December 8, 2017 •
NYCU Video Digest – December 8, 2017
Recapping a busy week in government, campaign finance and ethics news in this week’s video digest.
Recapping a busy week in government, campaign finance and ethics news in this week’s video digest.
December 8, 2017 •
Special Elections Announced for Georgia House and Senate
Two special elections will take place in the beginning of the new year to fill vacancies in the House and Senate. Secretary of State Brian Kemp set special elections for House District 111 and Senate District 17 for January 9, […]
Two special elections will take place in the beginning of the new year to fill vacancies in the House and Senate.
Secretary of State Brian Kemp set special elections for House District 111 and Senate District 17 for January 9, 2018, with a runoff, if necessary, scheduled for February 6.
Sen. Rick Jeffares resigned the District 17 seat to run for lieutenant governor, while Rep. Brian Strickland stepped down from the District 111 seat to run for the District 17 seat. Jeffares has endorsed Strickland to take his place.
December 8, 2017 •
Federal Judge Issues Injunction for Kentucky Campaign Finance and Ethics Laws Ruled Unconstitutional
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky has issued a permanent injunction, prohibiting certain portions of state campaign finance and ethics law from being enforced. Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman ruled the prohibition on […]
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky has issued a permanent injunction, prohibiting certain portions of state campaign finance and ethics law from being enforced.
Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman ruled the prohibition on lobbyists providing gifts and campaign contributions to lawmakers unconstitutional. The judge also found the definition of caucus campaign committee unconstitutional because it only refers to Republican or Democratic caucuses.
Pending appeal, the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance and the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission continued enforcing these statutory provisions. Now, KREF and KLEC are permanently enjoined from doing so.
December 8, 2017 •
Friday’s Government, Ethics and Campaign Finance News Roundup
Campaign Finance Democrat Doug Jones has raised and spent far more money than Roy Moore in bid for U.S. Senate seat by Brian Lawson for WHNT Missouri: Former Jackson County executive Mike Sanders accused of using disabled man to pocket […]
Campaign Finance
Democrat Doug Jones has raised and spent far more money than Roy Moore in bid for U.S. Senate seat by Brian Lawson for WHNT
Missouri: Former Jackson County executive Mike Sanders accused of using disabled man to pocket campaign donations by Dave D’Marko for Fox4KC
Rhode Island: Two lawmakers fined by R.I. Elections Board for campaign-finance breaches by Patrick Anderson for The Providence Journal
Ethics
House Ethics Committee To Investigate Blake Farenthold For Sexual Harassment Allegations by Shreesha Ghosh for The International Business Times
Ex-Ethics director to file second ethics complaint against Conway by John Bowden for The Hill
Rep. Trent Franks of Texas resigns amid Ethics investigation by Alan Fram for WJLA
Rep. Devin Nunes cleared of allegations that he disclosed classified information in Russia investigation by Sarah Wire for The Los Angeles Times
Lobbying
California: Backlash ripples through California politics after women denounce sexual harassment by Calmatters for The Press Enterprise
Canada: Premier’s chief of staff admits late filing, appears to break lobbying rules from Yahoo! News
Florida: Gubernatorial candidate Graham proposes reforms to prevent sexual harassment by Troy Kinsey for Spectrum News 9
December 7, 2017 •
Helping the Mighty Quilting Group
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron, Ohio has an amazing group offering comfort to some wonderful people in need. Each month, members of the Women’s Philoptochos Society are creating lovely quilts for the military, special quilts for those in burn […]
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron, Ohio has an amazing group offering comfort to some wonderful people in need.
Each month, members of the Women’s Philoptochos Society are creating lovely quilts for the military, special quilts for those in burn units, and for many other people in need! As well as being comfy, these hand-crafted quilts are works of art made with loving care.
State and Federal Communications is proud to do its part by sponsoring the cost of shipping for these precious gifts.
