National:

Poll: Sharp increase in partisan divides among Americans

Federal:

Lobbyists Ask Congress for a Mandate on Ethics

From the States and Municipalities:

Arkansas

Democratic, Republican Leaders Back Ethics Initiative

California

State’s Top 100 Political Donors Contribute $1.25 Billion

Delaware

Delaware Lawmakers Approve Campaign Finance Revisions

District of Columbia

D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown Resigns after He Is Charged with Bank Fraud

Florida

Research Group Says Florida Has Most Corrupt Officials

Georgia

Georgia Lawmakers Back Lobbying Cap but Ignored Bill

North Carolina

Legislators, Lobbyists Mix Business with Pleasure

North Carolina

State Ethics Panel to Investigate Lobbyists Tied to Tillis Aides

South Carolina

Gov. Nikki Haley Ethics Inquiry Could Have Major Statehouse Implications

Wisconsin

Walker Survives Wisconsin Recall Vote

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.

Q.  I am not currently registered as a lobbyist and I would like to send a letter to all state legislators in support of pending legislation. Do I need to register as a lobbyist?

A. The act of sending a letter in support of or in opposition to legislation can be enough to trigger the lobbyist registration requirement in a state. Whether or not registration is required is dependent upon the lobbyist registration threshold in any given state.

Some states have thresholds based on the definition of lobbying whereby engaging in a lobbying activity will require lobbyist registration. For example, in a state where registration is required upon receipt of compensation to encourage the passage, defeat, approval, or modification of legislation by members of the legislature, lobbyist registration would be required prior to sending the letter. Iowa is an example of this type of state.

Other states have thresholds based on the amount of time spent lobbying or preparing to lobby. In Maine, an individual is permitted to spend eight hours lobbying before registration is required. In such a state, tracking your time while preparing the letter will be important in determining if registration is required.

Please consult the lobbyist registration threshold in your jurisdiction prior to sending any correspondence to a public official.

You can directly submit questions for this feature, and we will select those most appropriate and answer them here. Send your questions to: marketing@stateandfed.com.

(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

California: “Txt 4 Ur Candidate” by By Ann Ravel, Jared DeMarinis and Hyla Wagner in The New York Times.

Louisiana: “La. lawmakers rework campaign finance enforcement” by The Associated Press in Real Clear Politics.

Lobbying

North Carolina: “State ethics panel to investigate lobbyists tied to Tillis aides” by J. Andrew Curliss and John Frank in the News & Observer.

Ethics

South Carolina: “House Ethics to refund former candidates’ fines” by the Associated Press in GoUpstate.com.

Gov 2.0

“New Website a One-Stop Shop for Colorado Data” by Sarah Rich in Govtech’s Public CIO.

Data.colorado.gov

Legislative Issues

“California voters OK changes to term limits for state legislators” by Phil Willon and Jean Merl in the Los Angeles Times.

Lobbying

“Lobbyists ask Congress for a mandate on ethics” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

Campaign Finance

“Tammany businessman’s allegedly illegal campaign donations went to Gov. Jindal’s 2007 run” by Claire Galofaro in the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Redistricting

Iowa: “Redistricting makes for tumultuous Iowa primary” by The Associated Press in the Quad-City Times.

New Hampshire: “Court to hear challenges to NH redistricting plan” by Holly Ramer (Associated Press) in the Boston Globe.

Social Media

“Political campaigns are in a constant technology arms race” by Scott Canon in the Kansas City Star.

The San Diego Ethics Commission is meeting June 14, 2012 to discuss a prepared draft of municipal code amendments concerning campaign related issues, including one which pertains to the lobbying ordinance. Decision point 14 would amend applicable provisions of the lobbying ordinance to require the disclosure of contributions provided to, and fundraising performed for, committees that are primarily formed to support city candidates.

The draft amendments are available on the commission’s website.

The public is invited to provide comment on the proposed amendments at the June 14, 2012, meeting, which will be held at 5:00 p.m. in the committee room on the 12th floor of the city administration building. Correspondence may also be sent by e-mail at: ethicscommission@sandiego.gov.

Photo of the San Diego skyline by Tomcio77 on Wikipedia.

“Lobbyist asks lawmakers to re-tweet anti-piracy study” by Brendan Sasso in The Hill.

North Carolina: “Legislators, lobbyists mix business with pleasure” by Mandy Locke in the News Observer.

South Carolina: “S.C.’s ‘wink, wink’ policies” in the Anderson Independent Mail.

South Carolina: “CEOs, lobbyists eyed as S.C. legislative panel probing Gov. Haley ethics charges prepares witness list” by Gina Smith in the Sacramento Bee.

Sarah Kovit is a Compliance Associate at State and Federal Communications who is a fluent Spanish speaker and who has experience working with Puerto Rican officials and tracking newly enacted legislation. She is here to assist you with your Puerto Rican compliance needs.

