A territorial general election will be held on Monday, November 23.

The Commissioner of the Northwest Territories issued the Writs of Election for the 2015 Territorial General Election following the dissolution of the 17th Legislative Assembly on October 25.

Initiative 122, a ballot measure proposing to raise property taxes in Seattle to create a publicly financed elections program, has passed. The “Honest Elections Seattle” measure imposes a $30 million tax levy over a 10 year period, granting citizens four $25 “democracy vouchers” to use towards the campaigns of city candidates.

Initiative 122 also bans contributions from corporations with medium-sized and large city contracts as well as corporations who lobby city officials. Contribution limits are lowered under the measure, from $700 per election cycle to $500.

The initiative becomes effective upon enactment by the city council.

Lobbying

“Bush, Clinton Benefit from Lobbying Gray Area” by Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico

Campaign Finance

“Small Donors Are Clicking More with Democrats than Republicans” by Eric Lichtblau and Nick Corasaniti for New York Times

Ethics

New York: “Report: JCOPE should be smaller, more transparent” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union

“How Andrew Cuomo’s Flashy Bid to Clean up Albany Backfired” by Chris Smith for New York Magazine

Elections

“Neuropolitics, Where Campaigns Try to Read Your Mind” by Kevin Randall for New York Times

“Steve Deace and the Power of Conservative Media” by Jackie Calmes for New York Times Magazine

“How the Rising Death Rate among Middle-Aged Whites Helps Explain Our Political Reality” by Janell Ross for Washington Post

California: “Measure Slashing Drug Prices May Go to California Voters Next Fall” by Tracy Seipel for San Jose Mercury News

Legislative Issues

“Paul Ryan Lands at Center of a Rivalry for the Soul of the G.O.P.” by Carl Hulse for New York Times

Gov. Nathan Deal has set a special election for December 1, 2015 to fill a vacancy in the state senate. Sen. Ross Tolleson resigned his District 20 seat late last week, citing health issues. Six candidates, all Republicans, have already announced their intentions to run for the position.

If necessary, a runoff election will be held on December 29, 2015.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich set a special election for June 7, 2016, to fill the seat of former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner. A primary will be held March 15, the same day as the state’s presidential primary.

Interested individuals have until Dec. 16 to file candidacy petitions with the Butler County Board of Elections.

Campaign Finance

“Larry Lessig Ends Presidential Campaign, Citing Unfair Debate Rules” by David Weigel for Washington Post

Arizona: “Elections Panel Moves to Uncover Political ‘Dark Money’” by Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) for Arizona Daily Star

New Jersey: “Analysis: Outside money may flood 2017 election” by Dustin Racioppi for Bergen Record

New Mexico: “Flurry of Campaign Finance Cases after Duran Indictment Renews Call for Ethics Commission” by Justin Horwath for Santa Fe New Mexican

Oregon: “Activists Angle for Oregon Campaign Finance Measures” by Taylor Anderson for Bend Bulletin

Ethics

New York: “In Two Corruption Cases, the Culture of Albany Will Go on Trial” by William Rashbaum and Susanne Craig for New York Times

North Carolina: “McCrory Brokered Meeting on Contract for Friend and Campaign Donor” by Joseph Neff, Craig Jarvis, and Ames Alexander for Raleigh News & Observer

Elections

“How Donald Trump Leverages America’s Fault Lines” by Lynn Vavreck for New York Times

Redistricting

Maryland: “D.C. Law Student Takes Case against Md. Gerrymandering to Supreme Court” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Q. Are there any rules that pertain to making contributions in the weeks leading up to an election?

A. With local elections in 2015 and the upcoming 2016 elections, it is wise to know what the rules are when making contributions in the days and weeks leading up to an election.  Usually, there is a monetary threshold that must be exceeded, and typically there is a short turnaround time to disclose the contribution, usually within 24 hours. In some instances, there is an outright ban on contributions.

