June 5, 2014 •
D.C. Election for Attorney General Likely in 2014
Washington, D.C. voters will have the chance to elect an attorney general in the upcoming months, thanks to a decision by the D.C. Court of Appeals. Currently, the attorney general is appointed by the mayor. In 2010, voters approved a […]
Washington, D.C. voters will have the chance to elect an attorney general in the upcoming months, thanks to a decision by the D.C. Court of Appeals. Currently, the attorney general is appointed by the mayor.
In 2010, voters approved a charter amendment authorizing the first election of the city’s attorney general and setting a primary election for April 2014. In late 2013, the council passed a law delaying the election from 2014 to 2018, fearing the city lacked the necessary preparation.
Paul Zukerberg, the only candidate for the city’s first attorney general race, challenged the 2013 law in court. On June 4, 2014, the Court of Appeals ruled an election must be held in 2014 unless it would not be practically possible for the D.C. Board of Elections to do so. The Court further noted the possibility of a 2015 election if a 2014 election is not possible.
Following a directive by the Court of Appeals to set a date for a special election in as few as 70 days, the D.C. Superior Court will now decide how soon the election must be held. Although the election is projected to be scheduled on November 4, 2014, the same day as the mayoral election, an election before November is also a possibility.
Photo of the John A. Wilson Building courtesy of Andrew Wiseman on Wikimedia Commons.
February 13, 2014 •
Washington, D.C. AG Race Still a Possibility for 2014
Whether Washington, D.C. voters will have the chance to elect an attorney general this year remains a hot topic on the D.C. Council floor. Currently, the attorney general is appointed by the mayor. In 2010, voters approved a charter amendment […]
Whether Washington, D.C. voters will have the chance to elect an attorney general this year remains a hot topic on the D.C. Council floor. Currently, the attorney general is appointed by the mayor. In 2010, voters approved a charter amendment authorizing the first election of the city’s attorney general and setting a primary election for April of this year.
In late 2013, the council passed a law delaying the election from 2014 to 2018, fearing the city lacked the necessary preparation. Paul Zukerberg, the only candidate for the city’s first attorney general race, challenged the 2013 law in the District of Columbia Superior Court. Judge Laura Cordero denied Zukerberg’s motion for a preliminary injunction, stating that he would not suffer irreparable harm from the delay and therefore did not meet the standard to grant the injunction.
Upon the judge’s ruling, the council acted quickly to introduce a bill scheduling an election for attorney general in November 2014. The bill has sparked heated debate, both on the floor of the council and with current Attorney General Irvin Nathan. Nathan criticized the bill, stating it does not comport with the city charter. The bill would put the attorney general office on the November ballot without allowing for a primary election, thus circumventing the requirement of an election on a partisan basis as required by the 2010 charter amendment.
If the new bill passes the council, the possibility of a mayoral veto is likely, based on Nathan’s opposition to the measure. However, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson still plans to move the bill to passage, likely bringing it to a final vote in the next month.
January 24, 2014 •
DC Council Bill Would Disqualify Campaign Contributors from City Contracts
Phil Mendelson, the chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia, introduced a bill that would bar people who made political contributions from obtaining contracts or doing other business with the city. Mendelson said the motivation behind his bill […]
Phil Mendelson, the chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia, introduced a bill that would bar people who made political contributions from obtaining contracts or doing other business with the city.
Mendelson said the motivation behind his bill was to end the perception of pay-to-play in Washington, D.C.
December 18, 2013 •
D.C. City Council Officially Raises the Minimum Wage
The living wage bill officially passed through the D.C. City Council today, and is now on its way to Mayor Gray for signature. Mayor Gray has promised to sign the bill this time, a measure he initially rejected earlier this […]
The living wage bill officially passed through the D.C. City Council today, and is now on its way to Mayor Gray for signature. Mayor Gray has promised to sign the bill this time, a measure he initially rejected earlier this year.
The bill will raise the minimum wage to $9.50 in July 2014, $10.50 the following year, and $11.50 by 2016.
The bill also provides for future increases tied to the Consumer Price Index.
Photo of the John A. Wilson Building by Andrew Wiseman in Wikimedia Commons.
December 5, 2013 •
D.C. City Council Unanimously Approves Minimum Wage Increase
The Washington, D.C. City Council unanimously approved a bill raising the city’s minimum wage to $11.50 per hour. The Council must hold a final vote on the bill and send it to Mayor Vincent C. Gray before it becomes law. […]
The Washington, D.C. City Council unanimously approved a bill raising the city’s minimum wage to $11.50 per hour.
The Council must hold a final vote on the bill and send it to Mayor Vincent C. Gray before it becomes law. The final vote will probably occur early next year.
If the measure passes, the new minimum wage will take effect in 2016, making it one of the highest minimum wages in the country.
December 4, 2013 •
DC City Council Unanimously Passes Campaign Finance Reform
The City Council in Washington, D.C. has unanimously approved a campaign finance reform bill. The new legislation includes provisions for electronic filing of campaign finance reports, mandatory training for treasurers of political committees, and prohibits entities besides corporations, namely LLCs, […]
The City Council in Washington, D.C. has unanimously approved a campaign finance reform bill. The new legislation includes provisions for electronic filing of campaign finance reports, mandatory training for treasurers of political committees, and prohibits entities besides corporations, namely LLCs, from making political contributions.
