012 •
Campaign Finance News from New York City
Independent expenditure rules have been published by the CFB
The independent expenditure rules that were previously adopted by the New York City Campaign Finance Board were published in the City Record and have an effective date of May 16, 2012. The new rules will not be enforced for any election occurring prior to August 13, 2012.
The rules cover what type of expenditures and communications must be reported to the Board, which contributions supporting those expenditures must be reported to the Board, who must file with the Board, and when those reports have to be filed with the Board.
April 27, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – April 27, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
Conservative Nonprofit Acts as a Stealth Business Lobbyist
Social Media Directors Increasing in Government
Federal:
‘We the People’ Petition Site the Newest Tool in K Street Lobbying Repertoire
Who Pays When The President Travels for The Campaign?
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
California
AT&T Wields Enormous Power in Sacramento
California
California Ethics Czar Urges Disclosure of Payments to Web Pundits
Louisiana
Cap on Legislative Wining and Dining Moves to $56
Minnesota
Debt-Laden Minnesota GOP Notified of Eviction
New York
Lobby Formed for Cuomo Blew Deadline
North Carolina
Charles Thomas, N.C. Speaker’s Top Aide, Linked to Lobbyist
North Dakota
North Dakota Bridles at Neighbor’s Capitol Insult
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Lawmaker Wins and Loses on the Same Day
South Carolina
ALEC Has Special Exemption in South Carolina’s Lobbying Law
West Virginia
Ethics Ruling Regarding House Speaker Raises Concerns
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.
April 26, 2012 •
FEC Issues Several Advisory Opinions
Different Issues
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) approved several advisory opinions on a variety of issues.
In AO 2012-12, the FEC allowed a corporation to solicit contributions from its non-corporate franchisees and licensees’ executive and administrative personnel. The FEC found the personnel were part of Dunkin Brands, Inc. restricted class because of the degree of control it maintained on the franchisees and licensees.
In another opinion, the FEC concluded an association of physician-owned hospitals are not federal contractors although they provided services to patients in government-sponsored healthcare programs such as Medicaid. Therefore, the association is not prohibited from making contributions to independent expenditure-only political committees.
Additionally, the FEC found a New Hampshire campaign finance statute requiring disclaimers for telephone surveys was preempted by federal statutes and FEC regulations because the calls in question were only related to federal candidates.
The FEC also let stand the $46,200 aggregate limit for contributions to federal candidates over a request to contribute amounts over this limit.
The FEC press release concerning these and other decisions can be found here.
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