Irvine City Council unanimously approved legislation to strengthen its conflict of interest policy this week.

The bill adds a provision to contracts with the city that allows the city to cancel a contract and get reimbursed if a member of council or an employee of the city lobbied on behalf of a contractor, paid or unpaid.

Councilwoman Christina Shea said she brought the item forward after she learned former Councilman Jeff Lalloway helped a Los Angeles-based firm with an Irvine office try to get a contract for the Anaheim streetcar project.

State Senator Richard Ojeda introduced a bill that requires lobbyists to purchase and wear body-mounted cameras while at the Capitol.

Senate Bill 135 also prohibits lobbyists from making certain campaign contributions and places restrictions on lobbyists who are loitering in the Capitol.

The body-mounted camera video and audio recordings would be subject to inspection by the West Virginia Ethics Commission.

The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices received approval to increase the threshold amount a lobbyist can earn to trigger lobbyist registration with the state.

The threshold amount for 2019 is $2,600.

The Commissioner of Political Practices also updated its lobbying guide, which can be found on the states website.

Campaign Finance

National: “How a Little-Known Democratic Firm Cashed in On the Wave of Midterm Money” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Anu Narayanswamy for Washington Post

Connecticut: “Under the Influence: Marijuana industry seeks ruling on legality of political contributions in Connecticut” by Neil Vigdor for Hartford Courant

Montana: “Montana’s Dark Money Detective” by Jimmy Tobias for Pacific Standard

Elections

California: “Supreme Court Rules Against Mystery Corporation from ‘Country A’ Fighting Subpoena in Mueller Investigation” by Robert Barnes, Devlin Barrett, and Carol Leonnig (Washington Post) for San Jose Mercury News

Ethics

National: “Feds’ GoFundMe Campaigns Open a ‘Minefield’ of Ethical Questions During Shutdown” by Nicole Ogrysko for Federal News Network

National: “Pro-Pruitt Group Took Big Checks in Secret” by Alex Guillen for Politico

Georgia: “State Ethics Director Under Ethics Investigation” by Dale Russell for WAGA

Hawaii: “Why Critics Say New House Sexual Harassment Policy Doesn’t Go Far Enough” by Anita Hofschneider for Honolulu Civil Beat

New York: “As Session Starts, Legislators and Advocates Push Overhaul of State Ethics Enforcement” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Legislative Issues

National: “Young People Power into Statehouses and City Halls” by Graham Vyse for Governing

On June 13, 2019, amendments to the Canada Elections Act affecting spending limits for third parties and political parties takes effect. Bill C-76, the Elections Modernization Act, received Royal Assent on December 13, 2018.

The bill is scheduled to take effect six months after Royal Assent, unless Elections Canada determines some portion of the law should take effect earlier. The legislation establishes measures to increase transparency regarding the participation of third parties in the electoral process by adding reporting requirements for third parties engaging in partisan activities, partisan advertising, and election surveys.

Additionally, the bill creates an obligation for third parties to open a separate bank account for expenses and creates an obligation for political parties and third parties to identify themselves in partisan advertising.

The bill also extends voting hours on advance polling days to encourage participation in the election process for voters. Bill C-76 also amends the Parliament of Canada Act to prevent the calling of a by-election for a vacant seat in the House of Commons within nine months before a scheduled general election.

Five Connecticut lawmakers have accepted jobs in Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration and have resigned from the General Assembly.

State Representatives Chris Soto and James Albis as well as Senators Beth Bye, Terry Gerrantana, and Tim Larson submitted their resignations to the secretary of state this week.

Gov. Lamont has 10 days to announce special elections to fill each vacancy.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections increased the contribution limit in the state to $5,400 for candidate committees and others that are subject to legal limits.

State law ties the amount to inflation based on the Consumer Price Index, which had a 4.7% increase from July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2018.

The new limit will remain in effect through December 31, 2020.

State Rep. Lou Lang announced his resignation from the 16^th District after 32 years in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Lang was formerly second-in-command to House Speaker Mike Madigan.

Lang has been hired by a consulting and lobbying firm registered with the state.

Because the state rarely contracts directly with lobbying firms, Lang’s lobbying work does not overstep the state’s revolving door provision.

Sometime before July 6, 2019, a by-election will be announced for the seat in the House of Commons representing Nanaimo–Ladysmith in the province of British Columbia.

On January 7, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Stéphane Perrault, received official notice from the Speaker of the House of Commons that the seat for Nanaimo–Ladysmith (British Columbia) became vacant following the resignation of Sheila Malcolmson, who resigned on January 2 to run in a provincial by-election.

Under the law, the by-election date must be announced between January 18 and July 6, 2019, and will signal the start of the by-election period.

According to Elections Canada, the earliest date the by-election can be held is February 25, 2019.

Campaign Finance

Oklahoma: “Stitt Unveils Plan to Address Potential Business Conflicts” by Paul Monies for Oklahoma Watch

Elections

National: “Paul Manafort Shared 2016 Polling Data with Russian Employee, According to Court Filing” by Rachel Weiner and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) for San Jose Mercury News

Ethics

National: “Court: EPA must release Wheeler’s emails, documents” by Dino Grandoni (Washington Post) for San Jose Mercury News

New Jersey: “Katie Brennan Sues New Jersey, Murphy Campaign and Al Alvarez in Alleged Sexual Assault” by Dustin Racioppi for Bergen Record

Lobbying

National: “Former Lawmakers, Staff Quickly Set Up on K Street” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Florida: “Some City Workers Can Accept Gifts, Ethics Commission Says” by Lisa Solomon for South Florida Sun Sentinel

Michigan: “Whitmer Choice Raises Questions About State’s Conflicts of Interest Laws” by Paul Egan for Detroit Free Press

Vermont: “Health Care Industry Injects Big Spending in Statehouse Lobbying” by Kit Norton and Felippe Rodrigues for VTDigger.org

Gov. Phil Bryant signed three writ of elections today, declaring March 12 as the special election date for House Districts 32, 71, and 101.

If necessary, a runoff special election will be held on April 2.

Reps. Willie Perkins (District 32), Adrienne Wooten (District 71), and Brad Touchstone (District 101) were elected to different judgeships in the November 2018 election and had to resign from the House of Representatives.

Minnesota will hold a special election for Senate District 11 on February 5.

Sen. Tony Lourey resigned after being appointed to Gov.-elect Tim Walz’s cabinet.

If necessary, a primary will be held on January 22.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin has called a special election to fill the vacancy in Senate District 31.

The seat had been held by Ray Jones since 2001, but it became vacant when he resigned after being elected judge executive.

The district encompasses the counties of Elliott, Martin, Lawrence, Morgan, and Pike.

Gov. Janet Mills and Sec. of State Matthew Dunlap announced a special election to be held on March 12 for House District 124.

Rep. Aaron Frey vacated the office to serve as attorney general.

House District 124 includes portions of Bangor and Orono.