March 6, 2014 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “K Street gears up for Hillary” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill. “Groups Try to Mute the Comcast Lobby | K Street Files” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call. Louisiana: “Former Jindal aide Rainwater looks to lobbying, consulting” by […]
Lobbying
“K Street gears up for Hillary” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
“Groups Try to Mute the Comcast Lobby | K Street Files” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
Louisiana: “Former Jindal aide Rainwater looks to lobbying, consulting” by Michelle Millhollon in The Advocate.
New Jersey: “Lobbying expenditures climbed over $60 million in 2013, report finds” in PolitickerNJ.
Campaign Finance
“New Challenges to Campaign Finance Regulation” opinion piece by David Friedman in The Stanford Daily.
New York: “Women stump for campaign finance reform” by Casey Seiler in the Capitol Confidential.
Wisconsin: “Walker says he’s not focused on Republican bills affecting campaign donations, spending” by Scott Bauer (Associated Press) in The Republic.
Ethics
California: “Senate Democrats proposing revamp of campaign, gift laws” by Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times.
Campaigns and Elections
“Thought the Senate map was set?” by Jessica Taylor in The Hill.
“2014 Governors Races: A Look at the Too-Close-to-Call Contests” by Louis Jacobson in Governing.
South Carolina: “Cheers! SC Bill Aims to Lift Booze Ban on Election Day” by Drew MacKenzie in Newsmax.
Procurement
“Bringing Innovation to Procurement” by Justin Brown in Government Technology.
March 5, 2014 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying “Lobbying World” in The Hill. Kentucky: “Ethics Reporter: First month of session sees one-month record of $1.9 million for lobbyists” by the Kentucky Ethics Commission in KY Forward. Wisconsin: “Wisconsin senator seeks to allow in-session lobbyist checks” by Patrick […]
Lobbying
“Lobbying World” in The Hill.
Kentucky: “Ethics Reporter: First month of session sees one-month record of $1.9 million for lobbyists” by the Kentucky Ethics Commission in KY Forward.
Wisconsin: “Wisconsin senator seeks to allow in-session lobbyist checks” by Patrick Marley in the Journal Sentinel.
Campaign Finance
Illinois: “Rauner’s $6 million sets record in Illinois governor race” by Rick Pearson in the Chicago Tribune.
Wisconsin: “State Senators introduce campaign finance legislation” by Andrew Hahn in The Daily Cardinal.
Ethics
“Former FEC General Counsel Retruns to Battle” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.
California: “Scandals cost California Democrats supermajority in Senate” by Jessica Calefati in the Contra Costa Times.
Elections
“Texas 2014 Primary Election Results” in the Texas Tribune.
March 4, 2014 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying “Bottom Line” in The Hill. “Wyden’s rise starts K Street bidding war” by Megan R. Wilson and Kevin Bogardus in The Hill. “Hollywood’s Top Lobbying Group Is Sponsoring CPAC” by Nikki Schwab in U.S. News & World Report. Campaign […]
Lobbying
“Bottom Line” in The Hill.
“Wyden’s rise starts K Street bidding war” by Megan R. Wilson and Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
“Hollywood’s Top Lobbying Group Is Sponsoring CPAC” by Nikki Schwab in U.S. News & World Report.
Campaign Finance
Florida: “More Ads in Florida Push Independent Expenditures above $7.5 million” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.
Ethics
California: “California lawmakers report meals, sports tickets, other gifts” by Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times.
New Jersey: “Port Authority chairman hit with ethics complaint by NJ Working Families Alliance” by Steve Strunsky in The Star-Ledger.
Vermont: “Vermont House working on ethics rules” by Nancy Remsen in the Burlington Free Press.
Congress
“Snow Delays Senate Votes for Another Day” by Niels Lesniewski in Roll Call.
State Legislative Sessions
Florida: “A viewers’ guide to the 2014 Florida Legislature session” by Steve Bousquet in the Miami Herald.
Kansas: “Kansas lawmakers taking a break from session” by The Associated Press on KAKE News.
Utah: “Nine days remain in productive legislative session” by Billy Hextra in the Daily Herald.
Wyoming: “Bill on special legislative session to deal with fallout from Supreme Court decision dies” by Bob Moen (Associated Press) in The Republic.
