Limits and Reporting
Nevada Assemblyman Pat Hickey has called for campaign finance, lobbying, and ethic reforms.
Assemblyman Hickey’s recommendations include expanding the reporting of lobbyists’ expenditures to include those made when the legislature is not in session, limiting political contributions to PACs, and creating a ‘cooling off’ period before an ex-legislator may become a lobbyist.
As reported in the Las Vegas Sun, the Assemblyman is also suggesting there be ‘real time’ reporting of political contributions.
Assemblyman Hickey made these recommendations at a news conference and has not yet requested a draft bill for these proposed changes. The Nevada Legislature currently is not in session and not scheduled to meet again until 2013.
More information from the Las Vegas Sun can be found here and here.
Photo of Assemblyman Pat Hickey courtesy of the Nevada Legislature Website.
May 17, 2012 •
Thursday News Roundup
Here are today’s campaign finance, lobbying, government ethics, and legislative news articles:
Campaign Finance
New Mexico: “King Appeals Ruling on PAC Donations” by James Monteleone in the Albuquerque Journal.
Lobbying
“Ex-lawmakers on K Street avoid ‘Scarlet L,’ shy away from registering as lobbyists” by Kevin Bogardus and Rachel Leven in The Hill.
“Common Cause complaint: ALEC skirting lobbying laws” by Beth Hawkins in MinnPost.com.
“Sports Lobby Is a Multi-Million-Dollar Enterprise” by Laurie Bennett in First Street.
Phildaelphia, PA: “Blackwell, others fined for campaign violations” by Catherine Lucey in the Philadelphia Daily News.
Washington: “Washington State Public Disclosure Commission adds lobbying data to online database” in the Maple Valley Reporter.
Ethics
Arizona: “State legislator Arredondo indicted in FBI sting” by JJ Hensley, Mary Jo Pitzl, and Craig Harris in The Arizona Republic.
Missouri: “Spence criticized for handing out sports tickets to lawmakers” by Jake Wagman in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania governor, lawmakers report gifts, travel” by John L. Micek in The Morning Call.
From the State Legislatures
Alabama: “Bentley calls special session to address redistricting” by Sebastian Kitchen in the Montgomery Advertiser.
California: “California’s Prop. 28 would let legislative leaders serve longer stints” by Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee.
May 16, 2012 •
Today’s Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Ethics News
Here is a summary of the latest news articles for you:
Campaign Finance
“Ads highlight cozy campaign-super PAC relationship” by Beth Fouhy in The Associated Press.
“Sen. McCain huddles with Dems on campaign finance reform” by Alexander Bolton in The Hill.
“Edwards’ campaign finance chairman paid mistress” by Michael Biesecker in Bloomberg Businessweek.
“Judges refuse to block disclosure ruling” by The Associated Press in Bloomberg Businessweek.
“Election decision may force disclosure of secret donors” by Matea Gold in the Los Angeles Times.
Lobbying
“Lobbying firms get big paydays in Tallahassee” by Jim Saunders in The Miami Herald.
“Law firm’s collapse leaves lobbying clients up for grabs” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
Ethics
“Ethics Panel Opens Inquiry Into No. 2 Leader in State Senate” by Danny Hakim in The New York Times.
“‘Stunt’ alleged in ethics pursuit” by Casey Seiler in the Albany Times Union.
May 14, 2012 •
Monday’s News Roundup
Keep up with the latest campaign finance, ethics, and redistricting news:
Campaign Finance
“FEC to Congress: Expand ban on personal use of political committee funds” by Rachel Leven in The Hill.
Ethics
Arkansas: “Group throws financial weight behind ethics reform initiative” by Rob Moritz in Arkansas News.
Florida: “Gov. Rick Scott’s chief of staff draws ethics complaint for using state staff to apply for a job” by May Ellen Klas in The Miami Herald.
Florida: “Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s Chief of Staff Resigns Amid Scrutiny of State Contracts Awarded Friends” by Mary Ellen Klas in Governing.
Redistricting
Alaska: “State redistricting board will meet Monday to address supreme court concerns in SE Alaska” by The Associated Press in The Republic.
Arizona: “Clean Elections Commission weighs in on redistricting suit” by Mary Jo Pitzl in the Arizona Republic.
Kansas: “Kansas redistricting fight may navigate to the courts” in the Kansas City Business Journal.
