December 6, 2012 •
California Biennial Legislative Session Begins
Democrats hold supermajority
State lawmakers convened the 2013-2014 legislative session on Monday, December 3, 2012.
Democrats hold a two-thirds supermajority in both houses, allowing passage of bills without Republican votes.
Photo of the California State Capitol Building by Sascha Brück on Wikipedia.
November 30, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – November 30, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Jesse Jackson Jr. Resigns from Congress, Acknowledges Federal Probe
From the States and Municipalities:
California
Ex-Treasurer to Democrats Receives 8-Year Sentence
California
State Lawmaker Brothers Accused of Money Laundering
District of Columbia
Crafting D.C. Ethics Bill Proving Difficult
Florida
State Ethics Commission Says Jacksonville Council Member’s Poker Party is OK
Georgia
Legislators Ask Governor to Let Indicted Victor Hill Take Office of Sheriff on January 1
Indiana
Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma Criticized for Hiring Lobbyist
Maine
Anti-Gay Marriage Group Fined by Maine Ethics Commission
Missouri
Freebies from Lobbyists Becoming Harder to Track in Missouri
North Carolina
Appeals Court Throws Out Suit Testing ‘Stand by Your Ad’
Pennsylvania
Former Pennsylvania Democratic Leader Mellow Would Set ‘Record’ by Going to Jail
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 29, 2012 •
Delaware Senate to Convene for Special Session
December 5 session to deal with judicial nominations
Governor Jack Markell has announced that he plans to call a special session of the state senate on December 5 to consider various judicial nominations.
The senate will be considering and voting on seven judicial appointees nominated by the governor.
November 26, 2012 •
Indiana General Assembly Holds Organization Day
Legislative session to begin January 7, 2013
On November 20, 2012, lawmakers met for Organization Day, the first official day of the 118th General Assembly.
Lawmakers will reconvene on January 7 for the start of the legislative session, which must be adjourned by April 29, 2013.
Organization Day is largely procedural, including the ceremonial swearing in of new and reelected members.
Photo of the Indiana State House by Jasont82 in Wikipedia Creative Commons.
August 24, 2012 •
Minnesota Calls a Special Session of the Legislature
Legislature expected to pass flood relief package
The state legislature will convene a special session Friday afternoon to approve a flood relief package for parts of the state which were devastated by summer flooding. The session will convene at 2:00 p.m. and must end by 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning.
The legislature will vote on a $167.5 million relief package, but it is expected to pass without issue. Governor Mark Dayton and the legislative leaders have already agreed on the package and the deal restricts any other legislators from making changes to the bill.
August 20, 2012 •
California Special Session Planned for December
President’s healthcare to be the issue
Governor Jerry Brown has told legislative leaders he intends to call a special session to deal with issues related to the federal healthcare law signed by President Obama in 2010.
The special session, planned for December, will give the governor and lawmakers an opportunity to keep working on healthcare proposals that have failed in the current session, which ends August 31, 2012.
Bills passed in a special session can take effect within 90 days of passage rather than at the beginning of the following calendar year.
Photo of the California State Capitol by Henri Sivonen in Wikipedia.
August 7, 2012 •
Minnesota Special Session Tentatively Scheduled for August 24th
Legislature to distribute relief to flood ravaged areas
Governor Mark Dayton and the leaders of the state legislature have tentatively agreed on August 24 for a special session date. The legislature will convene in order to appropriate monies to disaster relief for counties that were ravaged by flooding earlier this year.
The date is still tentative as the final damage numbers are still being totaled. The federal government will supply 75% of the funding if the state picks up the last 25% of the cost.
Once the final numbers are set, Governor Dayton will have to officially call the legislature back to work.
July 27, 2012 •
Maryland Lawmakers Called to Special Session
Governor hopes for quick passage of gambling expansion
Governor Martin O’Malley has announced a special session of the general assembly. The session, scheduled to begin August 9, 2012, is for the purpose of considering a new casino in Prince George’s County and table games at the state’s five other slots locations.
If approved by the Legislature, the gambling expansion would also need voter approval. Proponents hope to pass legislation in time for the issue to appear on this November’s ballot.
Photo of Governor Martin O’Malley by Jay Baker in Wikipedia.
