Lobbying

Kansas: “Legislature mulls changing official lobbying threshold” by Vikaas Shanker in the Topeka Capital-Journal.

Louisiana: “Study ties Jindal tax plan to ALEC” in the Baton Rouge Advocate.

Maryland:  “Bills seek to slow the revolving door of public officials into lobbying” by Becca Heller in the Maryland Reporter.

Campaign Finance

“ABA Supports Disclosure of Secret Political Spending” by Ian Vandewalker in the Brennan Center for Justice Blog.

Hawaii: “Mayor donor fund took in $360,000; Ethics digging deeper” by Gina Mangieri in KHON2 News.

New Jersey: “N.J. firms donated over $700,000 to Republican Governors Association” by John Reitmeyer and Melissa Hayes in the Bergen Record.

Rhode Island: “Local Politicians Owe $1.3M in Campaign Fines” by Stephen Beale in GoLocal Prov.

Ethics

Connecticut: “Conflict of interest bill gains traction” by Ken Dixon in the Connecticut Post.

Iowa: “Ethics committee won’t reprimand Iowa state senator” by Mike Wiser in the Quad-City Times.

Kentucky: “Metro ethics bill passes House panel” by Joseph Gerth in the Courier-Journal.

Maine: “Maine bill seeks to end cozy relations between state officials, private firms” by Naomi Schalit and John Christie in the Portland Press Herald.

Rhode Island: “Drive to reinstate R.I. Ethics Commission power over legislators resumes” by Katherine Gregg in the Providence Journal.

Lobbying

“Wall Street tipsters brace for exposé on their industry, scrutiny from Capitol Hill” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

Wisconsin: “Bill to prevent revolving door” by Alice Coyne in the Badger Herald.

Campaign Finance

“Congressman seeks to overturn Citizens United” by the Associated Press in U.S. News & World Report.

Arizona: “Phoenix launches searchable campaign-finance website” by Dustin Gardiner in the Arizona Republic.

Florida: “House moves ahead with plan to end slush funds, raise campaign contribution limits to $10,000” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.

Ethics

Florida: “Former state GOP chairman Jim Greer pleads guilty to theft, money laundering” by Lucy Morgan in the Miami Herald.

Social Media

Eric Brown’s Political Activity Law blog points out that next week is Social Media Week.

“Do Governments Need Personal Social Media Policies?” by Colin Wood in Government Technology.

Lobbying

District of Columbia: “Washington lobbying is key part of Williams Mullen’s evolution” by Catherine Ho in the Washington Post.

North Dakota: “Bill would allow use of public funds to hire lobbyists” by Nick Smith in the Bismarck Tribune.

Texas: “Despite Reforms, Some Elected Officials Still Lobby” by Aman Batheja in the Texas Tribune.

Campaign Finance

“Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. admits to campaign finance violationsFormer Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. admits to campaign finance violations” by ASndrew Rafferty in NBC News.

“Review: Ex-House members still dipping into campaign funds” by Fredreka Shouten in the Montgomery Advertiser.

District of Columbia: “D.C. campaign finance proposals await more public comment” by Tim Craig in the Washington Post.

Florida: “Indicted Developer Jay Odom Set to Enter Plea in Campaign Finance Case” by Lucy Morgan in the Ledger.

Georgia: “Ralston Amends Proposed Lobbying Rules” by the Associated Press in GPB News.

Iowa: “Campaign finance bill offers new approach” by William Petroski in the Des Moines Register.

Montana: “Several campaign finance bills introduced in 2013 session” in the Missoulian.

Philadelphia, PA: “2 move to regulate campaign $” by Jan Ransom in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Ethics

Connecticut: “Legislator pushes conflict of interest bill” by Brian Lockhart in the Connecticut Post.

Idaho: “Lawmakers propose ethics committee” by Katherine Wutz in the Idaho Mountain Express.

Oklahoma: “New Ethics Commission leader seeks better campaign-reporting software” by Barbara Hoberock in Tulsa World.

West Virginia: “Ethics Commission in contract talks with director finalist” by Phil Kabler in the Charleston Gazette.

Open Government

Oklahoma: “Disputes over Oklahoma’s open records and open meetings laws continue” by Zeke Campfield and Phillip O’Connor in the Oklahoman.

Redistricting

Ohio: “Ohio Redistricting Overhaul Gains Support” by Josh Goodman in Stateline.

Social Media

“Social Media: Becoming a Trusted Source for Political Information” by Pam Greenberg in NCSL’s The Thicket.

