November 29, 2018 •
Atlanta City Council Announces District 3 Special Election
The Atlanta City Council will hold a special election for District 3 on March 19, 2019. The District 3 seat is vacant after Councilman Ivory Lee Young Jr. passed away on November 16 due to cancer. The winner of the […]
The Atlanta City Council will hold a special election for District 3 on March 19, 2019.
The District 3 seat is vacant after Councilman Ivory Lee Young Jr. passed away on November 16 due to cancer.
The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of Young’s term until 2021. .
If required, a runoff election will be held April 16, 2019.
November 29, 2018 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Unnamed Donors Gave Large Sums to Conservative Nonprofit That Funded Pro-Trump Allies” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee (Washington Post) for MSN Alaska: “Judges Open Door Wider for Out-of-State Money in Alaska Elections” by James Brooks for Anchorage […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Unnamed Donors Gave Large Sums to Conservative Nonprofit That Funded Pro-Trump Allies” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee (Washington Post) for MSN
Alaska: “Judges Open Door Wider for Out-of-State Money in Alaska Elections” by James Brooks for Anchorage Daily News
Elections
National: “Roger Stone Sought WikiLeaks’ Plans Amid 2016 Campaign, Associate Says” by Sharon LaFraniere and Maggie Haberman New York Times) for WRAL
Michigan: “Ethics Committee: Brenda Jones can keep Detroit job while in Congress” by Todd Spangler and Kat Stafford for Detroit Free Press
Mississippi: “Cindy Hyde-Smith Holds Off Mike Espy to Keep Mississippi Senate Seat” by Alan Blinder (New York Times) for WRAL
Ethics
National: “Manafort’s Lawyer Said to Brief Trump Attorneys on What He Told Mueller” by Michael Schmidt, Sharon LaFraniere, and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) for MSN
National: “Republicans Block Mueller Protection Bill from Senate Floor Vote” by Caitlin Oprysko and Marianne Levine for Politico
New Mexico: “SIC Approves $5.65 Million ‘Pay-to-Play’ Settlement” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal
Pennsylvania: “Ex-Allentown Finance Director Sentenced to House Arrest for Pay-to-Play Scheme” by Peter Hall and Emily Opilo for Allentown Morning Call
Tennessee: “Mayor Briley Halts Public Works Contracts, Hires Compliance Officer Amid Questions Raised in Audit” by Joey Garrison for The Tennessean
Lobbying
Missouri: “Federal Appeals Court Decides Against Mid-Missouri Man, Ruling Unpaid Activists Are Lobbyists” by the Staff for Lake Expo
New York: “Lawsuit Seeks to Block New York’s Sweeping New Lobbying Rules” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
November 28, 2018 •
Alberta, Canada Considering Municipal Campaign Finance Bill
On November 26, a campaign finance bill concerning municipal elections in Alberta, Canada, was adjourned for consideration of an amendment increasing the proposed fines for third party election advertisers found in violations of the Act. The provincial government’s initial 180-page […]
On November 26, a campaign finance bill concerning municipal elections in Alberta, Canada, was adjourned for consideration of an amendment increasing the proposed fines for third party election advertisers found in violations of the Act.
The provincial government’s initial 180-page legislation, Bill 23, An Act to Renew Local Democracy in Alberta, introduced earlier this month, would ban corporate and union political contributions for municipal and school board elections. Individuals would be limited to contributions of $4,000 for local elections.
Additionally, campaign periods would be shortened from four years to one year before the date of a local election. The bill also requires financial disclosures from all local candidates, including individuals who fund their own campaigns.
Some entities would still be able to receive unlimited contributions from individuals, unions, and corporations, but would have to disclose the names of its contributors to Elections Alberta. Those organizations would also be limited on how the raised funds could be spent.
November 28, 2018 •
Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act Introduced in House
On November 16, a 289-page bill with various changes to federal lobbying and ethics laws was introduced in the House of Representatives. The identical bill was introduced in August in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Among the legislative […]
On November 16, a 289-page bill with various changes to federal lobbying and ethics laws was introduced in the House of Representatives. The identical bill was introduced in August in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Among the legislative changes included in H.R. 7140, the “Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act”, are an expanded definition of “lobbyist”. The new definition covers individuals employed for compensation making at least one lobbying contact or engaging in lobbying activities that do not include making lobbying contacts.
