January 3, 2012 •
Maryland Lobbyist Is Back as the Top Earner
According to the Maryland State Ethics Commission, Gerard Evans – who was convicted of fraud and spent time in prison – is back in the top earning position in the state for the past year.
Read the full story in “Evans regains top lobbying spot in Annapolis” by John Wagner in the Washington Post.
Here is a list of the top 135 lobbyists in compensation in Maryland by the State Ethics Commission.
January 3, 2012 •
Philadelphia Lobbyist Registration Begins
Board of Ethics Creates Interim Paper Filing System
The City of Philadelphia Board of Ethics has provided interim paper registration forms and instructions for lobbyists, lobbying firms, and principals to be used until an online registration and reporting system is completed. The registration forms allow filers to fill-in information before printing.
The board reminds filers that registration is not complete until a form is printed, signed, and mailed or delivered to the board of ethics with the registration fee.
Registration must occur within ten days after both the commencement of lobbying and the exceeding of thresholds. However, no event occurring prior to January 3, 2012 is relevant to determining the thresholds, registration date, or expense reporting.
January 3, 2012 •
Experts React to Abramoff 2.0
Elizabeth Bartz quoted in Bloomberg article.
Bloomberg Business Week has gathered a variety of opinions about the emerging Jack Abramoff redux-as-ethics-teacher phenomenon. The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission hired Jack Abramoff to be a speaker on the subject of ethics at their upcoming legislative training and people are reacting.
Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, and Howard Marlowe, President of the American League of Lobbyists offered their thoughts. You also can find opinions from Craig Holman of Public Citizen in Washington, Melanie Sloan, the director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, and even Jack Abramoff himself.
Bartz was quoted saying: “Certainly you want to give people a chance to rehabilitate themselves. But is Jack Abramoff rehabilitated? I don’t think so.”
You can read the coverage in “Abramoff as Ethics Guru Latest Chapter in Political Second Acts” by Julie Bykowicz.
Don’t miss Scott Suttell’s “Even Those in the lobbying business aren’t Jack Abramoff fans” where he says Bartz’s comment is a contender for “quote of the year.”
January 2, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – January 2, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Fundraisers Take a Gamble on Lotteries
Romney Charity Used for Conservative Donations
Ron Paul’s House Record Marked by Bold Strokes, and Futility
From the States and Municipalities:
California
Business Interests Were Top Bill-Killers in California’s Capitol This Year
California
State Senator Aims to Double Lobby Fee in California – to 14 Cents a Day
Colorado
Gessler Issues 2012 Campaign Finance Rules
Florida
Palm Beach County Approves Countywide Lobbyist Registry
Ohio
Jimmy Dimora Faces Trial as Convictions in Federal Court Soar
South Carolina
Colbert Offering $500,000 to Pay for S.C. GOP Primary
Tennessee
Tennessee Lawmakers Still Haven’t Filled Ethics Commission Seat That Expired in ’09
Washington
Court Invalidates Washington State Cap on PAC Donations
West Virginia
Ethics Agency’s Informal Advice Kept Secret
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.
December 30, 2011 •
Pembroke Pines City Commission Approves Lobbyist Registration Ordinance
Lobbyists to Begin Registering January 2, 2012
The city of Pembroke Pines, Florida passed a lobbyist registration ordinance at the most recent city commission meeting. The ordinance requires lobbyists to register with the city clerk prior to engaging in lobbying activities.
Registration will be required annually and lobbyists must pay a registration fee of $50. Lobbyists will also be required to complete a contact log to document meetings with members of the city commission or members of other decision-making bodies under the jurisdiction of the city commission.
The ordinance was passed in response to Broward County’s new code of ethics, which extends the county’s code of ethics to all municipalities within the county. Lobbyists will be required to begin registering on January 2, 2012.
Map of Florida by Bastique on Wikipedia.
December 27, 2011 •
Senator to Propose Lobbyist Registration Fee Increase
CAL-ACCESS to Benefit
California State Senator Leland Yee has formally announced plans to introduce legislation to raise the lobbyist registration fees upon commencement of the 2012 legislative session.
The money raised by the increased fees would be used to finance maintenance and upgrades to CAL-ACCESS, the state transparency database for lobbying and campaign finance filings. CAL-ACCESS has been down since the end of November.
December 26, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – December 26, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
FEC Quashes New Disclosure Rules
Super PACs: The bad cops of 2012
From the States and Municipalities:
Alaska
Pebble Opponent Fined for Flying Candidates to Villages
Arizona
Arizona Prosecutor Won’t Charge Politicians Who Took Free Tickets, Trips from Fiesta Bowl
California
California Lobbyists Write Checks to Legislators Running for Congress
Colorado
Gessler, Lawmakers Clash on Campaign Finance Deadlines
Connecticut
Draft Report Renews Fears about Watchdogs’ Autonomy
District of Columbia
D.C. Council Overhauls Ethics Laws
Illinois
Donor to Madison County Judge Says Contribution Looks Bad, But Isn’t
Kentucky
Ex-Lobbyist Jack Abramoff to Speak at Kentucky Legislative Ethics Session
Maryland
Baltimore County Council Scales Back, Passes Ethics Reform Bill
Utah
Utah Lawmaker Resigning Due to Fundraising Ban
Washington
Firm Agrees to Big Fine over Tactics in Political Campaign
Wisconsin
State Elections Board Should Be Replaced, Assembly GOP Leader Says
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.
