February 20, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – February 20, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Edwards Treasurer Never Saw 2011 Campaign Reports
Lobbyists Sue Obama Administration after Being Booted from Boards
Most of Romney’s Top Fundraisers Remain Anonymous
From the States and Municipalities:
California
California’s Political Watchdog Panel Eases its Approach to Ethics Issues
District of Columbia
D.C. Official Says Proposed Ballot Initiative Banning Corporate Donations Advances
Florida
Deerfield Beach ‘PAC Man’ Faces 2,052 Counts of Breaking Election Laws
Georgia
Lobbyist Handouts Not Fully Disclosed
Illinois
PAC Sues Over State’s Campaign Finance Law
Illinois
Report: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York most corrupt cities; Louisiana most corrupt per capita
Minnesota
Lobbying Violations Vex Understaffed Minnesota Regulator
Missouri
Missouri Supreme Court Strikes Down Most of Ethics Law
Montana
U.S. Supreme Court Asked to Undo Montana Campaign Money Ban
Vermont
State Sues Dubie and RGA, Alleging 2010 Campaign Collusion
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.
February 16, 2012 •
Here Comes the Compliance Dream Team!
The Compliance Dream Team is coming to the PAC National Conference in Orlando, Florida at the Universal Portofino Bay Resort February 27 – March 1.
Amol Naik from Google, Elizabeth Bartz of State and Federal Communications, Ken Gross from Skadden Arps, and Michael Toner from Wiley Rein will be making up the Compliance Dream Team.
Bring your compliance concerns. This is your opportunity to unleash all those difficult questions regarding compliance issues.
Don’t miss the Public Affairs Council National PAC Conference. See you there!
February 15, 2012 •
Latest News in Ethics Oversight
Here is a look at what has appeared in the last few days from the state ethics commissions:
Arizona: “Ariz. lawmakers want elected officials to disclose use of public funds” by Howard Fischer in the East Valley Tribune.
Georgia: “Advocates push for ethics funding” by Charles Edwards on WABE News.
“Watchdog groups demand more money for ethics board” by in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Maryland: “Maryland Ethics Panel Suggests Reducing Local Disclosure” by Brian Witte (Associated Press) on NBC Washington.
“Bill would require online disclosure” by Michael Dresser in the Baltimore Sun.
Minnesota: “Lobbying violations vex understaffed Minnesota regulator” by Brad Schrade in the Star Tribune.
North Carolina: “Dome: Few ethics complaints probed, report shows” by John Frank in The News & Observer.
February 15, 2012 •
Wisconsin Bill Targets Special Interest Organizations that Craft Bills for Legislators
Bill Requires Increased Disclosure for American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Activities
Democratic legislators have submitted a bill for introduction that restricts the activity of special interest organizations that write bills for legislators.
The bill titled the ALEC Accountability Act applies existing lobbying laws to any organization or person who advocates for the introduction of model legislation. The bill also requires the reporting of any “scholarships” organizations pay to legislators and prohibits state taxpayer funds from being used to pay for attendance at the organization’s conventions.
The bill is currently awaiting a bill number and committee referral.
Photo of the Wisconsin State Capitol building by Darin ten Bruggencate onWikipedia.
February 14, 2012 •
Lobbying, Campaign Finance, and Ethics News
Here is today’s news roundup:
Lobbying
“Lobbyists sue Obama administration after being booted from boards” by Rachel Leven and Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
Campaign Finance
Alaska: “House rejects last-minute Senate exemption of current politicians from campaign finance law” by Austin Baird (Associated Press) in The Republic.
“Super PACs echo parodies” by Kenneth Vogel in Politico.
“Bragging about bundling days over” by Anna Palmer in Politico.
Ethics
California: “California’s political watchdog panel eases its approach to ethics issues” by Patrick McGreevy in The Los Angeles Times.