Elections
Texas: “What to Watch in the Texas Primary” by Ross Ramsey in Governing.
February 27, 2014 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “Tax plan sends shockwaves down K Street” by Vicki Needham in The Hill. “Movie Industry, In a Switch, Is Courting the GOP” by Brody Mullins and Ben Fritz in The Wall Street Journal. “Former software lobbyist tapped for […]
Lobbying
“Tax plan sends shockwaves down K Street” by Vicki Needham in The Hill.
“Movie Industry, In a Switch, Is Courting the GOP” by Brody Mullins and Ben Fritz in The Wall Street Journal.
“Former software lobbyist tapped for trade post” by Julian Hattem in The Hill.
“Patton Boggs begins new merger talks” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.
“‘Card check’ victors reap little reward” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
“Buying alpha: Here’s the easiest way to stock gains” by Jeff Cox on CNBC.
Missouri: “Who bought lawmakers’ lunch? Lobbyist splits hairs” by Virginia Young in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
New Mexico: “N.M. lobbyists spent $200K on dinners, golf, skiing” by The Associated Press on KFDA News.
New York: “Mayor Accepted Lobbyist Money, Amid Improper Payments” by Jeff Preval on WGRZ.
Campaign Finance
Connecticut: “New campaign finance law sparks debate” by Isabelle Taft in the Yale Daily News.
West Virginia: “Campaign finance bill dies in the House” in the West Virginia Metro News.
Ethics
Alabama: “‘Clean’ ethics legislation passes in Senate” by Kala Kachmar in the Montgomery Advertiser.
Virginia: “House passes ethics bill with ‘turkey dinner amendment’” by Markus Schmidt in the Times Dispatch.
Campaigns, Conventions, and Elections
“And the finalists for the GOP convention are ….” by Rebecca Shabad in The Hill.
“Practitioner’s Toolbox: One Political Startup’s Efforts To Engage Potential Supporters Online” by Sarah Lai Stirland in TechPresident.
Arkansas: “Ark. House committee approves lt. gov. bill” by The Associated Press in the San Francisco Chronicle.
From the State Legislatures
Tennessee: “Bill would give Tennessee Legislature power over attorney general” by Todd South in the Times Free Press.
West Virginia: “Lawmakers push dozens of bills before deadline” by Jonathan Mattise (Associated Press) in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
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 23, 2014 •
Georgia Governor Signs Election Bill
Gov. Nathan Deal has signed into law a bill moving the state primary to May 20, 2014. House Bill 310 was passed to comply with a federal court order requiring at least 45 days between primary and general elections and […]
Gov. Nathan Deal has signed into law a bill moving the state primary to May 20, 2014. House Bill 310 was passed to comply with a federal court order requiring at least 45 days between primary and general elections and subsequent runoffs to give overseas military personnel time to cast absentee ballots for federal candidates.
Primary runoffs will be held on July 22, while the general election remains on November 4.
The new law, effective upon signature, also restores the requirement to file a March 31 campaign finance report, previously removed by House Bill 143.
January 17, 2014 •
Georgia Legislature Changes 2014 Election Dates
Lawmakers passed a new 2014 election schedule, moving this year’s primaries from July 15 to May 20. The change will comply with a federal court order requiring at least 45 days between primary and general elections and subsequent runoffs to […]
Lawmakers passed a new 2014 election schedule, moving this year’s primaries from July 15 to May 20. The change will comply with a federal court order requiring at least 45 days between primary and general elections and subsequent runoffs to give overseas military personnel time to cast absentee ballots for federal candidates.
Under the legislation, any runoffs arising from the primaries will be held on July 22. The general election remains on Nov. 4. Any necessary state or local runoffs will be held on Dec. 2, while any runoffs to fill federal offices would take place Jan. 6, 2015.
The bill now goes to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature.
January 15, 2014 •
By-Elections Called in Ontario, Canada
Today, by-elections were called in Ontario, Canada, for the provincial electoral districts of Niagara Falls and Thornhill. The election for both seats will be held on February 13. Kim Craitor resigned from his seat as MPP for Niagara Falls in […]
Today, by-elections were called in Ontario, Canada, for the provincial electoral districts of Niagara Falls and Thornhill. The election for both seats will be held on February 13.