The bill now awaits signature by the Mayor. If signed, the bill will take effect in 2015.
Photo of the John A. Wilson Building couresty of Andrew Wiseman on Wikimedia Commons.
November 19, 2013 •
Topic of Living Wage Returns to DC City Council
The topic of a living wage in Washington, D.C. has been revived in the City Council. A new proposal would increase the DC minimum wage to $11.50 per hour by 2016, making the wage one of the highest in the […]
The topic of a living wage in Washington, D.C. has been revived in the City Council.
A new proposal would increase the DC minimum wage to $11.50 per hour by 2016, making the wage one of the highest in the country.
The Council could vote on the measure as early as December.
October 16, 2013 •
Attempt to Override Veto of DC Living Wage Bill Failed
Override fails by two votes
The D.C. City Council failed to overturn a mayoral veto of The Large Retailer Accountability Act, a bill requiring large retailers with corporate sales of $1 billion or more to pay their employees a “living wage” of $12.50 per hour.
Seven of the 13 city council members voted to support the override of the veto, which was two votes shy of the nine votes needed for the measure to pass.
April 24, 2013 •
Bonds Wins District of Columbia Special Election
Voters also vote to give district spending autonomy
Voters in the District of Columbia participated in a special election Tuesday and chose a familiar face. Anita Bonds held off five challengers to win the council seat she currently occupies. Bonds was chosen to temporarily hold the at-large seat after Phil Mendelson became the council chairman.
Bonds declared victory shortly after midnight and according to unofficial results collected 32 percent of the vote. Her closest competitor, Elissa Silverman garnered 28 percent of the vote.
Turnout was very low for the special election, which was the district’s second special election in the past three years. One voter said, “I didn’t know any of them. But I’m a Democrat. So I voted for – who was it? – Anita (Bonds).”
The voters also passed a ballot measure seeking to give the district autonomy over spending its tax dollars. The measure, which passed with more than 80 percent approval, would allow the district to spend its tax dollars without congressional approval.
The measure will become law unless the United States Congress passes a disapproval resolution and that resolution is also signed by President Obama. The measure is the latest in the long struggle for district citizens to break free from the leash of the federal government.
One voter said, “We can take care of ourselves.”
Photo of the John A. Wilson Building by Awiseman on Wikipedia.
December 6, 2012 •
Special Election Set for District of Columbia
D.C. to replace councilmember
The District of Columbia Board of Elections has announced that a special election will take place on April 23, 2013.
This special election will be held to fill the at-large D.C. council seat of Phil Mendelson.
August 29, 2012 •
D.C. Mayor Proposes Campaign Finance Reform
Public comment to be open until September 17th
Mayor Vincent Gray and Attorney General Irvin Nathan have introduced a proposal for an overhaul of the city’s campaign finance laws. The proposal includes pay-to-pay provisions that will limit when contractors may contribute to public officials. It will also make electronic disclosure mandatory and increase the disclosures already in place. The proposal would also ban lobbyists from bundling political contributions.
These proposed reforms come at a time when the district has been inflicted with a rash of campaign scandals, including one involving Mayor Gray’s campaign.
The proposal will now go through a public comment period until September 17th. At that point, the proposal will be formally sent to the district council.
Photo of the John A. Wilson Building by Awiseman on Wikipedia.
May 24, 2012 •
Government Ethics in the News
An investigation, charges, fines, and a house arrest in today’s ethics articles.
Federal: “Group wants investigation of lobby shop after Owens’s Taiwan trip” by Mike Zapler in Politico.
District of Columbia: “Second Gray aide charged in campaign probe” by Tom Howell, Jr. in The Washington Times.
Missouri: “Already charged by feds, former Gov. Wilson fined by ethics cops, too” by Jake Wagman in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Pennsylvania: “Veon’s ex-aide gets house arrest” by Brad Bumsted in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
March 27, 2012 •
Tuesday Campaign Finance News Roundup
Disclosure and campaign finance reform issues made the news today. Take a look at today’s articles:
Federal: “Two SEC Commissioners Could Dramatically Change Campaign Finance” by George Zornick in The Nation. ↬via Eric Brown’s Political Activity Law blog.
California: “State political watchdog ramps up enforcement” by Brian Joseph in the Orange County Register.
Connecticut: “Connecticut legislators set focus on campaign finance reform; look to increase transparency” by Jordan Fenster in The Register Citizen.
District of Columbia: “Campaign money orders to cease?” by Jim McElhatton and Luke Rosiak in the Washington Times.
District of Columbia: “D.C. ethics law overhaul hampered by hiring difficulties, enforcement duties” by Mike DeBonis in The Washington Post.
January 17, 2012 •
Proposed Ballot Initiative Seeks to Reduce Role of Corporate Money in D.C. Politics
Initiative Could Appear on November Ballot
A former D.C. council candidate and a ward commissioner are submitting a ballot measure which would ban corporate contributions to electoral campaigns if approved by voters this November.
The summary of the initiative states that it will restore the public trust by eliminating the outsized influence corporate money has in D.C. government and elections by prohibiting direct contributions from corporations to elected officials and candidates for public office. The measure would align D.C. with federal law, which bans direct corporate contributions to public officials and candidates.
Proponents of the measure need to collect over 22,000 signatures from registered voters within six months for it to appear on the November ballot.
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