Louisiana: “Gov. Bobby Jindal seeks adjustments in ethics rules” in the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Government Transparency
“Iowa’s government websites score poorly, transparency group says” by Jason Clayworth in the Des Moines Register.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
February 13, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – February 13, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Ethics Reform Bill to Ban Insider Trading by Congress Members, Executive Branch by House
Obama Yields in Marshaling of Super PAC
From the States and Municipalities:
Arizona
Arizona Supreme Court Bars Candidate with Limited English
California
High-Speed Rail Tapped State Fund for Unusual Lobbying Contract
Connecticut
For Donovan, Lobbyist Bucks Seep Through Loophole
Georgia
With House Bill Stalled, Senator Targets Lobbyist Gifts
Michigan
Critics Worry Senate Ad Will Revive Asian-Bashing
Montana
Schweitzer Appoints Former Labor Leader to Head Political Ethics Office
Oklahoma
FBI Created Fake Company during Investigation of Oklahoma Legislature
Texas
New Rules Would Target ‘Bundlers’ Who Raise Big Sums for Austin Races
West Virginia
W.Va. Lawmakers Navigate Lobby Ban, Social Media
Wisconsin
Wisconsin GOP Leader Admits He’s Packing Heat in State Assembly
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.
February 10, 2012 •
Wayne County Executive Releases New Executive Ethics Policy
Policy Addresses Lobbying, Gifts, and Conflicts of Interest
WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN: County Executive Robert Ficano has issued a new executive ethics policy that contains lobbyist registration provisions, gift restrictions, and conflict of interest disclosure requirements for executive appointees.
The policy requires a lobbyist who lobbies any executive appointee to register with the State of Michigan and bars lobbyists not verified as registered from meeting with executive appointees.
Additionally, the policy prohibits lobbyists from providing executive appointees with food or beverage valued at more than $100 annually and prohibits all other monetary or non-monetary gifts or gratuities.
February 10, 2012 •
DISCLOSE Act Returns for 2012
Also Affects Lobbyist Reporting
U.S. Congressman Chris Van Hollen has introduced a campaign finance bill in the House called DISCLOSE 2012 Act.
Like the similarly entitled bill introduced and defeated in 2010, House Resolution 4010, the Disclosure of Information on Spending on Campaigns Leads to Open and Secure Elections Act of 2012, aims to increase the reporting requirements of political expenditures and contributions by corporations and other outside groups.
Corporations, unions, and other groups, will be required to report certain campaign-related activity to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), to disclose their campaign-related expenditures to their shareholders and members, and to make their political spending available to the public, through a hyper-link to the FEC, on their websites.
In his press release, Congressman Van Hollen states, “I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation – if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear from the DISCLOSE 2012 Act.”
Additionally, the bill also requires lobbyists to disclose their political expenditures in their lobbying disclosure reports in conjunction with the report of their lobbying activities.
February 8, 2012 •
US House Removes LDA Reporting and Registration Requirements from Senate STOCK Bill
Political Intelligence
Last night the U.S. House removed all registration requirements by those conducting political intelligence activities from the Senate’s Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act, which passed the Senate last week with a bi-partisan vote of 96 to 3.
The original Senate Bill 2038, now in the house, expanded the Lobbyist Disclosure Act to include requiring registration and reporting from those conducting political intelligence activities, which was defined as “political intelligence contacts and efforts in support of such contacts, including preparation and planning activities, research, and other background work that is intended, at the time it is performed, for use in contacts, and coordination with such contacts and efforts of others.”
While the House also made other changes to the bill, the only reference to the removal of the reporting and registration requirements made by Congressman Eric Cantor in a press release issued last night stated, “Tonight, we will introduce a strengthened and expanded STOCK Act, and remove provisions that would have made the bill unworkable or raised more questions then they answered.”
If passed as changed in the House, the bill would have to return to the Senate for another vote. The current version of Senate Bill 2038 can be found here.
Photo of the U.S. Capitol by Florian Hirzinger on Wikipedia.