In California, contributions of $1,000 or more per candidate made by a major donor during the 90-day period before an election must be disclosed within 24 hours of making the contribution.  Contributions to ballot measure committees and political party committees are also included within this reporting requirement.  The candidate and the ballot measure committee must be on the ballot at the election for which the 90-day period applies.  California’s 90-day pre-election period is the longest in the country.  If numerous special elections are being held, the 90-day periods may overlap.

In Washington, a contribution of $1,000 or more per candidate made by a registered lobbyist during the 21 days before an election must be disclosed within 24 hours of making the contribution.  This includes contributions to candidates and ballot measures appearing on the ballot at the election for which the 21-day period applies, as well as contributions to political party committees and PACs.  The Washington Public Disclosure Commission has a link on its home page that allows for the electronic filing of this report.

In Florida, opposed candidates must return contributions received less than five days prior to an election.

In Tennessee, a PAC is prohibited from making a contribution to a candidate for state office after the 10th day before an election until the day of the election.

These are just a few examples.  As we always advise, verify the rules in your state before making political contributions.

You can directly submit questions for this feature, and we will select those most appropriate and answer them here. Send your questions to: experts@stateandfed.com.

(We are always available to answer questions from clients that are specific to your needs, and we encourage you to continue to call or e-mail us with questions about your particular company or organization. As always, we will confidentially and directly provide answers or information you need.) Our replies to your questions are not legal advice. Instead, these replies represent our analysis of laws, rules, and regulations.

Lobbying

“Top Lobbyists 2015: Hired Guns” by Staff  for The Hill

“Top Lobbyists 2015: Corporate” by Staff for The Hill

Campaign Finance

“F.E.C. Panel Delays a Decision on Spending in ’16 Races” by Eric Lichtblau for New York Times

New York: “Albany Plan Would Expand Conflict-of-Interest Policies” by Jesse McKinley for New York Times

Ethics

New Mexico: “Attorney General Says Public Corruption Law Needs Teeth” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Oregon: “John Kitzhaber Offered Fiancée Help Securing Foundation Support” by Les Zaitz for Portland Oregon

Wisconsin: “Senate Republicans Take Cautious Tack on GAB, Campaign Finance Bills” by Mark Sommorhauser for Madison.com

Elections

“Winning Isn’t Everything” by Jason Zengerle for Politico Magazine

Florida: “Miami Beach Candidate Sued after Publishing Opponent’s Social Security Number” by Joey Flechas for Miami Herald

Federal:

Conservative PACs Turn Attack on G.O.P. Leaders into Fund-Raising Tool
New York Times – Eric Lipton and Jennifer Steinhauer | Published: 10/23/2015

Petitions to oust Republican leaders in Congress that started surfacing online over a year ago did not come from Democrats. They came from conservative websites and bloggers who have helped stoke a grassroots rebellion to make Congress more conservative, a continuation of the tea party movement. But these politically charged appeals to conservatives around the country were often accompanied by a solicitation for money, and the ultimate beneficiaries, records suggest, are the consultants who created the campaigns rather than the causes they are promoting.

Dennis Hastert, Ex-Speaker of House, Pleads Guilty
New York Times – Monica Davey and Mitch Smith | Published: 10/28/2015

Former U.S. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert pleaded guilty to bank fraud charges connected to $1.7 million he paid to cover up what federal officials said was sexual misconduct dating back to his years as a high school teacher and coach. He pleaded guilty to one count of “structuring” – taking money out of the bank in amounts below $10,000 to evade reporting rules on large cash movements. When the FBI questioned Hastert on why he withdrew the money, he told agents he did not feel safe with the banking system. The plea allows Hastert to avoid an in-court airing of his past. Prosecutors are recommending up to a six-month prison sentence.

DNC Courts Lobbyist Cash with Promise of VIP Access at Convention
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 10/22/2015

Leaders from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) met with dozens of lobbyists to unveil plans for next year’s nominating convention in Philadelphia and kick off a bout of fundraising for the event. The national convention, still eight months away, will be an expensive party to throw, with early estimates putting the price tag at $85 million. Documents obtained by The Hill show the DNC handed out a menu of reward offerings in exchange for donations and bundled cash. Individuals are able to give a maximum of $100,200 to the DNC’s convention fund per year, but are encouraged to bundle together many times that figure.

