January 19, 2012 •
Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Resigns
Steps down after staff accusations.
Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Dave Gallik has resigned his job after his staff accused him of using state resources for private law practice.
For the full story read:
“Staff says ethics commissioner not ethical” by The Associated Press in the Billings Gazette.
“Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practices resigns” by John S. Adams in the Great Falls Tribune.
“Top Montana Ethics Leader Resigns Amid Allegations” by Caroline Cournoyer on Governing.com.
Photo of Dave Gallik courtesy of the Montana Legislature website.
January 19, 2012 •
SuperPAC Spending and Disclosure in the News
Here is a chart revealing television ad spending in South Carolina by candidates versus spending by super Pacs, legislation in Arizona that would require disclosure of corporate spending on campaigns, and a run-down of super PAC disclosure in California:
“Candidate and Super Pac Spending” by Khang Nguyen in the Los Angeles Times.
“Bill would require disclosure of campaign spending” by Alia Beard Rau in the Arizona Republic.
“California could be model for ‘super PAC’ disclosure” by Josh Richman in the San Jose Mercury News.
January 18, 2012 •
No Political Contributions on New Jersey Public Properties
ELEC Authority
A New Jersey law prohibiting candidates for elective public office from accepting political contributions on public property has been expanded.
Senate Bill 3166, which has been signed into law and is effective immediately, amends state law to prevent the solicitation or contribution of political donations to candidates and officeholders on various public properties.
The prohibited properties include any property owned by any county, municipality, board of education of a school district, fire district, authority, or other state or local entity, district or instrumentality.
The new law also grants jurisdiction to the Election Law Enforcement Commission to enforce this rule.
January 18, 2012 •
Nevada Now Has Online Campaign Finance Database
Secretary of State says new searchable system will “bring a whole level of transparency” to those seeking campaign finance data.
Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller has announced the launch of a new searchable online database for the state’s campaign finance data. Named Aurora, the system began at midnight last night.
For more information read “Nevada Secretary Of State Launches Aurora, A Searchable Database For Campaign Finance Information” from the Nevada News Bureau.
According to the news release on the the Secretary of State’s web site:
The Contribution Search and Expenditure Search functions will allow users to search results by the following criteria:
– Individual Candidates
– Political Races
– Groups
– Contributions, including by amount, date range and similar addresses
– Contributors
– Expenditure Recipients
January 17, 2012 •
Several Cities to Vote on Changes to Broward County Ethics Code
Voters to Consider Whether Restrictions on Non-Government Side Jobs Will Continue
Voters in three Broward County cities will be asked to undo part of the recently enacted countywide code of ethics. Residents of Wilton Manors, Hillsboro Beach, and Sea Ranch Lakes will all vote during the January 31, 2012 election as to whether local elected officials should be subjected to state law on issues relating to their side jobs instead of the new county code of ethics.
The effort to pass the referendum has been spearheaded in large part by Wilton Manors Mayor Gary Resnick. Resnick, a telecommunications attorney who lobbies in other cities in Broward County, fears he will be unable to run for another term in office after his current term is complete due to the ban on elected officials also being employed as lobbyists or engaging in lobbying activities in Broward County.
The code of ethics became effective countywide on January 2, 2012.
January 17, 2012 •
Arizona Bill Removes Entertainment Exception for Lobbyists
School Sporting Events Exception
Arizona Senator David Schapira has introduced a bill removing the lobbyists gift exception for entertainment and for some athletic events.
The Democratic Minority leader’s bill, SB 1068, amends the current law by removing the exception for expenditures of entertainment and athletic events provided to officials by lobbyists.
Sporting events would still be a permitted expenditure if the event is sponsored by a school district governing board, a community college district governing board, or any institution under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents.
Photo of Arizona Senator David Schapira by DShippy on Wikipedia.
January 17, 2012 •
Washington House Introduces Ethics Enforcement Responsibility Reform Bill
Bill Merges Legislative and Executive Ethics Commissions into the Public Disclosure Commission
The Washington House of Representatives has introduced house bill 2402, which will transfer ethics enforcement responsibility.
This bill merges the legislative branch ethics commission and the executive branch ethics commission into the public disclosure commission.
Photo of the interior of the Washington State Capitol Building by Cacophony on Wikipedia.
January 16, 2012 •
Indiana Bill To Exempt Groups From Lobbying Law
Legislation would expand loophole in lobbying restrictions
Senate Bill 244 proposes adding the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses and the State Agriculture and Rural Leaders Association to a statutory list of lobbyist exemptions. If the bill passes, the groups will be exempt from the gift disclosures and paid travel bans imposed on lobbyists, regardless of whether lobbying occurs at their events. This is the latest attempt at carving out exceptions to the 2010 ethics reform bill which banned lobbyist-funded, out-of-state travel for legislators.
