The Henderson Nevada City Council has passed a new ethics ordinance. City employees will be limited to accept no more than $50 in meals or gifts per year from entities doing business with the city.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the ordinance additionally prohibits city employees from soliciting gifts and provides for penalties.

The ordinance does allow employees to accept tickets or admissions to charitable events or fundraisers if given prior approval.

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) has voted unanimously to raise the inflation-adjusted limits and thresholds for political contributions beginning in 2013.

If accepted by the legislature, contributors would be able to give up to $3,800 per election to gubernatorial candidates. The contribution limits from single donors for non-gubernatorial candidates would increase from $2,600 to $3,000.

Additionally, political committee reporting thresholds for non-gubernatorial candidates and committees would increase, as would penalties for violations.

According to the press release from ELEC, gubernatorial candidates who qualify for public funding could spend a maximum of $5.6 million in primary elections and $12.2 million in general elections.

The commission has until December 15th to report to the legislature its final limits and threshold adjustments.

The ELEC 2013 Cost Index Report can be downloaded here.

The commission studying state campaign finance laws is likely to recommend raising the limits on campaign contributions.

At Monday’s meeting, the commission took no formal vote on a final recommendation, but appeared to reach a consensus on raising the total amount an individual may contribute to state election campaigns from the current $10,000 to $25,000 during a four-year election cycle. The commission also reached consensus on raising the current limit to any single candidate from $4,000 to at least $5,000 and possibly to $7,000 in any four-year election cycle. The current contribution limits have been in place for 19 years.

At the next meeting on July 16, 2012, the commission plans to discuss a total ban on contributions from business corporations and from companies doing business with the state.

Governor Dannel Malloy vetoed House Bill 5556 today, June 15, 2012. The campaign finance bill would have required corporate board authorization for campaign-related expenditures of $4,000 or more and disclosure of donor identities for donations aggregating $1,000 or more.

The bill was opposed by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Connecticut Daily Newspaper Association, who argued that the bill would have a chilling effect on contributions.

The bill did not pass with a two-thirds vote, making a veto override unlikely.

Amy Loprest, Executive Director of the New York City Campaign Finance Board, testified before the Maryland Commission to Study Campaign Finance Law about the campaign finance program in New York City and its progression.

According to the Campaign Finance Board’s press release, here is Loprest’s concluding statement:

“The New York City Campaign Finance Program amplifies the voice of the average, low-dollar contributor and reduces the influence of big-dollar contributors. The result has been less potential for corruption and a remarkable broadening of participation in the electoral process. At a time when voter turnout is low and voters everywhere are increasingly cynical about government, we’re very proud that people from around the country are looking at our Program as a model for reform.”

Here is the full text of her statement.

Be sure to read: “Md. state commission targets campaign-finance loophole” in the Baltimore Business Journal.

Planning on attending NCSL in Chicago and want to be involved with Ohio Night? Be sure to save the date!

For more information, contact Elizabeth Bartz of State and Federal Communications, Inc. at
330-761-9960.

Campaign Finance

“FEC: Campaigns can raise money via text message” by Dave Levinthal in Politico.

“FEC sues ex-Sen. Craig over use of campaign cash” by The Associated Press on CBSNews.com.

“NJ considers changes to election finance rules” by The Associated Press in the Bergen Record.

Government Ethics

Georgia: “Squirrely Ethics in Georgia, Former Exec Says” by Iulia Filip in the Courthouse News Service.

New Mexico: “New Mexico agency compiled email list for governor’s PAC” by Steve Terrell in the Santa Fe New Mexican.

The Connecticut General Assembly will convene a special session at 11 a.m. today, June 12, 2012.

House speaker Chris Donovan will not be presiding over the session, instead allowing the house majority leader to handle the leadership responsibilities after Speaker Donovan’s former campaign finance manager was arrested for allegedly conspiring to conceal the source of $20,000 in campaign contributions. The contributions were purportedly linked to a bill imposing taxes on roll-your-own cigarette businesses, which is expected to be voted on during today’s session.

Speaker Donovan does plan to participate in the session.

Photo of the Connecticut State Capitol by jglazer75 on Wikipedia.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced an ethics reform amendment to the city council on June 8. The amendment, based on the recommendations given to him by the Ethics Reform Task Force, would strengthen the gift ban, add a reverse revolving door provision, and increase the penalties for PACs who accept illegal contributions. The amendment also includes a code of conduct for city officials and employees, which is something the city has never had before.

The city council will now decide the fate of the mayor’s initiatives. The Ethics Reform Task Force will release its second set of recommendations in late July, this time focusing on the relationship between, and the key responsibilities of, the city’s ethics institutions.

Photo of Chicago skyline by mindfrieze on Wikipedia. 

The Alaska Public Offices Commission has issued an opinion allowing a new independent group, Alaska Deserves Better (ADB), to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money in this year’s elections. Although the commission’s director said the advisory opinion is specific to ADB and the way it plans to operate, the decision seems to be relevant for other independent committees.

Under current state law, groups such as ADB may receive, each year, contributions of no more than $500 from an individual and $1,000 from a different group. Additionally, groups may not receive contributions from an individual who is not a resident of the state, or from a foreign national.

With the exception of the foreign national restriction, the opinion acknowledges laws prohibiting independent expenditures by corporations and labor unions are likely unconstitutional in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010. As a result, ADB, an independent expenditure group, can obtain contributions in unlimited amounts, with no restriction on the amounts or sources.

The commission acknowledges that without a ruling from a court or a change in legislation, there will not be clarity in the state’s campaign contribution law.

Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, was recently the master of ceremonies for a parish banquet recognizing the achievements of the church’s recent graduates. The event was held on Sunday, June 10, 2012 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron, Ohio.

The keynote speaker for the banquet was Dr. Lester Lefton, President of Kent State University.

The secretary of the commonwealth’s office launched a new online lobbyist disclosure system Monday, June 11, 2012. The new system, available here, replaces the previous online filing system.

Lobbyists will use the account they created for the new registration system last month to access the online disclosure system. The new system allows lobbyists to sign their disclosure form electronically, and does not require a hard-copy signature follow-up.

The secretary of the commonwealth’s office strongly encourages lobbyists to file their disclosure statements electronically rather than mailing a hard copy.

The San Diego Ethics Commission is meeting June 14, 2012 to discuss a prepared draft of municipal code amendments concerning campaign related issues, including one which pertains to the lobbying ordinance. Decision point 14 would amend applicable provisions of the lobbying ordinance to require the disclosure of contributions provided to, and fundraising performed for, committees that are primarily formed to support city candidates.

The draft amendments are available on the commission’s website.

The public is invited to provide comment on the proposed amendments at the June 14, 2012, meeting, which will be held at 5:00 p.m. in the committee room on the 12th floor of the city administration building. Correspondence may also be sent by e-mail at: ethicscommission@sandiego.gov.

Photo of the San Diego skyline by Tomcio77 on Wikipedia.

“Lobbyist asks lawmakers to re-tweet anti-piracy study” by Brendan Sasso in The Hill.

North Carolina: “Legislators, lobbyists mix business with pleasure” by Mandy Locke in the News Observer.

South Carolina: “S.C.’s ‘wink, wink’ policies” in the Anderson Independent Mail.

South Carolina: “CEOs, lobbyists eyed as S.C. legislative panel probing Gov. Haley ethics charges prepares witness list” by Gina Smith in the Sacramento Bee.