July 12, 2012 •
No Louisiana Session to Overturn Vetoes
Senate Decides
The Louisiana Legislature has decided not to convene a session to consider overturning Governor Bobby Jindal’s vetoes.
The veto session, which is automatically set upon a governor vetoing a bill, was scheduled for July 14. A majority of Senate members voted in writing against holding the session. A majority is required from either the House or Senate to cancel a session.
The Legislature had adjourned sine die on June 4.
July 5, 2012 •
Legislative Sessions Adjourn
Two state legislatures have adjourned this week.
DELAWARE: The Delaware General Assembly adjourned sine die early in the morning on July 1, 2012.
NORTH CAROLINA: The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned on July 3, 2012.
June 27, 2012 •
Wednesday Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Ethics News Summary
Keep up with the latest articles:
Campaign Finance
“Campaign money case could propel more deregulation” by Jack Gillum on CBS News.
“Inquiry Looks Into a Shield for Donors in Elections” by Nicholas Confessore in The New York Times.
“Social Fundraising Platform Rally Grows With A New Round of $7.9 Million” by Sarah Lai Stirland in TechPresident.
“Will Ct. now see gusher of campaign bucks?” by Ken Dixon in the Connecticut Post.
Lobbying
“K Street Files: Lobbyists Prep for SCOTUS Ruling” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
“Lobbying World” in The Hill.
“The lion’s aide on K Street” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
“Hawaii professional employer organizations to form lobbying group” by Lynn Nakagawa in the Pacific Business News.
Government Ethics
“Outsider Privy to Ethics Case” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.
Georgia: “Candidates late, confused on filing requirements” by Crystal Tatum in the Newton Citizen.
From the State Legislatures
“Cook, Rove, Zandi Address Legislators at June 2012 Leaders Meeting” by Alex Fitzsimmons on NCSL’s The Thicket.
Illinois: “Illinois lawmakers consider expulsion of Rep. Derrick Smith” by The Associated Press in the State Journal-Register.
Oklahoma: “Oklahoma elections: Most incumbent House members win contests” by Michael McNutt in The Oklahoman.
Open Government
“R.I. open-government advocates hail improvement to public-records law” by Karen Lee Ziner in the Providence Journal.
June 25, 2012 •
New York Legislature Ends Work Session
Legislators to hit campaign trail
The New York Legislature ended the working portion of its year late Friday night.
Legislative members will now head back to their respective districts to campaign in an election season that will see all 212 general assembly and senate seats up for grabs.
There is a chance that both houses could be called back to Albany for a special session following the November elections, but at this time, that does not appear to be a likely scenario.
June 19, 2012 •
Tuesday News Roundup
Keep up with the latest campaign finance, ethics, and legislative news with the following articles:
Campaign Finance
“Campaign donations coming soon to Twitter” by Dave Levinthal in Politico.
“No action from U.S. Supreme Court on Montana campaign spending law” by Charles S. Johnson in the Missoulian.
“Will the Supreme Court Consider a Campaign Finance Mulligan?” by Alex Altman in Time.
“Texting: The New Way for Campaigns to Draw Contributions” by Kenneth P. Doyle in Bloomberg News.
Government Ethics
Louisiana: “Ethics bills: Jindal signs two, vetoes one” in the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Ohio: “Former state lawmaker sentenced to prison for bribery” by John Futty in the Columbus Dispatch.
State Legislatures
“State lawmakers short on experience” by Chuck Raasch in USA Today.
“Herbert calls special session to OK more liquor licenses, fixed funding” by Ed Gehrke in the Salt Lake Tribune.
“SC legislators return for special session” by The Associated Press in GoUpstate.com.
June 13, 2012 •
Missouri Has New Online Campaign Finance Search Tool
And more campaign finance, lobbying, and government ethics news today:
“Ethics Commission offers new campaign finance search tool” by Mike Lear in MissouriNet.
“2 Campaigns Chasing Funds at Frantic Pace” by Ashley Parker and Helene Cooper.
“Entrepreneurs, small lobby shops challenging K Street’s old guard” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
Arkansas: “Backers optimistic about ethics measure; GOP lawmaker questions proposal” by Jeff Arnold in the Arkansas News.
Connecticut: “Connecticut lawmakers return for special session” by Susan Haigh (Associated Press) in the Norwich Bulletin.
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.
