May 31, 2013 •
Kansas City, Missouri Council Passes Ethics Ordinance
Gifts capped at $1,000
City Council approved changes to the ethics code setting limits on gifts to city officials and employees on Thursday, May 30, 2013. Ordinance No. 130249 prohibits an official or employee and their immediate families from knowingly accepting any gift having a value in excess of $1,000 from any person or business with a substantial interest in legislative or administrative actions.
Gifts worth more than $200 must be reported quarterly by the city official or employee. Previously, reports were due annually and there was no limit on gifts.
The bill becomes effective in 10 days unless vetoed by the Mayor.
May 20, 2013 •
Missouri Legislature Adjourns
Ethics reforms fail to pass
Lawmakers have ended the 2013 legislative session. Although both chambers are scheduled to convene on May 22, 2013, for a technical session, the House marked the conclusion with the traditional and celebratory paper toss on Friday, May 17, 2013.
Several bills aimed at reinstating or expanding the ethics reforms of Senate Bill 844 failed to pass. The major 2010 ethics reforms in Senate Bill 844 were found to be unconstitutional by the Missouri Supreme Court because they were joined to a procurement bill.
Photo of the Missouri State Capitol by RebelAt on Wikipedia.
April 25, 2013 •
Montana Legislature Adjourns
63rd Session
The Montana Senate and the House both adjourned sine die on April 24, 2013, three days ahead of the Legislature’s scheduled adjournment date.
Governor Steve Bullock, who does not have a pocket veto, has 10 days upon delivery to sign, veto, or recommend amendments to bills.
The Legislature, which meets in regular session for 90 working days in every odd-numbered year, will have its next regular session in 2015.
Photo of the Montana State Capitol courtesy of Wikipedia.
March 1, 2013 •
Taking Matters into Their Own Hands
Georgia and Missouri
This year’s push for ethics reform in several state legislatures could not happen fast enough for some elected officials. Georgia’s Senate and Missouri’s Secretary of State, Jason Kander, decided on day one to take matters into their own hands by adopting new gift rules for their respective offices.
The Georgia Senate imposed a $100 limit on gifts from lobbyists. Senators approved the gift cap on the opening day of the 2013 General Assembly session as part of new rules governing the chamber’s operations for the current two-year term. The new rule does not apply to travel costs or to gifts provided to groups of senators, including committees. The rule does allow lobbyists to give $100 gifts on multiple occasions. Meanwhile, House Speaker David Ralston has unveiled an ethics reform bill aimed at expanding the definition of a lobbyist and restricting lobbyist gifts. House Bill 142 would ban even the smallest expenditure of a lobbyist if for the benefit of a single member of the General Assembly. Lobbyists would still be permitted to spend on committees, caucuses, and expenses to public officers for trips to conferences and meetings.
Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, sworn in on January 14, 2013, announced a new ethics policy as part of his “Day 1 Achievements.” The new policy prohibits the staff in his office from accepting gifts from lobbyists. State administrative policy already curtails what state employees may accept from lobbyists, but agencies are free to adopt stricter guidelines. Additionally, Missouri’s House and Senate are both considering bills to curb lobbyist spending. House Bill 139 would prohibit General Assembly members, family, and staff from accepting more than $1,000 per calendar year from lobbyists. Senate Bill 181 would prohibit statewide elected officials, legislators, staff, employees, and family from accepting gifts over $50 from a lobbyist.
January 23, 2013 •
Missouri’s Eighth Congressional District Seat Vacated
June 4 will be the date of a special election
Governor Jay Nixon is set to announce June 4, 2013 as the date of a special election to fill Missouri’s Eighth Congressional District. Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson submitted a letter of resignation to become president and CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
The Eighth District will not have voting representation in the House until June due to state law and the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act. The MOVE Act requires local election authorities to begin transmitting ballots to military and overseas voters 45 days before a general, primary, or special election for federal office.
