March 15, 2017 •
South Dakota Governor Signs Campaign Finance Bill
On March 14, Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed Senate Bill 54 into law. The bill revises many requirements dealing with campaign finance to strengthen campaign finance laws after the repeal of Initiated Measure 22. Senate Bill 54 will allow organizations, such […]
On March 14, Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed Senate Bill 54 into law. The bill revises many requirements dealing with campaign finance to strengthen campaign finance laws after the repeal of Initiated Measure 22.
Senate Bill 54 will allow organizations, such as corporations and labor unions, to contribute directly to candidates. The measure also restricts candidates from using campaign funds for personal expense.
Senate Bill 54 was initially introduced with provisions to lower contribution limits; however, those provisions were amended prior to the bill’s passage to reflect pre-Initiated Measure 22 limits.
March 15, 2017 •
Kentucky Lawmakers Pass Campaign Finance Bill
The Kentucky Legislature passed a bill this week to double the limits on contributions from individuals and PACs to candidates, state executive committees, and caucus campaign committees. Senate Bill 75, according to supporters, provides greater transparency and will make it […]
The Kentucky Legislature passed a bill this week to double the limits on contributions from individuals and PACs to candidates, state executive committees, and caucus campaign committees.
Senate Bill 75, according to supporters, provides greater transparency and will make it easier for everyday citizens to compete with dark money while running for office.
Opponents, however, believe the focus should be on curbing dark money and adding more money to the equation will further erode public trust.
Nonetheless, the bill will now be sent to the governor for review.
March 15, 2017 •
Wednesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Icahn’s Ethanol Push Fuels Ethics Storm” by Eric Wolf for Politico “N.J. Congressman Wants Details on Michael Flynn’s Lobbying Status” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today Campaign Finance Texas: “Ethics Review Commission Weighs Campaign Finance Proposal” by Jack Craver […]
Lobbying
“Icahn’s Ethanol Push Fuels Ethics Storm” by Eric Wolf for Politico
“N.J. Congressman Wants Details on Michael Flynn’s Lobbying Status” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today
Campaign Finance
Texas: “Ethics Review Commission Weighs Campaign Finance Proposal” by Jack Craver for Austin Monitor
Washington: “House Speaker Hit with Campaign Finance Complaint in Growing Tug-of-War” by Walker Orenstein for The Olympian
Canada: “Political Donations in Canada: A guide to the ‘wild west’ vs. the rest” by Evan Annett and Tu Thanh Ha for The Globe and Mail
Ethics
“With Trump in White House, His Golf Properties Prosper” by Eric Lipton and Susanne Craig for New York Times
Illinois: “Chicago Aldermen Shouldn’t Take Free White Sox Tickets, Ethics Official Says” by John Byrne for Chicago Tribune
Illinois: “BGA Goes Back to Court to Gain Access to Emanuel’s Private Email” by Sun-Times Wire Service for WBBM
New Jersey: “N.J. Moves to Restore Election Watchdog” by Andrew Seidman for Philadelphia Inquirer
Elections
“With Trump in White House, Some Executives Ask, Why Not Me?” by James Stewart for New York Times
March 14, 2017 •
Happy Pi Day, State and Federal Communications!
A great, big thank you to Elizabeth Bartz for treating the staff to an amazing array of delicious pies in honor of Pi Day, March 14! As you can see, we have been enjoying them. These superb pies came from […]
A great, big thank you to Elizabeth Bartz for treating the staff to an amazing array of delicious pies in honor of Pi Day, March 14! As you can see, we have been enjoying them.
These superb pies came from Gardner’s Pies of Akron.
March 14, 2017 •
Special Elections Announced for Connecticut House Vacancies
Two special elections will take place on April 25, 2017, to fill vacancies in the Connecticut House of Representatives. Gov. Dannel Malloy announced the elections for Assembly Districts 7 and 68 after the incumbents, Rep. Doug McCrory and Rep. Eric […]
Two special elections will take place on April 25, 2017, to fill vacancies in the Connecticut House of Representatives.
Gov. Dannel Malloy announced the elections for Assembly Districts 7 and 68 after the incumbents, Rep. Doug McCrory and Rep. Eric Berthel, won seats in the Senate during a special election on February 28.
District 7 consists of portions of Hartford, while District 68 contains Waterbury and part of Woodbury.