According to Kovit: “Navigating the lobbying, political contribution, and procurement lobbying laws in Puerto Rico can be tricky. English copies of newly enacted legislation are rarely available and English language assistance with your questions is not always available. In the last year alone, Puerto Rico has passed a new election code, updated the PAC reporting structure, and created a pay to play law which affects organizations conducting business in Puerto Rico.”

You can contact Sarah Kovit at skovit@stateandfed.com.

National:

$55 Million for Conservative Campaigns – but Where Did It Come From?

Most Americans Think Campaign Money Aids Rich

Federal:

Acquittal, Mistrial in Edwards Case

Chamber Says It Will Evade Disclosure Ruling by Tweaking Ads

K Street Not Thrilled with Tampa

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama

Alabama Legislature: Teachers can receive gifts of $25 or less

California

Senators Vote to Give up Free Tickets to Games, Concerts

Delaware

Lobbying Reform Bill Met with Debate

Florida

Florida Candidate Legally Changes Name to Web Address

Georgia

Senate Leader Balfour Piles Up Freebies

Illinois

Quinn Gets Bill to Relax Some Campaign Contribution Limits

Massachusetts

Wary of Fan Anger, Athletes Largely Avoid Political Fray

Ohio

Campaign Donor Limits Scrutinized

West Virginia

Political Groups Test Campaign Laws Ahead of High-Profile W.Va. General Election Races

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.

Ontario Integrity Commissioner Lynn Morrison has called for changes to the province’s Lobbyists Registration Act.

Commissioner Morrison, who is also the Lobbyist Registrar, recommends eliminating the “significant part of duties” threshold for registration of lobbyists. Currently, lobbyists must register only if they spend 20 percent or more of their time on lobbying activities. Ms. Morrison recommends all paid lobbyists register regardless of the time spent lobbying.

She also recommends the Lobbyists Registrar have the power to issue administrative monetary penalties and to introduce and require new categories of information reporting for lobbyists. Additionally, the commissioner recommends the different distinctions between the two types of in-house lobbyists be eliminated.

In an Office of the Integrity Commissioner press release, Commissioner Morrison said, “The registration system has worked well since it was introduced in 1999, but times have changed. The roles of lobbyists and public officials have evolved, making it even more important that a registry provide clear, accessible information on who is lobbying whom, and about what.”

Photo of the Toronto skyline by John Vetterli on Wikipedia.

Campaign Finance

“GOP groups plan record $1 billion blitz” by Mike Allen and Jim Vandehei in Politico.

“Mark Kirk hit with FEC complaint by ex-wife” by John Bresnahan in Politico.

Lobbying

“DELAWARE: Lobbying reform bill met with debate” by Chris Barrish in Delmarvanow.com.

“Campaign finance board to investigate ALEC” by Catherine Richert on Minnesota Public Radio News.

Campaign Finance

“Texas leads country in Super PAC giving — by a wide margin” by Emily Wilkins in the Houston Chronicle.

“17 funniest super PAC names” by Politico staff.

Louisiana: “Campaign donations for Gov. Jindal, others under scrutiny” by The Associated Press in the Daily Comet.

“Can State Laws Cohabit With Citizens United?” by Lincoln Caplan in the New York Times.

Lobbying

“K Street not thrilled with Tampa” by Anna Palmer in Politico.

Ethics

“Top N.H. pol quits; lied about work” by Mackenzie Weinger in Politico.

Nevada Assemblyman Pat Hickey has called for campaign finance, lobbying, and ethic reforms.

Assemblyman Hickey’s recommendations include expanding the reporting of lobbyists’ expenditures to include those made when the legislature is not in session, limiting political contributions to PACs, and creating a ‘cooling off’ period before an ex-legislator may become a lobbyist.

As reported in the Las Vegas Sun, the Assemblyman is also suggesting there be ‘real time’ reporting of political contributions.

Assemblyman Hickey made these recommendations at a news conference and has not yet requested a draft bill for these proposed changes. The Nevada Legislature currently is not in session and not scheduled to meet again until 2013.

More information from the Las Vegas Sun can be found here and here.

Photo of Assemblyman Pat Hickey courtesy of the Nevada Legislature Website.

Campaign Finance

“How Citizens United Is Affecting Campaigns” by Stuart Rothenberg in Roll Call.

Massachusetts: “Mass. towns push against Citizens United” by The Associated Press in the Boston Globe.

Nevada: “Assembly GOP leader calls for campaign transparency” by Ed Vogel in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Nevada: “Attempt to amend campaign finance not a new concept, but will it work this time?” by David McGrath Schwartz in the Las Vegas Sun.

Lobbying

“White House visitor logs provide window into lobbying industry” by T.W. Farnam in The Washington Post.

“To get a voice in Tallahassee, local governments spend millions on lobbyists” by Tia Mitchell in The Miami Herald.

“NY, 21 states join campaign finance fight” by Matt Gouras (Associated Press) in Newsday.

“Rules of the Game: Advocacy Groups Face New Ad Rules” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.

“Feds probe donations to Ohio candidates” by Josh Lederman in The Hill.

“City lobbyists ready for action in Raleigh” by Patrick Gannon in the Star News.