May 11, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 11, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
Crop of College Super PACs Answer Call of Stephen Colbert
Federal:
Super PAC Supporting Romney Rethinks Donations from Federal Contractors
From the States and Municipalities:
California
Bond Firms’ Campaign Gifts Linked to Sales Pacts
Connecticut
Legislature Splits with Malloy over Campaign Bill
Florida
Palm Beach County’s Lobbying ‘Cone of Silence’ Questioned
Georgia
Despite Gift Ban, State Leaders Taking Them
Michigan
SEC Says Kilpatrick Extracted Lavish Gifts
Nevada
Political Favors ‘Just the Way You Do Business Here,’ Lobbyists Say
New Jersey
N.J. Senate Minority Leader Introduces Bill to Expand ‘Pay-to-Play’ to Labor Unions
North Carolina
Democrats Ask for Ethics Review of Tillis’ Office
Oklahoma
FBI Behind Illegal Contributions to Oklahoma Lawmakers
West Virginia
Unpopular Obama: Texas prison inmate gets four in 10 votes in Democratic primary in West Virginia
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.
May 10, 2012 •
Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Roundup
Keep up with the latest news items with the following articles:
Lobbying
“Panel discusses effect of campaign and finance reforms on lobbyist spending at St. Peter’s College” by Charles Hack in the Jersey Journal.
“Political favors ‘just the way you do business here,’ lobbyists say” by Joe Schoenmann in the Los Vegas Sun.
Jack Abramoff makes another statement in “Ex-lobbyist: Lawmakers, not lawbreakers, to blame” by Ross Ramsey in the San Angelo Standard-Times.
Campaign Finance
Connecticut: “Legislature splits with Malloy over campaign bill” by Mark Pazniokas in the Connecticut Mirror.
Louisiana: “Senate moves Jindal ethics bills” by Marsha Shuler in the Baton Rouge Advocate.
New Hampshire: “NH Senate considers campaign reporting today” by Grant Bosse in the New Hampshire Watchdog.
New Hampshire: “Campaign finance bill targets nonprofits” by Ted Siefer in the Union Leader.
Vermont: “State senator resigns from committee over campaign finance bill” by Olga Peters in The Commons Online.
Super Pacs
“Dem pollster: Independents want candidates to address money in politics” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
“Insight: Super PACS: Follow the money – if you can” by Marcus Stern, Kristina Cooke and Alexander Cohen (Reuters) in the Chicago Tribune.
May 8, 2012 •
Mass. OCPF Director Reappointed
For new six-year term
Michael Sullivan, the Director of the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, has been reappointed for another six-year term to the agency.
According to the Boston Herald, the decision was unanimous to reappoint Sullivan, who has been the director for almost 18 years.
For full news coverage, read:
“Michael Sullivan reappointed as OCPF chief” by Gintautas Dumcius in the Boston Herald.
A thank you goes to Jim Sedor, Editor of News You Can Use, for alerting us to this news.
May 4, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 4, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
Crowd-Sourcing Site Aims to Give Voters Lobbying Power
Federal:
Conservative Group Seeks FEC Approval to Keep Donors Secret
Obama Campaign Puts Bo on the Trail
From the States and Municipalities:
California
Lawmakers Mix Work with Fundraising in Sacramento
Illinois
Mayor’s Ethics Panel Offers Tweaks, Plans to Take Bigger Steps
Kentucky
Audit: Richie Farmer abused system
Maine
Lawmakers Decry Corruption Claim
Maryland
Legislation Would Give State Voters More Political Gift Information
Montana
Groups Ask That Montana Judge Toss Ban Restricting Campaign Donations
North Carolina
Second Tillis Staffer Admits to Inappropriate Relationship with a Lobbyist
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Ethics Panel Reprimands OU Doctor for Accepting Excessive Speaking Fees
Texas
Austin Approves New Campaign Finance Rules
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.
May 2, 2012 •
Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Ethics News
Take a look at our latest news roundup:
Campaign Finance
New York: “Senate Democrats call for campaign finance reform” by Bill Lambdin on WNYT.com.
Vermont: “Campaign finance bill sent to Judiciary Committee” by Terri Hallenbeck in the Burlington Free Press.
Lobbying
North Carolina: “Second Tillis staffer admits to inappropriate relationship with a lobbyist” by Dan Kane and John Frank in the Charlotte Observer.
Texas: “Texas legislator fined for failure to disclose gifts” in the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
Ethics
District of Columbia: “D.C. Council Backs Off Pressuring Mayor to Select Ethics Panel” by Tom Sherwood on NBCWashington.com.
South Carolina: “SC House votes to open investigations into its own if ethics committee finds probable cause” by Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) in The Republic.
April 30, 2012 •
Today’s News Roundup
Keep up with the latest campaign finance, ethics, and government tech news:
Campaign Finance
“FCC’s political ad rule disappoints supporters and foes alike” by Andrew Feinberg in The Hill.
“The FCC Makes Campaign Finance (a Bit) More Transparent” by Kirsten Salyer in Bloomberg.