State law allows independent candidates to file for special elections up to the midway point between when an election is called and when it is actually held. Republican and Democratic party committees will nominate their candidates for the special election.
January 21, 2013 •
Missouri Special Election for House District 157
April 2, 2013 now day of election for two races
Governor Jay Nixon has set April 2 as the date for a special election to fill the vacant seat in House District 157.
The seat became vacant after State Representative Don Ruzicka was appointed to serve on the Board of Probation and Parole.
The governor has also issued an April 2 writ of election for House District 76.
Photo of Governor Nixon by Bernard Pollack on Wikipedia.
January 16, 2013 •
Missouri Secretary of State Curbs Lobbyist Gifts to Staff
Office now has more limited policy than state law requires
Secretary of State Jason Kander, sworn in on January 14, 2013, has adopted a new ethics policy barring the staff in his office from accepting gifts from lobbyists.
Kander’s stated purpose was to give the public confidence that the office is being run in a nonpartisan and fair way.
State administrative policy already curtails what state employees may accept from lobbyists, but agencies are free to adopt stricter guidelines.
December 28, 2012 •
Missouri Ethics Commission Executive Director Leaving for New Job
Julie Allen will be working for Secretary of State’s office
Julie Allen, the executive director of the Missouri Ethics Commission, will be leaving to work at the Secretary of State’s office as the director of elections and information technology.
For full news coverage, be sure to read:
“Missouri ethics chief headed to Kander’s office” by The Associated Press in Connectmidmissouri.com.
“Kander hires executive director of Missouri Ethics Commission to oversee state elections” by Jo Mannies in the St. Louis Beacon.
August 28, 2012 •
Missouri Court Orders New Election for September 24th
Some primary voters in the 87th House District received the wrong ballot
A St. Louis County judge ordered a new election between state Representative Stacey Newman and Susan Carlson for the 87th House District. The new Democratic primary election is scheduled to be held on Monday, September 24, 2012.
Initial results of the August 7, 2012 primary showed Newman had won the election by a single vote, but the St. Louis County Board of Election found irregularities soon after the results were announced. The mistakes occurred at a polling place in Brentwood, where poll workers accidentally handed voters ballots with the 83rd District race between James Trout and Gina Mitten.
During the court hearing, it was revealed that 100 voters in the 83rd District received ballots to vote in the 87th District, while two 87th District residents received ballots for the 83rd District. Judge Michael Jamison cited Revised Missouri Statute section 115.593, which allows the court to order a new election if the evidence provided demonstrates irregularities were sufficient to cast doubt on the outcome of the election.
May 24, 2012 •
Government Ethics in the News
An investigation, charges, fines, and a house arrest in today’s ethics articles.
Federal: “Group wants investigation of lobby shop after Owens’s Taiwan trip” by Mike Zapler in Politico.
District of Columbia: “Second Gray aide charged in campaign probe” by Tom Howell, Jr. in The Washington Times.
Missouri: “Already charged by feds, former Gov. Wilson fined by ethics cops, too” by Jake Wagman in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Pennsylvania: “Veon’s ex-aide gets house arrest” by Brad Bumsted in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
April 12, 2012 •
Governors and Ethics
Here are news articles about two state governors and a former governor facing campaign finance issues:
Georgia: “Gov. Deal still has 3 pending ethics complaints” by the Morris News Service in the Augusta Chronicle.
Missouri: “Former Missouri governor, St. Louis attorney indicted in campaign contributions case” by Robert Patrick in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
South Carolina: “Ethics Commission to hear 7 allegations against Haley” by Gina Smith in The State.
April 5, 2012 •
A Bill by Any Other Name
Missouri Legislators are again addressing ethics and campaign finance laws following a Missouri Supreme Court decision that voided provisions of Senate Bill 844.
