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.
July 5, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 5, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Colbert Declares Victory at FEC
FEC Limits Lawmakers’ Fundraising for Super PACs
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Gambling Trial Highlights Fees Paid to Legislators
Arizona
Justices Strike Down Arizona Campaign Finance Law
Florida
Judge Strikes Down Florida Campaign Finance Matching Law
Illinois
Jury Finds Blagojevich Guilty of Corruption
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Special Education Director Said to Siphon $10 Million
Missouri
Missouri Lawmakers Eat for Free
Nevada
Tougher Nevada Campaign Money Laws Come into Play
New York
New Contribution Rule Limits Assignments to Elected Judges
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Ethics Commission Reprimands NRA Lobbyist
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Justices in Altercation
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 1, 2011 •
More News from the States
News from Five State Legislatures
DELAWARE: The 146th Delaware General Assembly concluded its first regular session June 30, 2011.
IOWA: The Iowa General Assembly adjourned sine die.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: The New Hampshire Legislature adjourned June 30, 2011.
OREGON: The 2011 regular session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on June 30, 2011. Governor John Kitzhaber has 30 days, excluding Saturdays and Sundays, to act upon any bill he receives within the last five days of the session, or the legislation becomes law without his signature.
RHODE ISLAND: The Legislature’s 2011 regular session recessed today. Any bills submitted to Governor Lincoln Chafee must be signed or vetoed by July 10. There is no pocket veto.
June 30, 2011 •
Legislative News from the States
Sessions in Alaska, Maine, and Texas adjourn
ALASKA: The Legislature’s second special session ended with the Senate adjourning sine die on June 27 and the House adjourning sine die on June 28.
MAINE: The Maine Legislature adjourned sine die June 29, 2011.
TEXAS: The Texas Legislature adjourned their special session on Wednesday, June 29, 2011. Barring another special session, the Legislature will not meet again until January, 2013.
June 29, 2011 •
Providence Lobbyist Registration Delay
City Accepting Information by E-Mail
Providence, Rhode Island will not have its online portal set up for lobbyist registrations by July 1, the date the new city local lobbying ordinance takes effect. However, the City Clerk will accept e-mail registrations containing the name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and lobbyist’s employer’s identification.
No registration fee will be due or accepted until the online portal becomes available. After the online portal becomes available, the City Clerk will contact individuals to complete the registration process.
The registration information can be e-mailed to astetson@providenceri.com.
June 28, 2011 •
Connecticut Legislature Called into Special Session
Called Due to Expected State Union Rejection of Wage and Benefits Deal
Governor Dannel P. Malloy has issued a Call of Special Session for Thursday, June 30, 2011.
Governor Malloy issued the call after ratification of a deal struck in May with union leadership for the state’s public employees came into doubt.
Ratification of the deal, essential to the balancing of the state’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year, would save the positions of the up to 7,500 state workers Malloy insists may have to be laid off in order to achieve a balanced budget.
Photo of the Connecticut State Capitol dome derived from a photo by jglazer75 on Wikipedia.
June 27, 2011 •
Alaska Special Session Called Today
Program Set To Expire
A special session of the Alaska legislature has been called in Juneau to address the state’s Alaska Coastal Management Program, which expires on June 30.
The session is expected to finish this week.
June 27, 2011 •
U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Arizona Clean Elections System
In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down an Arizona campaign finance law that offered extra public funding to state political candidates who faced increased opposition spending.
The Citizens Clean Elections Act, passed by voters in a 1998 ballot initiative, gave candidates extra money if they face well funded opponents that opted out of the state election financing system.
Candidates also could qualify for greater public financing based on political spending by independent political groups that ran advertisements opposing their candidacy or supporting other candidates.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote “laws like Arizona’s matching funds provision that inhibit robust and wide-open political debate without sufficient justification cannot stand.”
June 27, 2011 •
New York Assembly Session Concluded
Regular session ended on June 24.
Legislators concluded the 2011 regular session Friday evening after reaching agreement on a number of bills.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has 10 days upon transmittal of a bill to sign or veto legislation that reaches his desk.
Photo of the New York Assembly Chamber by UpstateNYer on Wikipedia.
June 24, 2011 •
Louisiana Regular Session Adjourned
Sine Die
The 2011 regular session of the Louisiana Legislature adjourned sine die on June 23, 2011.
Upon transmittal of a bill, Governor Bobby Jindal will have 20 days to sign or veto the legislation.
Photo of the Louisiana House of Representatives Chamber by Jeffrey Schwartz on Wikipedia.
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