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.
Campaign Finance Arizona: “Utility Panel OKs New Limits on Campaign Contributions to Commission Candidates” by Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) for Arizona Daily Star California: “California Lawmakers Consider New Rules for Political Ads” by Andrew Oxford for AP News Washington: […]
Campaign Finance
Arizona: “Utility Panel OKs New Limits on Campaign Contributions to Commission Candidates” by Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) for Arizona Daily Star
California: “California Lawmakers Consider New Rules for Political Ads” by Andrew Oxford for AP News
Washington: “In Win for Public Campaign Financing, State Supreme Court Upholds Seattle’s Unique ‘Democracy Vouchers’” by Daniel Beekman (Seattle Times) for Governing
Elections
National: “To Unlock the Youth Vote in 2020, Democrats Wage Legal Fights Against GOP-Backed Voting Restrictions” by Amy Gardner (Washington Post) for Northwest Herald
Ethics
National: “Trump Tells Freshman Congresswomen to ‘Go Back’ to the Countries They Came From” by Katie Rogers and Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) for MSN
National: “Alex Acosta Resigns as Labor Secretary Amid Intense Scrutiny of His Handling of Jeffrey Epstein Case” by David Nakamura, John Wagner, Ashley Parker, and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Trump Says He Will Seek Citizenship Information from Existing Federal Records, Not the Census” by Katie Rogers, Adam Liptak, Michael Crowley, and Michael Wines (New York Times) for MSN
Lobbying
West Virginia: “A Resolution Condemning Pipeline Challengers Passed Easily. A Pipeline Lobbyist Wrote It.” by Kate Mishkin (Charleston Gazette-Mail) for ProPublica
On July 11, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) issued three Advisory Opinions addressing diverse campaign finance issues. In Advisory Opinion 2019-08, the FEC found a campaign committee was free to distribute digital blockchain tokens, having no monetary values, to volunteers […]
On July 11, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) issued three Advisory Opinions addressing diverse campaign finance issues.
In Advisory Opinion 2019-08, the FEC found a campaign committee was free to distribute digital blockchain tokens, having no monetary values, to volunteers and supporters as incentives for those individual to participate in campaign activities. The Commission concluded the tokens do not constitute compensation, but rather are “materially indistinguishable” from traditional forms of campaign souvenirs.
In Advisory Opinion 2019-09, the FEC determined a nonconnected political committee may sell t-shirts bearing the facial likenesses and names of certain candidates because the committee intends on treating the entire purchase price of the t-shirts as contributions falling under regular campaign finance reporting requirements and contribution limits.
In the third decision issued, Advisory Opinion 2019-12, the FEC said it is permissible for a corporation to offer cybersecurity services to federal candidates and political committees under a “low to no cost” pricing tier that the corporation offers to all qualified non-political customers in the ordinary course of business. The FEC concluded the proposal would not be considered an in-kind contribution.
New York Capitol Building
On July 11, the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics launched the ability to file client semi-annual reports and source of funding information through the online Lobbying Application for the 2019-2020 reporting period. JCOPE has granted an extension to […]
On July 11, the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics launched the ability to file client semi-annual reports and source of funding information through the online Lobbying Application for the 2019-2020 reporting period.
JCOPE has granted an extension to all clients to file the client reports until July 31.
The extension only applies to semiannual reports and source of funding disclosures; lobbyist bimonthly reports are still due on July 15.
JCOPE has also produced a guideline “How to Properly Disclose Lobbying Activities” on their website to assist proper disclosure.
Campaign Finance National: “Trump Campaign Knew Consultant Was Behind Joe Biden Parody Site. Does That Make It a Campaign Finance Violation” by Asher Stockler for Newsweek National: “GOP at War Over Fundraising” by Alex Isenstadt for Politico California: “Insurance Commissioner […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Trump Campaign Knew Consultant Was Behind Joe Biden Parody Site. Does That Make It a Campaign Finance Violation” by Asher Stockler for Newsweek
National: “GOP at War Over Fundraising” by Alex Isenstadt for Politico
California: “Insurance Commissioner Will Return Funds from Companies with Ties to Industry He Regulates” by Jeff McDonald for San Diego Union-Tribune
Maine: “New Group Uses Exploited Advocacy Rules to ‘Educate’ Mainers About Sen. Collins” by Steve Mistler for Maine Public Radio
Ethics
National: “Study: Firm governance key as shareholders assess risk of political activity” by for Phys.org; Staff
National: “Appeals Court Tosses Emoluments Suit Against Trump” by Jpsh Gerstein for Politico
National: “Federal Judge Rejects Trump Administration’s Bid to Swap Out Lawyers for Census Case on Citizenship Question” by Matt Zapotosky, Seung Min Kim, and Tara Bahrampour (Washington Post) for Duluth News Tribune
Missouri: “Former Sen. Hutchinson Pleads Guilty to Bribery in Missouri Federal Court” by Wesley Brown for talkbusiness.net
Lobbying
National: “In the Aftermath of Khashoggi’s Murder, Saudi Influence Machine Whirs on in Washington” by Beth Reinhard, Jonathan O’Connell, and Tom Hamburger (Washington Post) for Stamford Advocate
California: “California Bill Limits Spending by Local Government Groups” by Kathleen Ronayne for AP News
Oregon State Capitol Building
The Oregon Republican Party has nominated Becky Mitts, Raquel Moore-Green, and Brad Nanke as the three finalists to replace Denyc Boles as state representative for District 19. Boles resigned from the District 19 seat on June 28 after being appointed […]
The Oregon Republican Party has nominated Becky Mitts, Raquel Moore-Green, and Brad Nanke as the three finalists to replace Denyc Boles as state representative for District 19.