The 2010 ethics law increased disclosure requirements for lobbyists, banned campaign committee-to-campaign committee transfers, and gave greater investigative powers to the Missouri Ethics Commission. The court affirmed a circuit court decision holding all provisions of Senate Bill 844, except those relating to procurement, to be in violation of article III, section 21 of the Missouri Constitution, which prohibits changes in the original purpose of a bill. Senate Bill 844 violated this provision by being introduced as an act relating to contracts for purchasing but being passed as an act relating to ethical administration.
Reaction to the decision has been swift and urgent. On January 14, 2012, the same day the opinion was released, the Missouri Ethics Commission stated in a press release that the court’s decision “deals a blow to the Commission’s ability to enforce and administer the law.” Several lawmakers and Governor Jay Nixon quickly called for bills to reinstate the voided provisions. Representative Jason Kander sponsored a bill (House Bill 1756) filed the day after the decision that would reinstate the voided provisions.
Prior to the decision, Kander also sponsored a bill (House Bill 1080) that would go beyond Senate Bill 844 to prohibit gifts from lobbyists and limit campaign contributions. Senate Bills 546 and 825 propose contribution limits. Senate Bill 826, filed by Senator Crowell, would reenact the voided provisions of Senate Bill 844. Currently, Missouri does not have any campaign contribution limits and is the only state to allow lawmakers to receive both unlimited campaign contributions and unlimited gifts from registered lobbyists.
Not all of Missouri’s lawmakers are ready for change. House Majority Leader Tim Jones believes an ethics bill would have a better chance after this year’s elections. Jones notes that both Kander and the governor are proposing limits that will go into effect after their own campaigns benefit from the status quo. To date, no new ethics bill has been passed in Missouri, by any name.
Image of the Seal of the Missouri Senate by Tom Lemmens on Wikipedia.
March 28, 2012 •
The Latest Redistricting News
Today we have news on redistricting issues from nine states:
Alaska: “Alaska Redistricting Board says it has adopted new election districts” by Matt Buxton in the Fairbanks Daily News Miner.
Arizona: “Brewer signs bill to keep Arizona redistricting commission going while new maps are pending” by The Associated Press in The Republic.
Florida: “Redrawn Senate map passes House, scramble for seats begin” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida: “Legislature ends redistricting session, new Senate map approved” by Mary Ellen Klas in The Miami Herald.
Idaho: “Redistricting will shake up Idaho Legislature” by Sean Ellis in the Capital Press.
Kansas: “Kan. House to debate congressional remap bill” by The Associated Press in the Salina Journal.
Maryland: “Group seeks referendum on new Md. congressional map” by Annie Linskey in The Baltimore Sun.
Missouri: “Missouri Supreme Court upholds House districts” by Elizabeth Crisp in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
West Virginia: “W.Va. lawmakers seek OK of congressional districts” by Eric Eyre in the Charleston Gazette.
Wisconsin: “Judges: Collaboration needed on Wis. voting maps” by The Associated Press on Madison.com.
Wisconsin: Opinion piece “Redistricting decision offers important lesson” by Christine Neumann-Ortiz in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
February 22, 2012 •
Missouri Ethics Reform, Blagojevich, and More Ethics News
Former Illinois Governor Rod Bagojevich will serve out his sentence in a prison near Denver, Colorado. Ethics reform in Missouri is up in the air, and New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez signed legislation that “could require public officials convicted of corruption-related crimes to give back to the state their salaries and forfeit their accrued state pension benefits.”
Ethics
“Blagojevich to serve sentence at Denver-area prison” by Natasha Korecki in the Chicago Sun-Times.
Missouri: “Mo. lawmaker says waiting for elections could mean better ethics bill” by The Associated Press in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Missouri: “Ethics reform in Missouri appears to be a nonstarter in election year” by Jason Hancock in the Kansas City Star.
New Mexico: “Governor signs bill intended to crack down on corruption within government” by The Associated Press in The Republic.
Government Transparency
South Carolina: “House panel OKs bill setting cost limits on FOIAs” by The Associated Press in the Greenville News.
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.