Fort Wayne, Indiana City Hall
Allen Superior Court Judge Jennifer DeGroote heard arguments on Wednesday in a case focused on a 2018 Fort Wayne City Council ordinance. The ordinance limits financial contributions of contractors and their family members to political campaigns in Fort Wayne. The […]
Allen Superior Court Judge Jennifer DeGroote heard arguments on Wednesday in a case focused on a 2018 Fort Wayne City Council ordinance.
The ordinance limits financial contributions of contractors and their family members to political campaigns in Fort Wayne.
The measure prohibits business entities from bidding on city contracts if any officer, partner, or principal with more than 10% ownership has donated more than $2,000 to a campaign of someone with ultimate responsibility for awarding city contracts.
Kyle and Kimberly Suzanne Witwer filed the suit in April challenging the ordinance and requesting a judge block it’s implementation.
While no ruling was made on Wednesday, both sides must submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law by Friday.
There could be a potential ruling next week.
The main issue being considered at this time is whether state contribution laws make this ordinance unnecessary.
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser - by AFGE [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Fair Elections Emergency Amendment Act of 2019 on May 22. The act amends the definition of a qualified small-dollar contribution to set a minimum value of cash or in-kind contributions at $5. The act became […]
Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Fair Elections Emergency Amendment Act of 2019 on May 22.
The act amends the definition of a qualified small-dollar contribution to set a minimum value of cash or in-kind contributions at $5.
The act became effective following the approval by Mayor Bowser and will remain in effect until August 20.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee
On May 21, 2019, Gov. Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5861. The bill extends respectful workplace code of conduct provisions to all members of the legislative community. Effective July 28, 2019, Senate Bill 5861 requires The Chief Clerk of the […]
On May 21, 2019, Gov. Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5861.
The bill extends respectful workplace code of conduct provisions to all members of the legislative community.
Effective July 28, 2019, Senate Bill 5861 requires The Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate to develop a training course based on the legislative code of conduct and any policies adopted by either chamber.
Lobbyists will be required to attest to reading and completing the training course when filing a lobbyist registration statement with the Public Disclosure Commission.
Lobbyists currently registered are required to update registration materials to include the attestation by December 31, 2019.
Minnesota Capitol Building
The Minnesota Legislature adjourned sine die on May 20, the latest possible day the state constitution allowed it to be in regular session. Lawmakers reached a bipartisan budget deal after extensive negotiations. However, Gov. Tim Walz will need to call […]
The Minnesota Legislature adjourned sine die on May 20, the latest possible day the state constitution allowed it to be in regular session.
Lawmakers reached a bipartisan budget deal after extensive negotiations.
However, Gov. Tim Walz will need to call a special session for lawmakers to work out and vote on the details.
Campaign Finance National: “DC Circuit OKs Payment-Plan Rules for Campaign Donors” by Brad Katner for Courthouse News Service New York: “Sugarman Reaches $100k Settlement with NYSUT” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union Oregon: “Oregon Lawmakers Propose Campaign Donation Limits, […]
Campaign Finance
National: “DC Circuit OKs Payment-Plan Rules for Campaign Donors” by Brad Katner for Courthouse News Service
New York: “Sugarman Reaches $100k Settlement with NYSUT” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
Oregon: “Oregon Lawmakers Propose Campaign Donation Limits, But with ‘Huge Loophole’” by Rob Davis for Portland Oregonian
Ethics
National: “A Conservative Activist’s Behind-the-Scenes Campaign to Remake the Nation’s Courts” by Robert O’Harrow Jr. and Shawn Boburg (Washington Post) for Alaska Dispatch News
National: “Confidential Draft IRS Memo Says Tax Returns Must Be Given to Congress Unless President Invokes Executive Privilege” by Jeff Stein and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for MSN
Florida: “Legislative ‘Sprinkle’ Adds Extra Half-Million Dollars to State Senator’s Nonprofit, Quietly Doubling State Payout to Lauren’s Kids” by Francisco Alvarado for Florida Bulldog
Michigan: “Michigan Lawmakers Say They Want Financial Transparency, But Few Are Releasing Records” by Lauren Gibbons and Taylor DesOrmeau for MLive
New York: “New York Passes Bill Giving Congress a Way to Get Trump’s State Tax Returns” by Jesse McKinley (New York Times) for MSN
Virginia: “Investigators Could Not Determine If Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam Is in Racist Yearbook Photo” by Laura Vozzella and Jim Morrison for Washington Post
On May 28, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) announced the appointment of Tony Baptiste as Acting Inspector General of the agency. Mr. Baptiste, who has worked with the Office of the Inspector General for 19 years, will leave his position […]
On May 28, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) announced the appointment of Tony Baptiste as Acting Inspector General of the agency.
