Campaign Finance National: “Some Democrats Worry Millions Flowing from Super PACs Prioritize White Swing Voters Over Minorities” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee for Washington Post National: “Florida Republican Cooperating with Campaign Finance Probe” by Staff for Associated Press California: “California […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Some Democrats Worry Millions Flowing from Super PACs Prioritize White Swing Voters Over Minorities” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee for Washington Post
National: “Florida Republican Cooperating with Campaign Finance Probe” by Staff for Associated Press
California: “California NAACP President Aids Corporate Prop Campaigns – Collects $1.2 Million and Counting” by Laurel Rosenhall for CalMatters
Elections
Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Republicans Ask Supreme Court to Stop Voting Accommodations” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post
Wisconsin: “Appellate Court Halts Wisconsin Ballot-Counting Extension” by Todd Richmond for Associated Press News
Ethics
National: “Judges Propose Making Disclosure of Their Personal Details a Crime” by Josh Gerstein for Politico
Illinois: “Speaker Madigan And Several Former ComEd Lobbyists Decline to Appear Before House Committee” by Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold for WBEZ
New York: “Appeals Court Judges Skeptical of Trump Effort to Block Release of Financial Info” by Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney for Politico
Lobbying
National: “Political Groups Begin Dueling Over Barrett in a Costly Clash” by Kenneth Vogel, Maggie Haberman, and Jeremy Peters for New York Times
Campaign Finance Washington: “Freed Agrees to Civil Penalty to Resolve Campaign Finance, Reporting Violations” by Alexis Krell for Tacoma News Tribune Elections Missouri: “Voters See ‘Unfair’ Ballot Language on Cleaner Missouri in Two Counties” by Austin Huguelet for Springfield News-Leader […]
Campaign Finance
Washington: “Freed Agrees to Civil Penalty to Resolve Campaign Finance, Reporting Violations” by Alexis Krell for Tacoma News Tribune
Elections
Missouri: “Voters See ‘Unfair’ Ballot Language on Cleaner Missouri in Two Counties” by Austin Huguelet for Springfield News-Leader
Ethics
National: “Amy Coney Barrett, a Disciple of Justice Scalia, Is Poised to Push the Supreme Court Further Right” by Michael Kranish, Robert Barnes, Shawn Boburg, and Ann Marimow for Washington Post
National: “Long-Concealed Records Show Trump’s Chronic Losses and Years of Tax Avoidance” by Russ Buettner, Susanne Craig, and Mike McIntire for New York Times
Illinois: “3 Ethics Board Exits Later, Cook County Commissioners Unveil First Draft of Ethics Code Reforms” by Alice Yin for Chicago Tribune
Illinois: “Top Lightfoot Adviser on Intergovernmental Affairs to Marry Chicag Alderman, Raising Ethical Concerns from City Staff” by Gregory Pratt and John Byrne for Chicago Tribune
Tennessee: “Tennessee Registry of Election Finance Violated Open Meetings Act with Secret Vote” by Mariah Timms for The Tennessean
Lobbying
National: “Women Rise on K Street – Slowly” by Alex Gangitano for The Hill
Florida: “NextEra Energy’s Failed Attempt to Purchase JEA Highlights Web of Murky Spending, Lobbying” by Daniel Tait for Energy and Policy Institute
Connecticut State Capitol
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced a special session to convene on Tuesday, September 29. The General Assembly will consider legislation for several policy issues including: performance-based regulation of the state’s electricity, gas, and water companies; securing absentee ballots for the […]
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced a special session to convene on Tuesday, September 29.
The General Assembly will consider legislation for several policy issues including: performance-based regulation of the state’s electricity, gas, and water companies; securing absentee ballots for the general election; school construction projects; and opportunities for the state’s hemp program.
The Legislature will also consider four nominations announced by the governor in July to fill a vacancy in the state Supreme Court and three seats in the Appellate Court.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill moving non-presidential year primaries back to June. Senate Bill 970 will return California to the traditional midterm primary date. The bill becomes effective January 1, 2021.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill moving non-presidential year primaries back to June.
Senate Bill 970 will return California to the traditional midterm primary date.
The bill becomes effective January 1, 2021.