FEC Overhauls Website to Make It Easier to Track Campaign Money
USA Today – Fredreka Schouten | Published: 10/27/2015

The FEC is set to unveil a $2.5 million overhaul of the agency’s website that will make it easier for average citizens to follow the money themselves. Among the many changes is that the new version can be viewed on any size screen, allowing users to view campaign finance data on their mobile phones and tablets. The commission’s disclosure database contains more than 14 billion data elements, and FEC Chairperson Ann Ravel said she finds the current site so hard to navigate that she usually just asks a staffer to find the information she wants. She said the new site will be more intuitive.

Investing in Lobbying Pays Off
New York World – Masako Melissa Hirsch | Published: 10/28/2015

Motif Investing created an investment option for its clients consisting of the 20 companies that spend a larger share of their assets on lobbying than other firms. The Kings of K Street stock portfolio has outperformed the Standards & Poor’s 500 by a factor of two for the past two years, according to Motif. In each of the past seven years, businesses, advocacy groups, and others spent more than $3 billion on lobbying the federal government. Billions more were spent at the state and local levels. Some research has pointed to the benefits of lobbying. Studies have found companies that lobby have lower tax rates, for example.

Paul Ryan Is Elected House Speaker, Hoping to Manage Chaos
New York Times – Jennifer Steinhauer | Published: 10/29/2015

Lawmakers elected U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan as the speaker of the House, putting an end to weeks of uncertainty over who would lead the raucous GOP conference after John Boehner’s surprise resignation. Ryan’s election gives House Republicans a chance to hit the reset button. Throughout Boehner’s nearly five years as speaker, centrist members and tea party conservatives were at war with each other over policy and tactics. The test for Ryan will be whether he can manage, perhaps even blunt, the hardline wing of the Republican conference, or if he too will fall to its members’ intransigence. He had warned members that while he would take their concerns about process seriously, he would not brook dissent that would undermine his ability to lead them.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – Former SF Police Union President Fined for Illegally Lobbying Last Year
San Francisco Examiner – Jonah Owen Lamb | Published: 10/27/2015

Gary Delagnes, formerly the San Francisco Police Association’s head and sometime spokesperson, was fined $5,500 for not registering as a lobbyist and failing to file disclosure reports required in connection with an effort to defeat a resolution on police brutality last December. At the time he was a paid political consultant for the union. City law defines a lobbyist as anyone who makes one or more contacts with elected officials on behalf of their employer. Delagnes says he never registered because he did not think his actions qualified as lobbying. He simply emailed several supervisors about the issue.

Kansas – Kansas Legislation Is Most Anonymous in Nation
Topeka Capital-Journal – Celia Llopis-Jepson | Published: 10/26/2015

More than 90 percent of bills in Kansas’ 2015 legislative session did not bear the names of lawmakers involved in writing or introducing them. Over several decades, the state’s lawmaking system has evolved into one in which legislators introduce hundreds of bills yearly —but only put their names on a small number for which they want to take credit. Public efforts to explore the origin of bills face obstacles: lawmakers file proposals for each other, written meeting minutes are not user friendly, and legislators themselves say some are engaging in a cat-and-mouse game to conceal involvement in controversial bills.

Louisiana – Louisiana Primary’s Ugly Race
Bloomberg.com – Ben Kamisar | Published: 10/29/2015

In a race that made a late but convincing case for the enduring entertainment value of Louisiana politics, U.S. Sen. David Vitter barely squeaked out a second-place finish in the primary election for governor to make a runoff against John Bel Edwards, a Democratic state representative. For months, Vitter was seen as the front-runner, but over the summer his lead steadily disintegrated.  Vitter’s opponents spent significant time and money rehashing Vitter’s 2007 prostitution scandal, including a claim by a local blogger that Vitter had fathered a child with a prostitute. A private investigator conducting opposition research for the Vitter campaign was arrested near New Orleans recently.

