California: “Teachers union leads in record year of lobbying lawmakers” by Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times.

Michigan: “Report: As Michigan economy floundered, spending by Michigan lobbyists soared 86%” in the Detroit Free Press.

New Jersey: “N.J. lobbyist spending hits new high at $73M; teachers union tops list again” by Matt Friedman in the Star-Ledger.

New Jersey: “N.J. Teachers Union Spent Record $11.3 Million on Ads Criticizing Christie” by Terrence Dopp in Bloomberg.

Georgia Senator Josh McKoon has introduced Senate Bill 391, which could put limits on gifts lobbyists give to lawmakers in the state, as wells as other requirements.

For the full story read “With House bill stalled, senator targets lobbyist gifts” by Kristina Torres in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Photo of the Georgia State Capitol Building by AUtiger on Wikipedia.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of California has issued an opinion in Thalheimer v. City of San Diego. The court upheld the ban on corporate contributions made directly to candidates. Further, the court upheld San Diego’s $500 individual contribution limit to city candidates. Additionally, the court upheld the ban on contributions made to a city candidate more than 12 months before the election.

The court struck down the ban on political party contributions to candidates and the $1,000 limit on direct contributions to candidates by political parties, which was enacted after the district court granted a preliminary injunction. Lastly, the court struck down restrictions on how much individuals and corporations can give to PACs making independent expenditures.

The National Conference of State Legislatures just published two summaries:

In “NCSL News: New Laws Ring in the New Year,” they list the new laws in the states that take effect as of January 1. Don’t miss the “Elections” section for news about laws in California, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

NCSL also posted “Top 12 for 2012” by Meagan Dorsch, who lists what she expects to be top issues on the agendas in the state legislatures.

Roll Call sums up what redistricting issues remain unresolved in “Between the Lines: 5 Unknowns as 2012 Begins” by Shira Toeplitz.

Rod Blagojevich looks ahead to 2012 and sends his supporters a message on Twitter according to this Associated Press article.

Here is a techPresident article about how Google has launched a new elections portal that will allow everyone to follow the caucuses and primaries in a new way in 2012.

A group that began as entertainment meant to spice up one holiday party thrown by then Illinois Senator Charles H. Percy in 1981 evolved into the well known political satire troupe called “Capitol Steps”.

The Capitol Steps have performed in every U.S. state and several different countries. They have earned their fame by writing satire and performing it while the news and scandals it is based on are circulating through the nation.

When the group first decided to pursue the transition from a one-time party performance to a political satire troupe, one founder, Elaina Newport said,

“We thought, if we add some Democrats, some House people, spread the risk around and make fun of everybody, maybe we’ll get away with this.”

No one is immune from becoming the next muse for the Capitol Steps. They have songs about the presidents who have served since the establishment of the group including their song about George W. Bush called “Don’t Go Faking You’re Smart,” a duet with a Laura Bush singing to her husband. His response: “I couldn’t if I tried.”

Even if they have bruised a few egos along the way, Capitol Steps is an accepted and loved part of the political culture. As long as they have scandal and breaking news they can use as inspiration, it doesn’t look like they are going anywhere.

Read “Capitol Steps Turn 30” from the Washington Post.

Every year since 1984, PNC Bank has launched a version of “The True Cost of Christmas”, the bank’s annual Christmas Price Index. The 2011 report takes the viewer through a Winter Wonderland with interactive train stations that allow the viewer to find the different gifts of the “12 Days of Christmas.”

If you stop at the Inflation Station, the price of every gift since 1998 is provided, as well as the change in price that occurred from last year. The prices range from $58 for eight maids-a-milking to $6,294.03 for nine ladies dancing.

The Christmas Price Index hit a record $24,263 this year, but that isn’t even the “true cost of Christmas.” The true cost of Christmas includes a total of 364 gifts spread out over 12 days as described in the Christmas carol, which this year would cost you $101,119.84 – of course a gift to your true love is definitely worth that, right?

The Atlantic created a graph of the development of the true cost of Christmas, and it shows that excluding a steep decline in 1994, the “true price of Christmas” has been steadily rising and reaching record highs nearly every year. How much will you have to pay for your true love in 5 years?!

Even though I doubt many people are going to spend that amount of money to recreate the “12 days of Christmas” for someone, it is fun to see how a Christmas Carol that has been around for hundreds of years applies to the 21st century.

Happy Holidays everyone!

As the presidential primaries are quickly approaching, alleged threats have surfaced from the “hacktivist” group Anonymous that some worry could jeopardize the caucus results.

Anonymous is a group known for its cyber-attacks on companies and agencies which it deems corrupt. The alleged threat reported by the Associated Press surfaced in a YouTube video and targets the Iowa contest.

“We are calling on you to occupy the campaign offices of presidential headquarters … and peacefully shut down the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3,” the voice in the video says.

These threats which target Iowa are putting other states who are holding early primaries, such as South Carolina who is holding primaries on January 21st, on the alert.

“Everybody in the computer security world is aware of [Anonymous] and its capabilities. Their threats are not taken lightly,” said Chris Whitmire, a public information officer with the South Carolina Election Commission.

