May 12, 2016 •
Columbus Mayor Signs Executive Order on Ethics
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther signed Executive Order 2016-01 on Tuesday, May 10, establishing ethics guidelines for public officials. Effective immediately, public officials and employees may not solicit or accept gifts or employment from anyone doing business with the city. They […]
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther signed Executive Order 2016-01 on Tuesday, May 10, establishing ethics guidelines for public officials.
Effective immediately, public officials and employees may not solicit or accept gifts or employment from anyone doing business with the city. They also must wait at least one year after leaving public service before representing any person or entity before a department, board, or commission with respect to a matter they personally participated in while serving with the city.
Designated officials and employees must also file financial disclosure statements each year. The statements must include a description of each gift, or aggregate of gifts, exceeding $75 from certain sources during the previous calendar year.
Ginther believes the order will help to improve public opinion of City Hall.
May 6, 2016 •
Amended MSRB Rule G-20 Effective Today
Today, amendments to a Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) conflict-of-interest rule concerning gifts and gratuities take effect. MSRB Rule G-20 includes restrictions limiting gifts to $100 for municipal advisors giving gifts to employees of entities engaged in municipal securities activities. […]
Today, amendments to a Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) conflict-of-interest rule concerning gifts and gratuities take effect. MSRB Rule G-20 includes restrictions limiting gifts to $100 for municipal advisors giving gifts to employees of entities engaged in municipal securities activities. Municipal advisors are also prohibited from receiving reimbursement of entertainment expenses from the proceeds of an offering of municipal securities. The rule is intended to protect against improprieties and conflicts of interest arising when regulated entities give gifts related to the municipal securities or municipal advisory activities of the recipients’ employers.
May 3, 2016 •
SF Ethics Commission to Hold Interested Persons Meetings
The San Francisco Ethics Commission has announced two interested persons meetings on May 11 and May 16 to discuss a proposed November 2016 ballot measure that would ask San Francisco voters to place new restrictions on lobbyist contributions, bundling of […]
The San Francisco Ethics Commission has announced two interested persons meetings on May 11 and May 16 to discuss a proposed November 2016 ballot measure that would ask San Francisco voters to place new restrictions on lobbyist contributions, bundling of contributions by lobbyists, and gifts from lobbyists.
The feedback from these meetings will be used in the analysis and recommendations on the proposed ballot measure presented at the May 23, 2016 commission meeting.
Written comments and RSVPs can be sent via email to ethics.commission@sfgov.org.
April 25, 2016 •
Former Idaho Lawmaker Pushes for Ethics Changes
Former state lawmaker Holli Woodings is leading the campaign for a voter initiative to make large-scale changes to state ethics laws. Changes would include prohibiting political contributions from state contractors as well as cutting contribution limits across the board, banning […]
Former state lawmaker Holli Woodings is leading the campaign for a voter initiative to make large-scale changes to state ethics laws. Changes would include prohibiting political contributions from state contractors as well as cutting contribution limits across the board, banning gifts of more than $50 from lobbyists, and creating a one-year revolving door provision for public officers.
Having collected the required 48,000 signatures in less than two months, Woodings hopes the measure will appear on the November 2016 ballot. Signature collection will continue to be sure enough valid signatures have been gathered before the April 30 deadline.
April 20, 2016 •
Virginia Senate Rejects Governor’s Amendments to Ethics Bills
Meeting today for its annual veto-session, the Virginia General Assembly turned its attention to ethics legislation amendments recommended by Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Lawmakers recently passed identical bills, Senate Bill 692 and House Bill 1362, to roll back some of the […]
Meeting today for its annual veto-session, the Virginia General Assembly turned its attention to ethics legislation amendments recommended by Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Lawmakers recently passed identical bills, Senate Bill 692 and House Bill 1362, to roll back some of the changes made last year to restrictions on gifts from lobbyists.
McAuliffe proposed tightening the limits further and prohibiting bundling of gifts from multiple sources to avoid the threshold. The Senate, today, voted against adopting those proposals. The governor must now choose between signing or vetoing the bills as passed by both houses.
Photo of the Virginia State Capitol by Anderskev in Wikimedia Commons.