New Mexico – Dianna Duran Resigns, Pleads Guilty to Two Felonies
NewMexicoPolitics.net – Heath Haussamen | Published: 10/23/2015

New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran, who was charged with multiple counts of public corruption, pleaded guilty to four misdemeanors and two low-level felonies in a plea deal that will likely spare her jail time and allow her to keep her pension. The agreement came just hours after she submitted her resignation. Duran was facing 65 criminal charges including embezzlement, money laundering, and fraud stemming from allegations she illegally transferred about $13,000 in campaign funds to her personal account. Prosecutors said Duran altered her campaign finance reports she filed with her own office to cover up the transfers that were part of an elaborate scheme to support a gambling habit.

New York – Albany’s Museum of Political Corruption No Longer Just a Funny Idea
Albany Business Review – Michael DeMasi | Published: 10/28/2015

Bruce Roter, a music professor at the College of St. Rose, wants to open a Museum of Political Corruption in Albany. The museum would be a place to explore, understand, and poke some fun at the fact New York’s past and present are filled with tales of politicians-gone-bad. New chapters in that long history are being written seemingly every day. The New York Board of Regents granted the museum a five-year provisional charter and it now has an eight-member board of trustees. “It’s funny, but it’s serious at the same time,” Roter said. “… If this can make the whole subject less complicated, if people feel empowered they can do something or have a say about the governance in our state, then I think they are doing a tremendous service to our community.”

New York – Oracle Sued by N.Y. Pension over Political-Giving Disclosure
Bloomberg.com – Freeman Klopott | Published: 10/28/2015

Oracle was sued by a New York pension fund over allegations the company is withholding information about its political donations. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has been using his position as the sole trustee of New York’s $184.5 billion pension fund to press corporations to make their donations public after the Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in Citizens United allowed companies to make political gifts without limitations. The fund owns about 10 million shares of Oracle. DiNapoli said the company did not live up to a 2007 agreement with the Sheet Metal Workers’ National Pension Fund to provide an annual report disclosing policies for political contributions. The company also did not respond to specific requests from the fund for those records, according to the lawsuit.

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.

Lobbying

“Ryan Speakership Could Herald New Style for K Street Lobbyists” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

“Want to Reform Campaign Finance and Reduce Corruption? Here’s How.” by Ray LaRaja and Brian Schaffner for Washington Post

“Clinton White House Sleepover Guests Still Writing Checks” by Liz Essley Whyte for Center for Public Integrity

“FEC Overhauls Website to Make It Easier to Track Campaign Money” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

“Cruz’s Quiet Fundraising Strength: A network of wealthy donors” by Katie Zezima and Matea Gold for Washington Post

“State: Malloy campaign case threatens integrity of elections” by Dave Collins (Associated Press) for WTNH

Washington: “Seattle Initiative Puts Spotlight on Campaign Financing” by Daniel Beekman for Seattle Times

Elections

“Lawrence Lessig’s Presidential Bid Endures in Relative Obscurity” by Alan Rappeport for New York Times

Lobbying

“DNC Courts Lobbyist Cash with Promise of VIP Access at Convention” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Illinois: “Spending by Lobbyists Up This Year; Diana Rauner-Led Organization Tops List of Spenders” by Doug Finke for State Journal Register

New York: “JCOPE Issues Fines to Housing Activists, Others on Filing Violations” by Rick Karlin for Albany Times Union

Texas: “Opposition to Lobbying Resolution Organizes” by Elizabeth Pagano for Austin Monitor

Campaign Finance

“‘Fire Paul Ryan’? Rebel PACs Hit Republicans, and It Pays” by Eric Lipton and Jennifer Steinhauer for New York Times

Ethics

“DOJ: No criminal charges in IRS Tea Party probe” by Kevin Johnson and Gregory Korte for USA Today

Colorado: “New Working Group Could Slow Denver Ethics Code Changes” by Jon Murray for Denver Post

North Carolina: “NC Ethics Panel Gets Extra Funding to Chip at Backlog” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for Ashville Citizen-Times

