August 16, 2011 •
Executive Secretary Position Down to Two
Finalists Named in Search for Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission Position
The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission has announced two finalists for the position of Executive Secretary.
Holly A. LaBerge, one of the finalists, is a former Budget Analyst for the House Budget Office and presently the Director of Government Relations for the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council.
The other finalist is Jerry R. Presley, who has previously been a candidate for public office in the state of Georgia, a registered lobbyist, and the city clerk of Baldwin, Georgia. He is currently the president and owner of Public Policy Consultants of Georgia, L.L.C. No timeline has been set for selecting the new Executive Secretary.
August 1, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – August 1, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Crossroads GPS, Priorities USA Violate Tax Laws, Reform Groups Allege in IRS Petition
Oregon Congressman, Named in Sex Case, to Resign
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Bob Riley’s PAC Admits Taking PAC-to-PAC Donation in Violation of Law Riley Pushed
California
Judge Ready to Strike down San Jose Law Barring Last-Minute Campaign Contributions
District of Columbia
D.C. Council Member Thomas to Repay D.C. $300,000
Florida
Judge Hears Challenge to Florida Campaign Law
Florida
Press Group in Talks to Take Over State Lobbyist Registration
Georgia
Ethics Commission Could See Major Reorganization
Illinois
Emanuel Ethics Reforms Back on Track at City Council
Massachusetts
GOP’s Winslow Uses On-line Coupon to Promote Fundraiser
New York
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz Fined $20,000 for Taking Free Foreign Trips for His Wife
Rhode Island
Twenty Politicians Owe $800,000 in Election Fines
Tennessee
Some Advocacy Avoids Tennessee Lobbying Label
Virginia
For Virginia Companies, Campaign Donations to Lawmakers Just another Cost of Doing Business
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.
July 28, 2011 •
State and Federal Communications Expands Coverage
In a continuing effort to better serve the needs of its clients, State and Federal Communications, Inc. is expanding coverage of laws and regulations in more municipalities.
We now provide information on lobbying, political contributions, and procurement lobbying for Gilbert, Arizona; Savannah, Georgia; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Springfield, Missouri; and Syracuse, New York on our website.
The image of North America by Bosonic dressing on Wikipedia.
July 27, 2011 •
Georgia to Convene Special Session
Redistricting the Focus
The Georgia General Assembly is scheduled to convene in special session on Monday, August 15, 2011.
The primary topic of discussion is to be redistricting.
Photo of the Georgia State Capitol dome by Connor.carey on Wikipedia.
July 25, 2011 •
Atlanta’s Ethics Office to Lose Ethics Officer
Final day is September 30, 2011
Ginny Looney, the Ethics Officer for the city of Atlanta Ethics Office, has announced she will be leaving the position in order to work as a clerk for the Georgia Supreme Court.
Looney, who was the first appointee to the position in 2003, made the announcement at the most recent Atlanta City Council meeting.
Among her accomplishments during her time holding the position, Looney developed the city’s electronic disclosure system, helped to craft city ethics laws, and established the city’s 24/7 ethics hotline.
Looney’s final day is set to be September 30, 2011.
Photo of the Atlanta City Hall doors by Jeff Clemmons on Wikipedia.
July 11, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 11, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
IRS Drops Audits of Political Donors
New Breed of ‘Super PACs,’ Other Independent Groups Could Define 2012 Campaign
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Alabama Democratic Conference Files Lawsuit to Stop New Alabama Law Banning Political Fund Transfers
Arizona
Arizona Conservatives Scramble after Campaign Finance Law’s Defeat
California
Marijuana Lobbyist’s Fundraiser for DA Raises Questions
Veil Drawn on Donors to Latino Caucus-Controlled California Nonprofit
Connecticut
Agent Who Arrested Politicians Now Seeks House Seat
Georgia
Illinois
Mayor Rahm Emanuel Proposing New Round of Ethics Reforms
Iowa
Judge Upholds New Iowa Campaign Disclosure Rules
Massachusetts
House Leader Apologizes for Holocaust Remarks
Michigan
Justices Stop Political Gifts Taken at Work
Minnesota
Campaign Board Rejects NOM’s Efforts to Shield Donors in Marriage Battle
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Lt. Gov. Ard Paying $48,000 Fine
Washington
Ex-Prisons Chief Eldon Vail Says He Resigned Because of an Affair with Subordinate
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.
The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission announced they are postponing until further notice the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 12, 2011.
Information concerning a new meeting date will be provided on the Commission website once the date is determined.
Questions concerning the postponement of the meeting may be directed to Lisa M. Dentler, Confidential Secretary, by calling (404) 463-1980.
May 24, 2011 •
Governor Deal’s Veto Deals “Flush” to SB 163; General Assembly Seeking “Full House” to Override
Campaign Communications Disclosure Bill Vetoed by Governor Nathan Deal in Georgia
A bill concerning campaign communication disclosures has been vetoed by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. Citing to potential vagueness associated with the bill’s provisions and First Amendment concerns, Deal vetoed Senate Bill 163.
