July 18, 2011 •
Lawmakers Tapping Into Their Social Media Resources
An Increasing Number of Lawmakers Connecting to the Public
It seems that following Obama’s Twitter Town Hall, politicians across the nation are following suit and making the effort to use social media to connect to their followers more than ever. Hopeful Republican presidential nominee Newt Gingrich, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont are three examples of such politicians.
Being one of the first politicians to utilize the new Google+, Newt Gingrich hosted his first Hangout, posting the 13 minute long video of him having a conversation with up to 10 regular Americans at a time onto YouTube. TechPresident published an article written by Nick Judd providing the video and more information here.
Constitutionality to Be Determined at Trial
U.S. District Court Judge Robert Bryan has issued a preliminary injunction barring the state from enforcing campaign contribution limits with respect to an effort to recall the Pierce County assessor. Washington restricts contributions to recall campaigns to $800 or less, though political parties and their official committees may contribute more.
In his decision Judge Bryan stated “the public interest in upholding free speech and association rights outweighs the interest in continued enforcement of these campaign finance provisions.”
Enforcement of the recall campaign contribution limits is enjoined pending a trial over whether the limits are constitutional.
July 15, 2011 •
Lobbyists to be Audited by Office of State Ethics
Ten Lobbyists to be Audited in Connecticut
Thomas H. Dooley, Chairman of the Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board, will be selecting at random 10 lobbyists to be audited by the Office of State Ethics during an audit selection ceremony on Thursday, July 21, 2011.
The ceremony will be a part of the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting, scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
Lobbyists to be audited will be selected from a pool of all registered client lobbyists.
During audits of these selected client lobbyists, the Office of State Ethics will audit all associated communicator lobbyists.
A list of those selected to be audited will be made available on the website of the Office of State Ethics following the ceremony.
July 13, 2011 •
North Carolina General Assembly Enters Into Special Session
Redistricting the Prime Focus of Special Session in North Carolina
NORTH CAROLINA: The North Carolina General Assembly has convened in special session today, July 13, 2011.
Issues concerning redistricting are the primary focus of the session, while gubernatorial vetoes are also expected to be considered.
A monthly lobbyist and principal report will be due on August 12, 2011.
July 12, 2011 •
Alabama Law Challenged for Violating First Amendment Rights
Law Restricting Political Contributions Challenged
ALABAMA: The Alabama Democratic Conference has filed a lawsuit against Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange and two district attorneys alleging that a new Alabama law violates the Conference’s first amendment rights by placing restrictions on political contributions.
The new law bans the transfer of money from PACs, 527 groups, and private foundations to other PACs, 527 groups, and private foundations.
July 12, 2011 •
Green Bay City Council Passes Lobbyist Registration Ordinance
Ordinance Effective Immediately
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN: The Green Bay City Council has approved General Ordinance No. 10-11, which requires lobbyists to register if they attempt to influence legislative or administrative action by a city official.
The ordinance requires lobbyists to register before engaging in lobbying by completing a registration form and paying a $20 registration fee.
Lobbyists must disclose their contact information, the name of their client, and any compensation paid by the client.
The ordinance is effective immediately and the City Clerk’s Office will be making a lobbyist registration form available in the next month.
Commission Meetings Must Adhere to New Limitations
The Palm Beach County Ethics Commission has voted to limit the public’s ability to speak on items during final hearings prior to a vote or comment at closed-door sessions where decisions on the pursuit of ethics complaints are made.
The limits are intended to limit decisions being made by members of the commission to the guidance of the ethics code and avoid allowing influence from outside the code to be taken into consideration at a final vote.
Public comment will still be allowed concerning commission policies and on other issues being considered.