National:

U.S. Groups Flex Their Muscles in Brussels

From the States and Municipalities:

California – FPPC Examining Changes to California Lobbyist Disclosure

Colorado – Judge Denies Halting Ethics Probe of Gessler; Appeal Coming

Kansas – NRA Lines Up Support for Anti-Public Lobbying Bill

Maine – America’s Capital of Divided Government

Maryland – Maryland Ethics Panel Says Delegate Should Not Have Tried to Silence Football Player

Massachusetts – DiMasi, Lobbyist Ask Appeals Court to Overturn Convictions

Massachusetts – Lobbyists Win Challenge to Galvin Requirement

Missouri – Missouri Gov. Nixon Got Donation from Contractor While Decrying Big Political Money

Nebraska – Nebraska Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy Resigns in Scandal Involving Cell Phone Calls to Four Women

New Jersey – N.J. Budget Official Questions Florida Debris Firm’s $100 Million Contract, Political Connections

New York – Two Campaign Aides Going on Trial, but Comptroller May Face Judgment

Texas – Text Donations Spread Down Ballot

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.

The Palm Beach County Commission voted in favor of a proposal to expand the county’s ethics commission from five members to seven. County Commissioner Priscilla Taylor pushed for the change, saying the commission needed more diversity.

The proposal will go before the committee responsible for drafting changes to the county code, and then back to the county commission for a final vote.

Independent community groups are responsible for selecting the ethics commission’s members.

Lobbying

“Senate lobbying data revamp causing problems for data watchdogs” by Dave Levinthal in the Center for Public Integrity.

“Lobbyists rush to shape immigration deal” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

Georgia: “Lobbyists asked to sponsor Senate lunches” by Kristina Torres in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Michigan: “Lobbying expenses add up in 2012” by Kristen M. Daum in the Battle Creek Enquirer.

Campaign Finance

Kansas: “House panel may allow politicians to rollover campaign funds” by Tim Carpenter in the Topeka Capital-Journal.

Missouri: “Seminar will focus on Missouri campaign finance laws” by Paul Hampel in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

South Dakota: Legislature: “Panel endorses greater campaign disclosure” in the Argus Leader.

Ethics

“Attorneys Want Public Input on Ethics Office Rules Changes” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

Kansas: “Bill would set term limits for Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission” by Scott Rothschild in the Lawrence Journal World.

Maryland: “Reprimand, apology recommended for lawmaker” by Erin Cox and Michael Dresser in the Baltimore Sun.

Redistricting

“Emails show legislative staff talked with party over redistricting maps” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.

Campaign Finance

New York: “Newest NY Senator says she’ll fight for campaign finance reform” by Karen DeWitt in North Country Public Radio.

Lobbying

“Unregistered Lobbyists Keep Business Humming” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Business Roundtable Head Says CEOs Will Be Visible Lobbyists” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

California: “Capitol lobbying rises” by Laurel Rosenhall” in the Sacramento Bee.

Georgia: “House vs. Senate on the lobbyist gift ban” by Chris Joyner in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

New Jersey:  “State watch: Hidden persuaders and local lobbying” by David Neese in the Trentonian.

Ethics

Nebraska: “Nebraska’s lieutenant governor quits amid scandal” by The Associated Press in the Los Angeles Times.

From the State Legislatures

Nevada: “All you need to know about the 77th Legislature convening today” by Anjeanette Damon and David McGrath in the Las Vages Sun.

Ohio: “Lawmaking 101: There’s a process” by Jim siegel in the Columbus Dispatch.

Wisconsin:“Lawmakers Have Mixed Feelings About Part Time Legislature” Marti Mikkelson on WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio.

NCSL’s “Legislative Social Media Sites”

Open Government

Missouri: “Mo. measure seeks to strengthen open records law” by The Associated Press in the News Tribune.

Federal:

Menendez Pushes Back on Scandal Implications

On K Street, Score One for the Little Guy

From the States and Municipalities:

Colorado

Accidental E-mail Attachment Gets Lobbyist in Hot Water with Senate Majority Leader

Florida

House Proposes Closing Slush Funds, Raising Contribution Limits

Georgia

Georgia Speaker Unveils Sweeping Ethics Legislation

Hawaii

Lobbying Lessons: What Hawaii can learn from other states

Idaho

Armed Man in Security Video is Sorry He Alarmed Idaho Legislators

Illinois

Ex-Illinois State Ethics Panel Member Gets Ethics Fine

Kansas

Labor Groups Suffer Blow in Kansas House

Michigan

Some Lawmakers Wonder Why It’s Necessary for Michigan to Be One of Only Four States with True Full-Time Legislature

North Carolina

N.C. Budget Chairs Change Seats, Start Lobbying Careers

Pennsylvania

Pa. Lawmaker Seeks to Change Offensive Name of Mountain

Rhode Island

RI Rep: Ban lobbyist contributions during session

South Carolina

Ethics Panel Created by Gov. Haley Releases Report

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.