The General Assembly will now have to muster the support to override the veto if the measure is to become law.
Senate Bill 163 would require a clear statement on all campaign communications concerning the source of payment financing the item or items used in the communication, as well as requiring specific disclosures depending on the person or persons financing the communication.
April 15, 2011 •
Georgia Ethics Bill Approved by Legislature on Final Day of Session
Georgia Legislators Vote to Patch Ethics Loophole as Session Ends
The Georgia General Assembly adjourned late Thursday, April 14, 2011. Among the measures passed on the final legislative day was Senate Bill 160, requiring lobbyist reporting of expenditures made on behalf or for the benefit of a public employee for the purpose of influencing a public officer. The measure will now be sent to the desk of Governor Nathan Deal for his signature.
Senate Bill 160 was amended earlier in the week to close a loophole in state ethics law made public after Advisory Opinion 2011-03, released by the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, concluded state law did not require the reporting of such expenditures.
The final semi-monthly disclosure report for state level lobbyists will be due May 1, 2011. Further, the first monthly disclosure report for state level lobbyists will be due June 5, 2011.
Photo of the Georgia State Capitol dome by Connor.carey on Wikipedia.
April 13, 2011 •
Georgia Ethics Loophole One-Step Closer to Being Closed
House Approves Ethics Measure in Georgia; Senate to Review Measure Next
The Georgia House of Representatives voted Tuesday to close a loophole in the state ethics law concerning expenditures made on behalf or for the benefit of public employees.
The House voted to amend Senate Bill 160 to add provisions requiring lobbyist reporting of expenditures made on behalf or for the benefit of a public employee for the purpose of influencing a public officer after Advisory Opinion 2011-03, released by the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, concluded state law did not require the reporting of such expenditures.
The bill must now return to the Senate for a vote on the House amendment.
Photo of the Georgia State Capitol dome by Connor.carey on Wikipedia.
March 16, 2011 •
Georgia Governor Signs House Bill 232
New Law Eases Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements
Governor Deal signed House Bill 232 on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. The law, which is effective retroactively to January 10, 2011, redefines the term “lobbyist” to require a person to be compensated specifically for lobbying activities before being required to register and report as a lobbyist. Also, a person is now only deemed a “lobbyist” if more than 10 percent of his or her working hours are spent engaged in lobbying activities.
A “lookback” period is included for each calendar month, requiring lobbyist registration and an initial disclosure report within five days if at the end of any month a person has met the 10 percent test. Further, the expenditure triggers for lobbyist registration have been increased from $250 to $1,000.
Additionally, lobbyists are granted a grace period of three business days in filing all disclosure reports. Finally, persons who are employed as bona fide salespersons are exempt from regulation as vendor lobbyists.
Photo of the dome of the Georgia State Capitol by Connor.carey on Wikipedia.
Officers and Employees of Business Entities the Focus of New Georgia Advisory Opinion Concerning Lobbyist Registration
The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission has released Advisory Opinion No. 2011-1, providing for an interpretation of the lobbyist registration statute in regards to individuals who are officers or employees of a business entity. The Commission has determined these individuals must register as lobbyists if they meet with public officials and express opinions on potential or actual legislation that may impact the business entity.
Stacey Kalberman, Executive Secretary of the Commission, prepared the opinion, noting “the General Assembly drafted a broad provision which can only be interpreted to mean that any individual compensated by another, whether as a consultant or an employee, is acting as a lobbyist if such person attempts to influence legislation by the General Assembly.”
This opinion does not affect employees who may be conducting lobbying activities as an uncompensated volunteer, so long as they do not exceed $250 in expenditures.
December 13, 2010 •
Timely Campaign Finance News from Georgia
Georgia State Ethics Commission Increases Contribution Limits
The State Ethics Commission has approved an increase in contribution limits for both statewide and other offices. The contribution limit for a statewide office during each primary and general election has been increased from $6,100 to $6,300, while the limit for a runoff election for the primary or general election has increased from $3,600 to $3,700.
Additionally, contribution limits for all other offices during each primary and general election have increased from $2,400 to $2,500, and from $1,200 to $1,300 for a runoff election resulting from the primary or general election.
September 7, 2010 •
Georgia Ethics Commission Issues Advisory Opinion No. 2010-06
The Georgia State Ethics Commission ruled that campaign candidate to candidate contributions must adhere to the limitations expressed under O.C.G.A. section 21-5-41.
The Commission determined the language in section 21-5-33(b)(1)(B) of the Georgia Ethics in Government Act which states a candidate is free to transfer excess contributions “without limitation to any national, state, or local committee of any political party or to any candidate” is not referencing an absence of limitation on such contributions, but is instead referencing the types of organizations to which such excess contributions may be contributed.
For further reading:
“Advisory Opinion – S.E.C. 2010-06,” by the Georgia State Ethics Commission.
This post is a follow-up to my previous article on Georgia campaign finance from August 30, 2010 – “Georgia Ethics Commission Advisory Opinion Coming,” by Joe May.
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