Kim Craitor resigned from his seat as MPP for Niagara Falls in September 2013. Peter Shurman resigned his assembly seat representing Thornhill last December.
January 10, 2014 •
Massachusetts Special Election Called for Second Suffolk Representative District Seat
A special election for the Massachusetts Second Suffolk Representative District has been called to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of state Representative Eugene L. O’Flaherty. The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced the special […]
A special election for the Massachusetts Second Suffolk Representative District has been called to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of state Representative Eugene L. O’Flaherty. The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced the special primary election will be held on March 4, 2014. The general election will follow on April 1, 2014. O’Flaherty has been appointed as the city of Boston’s corporation counsel by Mayor Martin J. Walsh.
January 2, 2014 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “Lobbying Follows Political Activity Into Dark Money” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine. “K Street Review: Some Trends In the World of Lobbying For 2013” by Tess Venden Dolder in Streetwise’s InTheCapital. “Influential Boeing lobbyist Coffey dies […]
Lobbying
“Lobbying Follows Political Activity Into Dark Money” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.
“K Street Review: Some Trends In the World of Lobbying For 2013” by Tess Venden Dolder in Streetwise’s InTheCapital.
“Influential Boeing lobbyist Coffey dies at 86” by The Associated Press in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Campaign Finance
California: “Former California lawmaker pays state fine, closes committee” in The Sacramento Bee.
Delaware: “Investigation into campaign finance abuse in Delaware may not lead to new laws” by Sean Carlson in WDDE News.
Maine: “Cutler says he wonʹt take PAC money for 2014 race, will run ʹunboughtʹ” by Christopher Cousins in the Bangor Daily News.
Massachusetts: “Coakley moves to fix lingering campaign finance problems” by Frank Phillips in the Boston Globe.
Michigan: “Critics knock Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder for reversal on ʹissue adʹ donor transparency” by Jonathan Oosting in Michigan Live.
Missouri: “Well known political contributor makes large year-end donation” by The Associated Press in KRCG News.
New York: “NYC commissioner of investigation to head Campaign Finance Board” by The Associated Press in The Republic.
North Carolina: “New N.C. campaign finance laws raise limits, soften disclosure” in the News & Record.
Wisconsin: “Campaign finance bill stalls in Senate” by Bob Hague in the Wisconsin Radio Network.
Ethics
Arkansas: “Arkansas Ethics Commission proposes fines, letters of warning and caution to ex-lawmaker” by The Associated Press in The Tribune.
“Arkansas governor asks lieutenant governor to quit over ethics case” by Chuck Bartels (Associated Press) in the Deseret News.
“Lieutenant governor refuses call to resign over ethics flap” in The Columbus Dispatch.
Georgia: “Georgia ethics commission corrects mistake” by Mark Rice in the Ledger-Enquirer.
South Carolina: “State, legislative ethics panels owed money; House committee may pursue fines in court” by Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) in The Republic.
West Virginia: “Beckley mayor leaving office after ethics probe” by Jennifer Smith in the West Virginia Metro News.
In the Legislatures
“The Top 10 Legislative Issues to Watch in 2014” by Chris Kardish, J.B. Wogan, Mike Maciag, Liz Farmer, and Ryan Holeywell in Governing.
“12 State Legislators to Watch in 2014” by Louis Jacobson in Governing.
Elections
“GOP Crafts New Rules To Shorten 2016 Primary Season” by S.V. Dáte on NPR.
Alaska: “Handful of new Alaska laws take effect in new year” by Becky Bohrer in the Anchorage Daily News.
Massachusetts: “Dates set for 2 Mass. House elections” by The Associated Press in The Boston Herald.
Government Tech and Social Media
“Congress wishes Twitter a happy New Year” by Tal Kopan in Politico.
“The Top 5 Government Tech Stories of 2013” by Joseph Marks in NextGov.
“Coming in 2014: Facebook Across Government” by Joseph Marks in NextGov.
December 23, 2013 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “The Life Of A Lobbyist In A Do-Nothing Congress” by Peter Overby on Georgia Public Broadcasting. “K Street sizes up retiring lawmakers” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill. “Patton Boggs, Locke Lord call off merger talks” by Catherine Ho […]
Lobbying
“The Life Of A Lobbyist In A Do-Nothing Congress” by Peter Overby on Georgia Public Broadcasting.
