November 24, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – November 24, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
States Challenge ‘Secret’ Campaign Money
Unions Flexed Muscles in State Campaigns
Federal:
David Petraeus Affair Scandal Tests Washington Code
Forget Creativity: Can lobbying be taught?
From the States and Municipalities:
California
Go Lorrie’s Executives Plead Guilty to Money Laundering in 2011 Mayor’s Race
Florida
Homestead Mayor’s Wife Bought Developer’s Mercedes
Georgia
Governor Denied in Bid to Recover Legal Fees from Watchdog
Illinois
15 Members of Joe Berrios’ Family on County, State Payrolls
Ohio
Fix Redistricting? Sure, But How?
Rhode Island
RI Ethics Board to Require Officials to Disclose Out-of-State Travel Expenses Paid by Others
Rhode Island
Struggling RI City’s Ex-Mayor Pleads Guilty to Federal Corruption Charge over Gifts
Washington
Tea Partiers Fight Disclosure Law in the Ninth
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.
November 20, 2012 •
Executive Director for OK Ethics Commission to be Selected Soon
Current Director Leaves November 30
A new executive director for the Oklahoma Ethics Commission may be selected next week.
According to The Oklahoman, commissioners intend to interview the final four applicants, all from Oklahoma, for the position on November 27.
Outgoing executive director Marilyn Hughes, who has held the position for nearly 25 years, is leaving the job on November 30.
Also retiring on November 30 are the Ethics Commission’s general counsel, Rebecca Adams, and its investigator, Darey Roberts. Ms. Adams was general counsel for the last 21 years and Mr. Roberts its investigator for 17 years.
November 16, 2012 •
One Last News Roundup for the Week
Enjoy your weekend!
Lobbying
“Targeting the ‘Lobbyist’ Next Door” by Jeanette M. Petersen in The Wall Street Journal.
“K Street Files: The British Are Coming to Venn” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
Campaign Finance
“Watchdog group files FEC complaint against Crossroads GPS” by T.W. Farnam in The Washington Post.
“Technology Leaders Endorse Effort to Overhaul Campaign Finance” by Thomas Kaplan in The New York Times.
“California’s political watchdog agency will probe $11 million political donation” by Steven Harmon in the Mercury News.
Michigan: “Campaign finance software updates designed to make filing easier; Candidate committees to experience simpler data entry” in Equities.com.
New York: “NYC Campaign Finance Board Throws The Book At Ex-Brooklyn Councilman Kendall Stewart” by Celeste Katz in New York Daily News.
Ethics
New York: “Annapolis to rewrite ethics rules for elected officials” by Erin Cox in the Baltimore Sun.
“Longtime Oklahoma Ethics Commission workers are honored” by Michael McNutt in the Oklahoman.
November 16, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – November 16, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
If Your Side Lost The Election, Time to Secede from The Union?
Super-Sized Majorities Shift Legislative Power
Federal:
Campaign Finance Reformers Get Back to Work after Record Election Spending
Is Part of Voting Rights Act Outdated, Unfair? High Court to Decide
From the States and Municipalities:
Arizona
Tougher Campaign Finance Disclosure Laws Sought
California
After Election, State Lawmakers and Interest Groups Travel in Tandem
Georgia
Georgia Lawmakers Get Luxury-Box Tickets to Dome
Maryland
Ethics Oversight Board Hasn’t Met in Years
Ohio
Ohio Elections Panel Again Clears Gerald McFaul in Controversial Campaign Finance Case
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Ethics Commission Narrows Field of Applicants
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.
November 14, 2012 •
Wednesday Government Relations News Roundup
Here are the latest articles about campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics:
Campaign Finance
“Campaign Finance Reformers Get Back To Work After Record Election Spending” by Paul Blumenthal in the Huffington Post.
“Abramoff, Occupy Wall Street join forces on campaign finance reform” by Megan M. Wilson in The Hill.
“U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown calls for campaign finance reform” by Stephanie Warsmith in the Akron Beacon Journal.
Lobbying
“Lobbyists Woo New Lawmakers in D.C. Mating Dance” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
“Incoming freshman lawmakers already have bundlers on K St.” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
“Tax fight sneaks up on K Street” by Bernie Becker and Peter Schroeder in The Hill.
“Rove Super PAC will try lobbying” by Rachel Weiner in The Washington Post.
Florida: “Cretul, Cannon are lobbyists; former speakers start new firm” by Bill Thompson in the Gainesville Sun.
Ethics
“Secretary of state accused of moving too slow on PAC ethics complaint” by Steve Terrell in the Santa Fe New Mexican.
“Montreal Hackathon Aims to Combat Government Corruption” by Elisabeth Fraser in TechPresident.
Redistricting
“Ohio State Bar Association urges commission to take up redistricting reform” by Kate Irby in the Plain Dealer.
November 14, 2012 •
Groups Wants Lower Cap for Federal Contractor Compensation
$400,000
Some federal employees and interest groups are asking lawmakers to lower the cap on non-Department of Defense (DOD) contractor compensation.
