Province House, Nova Scotia - Louperivois
On July 31, three members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly will resign their positions to seek federal positions. The members, Chris D’Entremont, Alfie MacLeod, and Eddie Orrell, have been nominated as candidates for the Conservative Party of Canada. […]
On July 31, three members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly will resign their positions to seek federal positions.
The members, Chris D’Entremont, Alfie MacLeod, and Eddie Orrell, have been nominated as candidates for the Conservative Party of Canada.
The three are required to step down before the writ period begins for the fall elections.
By-elections for the soon-to-be-vacant provincial seats have not been yet been called.
San Francisco, California - Noahnmf
Voters will have a chance in November to increase the restrictions on political contributions in the latest campaign finance proposal aimed at pay-to-play. The Sunlight on Dark Money ballot initiative requires greater disclosure of who is behind campaign advertisements paid […]
Voters will have a chance in November to increase the restrictions on political contributions in the latest campaign finance proposal aimed at pay-to-play.
The Sunlight on Dark Money ballot initiative requires greater disclosure of who is behind campaign advertisements paid for by PACs.
The measure requires the top three largest donors of the committee paying for the advertisement to disclose the name and amount contributed to the committee.
If any of the three belong to another committee, they must disclose the top two donors of that committee as well.
The measure would also prohibit top executives in development companies from contributing to candidates or current office holders of the Board of Supervisors, mayor, and city attorney.
The prohibition will be in effect while a project they have financial interest in is pending approval, or for 12 months after the city makes a final decision on the project.
The measure will also close a loophole allowing LLCs and LLPs to contribute to candidates despite an existing ban on those donations from corporations.
The measure would take effect 10 days after the election results are certified.
Campaign Finance National: “Feds’ Probe into Trump Hush Money Payments Is Over, Judge Says” by Darren Samuelsohn for Politico Michigan: “Michigan House Bill Would Set Minimum Fines for Campaign Finance Violations” by Lauren Gibbons for MLive.com Missouri: “Man Pleads Guilty […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Feds’ Probe into Trump Hush Money Payments Is Over, Judge Says” by Darren Samuelsohn for Politico
Michigan: “Michigan House Bill Would Set Minimum Fines for Campaign Finance Violations” by Lauren Gibbons for MLive.com
Missouri: “Man Pleads Guilty in Case Tied to Ex-St. Louis County Leader” by Jim Salter for AP News
Elections
National: “With Name-Calling and Twitter Battles, House Republican Campaign Arm Copies Trump’s Playbook” by Catie Edmonson for New York Times
Ethics
National: “House Condemns Trump’s Attack on Four Congresswomen as Racist” by Julie Hirschfeld Davis for MSN
Florida: “City’s Independent Ethics Officer Announces 2020 Resignation” by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat
Illinois: “Feds Search for Michael Madigan Records at Home of Retired Alderman, Sources Say” by Dan Mihalopoulos (WBEZ) and David Kidwell for Beter Government Association
North Dakota: “North Dakota Focuses on Ethics” by Cinnamon Janzer for U.S. News & World Report
Election commissioners are proposing the filing of quarterly campaign finance reports. Quarterly reports would be filed with the commission on April 15, July 15, October 15, and January 15. The final report would be due no later than 15 days […]
Election commissioners are proposing the filing of quarterly campaign finance reports.
Quarterly reports would be filed with the commission on April 15, July 15, October 15, and January 15.
The final report would be due no later than 15 days after the last day of the calendar quarter in which campaign funds were exhausted or deficit eliminated.
Campaign Finance National: “FEC Gets New Internal Watchdog Following Tumultuous Search” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity Ohio: “City Elections Commission Offers Guidance on Campaign Finance Change” by Jay Hanselman for WVXU Ethics Arizona: “Former Arizona Senate Staffer […]
Campaign Finance
National: “FEC Gets New Internal Watchdog Following Tumultuous Search” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity
Ohio: “City Elections Commission Offers Guidance on Campaign Finance Change” by Jay Hanselman for WVXU
Ethics
Arizona: “Former Arizona Senate Staffer Wins $1M in Discrimination Lawsuit Involving Democratic Leaders” by Maria Polletta for Arizona Republic
Connecticut: “Connecticut Lottery Vice President Placed on Administrative Leave After Disclosure of FBI Recording Episode” by Jon Lender for Hartford Courant
New York: “Mount Vernon: Newly appointed top cop in police custody” by Jonathan Bandler for Journal News
Lobbying
National: “Former Flynn Partner on Trial for Illegal Lobbying Charges” by Brandi Buchman for Courthouse News Service
Missouri: “Since Voters Approved A $5 Cap on Gifts, Lobbyist Spending on Missouri Lawmakers Dropped 94%” by Aviva Okeson-Haberman for St. Louis Public Radio
Texas: “Ellis Proposes Ethics Reforms for Harris County Government” by Zach Despart for Houston Chronicle
The Kentucky State Capitol building in Frankfort, Kentucky
Gov. Matt Bevin announced he will convene the Kentucky General Assembly into special session at 8 a.m. on July 19. Since the conclusion of the 2019 regular session, Bevin has been working with state legislators preparing for a special session […]
Gov. Matt Bevin announced he will convene the Kentucky General Assembly into special session at 8 a.m. on July 19.
Since the conclusion of the 2019 regular session, Bevin has been working with state legislators preparing for a special session to help Kentucky’s quasi-agencies from the financial burden caused by the state’s looming public pension crisis.
Agencies needing help include regional universities, health departments, domestic violence centers, and community health centers,
An official proclamation will be issued later this week in accordance with the Kentucky Constitution.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation on July 12 to clarify language related to preelection statements and income from gifts and business entities. Assembly Bill 903 requires preelection statements to disclose contributions and independent expenditures made to a state, county, or […]
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation on July 12 to clarify language related to preelection statements and income from gifts and business entities.
