Campaign Finance

California: “Crosby, Stills, Nash and Morello rage against Prop. 32” by Michael J. Mishak in the Los Angeles Times.

Montana:  “Montana appeals ruling as campaigns eye unlimited donations” by Mike Dennison in the Billings Gazette.

“James Bopp Jr. Gets Creative” by Jon Campbell in Slate.

Lobbying

Florida: “Butterworth skirts state lobbying laws with Broward contract” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.

Ethics

“Todd Akin Flubs Another Financial Disclosure, Amends 10 Years of Forms” by Neils Lesniewski in Roll Call.

Illinois: “Illinois powerbroker Cellini is sentenced to a year in prison” by Annie Sweeney in the Morris Daily Herald.

Pennsylvania: “Ex-LCB chairman Stapleton resigns amid ethics probe” by Angela Couloumbis in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

South Carolina: “Ethics Commission Owed $2 Million Plus in Fines” by Shawn Drury in the St. Andrews Patch.

Government Tech and Social Media

“Digital Campaigning: Meet the Marketing Wizards of D.C.” by Matt Petronzio in Mashable.

“Are Digital States Graduating with Honors, or in Detention?” by Kristy Fifelski in GovTech.

Photo of the U.S. Capitol by UpstateNYer on Wikipedia.

National:

Selling Votes is Common Type of Election Fraud

Federal:

For Election Losers, Many Paths through the Political Wilderness

Medical Research Funding Tied to Advocacy, Study Finds

From the States and Municipalities:

Arkansas

Americans for Prosperity Puts Big Money on Legislative Races in Arkansas

Illinois

Emanuel Replaces Ethics Board

Maine

Supreme Court Won’t Hear Appeal by Anti-Gay Marriage in Maine Case

Massachusetts

Native Americans Chafe at Brown-Warren Race

Minnesota

Campaign Finance Board Rules Minnesota Majority’s Dan McGrath Did Not Break Lobbying Rules

Montana

Judge Tosses Montana Campaign Finance Limits

Nevada

Nevada Secretary of State Seeks More Campaign Disclosure, Restrictions in Aurora Act

Oregon

Oregon Supreme Court Refuses to Limit Campaign Spending

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Voter ID Law Shouldn’t Be Enforced This Time, Judge Rules

Rhode Island

Ethics Commission Sets Hearing on Disclosure of Paid Trips for Officials

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.

Campaign Finance

“Campaign Fundraisers in D.C. Continue Despite Recess” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

New York: “Campaign finance reform uncertain” by Jimmy Vielkind in the Albany Times Union.

Lobbying

“US Rep. Frank: No paid lobbying after Congress” by The Associated Press in the Boston Globe.

Ethics

“SC lawmakers vow ethics reform” by Andrew Shain in The State.

Campaigns and Elections

“5 takeaways from the Denver debate” by Maggie Haberman in Politico.

Q. I am interested in making contributions to state candidates in the upcoming elections. Does the fact that I’m a registered lobbyist affect my ability to contribute?

A. In certain states, being a registered lobbyist does impact your ability to give to a political candidate, ranging from a total ban on political activity, to simply having to report the contributions on your periodic reports.

In Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, lobbyists may not make contributions to lawmakers while the state legislature is in session. Fortunately, in the context of the upcoming elections, most states have adjourned sine die. In California, a lobbyist may not make a contribution to a candidate for any office for which the person is registered to lobby. Because most lobbyists are registered to communicate with the legislature, this ends up being nearly a total ban on contributions to legislators. Similarly, in Kentucky, a lobbyist registered with the legislative branch may not make a contribution to a lawmaker. In Alaska, a lobbyist is only allowed to contribute to candidates for office within his or her voting district.

There are several states in which lobbyists are allowed to make contributions, but must disclose the donations on their lobbyist reports. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Washington are examples.

Some states have unique provisions for politically-active lobbyists. In Pennsylvania, for instance, a lobbyist who makes political contributions must register and report in the same manner as PACs. Minnesota lobbyists must include their registration numbers in the memo section of campaign contribution checks.

