Campaign Finance National: “SEC Rules Could Thwart Political Spending Disclosure Efforts” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call Elections National: “Progressives Built an Organizing Juggernaut for 2020. Then the Virus Hit.” by Astead Herndon and Ian Prasad Philbrick (New York Times) […]
Campaign Finance
National: “SEC Rules Could Thwart Political Spending Disclosure Efforts” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call
Elections
National: “Progressives Built an Organizing Juggernaut for 2020. Then the Virus Hit.” by Astead Herndon and Ian Prasad Philbrick (New York Times) for MSN
Wisconsin: “As Nation Battles Coronavirus, Wisconsin Election Forges on with In-Person Voting” by Kendall Karson and Meg Cunningham for ABC News
Ethics
National: “Sen. David Perdue Bought Stock in a Company That Produces Protective Medical Equipment the Same Day Senators Received a Classified Briefing on the Coronavirus” by Sonam Sheth for Business Insider
Idaho: “A ‘Liberty’ Rebellion in Idaho Threatens to Undermine Coronavirus Orders” by Mike Baker for New York Times
Lobbying
Minnesota: “Lobbying on Hold as Minnesota Legislature Focuses on COVID-19” by Jessie Van Berkel for Minneapolis Star Tribune
The Portland Auditor has temporarily suspended enforcement of lobbying and political consultant reporting requirements for first quarter reports due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The deadline for lobbyist reports covering activity for the period of January 1 to March 31 is […]
The Portland Auditor has temporarily suspended enforcement of lobbying and political consultant reporting requirements for first quarter reports due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The deadline for lobbyist reports covering activity for the period of January 1 to March 31 is extended until June 15.
The auditor’s office will not assess late fees or penalties for:
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- The failure to file quarterly reports
- Submission of required updated information
- Registration as a lobbyist or political consultant
Lobbying entities, political consultants, and city officials are encouraged to file reports when they are able to do so.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Gov. Tony Evers’ executive order delaying the state’s presidential primary over coronavirus fears. The court ruled 4-2 Evers lacked the authority to move the election on his own. The decision means the election will […]
The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Gov. Tony Evers’ executive order delaying the state’s presidential primary over coronavirus fears.
The court ruled 4-2 Evers lacked the authority to move the election on his own.
The decision means the election will occur as originally scheduled on Tuesday.
Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday to count after the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the deadline in the first coronavirus-related case to reach the justices.
Campaign Finance Tennessee: “Rep. Joe Towns Reaches Campaign Finance Violation Settlement After Board Takes Votes by Email” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean Elections National: “With Campaigns in Remote Mode, Pandemic Upends Battle for Congress” by Carl Hulse for New […]
Campaign Finance
Tennessee: “Rep. Joe Towns Reaches Campaign Finance Violation Settlement After Board Takes Votes by Email” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean
Elections
National: “With Campaigns in Remote Mode, Pandemic Upends Battle for Congress” by Carl Hulse for New York Times
Wisconsin: “As Nation Battles Coronavirus, Wisconsin Election Forges on with In-Person Voting” by Kendall Karson and Meg Cunningham for ABC News
Ethics
National: “Politics Through the Looking Glass: Virus scrambles the left-right lines” by Jim Rutenberg for New York Times
Florida: “‘Open Government’ Moves Online Amid COVID-19 Thanks to Push from Jacksonville Ethics Director” by Shelby Danielson for WTLV
Lobbying
Canada: “Appeal Court Nixes Fresh Lobby Probe of Aga Khan in Trudeau Vacation Case” by Jim Bronskill (Canadian Press) for National Post
California State Capitol Building - Jeff Turner
The California Legislature pushed back a scheduled return to the legislative session by three weeks to give public health officials more time to deal with the coronavirus spreading through the state. The Legislature now is scheduled to reconvene on May […]
The California Legislature pushed back a scheduled return to the legislative session by three weeks to give public health officials more time to deal with the coronavirus spreading through the state.
The Legislature now is scheduled to reconvene on May 4.
Lawmakers had voted unanimously on March 16 to suspend its session until April 13.
The initial decision last month to suspend activities at the state Capitol was unprecedented in California history.
It came after legislators grappled for several days to balance public health concerns with the need for action to address the impact of the pandemic.
Both houses quickly passed a $1 billion relief plan on March 16 before putting a halt to all legislative business.
Whether a return in early May will be possible could depend on the state’s success or failure this month in slowing the rate of infection.
Early spring is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for the Legislature, with hundreds of bills considered by policy committees before receiving final votes in either of the two houses by May 31.
Wisconsin State Capitol Building
Gov. Tony Evers issued an executive order to delay the state’s presidential primary from April 7 until June 9 because of the coronavirus pandemic. If Evers’ executive order holds, Wisconsin would become the 16th state to delay its election amid […]
Gov. Tony Evers issued an executive order to delay the state’s presidential primary from April 7 until June 9 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
If Evers’ executive order holds, Wisconsin would become the 16th state to delay its election amid the pandemic.
Republicans are expected to immediately challenge the governor’s order in state court.
Evers had been reluctant to act due to concerns a postponement would be quickly overturned by the state Supreme Court and impact his authority to fight the pandemic.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo - Shinya Suzuki
On April 3, Gov. Cuomo and lawmakers passed legislation to enact the state budget for the 2021 fiscal year. The enacted legislation includes provisions for campaign finance reform and nonprofit disclosures. Effective January 1, 2021, Senate Bill 7505 requires charitable […]
On April 3, Gov. Cuomo and lawmakers passed legislation to enact the state budget for the 2021 fiscal year.
The enacted legislation includes provisions for campaign finance reform and nonprofit disclosures.
