October 13, 2011 •
Our 2012 United Way Campaign
We Had a Big Success
State and Federal Communications just wrapped up its 2012 United Way Campaign and it was a success. We are proud to say this is our twelfth campaign for the organization and we are believers in the work they do.
Each year United Way brings in a speaker from one of the agencies they support so that we can see how our contributions go to work in the community. This year we had the privilege of hearing a representative from the Salvation Army speak to us about the vital services they offer in the community and how United Way has been integral in supporting that work.
Each year year State and Federal Communications tries innovative ways to meet our fundraising goal. This year we set up two teams, the Stars and the Stripes. The team with the highest percentage of team members contributing what United Way calls “Fair Share Plus” would win a number of prizes.
The winning team was the Stripes, headed up by IT Business and Operations Analyst Dave McPeek. Congratulations team Stripes!
State and Federal Communications came up with 129% of the target goal that United Way had given us! We are thrilled. Thank you to everyone who so generously contributed.
October 10, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – October 10, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
How One Criminal Case Hit K Street
Hybrid PACs: Super PACs and Traditional PACs Can Merge
Lobbyists In On ‘Super’ Secrets
OMB Finalizes Details on White House Lobbying Reform Rules
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Commission’s Opinions Further Define 2010 Ethics Law
Delaware
Colbert Takes Satirical Swipe at Abuse of Delaware Spending Disclosure Laws
Minnesota
Disclosure Rules Apply, Campaign Finance Board Says
New Jersey
N.J. Ethics Reform Efforts Bogged Down for Year
New Mexico
New Mexico Governor Signs Bill to Close Loopholes in State Contract Bidding
New York
NYC Mayor Cross-Examined at Ex-Operative’s Trial
Texas
Recall Case Likely to Extend Beyond El Paso
Utah
Lobbyists Want Keys to the Gym and Valet Parking at Capitol
Virginia
Trackers an Evolving but Undeniable Political Force
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.
Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.
October 4, 2011 •
Planned Outage for Lobby Comply
On Thursday, October 6, Lobby Comply Blog will be down for about an hour.
The outage will occur in the afternoon while we make some upgrades.
Thank you for your patience. We appreciate our many readers!
October 3, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – October 3, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Business Executives Call for End to Anonymous Cash
In Turn to Politics, Facebook Starts a PAC
Political Embezzlement Rises as U.S. Campaign Accounts Swell
Solyndra’s Lobbying Not Disclosed by Energy under Stimulus Guidelines
From the States and Municipalities:
Colorado
Campaign Finance Law Argued Before Colorado Supreme Court
Florida
After ‘Wild West,’ Palm Beach County Lobbyists Face New Rules
Indiana
Federal Judge Strikes Down Portion of Indiana ‘Robo-Call’ Ban
Maryland
State Senator’s Future Hangs in the Balance at Corruption Trial
Minnesota
Campaign Finance Board Releases Guidelines on Ballot Initiatives
Pennsylvania
Ex-Judge Gets 17 1/2 Years in Pa. Kickbacks Case
Rhode Island
Arrested Rhode Island Representative Won’t Resign, Will Run Again
Tennessee
Tennessee Lawmakers’ Ethics Panel Has Own Critics
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.
Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.
September 29, 2011 •
State and Federal September Photo Scrapbook
Here are some fun pictures from recent events.
September 28, 2011 •
E-X-P-A-N-D-I-N-G Our Online Guides
Dear Clients:
We are always looking to add value to our services. You may have noticed in the past three months we have added 36 new jurisdictions to our online website.
Now that we are starting the last quarter of the year, we are going to increase the amount of information in each section.
Executive Sourcebook on Lobbying Laws:
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We are separating the penalties so you will see what they are for registration, reporting, and gift violations.
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Does the jurisdiction have a document retention policy?
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Is gift splitting allowed?
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We are also separating the gift restrictions for lobbyists and non-lobbyists.
Executive’s Sourcebook on Political Contributions:
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What is the jurisdiction’s document retention policy?
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What restrictions are there on fundraising, as applied both to corporations attending a political event and as applied to corporations holding its own fundraiser?
Executive’s Sourcebook on Procurement Lobbying:
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Restrictions on pre-RFP communications between a bidder and the procurement department?
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Are there any post-RFP “cone of silence” restrictions?
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Difference between “bidder” and “contractor.”
It continues to be our goal to be your #1 online resource for lobbying, political contributions, and procurement lobbying.
Until next month, let your fingers do the walking at www.stateandfed.com and see the amount of information available to you and your organization.
Elizabeth Z. Bartz
President and CEO
September 26, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – September 26, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
Election Spending to Exceed $6 Billion Thanks Partly to Jim Bopp
Twitter to Launch Political Advertising
Federal:
K Street Cool to Obama Lobbying Plan
Watchdog Spotlights Lawmaker Ethics in ‘Most Corrupt’ Report
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Former Governor Riley Gets Ethics Training He Pushed
California
California Pension Managers Fined for Unreported Gifts
Connecticut
‘Shock Jock’ Hal Turner Acquitted in Connecticut Threats Case
District of Columbia
Wells Drafts D.C. Bill to Limit Lobbyists’ Influence
Illinois
The Price of Influence in Chicago
Louisiana
Sugar Bowl in Violation of Tax Law with Purchases to Fundraiser
Missouri
T.D. El-Amin Gets Record Ethics Fine
Montana
Supreme Court Looks at Campaign Finance for Political Spending
Oklahoma
Oklahoma High Court Hears Former Senator’s Appeal
Pennsylvania
Wisconsin
Judge: Wisconsin campaign law is unconstitutional
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.
Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.
September 19, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – September 19, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
New Rule Would Expand Tight Obama Lobbying Rules to All Federal Workers
‘Revolving Door’ of Employment between Congress, Lobbying Firms, Study Shows
Without Scandal, Lobby Reform Stalls
From the States and Municipalities:
Colorado
Gessler to Help Raise Cash to Pay off GOP Fine
Delaware
Kentucky
Gubernatorial Candidates Back ‘No Cup of Coffee’ Rule
Massachusetts
Disgraced DiMasi Is Given Eight Years
Montana
Conservative Groups File New Lawsuit over Montana Election Laws
New Jersey
Report: Serious flaws in N.J. ‘pay-to-play’ law
New York
Former Hospital Chief Convicted of Offering Bribes to Albany Legislators
North Carolina
Groups Seek to Overturn N.C. Campaign Spending Law
South Dakota
Ethics Rules for State Workers Weak, Critics Say
Texas
Anita Perry’s Salary Comes Indirectly from Governor’s Backers
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.
Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.
September 16, 2011 •
Elizabeth Bartz Heading to Milwaukee with the Greater Akron Chamber
Group is looking for ideas for regional development
Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, will be attending the Greater Akron Chamber Inaugural InterCity Leadership Visit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Akron Chamber, she will be representing the business community.
The trip will be from September 18 – 22, with the aim of exchanging ideas and learning best practices for regional growth.
September 16, 2011 •
We Are Attending PAC State and Local Relations Seminar
Also Sponsoring Networking Breakfast!
State and Federal Communications staff Jeff Roberts, Sarah Kovit, Zachary Hoying, and Ken Kelawae will be attending the Public Affairs Council’s State and Local Government Relations Seminar in Washington D.C. The seminar will be held September 18 – 20.
If you will also be there, be sure to say hello!
State and Federal Communications is also excited be sponsoring the Tuesday morning Networking Breakfast. “We are proud to assist the Public Affairs Council,” said Elizabeth Bartz, the company’s President and CEO.
September 12, 2011 •
Elizabeth Bartz Participating in Awards Ceremony
Greater Akron Chamber hosting ceremony tonight
Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, will be announcing some of the recipients of the 2011 30 for the Future Awards.
The awards, hosted by the Greater Akron Chamber, recognize young professionals who have made extraordinary contributions in their industries and to greater Akron.
The dinner celebration and ceremony will be held tonight at the University of Akron’s Student Union Ballroom.
Here is a list of this year’s recipients.
September 12, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – September 12, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Bipartisan Bill Would Require Transparency of Super Committee
Facing Voter Discontent, Lawmakers Skip Town Halls
Members of Debt Panel Have Ties to Lobbyists
From the States and Municipalities:
California
Campaign Accountant Held in Theft of Funds
Connecticut
Watchdog Agencies Spared as Malloy Nails Down Budget Cuts
Georgia
Ethics Chief Arrives Amid Makeover
Rhode Island
R.I. Rep. Leo Medina Is Charged with a Felony
Washington
Seattle City Employee to Be Fined for Driving City Car to Casino
Wisconsin
Attorney: New Wisconsin ad rules too broad
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.
Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.
September 7, 2011 •
State and Federal Communications’ Staff Attending the PLI Seminar
Held in Washington D.C. September 8 and 9
Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, as well as Compliance Associates Myra Cottrill, Steve Quinn, Rebecca South, and George Ticoras will be attending the Practising Law Institute’s Live Seminar, Corporate Political Activities 2011: Complying with Campaign Finance, Lobbying & Ethics Laws, that is to be held in Washington D.C. September 8 and 9.
This seminar will provide information covering topics such as the aftermath of Citizens United, state and federal pay-to-play laws, state lobbying, gift and campaign finance laws and enforcement, FEC rulemakings and litigation, FEC hot topics, and, among other things, recent civil and criminal enforcement cases, policies and sentencing guidelines.
September 6, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – September 6, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Interest Groups Push Obama on Order
SEC Whetting Incentives for Whistle-Blowers
Super Committee Pits Lobbying Firms’ Clients against One Another
The Influence Industry: ‘Candidate super PACs’ surge ahead in the 2012 money race
From the States and Municipalities:
Connecticut
Guay to Head Unified Watchdog Group
Florida
New South Florida Politicians Go to ‘Good Government’ Boot Camp
Florida
Nonprofit Writes Florida Law for its Own Program
Georgia
Georgia Lobbyists Hope to Boost Ethics
Georgia
Montana
Schweitzer Fined $4,100 in Ethics Case
Nebraska
Donations OK’d for First Lady’s Expenses
Nebraska
State Not Enforcing Campaign Limits
North Carolina
Candidate Criticized for Scheduling Fundraiser at Lobbyist’s Home
Pennsylvania
Ex-Pa. House Speaker Pleads Guilty to Corruption
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.
Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.
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.