Elections

“Jeb Bush Shakes Up His Struggling Campaign with Major Spending Cuts” by Philip Rucker for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

Kansas: “Kansas Legislation Is Most Anonymous in Nation” by Celia Llopis-Jepsen for Topeka Capital-Journal

Lobbying

“APA to Pay $9M to Settle Lobbying Fee Class Action” by Charley Himmel for Courthouse News Service

Arkansas: “Lobbyist Tells of Loan Made to Lawmaker” by Michael Wickline for Arkansas Online

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “Ruling: Campaign finance limits don’t apply to unions with city contracts” by Fran Spielman and Dan Mihalopoulos for Chicago Sun-Times

New Jersey: “N.J. Attorneys Accused of Concealing Political Donations” by Samantha Marcus (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger

New Mexico: “Former Senator Is Still Spending Campaign Funds” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico: “Dianna Duran Resigns, Pleads Guilty to Two Felonies” by Heath Haussamen for NewMexicoPolitics.net

South Dakota: “Campaign Contribution Limits on Chopping Block” by Joe Sneve for Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Ethics

“One Ron Paul Staffer Convicted; Another Acquitted” by Grant Rodgers (Des Moines Register) for USA Today

“New Rules Rein in Lawmaker Spending” by Deb Reichmann (Associated Press) for Modesto Bee

Arkansas: “Ex-Arkansas Senate Head Got $120K from Group” by Claudia Lauer (Associated Press) for Arkansas Business

California: “For Kevin Johnson, Sacramento Mayor, Abuse Claims Resurface” by Adam Nagourney for New York Times

Wisconsin: “Assembly Approves Splitting GAB into Elections and Ethics Agencies” by Patrick Marley and Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Elections

“Lincoln Chafee Ends Democratic Bid for President” by John Wagner and David Weigel for Washington Post

Pennsylvania: “Ethics Missteps Don’t Deter Pennsylvania Ex-LCB Officials” by Kari Andren for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Legislative Issues

“‘Supermajority’ of House Freedom Caucus to Back Paul Ryan’s Speaker Bid” by Mike DeBonis and Robert Costa for Washington Post

On January 5, 2016, a special election will be held to fill the Rhode Island Senate District 11 seat left vacant by Sen. Christopher Scott Ottiano. Ottiano, whose district covers Bristol, Portsmouth, and Tiverton, resigned on October 13 to work exclusively as an associate medical director at Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island. On October 14, Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea announced if more than one candidate from either party qualifies for the ballot, a primary election will be held on December 1, 2015.

Federal:

Even with Rising Debt and Sinking Polls, Candidates Find Dropping Out Is Hard to Do
Los Angeles Times – Noah Bierman | Published: 10/19/2015

Over time, several presidential hopefuls with dwindling bank accounts and bottom-scraping poll numbers may be recapping the experience of Scott Walker and Rick Perry, the first candidates to quit the race. They will have to weigh the risks to their reputations, finances, and political futures of staying in the race versus getting out. History shows candidates are likely to push against the odds for as long as they can resist sober political facts. Some may prolong time in the campaign to advance a single issue, enhance a career in television, or set themselves up for a job in the next administration. They may time their withdrawal to raise the leverage of their endorsement or preserve their standing at home.

How Time Ran Out on Joe Biden’s Presidential Dream
Washington Post – Dan Balz and Paul Kane | Published: 10/21/2015

Vice President Joe Biden said he will not be a candidate for president. The announcement closes the door on one of the biggest potential challenges to Hillary Clinton’s second attempt at capturing the Democratic nomination. As the 2016 campaign took shape, Biden played coy about his intentions, never signaling clearly an interest in running but never saying he would not. With the Iowa caucuses on the horizon, Biden acknowledged the result of his protracted deliberations, saying a “window” had closed on “mounting a realistic campaign.”