April 15, 2016 •
Honolulu Charter Commission Considers Amending Gift Provisions
The Honolulu Charter Commission is considering a proposal today to clarify conflict-of-interest provisions for city employees and officials. Current charter provisions prohibit employees and officials from soliciting or accepting any gift, directly or indirectly, if it can reasonably be inferred […]
The Honolulu Charter Commission is considering a proposal today to clarify conflict-of-interest provisions for city employees and officials. Current charter provisions prohibit employees and officials from soliciting or accepting any gift, directly or indirectly, if it can reasonably be inferred the gift is intended to influence the officer or employee in the performance of official duties. The new proposal would prohibit only those gifts intended to influence an officer or employee in the performance of official duties and benefiting the official, his or her family, or individuals or organizations with which he or she has a past, present, or future connection.
Proponents argue the proposal creates a clear standard of conduct, while opponents claim the changes would make it more difficult to enforce gift restrictions in the future. It is inherently difficult to prove the intent behind a gift or the existence of a connection with the recipient. The proposal, therefore, will likely result in individuals, namely lobbyists, avoiding penalties. Interestingly enough, several commission members are current or former lobbyists, or work for organizations employing lobbyists.
March 22, 2016 •
Pennsylvania Governor Advocates for Gift Ban for Legislators
Gov. Tom Wolf is pushing to extend the range of the gift ban he imposed on executive branch employees after taking office. His plan is to make his executive order a permanent, statutory prohibition and create a similar restriction on […]
Gov. Tom Wolf is pushing to extend the range of the gift ban he imposed on executive branch employees after taking office. His plan is to make his executive order a permanent, statutory prohibition and create a similar restriction on gifts to legislators.
While the reception he has received from Democratic lawmakers has been positive, Republicans, who control both houses of the General Assembly, are less eager to make a change. Gov. Wolf has stated he would prefer a complete ban, but is willing to work with legislators on a compromise. With ongoing budget issues, however, ethics reform appears to be taking a back seat for the time being.
February 2, 2016 •
Alexandria City Council Approves Initiative for Greater Ethical Standards
The Alexandria City Council enacted a resolution over the weekend to promote greater transparency and ethics guidelines for city officials. The resolution, in part, creates a nine-member committee to draft a code of conduct and ethics pledge for elected and […]
The Alexandria City Council enacted a resolution over the weekend to promote greater transparency and ethics guidelines for city officials. The resolution, in part, creates a nine-member committee to draft a code of conduct and ethics pledge for elected and appointed city officials as well as seeks authority from the General Assembly to enact limits, or a complete ban, on gifts to elected officials. As a Dillon Rule state, it is unclear whether the legislature will grant such lawmaking power to the city.
The city attorney’s office must finalize the language of the resolution before the text will be made available to the public.
Photo of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia by ShuminWeb on Wikimedia Commons.
January 13, 2016 •
Ethics Bills Pass Missouri House Committee
Four ethics bills have passed out of the House Government Oversight and Accountability Committee and now move to consideration by the entire House. These bills include banning statewide elected officials or legislators from working as political consultants while in office, […]
Four ethics bills have passed out of the House Government Oversight and Accountability Committee and now move to consideration by the entire House.
These bills include banning statewide elected officials or legislators from working as political consultants while in office, creating a “cooling off” period of at least a full legislative session before elected officials or officials in jobs subject to Senate confirmation may work as lobbyists, requiring public officials to file semiannual reports detailing their personal finances, and reporting any out-of-state travel for official business when paid for by a third party.
Rep. Gina Mitten questioned the effectiveness of the revolving door bill during the committee hearing, asking if the cooling off period was long enough. She advocated having the measure cover legislative staff, requiring elected officials who leave office early to be prohibited from acting as lobbyists until the end of the term, and making the measure become effective as quickly as possible.
Hearings for bills regulating how to handle surplus campaign funds once an official leaves office and the banning of gifts from lobbyists have been delayed due to issues with the drafting of the bills. The committee will take those bills up next week.
Photo of the Missouri Capitol courtesy of RebelAt on Wikimedia Commons.
January 7, 2016 •
Columbus Mayor Proposes New Lobbying and Campaign Finance Ordinances
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has proposed three new ordinances providing for an increase in lobbying oversight and gift disclosure, additional campaign finance disclosure, and the hiring of an inspector general. Columbus City Council is expected to hold a public hearing […]
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has proposed three new ordinances providing for an increase in lobbying oversight and gift disclosure, additional campaign finance disclosure, and the hiring of an inspector general. Columbus City Council is expected to hold a public hearing on the proposals in the coming weeks and to vote on them by late February.