July 11, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 11, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
IRS Drops Audits of Political Donors
New Breed of ‘Super PACs,’ Other Independent Groups Could Define 2012 Campaign
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Alabama Democratic Conference Files Lawsuit to Stop New Alabama Law Banning Political Fund Transfers
Arizona
Arizona Conservatives Scramble after Campaign Finance Law’s Defeat
California
Marijuana Lobbyist’s Fundraiser for DA Raises Questions
Veil Drawn on Donors to Latino Caucus-Controlled California Nonprofit
Connecticut
Agent Who Arrested Politicians Now Seeks House Seat
Georgia
Illinois
Mayor Rahm Emanuel Proposing New Round of Ethics Reforms
Iowa
Judge Upholds New Iowa Campaign Disclosure Rules
Massachusetts
House Leader Apologizes for Holocaust Remarks
Michigan
Justices Stop Political Gifts Taken at Work
Minnesota
Campaign Board Rejects NOM’s Efforts to Shield Donors in Marriage Battle
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Lt. Gov. Ard Paying $48,000 Fine
Washington
Ex-Prisons Chief Eldon Vail Says He Resigned Because of an Affair with Subordinate
State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.
News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.
Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.
July 7, 2011 •
State and Federal Communications Expands Coverage
In a continuing effort to better serve the needs of its clients, State and Federal Communications, Inc. is expanding coverage of laws and regulations in more municipalities.
By Labor Day, our clients will find 36 additional municipalities included on our website. As they are completed, we will update our postings so you can check out the additional resources.
Right now, we have provided information on lobbying, political contributions, and procurement lobbying for Alexandria, Virginia (my former home) and Tacoma, Washington.
In the future look for additional cities in New York, Arizona, and Michigan.
July 7, 2011 •
Enforcement of Philadelphia Lobbying Law Delayed
Law Facing Challenges from Philadelphia Bar Association
The Philadelphia Board of Ethics has announced it will delay enforcement of the city’s lobbying law until 30 days after the effective date of proposed board regulations.
According to a board resolution, the earliest that enforcement of the lobbying law may begin is September 26, 2011. P.C.C. §20-1200, which created Philadelphia’s lobbying law, became effective July 1. The board has previously announced that lobbyist registration will not begin until July 18, 2011 because of delays in implementing the electronic registration system.
Additionally, the Philadelphia Bar Association has filed suit challenging Philadelphia’s new lobbying law as being too far reaching. The Bar Association contends that the law’s definition of the term “lobbyist” unfairly targets lawyers who are not engaged in lobbying activities, and that only the state Supreme Court can regulate lawyers.
July 6, 2011 •
Chicago Mayor is Set to Introduce New Ethics Ordinance
New Chicago Lobbyist Regulations
On Wednesday July 6, 2011, Mayor Rahm Emanuel will introduce a new ethics ordinance containing “the most comprehensive lobbyist disclosure database in the nation.”
Key components of the proposed ordinance include the creation of a searchable real-time database, a $50 gift limit per single non-cash gift given by a lobbyist, a $100 aggregate gift limit per calendar year on gifts from lobbyists, a prohibition on city employees, officials, or their businesses receiving loans from lobbyists, an amendment to the semi-annual lobbyist report form requiring lobbyists to disclose campaign contributions, and a codification of an executive order issued by Mayor Emanuel in May which bars employees from lobbying the city after leaving city employment.
July 5, 2011 •
Louisiana Presidential Primary Date Changed
Jindal Signs Into Law
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed House Bill 509 into law, changing the date of the state’s presidential primary. The primary moves to March on the first Saturday which follows the first Tuesday. Previously, the presidential primaries were held in February.
The change in law becomes effective immediately.
July 5, 2011 •
California’s FPPC to Hold Interested Persons’ Meeting
The Fair Political Practices Commission will be holding an interested persons’ meeting on July 14, 2011 to solicit public comment and suggestions on revisions to the Fair Political Practices Commission regulations.
The Commission will discuss “behested payments” and examine the scenario where a public official’s name is listed on the letterhead of a fundraising letter for a nonprofit organization, but neither the official nor any person on his or her staff acts as an agent to solicit donations on behalf of the official.
The commission will also discuss a proposed regulation regarding the use of text messages to raise funds through low dollar contributions.
Lastly, the commission will be discussing a proposed regulation that would allow terminated committees to receive a refund and legally transfer the refund to a new committee without having to reopen the terminated committee so long as both committees report the transaction.
The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission announced they are postponing until further notice the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 12, 2011.
Information concerning a new meeting date will be provided on the Commission website once the date is determined.
Questions concerning the postponement of the meeting may be directed to Lisa M. Dentler, Confidential Secretary, by calling (404) 463-1980.
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.
