March 22, 2013 •
News You Can Use Digest – March 22, 2013
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
Conflicts of Interest Run Rampant in State Legislatures
Democratic Women Eye City Hall Gains
From the States and Municipalities:
Arizona – Supreme Court Hears Arguments over Whether States Can Ask for Proof of Citizenship to Register
California – Bell Trial Ends in Chaos
California – Judge Orders San Jose to Disclose Officials’ Messages on Private Devices
Florida – Gaming Committee Chairman Relies on Flights from Gaming Lobbyist for Travel to Tallahassee
Georgia – State Senate Offers $100 Lobbying Cap in Split Plan
Kansas – Kansas House Passes Bill on Union Pay Deductions
Kentucky – Richie Farmer Could Be Fined $210,000 over 42 Ethics Violations
Maryland – Campaign Finance Reform Passes House and Is Moving in Senate
Maryland – Former Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold Gets Jail Time from Judge
New Mexico – Social Media Plays a Bigger Role in Legislative Session
New York – Artists Against Fracking May Not Be Registered As New York Lobbying Group
South Carolina – Former Governor Advances in South Carolina Race
South Carolina – Misuse of SC State Plane Alleged
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.
March 15, 2013 •
News You Can Use Digest – March 15, 2013
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Obama Meets with New Advocacy Group
From the States and Municipalities:
California – California Lawmakers Avoid Campaign Contribution Limits with Ballot Measure Account
Florida – Investigators: Florida gambling probe that led to resignation of lieutenant governor will grow
Iowa – Statehouse Coffee Budget Running at $1,400 Deficit
Kentucky – Dennis Horlander Paid More than Most in Kentucky Legislature
Michigan – Former Mayor of Detroit Guilty in Corruption Case
Missouri – St. Louis Police Sergeant Plans to Sue Department for Silencing His Pro-Pot Work
Oregon – Oregon Legislators Reap Big Post-Election Donations – Much of it ‘Makeup Money’
Pennsylvania – Ex-Senate Leader, 7 Others Charged in Turnpike Probe
Rhode Island – RI House Leadership Faulted over Ethics Vote
Tennessee – Black Keys Manager Ticket Offer Raises Questions
Washington – Blind Lawmaker Up to Task in Olympia
West Virginia – Gainer Queries Ethics Panel over Visa Ads
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.
March 8, 2013 •
News You Can Use Digest – March 8, 2013
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Are Hashtags a Political #Wasteoftime?
Pro-Obama Group Reverses Stance on Corporate Cash
From the States and Municipalities:
California – LA Mayor’s Race Heads to Runoff between Democratic Rivals Who Share Much Common Ground
California – Oakland City Council Approves Campaign Sunlight Ordinance
Colorado – Federal Judge Dismisses Challenge to Colorado Campaign Finance Law
Florida – Florida Legislators Work to Regain Voter Trust
Massachusetts – Cahill to Pay $100,000 to Settle Case
New Mexico – House Approves Bill for State Ethics Commission
Tennessee – Rep. Curry Todd Lived Rent-Free in Lobbyist’s Home
Texas – Watchdogs: Ethics loopholes obscure lobby perks
Vermont – New Twist on Campaign Finance Debate
Wyoming – Wyoming Legislative Leaders Decry Lobbying Tactics
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.
March 1, 2013 •
News You Can Use Digest – March 1, 2013
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Conservative Justices Voice Skepticism on Voting Law
Lobbyists Fear Shakedown If Supreme Court Lifts Campaign Contributions Cap
From the States and Municipalities:
California – California Campaign Finance Reporting Ripe for Abuse
Florida – In David Rivera Investigation, Suspected Ringer Charged in Federal Court in $81,486Scheme
Florida – Universal Rolls out Red Carpet for GOP Lawmakers, Lobbyists, State-Party Donors
Georgia – Lobbyist Spending Down 1 Month after New Georgia Rule
Georgia – State House Backs Banning Some Lobbyist Spending
Illinois – Michael Bloomberg’s Super PAC Declares Victory in Illinois Special Election
New York – NY Comptroller Drops Suit as Qualcomm Agrees to Disclose More about Political Spending
Ohio – Ohio Campaign Contribution Limits Continue to Rise
West Virginia – Gainer, State Agency Officials Appear in Online Visa ‘P-card’ Marketing Campaign; State Ethics Act Limits Such Endorsements
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 22, 2013 •
News You Can Use Digest – February 22, 2013
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Jesse Jackson Jr. Pleads Guilty: ‘I lived off my campaign’
Justices Take Case on Overall Limit to Political Donations
From the States and Municipalities:
Arizona – Arizona Senators Look to Revamp Lobbying Gift Ban
California – Prosecution of California Lobbyists on the Rise, FPPC Reports
Kansas – Lobbyists Vouch for Bill to Increase Spending Limits
Kentucky – Kentucky Bill Would Prohibit Lobbying during Legislative Session
