Increased Lobbyist Registration Fees Considered
A report by state Auditor Thomas Schweich found that the Missouri Ethics Commission is underfunded and understaffed.
The ethics commission was given new responsibilities in 2010, including additional abilities to initiate investigations and enforce new campaign finance laws.
The commission had been seeking seven new employees to address the new responsibilities, but budgetary constraints led to only two new hires.
The auditor’s report suggests raising lobbyist registration fees to increase revenue.
The report notes, “According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Missouri’s current lobbyist registration fee of $10 per year is one of the five lowest registration fees in the nation.”
August 26, 2011 •
Washington P.D.C. Selects New Director
Andrea McNamara Doyle to Replace Interim Director Doug Ellis
Andrea McNamara Doyle has been selected to be the new director of the Washington Public Disclosure Commission.
Doyle, who has previous experience as a government manager and legislative staff attorney, was chosen from 71 applicants after a several month search.
She will replace interim director Doug Ellis who is retiring from the agency later this year.
August 24, 2011 •
Caudell to Replace Belinfante at Georgia Ethics Commission
Governor Makes Appointment
Governor Nathan Deal has appointed B. Chan Caudell to replace Josh Belinfante as a member of the State Ethics Commission.
Caudell is an attorney and former commissioner of Habersham County, Georgia. He also serves on the board of directors for North Georgia Technical College and is vice chair of Common Cause Georgia as well as the State Bar of Georgia advisory committee that reviews legislation.
Belinfante resigned last week, stating he was looking into running for state senate.
August 23, 2011 •
Vice-Chair Resigns from Georgia Ethics Commission
Considering Run for State Senate
Josh Belinfante, Vice Chairman of the State Ethics Commission, has announced he is resigning his position in order to consider a run for state senate. While he has yet to commit to running for the position, Belinfante has indicated an interest in the seat for senate district 6 following the release of the proposed maps for redistricting.
Belinfante’s resignation comes on the heels of the recent announcement by Chairman Patrick Millsaps that he will be stepping down from his position due to what he has determined to be his illegal appointment by Governor Nathan Deal.
The State Ethics Commission is also currently engaged in the process of finding a person to fill the role of Executive Secretary for the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission following the departure of Stacey Kalberman.
Kalberman’s departure and the termination of the Deputy Executive Secretary position, once held by Sherilyn Streicker, were the result of cost-cutting maneuvers implemented by members of the Commission this past June.
August 19, 2011 •
Director of Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau Announces He’s Leaving
By 2013
Lorne Malkiewich, the director of the Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau, has announced he is retiring before the next regular legislative session in 2013.
Malkiewich told the Reno Gazette-Journal, “I am applying for some jobs and if I get them, then obviously, it would be sooner,” he said. “But otherwise, it will probably be sometime next fall (of 2012). I just wanted to give leadership some notice so they will be able to work on recruiting a new director and things like that.” One of the duties of the Legislative Counsel Bureau is handling lobbyist registration, reporting, and information services.
Malkiewich has been with the Legislative Counsel Bureau since 1981.
Photo of the Nevada State Capitol by Dave Parker on Wikipedia.
August 16, 2011 •
Executive Secretary Position Down to Two
Finalists Named in Search for Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission Position
The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission has announced two finalists for the position of Executive Secretary.
Holly A. LaBerge, one of the finalists, is a former Budget Analyst for the House Budget Office and presently the Director of Government Relations for the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council.
The other finalist is Jerry R. Presley, who has previously been a candidate for public office in the state of Georgia, a registered lobbyist, and the city clerk of Baldwin, Georgia. He is currently the president and owner of Public Policy Consultants of Georgia, L.L.C. No timeline has been set for selecting the new Executive Secretary.
August 2, 2011 •
Frederick County MD’s Proposed Ethics Law
Public Hearing Scheduled
The Frederick County Board of Commissioners voted to have a public hearing for a new ethics ordinance which, among other things, would no longer require lobbyists to disclose their annual income.
Based on one of the state’s recommended models for local ethics laws for counties and cities, the ordinance drew concerns by commissioners that the requirements for lobbyists could be weaker than those currently in place. As an example, Frederick County’s requirements for registration and reporting for grassroots lobbying are not included in the proposed ordinance, which would supersede the current law.
The public hearing has been scheduled for September 6.
July 28, 2011 •
Chicago City Council Passes Ethics Ordinance
Includes Five Key Provisions
On July 28, 2011 the Chicago City Council passed a new ethics reform ordinance. The ordinance is part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s efforts to provide more government transparency.
The new ordinance includes five key provisions. First, it creates a searchable online system for lobbyist registration and reporting. Second, it adds the term “lobbyist” to the group of people subject to the $50 gift restriction per single non-cash gift and $100 aggregated gift limit per each calendar year. Third, the new ordinance prohibits city employees, officials, or their businesses from applying for or receiving loans from lobbyists.