South Dakota Capitol Building
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem announced she is calling a special legislative session on Monday, October 5, 2020. The main purpose of this session is to consider legislation related to the use of federal stimulus relief funds, including the $1.25 […]
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem announced she is calling a special legislative session on Monday, October 5, 2020.
The main purpose of this session is to consider legislation related to the use of federal stimulus relief funds, including the $1.25 billion allocated to South Dakota in Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF).
Unless an extension is granted, South Dakota has until December 30, 2020 to spend all CRF dollars.
The administration has spent about $114 million of the $1.25 billion in federal funds allocated to the state.
Noem has mapped out a plan to spend the bulk of the money, including up to $400 million in small business grants.
However, some House members said lawmakers should be included in the decision.
Campaign Finance New Jersey: “Two NM Groups Pushed to Disclose Political Spending” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal Elections National: “How Republicans Are Trying to Use the Green Party to Their Advantage” by Maggie Haberman, Danny Hakim, and Nick Corasaniti […]
Campaign Finance
New Jersey: “Two NM Groups Pushed to Disclose Political Spending” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal
Elections
National: “How Republicans Are Trying to Use the Green Party to Their Advantage” by Maggie Haberman, Danny Hakim, and Nick Corasaniti for New York Times
National: “The Russian Trolls Have a Simpler Job Today. Quote Trump.” by David Sanger and Zolan Kanno-Youngs for New York Times
Florida: “Bloomberg Raises $16 Million to Help Florida Felons Pay Fines to Vote in November” by Stephanie Ruhle and Julia Jester for NBC News
Pennsylvania: “Alarm Grows Over ‘Naked Ballot’ Ruling in Pennsylvania” by Max Greenwood for The Hill
Ethics
National: “Pentagon Used Taxpayer Money Meant for Masks and Swabs to Make Jet Engine Parts and Body Armor” by Aaron Gregg and Yeganeh Torboti (Washington Post) for MSN
Maryland: “Baltimore Could End Contract with Pugh-Connected Financier After IG Details Failure to Disclose Donations to Her” by Talia Richman for Baltimore Sun
Virginia: “Virginia Legislator Who Tested Positive for Coronavirus Warned His Church, but House Colleagues Say They Weren’t Informed” by Laura Vozzella for Washington Post
Lobbying
Alaska: “In Secret Tapes, Mine Executives Detail Their Sway Over leaders from Juneau to the White House” by Juliet Eilperin (Washington Post) for MSN
Campaign Finance Alabama: “Former Alabama Sen. David Burkette Gets Probation, $3K Fine in Campaign Finance Case” by Brad Harper for Montgomery Advertiser California: “San Bernardino to Cap Campaign Contributions at $4,700 Per Individual Per Election” by Brian Whitehead for San […]
Campaign Finance
Alabama: “Former Alabama Sen. David Burkette Gets Probation, $3K Fine in Campaign Finance Case” by Brad Harper for Montgomery Advertiser
California: “San Bernardino to Cap Campaign Contributions at $4,700 Per Individual Per Election” by Brian Whitehead for San Bernardino Sun
Elections
National: “Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Death Brings New Uncertainty to the Battle Over Voting Rights in 2020” by Elise Viebeck and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
National: “DeVos Under Investigation for Potentially Violating Hatch Act Because of Fox News Interview” by Daniel Lippman and Michael Stratford for Politico
New York: “Trump Could Be Investigated for Tax Fraud, D.A. Says for First Time” by Benjamin Weiser and William Rashbaum for New York Times
Washington DC: “D.C. Official Who Sought Howard Job After Negotiating a Tax Break for School Fined $2,500” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
Minnesota: “Preparing Minnesotans of Color to Wield More Power at the Capitol” by Melissa Townsend for MPR News
Lobbying
National: “Behind Trump’s Turkish ‘Bromance’: Lev Parnas, oligarchs and a lucrative lobbying deal” by Aubrey Belford, Adam Klasfeld, Andrew Lehren, and Dan De Luce for NBC News
Illinois: “CUB’s ‘Conflict’: How a utility watchdog got millions from the utilities it watches” by Dave McKinney and Dan Mihalopoulos for WBEZ
September 22, 2020 •
Louisiana Lawmakers Announce Special Legislative Session to Address COVID-19, Unemployment
Louisiana State Capitol
The Louisiana Legislature will convene in a special session on September 28 to address issues such as COVID-19, storm relief, and unemployment.
