A special election for the Massachusetts 2nd Plymouth and Bristol Senatorial District has been called to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Thomas Kennedy. The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced the special primary election will be held on October 6, 2015. The general election will follow on November 3, 2015.

The Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance has announced the dates for its new candidate and committee online filing system. The e-filing system, referred to as Reporter 6, will be available to filers on April 13. The current filing systems, Reporter 5 and Web Reporter, will not accept filings after April 10. All committee and candidates e-filed data will be migrated to the new system on the weekend between the closing of the old reporting system and the opening of the new system.

Existing e-filing ID numbers and passwords will allow access to the new system.

On February 24, a lawsuit was filed in Suffolk County Superior Court challenging Massachusetts laws allowing unions to make political contributions while barring corporations from doing the same.

The lawsuit is being brought by the Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation at the Goldwater Institute on behalf of two state business corporations against Michael Sullivan, the director of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), which enforces the law.

In 1A AUTO, INC. v Sullivan, the plaintiffs alleges, “There is no legitimate justification for allowing unions to contribute thousands of dollars to candidates, parties, and political committees, while completely banning any contributions from businesses.” The plaintiffs argue the law violates “equal protection, free speech, and free association protected by the Massachusetts and United States constitutions” and are seeking a permanent injunction preventing the OCPF from enforcing the law banning corporate contributions.

Today we welcome you back to the statehouse series. This time we visit Massachusetts!

The “new” Massachusetts statehouse was built in 1798 on top of Beacon Hill. Charles Bullfinch, the architect, was influenced by London architecture. Many buildings in London, such as the Dulwich Gallery and the British Museum, have the same Neoclassical style as the Massachusetts statehouse. The site of the current statehouse was owned by Massachusetts’ first governor, John Hancock.

Like the Vermont statehouse, the Massachusetts statehouse dome is covered in gold leaf, but is topped with a pinecone, reflecting the significance of lumber in the Massachusetts economy. The dome was originally made of wooden shingles, but Paul Revere covered it in copper in 1802, and it was first gilded in 1874. During World War II, it was painted black to eliminate reflections and divert bombers away from the city. The dome remained black until 1997, when it was recovered in gold leaf at the cost of $300,000.

One of the most notable attractions of the Massachusetts statehouse is the Sacred Cod. The wooden codfish hangs above the chamber of the House of Representatives to signify the importance of fishing in the state. The grounds also display many statues of famous Massachusetts residents, such as John F. Kennedy and Daniel Webster. Created in 1990, the statue of John F. Kennedy stands as the newest figure on the grounds.

Since the 1880s, Massachusetts governors have carried on a tradition called the “Long Walk.” The outgoing governor walks out of the statehouse alone while the incoming governor walks up the walkway to the front entrance at the same time. Massachusetts residents line the sidewalks in support of the governors, waving banners and cheering the whole time. What a way to celebrate the importance of a statehouse!

You can plan your own walking tour of Beacon Hill and see the architectural works of Charles Bullfinch at Bostonbyfoot.org.

Photo of the Massachusetts Statehouse courtesy of Fcb981 on Wikimedia Commons.

The Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) issued an advisory opinion last week to clarify when an organization may be required to register with the state as an independent expenditure political action committee (IEPAC). An IEPAC is a political committee or other entity receiving contributions to make independent expenditures.

On September 18, the OCPF issued AO-14-05, which explains how an organization raising funds for political purposes is generally not required to register as an IEPAC in Massachusetts unless donors are told or otherwise know “that at least a portion of funds given will be used to influence” an election in the state. Registration as an IEPC with the state would not be required even if a portion of the funds raised by the organization is subsequently transferred to a Massachusetts IEPAC or is used by the organization itself to make independent expenditures in the state.

On January 1, 2015, the limit for individuals making contributions to Massachusetts state candidates increases from $500 to $1,000, due to a new campaign finance bill signed by Gov. Deval Patrick.

Among the many changes in House Bill 4366, signed on August 1, are new reporting requirements for political committees or other entities making independent expenditures, new disclosure requirements for certain types of political advertising, and the creation of a campaign finance and disclosure task force.

According to MassLive.com, Patrick said the bill, conceptually, was “exactly right.”

Today, the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) announced it will continue to enforce the $5,000 aggregate limit an individual may contribute to political party committees during a calendar year.

In response to U.S. Supreme Court’s decision of McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, in which the Court found aggregate limits on campaign contributions unconstitutional, the OCPF had previously announced it would no longer enforce the state’s aggregate limits for the amount an individual could contribute to candidates. At the time, the OCPF stated it would review the decision more closely before deciding whether the $5,000 aggregate contribution limit to party committees could remain standing.

In affirming that limit today, the OCPF “determined that, because the federal statutory provisions that were analyzed in McCutcheon differ substantially from the law in Massachusetts, this office will continue to enforce the $5,000 aggregate limit.”

On April 10, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the formation of a city Ethics Committee.

The committee will review all changes to the city’s Ethics Policy, implement a new Statement of Financial Interest for all city employees, create continuing education programs around ethics issues, and analyze existing practices and procedures.

In his press release, the Mayor said, “The citizens of Boston and those who interact with our government should be absolutely confident that their government is working for them, at the highest ethical standards.”

Today, the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) announced it will no longer enforce the state’s aggregate political contribution limit for the amount an individual may contribute to candidates.

The law, G.L. §55-7A(a)(5), limits the aggregate amount an individual can contribute to all candidates to $12,500. The OCPF made its decision based on today’s U.S. Supreme Court’s decision, McCutcheon vs. Federal Election Commission, which found aggregate limits on federal campaign contributions are an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment’s guarantee of political expression and association.

However, the OCPF is going to review the decision more closely before deciding whether the $5,000 aggregate limit on contributions by individuals to party committees can remain standing. On its webpage, the OCPF stated, “The statutory provisions at the federal level that were analyzed by the Court in McCutcheon differ substantially from the law in Massachusetts, and a determination on the applicability of the ruling in this area will be made after careful review.”

A special election for the Massachusetts Fifth Suffolk Representative District has been called to fill the vacancy caused by the expulsion of Carlos Tony Henriquez.

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced the special primary election will be held on April 1, 2014. The general election will follow on April 29, 2014.

Henriquez, sentenced to jail last month for assault and battery, was expelled on February 6, 2014, by the House of Representatives.

Due to severe winter weather the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate will be closed on Wednesday, February 5. Both the House and Senate will resume normal business hours on Thursday, February 6, 2014.

A special election for the Massachusetts Second Suffolk Representative District has been called to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of state Representative Eugene L. O’Flaherty. The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced the special primary election will be held on March 4, 2014. The general election will follow on April 1, 2014. O’Flaherty has been appointed as the city of Boston’s corporation counsel by Mayor Martin J. Walsh.

A special election for the Massachusetts Fourth Hampden Representative District has been called to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of state Representative Donald F. Humason, Jr.

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced the special primary election will be held on March 4, 2014. The general election will follow on April 1, 2014.

Humason resigned from the House after he was elected to the Senate for the 2nd Hampden-Hampshire District.

A special election for the Massachusetts Fifth Middlesex Senate District has been called to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of state Senator Katherine M. Clark.

The Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin announced the special primary election will be held on March 4, 2014. The general election will follow on April 1, 2014.

On December 10, 2013, Clark won a special election for the U.S. House of Representatives seat left vacant by Ed Markey.