December 7, 2017 •
Thursday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Campaign Finance Kentucky: Did Jeff Hoover Violate Campaign Finance Laws? It’s Unclear by Lisa Autry for WEKU New Jersey: N.J. power broker DiVincenzo settles campaign-finance case for $20,000 by Andrew Seidman for The Philadelphia Inquirer Ethics Arizona: Arizona, tax money […]
Campaign Finance
Kentucky: Did Jeff Hoover Violate Campaign Finance Laws? It’s Unclear by Lisa Autry for WEKU
New Jersey: N.J. power broker DiVincenzo settles campaign-finance case for $20,000 by Andrew Seidman for The Philadelphia Inquirer
Ethics
Arizona: Arizona, tax money to be used for House ethics investigation by Howard Fischer for The Arizona Daily Sun
Florida: City introduces new ethics ordinances by Mariel Carbone for WCTV
Massachusetts: State Senate opens ethics inquiry into Stan Rosenberg by Joshua Miller for The Boston Globe
Vermont: Scott adds sexual harassment clause to code of ethics by Neal Goswami for WCAX
Lobbying
Lobbyists push GOP in last-minute scramble to save tax breaks by Theodoric Meyer, Aaron Lorenzo and Colin Wilhelm for Politico
Healthcare lobbyists not optimistic on changing GOP tax bill by Harris Meyer for Modern Healthcare
December 6, 2017 •
Voters in California Elect Wendy Carrillo to the Assembly District 51 Seat
Democrat Wendy Carrillo defeated Democrat Luis Lopez in a special election to fill the California Assembly District 51 seat. Carrillo is a former union organizer and radio host who has the endorsement of the state Democratic party. The seat was […]
Democrat Wendy Carrillo defeated Democrat Luis Lopez in a special election to fill the California Assembly District 51 seat. Carrillo is a former union organizer and radio host who has the endorsement of the state Democratic party.
The seat was left open after Democrat Jimmy Gomez was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in July.
Carrillo and Lopez advanced to Tuesday’s election by finishing first and second among 13 candidates in an October 3 primary.
Lopez conceded late Tuesday, December 5.
December 5, 2017 •
Tuesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Campaign Finance New York: Lawmaker’s business boosted by aide’s public campaign funds by Chris Bragg for The Albany Times Union Ohio: Columbus City Council May Clear Up Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements by Adora Namigadde for WOSU Elections Georgia: More elections […]
Campaign Finance
New York: Lawmaker’s business boosted by aide’s public campaign funds by Chris Bragg for The Albany Times Union
Ohio: Columbus City Council May Clear Up Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements by Adora Namigadde for WOSU
Elections
Georgia: More elections scheduled for January to fill state Senate and House seats by Mark Niesse for The Atlanta Journal Constitution
Minnesota: Special elections set to replace departed Minnesota lawmakers accused of sexual harassment by Erin Golden for The Minneapolis Star Tribune
Ethics
Obama’s Ethics Chief: Trump Lawyer’s Claim The President Can’t Face Obstruction Charge is “Baloney” by Harriet Sinclair for Newsweek
Conyers Won’t Seek Re-election in Wake of Harassment Claims, Relative Says by Yamiche Alcindor for The New York Times
Manafort Associate Has Russian Intelligence Ties, Court Document Says by Kenneth Vogel for The New York Times
Massachusetts: Rosenberg steps down as ethics probe begins by Christian Wade for The Salem News
Lobbying
Former Podesta, BGR lobbyists start new firm by Theodoric Meyer for Politico
Procurement
Govt flags new IT hardware procurement marketplace by Leon Spencer for ARN
December 4, 2017 •
West Virginia Governor Calls Special Session
On December 1, Gov. Jim Justice called a special session to convene on December 4 to consider legislation to authorize the sale of state road bonds. The special session coincides with the Legislature’s monthly interim meetings scheduled to begin on […]
On December 1, Gov. Jim Justice called a special session to convene on December 4 to consider legislation to authorize the sale of state road bonds.
The special session coincides with the Legislature’s monthly interim meetings scheduled to begin on December 3 and conclude on December 5.
