Alaska Gov. Bill Walker is willing to call a special legislative session if lawmakers do not pass his tax or revenue proposals to address the growing budget deficit. The state Department of Revenue forecasts a dramatic drop in overall funding and predicts low oil prices will continue for several more years.

To help shrink the multi-billion dollar deficit, Walker proposed tax increases, including the reinstitution of a personal income tax. He also suggested restructuring the use of the Alaska Permanent Fund earnings to change how the annual dividends most Alaskans receive are calculated.

The regular legislative session is set to adjourn April 17.

Photo of Gov. Bill Walker by James Brooks on Wikimedia Commons.

Chuck Totto, executive director of the Honolulu Ethics Commission, is on leave following an internal personnel investigation. The commission received a complaint regarding Totto’s management of staff and hired an independent investigator.

Totto has been the executive director for over a decade, but has publically struggled to get along with Mayor Kirk Caldwell and his appointees on the commission for the past three years. Conflict emerged in 2013 when Totto investigated the mayor’s inaugural luau, an event largely funded by lobbyists and city contractors.

Totto has been on leave since March 1 and is expected to return on April 4.

Attorney General Mike DeWine recently approved language for a proposed ethics amendment to the Ohio Constitution. The proposal includes a revolving door provision, including a two-year ban on former legislators doing business with the Legislature.

The issue must be reviewed by the Ohio Ballot Board to determine how it should appear on the ballot. Supporters of the amendment must gather at least 305,591 signatures of registered Ohio voters in order to reach the fall ballot.

The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission has a new executive director. Constantinos “Dino” Ioannides assumed the role on March 1.

The commission has been under scrutiny lately for its overall efficacy regarding ethics violations. The state auditor recently issued a scathing audit highlighting a lack of guidance on conflicts of interests, the commission’s failure to retain documents, and missing hearing minutes.

Ioannides serves as the third director since the commission was created by voter approval in 2006.

The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission is coming under harsh criticism in the wake of records released by the state auditor, with some claiming it is unethical. Often, the burden of investigating and presenting a case for an ethics violation falls upon the person filing the complaint. As an alternative, state Rep. Beth McCann is sponsoring House Bill 1216 to enhance the ability of the commission to investigate public officials who skirt the ethics rules.

One of the more specific issues addressed in HB 1216 is the role of the attorney general. Currently, the commission relies on the legal assistance of the attorney general; if the person accused of an ethics violation is an elected official, the attorney general must also provide legal assistance to the official. HB 1216 would require the panel to retain or employ independent counsel rather than rely on the attorney general.

A lawsuit seeking to eliminate the “LLC loophole” for political contributions was dismissed this week. The loophole, which allows large contributions by organizations controlling many limited liability companies, treats each limited liability company as a separate entity capable of contributing the maximum amount an individual may give.

Gov. Cuomo and Assembly Democrats support closure of the loophole, and the decision is expected to be appealed to the Appellate Division of the Third Judicial District of New York.

At its March 17, 2016, meeting, the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) passed an amendment to lobbying regulations narrowing the “ride along” exception to the definition of direct communication for registration.

The new amendment limits the ride along exception to employees of the lobbyist employer who participate in the meeting or communication only as a subject matter expert.

The City Auditor has announced a comment period for potential changes to the city’s lobbying code. The significant changes include closing a loophole in registration requirements by establishing a $1,000 registration threshold. Other changes include broadening revolving door restrictions and increasing penalties for repeated violations.

The comment period is open from now until March 30, 2016.

Proponents of the Voters Right to Know Act suspended their campaign for a California ballot measure to trace dark money and tighten lobbying and campaign finance regulations. Jim Heerwagen, who led the campaign, said he is ending the work on the initiative because there are now several bills in the Legislature that cover the same issues.

Heerwagen cited Senate Bill 1349, introduced to create a new campaign finance database, as one of the pending bills that would carry out the goal of his campaign.

The West Virginia Legislature reached the end of its 60-day session on March 12, 2016, without an agreement on the state’s budget. As required by the state’s constitution, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has issued a proclamation of a three-day extended session where lawmakers will work to finalize the budget. The extended session will begin on March 14, 2016.

If unsuccessful, the governor has indicated he will call for a special session.

The Virginia General Assembly adjourned sine die on March 11, 2016, a day earlier than scheduled. Among its accomplishments is a new, two-year $105 billion budget and some adjustments to the new ethics rules passed last year.

If approved by the governor, lobbyists will file reports annually on July 1 for the preceding 12-month period, rather than the current semi-annual reporting, and items under $20 would be excluded from the definition of a gift.

Other, more extensive changes were proposed but were defeated in the House.

Photo of the Virginia State Capitol by Varmin on Wikimedia Commons.

The Florida Legislature adjourned its regular session sine die as scheduled on March 11, 2016.

The session was a display of bipartisan cooperation, netting an $82 billion budget, and stood in stark contrast to last year where a bitter fight over the budget led to multiple special sessions. The new budget was passed by a vote of 159 to 1.

The Washington State Legislature adjourned its regular 2016 session on March 10.

Gov. Jay Inslee immediately called a special 30-day session. The special session is needed to pass a supplemental budget.

The Indiana General Assembly adjourned its 2016 season sine die on March 10. Gov. Mike Pence has until March 17 to take action on any bills presented to him.

In Indiana, if no action is taken within seven days of presentment, bills automatically become law.

Photo of the Indiana Statehouse by HstryQT on Wikimedia Commons.