On March 11, Gov. Ned Lamont declared a public health emergency and civil preparedness emergency in effect through September 9, unless terminated earlier.

Legislative leaders also announced the closure of the Capitol complex.

Additionally, meetings for Thursday, March 12, through Sunday, March 15, are canceled.

The closure allows the Capitol and Legislative Office Building to be cleaned due to concerns with the coronavirus.

The General Assembly will return to Hartford on Monday, March 16, to reschedule the canceled meetings.

They will also discuss legislation proposed by the governor for an emergency relief package, and to prevent price-gouging during times of emergencies.

The closure does not immediately affect lobbyist reporting.

Effective immediately, the Legislative Ethics Commission has requested updated registration statements be filed either by fax or via email, by scanning and sending the signed forms.

• • Fax to (502) 573-2929
  • Email to Donnita.crittenden@lrc.ky.gov  or lori.smither@lrc.ky.gov

To change from paper filing to filing online, please email the above for an ID and password.

This is a preventative measure to cut down on unnecessary mail handling and interaction by their staff, in order to keep the spread of the coronavirus to a minimum.

Starting today at 5 p.m. and ending on April 1 at 8 p.m., the public will have limited access to the United States Capitol because of concerns of the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

Michael C. Stenger, the Sergeant at Arms of U.S. Senate, and Paul D. Irving, the Sergeant at Arms of U.S. House of Representatives, in consultation with the Office of the Attending Physician, issued a statement on March 12.

They stated the Capitol Visitor Center will close all tours of the Capitol and other congressional office buildings, including the House and Senate office buildings and the Capitol grounds.

“Lawmakers, staff, credentialed journalists and visitors with official business would still be allowed entry,” according to Reuters. 

On Wednesday March 11, lawmakers cancelled all legislative sessions through next week.

This will also include all other events scheduled to take place at the Capitol in Springfield, including lobby day events and tours of the Capitol.

Senate President Don Harmon announced next week’s legislative sessions are canceled due to public health concerns over the coronavirus.

The General Assembly was set to return to session in Springfield next Wednesday, the day after Tuesday’s primary.

Campaign Finance

National: “Trump FEC Pick Offers Mixed Messages on Donor Disclosure” by Karl Evers-Hillstrom for Center for Responsive Politics

National: “Business Money Flows Through Gaps in Anti-Corporate PAC Pledge” by Kate Ackley and George LeVines for Roll Call

Vermont: “House Panel Seeks to Weaken Corporate Campaign Contribution Bill” by Paul Heinz for Seven Days

Elections

National: “Bloomberg Aides Cut Loose Despite Yearlong Employment Promise” by Christopher Cadelago and Sally Goldenberg for Politico

National: “Intelligence Officials Temper Russia Warnings, Prompting Accusations of Political Influence” by Julian Barnes, Nicholas Fandos, and Adam Goldman for New York Times

Missouri: “Kansas City Mayor Is Turned Away from Polls, Told He ‘Wasn’t in the System’” by Allison Kite, Robert Cronkelton, and Glenn Rice for Kansas City Star

Lobbying

California: “Glendale Officials Now Must Disclose Familial, Business Relationships to Those Seeking the City’s Ear” by Lila Seidman for Los Angeles Times

New York: “Cuomo Resurfaces Nonprofit Donor Disclosure Plan” by Kay Dervishi for City and State

Virginia: “PR Consultants Linked to Social Media Campaign Opposing Northern Va. Slots Won’t Say Who’s Behind It” by Graham Moomaw for Virginia Mercury

Campaign Finance

Washington: “Grant County Pair to Pay $250,000 in Campaign Finance Case” by Gene Johnson for AP News

Elections

National: “Coronavirus Threatens to Pose an Unprecedented Challenge to the 2020 Elections” by Isaac Stanley-Becker and Elise Viebeck for Washington Post

National: “How The Trump Campaign Took Over The GOP” by Danny Hakim and Glen Thrush (New York Times) for MSN

National: “Joe Biden Has Another Big Primary Night, Wins 4 More States” by Will Weissert and Laurie Kellman for AP News

Ethics

National: “Judges Wrestle with Power of House Ethics Office” by Josh Gerstein for Politico

National: “Matt Gaetz Made Light of Coronavirus by Wearing a Gas Mask. Now He Is in Quarantine.” by Kim Belllware and Donna Cassata (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Democrats Should Get Mueller Evidence, Judges Rule” by Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney for Politico

Maryland: “Baltimore Businessman Admits to Bribing Former Lawmaker” by Regina Garcia Cano for AP News

Procurement

Maryland: “Minority Contractors Protest Baltimore City Council Bill That Would Require Union Agreements for Major Contracts” by Lance Lucas for Baltimore Sun

The Oregon legislative session officially ended at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.

The short session came to a halt when both House and Senate Republican lawmakers walked out.

This was done in order to stop progress on controversial cap-and-trade bills designed to combat climate change.