March 14, 2017 •
Tuesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Would-Be Trump Appointees Say ‘No Thanks’ Due to Lobbying Ban” by Ben Brody, Shannon Pettypiece, and Bill Allison for Bloomberg.com Oregon: “Gov. Brown Reverses Course, Says Former Lawmaker Will Not Lobby Legislators” by Saul Hubbard for The Register-Guard Campaign […]
Lobbying
“Would-Be Trump Appointees Say ‘No Thanks’ Due to Lobbying Ban” by Ben Brody, Shannon Pettypiece, and Bill Allison for Bloomberg.com
Oregon: “Gov. Brown Reverses Course, Says Former Lawmaker Will Not Lobby Legislators” by Saul Hubbard for The Register-Guard
Campaign Finance
“FEC Earning Congressional Attention – for the Wrong Reasons” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity
Ethics
Florida: “Corrupt Opa-locka Official Was a Prized Witness. He Was Rewarded with No Prison Time.” by Jay Weaver for Miami Herald
New Mexico: “Senate Yanks Real Estate Bill; Lawmaker Says Pay-to-Play Maneuver Exposed” by Andrew Oxford (Santa Fe New Mexican) for New Mexico Political Report
New York: “Preet Bharara Shunned Politics. His End Was Tinged by Them.” by Benjamin Weiser, Ben Protess, Matthew Goldstein, and William Rashbaum for New York Times
Utah: “Shurtleff Sues State for at Least $1.1M, Alleges Utah A.G. Sean Reyes Interfered in His Case” by Jennifer Dobner for Salt Lake Tribune
Elections
California: “Seeing Red: Membership triples for the Democratic Socialists of America” by Matt Pearce for Los Angeles Times
Legislative Issues
Minnesota: “Lawmakers Clash Over Ethics of Real ID Letter to the Editor” by Don Davis (Forum News Service) for St. Paul Pioneer Press
Redistricting
Texas: “Texas Congressional Maps Are Struck Down for Discrimination” by Manny Fernandez for New York Times
March 13, 2017 •
Oklahoma Ethics Commission Hires New General Counsel
Jan Preslar is the new general counsel at the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. She replaced former General Counsel Geoffrey Long. Preslar previously served as deputy attorney general and chief of the General Counsel Unit at the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office. Photo […]
Jan Preslar is the new general counsel at the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.
She replaced former General Counsel Geoffrey Long.
Preslar previously served as deputy attorney general and chief of the General Counsel Unit at the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office.
Photo of Jan Preslar from the Oklahoma Ethics Commission Site.
March 13, 2017 •
South Dakota Governor Signs IM 22 Replacement Measures
On March 10, Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed a series of bills aimed at replacing ethics and campaign finance laws after the repeal of Initiated Measure 22. Among the bills signed into law, Senate Bill 131 prohibits elected officers and officials […]
On March 10, Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed a series of bills aimed at replacing ethics and campaign finance laws after the repeal of Initiated Measure 22.
Among the bills signed into law, Senate Bill 131 prohibits elected officers and officials from lobbying in the two-year period after termination of service in the state government.
House Bill 1073 was approved to set a $100 annual cap on gifts from lobbyists to elected officials. House Bill 1073 also defines “gift” to exclude food, beverages, and entertainment.
The Governor also signed House Bill 1076, establishing a government accountability board.
The Governor is expected to approve other pending Initiated Measure 22 replacement bills. The pending bills currently on the Governor’s desk include Senate Bill 54 to revise campaign finance limits and disclosure requirements and Senate Bill 171 to establish a government accountability task force to study campaign finance.
March 13, 2017 •
Northwest Territories Legislature Adjourns Until May
On March 10, the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories adjourned for the remainder of the winter. During the session, lawmakers considered various supplementary appropriations dealing with infrastructure and operations expenditures, debated cutbacks, and passed a budget for the territories […]
On March 10, the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories adjourned for the remainder of the winter.
During the session, lawmakers considered various supplementary appropriations dealing with infrastructure and operations expenditures, debated cutbacks, and passed a budget for the territories with all but two MLAs voting for it.
Under the new budget, the Department of Public Works and Services will be consolidated with the Transportation department.
The Second Session of the 18th Assembly will reconvene on Thursday, May 25, 2017.
