December 12, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – December 12, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Gingrich, Romney Campaigns Count on Lobbyists to Pay the Bills
Occupy D.C. Protesters Shut Down K Street
Stephen Colbert Gets Love at FEC
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Alabama Ethics Law Limits What Students Can Give Teachers; Homemade Cookies OK, Hams Not Allowed
California
California Ethics Agency Relaxes Rules on Gifts to Politicians
California
Watchdog Agency Fines Former Pinole Councilman $111,500 for Ethics Violations
District of Columbia
D.C. Council Tentatively Approves Ethics Reform Bill
Georgia
Fines Levied on Georgia Politicians Reported Reduced Because of Notification Costs
Illinois
Blagojevich Hit with 14-Year Prison Sentence
Maryland
Jack Johnson, Former Prince George’s Executive, Sentenced to Seven Years in Corruption
Maryland
Rule Would Allow Campaign Donations by Text Message
Minnesota
Minnesota Ads Discussing Gay Marriage Approved For Less Financing Disclosure
Missouri
Missouri Politicians Enjoyed World Series Thanks to Lobbyists
Vermont
Vermont Court Imposes $10,000 Penalty in Campaign Finance Suit
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 9, 2011 •
Our Holiday Giving Tree
This year our outreach is for the Summit and Medina County Battered Women’s Shelter.
State and Federal Communications is proud to work in Akron and we recognize that we have a responsibility to reach out to the community around us. This holiday season we decided to participate in a Giving Tree project.
Our tree is in the lobby with tags requesting gifts for someone in need. The tags are nearly all claimed by employees who will be a Santa for someone. There are just a few unclaimed items left.
The tree is benefitting the Summit and Medina County Battered Women’s Shelter, and the items we’re providing range from anything like clothing (boots, scarves, coats for children and women) to Christmas toys and supplies for the shelter itself.
Instead of adopting one specific family, these items will go toward the shelter and the families that come in during the weekend of Christmas and often can bring nothing with them for the holidays.
This “campaign” will go through December 21st which is final drop off time at the shelter.
December 8, 2011 •
Professional Development – Part Deux
The most popular conferences for government relations professionals are around the corner and both are brought to you by the Public Affairs Council. The Grassroots Conference is in Miami Beach from January 30th to February 2nd and the National PAC Conference is in Orlando from February 27th to March 1st.
First, get past the fact both conferences are in Florida. The Council keeps us busy enough that we rarely get more than a few hours to mill around.
Second, what you need to know is the Council makes sure it has the top-of-the-line speakers for the programs and the sessions are mixed in with people in the field who are doing great things in both grassroots advocacy and PAC recruitment.
Finally, and most important, you will find State and Federal Communications involved with the conferences. We have been involved with the advisory board for each conference, sending a number of staff, and we are included in the Market Resource Program.
You can obtain more information about these conferences at www.pac.org.
Until next month, continue to plan for your professional development. There is nothing like developing the important skills for your organization.
December 2, 2011 •
State and Federal Communications Heading to COGEL 2011
The event will be held in Nashville, Tennessee.
State and Federal Communications President and CEO Elizabeth Bartz and seven of the company’s staff will be attending the Council on Government Ethics Laws (COGEL) 2011 Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
We are looking forward to COGEL 2011, which will run from December 4 – 7.
If you are planning to attend, be sure to say hello!
November 30, 2011 •
Elizabeth Bartz Attends NCSL Fall Forum
Advancing the States’ Agenda
State and Federal Communications President and CEO Elizabeth Bartz is attending the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Fall Forum 2011 in Tampa, Florida.
The conference runs from November 30 until December 3, 2011.
November 30, 2011 •
State and Federal Communications Attends WGR Event
Building Bridges from Main Street to Capitol Hill
State and Federal Communications is proud to be one of the Event Sponsors of the Women in Government Relations 2011 PACs, Politics & Grassroots Conference.
Compliance Manager Amber Fish Linke and Federal Compliance Associate Rebecca South are attending the conference today in Washington, D.C.
November 23, 2011 •
Happy Thanksgiving!
Everyone at State and Federal Communications would like to wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!
November 16, 2011 •
State and Federal Communications Attends ALL Annual Meeting
The event includes a panel discussion and luncheon.
State and Federal Communications’ President and CEO Elizabeth Bartz and Federal Compliance Associate Rebecca South are attending the American League of Lobbyists Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. today.
According to the American League of Lobbyists website: “Amidst Administration attacks on registered lobbyists, calls for increased transparency, and restrictions on lobbyists attending White House meetings and serving on Advisory Committees, what does the coming election year mean for the lobbying profession?
On Wednesday, November 16th, the American League of Lobbyists Annual Meeting will feature a panel of some of the nation’s top reporters who cover lobbying. Brody Mullins of the Wall St. Journal, Tory Newmyer of Fortune Magazine, and John Bresnahan of Politico will discuss the business, profession, and ethical quandaries of lobbying in today’s challenging environment.”