Mr. Baptiste, who has worked with the Office of the Inspector General for 19 years, will leave his position at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
“We look forward to working with him and drawing upon his deep expertise,” said Chair Ellen L. Weintraub in the FEC’s press release.
His appointment with the FEC becomes effective on May 28.
May 22, 2019 •
OGE to Hold Virtual Hearing on Proposed Rule for Executive Branch Legal Expense Funds
On May 22, the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) will hold a virtual public hearing to gather comments for a proposed rule regarding executive branch officials and employees setting up legal expense funds. The virtual public hearing will be […]
On May 22, the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) will hold a virtual public hearing to gather comments for a proposed rule regarding executive branch officials and employees setting up legal expense funds.
The virtual public hearing will be recorded and a transcript of the hearing will be posted on OGE’s website.
The agency is seeking public comments even after the virtual hearing, with the comment period ending on June 14.
The OGE has also listed questions on its website for the public to consider in order to help the agency determine issues specifically related to legal expense funds.
Those questions include whether there should be contribution limits to legal expense funds; whether donations of pro bono legal services to legal expense funds should be permitted; and whether contributions should be subject to reporting requirements?
Campaign Finance National: “9th Circuit Rejects Challenge to Foreign-Donation Ban” by Josh Gerstein for Politico Oklahoma: “Walkingstick Disqualified as Principal Chief Candidate” by Grant Crawford (Tahlequah Daily Press) for Muskogee Phoenix Ethics National: “Judge Rules Against Trump in Fight Over […]
Campaign Finance
National: “9th Circuit Rejects Challenge to Foreign-Donation Ban” by Josh Gerstein for Politico
Oklahoma: “Walkingstick Disqualified as Principal Chief Candidate” by Grant Crawford (Tahlequah Daily Press) for Muskogee Phoenix
Ethics
National: “Judge Rules Against Trump in Fight Over President’s Financial Records” by Devlin Barrett, Spencer Hsu, Rachael Bade, and Josh Dawsey for Washington Post
National: “Cohen Told Lawmakers Trump Attorney Jay Sekulow Encouraged Him to Falsely Claim Moscow Project Ended in January” by Tom Hamburger, Ellen Nakashima, and Karoun Demirjian (Washington Post) for MSN
New Jersey: “Governor’s Feud with Party Boss Rocks New Jersey Politics” by Ryan Hutchins for Politico
Tennessee: “Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada to Resign Position After Sexually Charged Texts” by Joel Ebert and Natalie Allison (The Tennessean) for USA Today
Lobbying
National: “NRA Helps Sheriffs Fight Gun Laws in Second Amendment ‘Sanctuaries’” by Nick Penzenstadler for USA Today
National: “Women Strive to Close Gender Gap at Biz Groups” by Alex Gangitano for The Hill
Gov. Jared Polis signed the Lobbyist Transparency Act into law on May 20, shining new light on the disclosure requirements of lobbyists and their clients. House Bill 1248 increases transparency by stopping attorneys registered as professional lobbyists from asserting confidentiality […]
Gov. Jared Polis signed the Lobbyist Transparency Act into law on May 20, shining new light on the disclosure requirements of lobbyists and their clients.
House Bill 1248 increases transparency by stopping attorneys registered as professional lobbyists from asserting confidentiality in order to conceal client information and lobbying activity.