If you or a member of your team would like to make a campaign contribution in a state in which you are registered, please contact a member of the State and Federal Communications Compliance Department for fact-specific guidance.

(We are always available to answer questions from clients that are specific to your needs, and we encourage you to continue to call or e-mail us with questions about your particular company or organization. As always, we will confidentially and directly provide answers or information you need.) Our replies to your questions are not legal advice. Instead, these replies represent our analysis of laws, rules, and regulations.

Campaign Finance

“Freshmen rake in cash through PACs” by Kevin Bogardus and Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

Connecticut: “When a candidate’s spouse is powerful, the goal of a campaign donation can be … complicated” by Ana Radelot in the CT Mirror.

Minnesota: “Campaign finance board rules Minnesota Majority’s Dan McGrath did not break lobbying rules” by Paul Demko in Politics in Minnesota.

New York: “NY progressives push for public campaign finances” by Michael Gormley in Bloomberg News.

New York: “Campaign finance firepower gathers” by Jimmy Vielkind in the Capitol Confidential.

Lobbying

“Activists Press Corporations to Cut Ties With Presidential Debate Commission” by Janie Lorber in Roll Call.

“Wis. lawmakers sued over emails with conservative group” by The Associated Press in the Chicago Tribune.

Ethics

California: “L.A. Councilman Richard Alarcon and wife ordered to stand trial” by Catherine Saillant in the Los Angeles Times.

Illinois: “Emanuel Revamps City Hall Ethics Board” by Hal Dardick in the Chicago Tribune.

Campaigns and elections

“Obama, on track to raise $1 billion, came close to that in 2008”  by Matea Gold in the Los Angeles Times.

“Jim Lehrer on criticism of his recurring debate-moderator role: ‘It’s a rough, rough world’” by Andrew Beaujon in Poynter.org.

“Daily Ad Track” by Abby Livingston in Roll Call.

“Zac Efron, Leonardo DiCaprio and Selena Gomez all want you to vote for stuff” by Jen Chaney in the Washington Post.

Government Tech and Social Media

“For the Campaigns, Online Debate Response is All About Mobile” by Nick Judd in TechPresident.

“Social media: On the outside looking in at presidential debates” in Politics in Minnesota.

“Code for America Reveals 2013 Partner Cities and Counties” by Sarah Rich in Government Technology.

Lobbying

Via Eric Brown’s Political Activity Law blog – Missouri:“Mo. Sen. candidate wants ban on all lobbyist gifts to state lawmakers” by Marshall Griffin in St. Louis Public Radio.

Wisconsin: “Former Assembly speaker now a lobbyist” by Jason Stein in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Campaign Finance

“Rules of the Game: Shining a Light on Political ‘Dark Money‘” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.

Arizona: “Probe into Horne’s campaign finances leads to report over alleged hit-and-run” by Howard Fischer in the East Valley Tribune.

Social Media

“Mashable Special Report: How Digital Is Transforming Politics” by Josh Catone in Mashable.

“How the Internet will Change the Government” by Henry Brown in Govloop.

Campaign Finance

“‘Dark money’ flowing back to issue ads” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

Arizona:  “Ex-aide charged with stealing Ariz. campaign cash” by The Associated Press in Tucson News Now.

California: “California voters rejecting change to campaign financing” by The Associated Press in the Mercury News.

Iowa: “Charges dropped in Iowa campaign contribution case” in the Muscatine Journal.

Texas: “PAC wants state approval for text donations” by Dave Nyczepir in Campaigns & Elections.

Lobbying

“New report outlines N.J. lawmakers’ use of controversial ALEC group” by Salvador Rizzo in the Star-Ledger.

Ethics

Pennsylvania: “In Pa., Where’s the Payback?” by Craig R. McCoy in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Rhode Island: “Ethics commission sets hearing on disclosure of paid trips for officials” by Philip Marcelo in the Providence Journal.