The Louisiana Legislature will convene in a special session on September 28 to address issues such as COVID-19, storm relief, and unemployment.
The Louisiana Constitution authorizes lawmakers to call themselves into special session upon the written petition of a majority of the elected members of each house.
Lawmakers may file and consider bills on 70 items. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder announced the special session will focus primarily on Hurricane Laura disaster relief and recovery efforts, on-going issues with COVID-19 relative to funding and the economy, and the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund.
Several House members have also asked to address the continued proclamations issued by Gov. John Bel Edwards during the pandemic and what many see as an imbalance of power.
The session is set to begin September 28 at 6 p.m. and must adjourn by 6 p.m. on October 27.
This does not affect lobbyist reporting.
Campaign Finance Ohio: “Dems Blast Bogus FirstEnergy PAC Campaign Report” by Staff for Youngstown Business Journal Elections National: “Campaigns Adjust as Voters Cast Ballots Before Election Day” by Bridget Bowman for Roll Call Ethics National: “Judges in D.C. Threatened, Harassed […]
Campaign Finance
Ohio: “Dems Blast Bogus FirstEnergy PAC Campaign Report” by Staff for Youngstown Business Journal
Elections
National: “Campaigns Adjust as Voters Cast Ballots Before Election Day” by Bridget Bowman for Roll Call
Ethics
National: “Judges in D.C. Threatened, Harassed After High-Profile, Political Legal Battles” by Ann Marimow for Washington Post
National: “Trump’s Businesses Charged Secret Service More Than $1.1 Million, Including for Rooms in Club Shuttered for Pandemic” by David Fahrenthold and Josh Dawsey for Washington Post
Illinois: “Cook County Board of Ethics Appoints New Chair After Previous Two Ousted Amid Earlier Shakeups” by Alice Yin for Chicago Tribune
Kentucky: “Kentucky GOP Lawmaker Indicted on Assault, Accused of Strangling Woman with Ethernet Cable” by Teo Armus for Washington Post
Louisiana: “In Parting Shot, Resigning New Orleans IG Says Audubon Institute Possibly Made Unlawful Deals” by Jessica Williams for Nola.com
New York: “New York Ethics’ Panel Renews Search for a Leader” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
Legislative Issues
South Carolina: “Wearing Masks at the SC Capitol Is Required, but Many Found a Way Around the Order” by Maayan Schechter for Charlotte Observer
Campaign Finance National: “Watchdog Group Calls on FEC to Investigate Donations to Trump and Others by Relatives and Associates of Louis DeJoy” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post Elections National: “US Judge Blocks Postal Service Changes That Slowed Mail” by […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Watchdog Group Calls on FEC to Investigate Donations to Trump and Others by Relatives and Associates of Louis DeJoy” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post
Elections
National: “US Judge Blocks Postal Service Changes That Slowed Mail” by Gene Johnson for Associated Press News
Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules Green Party Will Not Appear on State’s 2020 General Election Ballot” by Alicia Weirsema for ABC News
Ethics
National: “Trump Says He Will Move ‘Without Delay’ to Fill Ginsburg’s Supreme Court Seat” by Robert Barnes, Seung Min Kim, and Josh Dawsey for Washington Post
California: “CalPERS Board Supportive of Move to Restrict Investments by Top Staff” by Wes Venteicher for Sacramento Bee
California: “California Prison Guard Union Places Bull’s-Eye on Black Lawmaker’s Photo in Political Ad” by Anita Chabria for Los Angeles Times
Illinois: “Former State Sen. Terry Link Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion Charge in Federal Court” by Jason Meisner for Chicago Tribune
Illinois: “Alderman Lavished with Cash, Luxury Trips by Program for Caribbean Med Students” by Tim Novak for Chicago Sun-Times
Lobbying
National: “Chamber to Lay Off a Dozen Employees, Expand Advocacy Efforts Amid Coronavirus Pandemic” by Alex Gangitano for The Hill
Temporary Canadian House of Commons in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
On October 26, federal by-elections in Canada will be held for the electoral district of York Centre (Ontario) and Toronto Centre (Ontario) to fill two vacancies in the House of Commons.