March 13, 2017 •
Monday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Gramm’s Border-Tax Crusade Would Help His Firm” by Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico Florida: “House Passes Six Year Ban on Lobbying for Former Lawmakers, Elected Officials” by Allison Neilson for Sunshine State News Virginia: “Virginia Lawmakers Are Accepting Drastically Fewer […]
Lobbying
“Gramm’s Border-Tax Crusade Would Help His Firm” by Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico
Florida: “House Passes Six Year Ban on Lobbying for Former Lawmakers, Elected Officials” by Allison Neilson for Sunshine State News
Virginia: “Virginia Lawmakers Are Accepting Drastically Fewer Gifts in Post-McDonnell Era, Data Shows” by Will Houp for The Virginian-Pilot
Campaign Finance
Canada: “RCMP to Investigate Political Donations in B.C.” by Ian Bailey, Kathy Tomlinson and Justine Hunter for The Globe and Mail
Pennsylvania: “McCord to Star in Trial Involving Pennsylvania Treasury Fees” by Marc Levy (Associated Press) for Philadelphia Inquirer
Ethics
“Suing Trump on Ethics? Good Luck Making Your Case” by Isaac Arnsdorf and Darren Samuelsohn for Politico
California: “Garcetti Bans Private Meetings Between Developers and Planning Commissioners” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times
Maine: “Official Now Says Rep. Tipping Likely Violated Maine Ethics Law” by Scott Thistle for Portland Press Herald
New Mexico: “NM House Backs Independent Ethics Panel” by Dan McKay for Albuquerque Journal
South Dakota: “SD Governor Signs into Law Bills to Replace Voter-Approved Ethics Measure” by Staff for KOTA
March 10, 2017 •
GAO Report on Federal Contracting Trends
On March 9, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued an analysis of federal contracting trends to Congress. The report, titled Contracting Data Analysis: Assessment of Government-wide Trends, identified overall trends in contract obligations of defense and civilian agencies […]
On March 9, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued an analysis of federal contracting trends to Congress. The report, titled Contracting Data Analysis: Assessment of Government-wide Trends, identified overall trends in contract obligations of defense and civilian agencies from fiscal year 2011 to 2015 using data from the Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation.
The report states defense obligations to purchase goods and services decreased by over 30 percent while civilian obligations remained steady, as did the percentage of total obligations reported for competitive contracts. During this period, fixed price contracts were used for an average of 63 percent of obligations.
The GAO did not make any new recommendations in the report, but did highlight previous recommendations made to defense and civilian agencies. The report asserts the agencies “generally concurred with these recommendations and have taken or planned actions to address them.”
March 10, 2017 •
Florida House Passes Bill to Slow Revolving Door
The Florida House passed a bill today to create greater separation between lawmakers and lobbyists. House Bill 7003 increases the time former public officials must wait before lobbying from two to six years. The measure continues a trend set by […]
The Florida House passed a bill today to create greater separation between lawmakers and lobbyists.
House Bill 7003 increases the time former public officials must wait before lobbying from two to six years.
The measure continues a trend set by the new House Speaker, Richard Corcoran, who began the session by implementing new rules to change lobbying practices and increase public confidence in the legislature.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Larry Metz, believes the new restriction will prevent legislators from favoring lobbyists in order to land high-paying jobs after leaving office.
March 10, 2017 •
New Austin Campaign Finance Ordinance Under Consideration
After a 2016 federal court decision blocked Austin’s blackout period restricting candidate fundraising to only during the six months preceding an election, campaign finance regulation supporters in Austin’s Ethics Review Commission are pushing a new ordinance to limit the contribution […]
After a 2016 federal court decision blocked Austin’s blackout period restricting candidate fundraising to only during the six months preceding an election, campaign finance regulation supporters in Austin’s Ethics Review Commission are pushing a new ordinance to limit the contribution period and withstand the same type of legal challenges.
As the city appeals the 2016 ruling, candidates can raise money year-round.
The proposed ordinance, created by Council Member Leslie Pool, allows candidates to raise money for a full year before an election and to continue fundraising for a for up to six months after the election to pay off campaign debts.
The drafted ordinance is under review until the Commission meets again in April and aiming for action by the City Council by June.
March 10, 2017 •
NYCU Video Digest – March 10, 2017
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.