Technology and Social Media

“What Facebook’s Planning for the First Romney-Obama Debate” by Michael Catalini in the National Journal.

New Jersey: “New Jersey Mulls Ad-Powered Websites” in Government Technology.

Kentucky:  “Ky. house candidate admits error in email” by The Associated Press in the Bangor Daily News.

Elections

“State probe looms for firm registering GOP voters” by Elisabeth Arriero in the Charlotte Observer.

Lobbying

“K Street Files: Ogilvy Government Relations Nabs Two GOPers” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Does corporate lobbying benefit society?” by Moshe Silver in Fortune.

Kentucky:  “New spending record could be set for lobbying” by The Associated Press in the Bowling Green Daily News.

Campaign Finance

“Super PAC Assails Super PACs, Big Money” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.

“Friend of U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan pleads guilty to campaign violations” by Susan Taylor Martin in the Tampa Bay Times.

Washington:  “Owen is fined over his tardy campaign finance reports” by Mike Baker in the Seattle Times.

Elections

“8-time felon running for seat in Michigan House” by John Wisely in the Detroit Free Press.

Social Media

“Social media have big debate plans” by Steve Friess in Politico.

National:

Aflac and Chubb Join Ranks of Companies Expanding Disclosure

Federal:

Judge Backs Obama Ban on Lobbyists Serving on Federal Advisory Panels

Super PACs Get New Use – As Lobbying Arms on Hill

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama

Judge Sentences Gambling Lobbyist Pouncy to 3 Years Probation

California

Gov. Jerry Brown Signs Bill to Modernize Campaign Disclosure Web Site

Georgia

Deal Lawyer Goes After Accuser for Legal Fees

Maryland

Bill Before City Council Aims to Close ‘Gaps’ in Ethics Code

Massachusetts

Goldman Sachs Will Pay $12 Million in SEC ‘Pay-to-Play’ Case

Minnesota

Catholics Asked to Pay for Marriage Vote Ads

North Carolina

Ethics Guidance on Legislative Staffers and Lobbyists

South Carolina

Harrell Offers No Details on Self-Reimbursement of $325,000 from Campaign Funds

Washington

Lobbyists, Staff Aided Lt. Gov. Owen’s Nonprofit

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.

The secretary of state has issued amended rules regarding lobbyist registration.

The substantive changes include:

• Elimination of the requirement that the secretary of state provide notice and an opportunity to respond to lobbyists under investigation for violations of Colorado’s sunshine law;
• Providing that the secretary of state may admonish a lobbyist for failure to pay penalties within 45 days of assessment, as opposed to the previous rule of 90 days;
• Providing that the secretary of state will send a penalty to collections if a lobbyist or lobbyist firm fails to pay the penalty within 90 days;
• Amending the requirement that pertains to reporting of gifts to clarify that lobbyists are prohibited from giving gifts of any kind to covered officials; and
• Establishing definitions of rate and standard as those terms pertain to state agencies with rulemaking authority.

These rules will take effect 20 days after publication in the Colorado Register.

Lobbying

“Trade groups fear gift ban after the election” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

Florida: “Senate president scolds lobbyists who opposed his candidates” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Tampa Bay Times.

Campaign Finance, Campaigns and Elections

“How the presidential campaigns are spending money, in one chart” by Sean Sullivan in the Washington Post.

“‘Super PACs’ Finally a Draw for Democrats” by Nicholas Confessore in the New York Times.

“Money trouble: Barack Obama faces a cash gap in the final weeks of the campaign” in The Economist.

“Attentive.ly, a Tool to Mine Your Supporters’ Minds, Just Launched” by Miranda Neubauer in TechPresident.

Pay-toPlay

“Goldman Sachs Will Pay $14.4 Million to Settle Pay-to-Play Cases” by Joshua Gallu, Michael McDonald, and Christine Harper in Bloomberg’s Businessweek.

Ethics

“Watchdog Groups Urge House Leaders to Fill Vacancies on Ethics Board” by Janie Lorber in Roll Call.

