July 27, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 27, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
IRS Says It Will Examine Rules for Nonprofit Political Activity
Lawyers Raking in Cash as Campaign Spending Hits Records
Millionaire Political Donors Club: Where are the women?
From the States and Municipalities:
California
San Bernardino County: Campaign finance reform boosted by bill
Connecticut
Campaign Money Scandal Rattles Congressional Race
Georgia
Governor Admits to Ethics Violations
Nevada
Americans for Prosperity May Have Opened Donors to Public Scrutiny by Entering State Race
Pennsylvania
Pa.’s Tough, New Voter ID Law Lands in Court
Pennsylvania
SEPTA Says It Didn’t Think It Had to Report Lobbyist Spending
Utah
ALEC Conservatives Reject Charges of Corporate Cronyism
Vermont
Vermont AG: No limits for independent expenditure PACs
Wisconsin
Prosser Converts Campaign Account to Legal Defense Fund
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.
July 26, 2012 •
Hollywood, Fla. Lobbying Ordinance Takes Effect August 1
Current registered lobbyists must file new registration statement
Hollywood’s new lobbyist ordinance takes effect August 1, 2012. Lobbyist registrations now expire yearly, and will be effective from August 1 to July 31 of the following year. All current lobbyist registrations will expire July 31, 2012, and a new registration statement must be filed.
There will also be an annual registration fee of $50 for each principal or client identified on the registration statement, except for those principals or clients that do not compensate the lobbyist for lobbying. Lobbyists who do not receive compensation are now required to register.
The city clerk will also offer electronic filing of lobbyist registrations beginning August 1.
July 25, 2012 •
Ethics Ordinance Passes Chicago City Council Vote
New rules to take effect November 1st
The Chicago City Council voted unanimously to pass Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s ethics ordinance. The ordinance, which is the first overhaul of the city’s ethics code in 25 years, institutes the recommendations made by an ethics board Emanuel appointed to study the city’s ethical issues.
The newly passed ordinance will increase the gift prohibition for city officials and employees. Officials and employees will now only be able to accept gifts that are less than $50 in value. It also limits the ability of lobbyists and contractors to make political contributions. It also includes a reverse revolving door provision, which limits a city official or employee’s participation in matters involving former employers.
The ordinance will go into effect on November 1, 2012.
Photo of Chicago’s City Hall and Daley Plaza by JeremyA in Wikipedia.
July 24, 2012 •
Tuesday Lobbying News
Keep up with the latest lobbying news with these articles:
“K Street Files: Bundlers Give to Both Parties” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
“You don’t know Jack: Abramoff’s multimedia return” by Patrick Gavin in Politico.
The Hill’s “Bottom Line”.
“Caught on K Street candid camera?” by Dave Levinthal & Anna Palmer in Politico Influence.
Here is the Sunlight Foundation’s 180 ° project link.
“Lobbyists are paid $52.6 million over first half of 2012” in the Boston Globe.
Florida: “Florida Lobbyists Find Reasons to Spread Cash Around; Washington Lobbyists, Not so Much” by Nancy Smith in the Sunshine State News.
Pennsylvania: “SEPTA says it didn’t think it had to report lobbyist spending” by Mark Fazlollah in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
July 24, 2012 •
California Local Lobbying and Campaign Reporting Bill Approved
Electronic filing systems must meet criteria by 2013
Governor Jerry Brown has approved Assembly Bill 2452, which changes the criteria local government agencies must meet in order to require campaign and lobbying reports to be filed electronically. The bill was chaptered in the Political Reform Act as section 84615.
A local government agency requiring campaign committees and lobbyists to file electronically must provide a secure, standardized, and free filing system. In addition, if a local ordinance requires a statement or report to be filed electronically, local officials can no longer require an additional copy to be filed in paper format.
The law becomes effective January 1, 2013.
July 23, 2012 •
Monday Campaign Finance and Lobbying News Roundup
Start your week off with these articles:
Campaign Finance
“Tallying Up Presidential Campaign Finances” in The New York Times.
