With eight tweets and more than 700 followers, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is now Tweeting about court decisions and other news.

The Associated Press covered the story, as well as the Philadelphia Inquirer-Daily News in this article, “Pa. Supreme Court to go on Twitter” by John P. Martin.

You can find the Supreme Court’s Twitter feed here: @SupremeCtofPA.

Photo of the mural on the wall of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s chambers by Ruhrfisch on Wikipedia.

The Philadelphia Board of Ethics has approved proposed regulations that define lobbying activity and describe how lobbyists must register and report expenditures.

If the regulations are approved by the Law Department, they could become effective in early October. A previous board decision to provide a 30 day grace period would not require lobbyist registration until November.

Additionally, registration could begin only when the board has an online registration system in place.  Shane Creamer, executive director of the board, stated he hoped the online registration system would be ready in November.

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Connecticut

Agent Who Arrested Politicians Now Seeks House Seat

Georgia

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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

Lobbying Law on Hold

South Carolina

Lt. Gov. Ard Paying $48,000 Fine

Washington

Ex-Prisons Chief Eldon Vail Says He Resigned Because of an Affair with Subordinate

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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.

State officials must report tangible gifts of more than $250 per year from any source and transportation, lodging, and hospitality worth more than $650. Lobbyists were the most generous with legislators who have power to direct and control funding. For instance, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Jake Corman received a $4,000 Super Bowl trip from a Pittsburgh law firm whose lobbyists represent a variety of clients, including utility companies, hospitals, wine and beer distributors, and banks.

Those who provide the gifts and travel are not necessarily trying to buy support for particular legislation, but they are buying lawmakers’ time according to one Harrisburg lobbyist, who asked not to be named. He said he frequently takes lawmakers to dinner but does not give tangible gifts. He said most often, gifts come from lobbyists whose interests already are in sync with the lawmaker’s policy positions.