Assembly Bill 903 requires preelection statements to disclose contributions and independent expenditures made to a state, county, or city general purpose committee or made to support or oppose a candidate or measure appearing on the ballot at a specified election.
The specified election will be the next election for certain state or county general purpose committees and elected state officers or candidates for elective state office.
The bill also amends the definition of expenditure to include communications paid for with public moneys by a state or local government agency.
The bill will take effect on January 1, 2020.
Campaign Finance National: “F.E.C. Allows Security Company to Help 2020 Candidates Defend Campaigns” by Nicole Perlroth for New York Times Illinois: “‘A Red Flag’: Developers sought taxpayer reimbursement for $20,000 in donations to Chicago alderman” by Gregory Pratt and Joe […]
Campaign Finance
National: “F.E.C. Allows Security Company to Help 2020 Candidates Defend Campaigns” by Nicole Perlroth for New York Times
Illinois: “‘A Red Flag’: Developers sought taxpayer reimbursement for $20,000 in donations to Chicago alderman” by Gregory Pratt and Joe Mahr for Chicago Tribune
New York: “Ex-IDC Members Pay $275,000, Settling Sugarman Suit” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
Elections
Texas: “State Leaders Again Want to Review How Texas Elects Judges. Will They End Partisan Judicial Elections?” by Emma Platoff for Texas Tribune
Ethics
Florida: “Andrew Gillum Shifts Campaign Cash to a New Nonprofit, Blocking It from Public View” by Steve Contorno for Tampa Bay Times
Legislative Issues
Washington DC: “Tensions Reach a New High on D.C. Council as Lawmakers Grapple with Scandal” by Peter Jamison and Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post
Lobbying
National: “Consultant Who Worked with Manafort Retroactively Registers as Foreign Agent” by Theodoric Meyer for Politico
National: “Acting Labor Secretary Pizzella Lobbied for Russian-Connected Front Group, Worked with Jack Abramoff” by Reid Champlin and Jessica Piper for Center for Responsive Politics
Long Beach, California
A special election will take place on November 5 for City Council District 1. The Long Beach City Council adopted a resolution at the July 9 meeting to conduct a special municipal election. Lena Gonzalez relinquished the District 1 seat […]
A special election will take place on November 5 for City Council District 1.
The Long Beach City Council adopted a resolution at the July 9 meeting to conduct a special municipal election.
Lena Gonzalez relinquished the District 1 seat after winning the state Senate District 33 seat.
The council’s adoption of the resolution included a request to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to have the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk run the special election in November.
July 15, 2019 •
Colorado Secretary of State Approves Petition for Recall of Gov. Jared Polis, Sen. Pete Lee
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Sen. Pete Lee
The Elections Division of the Secretary of State’s Office approved petitions to collect signatures for the recall of Gov. Jared Polis and Sen. Pete Lee of Senate District 11. More than 600,000 signatures are needed by September 6 to force […]
The Elections Division of the Secretary of State’s Office approved petitions to collect signatures for the recall of Gov. Jared Polis and Sen. Pete Lee of Senate District 11.
More than 600,000 signatures are needed by September 6 to force a recall election for Polis.
According to the recall statement of grounds, the petition for recall is sought against Polis for his support of legislation involving oil and gas regulation and sexual education dissemination, among others.
More than 11,000 signatures are needed by September 10 to force a recall election for Lee.
According to the recall statement of grounds, the petition for recall is sought against Lee in part for sponsoring legislation to create a paid family and medical leave program to be funded by a mandatory tax on businesses and employees.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson
Gov. Mike Parson signed procurement lobbying legislation on July 10, bringing changes to the state’s bid solicitation process. House Bill 1088 provides that solicitations and subsequent purchases must be publicly advertised only if a contract is worth more than $100,000. […]
Gov. Mike Parson signed procurement lobbying legislation on July 10, bringing changes to the state’s bid solicitation process.
House Bill 1088 provides that solicitations and subsequent purchases must be publicly advertised only if a contract is worth more than $100,000. The previous threshold was $25,000.
The bill further provides that all purchases in excess of $10,000 must be based on competitive bids. The previous threshold was $3,000.
Additionally, information technology purchases estimated not to exceed $150,000 may be completed under an informal process. The previous threshold was $75,000.
The bill becomes effective on August 28, 2019.
Ky Gov. Matt Bevin - Gage Skidmore
Gov. Matt Bevin is set to call a special legislative session to pass a bill giving relief to quasi-governmental groups from the soaring pension costs they must pay starting this month. The special session will have to start on July […]
Gov. Matt Bevin is set to call a special legislative session to pass a bill giving relief to quasi-governmental groups from the soaring pension costs they must pay starting this month.
The special session will have to start on July 19 or regional universities, health departments, and others will have to wait until after a critical deadline to receive relief from a massive increase in pension costs.
Lawmakers passed a bill providing relief in March, but Bevin vetoed the bill because of concerns that parts of the bill were illegal and the measure would be financially harmful to the state’s cash strapped pension funds.
Arizona State Flag
State utility regulators at the Arizona Corporation Commission approved a new code of ethics. The new code prohibits commissioners from ruling on issues involving interested parties that have given them direct campaign donations. Only commissioners that publicly finance their campaigns […]
State utility regulators at the Arizona Corporation Commission approved a new code of ethics.
The new code prohibits commissioners from ruling on issues involving interested parties that have given them direct campaign donations.
Only commissioners that publicly finance their campaigns may make rulings on issues regarding interested parties with employees or owners that gave them personal donations.