Arizona: “Arizona campaigns often in gray area financially” by Mary Jo Pitzl in The Arizona Republic.
Montana: “Former Montana governor candidate wants political practices findings reversed” by Charles S. Johnson in the Missoulian.
New York: “Analysis: New York political money gushing to campaigns, but upstart Democratic group makes strides” by Michael Gormley (Associated Press) in the Syracuse Post-Standard.
Lobbying
“K Street’s continuing slump” by Anna Palmer in Politico.
“Blue Chips Mull Moves to K Street” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
“Chamber ups lobbying spending” by Erik Wasson in The Hill.
“Facebook lobbying sets record in Q2” by David Saleh Rauf in Politico.
Nevada: “Dems honor longtime women’s lobbyist” by Ray Hagar in the Reno Gazette-Journal.
New York: “Lobbyists in swing of things at political golf fundraisers” by Jimmy Vielkind in the Albany Times Union.
New York: “Cuomo’s Office Releases 2,200-Word Letter on Lobbying Group” by Jon Campbell in State Politics Albany Watch.
Oklahoma: “Report: Lobbyists provided pols Thunder tickets” by The Associated Press in The Republic.
July 20, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 20, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
House Ethics Panel Has Track Record of Leniency
Son of Liberal Financier George Soros Launches Anti-Super PAC Super PAC
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Alabama Casino Developer, Lobbyist, Ex-Lawmaker Sentenced to Prison in Statehouse Gambling Scheme
California
Battle Lines Drawn over Payroll Deductions
California
Feds Detail Scale of Graft in Cudahy
Michigan
Prosecutor: Bolger conspired with party switcher, but didn’t break law
Minnesota
Minnesota GOP, Former Chairman Face Fines Over Recount
Nevada
Felon Was a Lobbyist for Catholic Officials in Nevada
New Jersey
FBI Raids City Hall in New Jersey’s Capital
New York
NY Ethics Board Member Resigns from Lobbying Group
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.
Audits expected to be completed by the end of the fiscal year
The Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board announced its plans to audit 10 randomly selected client lobbyists. All communicator lobbyists associated with the selected client lobbyists will also be audited. Client lobbyists are those who pay for lobbying services on their behalf, and communicator lobbyists are those who receive payment from a client lobbyist for lobbying services.
As part of its press release, the board noted that between January 1 and July 1, 2012, lobbying expenditures exceeded $31 million.
The selection will be made at the board’s meeting on July 19, 2012, and all audits are expected to be completed by the end of the fiscal year. The list of lobbyists to be audited will be available on the Office of State Ethics website after the random drawing.
July 18, 2012 •
Today’s Lobbying and Ethics News Roundup
Don’t miss these latest articles:
Lobbying
“NY ethics board member resigns from lobbying group” by The Associated Press in the Wall Street Journal.
The Hill’s “Lobbying World” news summary.
“Farm bill tops health care law in lobbying dollars” by Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Gate.
Connecticut: “Attorney, lobbyist Albert Pirro arraigned on charges he attacked woman at Conn. Restaurant” by The Associated Press in The Republic.
District Columbia: “D.C. lawmakers, lobbyists talked nearly 600 times” by Alan Blinder in the Washington Examiner.
Ethics
“Ethics Committee launches probe of Dem Rep. Robert Andrews” by Jordy Yager in The Hill.
“Blagojevich administration official Ali Ata is spared prison for lying” by Annie Sweeney in the Chicago Tribune.
“Ethics panel has track record of leniency” by Jordy Yager in The Hill.
July 17, 2012 •
Tuesday News Summary
Campaign finance, lobbying, ethics, and social media
Campaign Finance
Connecticut: “Vote to kill filibuster on campaign finance bill fails, despite Connecticut senators’ support” by Ana Radelat in the CT Mirror.
Florida: “Unlimited campaign contributions finding a route to Florida lawmakers” by Steve Bousquet in the Miami Herald.
Lobbying
“ALEC struggles to retain members” by Steve Terrell in the Santa Fe New Mexican.