The bill creates the definition of “corporate lobbyist”, which are lobbyists compensated by for-profit entities and 501(c)(6) organizations like chambers of commerce, but does not include other 501(c) entities or political organizations. Reporting by lobbyists would be expanded to include disclosure of specific bills, policies, and governmental actions attempted to be influenced, meetings with public officials and documents provided to those officials.
The bill permanently bans all foreign lobbying by both foreign actors and American lobbyists. American lobbyists would be prohibited from accepting money from foreign governments, foreign individuals, and foreign companies to influence United States public policy.
Other changes include a life-time ban on lobbying by former presidents, vice presidents, cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, and federal judges. All other federal employees would be banned from lobbying their former office, department, agency, or Congress after leaving their position until the end of the Administration, but for no less than two years or at least six years for corporate lobbyists. The bill prohibits companies from immediately hiring senior government officials from an agency or office recently lobbied by that company.
The law similarly would prohibit large companies, measured by annual revenue or market capitalization, from hiring former senior government officials for four years after they leave the government. Additionally, lobbyists would be prohibited from making political contributions to candidates or members of Congress, giving gifts to the executive and legislative branch officials being lobbied, and from working for any contingency fee. The bill also contains changes to the federal rule-making process, expands the open record laws, creates ethics requirements for the judicial branch, including the Supreme Court, and creates an independent U.S. Office of Public Integrity for enforcement.
An additional part of the bill addresses conflict of interest laws for federal office holders and employees, including a ban on stock ownership, while in office or employed, by members of Congress, federal judges, and White House staff and senior agency officials. Also, the legislation includes the “Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act”, which requires sitting presidents and vice presidents to place conflicted assets into blind trusts to be sold.
November 28, 2018 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Jeb Bush Super-PAC Fined $200,000 for Campaign Finance Violation” by Ken Doyle for Bloomberg Government New Jersey: “‘Dark Money’ Flows into NJ Politics and None of It Has to Be Accounted For” by Dustin Racioppi for Bergen […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Jeb Bush Super-PAC Fined $200,000 for Campaign Finance Violation” by Ken Doyle for Bloomberg Government
New Jersey: “‘Dark Money’ Flows into NJ Politics and None of It Has to Be Accounted For” by Dustin Racioppi for Bergen Record
South Carolina: “Court Case Could Change How SC Statehouse Elections Are Funded” by Jamie Lovegrove for Charleston Post and Courier
Elections
National: “How to Influence Campaigns: Take inexperienced staffers, stir in a small amount of money, Democrats find” by Michael Scherer for Washington Post
Ethics
National: “Manafort Breached Plea Deal by Repeatedly Lying, Mueller Says” by Sharon LaFraniere (New York Times) for WRAL
National: “Trump Nominee Sunk by ‘Fat Leonard’ Corruption Scandal” by Craig Whitlock for Washington Post
New Jersey: “Bridgegate: Ex-Christie aides win appeal on one conviction, still guilty on two other counts” by Andrew Ford for Bergen Record
Lobbying
National: “Corporations Risking ‘Serious Corruption’ by Failing to Disclose Political Engagement, Researchers Say” by Chloe Taylor for CNBC
Redistricting
Maryland: “Hogan Names Panel to Redraw Maryland’s 6th District, Despite Frosh Appeal of Court Order to Fix Gerrymandering” by Michael Dresser for Baltimore Sun
November 27, 2018 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “How FEC Babysitting Decision Could Pave Way for More Hill Diversity” by Stephanie Akin for Roll Call Canada: “Province Limits Political Donations at Municipal Level” by Paul Clarke for Rocky Mountain Outlook Massachusetts: “Agency Weighs Limit on […]
Campaign Finance
National: “How FEC Babysitting Decision Could Pave Way for More Hill Diversity” by Stephanie Akin for Roll Call
Canada: “Province Limits Political Donations at Municipal Level” by Paul Clarke for Rocky Mountain Outlook
Massachusetts: “Agency Weighs Limit on Union Giving” by Christian Wade for Gloucester Times
Nevada: “We May Never Know Exactly Why Nevada Politicians Put $2 Million on Campaign Credit Cards” by James DeHaven for Reno Gazette-Journal
Elections
New Mexico: “ABQ Councilors Approve Moving City Elections” by Steve Knight for Albuquerque Journal
Ethics
National: “It’s Not Just Trump in House Democrats’ Cross Hairs. His Family Is, Too.” by Maggie Haberman and Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) for MSN
National: “Conservative Author and Roger Stone Associate Jerome Corsi Says He Is Rejecting Plea Deal from Special Counsel” by Rosalind Helderman for Washington Post
California: “Palo Alto Tech Chief Whose Junkets Triggered Ethics Complaint Says He’s Quitting” by Thy Vo for Santa Cruz Sentinel
November 26, 2018 •
Tennessee to Hold Special Election for State Senate Seat
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced a special election to fill the vacancy in Senate District 32, which includes Tipton County and part of Shelby County. The seat was formerly held by Mark Norris, who resigned after being appointed by the […]
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced a special election to fill the vacancy in Senate District 32, which includes Tipton County and part of Shelby County.