December 22, 2011 •
American League of Lobbyists Is Against Abramoff Teaching Ethics in Kentucky
The American League of Lobbyists says Jack Abramoff was never a lobbyist and is asking the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission to “rescind its invitation” to have him speak at their January ethics training.
For full news coverage of the group’s statement, read “Trade group says Abramoff shouldn’t teach ethics” by Catalina Camia in USA Today.
According to the article: “To have a state-run, government ethics commission give this ex-con a paid platform sends the public the wrong message about the Kentucky Legislature,” Howard Marlowe, president of the American League of Lobbyists, said in a statement. “I doubt that many of the lawmakers will want to have their picture taken with this crook.”
Here is the League’s press release on Scribd.
December 21, 2011 •
Wednesday News Roundup
Here are some top items from today’s news:
Lobbying:
“Lobbying a bust in AT&T T-Mobile bid” by Tony Romm in Politico.
“Not all Missouri lawmakers accept gifts from lobbyists” by Jake Wagman in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Campaign Finance
“OUR VIEW: Fortunately, a judge’s ruling last week does not gut the state’s ban on money transfers between political action committees” by the Birmingham News editorial board.
Government Ethics:
“Blagojevich attorneys begin appeals process” by The Associated Press in NWI Times.
“Secrecy cloaks new [NY] ethics watchdog panel” by Jimmy Vielkind in the Albany Times Union.
Redistricting:
“The Texas Redistricting Case Explained” by Karl Kurtz on NCSL’s blog The Thicket.
Gov 2.0:
“Agencies question value of social media” by Alice Lipowicz in Federal Computer Week.
December 20, 2011 •
NJ ELEC Enables Some Electronic Filing for Lobbyists
Annual Reports
The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) announced lobbyists and their clients can now file annual reports via the internet.
In a press release, ELEC Executive Director Jeff Brindle stated the electronic filing will not be mandatory, but hopes to begin mandatory electronic filing next year.
Additionally, Director Brindle reported, “As soon as possible, however, we do hope to allow lobbyists to electronically file their other reports.’’ ELEC eventually hopes to enable electronic filing of quarterly lobbyist activity reports, notices of representation, and notices of termination.
The annual activity reports for 2011 are due February 15, 2012.
December 19, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – December 19, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
FEC Dysfunction Not Just Politics, it’s Personal
Gingrich’s Book-Selling Efforts Test Law
From the States and Municipalities:
California
California Web Site’s Glitches Block On-line Tracking of Campaign Donations
California
Measure to Curb Union, Corporate Clout Qualifies
Georgia
Report: No evidence Deal worked to fire ethics officials
Indiana
Ex-Chief’s Indictment Is Latest Black Eye
Maryland
Bereano Settles Ethics Charges for $2,750
Maryland
Leslie Johnson Gets One-Year Sentence
Missouri
Kander Files Ethics Bill That Would Bar Lobbyist Gifts
Montana
State Wins First Round in Suit Testing Montana’s Campaign Disclosure Laws
New Mexico
New Mexico Judge’s Bribery Case Is One for the Books
New York
North Carolina
Perdue Fundraiser Gets Probation, $25,000 Fine
Wisconsin
U.S. Appeals Court Strikes down Part of State Election Law
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.
December 14, 2011 •
Missouri Ethics Bill Would Ban All Lobbyist Gifts
State Representative Jason Kander introduced a sweeping ethics bill today that would ban all lobbyist gifts.
The bill, HB1080, also includes strict limits on campaign contributions and a ban on legislators working as political consultants.
Kander believes the gifts, along with six-figure campaign donations, allow special interests to gain improper influence.
The bill would limit campaign contributions to $500 for House races, $1,000 for the Senate and $2,000 for statewide elections.
December 14, 2011 •
Maryland Lobbyist Agrees to Pay $2,750 Fine
Bereano puts ethics charges behind him.
The Baltimore Sun reported that lobbyist Bruce Bereano has settled the ethics case with the Maryland State Ethics Commission by agreeing to pay a $2,750 fine.
For the full story read “Bereano settles ethics charges for $2,750” by Michael Dresser.
December 13, 2011 •
Lobbyists and Members of Congress Ranked Low in Gallup Poll
They receive “low” and “very low” ratings alongside car salespeople.
Thanks to Eric Brown’s Political Activity Law Blog for bringing this news item to our attention.
Gallup.com just published a poll placing lobbyists and lawmakers at the bottom of their list in the areas of honesty and ethics. For the full story read “Record 64% Rate Honesty, Ethics of Members of Congress Low” by Jeffrey M. Jones.
According to the article: “Gallup has asked Americans to rate the honesty and ethics of numerous professions since 1976, including annually since 1990. Lobbyists also received a 64% low honesty and ethics rating in 2008.”
Photo of the Gallup Organization window by Kate Mereand on Wikipedia.
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