Boles resigned from the District 19 seat on June 28 after being appointed to replace the late Jackie Winters as state senator for District 10.
The Marion County commissioners plan to make a selection on July 23.
However, the commissioners have 10 days after the names are filed with the secretary of state to make a decision.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold
The Secretary of State will host a rulemaking hearing on July 24 concerning the Colorado Campaign and Political Finance Rules. The revised draft of 8 C.C.R. §1505-6 is available at 20190709_CPF_RevStmBasis.pdf. A recording of the hearing will be posted and […]
The Secretary of State will host a rulemaking hearing on July 24 concerning the Colorado Campaign and Political Finance Rules.
The revised draft of 8 C.C.R. §1505-6 is available at 20190709_CPF_RevStmBasis.pdf.
A recording of the hearing will be posted and available on the Secretary of State’s website.
Georgia State Capitol Building
Gov. Brian Kemp announced a special election to fill the vacancy in House District 71 on September 3. The seat was vacated by the resignation of Rep. David Stover on June 25. Rep. Stover was facing an ethics complaint regarding […]
Gov. Brian Kemp announced a special election to fill the vacancy in House District 71 on September 3.
The seat was vacated by the resignation of Rep. David Stover on June 25.
Rep. Stover was facing an ethics complaint regarding his residency and resigned to spend more time with his wife in the United Kingdom.
The winner of the special election will complete Stover’s term until 2020.
Campaign Finance National: “Rep. Duncan Hunter’s ‘Deep State’ Defense Falls Apart” by Emily Kopp for Roll Call New York: “Cautious Optimism Among Reformers After State Public Campaign Financing Commission Named” by Ethan Geringer-Sameth for Gotham Gazette Elections National: “‘It Can’t […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Rep. Duncan Hunter’s ‘Deep State’ Defense Falls Apart” by Emily Kopp for Roll Call
New York: “Cautious Optimism Among Reformers After State Public Campaign Financing Commission Named” by Ethan Geringer-Sameth for Gotham Gazette
Elections
National: “‘It Can’t Be Worse’: How Republican women are trying to rebuild” by Maggie Astor for New York Times
National: “Elizabeth Warren Shuns Conventional Wisdom for a New Kind of Campaign” by Alex Thompson for Politico
Ethics
National: “President Trump Cannot Block His Critics on Twitter, Federal Appeals Court Rules” by Ann Marimow for Washington Post
Missouri: “Former Missouri Gov. Greitens’ Use of Confide Didn’t Violate Sunshine Law, Judge Says” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star
North Dakota: “North Dakota House Energy Committee Chairman Says Business Relationship with Lobbyist Unrelated to Legislative Work” by John Hageman for Grand Forks Herald
Lobbying
National: “Female Tech Lobbyists Shake Up Industry” by Alex Gangitano for The Hill
Virginia Capitol Building - Ron Cogswell
The Virginia General Assembly convened and adjourned a special session. The session was called to consider stricter gun legislation in response to the Virginia Beach shootings on May 31. For the special session, Gov. Northam proposed eight bills. The Governors […]
The Virginia General Assembly convened and adjourned a special session.
The session was called to consider stricter gun legislation in response to the Virginia Beach shootings on May 31.
For the special session, Gov. Northam proposed eight bills.
The Governors bills included background checks on all firearm sales, a ban on dangerous weapons, and allowing only one handgun purchase a month.
Assembly leaders referred all of the governor’s bills to the state Crime Commission for a full review.
The General Assembly will reconvene November 18 to vote on the proposed bills.
