Lobbying

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

“Inside NFL’s lobbyist draft drama” by Anna Palmer and John Bresnahan in Politico.

“Jim Nussle lands credit union job” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“These 2 Billionaires Spend More on Lobbying for Their Pet Issues Than Most Industries” by Tess VandenDolder in InTheCapital.

“Former Sen. John Breaux says he and Trent Lott are not lobbying for Russian bank” by Bruce Alpert in the Times-Picayune.

“Lobbyists ‘who know what’s good for them’ lose ball game to lawmakers” by Crystal Hill in The Hill.

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Clean Elections chief: Horne broke campaign law” by Bob Christie (Associated Press) in the Arizona Daily Sun.

Maryland: “Maryland Democratic Party targets use of campaign bus by GOP’s Hogan” by John Wagner in The Washington Post.

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin prosecutors seek ruling to restart campaign finance probe” by Brendan O’Brien and Mary Wisniewski in Reuters.

Ethics

Ohio: “Senate ethics allegations stir prosecutor’s interest” by Jeremy Pelzer in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Virginia: “Va. voters agree with McDonnells’ guilty verdict, want stronger ethics laws, poll finds” by Jenna Portnoy in The Washington Post.

Virginia: “Top Virginia lawmakers back stiffer ethics law after ex-governor’s conviction” by Gary Robertson in Reuters.

Elections

“2014 Election Primary Results” in Politico.

“2014 Governors Races: The Tossups” by Louis Jacobson in Governing.

“2014 Governors Races: Where Republicans Are Likely to Win” by Louis Jacobson in Governing.

“2014 Governors Races: Where Democrats Are Likely to Win” by Louis Jacobson in Governing.

“Scott Brown cruises in NH Senate primary” by Alexandra Jaffe in The Hill.

Legislative Sessions

Missouri: “Missouri Veto Session starts today in Jefferson City” by Korey Johnson in the Daily Journal.

Nevada: “Sandoval issues proclamation, calls special session for Tesla deal” by Laura Myers in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Tech and Social Media

“Breaking Government’s Cloud Procurement Gridlock” by Brian Heaton in Government Technology.

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin will not call a special legislative session to make changes to a new law regulating above-ground storage tanks. The law, created in response to the chemical contamination of drinking water for 300,000 people, sets a January 1 deadline for the implementation of tank inspections.

Lawmakers urged the governor to call a special session, believing that the deadline is unattainable and overly burdensome. Gov. Tomblin instead plans to use administrative means to adjust the law, placing greater focus on high risk areas and hazardous materials.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval may call the Legislature into a special session as soon as Wednesday to approve a plan for the $5 billion Tesla plant in the state.

According the Los Angeles Times, the electric car company and the state have reached an agreement to have Tesla manufacture batteries in Nevada. The Office of the Governor predicts the proposed lithium-ion battery plant would create 6,500 factory jobs and 16,000 other jobs, including 3,000 in construction.

The Los Angeles Times reports the Legislature is required to enact parts of the agreement in order for the deal to go through. This includes allowing Tesla to “receive up to a 100% tax abatement for the next 20 years for all sales tax, and up to a 100% tax abatement for the next 10 years for all real property tax, personal property tax and modified business tax,” according the Los Angeles Times.

House members will hold a special, one-day session to consider two bills vetoed by Gov. Nikki Haley on Wednesday, August 27, 2014. The bills would allow public libraries keep out disrupters and permit a local tax hike for firefighting in coastal Murrell’s Inlet and Garden City.

The Senate voted overwhelmingly to override the vetoes, but those votes occurred after the House had adjourned in June. An override requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

After 163 legislative days, the North Carolina General Assembly has adjourned sine die.

The adjournment is several weeks overdue as legislators hotly debated such contentious issues as pay increases for educators and the dumping of coal ash.

Photo of the North Carolina Legislative Building by Jayron32 on Wikimedia Commons.

The Florida Legislature will convene a special session at noon on Thursday, August 7, 2014. The special session is a result of a ruling by Judge Terry Lewis ordering the Legislature to revise its congressional district maps, specifically for the 5th and 10th Congressional Districts.

The Legislature could potentially adjourn as early as Monday, August 11, under a proposed schedule released by House Speaker Will Weatherford and Senate President Don Gaetz. However, the Legislature has until August 15 to revise the maps.

Photo of the Florida State Capitol by Jenn Greiving on Wikimedia Commons.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has called a special legislative session for Thursday, July 31. The session will convene at noon with Christie detailing his recommendations for amendments to the state’s bail system.

Christie is asking the legislators to consider a constitutional amendment allowing judges to deny bail to defendants considered dangerous or a flight risk, as well as legislation offering a non-monetary option for pre-trial release based on a risk assessment.

A constitutional amendment requires voter approval, and the amendment must pass both houses with 60 percent majorities by Monday, August 4, to make it on the ballot in November.

Gov. Jack Markell has called a special legislative session to convene October 8, 2014.

The purpose of the special session is to confirm a new state Supreme Court justice after the abrupt resignation of sitting Justice Carolyn Berger.

The nominee, Leo Shrine, currently sits on the bench of the Delaware Chancery Court.

The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick convened July 29, 2014, for a one day special session to address pension changes for retirees.

The Assembly plans to amend the Pension Benefits Act to include retirees from Fraser Papers, a local pulp mill that filed for bankruptcy in 2009, in an increased pension payout scheme.

More than 1,200 retirees will benefit from the amendment.

On July 24, the Ontario, Canada, Legislature adjourned its session with unanimous consent until October 20, 2014. According to The Record, legislators will continue to work over the summer to address budget issues. “Make no mistake, this is not an extended vacation that MPPs are going on, and certainly I will be working very hard over the coming weeks to prepare for all the implementation that comes with the passage of the budget,” said Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Photo of the Ontario Legislative Assembly Building by Antoien Cadotte in Wikimedia Commons.

Tom Homer stepped down from his post as legislative inspector general at the end of June. Homer, an advocate for modern ethics reform, took the job in 2004 and served as the state’s first and only legislative watchdog.

It is unclear who will replace him; the inspector general is appointed by a resolution approved by three-fifths majorities in both houses of the General Assembly.

Photo of Illinois State Capitol by Martin Haase on Wikimedia Commons.

The 147th Delaware General Assembly adjourned sine die Tuesday, July 1, 2014. In keeping with longstanding Delaware tradition, legislators worked into the early hours of the morning attempting to pass dozens of bills before the end of the session. Noteworthy among those bills are measures to provide $10 million in relief to the state’s three ailing casinos and to toughen penalties on DUI offenders.

Gov. Mike Beebe has indicated a special session will be called to address overcrowding in jails and teacher insurance. The House and Senate will consider a bill to add 600 beds to the Department of Corrections facilities and the Pulaski County Jail.

Lawmakers will also consider a plan to reduce insurance costs for public school employees by eliminating part-time employees and spouses who have other options for health coverage.

The session will begin on June 30 and last until July 2, 2014.

The General Assembly concluded its session and recessed on June 21, 2014.

Any bills submitted to Gov. Lincoln Chafee must be signed or vetoed by July 1.

There is no pocket veto.

Photo of the Rhode Island State Capitol courtesy of Garrett A. Wollman on Wikimedia Commons.