Nebraska – Senators Want to Stop Lobbyist Contributions during Session
New York – Review Shows NY Pension Fund Fixed Ethics
North Carolina – Lawmakers’ Economic Interests Not Easily Tracked
Pennsylvania – Pa. Justice Convicted of Corruption
Virginia – Justices Consider Va. Limits on Access to Public Records
West Virginia – Ethics Commission Taps 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 15, 2013 •
News You Can Use Digest – February 15, 2013
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
From the States and Municipalities:
California – Donor to Three Mayoral Candidates Hit with $170,000 Ethics Fine
Connecticut – Howls as Malloy Tries to Shorten Leash on Watchdogs
District of Columbia – D.C. Campaign Finance Proposals Await More Public Comment
Florida – Cashing in on State Contracts Becomes Growth Industry
Florida – Gov. Rick Scott Turns to Lobbyists to Help Push His Agenda
Georgia – New Lobbying Rules Would Prohibit Airfare Expenses
Illinois – Diluted Emanuel Ethics Proposal Finally Gets Nod
Kansas – Legislature Mulls Changing Official Lobbying Threshold
Massachusetts – Lynch, Markey Sign Pledge to Limit Third-Party Ads
New Jersey – Head of Lobbying Firm Hired by AshBritt Will Host Christie Fundraiser
New Jersey – N.J. Firms Donated over $700,000 to Republican Governors Association
New York – Lobby for Cuomo Keeps Donors Secret
South Carolina – South Carolina Attorney General Forwards Complaint against House Speaker Harrell to SLED
Texas – In Some Cases, Government Is All Relative
Virginia – Virginia General Assembly Displays State’s Exceptionalism and its Exceptional Weirdness
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 8, 2013 •
News You Can Use Digest – February 8, 2013
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
U.S. Groups Flex Their Muscles in Brussels
From the States and Municipalities:
California – FPPC Examining Changes to California Lobbyist Disclosure
Colorado – Judge Denies Halting Ethics Probe of Gessler; Appeal Coming
Kansas – NRA Lines Up Support for Anti-Public Lobbying Bill
Maine – America’s Capital of Divided Government
Maryland – Maryland Ethics Panel Says Delegate Should Not Have Tried to Silence Football Player
Massachusetts – DiMasi, Lobbyist Ask Appeals Court to Overturn Convictions
Massachusetts – Lobbyists Win Challenge to Galvin Requirement
Missouri – Missouri Gov. Nixon Got Donation from Contractor While Decrying Big Political Money
Nebraska – Nebraska Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy Resigns in Scandal Involving Cell Phone Calls to Four Women
New Jersey – N.J. Budget Official Questions Florida Debris Firm’s $100 Million Contract, Political Connections
New York – Two Campaign Aides Going on Trial, but Comptroller May Face Judgment
Texas – Text Donations Spread Down Ballot
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 1, 2013 •
News You Can Use Digest – February 1, 2013
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Menendez Pushes Back on Scandal Implications
On K Street, Score One for the Little Guy
From the States and Municipalities:
Colorado
Accidental E-mail Attachment Gets Lobbyist in Hot Water with Senate Majority Leader
Florida
House Proposes Closing Slush Funds, Raising Contribution Limits
Georgia
Georgia Speaker Unveils Sweeping Ethics Legislation
Hawaii
Lobbying Lessons: What Hawaii can learn from other states
Idaho
Armed Man in Security Video is Sorry He Alarmed Idaho Legislators
Illinois
Ex-Illinois State Ethics Panel Member Gets Ethics Fine
Kansas
Labor Groups Suffer Blow in Kansas House
Michigan
North Carolina
N.C. Budget Chairs Change Seats, Start Lobbying Careers
Pennsylvania
Pa. Lawmaker Seeks to Change Offensive Name of Mountain
Rhode Island
RI Rep: Ban lobbyist contributions during session
South Carolina
Ethics Panel Created by Gov. Haley Releases Report
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.
January 18, 2013 •
News You Can Use Digest – January 18, 2013
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
Revolving Door Swings Freely in America’s Statehouses
Federal:
Sandy Lobbying Hinged on Governors
From the States and Municipalities:
California – California’s Lobby Laws Keep Many Influence-Peddling Details Secret
Florida – Sweeping Ethics Bill Would Curtail Lobbying by Lawmakers
Georgia – Senate Passes Ethics Rule, Maintains Restriction on Public Complaints
Kansas – Ethics Commission Recommends Fee Increase
Missouri – Kander Puts an End to Accepting Gifts from Lobbyists
Nevada – Lobbyists Ready Themselves for Legislative Session
Ohio – Cuyahoga County Corruption Investigation Winds Down to the Finish as Bulk of Case Completed
Oklahoma – Oklahoma Ethics Commission Hires New Director
Oregon – Commission Says Kitzhaber Can Accept Payment for Health-Policy Speeches
South Carolina – Sanford Checked with Ex-Wife before Entering Race for SC House Seat
Texas – For Ethics Commission, Big Hurdles to Reform
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.