Fourth, the ordinance amends the semi-annual lobbyist activity report form to require lobbyists to disclose all campaign contributions to city elected officials and city employees running for office. Lastly, the ordinance codifies the revolving door provision created by Mayor Emanuel’s May 16, 2011 executive order.
Photo of the Chicago River by Robert S. Donovan on Wikipedia.
July 25, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 25, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Edwards Campaign Owes $2 Million
Pakistan’s Military Plotted to Tilt U.S. Policy, FBI Says
Washington’s Long Debt-Ceiling Debate Hits K Street in the Wallet
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Country Stars Push Senator to Vote
California
Jerry Brown Assumes Uncommon Influence over FPPC
Georgia
Ethics Panelists Gave to Campaigns
Hawaii
Hawaii Ethics Director: Lawmakers ‘Pushed’ the Line on Gifts
Maine
Judge Strikes Down Maine’s Matching Funds Law
Massachusetts
Massachusetts House Democrats Block Debate on Republicans’ Ethics Rules Changes
North Carolina
North Carolina Election Will Go On, Even if No One Is Running
Pennsylvania
Chairman: Ethics board ‘being strangled’ by budget cuts
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Official Fired for Accepting Meals, Gifts from City Contractors
Tennessee
Tennessee GOP Finds Loophole in Campaign Law
Washington
Judge Blocks Washington Limit on Recall Contributions
West Virginia
Some W.Va. Election Ad Rules Again Struck Down
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.
Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.
July 15, 2011 •
Lobbyists to be Audited by Office of State Ethics
Ten Lobbyists to be Audited in Connecticut
Thomas H. Dooley, Chairman of the Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board, will be selecting at random 10 lobbyists to be audited by the Office of State Ethics during an audit selection ceremony on Thursday, July 21, 2011.
The ceremony will be a part of the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting, scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
Lobbyists to be audited will be selected from a pool of all registered client lobbyists.
During audits of these selected client lobbyists, the Office of State Ethics will audit all associated communicator lobbyists.
A list of those selected to be audited will be made available on the website of the Office of State Ethics following the ceremony.
Commission Meetings Must Adhere to New Limitations
The Palm Beach County Ethics Commission has voted to limit the public’s ability to speak on items during final hearings prior to a vote or comment at closed-door sessions where decisions on the pursuit of ethics complaints are made.
The limits are intended to limit decisions being made by members of the commission to the guidance of the ethics code and avoid allowing influence from outside the code to be taken into consideration at a final vote.
Public comment will still be allowed concerning commission policies and on other issues being considered.
July 11, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 11, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
IRS Drops Audits of Political Donors
New Breed of ‘Super PACs,’ Other Independent Groups Could Define 2012 Campaign
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Alabama Democratic Conference Files Lawsuit to Stop New Alabama Law Banning Political Fund Transfers
Arizona
Arizona Conservatives Scramble after Campaign Finance Law’s Defeat
California
Marijuana Lobbyist’s Fundraiser for DA Raises Questions
Veil Drawn on Donors to Latino Caucus-Controlled California Nonprofit
Connecticut
Agent Who Arrested Politicians Now Seeks House Seat
Georgia
Illinois
Mayor Rahm Emanuel Proposing New Round of Ethics Reforms
Iowa
Judge Upholds New Iowa Campaign Disclosure Rules
Massachusetts
House Leader Apologizes for Holocaust Remarks
Michigan
Justices Stop Political Gifts Taken at Work
Minnesota
Campaign Board Rejects NOM’s Efforts to Shield Donors in Marriage Battle
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Lt. Gov. Ard Paying $48,000 Fine
Washington
Ex-Prisons Chief Eldon Vail Says He Resigned Because of an Affair with Subordinate
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.
Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.
July 6, 2011 •
Chicago Mayor is Set to Introduce New Ethics Ordinance
New Chicago Lobbyist Regulations
On Wednesday July 6, 2011, Mayor Rahm Emanuel will introduce a new ethics ordinance containing “the most comprehensive lobbyist disclosure database in the nation.”
Key components of the proposed ordinance include the creation of a searchable real-time database, a $50 gift limit per single non-cash gift given by a lobbyist, a $100 aggregate gift limit per calendar year on gifts from lobbyists, a prohibition on city employees, officials, or their businesses receiving loans from lobbyists, an amendment to the semi-annual lobbyist report form requiring lobbyists to disclose campaign contributions, and a codification of an executive order issued by Mayor Emanuel in May which bars employees from lobbying the city after leaving city employment.
The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission announced they are postponing until further notice the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 12, 2011.
Information concerning a new meeting date will be provided on the Commission website once the date is determined.
Questions concerning the postponement of the meeting may be directed to Lisa M. Dentler, Confidential Secretary, by calling (404) 463-1980.
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.