Lobbying

“Lobbyist for lobbyists steps away” by Dave Levinthal in The Center for Public Integrity.

Florida: “Wilton Manors mayor takes on lobbying ban in county ethics code” by Brittany Wallman in the Sun Sentinel.

Idaho: “Dueling petitions: Signers have some fun at lobbyist’s expense” in the Idaho Statesman.

Campaign Finance

“Obama’s Flip-Flops on Money in Politics: A Brief History” by Justin Elliott (ProPublica) in the Huffington Post.

“Justice to SCOTUS: Don’t allow direct corporate campaign spending” by Alison Frankel in Thomson Reuters.

Florida: “House proposes closing slush funds, raising contribution limits” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.

Indiana: “Some familiar names make campaign-finance violation list” by Kevin Leininger in the News-Sentinel.

Rhode Island: “RI Rep: ban lobbyist contributions during session” by The Associated Press in NECN.

Ethics

Colorado: “Gessler sues ethics commission to stop investigation of his spending” by Tim Hoover in the Denver Post.

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Ethics Commission hires general counsel” by Michael McNutt in the Oklahoman.

South Carolina: “Disgraced Former Gov. Mark Sanford Is Ready To Make Another Move” by Alan Greenblatt on NPR.

Open Government

South Dakota: “South Dakota lawmakers reject plan to record closed meetings” in the Sioux City Journal.

Lobbying

“K Street Files: Defense, Tax Aides Join McBee” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

California: “Former assemblyman registers as a lobbyist” by Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee.

Georgia: “Georgia speaker unveils sweeping ethics legislation” by Chris Joyner in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Missouri: “Lawmaker: Legislators should never become lobbyists” by Bob Watson in the News Tribune.

Campaign Finance

“FEC Increases Contribution Limits for 2014” by Kyle Trygstad in Roll Call.

Montana: “Montana legislators, groups at odds on campaign donation limits” by Mike Dennison in the Missoulian.

New York: “On Campaign Finance Reform, Senate Republicans Stand in Gov. Cuomo’s Way” opinion piece by John Petro in the Huffington Post.

Ethics

“Ethics Office Opened 32 Cases During 112th Congress” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

Hawaii: “Honolulu Ethics Commission Wants to Double Its Resources to Fight Public Corruption” in the Hawaii Reporter.

Illinois: “Former state ethics commissioner hit with $2,500 ethics violation” by Rafael Guerrero in the Chicago Tribune.

Maine: “Bill would bar state officials from quitting to immediately work for industries they regulated” by Naomi Schalit and John Christie in the Bangor Daily News.

New York: “NY ethics board talks conflicts in secret session” by The Associated Press in the Albany Times Union.

New York: “Ex-aide to City Controller John Liu snared in campaign finance fraud probe is granted immunity to testify in former treasurer’s trial” by Robert Gearty in the New York Daily News.

South Carolina: “SC Supreme Court to hear Nikki Haley ethics case” by Andrew Shain in The State.

Elections

Michigan: “Snyder nixes plan to split Michigan electoral votes” by Alexander Burns in Politico.

Ohio: “State Sen. Turner proposes election reform package” by Joe Hallett in the Columbus Dispatch.

Ohio: “Secretary of State Jon Husted and other Republicans say Electoral College changes not in store for Ohio” by Henry J. Gomez in the Plain Dealer.

Open Government

Mississippi: “Mississippi gets low grades for transparency on state, local websites” by Donna Harris in the Sun Herald.

South Dakota: “Legislature: Public records plan falls short” by David Montgomery in the Argus Leader.

Lobbying

“K Street Files: New Faces at Harlow Foundation, Thorn Run” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Abramoff lists 8 tips to overhaul lobbying laws” by Keith Matheny in USA Today.

“10 Strange Lobbying Groups That We Swear Are Real” by Elizabeth Flock in U.S. News & World Report.

Kentucky:  “Kentucky sets lobbying record in 2012” by Phil Impellizzeri in the Bluegrass Institute.

Nevada: “Former Nevada legislative director joins high profile public relations, lobbying firm” by The Associated Press in The Republic.