Yesterday, in a letter addressed to leaders of the Senate and House Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittees, a coalition of 11 public interest, government accountability, research, and labor groups urged a reduction in the maximum allowable compensation to $400,000 for non-DOD contract employees.
Referring to a Senate version of the 2013 Financial Services Appropriations Bill that is being considered by Congress, the letter argues the cap is needed for “fiscal responsibility and fairness.” The petitioners submit the increase in allowable governmental compensation to contractors has “outpaced inflation by 53 percent” in the last 12 years while the salaries for government employees, the military workforce, and elected officials has stagnated or been frozen.
The letter reasons, “It is grossly unfair to expect working people to pay for the inflated salaries for contractor employees.”
November 13, 2012 •
Annapolis, Maryland Mayor Introduces Ethics Code Changes
State Ethics Commission has already received and approved the draft changes.
Mayor Joshua J. Cohen has introduced legislation to revise the city’s ethics code, based upon recommendations prepared by the City Ethics Commission. Ordinance 41-12 will grant the commission additional power to impose penalties for ethics violations and will prohibit city officials from accepting tickets to sporting events.
The proposed legislation was reviewed and approved by the State Ethics Commission in late October. Annapolis is required by a 2011 state law to revise certain provisions of its ethics code.
November 13, 2012 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News
Don’t miss the articles you need to keep up with the latest news about lobbying, campaign finance, and ethics:
Campaign Finance
“Result Won’t Limit Campaign Money Any More Than Ruling Did” by Nicholas Confessore in The New York Times.
“It’s hard to follow the money” by Ruth Marcus in the Columbia Daily Tribune.
“Campaign finance reform on Klobuchar’s to-do list” by John Croman in KARE11 News.
“Super-PACs already planning for 2014” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.
“Colbert shuts down super PAC” by Kevin Robillard in Politico.
California: “Secret donation hindered campaigns, GOP advisors say” by Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times.
Illinois: “Illinois congressional races belie fears that outside, anonymous money can buy elections” by John O’Connor in The Republic.
Kentucky: “Three Kentucky Agencies Probe Requests for Political Contributions” by The Associated Press in WKU Public Radio.
Montana: “Montana Voters Overwhelmingly Said That Corporations Aren’t People” by Erin Fuchs in Business Insider.
Oklahoma: “Oklahoma political action committee fails to file campaign financial reports” by Michael McNutt in the Oklahoman.
Texas: “County moving toward digitizing campaign finance reports” by Nolan Hicks in the San Antonio Express-News.
Lobbying
“Super PACs Make Move to Lobbying” by Elizan Newlin Carney in Roll Call.
“Street Talk: Plum K St. Jobs Scarce in Post-Election Market” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
“Good news for lobbyists: Cyber dollars” by James Ball in The Washington Post.
“Majority of K Street Lobbyists’ Former Capitol Hill Staff” by David K. Rehr in the Huffington Post.
California: “Tim Howe, longtime political consultant and lobbyist, dies” by Robert D. Davila in the Sacramento Bee.
Ethics
District of Columbia: “Former DC Council chairman to be sentenced for bank fraud, campaign finance violation” by The Associated Press in The Washington Post.
Illinois: “Blago gets ‘booked’” by Mackenzie Weinger in Politico.
Maryland: “Annapolis To Revise City Ethics Code” by Anna Staver in the Annapolis Patch.
Campaigns and Elections
“Obama’s Victory Is a Win for Big Data” by Steve Towns in Government Technology.
November 9, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – November 9, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Spending by Independent Groups Had Little Election Impact, Analysis Finds
From the States and Municipalities:
Arkansas
State Senator’s Campaign Money Went to Girlfriend, Records Show
California
California’s $11 Million Campaign Donation Source Tied to Koch Brothers, Research Reveals
California
Labor Defeats Anti-Union Initiative in California
Colorado
Denver DA Launches Criminal Probe of Secretary of State Scott Gessler
Georgia
50 State Lawmakers Back Ethics Pledge
Illinois
Indicted Former Lawmaker [Wins] State House race
Massachusetts
Trial Starts; Jury to Decide if Cahill Broke Ethics Law during Campaign
Montana
Secretive Conservative Group’s Records Released
Ohio
Issues 1, 2 Overwhelmingly Defeated
Texas
HISD Trustee Got Cut of Contracts Awarded to Associate, Records Show
Washington
Ethics Fines May Follow Gifts of Liquor to City Light Trainer
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.
November 6, 2012 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News
Don’t miss the articles you need to keep up with the latest news about lobbying, campaign finance, and elections:
Campaign Finance
“Outside Spending Defines Elections” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.
California: “California’s 11th-hour, $11 million campaign finance uproar” by Alexander Burns in Politico.
California: “California watchdog only half-way to bottom of Arizona donation” by Peter Henderson (Reuters) in the Chicago Tribune.
Maine: “Ethics Commission Rules a Republican Candidate Violated State Election Law” by The Associated Press in WABI News.
Lobbying
“2 firms unite in Capitol lobbying” by Mary Jo Pitzl in the Arizona Republic.
Ethics
“Campaigns use secretive ethics process as weapon against opponents” by Jordy Yager in The Hill.
