On November 17, the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) will consider proposed regulations to make biennial cost of living adjustments to campaign contribution and gift limits that will apply from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2018.

The proposed regulations would change the gift limit from $460 to $470 and make increases to campaign contribution limits.

The FPPC is accepting written comments on the proposals until November 15, 2016.

Gov. Brian Sandoval has called a special legislative session beginning October 10 to discuss the proposed Las Vegas football stadium for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders.

The session is expected to also address education funding for the upcoming biennium, expansion of the Clark County convention center, and a sales tax increase for additional police in southern Nevada.

Photo of the Nevada Legislative Building by Dave Parker on Wikimedia Commons.

Lobbying

“Lobby Firm Hires Republican Who Resigned After Ethics Investigation” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Maryland: “Top Lobbyist Represents Winner of Controversial Medical Marijuana License” by Michael Dresser for Baltimore Sun

New York: “Ethics Panel Investigating de Blasio’s Nonprofit Is Said to Issue Broad Subpoena” by William Rashbaum for New York Times

Campaign Finance

Washington: “AG’s Office Files Election-Finance Complaint against Kim Wyman” by David Gutman for Seattle Times

Ethics

“Donald Trump Would Have Trouble Winning a Suit Over the Times’s Tax Article” by Adam Liptak for New York Times

Kentucky: “Democratic Party Insider Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Role in Kickback Scheme” by Bill Estep for Lexington Herald-Leader

Michigan: “11th Detroit Principal Gets 15 Months in Prison for Corruption” by Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press

Missouri: “Rowden Aims to Strengthen Ethics in Missouri Legislature” by Janie Matthews for Columbia Missourian

Tennessee: “New Calls for Probe over Staffer Firing in Jeremy Durham Report” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Elections

“Tim Kaine and Mike Pence Clash Sharply Over Their Running Mates” by Jonathan Martin and Patrick Healy for New York Times

Legislative Issues

North Carolina: “Indicted Senator Retains Role Running Committees” by Craig Jarvis for Raleigh News & Observer

Lobbying

“Want to be a ‘Foreign Agent’? Serve in US Congress First” by Joseph Schatz and Benjamin Oreskes for Politico

Florida: “Two Years Later, Curbelo Still Keeps List of Past Clients Secret” by Patricia Mazzei for Miami Herald

Campaign Finance

“They Gave to Trump’s GOP Rivals. Now 95% Are Sitting Out the General Election” by Seema Metha, Anthony Pesce, and Maloy Moore for Los Angeles Times

Maryland: “Company Run by David Trone Broke Campaign Contribution Limits, State Prosecutors Say” by Bill Turque for Washington Post

Ethics

Alabama: “Bentley Says Impeachment Committee’s Tactics ‘Frightening’” by Mike Cason for AL.com

Hawaii: “Caldwell Aide Works Campaign for Free but Gets City Contracts” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat

Pennsylvania: “State Rep. Sims’ Travel, Speaking Fees Raise Questions” by Ryan Briggs for City & State Pennsylvania

Elections

“In Bruce Springsteen’s America, Many Turn Toward Donald Trump” by Nick Corasaniti and Giovanni Russonello for New York Times

California: “Ballot Selfie Bill by Assemblyman Levine Signed into Law” by Richard Halstead for Marin Independent Journal

The New Mexico Secretary of State released new contribution limits for non-statewide candidates, statewide candidates, and PACs.

Contributions from a person to a statewide candidate or to a PAC will increase to $5,500. Also, contributions from a PAC to a non-statewide candidate, statewide candidate, or to another PAC will increase to $5,500.

Contribution limits are adjusted every election cycle and the current adjustments will be effective on November 9, 2016.