Pictured: West Virginia Governor Jim Justice
December 4, 2017 •
Monday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Campaign Finance Trump Gives Rich Donors Massive Tax Cuts, Then Asks Them for Campaign Donations by Summer Meza for Newsweek Wisconsin: Southern Door County joins push for campaign finance reform by Liz Welter for Green Bay Press-Gazette Ethics Bush ethics […]
Campaign Finance
Trump Gives Rich Donors Massive Tax Cuts, Then Asks Them for Campaign Donations by Summer Meza for Newsweek
Wisconsin: Southern Door County joins push for campaign finance reform by Liz Welter for Green Bay Press-Gazette
Ethics
Bush ethics lawyer: Trump lawyer should be disbarred if he wrote Flynn firing tweet by Jacqueline Thomsen for The Hill
Ethics panel asks for details of past harassment cases against serving lawmakers by Cristina Marcos for The Hill
Georgia: Atlanta ethics office investigates airport conflict of interest issue by Kelly Yamanouchi for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Texas: Denton City Council to meet with ethics attorney by Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe for Denton Record-Chronicle
Texas: Laredo politicians undergo ethics training at TAMIU by Maria Salas for LMT Online
Lobbying
New Excise Tax Targets Big-Money Nonprofit Executives by Kate Ackley for Roll Call
Analysis: More than 6,000 lobbyists have worked on taxes in 2017 by Megan Wilson for The Hill
December 1, 2017 •
NYCU Video Digest – December 1, 2017
Becky recaps a CRAZY week in government and ethics news around the country!
Becky recaps a CRAZY week in government and ethics news around the country!
December 1, 2017 •
Nancy Bélanger Nominated as Canada’s Commissioner of Lobbying
On November 30, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the nomination of Nancy Bélanger as the next Commissioner of Lobbying. Bélanger, if approved by the House of Commons and the Senate, will replace Karen Shepherd as the head of The Office […]
On November 30, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the nomination of Nancy Bélanger as the next Commissioner of Lobbying.
Bélanger, if approved by the House of Commons and the Senate, will replace Karen Shepherd as the head of The Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying. Shepard currently occupies the position through term extensions following the expiration of Shepard’s seven-year term in June 2016.
Bélanger’s has previously held the position of General Counsel for the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
December 1, 2017 •
Advisory Panel Reviewing Louisiana Ethics Laws
In Louisiana, a pair of legislators and members of the Board of Ethics are leading an advisory committee to review and revise the state’s ethics laws. The overarching goal is not to tighten requirements, but to address clarity and the […]
In Louisiana, a pair of legislators and members of the Board of Ethics are leading an advisory committee to review and revise the state’s ethics laws.
The overarching goal is not to tighten requirements, but to address clarity and the ease of ethics reporting. On the list of things to be considered for revision are lobbyist reporting which is now done monthly but could be reduced to quarterly, and rules about accepting and reporting sponsored travel and gifts.
Gov. Bobby Jindal overhauled Louisiana’s ethics laws a decade ago, but the sentiment among lawmakers is that those changes were made not to promote transparency and enforcement, but rather to rate high on an ethics ranking system.
The advisory committee plans to make recommendations to the Legislature ahead of the 2018 regular session scheduled to convene in March.
December 1, 2017 •
Federal Per Election Contribution Limits Upheld
On November 28, a court upheld the federal contribution limits set for primary and general elections. In Holmes v. Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held the per-election structure of the Federal […]
On November 28, a court upheld the federal contribution limits set for primary and general elections. In Holmes v. Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held the per-election structure of the Federal Election Campaign Act’s base contribution ceilings for individuals is constitutional.
Federal law allows individuals to contribute to a federal candidate in the amount of $2,600 per primary election and $2,600 per general election. The plaintiffs had argued individuals should be permitted to give $5,200 to candidates for a general election campaign by not making any contributions at all in a primary election and by carrying over the $2,600 they could have donated for that candidate’s primary election.
In its decision, the court wrote, “The question before us is whether Congress could choose a per-election format consistent with the First Amendment, not whether it had to do so. Congress’s choice in that regard was a constitutionally permissible one.”
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