Campaigns and Elections
“One Final Preview of the Election” by Meagan Dorsch in NCSL’s The Thicket.
“5 Unforgettable Social Media Election Moments” by Juliet Barbara in Forbes.
“How to cut through social media noise on Election Night” by Jenna Sakwa on CBS News.
November 5, 2012 •
Congress May Constitutionally Bar Federal Contractors from Contributing to Candidates
District Court Decision
A Federal District Court has held Congress may constitutionally bar federal contractors from contributing to candidates, parties, and their committees.
Finding in favor of the Federal Election Committee (FEC), the United States District Court for The District of Columbia granted a summary judgment on Friday, November 2.
In Wagner v. FEC, the Court rejected challenges to the constitutionality of section 441c of Title 2 of the U.S. Code, which prohibits any vendors with contracts with the federal government from making political contributions to federal candidates or political parties.
The case, initially brought by the ACLU, asked the Court to declare the law unconstitutional as applied to individuals who have personal services contracts with federal agencies. Because federal workers who are not contractors may make federal political contributions, while contractors performing the same work may not, the suit argued section 441c violates both the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution and the First Amendment.
The Court found no First Amendment or Equal-Protection violations, noting “the dissimilar roles of contractors and employees, moreover, justify the distinct regulatory schemes that the Government has fashioned.”
November 5, 2012 •
Monday News Roundup
Let’s start off the week with these lobbying, campaign finance, and ethics news articles:
Lobbying
“Start-ups aim for a more democratic lobbying system” by Jeffrey MacMillan in the Washington Post.
“More banks raise efforts on lobbying” by Carter Dougherty (Bloomberg) in NorthJersey.com.
Campaign Finance
“Former lawmakers sit on piles of cash” by Molly K. Hooper in The Hill.
Arizona: “Updated: Arizona group ordered to turn over campaign donation records” by The Associated Press in the East Valley Tribune.
Arkansas: “State senator’s campaign money went to girlfriend, records show” by John Lyon in the Arkansas News.
California: “Fight over campaign donation audit goes to California top court” by Tim Gaynor in Reuters.
Michigan: “Campaign spending in Michigan hits $175M” by Chad Livengood in the Detroit News.
Nevada: “Dollars in the Desert: Nevada State Senate Contest Rakes in Big Money” by Ben Wieder in Stateline.
Oklahoma: “Super PACs altering Oklahoma’s political landscape” by Randy Krehbiel and Curtis Killman in the Tulsa World.
Washington: “Big names and big money define Washington state election” by The Associated Press in The Oregonian.
Ethics
“2 top Texas judges on ballot fighting ethics fines” by Jim Vertuno in the Austin American-Statesman.
Campaigns and Elections
“New Jersey to allow voting by e-mail and fax” by Ginger Gibson in Politico.
“In Legislative Elections, Majorities and Supermajorities at Stake” by Josh Goodman in Stateline.
November 2, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – November 2, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Little Girl Cries over ‘Bronco Bamma’
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
AEA Plays Bigger Role in Politics than Teachers Unions in Most Other States, Study Finds
California
Anti-Tax Group’s Support Can Come with a Price
California
Arizona Nonprofit Must Reveal $11 Million Donor Details
District of Columbia
Inspector General Audit Details Hiring, Ethics Abuses at MWAA
Florida
Justin Lamar Sternad Invokes Fifth Amendment Right in FEC
Idaho
Idaho Nonprofit Reveals Donors after Losing Lawsuit; Bloomberg Gave $200K, Scott $250K
Maine
Senate District 25 Candidate Lachowicz Cleared by Ethics Panel
Michigan
Term Limits Launching Political Careers, Free Press Analysis Shows
Mississippi
Officials to Call for New Anti-Corruption Laws
Montana
Political Practices Reports Apparent Break-in
North Dakota
Judge Blocks ND Election Day Campaign Ban
West Virginia
WV House of Delegates Candidate Killed Because of Storm, Still on Ballot
Wisconsin
Five Wisconsin Lawmakers Settle Suit with Groups Seeking ALEC E-mails
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.
November 1, 2012 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying, Campaign Finance, Ethics
From the States
“Capitols After Dark: A Haunting Prospect” by Mark Wolf in NCSL’s The Thicket.
Lobbying
“Romney Would Limit Lobbyist Roles” by Damian Paletta and Brody Mullins in The Wall Street Journal.
Campaign Finance
“Billionaires, outside groups fueled pricey campaigns” by The Associated Press in the Dallas Morning News.
“30 Issues: Why You Should Care About … Campaign Finance” by Ibby Caputo on WGBH.
California: “Limit on campaign contributions may be increasing the spending of outside groups” by Stephen Hobbs in the Richmond Confidential.
Ethics
“City Council OKs overhaul of ethics board” by Fran Speilman in the Chicago Sun Times.
Campaigns and Elections
“Romney Campaign Will Use Smartphones To Track Voter Turnout” by Sarah Lai Stirland in TechPresident.
“Why there won’t likely be an electoral vote/popular vote split — in one map” by Chris Cillizza in The Washington Posts’ The Fix.
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.