The seat was formerly held by Mark Norris, who resigned after being appointed by the president as a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Tennessee.
The special primary election will take place on January 24, 2019, with early voting starting January 4, 2019.
The special general election for the seat will be held on March 12, 2019, with early voting beginning February 20, 2019.
November 26, 2018 •
D.C. Council Approves Pay-to-Play Reforms
The Washington D.C. Council approved a bill in a first full council vote that aims to restrict political contributions by government contractors doing business with the district. The bill also addresses improper coordination between campaigns, political action committees and independent […]
The Washington D.C. Council approved a bill in a first full council vote that aims to restrict political contributions by government contractors doing business with the district.
The bill also addresses improper coordination between campaigns, political action committees and independent expenditure committees.
The pay-to- play component of the bill would ban campaign contributions by businesses seeking contracts of $250,000 or more.
The council votes again on the bill in December. If approved and funded, the bill would take effect on October 1, 2019.
Pay-to-play provisions would take effect after the November 2020 general election.
November 26, 2018 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance New York: N.Y. Democrats Vowed to Get Big Money Out of Politics. Will Big Money Interfere?by Vivian Wang (New York Times) for WRAL Washington D.C.: D.C. Council Approves Sweeping Reforms to Combat ‘Pay-to-Play’ Politics by Peter Jamison for […]
Campaign Finance
New York: N.Y. Democrats Vowed to Get Big Money Out of Politics. Will Big Money Interfere?by Vivian Wang (New York Times) for WRAL
Washington D.C.: D.C. Council Approves Sweeping Reforms to Combat ‘Pay-to-Play’ Politics by Peter Jamison for The Washington Post
Ethics
National: Trump Wanted to Order Justice Dept. to Prosecute Comey and Clinton by Michael Schmidt and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) for MSN
National: Conservative Nonprofit with Obscure Roots, Undisclosed Funders Paid Whitaker $1.2 Million by Robert O’Harrow Jr., Shawn Boburg, and Aaron Davis (Washington Post) for The Seattle Times
Colorado: Hickenlooper Paid Own Way for Some Trips, Says He Followed Ethics Law on Others by David Migoya for The Denver Post
New York: New York State Judge Allows Suit Against Trump and His Personal Charity to Proceed by Jonathan O’Connell and David Fahrenthold (Washington Post) for The Chicago Tribune
Lobbying
Missouri: Parson Alters Lobbyist Gift Ban Rules Imposed by Greitens by Kurt Erickson for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
November 21, 2018 •
Missouri Gov. revises ethics order, brings back lobbyist ban
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order superseding an ethics policy implemented by his predecessor, former Gov. Eric Greitens. Greitens’ first act as governor in 2017 was to issue Executive Order 17-02, banning executive branch employees from accepting lobbyist gifts […]
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order superseding an ethics policy implemented by his predecessor, former Gov. Eric Greitens.
Greitens’ first act as governor in 2017 was to issue Executive Order 17-02, banning executive branch employees from accepting lobbyist gifts and prohibiting governor’s office personnel from lobbying the executive branch if they leave their jobs.
Parson’s Executive Order 18-10 now bans employees of the Office of the Governor from acting as an executive lobbyist until the end of the administration in which he or she served.
The order also alters what gifts executive branch employees are banned from accepting from lobbyists, opening the door for “educational” materials such as books and souvenirs valued at less than $10.
The executive order became effective as of November 20, 2018, when it was signed.
November 21, 2018 •
Utah Special Session to be Held on December 3
The Utah Legislature will meet in a special session on December 3 to discuss the voter-approved medical marijuana ballot measure passed by a majority of voters this month. This week, Senate President Wayne Niederhauser said his fellow senators needed to […]
The Utah Legislature will meet in a special session on December 3 to discuss the voter-approved medical marijuana ballot measure passed by a majority of voters this month.
This week, Senate President Wayne Niederhauser said his fellow senators needed to attend the session and he could compel their presence if necessary.