With the lobbying proposal, Ginther wants the city to establish a new lobbyist registry to track the activity of lobbyist vendors seeking contracts with the city. Additionally, lobbyists would be required to disclose expenditures made on elected officials and department directors.
Photo of Mayor Ginther by David Paul on Wikimedia Commons.
December 17, 2015 •
California FPPC Adopts Amendment to Gift Regulation
On December 17, 2015, the Fair Political Practices Commission amended its regulations related to agency provided tickets or passes. Currently, tickets and passes an agency provides to agency officials for entertainment, amusement, or recreational events are treated as gifts. Regulation […]
On December 17, 2015, the Fair Political Practices Commission amended its regulations related to agency provided tickets or passes. Currently, tickets and passes an agency provides to agency officials for entertainment, amusement, or recreational events are treated as gifts.
Regulation 18944.1 creates an exception from the statutory definition of “gift” for tickets or passes provided by an agency to certain agency officials under specified circumstances, allowing agency officials to use tickets and passes without violating the state’s gift law.
The proposed regulation was adopted with a vote of 5-0. It will go into effect 30 days after filing with the Secretary of State.
December 15, 2015 •
Washington Legislative Ethics Board Clarifies Free Meals for Legislators
The Legislative Ethics Board in Washington clarified its rule on free meals for legislators, which became effective January 1, 2015. At its December meeting, the board considered whether the rule should have more flexibility in its application in certain circumstances. […]
The Legislative Ethics Board in Washington clarified its rule on free meals for legislators, which became effective January 1, 2015. At its December meeting, the board considered whether the rule should have more flexibility in its application in certain circumstances.
The board determined the following based on its discussion: annual, sit-down complimentary dinners to which all legislators are invited during a legislative session are not the type of dinners sought to be limited by the rule; when complimentary lunch is served at a city council meeting that is open to the public, such meal does not count toward the 12 free meals permitted under the rule; annual, sit down lunches hosted by business associations who employ lobbyists do not count against the 12 free meals permitted under the rule because such lunches are permissible under a separate exemption to the state gift ban; and potluck meals held as a result of a social relationship between a legislator and a lobbyist where the purpose of the meal is not to discuss legislative business do not count against the 12 free meals permitted under the rule.
Photo of the Washington State Capitol building by Nikopoley on Wikimedia Commons.
December 14, 2015 •
Broward County Commissioners Vote to Loosen Ethics Rules
Commissioners, by a count of 5-4, voted to loosen the strict gift limits imposed by the county ethics ordinance. Enacted in 2010, the ordinance created a no-gift rule, prohibiting city and county officials from accepting even a bottle of water […]
Commissioners, by a count of 5-4, voted to loosen the strict gift limits imposed by the county ethics ordinance. Enacted in 2010, the ordinance created a no-gift rule, prohibiting city and county officials from accepting even a bottle of water at an event.
The new rules allow gifts, including non-alcoholic beverages, worth less than $5 and create an exception for gifts of sympathy. Other changes include the burden of reporting lobbying contact shifting away from the public official to the lobbyist and immediate family members may now act as government vendors.
Proponents lauded the changes, stating the zero-tolerance rules created a trap whereby government officials and employees could inadvertently violate the code.
December 4, 2015 •
Missouri Legislator Pre-files Ethics Reform Package
State Rep. Caleb Rowden pre-filed a four-point ethics reform package this week, hoping to increase accountability and transparency in government. The first change would prohibit gifts from lobbyists to any state or local elected officials as well as to their […]
State Rep. Caleb Rowden pre-filed a four-point ethics reform package this week, hoping to increase accountability and transparency in government. The first change would prohibit gifts from lobbyists to any state or local elected officials as well as to their families and staff members.
The second change would institute a revolving door provision for state legislators and statewide elected officials up for election during the presidential campaign cycle. Such individuals would be barred from lobbying for one session after leaving office beginning in 2016. Elected officials up for election during the midterm elections would be barred from lobbying for one session after leaving office beginning in 2018. After 2018, the revolving door rule would apply to all state elected officials.
A third change would prohibit individuals with open candidate committees from registering as lobbyists.
The final proposed change would require elected officials to publically disclose travel expenses paid for by a third party within 30 days of receipt or within 30 days of the trip, whichever is sooner.
Speaker of the House Todd Richardson has vowed to make ethics reform a top priority when the session begins in January.
Photo of the Missouri State Capitol by RebelAt on Wikimedia Commons.
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