February 8, 2017 •
Wyoming Legislative Session Reaches Bill Crossover Deadline
Tuesday was the last day for bills in the 2017 session of the Wyoming Legislature to be approved in the house of origin. All bills, with the exception of the budget bill, that have not passed a third reading in […]
Tuesday was the last day for bills in the 2017 session of the Wyoming Legislature to be approved in the house of origin.
All bills, with the exception of the budget bill, that have not passed a third reading in the house of introduction are dead.
The legislative session is expected to adjourn on March 3, 2017.
February 8, 2017 •
Phoenix City Council Votes to Create Ethics Commission
On Tuesday, Phoenix City Council voted unanimously to move forward with creating a bipartisan ethics commission. The commission would screen allegations and recommend penalties for city officials who violate the city’s gift policies and other related rules. Under a plan laid out by […]
On Tuesday, Phoenix City Council voted unanimously to move forward with creating a bipartisan ethics commission. The commission would screen allegations and recommend penalties for city officials who violate the city’s gift policies and other related rules.
Under a plan laid out by a City Council member, potential commissioners are screened by a city board and ultimately appointed by City Council. Phoenix’s current ethics rules are unenforceable as the city lacks a mechanism for investigating ethics complaints and recommending punishment.
This is not the first time Phoenix has attempted to create an ethics commission; previous attempts have been unsuccessful in part due to concerns about the commission becoming a political attack tool.
City Council will still need to approve a final ordinance in order to establish an ethics commission. A final vote on the matter is expected this spring.
February 8, 2017 •
Tennessee Adjusts Contribution Limits for 2017-2018 Elections
The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance recently published updated contribution limits for 2017 and 2018 elections. The limits are adjusted in every odd-numbered year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. Individuals may now contribute $4,000 per election to […]
The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance recently published updated contribution limits for 2017 and 2018 elections. The limits are adjusted in every odd-numbered year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index.
Individuals may now contribute $4,000 per election to statewide candidates. The limit for individuals contributing to local, state legislative, or other state candidates remains unchanged.
PACs may contribute $7,800 per election to local candidates and to candidates for state House, criminal court judge, circuit court judge, chancellor, probate court judge, district attorney general, or public defender. They may contribute $11,800 per election to statewide candidates and to candidates for state Senate. The aggregate PAC limit for all non-statewide elections was increased to $118,100.
Primary and general elections are considered separate elections for the purpose of campaign contribution limits.
February 8, 2017 •
Wednesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Lobbyists, Corporate Clients Open Wallets for Trump” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call “Lobbying’s Top 50: Who’s spending big” by Megan Wilson for The Hill Arkansas: “House Approves Bill on Gift Exemptions” by John Moritz for Arkansas Online Campaign […]
Lobbying
“Lobbyists, Corporate Clients Open Wallets for Trump” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call
“Lobbying’s Top 50: Who’s spending big” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
Arkansas: “House Approves Bill on Gift Exemptions” by John Moritz for Arkansas Online
Campaign Finance
Virginia: “Lawmakers Defeat Ban on Campaign Funds for Personal Use” by Alan Suderman (Associated Press) for The Virginian-Pilot
Ethics
“In Age of Trump, Scientists Show Signs of a Political Pulse” by Amy Harmon and Henry Fountain for New York Times
“Melania Trump Says White House Could Mean Millions for Brand” by Julie Bykowicz (Associated Press) for Bloomberg.com
California: “California’s Top Court to Decide Whether Emails and Texts Sent on Personal Devices Are Public Record” by Maura Dolan for Los Angeles Times
Illinois: “Redflex to Pay $20 Million to Chicago to Settle Lawsuit over Bribery Scheme” by David Kidwell for Chicago Tribune
Texas: “Popular Ethics Overhaul Breezes Through Senate, Heads to the House” by J. David McSwane for Dallas News
Utah: “Gold Coins, Posh Trips Form Backdrop in Utah Bribery Trial” by Lindsay Whitehurst (Associated Press) for Fresno Bee
February 7, 2017 •
Tuesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Campaign Finance Alabama: “Gov. Robert Bentley Used Campaign Funds to Pay Rebekah Mason’s Lawyer” by Mike Cason for AL.com Mississippi: “Campaign Finance Reports Go Digital” by Zachary Oren Smith for The Daily Journal Ethics “Trump May Be Skirting Transparency Law […]
Campaign Finance
Alabama: “Gov. Robert Bentley Used Campaign Funds to Pay Rebekah Mason’s Lawyer” by Mike Cason for AL.com
Mississippi: “Campaign Finance Reports Go Digital” by Zachary Oren Smith for The Daily Journal
Ethics
“Trump May Be Skirting Transparency Law on Advisory Boards” by Josh Gerstein for Politico
“Vincent Viola, Nominee for Army Secretary, Drops Out” by Susanne Craig for New York Times
“Eric Trump’s Trip to Uruguay Cost Taxpayers $97,830 in Hotel Bills” by Amy Brittain and Drew Harwell for Washington Post
“Trust Records Show Trump Is Still Closely Tied to His Empire” by Susanne Craig and Eric Lipton for New York Times
New Mexico: “Competing Ethics Proposals Raise Questions of Secrecy and Oversight” by Trip Jennings for New Mexico In Depth
West Virginia: “Ethics Committee Oks Thrasher’s Blind Trust” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette
Lobbying
Florida: “Florida’s Six-Year Lobbying Ban Would Be Strictest of All 50 States” by Steve Bousquet for Tampa Times
Oklahoma: “Capitol Influence: Lobbyists need more than money to succeed at state Capitol” by Barbara Hoberock and Randy Krehbiel for Tulsa World
February 6, 2017 •
Vermont Legislation Looks to Strengthen State Ethics Laws
Lawmakers are currently considering a bill to strengthen the state’s ethics laws. Senate Bill 8 would, among other things, prohibit legislators and executive officers from becoming a lobbyist for one year after leaving office; create an ethics commission to, in […]
Lawmakers are currently considering a bill to strengthen the state’s ethics laws.
Senate Bill 8 would, among other things, prohibit legislators and executive officers from becoming a lobbyist for one year after leaving office; create an ethics commission to, in turn, create a state code of ethics; prohibit campaign donors from entering into no-bid contracts worth more than $50,000; and require municipalities to create conflict of interest policies.
The bill is expected to reach the full Senate this week.
February 6, 2017 •
City of Tampa Launches Online Lobbyist System
The Tampa Ethics Office launched an online system for lobbyists to log meetings with city officials. The system replaces the paper lobbyist disclosure form. Just like in the past, a log entry must be submitted within three days of a […]
The Tampa Ethics Office launched an online system for lobbyists to log meetings with city officials. The system replaces the paper lobbyist disclosure form.
Just like in the past, a log entry must be submitted within three days of a meeting with a city official.
Currently, the system functions only as a means to submit meeting logs, however, in the future it is expected to also allow for electronic submission of the annual expenditure report.
February 6, 2017 •
Louisiana Special Session Called
Gov. John Bel Edwards has called a special session of the Louisiana Legislature. The special session will convene at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 13, and must adjourn by midnight on February 22. The governor wants the Legislature to address […]
Gov. John Bel Edwards has called a special session of the Louisiana Legislature.
The special session will convene at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 13, and must adjourn by midnight on February 22.
The governor wants the Legislature to address the state’s budget shortfall and believes a special session is necessary to spread cuts across government and minimize cuts to critical state services.
Edwards plans to lay out the specifics of the budget cuts this week.
The Legislature is not scheduled to convene its regular legislative session until April 10, 2017.
February 6, 2017 •
South Dakota Governor Signs Bill to Repeal Initiated Measure 22
On Thursday, February 2, Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed House Bill 1069 into law. The passage of this bill repeals Initiated Measure 22, which was the voter approved ethics and campaign finance overhaul that established various lobbying and campaign finance restrictions. […]
On Thursday, February 2, Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed House Bill 1069 into law.
The passage of this bill repeals Initiated Measure 22, which was the voter approved ethics and campaign finance overhaul that established various lobbying and campaign finance restrictions.
Initiated Measure 22 was not in effect since it was enjoined by a circuit court on December 8, 2016.