Campaign Finance

Missouri: “Nixon makes pitch for Medicaid, campaign donation limits” by Virginia Young in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Utah:  “Some ethics bills advance, while calls arise for more” by Lee Davidson in the Salt Lake Tribune.

Vermont: “Ben and Jerry push campaign finance ‘petition on steroids’” Dan D’Ambrosio in the Burlington Free Press.

Ethics

Arizona: “Arizona Democrats introduce trio of ethics bills” by AJ Vicens in Cronkite News.

Arizona: “Arizona Democrats introduce trio of ethics bills” by Mary Jo Pitzl in the Arizona Republic.

New Jersey: “Christie make case for taking over independent agencies” by Matt Katz in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

South Carolina: “Gov.’s commission suggests ‘clean, honest’ ethics plan” by Andrew Shain in The State.

Texas: “Ethics Commission to Debate Fundraising Opinion” by Emily Ramshaw in the Texas Tribune.

Virginia: “Va. lawmakers’ gifts last year were padded with travel” by Bill Sizemore in the Virginian-Pilot.

Redistricting

North Carolina: “Judges to hear N.C. redistricting challenge” by Dale Gibson in the Triangle Business Journal.

Virginia: “Va. Senate OK’s constitutional amendments” by Laura Vozzella in the Washington Post.

Wisconsin: “Rep. Vos subpoenaed in Wisconsin redistricting case” by The Associated Press in the Post Crescent.

The Commission on Ethics Reform, formed by Governor Nikki Haley in October, 2012, has released 23 recommendations following a series of public meetings. Recommendation 12 would revise lobbying definitions to cover individuals who lobby any political subdivision of the state, including counties, city councils, municipalities, school districts, and special purpose or public service districts.

The commission hopes to offset the additional cost associated with expanding lobbying registration and reporting by increasing the registration fee for lobbyists and lobbyist principals. Whether or not the reform recommendations will produce new legislation is up to state lawmakers.

Lobbying

“D.C. Circuit Upholds Conviction of Former Abramoff Lobbying Associate” by Tom Ruger in the Blog of the Legal Times.

Arizona: “Inquiry of Fiesta Bowl lobbyist drags on” by Craig Harris in the Arizona Republic.

Georgia:  “Lobbyist gifts decline amid citizen outcry” by Chris Joyner in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Hawaii: “Hawaii legislators push reforming ethics rules for lobbyists and public officials” by Anita Hofschneider (Associated Press) in The Republic.

Kentucky:  “Some notes on 2012 lobbying spending” by Tom Loftus in the Courier-Journal.

New Mexico: “Lobbyists haven’t reported all event expenses” by Steve Terrell in the Santa Fe New Mexican.

North Carolina:  “N.C. budget chairs change seats, start lobbying careers” by Rob Christensen in the Charlotte Observer.

Washington: “Spin Control: Lobbying season kicks off in Olympia” by Jim Camden in the Spokesman Review.

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Campaign finance violations targeted” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez in the Arizona Republic.

Montana:  “Montana bill seeks cash to fight ‘dark money‘” by Matt Gouras (Associated Press) in the Great Falls Tribune.

Ethics

South Dakota: “Sunshine laws draw support, resistance” by David Montgomery in the Argus Leader.

Government Tech and Social Media

“6 Ways to Optimize Gov-to-Citizen Communication” by Colin Wood in Government Technology.

Legislative Issues

Arizona: “Arizona’s new Legislature not demographically representative of population” by Mary Jo Pitzl in the Arizona Republic.

Federal:

Citizens United Third Anniversary Marked By Reformers with Push for Constitutional Amendment

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona – Former Arizona Lawmaker Ben Arredondo Avoids Prison Time

Florida – Florida Group Wants to End Caps on Campaign Donations

Hawaii – Lobbying Reform Is a Tough Sell in Hawaii’s Legislature

Kansas – Business, Labor Clash over Bill Aimed at Restricting Union Politicking

Kentucky – Lobbyists Spend Record Amount in Kentucky

Nevada – Lawmakers Anxious in Wake of Alleged Threats to Assembly Speaker

North Dakota – North Dakota to Move Forward on Ethics Reform

Ohio – Ex-Legislator Sent to Prison for Corruption

Utah – New Utah Congressman Has Ties That Bind: Family

Washington – Bill Imposing a Lobbyist Fee Gets Mixed Reactions Lobbying

West Virginia – U.S. Appeals Court OKs Some W.Va. Election Ad Rules

Wisconsin – Contract Lobbying Still Under the Radar

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.