Only three bills passed the Legislature during this session, with more than 250 bills left stalled.

The Ethics Commission issued its first formal opinion on lobbying since being established in 2016.

Ethics Commission Opinion 2020-02 explains what duties on behalf of a principal are exclusive to lobbying.

Additionally, the order explains what duties are not exclusive to lobbying in order to clarify when the lobbyist’s duties require authorization by the fifth day of lobbying communication on behalf of the principal within a six-month reporting period.

For example, serving as the treasurer of a registered political action committee or administrator of a registered conduit are not duties exclusive to lobbying.

The opinion also provides examples of grassroots efforts that are not lobbying.

The Second Session of the 84th Legislature adjourned sine die on March 7 at noon after 60 days in session.

Legislators passed 74 bills, including the budget bill that was a priority for legislators and Gov. Jim Justice.

Lawmakers also passed House Bill 4092, which provided major changes to the state’s foster care system.

The Los Angeles Ethics Commission announced the fundraising window for the regular 2022 primary election.

The window for citywide candidates will open March 8, 2020, while primary election are scheduled for March 8, 2022.

City law specifies the primary election fundraising window for citywide races will be 24 months.

Additionally, the window for City Council and Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education (LAUSD) races will be 18 months.

The fundraising window for City Council and LAUSD candidates in the regular 2022 primary election will open September 8, 2020.

The Ethics Commission has not changed the campaign contribution limits for candidates at this time.

Campaign Finance

National: “Tens of Thousands of Political Ads on Facebook Lacked Key Details About Who Paid for Them, New Report Finds” by Tony Romm and Isaac Stanley-Becker for Washington Post

National: “GOP Rep. Steve Watkins’ Woes Mount with FEC Probe into His Father” by Melanie Zanona and John Bresnahan for Politico

Ethics

National: “Erik Prince Recruits Ex-Spies to Help Infiltrate Liberal Groups” by Mark Mazzetti and Adam Goldman (New York Times) for MSN

National: “House Democrats Request Appeal Asking Court to Enforce Subpoena for Former Trump White House Counsel Donald McGahn” by Spencer Hsu and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) for Seattle Times

California: “Ex-L.A. Councilman Englander Charged with Obstruction in Probe Alleging Lavish Spending and Escorts” by Joel Rubin and Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times

Lobbying

National: “Juul Labs Sought to Court AGs as Teen Vaping Surged” by Matthew Perrone and Richard Lardner for AP News

National: “Watchdog Group Says Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s Hong Kong Lobbying Broke the Law” by Alex Daugherty for Miami Herald

Florida: “Lobbyist Sought City Benefits for Westside Property He Owned with Ex-JEA CEO Aaron Zahn” by Christopher Hong for Florida Times-Union

Campaign Finance

Louisiana: “In Louisiana, Casinos Bet on Political Donations Not Banned by Campaign Finance Law” by Patrick Madden (WWNO) for Houston Public Media

Ethics

National: “Facebook Decides to Take Down Trump 2020 Campaign’s ‘Census’ Ads” by Elizabeth Culliford and Mark Brown for Reuters

National: “Newly Obtained Documents Reveal More Secret Service Payments to Trump Properties” by David Fahrenthold, Joshua Partlow, Jonathan O’Connell, and Carol Leonnig (Washington Post) for Seattle Times

National: “Judge Cites Barr’s ‘Misleading’ Statements in Ordering Review of Mueller Report Redactions” by Spencer Hsu and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) for MSN

Missouri: “Businessman Involved in St. Louis County Scheme Sentenced” by Jim Salter for AP News

North Carolina: “Durham Businessman Found Guilty of Bribing NC Official” by Travis Fain for WRAL

Lobbying

Connecticut: “Lawmakers Question Funding Behind Anti-Vaccine Groups Who Swarmed State Capitol” by Christopher Keating for Hartford Courant

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission will hold a public hearing on its proposed administrative rules on March 19.

These proposals will include amendments to the state lobbying and gift laws.

The committee will also review changes to Title 21, addressing procedures such as issuing advisory opinions.

Decisions on the proposed rules will either take place at the conclusion of the public hearing or at a properly noticed meeting of the ethics commission.

On March 10, the U.S. Senate Rules and Administration Committee will hold a nomination hearing.

This will comprise of the full committee to consider James “Trey” Trainor as a commissioner on the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

Trainor is a lawyer licensed in Texas who specializes in election law, campaign finance, and ethics.

Trainor previously served in the president’s administration as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, in the Department of Defense, Office of General Counsel.

President Donald J. Trump had originally nominated Trainor to serve as a commissioner in 2017, but a hearing was never held.

Currently the FEC, which has three of its six commissioner positions vacant, does not have a quorum to take most formal measures.

The FEC requires at least four commissioners to agree on any official action.

To become a commissioner, Trainor must be confirmed by the full U.S. Senate.