The bill provides that when the general assembly is in regular or special session, a professional lobbyist must notify the secretary of state within 72 hours of agreeing to lobby in connection with new legislation or taking a new position on a new or existing bill for a new or existing client.
Additionally, the bill instructs the secretary of state to form a working group to upgrade the electronic filing system in order to ease the use of data reported and to increase overall transparency.
The secretary of state must convene the working group no later than July 1, and the group must meet at least once before December 31.
Campaign Finance Massachusetts: “US Supreme Court Will Not Hear Massachusetts Campaign Finance Case” by Shira Schoenberg for MassLive New York: “A Cuomo Donor’s Nonstop Connections” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union Ethics National: “‘It’s Entirely Inappropriate’: Trump shot a […]
Campaign Finance
Massachusetts: “US Supreme Court Will Not Hear Massachusetts Campaign Finance Case” by Shira Schoenberg for MassLive
New York: “A Cuomo Donor’s Nonstop Connections” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
Ethics
National: “‘It’s Entirely Inappropriate’: Trump shot a political video on Air Force One” by Colby Itkowitz (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Justin Amash, Tea Party Star, Earns Primary Challenge for Backing Impeachment” by Isaac Stanley-Baker for Washington Post
California: “Brawl Erupts at Convention of Local Politicians, Roils Upscale Resort” by Adam Elmahrek, Ruben Vives, and Anh Do for Los Angeles Times
Oregon: “Kate Brown’s Top Aides Went Into Overdrive Doing Campaign-Like Work During Heated Governor’s Race, Records Show” by Hillary Borrud for Portland Oregonian
Legislative Issues
Nevada: “Where Women Call the Shots” by Emily Wax-Thibodeaux for Washington Post
Lobbying
Mississippi: “How Mississippi Lawmakers Gave $1.5 Million of Education Money to Weight Watchers” by Giacomo Bologna for Jackson Clarion-Ledger
United States Supreme Court Building
On Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States announced it would decline to hear a challenge to a Massachusetts law. The law in question bans corporate contributions to campaigns, parties and candidate-focused political action committees. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial […]
On Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States announced it would decline to hear a challenge to a Massachusetts law.
The law in question bans corporate contributions to campaigns, parties and candidate-focused political action committees.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court unanimously rejected the challenge, brought by 1A Auto Inc. and 126 Self Storage Inc., in September.
The suit claimed disparate treatment by banning for-profit corporate contributions while allowing significant contributions by unions and nonprofits.
After the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United, state law was updated to allow corporate spending for independent expenditures but not political contributions.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey applauded Monday’s decision not to hear the case for the integrity of state elections.
Opponents of the law are hopeful the Supreme Court will take up the issue in another case.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum by Senior Master Sgt. David H Lipp
Top North Dakota officials are working towards forming a new panel to oversee ethical standards in state government as a result of last year’s passage of Measure 1. Gov. Doug Burgum’s office is accepting applications for the new ethics commission […]
Top North Dakota officials are working towards forming a new panel to oversee ethical standards in state government as a result of last year’s passage of Measure 1.
Gov. Doug Burgum’s office is accepting applications for the new ethics commission through May 24 and hopes to have members selected by July 1.
The five commissioners will be chosen by consensus agreement of the governor and the Senate’s majority and minority leaders.
The state constitution bars certain people from serving on the commission including lobbyists, political party officials, and those who hold statewide elected or appointed office.
Missouri Capitol Building
The first regular session of the 100th General Assembly adjourned May 17 at 6 p.m. after four months in session. Several lobbying bills were introduced, including House Joint Resolution 48 which made its way to the Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee. […]
The first regular session of the 100th General Assembly adjourned May 17 at 6 p.m. after four months in session.
Several lobbying bills were introduced, including House Joint Resolution 48 which made its way to the Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee.
The committee voted do not pass on May 13. The bill would have banned all lobbyist gifts to lawmakers instead of the current $5 maximum limit.
Similarly, House Bill 1199 was introduced to amend the definition of a lobbyist principal to add an entity with authority to direct the lobbyists’ activities. The bill made its way through the Legislative Oversight Committee but did not pass either chamber.
The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on January 15, 2020.