November 14, 2011 •
News You Can Use – November 14, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
Special Sessions: A calculated risk
Federal:
Obama Administration Draft Memo Could Shed Light on ‘Lettermarking’
Sunlight Foundation Follows Lobbyist Tweets
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Alabama’s New Ethics Law Fails to Stop Exemption Requests from Lobbyists and Public Officials
California
California Legislators Head to Maui for Retreat Funded by Special Interests
California
Carrie Underwood Show Boosts Tribe’s Lobbying Expense
Colorado
Judge Warns Colorado Secretary of State Went Too Far in Raising Campaign Finance Threshold
Colorado
NBC News Can’t Pay for Colorado Governor’s Travel, Ethics Panel Says
Illinois
Clout, Corruption in Illinois to Take Other Forms
Kansas
Kansas’ Lobbyist Data Falls Far Short of Need, Watchdog Group Reports
Maryland
Maryland Sen. Currie Acquitted of Corruption Charges
Missouri
Missouri Lawmaking at Issue before High Court
North Carolina
N.C. Lobbyist Donations Ban Upheld By Federal Court
Wisconsin
First Recall Effort Launched against Walker, Triggering Unlimited Fundraising
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.
November 8, 2011 •
State and Federal Communications Sponsors WASRG Reception
If you are attending the Washington Area State Relations Group 2011 Summit, be sure to say hello!
State and Federal Communications, Inc. is proud to be the sponsor of the WASRG Award of Excellence Reception at the 2011 WASRG Summit. The event will be held at the Hall of States in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, November 9, 2011.
The reception will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
November 8, 2011 •
Regina Brett Talks about Giving Thanks
State and Federal Communications visited with the author and radio host about an upcoming broadcast.
Regina Brett has delighted readers with her book, God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life’s Little Detours. A cancer survivor with a terrific world view, Regina’s regular column in The Cleveland Plain Dealer has reached scores of people over the years.
Yesterday, I visited with Regina about “The Regina Brett Show,” a weekly call-in radio show she hosts on Northeast Ohio’s NPR affiliate station, WKSU 89.7 FM. On November 16, the topic of her show is Giving Thanks. State and Federal Communications is proud to be the sponsor of the show that evening. Don’t miss it!
For those readers who are new to your show, would you tell us about The Regina Brett Show?
I say it is a show that is more about the internal affairs, the inside things that people are concerned about – relationships, education, health, marriage, and children. We’re not a public affairs show. There are a lot of public affairs shows out there. This is more of an internal affairs kind of thing.
Your subjects range from large issues to personal ones, from the serious to the whimsical. How do you pick the subject matter for your shows?
You know, it’s kind of a group effort with the producer and the sound technician. We brainstorm and we ask, “What are people concerned about?” And it’s a little tricky because you want to do something that is current events. So we ask, will it still be current a week, or two weeks from now? We try to think of things that are kind of evergreen, that are going to always matter.
The show on November 16 explores Giving Thanks. Can you tell us who your guests will be?
November 2, 2011 •
Professional Development
It is time to consider your professional development opportunities. And, during this time of the year there are a lot of options.
My #1 conference of choice is State Government Affairs Council Leaders Policy Conference. I first attended this in 2001 at the Wigwam in Scottsdale and I was hooked. I first met CSG’s Executive Director, David Adkins there and Stan Tretiak, then with Coors, was the conference chairperson and had the CEO of Coors address the group.
You could say I loved it so much, I not only joined the association; I ran for the board, and am now the president!
This year, David Christman, from the National Beer Wholesalers Association, is the conference chairperson. The program is outstanding. Speakers include:
- Craig Karges—Nationally recognized speaker and author;
- Margaret Anderson Kelliher—President and CEO of Minnesota High Tech Association;
- Kevin McCarty—Florida Insurance Commissioner;
- William Symonds—Director, Pathways to Prosperity Project,
Harvard Graduate School; - Michael Sargeant—Executive Director of the DLCC;
- Matt Walter—Political Director of RSLC;
- Dana Perino—Political Commentator, and Former White House Press Secretary; and
- Cincinnati’s own Johnny Bench—Baseball Legend.
In addition to this great cast of speakers are the exceptional legislators in the audience. SGAC invites the top six (6) legislators from every state. This gives everyone the opportunity to speak with state leaders and develop the important working relationships you will need in 2012. I don’t know where to start, but some of them include:
- Kansas Senate President Stephen Morris;
- Maryland Senate President Mike Miller;
- Georgia Senator Don Balfour;
- Ohio Representative Ted Celeste;
- Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus; and
- Massachusetts Senator Richard Moore.
There is still space available for you at SGAC’s LPC. You can obtain all the needed information at www.sgac.org.
Until next month, take the time to hone your skills, sharpen the saw, and awaken the giant within—okay, too much Covey and Robbins! The point is to stay on top of your game and be the best for your organization.
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.