‘Outsider’ Presidential Candidates Prove Competitive in Fund-Raising
New York Times – Nicholas Confessore and Eric Lichtblau | Published: 10/15/2015

In both the Republican and Democratic primaries, upstart presidential candidates shunned by their parties’ major donors are now financially competitive with – and, in some cases, vastly outraising – opponents who have spent months or years courting the big-name donors and fundraisers who have traditionally dominated the money race. The steady fundraising of outsider candidates, who have tapped into a network of smaller donors, suggests a financial paradigm shift in both parties, but particularly on the right, where candidates beloved by the Republicans’ socially conservative base have sometimes struggled to muster the financial resources to sustain a long-term campaign for the nomination.

‘Supermajority’ of House Freedom Caucus to Back Paul Ryan’s Speaker Bid
Washington Post – Mike DeBonis and Robert Costa | Published: 10/21/2015

A strong majority of anti-establishment conservatives in the Freedom Caucus voted to support U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan for House speaker, assuring he will have the votes to secure the post and averting a leadership crisis for Republicans. Ryan indicated he was prepared to seize the gavel and try to bring unity to his party, which has been riven over how House leaders exert authority over members. That fight had become so bitter that it forced the resignation of Speaker John Boehner and derailed the candidacy of Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to replace him.

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona – Public Disservice: Few punished in Arizona discrimination cases
Arizona Republic – Rob O’Dell and Craig Harris | Published: 10/15/2015

The Arizona Republic uncovered dozens of cases of sexual, racial, and age discrimination claims by state workers. More than half the employees said they were penalized by retaliation, the investigation found, while those accused of discrimination went virtually unpunished. More than one-third were actually promoted after their alleged actions, and more than 40 percent received pay raises following the settlements. Taxpayers shelled out more than $6 million from 2009 to 2014 to settle discrimination, harassment, or other workplace claims by 57 public employees from state agencies, universities, and courts.

Arkansas – Ex-Arkansas Senate Head Got $120K from Group
Arkansas Business – Claudia Lauer (Associated Press) | Published: 10/21/2015

The Arkansas Faith and Freedom Coalition paid Michael Lamoureux’s law firm $120,000 for “consulting” services in 2013, when Lamoureux was the Arkansas Senate president pro tempore. He left the Senate in 2014 to become chief of staff for Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The coalition’s website says it favors such things as “legislation that strengthens families … protects the dignity of life and marriage,” and lowers taxes on small businesses and families. It was unclear what type of consulting work Lamoureux’s former law firm did for the coalition. The Senate’s rules of conduct in 2013 explicitly prohibited senators from discussing or voting on issues that “will specifically relate to a business which employs the senator or in which he or she receives compensation as an attorney or consultant.”

California – ‘Behested Payments’ Let Private Groups Curry Favor with Politicians – New Law Will Limit Disclosure
KQED – Marisa Lagos | Published: 10/16/2015

Once they are in office, elected officials in California can use their clout to help raise cash for pet projects outside of state government. Gov. Jerry Brown has directed the bulk of his $30 million in behested payments to charter schools in Oakland. The amount they can raise for these private groups is unlimited, but officials must report when the donations top $5,000 from a single source in one year. In all, politicians have directed more than $120 million to private groups since regulators started requiring disclosure in 1997. Critics say the payments may go to good causes, but are simply another way for special interest groups – including corporations with business before state government – to curry favor.

California
New California Rules Meant to Deter Coordination in Campaigns
Sacramento Bee – Jim Miller | Published: 10/15/2015

Regulations approved by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) effectively shifts the burden of proof in cases of suspected coordination in campaigns from the government to the candidate or outside spending committee. It puts them on notice if former aides or immediate family members go to work for an outside spending group involved in a candidate’s race, for instance, or a candidate raises money for an outside organization. It also would restrict the sharing of candidate-produced video and data. FPPC Chairperson Jodi Remke said the new rules address the growth in outside spending groups since voters approved contribution limits in 2000. Though donations directly to candidates are limited, the independent expenditure committees are allowed to raise as much as they want, as long as there is no coordination between them and the candidates who benefit.