“Tech lobbyists’ new mantra: Strength through unity” by Michelle Quinn in Politico.
Connecticut: “Lobbyists form SuperPAC to help Murphy in Senate race” by Ana Radelat in the CT Mirror.
Government Ethics
“Former top state administrator fined for conflicts of interest” by Jennifer Gollan in the Bay Citizen.
Gov 2.0
“Despite Cuomo’s Vow of Sunlight, a Bid to Keep Aides’ E-Mail in the Dark” by Thomas Kaplan in The New York Times.
“What Social Media Do Government Officials Use Most?” by Matt Williams in Government Technology.
July 16, 2012 •
Monday Lobbying News Roundup
Keep up with the latest lobbying news with these articles:
“50 politicos to watch: Lobbyists” by Abby Phillip in Politico.
California: “Calif. lobbyist believes his attempt to buy sports team sparked identity theft scheme” by Dale Kasler in the Boston Herald.
Connecticut: “Connecticut businesses, lawmakers, keep ties to controversial group” by Ana Radelat by the CT Mirror.
Kansas: “Lobbyist spending in Topeka grows 14 percent” by Brad Cooper in the Kansas City Star.
North Carolina: “Brubaker’s resignation last week allows him to begin lobbying sooner, Fitzsimon notes” by Rob Christensen in the News Observer.
Pennsylvania: “New website tracks lobbying money in Philly politics” by Zack Seward in WHYY Newsworks.
July 13, 2012 •
California Lobbyist Reporting Regulation Amended
FPPC allows cheese and wine exception to gift valuations at “drop-in” events.
The Fair Political Practices Commission has approved a change to simplify lobbyist reporting requirements for “drop-in” events.
The amendment to regulation 18640 allows appetizers and beverages to be excluded from the gift valuation for an official who does not stay for any meal or entertainment. The value of the gift is now any specific item, other than food, presented to the official and guest accompanying the official, if the official notifies the lobbyist in writing that the official did not stay for any meal or entertainment.
The amendment provides consistency with regulation 18946.2(e), which was previously amended to exclude the value of appetizers and drinks from the value of a gift received by an official who briefly appears or drops by an invitation-only event. Prior to the amendment, the value of the gift received was limited to the actual value of the food and beverages consumed by the official and guest, along with the value of any specific item received at the event.
Image of the Seal of California courtesy of Zscout370 on Wikipedia.
July 13, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 13, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Campaign Donations by Text? Not So fast, Wireless Carriers Say
From the States and Municipalities:
Arkansas
Ethics Measure Falls Short of Signature Goal
California
Bill Would Hire Commission to Enforce County’s Campaign Finance Ordinance
California
Pass the Canapés: Now, lobbyists can serve appetizers, not report it
Colorado
Colorado Public Trustee Spending Raises Red Flags
Connecticut
Feds Indict Braddock, Claim Conspiracy Began Last Year
District of Columbia
Vast ‘Shadow Campaign’ Said to Have Aided Gray in 2010
Florida
Miramar Commissioners Approve $2,500 Stipend for Themselves
Illinois
Quinn Abolishes Legislative Scholarships
Illinois
Quinn Signs Super PAC Campaign Finance Law
New York
Cuomo Turns to Campaign Finance
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.
July 13, 2012 •
New Jersey’s ELEC Now on Facebook and Twitter
a great way to stay on top of ELEC news and updates
Following the work of New Jersey’s Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) has become easier through social media. According to a press release by Executive Director Jeff Brindle, the agency now has a presence on Facebook and Twitter. You’ll find updates about campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics news. This is probably the quickest way to keep up with meeting agendas and reporting dates.
ELEC has been maintaining a channel on YouTube since 2008 and now has 21 videos giving brief overviews of issues like lobbying, pay-to-play, and reporting.
A hat tip goes to John Schoonejongen, whose article, “You can now follow ELEC on Facebook, Twitter” in the Asbury Park Press, brought this news to our attention.
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.