On October 26, federal by-elections in Canada will be held for the electoral district of York Centre (Ontario) and Toronto Centre (Ontario) to fill two vacancies in the House of Commons.
On August 24, Perrault had received official notice from the Speaker of the House of Commons that the seat for Toronto Centre (Ontario) became vacant following the resignation of Bill Morneau. Morneau resigned amid controversies dealing with his involvement with the WE Charity scandal.
On September 1, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Stéphane Perrault, had received official notice from the Speaker of the House of Commons that the seat for York Centre (Ontario) became vacant following the resignation of Michael Levitt, who left his seat to become the CEO of the Canadian Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies.
The Elections Canada offices in York Centre and Toronto Centre are expected to open soon, according to its press release. As a safety measure because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Elections Canada plans to implement physical distancing at polling places and Elections Canada offices.
Tallahassee City Hall
Leon County, Florida commissioners have approved an ordinance updating the county’s lobbying regulations. The new ordinance updates the registration and reporting process by removing the notary requirement and developing an online registration form. The ordinance also defines a clear process […]
Leon County, Florida commissioners have approved an ordinance updating the county’s lobbying regulations.
The new ordinance updates the registration and reporting process by removing the notary requirement and developing an online registration form.
The ordinance also defines a clear process for enforcement and adds new penalties for violations of the lobbyist regulations.
A public hearing will be held on the new ordinance on October 13.
Elections Ohio: “Ohio Judge Says Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s One Ballot Drop Box Per County Rule Is ‘Arbitrary and Unreasonable’” by Andrew Tobias for Cleveland Plain Dealer Ethics National: “Pro-Trump Youth Group Enlists Teens in Secretive Campaign Likened to […]
Elections
Ohio: “Ohio Judge Says Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s One Ballot Drop Box Per County Rule Is ‘Arbitrary and Unreasonable’” by Andrew Tobias for Cleveland Plain Dealer
Ethics
National: “Pro-Trump Youth Group Enlists Teens in Secretive Campaign Likened to a ‘Troll Farm,’ Prompting Rebuke by Facebook and Twitter” by Isaac Stanley-Becker (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Criminal Probe Opened into John Bolton Book” by Josh Gerstein for Politico
Florida: “Miami Herald Editor Blames ‘Internal Failures’ After Publishing an Anti-Semitic, Racist Insert” by Jaclyn Pieser for Washington Post
New York: “Gaddy’s Plea in Bribery Case Delivers More Bad News for Mayor Lovely Warren” by Gary Graig for Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Ohio: “Alleged Householder Texts About Nuclear Bailout Are MIA, House Says” by Jake Zuckerman (Ohio Capital Journal) for MSN
Pennsylvania: “Top Pa. Republican’s Campaign Sues Journalists Over Public Records Costs” by Mike Wereschagin (The Caucus) and Ed Mahon (Spotlight PA) for Pennlive.com
South Dakota: “State Investigators Will Release Investigation into Attorney General’s Crash, Noem Says” by Arielle Zionts for Rapid City Journal
Lobbying
National: “Unions Dealt Major Blow With 1st Circuit Ruling on Lobbying Dues” by Thomas Harrison for Courthouse News Service
Canada: “Freeland, Vance and Several Federal Officials Barred from Official Dealings with Ex-Ambassador” by Catherine Tunney for CBC
September 16, 2020 •
Fort Collins City Council Approves LLC Contribution Amendments for Final Passage
Two Fort Collins City Council campaign finance ordinances were approved for final passage on September 15. Ordinance 109-2020 will allow unexpended campaign contributions to a candidate committee to be contributed to a candidate committee established by the same candidate for […]
Two Fort Collins City Council campaign finance ordinances were approved for final passage on September 15.
Ordinance 109-2020 will allow unexpended campaign contributions to a candidate committee to be contributed to a candidate committee established by the same candidate for a subsequent campaign in a city election or to a candidate committee established after January 1, 2021.
The ordinance will also reduce the penalty for certain lower-level campaign finance violations from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil penalty.
Ordinance 112-2020 requires donations from LLCs to include statements that attribute the donation to specific LLC members.
The donations attributed through an LLC will then count toward individual donation limits.
Ordinance 112-2020 will also place a $100 cap on donations to political committees.
Both ordinances will become effective 10 days from the date of final passage on September 25.
