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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals expedited a key ballot access case on November 27.

The case, Hall v. Secretary of State of Alabama, was brought by independent candidate James Hall, the only minor party candidate who submitted any signatures to be on the ballot of the December 17 special election in Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.

In honor of Thanksgiving and the short work week, we are publishing our weekly News You Can Use Digest today, instead of Friday.

Federal:

How Much Lobbying Is There in Washington? It’s DOUBLE What You Think

Sunlight Foundation – Tim LaPira | Published: 11/25/2013

The Sunlight Foundation attempted to find out the amount of lobbying that goes on in Washington D.C., but found that quantifying the number is needlessly difficult. It did say about half of those involved in policy advocacy – the term used in the analysis for people in the private sector getting paid to influence public policy, regardless if they meet the strict federal definition of “lobbyist” – did not report lobbying activities in 2012.

Obama Administration Proposes New Curbs on Campaigning by Tax-Exempt Groups

Wall Street Journal – John McKinnon and Brody Mullins | Published: 11/26/2013

Rules proposed by the Obama administration would curtail a broad array of tax-exempt entities’ political activities, including advertising and voter registration. The involvement in politics of groups organized under section 501(c)(4) of the tax code has been viewed by many as the biggest abuse of modern campaign finance rules. The process of completing the new regulations could take months, and officials said they expected a lot of feedback.

Stockman’s Filings Don’t Explain His Income

Houston Chronicle – Lise Olsen and Will Tucker | Published: 11/25/2013

U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas) has failed to properly disclose his financial dealings as candidate and member of Congress. A Houston Chronicle investigation shows Stockman has failed to file federally required expense documents since his 2012 campaign; those he did file were months late and only prompted more questions.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – Political Watchdog Seeks More Bite with New Law

San Francisco Chronicle – Melody Gutierrez | Published: 11/22/2013

The California Fair Political Practices Commission is trying to collect almost $3 million in past fines, and a new law that takes effect on January 1 will aide those efforts. The law allows tax and property liens, along with wage garnishments, for those who have outstanding fines. Commission officials said it can take more than a year to navigate civil courts to obtain those judgments, but under the new law, that time will be reduced to a few months.

Connecticut – After School Shooting, Newtown-Based Gun Industry Group Considered Leaving Town

Columbus Republic – Susan Haigh (Associated Press) | Published: 11/22/2013

The National Shooting Sports Foundation considered moving its offices from Newtown, Connecticut after last year’s shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. With employees confronted by angry neighbors and protesters appearing outside its headquarters, foundation officials said they had to determine whether having the name of Newtown associated with the organization would affect its mission to promote hunting and shooting sports.

Iowa – Iowa Ethics Board to Consider New Standards for Reviewing Donations from Trusts

Des Moines Register – Jason Noble | Published: 11/22/2013

Staff members for the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board will develop new standards for auditing PACS that receive contributions from entities other than individuals. The move could lead to new procedures for reviewing donations from trade associations, LLCs, partnerships, and trusts. The board will hear proposals for the new guidelines at its next meeting and could act to implement them at that time.

Louisiana – State Plans to Go After Bank Accounts, Licenses of Officials with Pending Ethics Fines, Treasurer Says

New Orleans Times Picayune – Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Manuel Torres | Published: 11/22/2013

Louisiana’s Debt Recovery Office will be used to crackdown on officials, political groups, and lobbyists that owe more than $1.2 million in ethics fines. The new office will have the power to collect money directly from the personal bank accounts of those with outstanding state debts. It also will be able to suspend debtors’ state licenses, including licenses for professional accreditations, and even for hunting and fishing.

Maryland – Brown Hosts Influential Guests in Redskins Stadium Skybox

Baltimore Sun – Luke Broadwater and Michael Dresser | Published: 11/22/2013

Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who is running for governor, has hosted lobbyists, campaign donors, and union leaders in the state’s skybox at FedEx Field for Washington Redskins’ games. Ethics rules prohibit politicians from accepting sporting tickets as gifts from those who do business with the state, but they say nothing about politicians distributing such tickets.

New Jersey – NJ Businesses Paying Top Dollar for Access to Republican Governors Association

Bergen Record – Melissa Hayes | Published: 11/24/2013

Of the $24 million the Republican Governors Association (RGA) raised in the first six months of the year, New Jersey benefactors gave $1.6 million. Montclair State University professor Brigid Harrison said corporations who see Gov. Chris Christie as a potential presidential candidate could increase their donations to the RGA while he is chairperson next year to get his attention and “curry favor” with someone who could go on to the White House.

New York – Legislators Seek to Kill Subpoenas

Albany Times Union – Rick Karlin and Jordan Carleo-Evangelist | Published: 11/22/2013

State lawmakers filed court papers to block subpoenas from the Moreland Commission on Public Corruption that seek information about elected officials’ sources of outside income. The central question is whether the century-old Moreland Act gives gubernatorial appointees the power to subpoena lawmakers, or whether the constitutional separation of powers provides protection from probes.

Oklahoma – Late Campaign Reports Rack Up $723,000 in Fees

Tulsa World – Barbara Hoberock and Curtis Killman | Published: 11/26/2013

A Tulsa World analysis indicates at least 2,700 campaign finance reports, amounting to about 10 percent of the total number filed in Oklahoma, were sent in late. The amount in late fees came to at least $723,300. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission will send notices to 250 PACs believed to owe penalties for not meeting the deadlines. The agency is looking at reports filed since August 2011, but has not ruled out going further back.

Virginia – Virginia Campaign Mailings Attract Scrutiny

Roanoke Times – Mike Gangloff | Published: 11/20/2013

An arrangement for low rates on campaign mailers that some Virginia General Assembly members and candidates describe as standard seems to violate U.S. Postal Service requirements, said Katina Fields, a spokesperson in the postal service’s Washington, D.C. headquarters. At issue is how closely state Democratic and Republican parties coordinate their activities with the individual campaigns of their candidates.

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.

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Lobbying

“Bottom Line” in The Hill.

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

“How much lobbying is there in Washington? It’s DOUBLE what you think” by Tim LaPira in the Sunlight Foundation blog.

New York: “Albany query: Can political parties be considered lobbyists?” by Yancey Roy in Newsday.

Utah: “Lobbyist to Utah Legislature: Plan for Environmental Fights” by Ryan Cunningham on Utah Public Radio.

Campaign Finance

“FEC Proclaims: ‘Tis the Season for Holiday Greetings’” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

Arizona: “Dark Money – Specter of anonymous campaign spending looms over 2014” by Jeremy Duda in Arizona Capitol Times.

Maine: “Cutler accuses LePage of publishing campaign material on taxpayer dime” by Christopher Cousins in the Bangor Daily News.

Missouri: “Ethics commission sanctions Jefferson Co. Central Republican Committee, Voters for Good Government” by Leah Thorsen in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Pennsylvania: “Powerful Philly Union Accused of Funnelling Campaign Contributions” by Dave Davies on WCAU NBC 10 News.

Ethics

“Stock & Bond Transactions Reported By Wealthy Members of Congress” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

New York: “NYPIRG issues report on reform” by Casey Seiler in the Albany Times Union.

Texas: “Ethics Commission Chief Leaves for CPRIT” by Becca Aaronson in The Texas Tribune.

Elections

Florida: “Florida Special-Election Sprint Starts” by Abby Livingston in Roll Call.