Connecticut – Political Campaigns Rake in Cash despite Ban
The Day – Ken Dixon (Hearst Connecticut Media) | Published: 10/19/2015

Connecticut law prohibits those who do business with the state from contributing to the campaigns of politicians who could award or influence state contracts. But that has not stopped the flow of money from state contractors. An investigation into the Democratic State Central Committee’s federal account, which has no restrictions on who can contribute, shows it is filled with money from those on Connecticut’s banned contractor list. Watchdogs say the use of the federal account is simply a backdoor system of “pay-to-play.”

Missouri – A Few Hold the Political Purse Strings in Missouri
Kansas City Star – Jason Hancock | Published: 10/20/2015

More than 25 percent of all large campaign contributions in Missouri, defined by state law as any donation greater than $5,000, over the last five years were made by only 10 individuals and groups. Rex Sinquefield, a retired financier, has given $22.1 million since 2011 in large contributions. That is three times as much as the second largest donor. The cost of campaigning in Missouri has risen dramatically since the Legislature voted to abolish contribution limits in 2008. Republicans are benefiting the most, but Democrats are not shy about taking their share of five- and six-figure checks from donors.

New Mexico – Duran Proposes New Rules for Campaign Finance
Albuquerque Journal – Deborah Baker | Published: 10/17/2015

New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran is moving ahead with new rules governing campaign finance, even as she faces criminal charges for allegedly misusing her own campaign money. The advocacy group ProgressNow New Mexico said that Duran removing herself from the process is the only way voters will be confident the rules changes “are being made honestly and with the best intentions.” Some of the proposed rules were prompted by an elections bill passed in this year’s legislative session. Other rules have been in the works at Duran’s office for a couple of years in an effort to clarify existing law and get New Mexico in sync with federal court decisions.

Pennsylvania – Ethics Missteps Don’t Deter Pennsylvania Ex-LCB Officials
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – Kari Andren | Published: 10/21/2015

Four former Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board officials who violated state ethics laws by accepting gifts from vendors now make regular appearances at the agency as employees and lobbyists for the industry they once regulated. State officials and lawmakers who leave government are required by law to wait a year before conducting business with former colleagues. Terry Madonna, a professor at Franklin & Marshall College, said the waiting period does not go far enough to curb the appearance that the former officials bring unfair influence gained in the public sector to their private work. “You and I know that doesn’t change the culture, doesn’t change relationships,” Madonna said.

Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh City Council Passes New Campaign-Finance Rules
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Robert Zullo | Published: 10/20/2015

The Pittsburgh City Council gave final approval to a series of campaign finance reforms. The bill makes the city’s contribution limits conform to the FEC standards, which are $2,700 for individuals and $5,000 for political committees per election. For the purposes of the limits, primaries and general elections are considered separate elections. The ordinance also bans “stacking” contributions, when candidates accept donations for the primary and general elections at the same time.

Wisconsin – Assembly Approves Splitting GAB into Elections and Ethics Agencies
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Patrick Marley and Jason Stein | Published: 10/21/2015

Two controversial bills that would alter Wisconsin’s elections landscape faced an uncertain future in the Senate, even as Assembly Republicans put them on a fast track to passage. The Assembly for a bill to replace the Government Accountability Board with two separate boards with partisan appointees, as opposed to the current board, a panel of former judges. The other bill that would give state campaign finance law its most substantial overhaul in decades passed unanimously after Assembly Democrats recused themselves from voting. The campaign finance legislation would double contribution limits, allow corporations and unions to give money to political parties and key campaign committees, and permit candidates to work closely with advocacy groups that do not have to disclose where they get their money.

Wisconsin – Lawmakers Approve Bill Ending John Doe Probes of Political Crimes
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Patrick Marley and Jason Stein | Published: 10/20/2015

The Wisconsin General Assembly passed legislation that prohibits prosecutors from using secret inquiries known as John Doe investigations to probe allegations of political crimes such as campaign finance violations or misconduct in public office, a method used twice by prosecutors to investigate Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign and his aides. Republicans supporting the legislation said it would provide a more transparent process of investigating and prosecuting political wrongdoing, while Democrats said the bills shield politicians from scrutiny and opens the door to corruption.

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.