Effective January 1, 2021, Senate Bill 7505 requires charitable organizations to file annual financial reports and funding disclosures with the Department of State to be published on their website for public transparency.
The governor also signed Senate Bill 7508 establishing a statewide public campaign financing system.
Senate Bill 7508 lowers contribution limits a candidate may accept while participating in the public funding system.
Under Senate Bill 7508, a candidate for statewide office may accept a contribution of $18,000 dollars in the aggregate.
The bill also sets contribution limits for state senators and assembly members to $10,000 and $6,000, respectively.
Contribution limits are divided equally among the primary and general election in an election cycle.
Senate Bill 7508 takes effect on November 9, 2022 and applies to participants in the primary and general elections to be held in 2024.
Sacramento, CA Skyline - Basil D Soufi
Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) staff will hold an interested persons meeting on Monday, April 20, at 10:00 a.m. The purpose of the meeting is to solicit public input regarding legislative and regulatory proposals to enhance disclosure of political activity […]
Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) staff will hold an interested persons meeting on Monday, April 20, at 10:00 a.m.
The purpose of the meeting is to solicit public input regarding legislative and regulatory proposals to enhance disclosure of political activity by limited liability companies (LLCs) in California elections.
Current law enables LLCs to make contributions or independent expenditures solely in the name of the LLC without disclosing any information, or even a way to determine, the source of the funds expended by the LLC and individuals responsible for operating the LLC.
The FPPC is interested in increasing the amount of information available to the public concerning political activity by LLCs.
Regulatory proposals will be considered for adoption or amendment on or after the May 21 meeting.
Ohio Statehouse
Federal Judge Michael H. Watson declined to change the election plan Ohio lawmakers unanimously approved last month. House Bill 197 requires the state’s primary election to be conducted mostly by mail. Additionally it extends absentee balloting until April 28 for […]
Federal Judge Michael H. Watson declined to change the election plan Ohio lawmakers unanimously approved last month.
House Bill 197 requires the state’s primary election to be conducted mostly by mail.
Additionally it extends absentee balloting until April 28 for the presidential and state primary elections.
In-person voting originally scheduled for March 17 was postponed by order of the state’s Health Department in response to COVID-19 concerns.
Wisconsin State Capitol Building
Legislative leaders declined the proposal of Gov. Tony Evers postponing in-person voting for the presidential primary and state elections Tuesday, April 7. Evers called the Legislature into a special session on April 4 to take up legislation avoiding in-person voting. […]
Legislative leaders declined the proposal of Gov. Tony Evers postponing in-person voting for the presidential primary and state elections Tuesday, April 7.
Evers called the Legislature into a special session on April 4 to take up legislation avoiding in-person voting.
His plan was to create an all-mail election with a deadline of May 26 to return ballots.
An effort in federal court to delay the election also failed, but did result in a one-week extension for absentee ballots to be received.
Elections National: “Trump, GOP Challenge Efforts to Make Voting Easier Amid Coronavirus Pandemic” by Elise Viebeck, Amy Gardner, and Michael Scherer (Washington Post) for Greenwich Time Ohio: “Federal Judge Denies Voter Advocates’ Lawsuit to Change Ohio Primary Election” by Rick […]
Elections
National: “Trump, GOP Challenge Efforts to Make Voting Easier Amid Coronavirus Pandemic” by Elise Viebeck, Amy Gardner, and Michael Scherer (Washington Post) for Greenwich Time
Ohio: “Federal Judge Denies Voter Advocates’ Lawsuit to Change Ohio Primary Election” by Rick Rouan for Columbus Dispatch
Ethics
National: “Trump Calls Fired Watchdog in Impeachment Probe a ‘Disgrace’” by Mary Clare Jalonick and Deb Reichmann (Associated Press) for ABC News
National: “The Young and Eventful Senate Career of Wealthy Georgia Businesswoman Kelly Loeffler” by Manuel Roig-Franzia for Washington Post
Minnesota: “Minnesota Lawmaker’s New College Job Sparks Conflict-of-Interest Questions” by Torey Van Oot for Minneapolis Star Tribune
Lobbying
National: “Foreign Governments Hire U.S. Lobbyists to Promote Their Efforts Fighting the Coronavirus Outbreak” by Andrew Lehren and Dan De Luce for NBC News
Wisconsin State Capitol Building
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced he wants to postpone the presidential primary and state Supreme Court elections scheduled for Tuesday, April 7. Evers is calling the Legislature into a special session on April 4 to take up legislation to avoid […]
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced he wants to postpone the presidential primary and state Supreme Court elections scheduled for Tuesday, April 7.
Evers is calling the Legislature into a special session on April 4 to take up legislation to avoid in-person voting.
Additionally they will call for an all-mail election with a deadline of May 26 to return ballots.
Rhode Island State House
To contain the spread of COVID-19, lawmakers have extended the postponement of the legislative session for another week. All General Assembly sessions and committee hearings for the week of April 6 to April 10, have been canceled. This does not […]
To contain the spread of COVID-19, lawmakers have extended the postponement of the legislative session for another week.
All General Assembly sessions and committee hearings for the week of April 6 to April 10, have been canceled.
This does not affect lobbyist reporting.
Illinois State Capitol Building
Lobbying semimonthly reporting deadlines are now extended for 60 days, pushing the April 5 due date to June 4. In response to the exponential spread of COVID-19, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued Executive Order 2020-18 on April 1. This extends prior […]
Lobbying semimonthly reporting deadlines are now extended for 60 days, pushing the April 5 due date to June 4.
In response to the exponential spread of COVID-19, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued Executive Order 2020-18 on April 1.
This extends prior executive orders for the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations, which currently extends through April 30.
The Legislature also remains suspended through next week.
Additionally, lawmakers have been asked to keep their calendars clear for possible return dates.