“K Street sizes up retiring lawmakers” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
“Patton Boggs, Locke Lord call off merger talks” by Catherine Ho in The Washington Post.
Campaign Finance
Maryland: “Gansler recused himself from state election ruling” by Erin Cox in The Baltimore Sun.
Ohio: “Campaign-finance effort fought” by Josh Jarman in the Columbus Dispatch.
Ethics
“Senate Passes Bill to Expand FEC Fines” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.
South Carolina: “House Ethics to hear case over state plane use” by Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) in The Greenville News.
Washington: “Free Meal Complaint Against Lawmakers Dismissed, ‘Serious Concerns’ Remain” by Austin Jenkins in Northwest Public Radio.
Elections
Florida: “Florida elections opinion could make uncovering fraud more difficult” by Patricia Mazzei in the Miami Herald.
State Legislatures
“New Hampshire’s state legislature is nine times larger than Nebraska’s” by Niraj Chokshi in The Washington Post.
Michigan: “2013 in the Michigan Legislature: Some common ground, but more partisan wounds that need to heal” by Jonathan Oosting in Michigan Live.
Government Tech and Social Media
“Half of Md. lawmakers with Twitter accounts neglect to comply with disclosure rule” by John Wagner in The Washington Post.
December 19, 2013 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “Top 10 lobbying victories of 2013” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill. “Rhoden: Let’s ban lawmaker lobbying” by David Montgomery in the Argus Leader. Massachusetts: “Feds indict ex-CFO of firm tied to disgraced lobbyist” by Eric Convey in the […]
Lobbying
“Top 10 lobbying victories of 2013” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
“Rhoden: Let’s ban lawmaker lobbying” by David Montgomery in the Argus Leader.
Massachusetts: “Feds indict ex-CFO of firm tied to disgraced lobbyist” by Eric Convey in the Boston Business Journal.
Campaign Finance
Alabama: “Committee looks for way to put teeth in Alabama campaign finance law” by Kim Chandler in The Birmingham News.
Alabama: “New fines for campaign finance violations can’t be enforced by secretary of state” by Kim Chandler in The Birmingham News.
Arkansas: “Ex-legislator admits filing inaccurate campaign finance reports” by John Lyon in Arkansas News.
Arkansas: “Ethics Commission hears report on possible mishandling of funds by Darr” by John Lyon in Arkansas News.
Illinois: “Campaign accounts fund luxuries for some lawmakers” by Kim Geiger in the Chicago Tribune.
New Mexico: “New Mexico campaign spending limits overturned” by Susan Montoya Bryan (Associated Press) in the Houston Chronicle.
Wisconsin: “Campaign finance bill eases restrictions on Wisconsin lobbyists and wealthy contributors” by Jack Craver in The Capital Times.
Ethics
Georgia: “Ethics agency could debate ceding control to outside group” by Greg Bluestein and Shannon McCaffrey in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Elections
California: “State Legislature To Consider Doing Away With Special Elections” by Claire Trageser in KPBS.
State Legislative Issues
Iowa: “Lawmakers gearing up for 2014 work” by Rod Boshart in the Quad-City Times.
Redistricting
Florida: “Legislators destroyed documents during redistricting” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.
Government Tech and Social Media
“Best of the Web & Digital Government Achievement Awards 2013 – Winners Announced” by Janet Grenslitt in Government Technology.
December 3, 2013 •
MA 2014 Primary Date Changed
The 2014 Massachusetts state primary has been moved up a week from September 16 to September 9 due to the passage of House Bill 3764. This bill only changes the 2014 primary date and does not affect future state primary […]
The 2014 Massachusetts state primary has been moved up a week from September 16 to September 9 due to the passage of House Bill 3764.
This bill only changes the 2014 primary date and does not affect future state primary dates. The bill was introduced and passed by the House on November 18, passed by the Senate the following day, and signed by the governor a week later.
December 2, 2013 •
Special Primary Election for Alabama House District 31 to Be Held Tuesday
A special primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3 to fill the vacancy in House District 31. There are four Republicans and no Democrats on the ballot.
A special primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3 to fill the vacancy in House District 31.
There are four Republicans and no Democrats on the ballot.
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