“FCC Approves Political Ad Rule” by Amy Schatz in The Wall Street Journal.
Ethics
“Former State Senator Is Sentenced to 7 Years in Vast Bribery Case” by Benjamin Weiser in The New York Times.
“Illinois Gov. Ryan’s Corruption Appeal Sent Back to Lower Court” by The Associated Press in Governing.
“Aaron Schock hit with FEC complaint” by John Bresnahan in Politico.
Campaign and Government Tech
“With the 2012 Election Looming, NRCC Names a New Digital Director” by Nick Judd in TechPresident.
“Philadelphia Embraces The World Of Open Data” by Sarah Lai Stirland in TechPresident.
April 27, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – April 27, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
Conservative Nonprofit Acts as a Stealth Business Lobbyist
Social Media Directors Increasing in Government
Federal:
‘We the People’ Petition Site the Newest Tool in K Street Lobbying Repertoire
Who Pays When The President Travels for The Campaign?
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
California
AT&T Wields Enormous Power in Sacramento
California
California Ethics Czar Urges Disclosure of Payments to Web Pundits
Louisiana
Cap on Legislative Wining and Dining Moves to $56
Minnesota
Debt-Laden Minnesota GOP Notified of Eviction
New York
Lobby Formed for Cuomo Blew Deadline
North Carolina
Charles Thomas, N.C. Speaker’s Top Aide, Linked to Lobbyist
North Dakota
North Dakota Bridles at Neighbor’s Capitol Insult
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Lawmaker Wins and Loses on the Same Day
South Carolina
ALEC Has Special Exemption in South Carolina’s Lobbying Law
West Virginia
Ethics Ruling Regarding House Speaker Raises Concerns
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.
April 20, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – April 20, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
WellPoint Is Focus of Aggressive Effort to Force Political Spending Disclosures
Federal:
Federal Judge Rules for FEC in Contractor Donation Dispute
Mystery Donor Gives $10 Million to Crossroads GPS Group to Run Anti-Obama Ads
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Arizona
Arizona Senate Rejects New Bans on Meals, Donations
California
Corruption Can Leave Cities with Enormous Legal Bills
California
S.B. County Seeks to Bring in Political Watchdogs
Florida
Authorities Call for Tougher Campaign Finance Laws Following Rivera Probe
Illinois
Small Town Rocked by $30 Million Theft Case
New Jersey
How N.J. PACs Are Skirting the Law on ‘Pay-to-Play’
South Carolina
State Ethics Agency Pinched by Staff Shortage
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.
April 17, 2012 •
Today’s News Roundup
Keep up with the latest campaign finance, ethics, and lobbying news:
Campaign Finance
“Rep. Ted Deutch Holds Summit on Overturning Citizens United” via a press release on Rep. Ted Deutsch’s website. The meeting is set for tomorrow.
Alabama: “Campaign finance, PAC-to-PAC transfer law needs teeth, grand jury says” by Brian Lyman in the Montgomery Advertiser.
“Fundraising Numbers Tip Scales of Power” by Joshua Miller in Roll Call.
ALEC
“Midwest Democracy | Study accuses ALEC of ‘secretive influence’ in Missouri Capitol” by Jason Hancock in The Kansas City Star.
Government Ethics
“Figure at center of D.C. campaign finance probe resigns from health-care company” by Mike DeBonis in The Washington Post.
“U.S. congressman under fire for campaign expenses turns to high-powered law firm” by Matt Friedman in the Star-Ledger.
April 13, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – April 13, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Democrats Give Special Interests a Role at Convention
Lobbyists Push Congress to Toughen Rules for Their Industry
White House Abandons Push for Federal Contractors to Disclose Political Giving
From the States and Municipalities:
Alaska
Commission Nominee Withdraws after Racism Accusation Revived
Arkansas
Ethics, Campaign Finance Reform Measure Inspired by Occupy Movement
California
L.A. County Supervisors Campaign for Funds in Lightly Contested Races
Georgia
Gifts Continue to Rain on Lawmakers
Indiana
Union Says Right-to-Work Law Violates Free Speech
Massachusetts
House May Pull PR, CEOs, Communications Specialists into Lobbying Definition
Michigan
Wayne Co. Ethics Rules Get Mixed Welcome
Missouri
Former Missouri Governor Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering
New Mexico
New Charges Filed against NM Town’s Mayor-Elect
Ohio
Josh Mandel, Ohio Treasurer, Sent Top Aide to Beginner’s Course
South Carolina
Ethics Commission Probes Haley’s Campaign Finances
Washington
Ex-Evergreen Instructor Who Owes $119,000 for Ethics Violations Has Disappeared
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.
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.