January 11, 2013 •
News You Can Use Digest – January 11, 2013
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Cynthia Bauerly, FEC Commissioner, to Resign on February 1
From the States and Municipalities:
Colorado – Ethics Panel OKs Continuing Gessler Probe, Mulls Legal Defense Fund
Connecticut – Ex-Convict Candidate Charged with Campaign Fraud
Florida – Orange Mayor Jacobs Proposes Major Texting, Lobbying Reforms
Georgia – Senate Ready to Cap Lobbyists’ Gifts
Illinois – New Illinois Legislature Includes 3 Members Facing Criminal Charges
Kansas – Push to Change Kansas’ Ethics Enforcement Coming
Montana – Helena Judge Rules ‘Dark Money’ Group Violated Election Laws
North Carolina – NC Court of Appeals to Rule on State’s Ability to Levy Lobbying Law Fines
Oklahoma – Former Oklahoma Senate Leader Mike Morgan Is Sentenced to Probation
South Carolina – SC Lawmakers Push More Money for Ethics Commission
Texas – Legislature’s Ethics Rules Raise Concerns
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.
January 4, 2013 •
News You Can Use Digest – January 4, 2013
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Ethics Restrictions for Federal Workers Apply to Inaugural Activities
From the States and Municipalities:
California
Sacramento Filmmaker Lobbies for Cash to Back ‘The Lobbyist’
Georgia
Ethics Reform: Lawmakers may have seen last free football game
Idaho
Campaign Finance Loopholes Have Some Wondering: Who’s watching the money?
Nebraska
NE: Lawmakers look to change rules for campaigns
Nevada
New Rule Requires Training Course for Lobbyists
New York
State Comptroller Sues Qualcomm for Data on Its Political Contributions
North Carolina
NC Judge Voids Teacher Paycheck Law Targeting NCAE
South Carolina
South Carolina AP Reporter Jim Davenport Dies
Tennessee
Proposed Bill Limits Make Tennessee Lobbyists Scramble
Virginia
Political Mail Exposing Voting Habits Ignites Uproar
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 28, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – December 28, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
FreedomWorks Tea Party Group Nearly Falls Apart in Fight between Old and New Guard
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Troy Gives Up on AEA Challenge to Ethics Law, Launches New Fundraising Campaign for PAC
California
Citigroup among 5 Banks Fined Over Muni-Bond Lobbying Costs
California
Labor Beat Prop. 32 Via Social Media
Florida
Senate President’s Hire Seems at Odds with Ethics Reform
Georgia
Ethics Changes in Georgia Senate Could Include $100 Gift Cap
Louisiana
Maine
Outsiders Spent More than Maine Legislative Candidates
Maryland
Missouri
Missouri Ethics Chief Headed to Kander’s Office
New Jersey
Jersey City ‘Pay-to-Play’ Restrictions Made Stricter by City Council
South Carolina
Mark Sanford House Run: Former South Carolina governor seriously considering bid for Congress
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 21, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – December 21, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
NRA Power and Money Goes a Long Way in States
The GOP’s Electoral College Scheme
Federal:
Colbert Super PAC to Give to Charities
Crossroads GPS Claim: What Karl Rove’s dark money nonprofit told the IRS
From the States and Municipalities:
Alaska
Legislative Aide Resigns after Anti-Islamic Agenda Crosses into Public Role
Arkansas
Admitted Inappropriate Relationship Threatens McDaniel’s 2014 Bid to Become Arkansas’ Governor
California
More Valuable Gifts, Contributions Allowed to Politicians in 2013
California
State Political Watchdog to Enforce San Bernardino County’s Campaign Finance Ordinance
Louisiana
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu to End Contracts with Firm Tied to Ray Nagin Bribery Probe
New York
Cup of Coffee Limit Perks Up Again
New York
NY State Urges Aetna to Reveal Political Spending
Washington
House Bill Would Impose Fees on Lobbyists, Others
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, 2012 •
News You Can Use – December 14, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Corporate Money Allowed for Inaugural Donations
Federal Court Hears Arguments on Senate Filibuster Challenge
From the States and Municipalities:
California
San Jose to Keep Strict Rules on Disclosing Lobbyists’ Texts, E-mails
Louisiana
Guilty Plea Seems to Set Stage for Charges against Former Mayor Ray Nagin
Maryland
Revolving Door for Government Staffers Questioned
Massachusetts
Jurors Deadlock on Corruption Charges against Cahill
Minnesota
Minnesota Watchdog Panel Wants to See Campaign Financing Overhaul
Missouri
Great Power Equals Greater Funding? Ethics Commission Hopes So
Montana
Judge: ATP engaged in ‘long-standing and pervasive’ abuse of discovery process
New Jersey
Bergen Insurance Broker Sentenced to Five Years for Illegal Contributions to Menendez Campaign
New York
Attorney General Seeks to Force Disclosure of More Political Donors
Ohio
Cuyahoga County Council Bans Corrupt Contractors
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.
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.