California: “After shoplifting plea, lawmaker seeks another office” by Michael J. Mishak in the Los Angeles Times.

Maryland: “Alston’s Maryland law license lifted for ethical violations” by David Hill in the Washington Times.

Procurement

“New federal contracting jobs site launches” by Kedar Pavgi in Government Executive.

Lobbying

“K Street Follows Lawmakers Outside the Beltway” by Kate Ackley and Janie Lorber in Roll Call.

“Super PACs get new use — as lobbying arms on Hill” by Dave Levinthal in Politico.

“Report: D.C. lobbyist on ‘The Bachelor’” by Patrick Gavin in Politico.

“Federal court tosses out lawsuit challenging Obama’s lobbyist ban” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

“Judge sentences gambling lobbyist Jennifer Pouncy to 3 years probation” by Sebastian Kitchen in the Montgomery Advertiser.

Campaign Finance

“Report ranks corporate political openness” by Dave Levinthal in Politico.

Ethics

“N.J. Democrats ask ethics commission to look into Christie’s use of GOP video at town hall” by Jenna Portnoy in the Star-Ledger.

Elections and Political Campaigns

“Secretaries of State Still Juggling Politics, Elections” by Louis Jacobson in Governing.

“New voter laws could delay outcome of close elections as states scrutinize provisional ballots” by The Associated Press in the Washington Post.

“U.S. Supreme Court Lets West Virginia Voting Maps Stand” in Governing.

Social Media

“Cities and Counties Try Facebook for Government” by Hilton Collins in Government Technology.

Lobbying

“D.C.’s Riches: More Lobbying Over Less” by Matthew Yglesias in Slate.

Alabama: “Alabama gambling lobbyist seeks probation” by Phillip Rawls (Associated Press) in GoErie.com.

California: “California taps the lobbying crowd” in the Central Valley Business Times.

New York: “Court papers: Convicted NYC lobbyist cooperating with prosecutors in inquiry” by The Associated Press in The Republic.

Washington: “Lobbyists, state staff helped Washington lawmaker’s charity, records show” by The Associated Press in The Oregonian.

Campaign Finance

“Trevor Potter Talks Campaign Finance, Super PACs With Bill Moyers” by Tracy Bloom in Truthdig.

“Ben & Jerry’s co-founder talks campaign finance reform” by Tarini Parti in Politico.

New Mexico: “Albuquerque lawmaker spends campaign money on massages” by The Associated Press in KOB News.

Vermont: “Vt. GOP: Sorrell ad may violate campaign finance law” by WCAX News.

Ethics

“Rep. Waters formally cleared by Ethics panel” by Jordy Jager in The Hill.

“Ethics Committee Details ‘Lessons Learned’ From Maxine Waters Case” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

Florida: “State Rep. Mike Horner resigns after being linked to brothel in Orange County” by Toluse Olorunnipa, Steve Bousquet and Marc Caputo in the Miami Herald.

Social Media and Government Tech

“Report: States Should Switch to Digital Resources Within 5 Years” in Government Technology.

“Social Media Now A Must Have In The Political Campaign Toolbox” by Amanda Falcone in the Hartford Courant.

“More than 50 members of Congress just say no to Twitter’s 140 characters” by Alicia M. Cohn in The Hill.

“Facebook lets users announce voter registration” by Jennifer Martinez in The Hill.

Political Campaigns

“‘Trackers’ now a weapon in the modern campaign arsenal” by Ry Rivard in the Charleston Daily Mail.

Council President Jack Young has introduced legislation on behalf of city watchdog officials to close gaps in Baltimore’s ethics code after reviewing attempts to take advantage of loopholes.

The bill would prohibit council members from accepting gifts from anyone who has lobbied the city in the previous 12 months, even if the lobbyist is no longer registered.

Last January a prominent lobbyist attempted to give a gift, including tickets, to a council member during a short interlude between the expiration of the lobbyist’s 2011 registration and the eventual 2012 registration renewal.