In a world that is becoming more and more reliant on web based programs and tools, security on the web seems to be getting worse instead of better, and every program seems to have a loophole that hackers can use to their advantage.

Read this article from The Hill to learn more about the steps South Carolina is taking to protect their primary from hackers.

The New York Times has sent out a request. They are looking for photos of buttons and brochures, screenshots of campaign messages, and photos of campaign signs and billboards for what they are calling an archive of the “ground game” of the 2012 presidential race.

According to the newspaper’s “Submit Photos of Campaign Materials” page, “Have you spotted interesting flyers around town or in local publications? Take a picture and send it to us. We’ll even accept screenshots of text messages and materials from candidates and other groups. We’re looking more for the raw materials of the campaign — postcards, posters and the like — than pictures of campaign events.”

They have an online form you can fill out to submit photos. The pictures can be up to 5 MB in size.

California’s government transparency website, transparency.ca.gov, has been shut down. Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggar set up the site, and it is being closed by current Gov. Jerry Brown. In a note placed on the derelict site, Gov. Brown says much of the transparency information is available on other websites, like the FPPC. While remaining committed to government transparency, Brown says he is aiming for “eliminating inefficiencies and unnecessary costs.”

One concern has been raised in the news. The site offered easy access to travel expense claims from the Governor’s Office and now with the site gone, an inquirer must send a request for such information.

The Sacramento Bee published “Jerry Brown closes website for some public records” by David Siders.

Government Technology posted “Calif. Transparency Website Shuttered” by Sarah Rich.

The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission has issued recommendations to reform the state code of ethics.

The Commission has recommended repealing the provision allowing lobbyists to spend $100 annually on food and beverages for each legislative official and their respective families.

Further, the Commission has recommended that candidates for the state legislature be subjected to the same gift restrictions as legislative officials.

This would include a prohibition on the receipt of anything of value from lobbyists.

A new 311 smart phone app for Salt Lake City, Utah allows a citizen to take a geo-coded picture with his or her smartphone and enter more detailed information about the problem. In response to the citizen’s entry, a real-time case is created that’s sent directly to the staff person who will handle the situation.

According to this article on GovTech, the app called Salt Lake City 311 transmits the request to the city’s GIS database, which then provides an address match for the city responder to answer the notification personally, with no middleman in between.

This app streamlines the process of fieldworkers responding to calls, as well as creating a convenient and easy way for everyday citizens to report problems.

This kind of 311 app is something that is likely to be seen in many other municipalities across the nation in the near future.

With social media platforms such as Twitter and FaceBook accepted as valuable and almost necessary platforms to be utilized by politicians during their campaigns for office, could online coupon providers such as Groupon be the next online resource to be considered by public officials?

In June, Massachusetts state Representative Dan Winslow sought approval to use Groupon for a campaign fundraiser that would allow a certain number of supporters the chance to attend the $100 per person fund-raiser with just a $25 coupon.

Winslow sought an opinion on his proposal from the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance, and it was approved Monday, July 25th. Winslow is going ahead with the plan for a Sept. 20 fund-raiser at Boston’s Battery Park Bar & Lounge. Instead of Groupon, he’ll be going through the similar-but-Massachusetts-based GoodTwo.com.

Winslow’s innovative thinking has called into attention this new potential relationship between online coupon providers and politicians. Read the full article: “Massachusetts Pol Grouponomizes Campaign Finance“.

The week of June 14 each year is designated as “National Flag Week.” This year, President Obama is expected to issue a proclamation encouraging citizens to fly the American flag. Usually, the flag is also displayed inside and/or outside all government buildings for the duration of National Flag Week. Some organizations and cities hold parades and events in celebration of our flag and what it represents.

Today, it seems more appropriate to quote others in our nation’s history to show how they have been inspired by our national flag. Our flag gives a sense of promise, hope, and pride—something that the below quotes exemplify.

I am whatever you make me, nothing more.  I am your belief in yourself, your dream of what a people may become…. I am the clutch of an idea, and the reasoned purpose of resolution.  I am no more than you believe me to be and I am all that you believe I can be.  I am whatever you make me, nothing more.

~Franklin Knight Lane

We do not consecrate the flag by punishing its desecration, for in doing so we dilute the freedom that this cherished emblem represents.

~Justice William J. Brennan, Majority U.S. Supreme Court Decision, July 3, 1989

That piece of red, white and blue bunting means five thousand years of struggle upwards.  It is the full-grown flower of ages of fighting for liberty.  It is the century plant of human hope in bloom.

~Alvin Owsley

The flag of the United States has not been created by rhetorical sentences in declarations of independence and in bills of rights.  It has been created by the experience of a great people, and nothing is written upon it that has not been written by their life.  It is the embodiment, not of a sentiment, but of a history.

~Woodrow Wilson

You’re the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
~George M. Cohan

Cheers for the sailors that fought on the wave for it,
Cheers for the soldiers that always were brave for it,
Tears for the men that went down to the grave for it,
Here comes the flag!
~Arthur Macy, The Flag

I name thee Old Glory.

~Captain William Driver, said upon the hoisting of a large American flag

The union of hearts—the union of hands—and the flag of our Union forever.

~George Pope Morris

Quotes from: Quotegarden.com and Freerepublic.com