Although lobbyists cannot directly pay for a state legislator’s trip, by simply paying for membership in an exempt group like the American Legislative Exchange Council, the lobbyists gain access to legislators. Giving a group an exemption allows legislators to travel to the group’s conferences and hunting trips, at the group’s expense, without violating the lobbying rules or having to disclose the trips.
Exempt groups claim to be established for the education and support of legislators.
Photo of the Indiana State Senate Chamber by Charles Edward on Wikipedia.
January 13, 2012 •
Georgia Group Calls for Lobbyist Gift Limits
A bill is expected this session
The Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform, which includes members of Common Cause and Georgia Tea Party Patriots, is pushing for gift limits that would cap lobbyist spending on lawmakers at $100 in the hopes of curbing lobbyist influence of elected officials. The group’s reforms would also ban public officials and their family members from serving on the state ethics board or holding government contracts.
State Representative Tommy Smith says he is willing to sponsor the bill this session and is looking for other lawmakers to join him.
However, House Speaker David Ralston downplayed the need for more ethics legislation. Speaker Ralston believes the existing reporting requirements sufficiently limit lobbyist influence by keeping the public informed.
Photo of the Georgia State Capitol dome by connor.carey on Wikipedia.
January 13, 2012 •
Giuliano Chosen to Lead Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission
Assumes Duties January 20th
Sebastian N. Giuliano, the former mayor of Middletown, Connecticut, has been chosen by the State Elections Enforcement Commission to serve as the agency’s executive director and general counsel.
The selection was announced Thursday night by commission chairman Stephen F. Cashman, but will not be formally approved until the commission’s January 18, 2012 meeting.
Giuliano was selected for the position from a field of 35 candidates. He is due to assume the duties of the position January 20, 2012.
January 12, 2012 •
Redistricting in the News
Here is a selection of redistricting news items from around the nation.
Florida: “Senate committee finalizes redistricting maps as Democrats split” Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.
“Democrats prepare for partisan redistricting debate” by Aaron Deslatte in the Orlando Sentinel.
Kentucky: “Panel approves state House redistricting plan over Republican protests” by Jack Brammer in the Lexington Herald-Leader.
North Carolina: “N.C. lawyers want redistricting challenges dismissed“by The Associated Press in the Greensboro News & Record.
Texas:“Republicans say Texas may need to hold two primaries” by Aman Batheja in the Star-Telegram.
“More Confusion in Redistricting Case” by Richard Whittaker in The Austin Chronicle.
West Virginia: “W.Va. redistricting deadline lifted, but election calendar looms” by Lawrence Messina (Associated Press) in the Charleston Gazette.
January 11, 2012 •
Idaho Secretary of State Announces Lobbyist Report Electronic Filing
E-filing to Begin with February 15, 2012 Report
Electronic filing for lobbyist reports will be available beginning with the report due February 15, 2012 covering the month of January 2012.
You can read the press release from the Office of the Secretary of State here.
January 11, 2012 •
Follow Washington State Public Policy Issues on SCOUT
Washington’s public affairs network is offering a new service.
Take a look at this news item on NCSL’s blog, The Thicket: “TVW Introduces SCOUT” by Jan Goehring.
According to the post: “TVW, the Washington state public affairs network, is offering an innovative service to citizens who want to follow public policy issues and the legislative process. This new tool, called SCOUT, allows the public to easily keep track of issues. SCOUT will track video and bill information and automatically send it to those who open a free account.”
You can find the link to TVW here, and find out more about SCOUT at this link.
Photo of the Washington State Capitol dome by Tradnor on Wikipedia.
January 11, 2012 •
New Mexico’s Campaign Finance Act on Hold
Judge issues preliminary injunction
NEW MEXICO: The federal district court in Albuquerque has issued a preliminary injunction against enforcement of state limits on financial contributions to be used in federal campaigns and for independent expenditures in state races.
The contribution-limits law, which took effect at the conclusion of the 2010 election cycle, limits contributions to non-statewide candidates for office to $2,300 per election from any entity except a political committee, which can give $5,000 to non-statewide candidates. It limits contributions to statewide candidates for office, political action committees and political parties to $5,000 per election from individuals and groups.
The preliminary injunction is not a definitive ruling tossing any of the limits, but it is a temporary stay against the enforcement of non-statewide and independent expenditure limits based on findings that the plaintiffs were likely to be successful in their challenge to those limits, that they faced irreparable damage if the injunction wasn’t granted, and that the injunction serves the public interest.
The injunction was widely anticipated in light of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United. Limits on contributions to candidates for state office and to groups intending to spend money on state races in coordination with candidates remain in place.
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.