February 6, 2017 •
FEC Adjusts Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold Amount
On Friday, February 3, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) published its price index adjustments for expenditure limitations and the federal lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold. The lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold has increased for 2017 from $17,600 to $17,900. This threshold amount […]
On Friday, February 3, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) published its price index adjustments for expenditure limitations and the federal lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold.
The lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold has increased for 2017 from $17,600 to $17,900. This threshold amount is adjusted annually. Federal law requires authorized committees of federal candidates, leadership political action committees (PACs), and political party committees to disclose contributions bundled by lobbyists and lobbyists’ PACs.
Additionally, the FEC published its adjusted Coordinated Party Expenditure Limits for political parties for 2017.
February 6, 2017 •
Monday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Campaign Finance “Trump Vows to ‘Totally Destroy’ Restrictions on Churches’ Support of Candidates” by John Wagner and Julie Zauzmer for The Washington Post “State Democrats Say Federal Campaign Finance Probe Has Ended” by Susan Haigh (Associated Press) for The Washington […]
Campaign Finance
“Trump Vows to ‘Totally Destroy’ Restrictions on Churches’ Support of Candidates” by John Wagner and Julie Zauzmer for The Washington Post
“State Democrats Say Federal Campaign Finance Probe Has Ended” by Susan Haigh (Associated Press) for The Washington Times
Ethics
New York: “JCOPE Staff Lays Out Legislative Wish List” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
Pennsylvania: “Council Members Regularly Missing Mandated Ethics Training” by Tricia Nadolny for Philadelphia Inquirer
Pennsylvania: “Farnese Acquitted in Federal Fraud Trial” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer
South Dakota: “Daugaard Signs Ethics Repeal Bill” by John Axtell (Associated Press) for KCSR
Legislative Issues
Washington: “State Lawmaker Defends Dual Jobs in Senate, Trump Administration” by Walker Orenstein for Tacoma News Tribune
Lobbying
“Marijuana Lobby Goes Mainstream” by Reid Wilson for The Hill
Nebraska: “Ernie Chambers Continues Effort to Stop Lobbyist Meals for Senators” by Zach Pluhacek for Lincoln Journal Star
Tennessee: “Analysis: The power of Tennessee lobbyists” by Dave Boucher for The Tennessean
February 3, 2017 •
Bill to Eliminate Montana Office of Commissioner of Political Practices Filed
A bill was filed this week seeking to eliminate the Office of the Commissioner of Political Practices and split the duties between the attorney general and the secretary of state. Under House Bill 340, the secretary of state would be […]
A bill was filed this week seeking to eliminate the Office of the Commissioner of Political Practices and split the duties between the attorney general and the secretary of state. Under House Bill 340, the secretary of state would be responsible for duties related to the filing of ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance reports while the attorney general would assume control of investigative and enforcement duties.
The Office of the Commissioner of Political Practices, which was established in 1975, monitors, enforces, and investigates lobbying, ethics, and campaign finance and is appointed by the governor.
This comes as the current commissioner, Jonathon Motl, is preparing to exit his position pending confirmation of a successor. Motl was appointed three years into a six-year term expiring on January 1 but remained in office awaiting a court decision on the ending date of his term, much to the chagrin of Republican lawmakers who have accused Motl of partisan bias.
The bill’s sponsor believes the office holds too much power for a single person and splitting the authority between agencies will benefit the State’s ethics supervision.
February 3, 2017 •
Nebraska Senator Renews Effort to Ban Lobbyist-Provided Meals in the Capitol
Reviving his concern from last year’s legislative session, Sen. Ernie Chambers introduced a bill to prevent lawmakers from accepting meals from lobbyists in the Capitol. Legislative Bill 445 is similar to a proposal Sen. Chambers sponsored last year, but it […]
Reviving his concern from last year’s legislative session, Sen. Ernie Chambers introduced a bill to prevent lawmakers from accepting meals from lobbyists in the Capitol. Legislative Bill 445 is similar to a proposal Sen. Chambers sponsored last year, but it never made it to a vote. The bill specifically aims to prohibit meals served to lawmakers at the end of the session, when last minute decisions are made.
Lobbyists typically pool their money and provide large, buffet-style meals for legislators as they work into the night. Sen. Chambers said he is concerned the meals create the appearance improper influence.
February 3, 2017 •
NYCU Video Digest – February 3, 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.