February 6, 2012 •
Broward County, Fla. Expected to Sue to Enforce Code of Ethics
Voters in Three Cities Undo Portions of Countywide Ethics Law
Broward County is expected to file suit in order to ensure the countywide ethics code remains in force countywide after residents of Wilton Manors, Hillsboro Beach, and Sea Ranch Lakes voted to undo portions of it during the January 31, 2012 election. Voters were asked whether local elected officials should be subjected to state law on issues relating to their side jobs, instead of the new county code of ethics, and voters in all three cities unanimously voted in favor.
Broward County Mayor John Rodstrom and Broward County Commissioners have all expressed their belief that the language used on the ballot was deceiving, as no mention of lobbying or the new county code of ethics, extended to all cities in Broward County on January 2, 2012, was contained in the language of the ballot questions.
The county is expected to pursue one of the following legal paths: suing on the ballot language as deceptive or acquiring a ruling concerning Broward County’s authority over the three cities in regards to the code of ethics.
February 6, 2012 •
West Virginia Legislature Gives Reminder about Use of Social Media
Because of the social media capabilities of the latest mobile devices, the West Virginia Legislature is putting out a reminder to lawmakers about the ban on electronic communications during floor sessions.
For full news coverage, read:
“W.Va. lawmakers navigate lobby ban, social media” by The Associated Press in the Washington Examiner.
“W.Va. lawmakers seek buffer from e-lobbying but not blockade with public in social media age” by Lawrence Messina (Associated Press) in The Republic.
Photo of the West Virginia State Capitol Building by Analogue Kid on Wikipedia.
February 6, 2012 •
New Step for Jack Abramoff: Watchdog Blogger
Since Jack Abramoff served his three-and-a-half year prison sentence, he has written a tell-all book, given a lecture on ethics to the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission, and now he is becoming a watchdog blogger.
Abramoff will be working with United Republic’s Republic Report, a blog that started just this month.
According to Abramoff’s first blog post from February 3: “Hi, everyone. I’m new to blogging, so this is an exciting experiment for me.
I’ll be posting more serious pieces next week. But, for now, I just want to say how honored I am to join Nick Penniman, Josh Silver, and the gang at United Republic in the vital effort to effect real reform in Washington.
It is a privilege for me to add my insights and experience to their strong and sagacious team and I look forward to working with them to reveal to our nation the way Washington really works.”
For news coverage read: “Jack Abramoff has unlikely second act as watchdog” by Melanie Mason in the Chicago Tribune.
Thank you to News You Can Use Editor Jim Sedor for pointing me in the direction of this news piece.
February 6, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – February 6, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Minor Senate Bill Transformed into Broad Reform Package
Records Show How Wealthy Shape Presidential Race
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Trial Delayed One Week; Crosby Friend Talks About His Death
Arizona
Arizona City Council Candidate Barred for English Deficit Vows Appeal
California
California Campaign Disclosure Bill Rejected by Assembly
California
Defense Buoys State Campaign of McKeon’s Wife
Colorado
Colorado GOP Lawmaker Bradford Says She Might Leave Party
Colorado
Gov. John Hickenlooper Signs Law Delaying Campaign Finance Reporting until May
Florida
Broward Heads to Court to Defend Code of Ethics
Kansas
Two Kansas Judges Contributed to Anti-Abortion PAC
Kentucky
Ethics Watchdog Richard Beliles Has Few Friends in Kentucky Capitol
Massachusetts
Boston Developer Arthur Winn Fined $100,000 for Making Illegal Campaign Contributions
Michigan
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson Paid $1,325 for Failing to File Campaign Finance Reports
New Jersey
Freeholders Nix ‘Pay-to-Play’ Rules
New York
Ethics Commission Quietly Names New Director
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.
February 3, 2012 •
American League of Lobbyists Against Part of STOCK Act
President Howard Marlowe gives statement
The American League of Lobbyists opposes the part of the recently-passed STOCK Act that requires political intelligence operatives to register under LDA requirements. They say it would impede their reform efforts to close loopholes.
For news coverage, read: “Lobbyist League Opposes STOCK Act Language on Political Intelligence Operatives” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
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.