Gov. Gary Herbert vowed to call a special session to discuss medical marijuana regardless of the outcome of the bill. Gov. Herbert has been working with legislators and the Mormon church to find a compromise and tweak legislation based on the passed measure.
A two-thirds majority vote is necessary to make the legislation effective.
November 21, 2018 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Democrats Plan ‘Aggressive’ Oversight of Federal Election Commission” by Dave Levinthal and Ashley Balcerzak for Center for Public Integrity Louisiana: “Ethics Board: Campaign funds can’t cover candidates’ child care costs” by Elizabeth Crisp for New Orleans Advocate […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Democrats Plan ‘Aggressive’ Oversight of Federal Election Commission” by Dave Levinthal and Ashley Balcerzak for Center for Public Integrity
Louisiana: “Ethics Board: Campaign funds can’t cover candidates’ child care costs” by Elizabeth Crisp for New Orleans Advocate
Washington: “PDC Making More Progress on Case Work This Fiscal Year” by Sarah Gentzler for Washington State Wire
Elections
Mississippi: “In Mississippi, Issues of Race Complicate a Senate Election” by Astead Herndon and Alexander Burns (New York Times) for WRAL
Ethics
National: “CNN Drops Suit Against White House After Acosta’s Press Pass Is Fully Restored” by Paul Farhi and Meagan Flynn for Washington Post
National: “Zinke’s #2 Has So Many Potential Conflicts of Interest He Has to Carry a List of Them All” by Juliet Eilperin (Washington Post) for Everett Herald
National: “Cookie Ethics: Congresswoman-elect asks if she’s still allowed to sell Girl Scout cookies” by Nicole Gaudiano and Eliza Collins for USA Today
National: “Ivanka Trump Used a Personal Email Account to Send Hundreds of Emails About Government Business Last Year” by Carol Leonnig and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for MSN
November 20, 2018 •
Duplicate Profiles in New York Lobbying Application
The Joint Commission on Public Ethics is aware there are duplicate profiles in the new lobbying reporting system. Duplicate profiles only impact those who utilized the old reporting system. If you are an existing filer attempting to claim your organization […]
The Joint Commission on Public Ethics is aware there are duplicate profiles in the new lobbying reporting system. Duplicate profiles only impact those who utilized the old reporting system.
If you are an existing filer attempting to claim your organization profile in the new system and notice duplicate profiles, JCOPE does not want another new organization profile to be created.
Instead, call the JCOPE helpdesk at (518) 474-3973 and speak with a Filings Specialist.
November 20, 2018 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Golf Courses, Dallas Cowboys: Report questions how Congress spends campaign money” by Lesley Clark for McClatchy DC South Dakota: “Rich Relatives Are Unlimited Source of Campaign Cash in South Dakota” by Seth Tupper for Rapid City Journal […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Golf Courses, Dallas Cowboys: Report questions how Congress spends campaign money” by Lesley Clark for McClatchy DC
South Dakota: “Rich Relatives Are Unlimited Source of Campaign Cash in South Dakota” by Seth Tupper for Rapid City Journal
Elections
National: “In a Year of Political Logos, Campaigns of All Stripes Preferred Blue” by Chris Alcantara for Washington Post
Ethics
National: “‘Nothing on This Page Is Real’: How lies become truth in online America” by Eli Saslow (Washington Post) for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
National: “House Ethics Committee Sanctions Two Members Over Sexual Harassment Allegations” by Michael Brice-Saddler for Chicago Tribune
National: “Supreme Court Will Weigh Trump’s Plan to Add Citizenship Question to 2020 Census” by Charles Savage for Los Angeles Times
National: “Senate Democrats Sue to Block Whitaker from Serving as Acting AG” by Cailtin Opresko for Politico
Connecticut: “State Ethics Board to Appeal Court Ruling in UConn Football Coach Randy Edsall’s Case” by Dave Altimeri for Hartford Courant
Kansas: “Leavenworth County Official: ‘Master race’ comment was misconstrued by public, media” by Katy Bergen for Kansas City Star
Oregon: “Former Oregon State Board Director Faces $20,000 Ethics Fine, but He’s Not Here” by Ben Botkin for Salem Statesman-Journal
Lobbying
Utah: “‘Killing Two Birds with One Stone’: Lobbyist, political news publisher and columnist asks for an interview and offers campaign cash in email to state senator” by Benjamin Wood for Salt Lake Tribune
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