Campaign Finance

Wisconsin: “U.S. Supreme Court Won’t Take Up Walker Case” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ethics

“Drinks, Dinners, Junkets and Jobs: How the insurance industry courts state commissioners” by Michael Mishak (Center for Public Integrity) for Washington Post

California: “Brown Signs Bills to Reform CPUC, Urges Administrative Fixes Too” by Jeff McDonald for San Diego Union-Tribune

District of Columbia: “Ethics Opinion: D.C.’s Vincent Orange didn’t break rules by seeking chamber job” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post

New York: “State Attorney General Orders Trump Foundation to Cease Raising Money in New York” by Steve Eder for New York Times

Elections

“How Hillary Clinton Grappled with Bill Clinton’s Infidelity, and His Accusers” by Megan Twohey for New York Times

Ohio: “Ohio, Long a Bellwether, Is Fading on the Electoral Map” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times

Wisconsin: “Federal Judge Orders Investigation into Wisconsin’s Voter ID System” by Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

Hawaii: “Hawaii Candidates Are Getting Flooded with Surveys This Year” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat

Here is our October/November calendar. If you are attending any of these events, please say hello!

October 3   Akron Roundtable 40th Anniversary Celebration Dinner, Akron, Ohio

October 19-21   Public Affairs Council Fall Board Meeting, Laguna Beach, California

October 20   Akron Roundtable, Akron, Ohio

November 10   Professional Women in Advocacy Conference, Washington, DC

November 16-18   NABPAC Biennial Post-Election Conference, Breakers Palm Beach, Florida

November 19-22   SGAC Leaders’ Policy Conference, Dana Point, California

Here is what has happened so far…And what will happen.

1. The states in these United States held primaries and caucuses. We had months and months of elections around the country. And, we had a lot of debates…Maybe more than we needed. In the end we also had a lot of candidates “suspend” their respective campaigns.
2. Both the Republican National Convention and Democratic National Conventions were held and we have two candidates running on these platforms. There are others who will be on the ballot, but of other parties.
3. We had one debate already…WOWOWOWOW!!! I happened to be there…but I was sitting on my hands because it was 63 degrees in the room.
4. Plan on watching the Vice Presidential Debate on October 4, the second Presidential Debate on October 9, and the final Presidential Debate on October 19.
5. Check out the ballot for your county. Trust me, there is more on the ballot than our Presidential candidates…These folks also need your vote.
6. Early voting is very helpful for people who want to avoid the lines on Election Day, which is November 8. Do it and proudly wear your I VOTED sticker.
7. November 8…Stock up on your snacks and beverages and make sure your gadgets are charged. You can follow me on Twitter @elizabethbartz and @stateandfederal to see what is going on with the candidates and ballot issues.
8. One other thing to do on November 8, take a break every hour to tune into the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks game.
9. Go to work the next day prepared to share with your organization how your contributions and candidates fared the night before.
10. Plan to attend State and Federal Inauguration activities in 2017. We will keep you up-to-date on how you can participate…And, as it relates to the President’s Inauguration Day…It is Friday, January 20, 2017, at noon. Again, snacks and beverages should be ready and gadgets charged. There will be a lot to watch.

In the meantime, think about how lovely November and December will be with only holiday movies to watch…And 2017/2018 elections to ponder.

Elizabeth Z. Bartz

President and CEO
@elizabethbartz

Last week, Gov. Jerry Brown approved a series of bills affecting campaign finance and lobbying requirements.

Senate Bill 215 will require any entity or person seeking to influence actions taken by the Public Utilities Commission to register as a lobbyist under the Political Reform Act of 1974.

Senate Bill 1349 will overhaul Cal-Access, California’s outdated online campaign contribution and lobbying database.

And Senate Bill 1107 establishes citizen-funded elections reforms, enabling the creation of small donor matching programs where candidates who voluntarily opt in and agree to turn down large contributions receive limited public matching funds for each small contribution they secure.

On September 22, 2016, Secretary of State John Merrill certified Republican Joe Lovvorn as the winner of House District 79. As a result, the special general election scheduled for November 29 has been canceled.

Originally, Lovvorn was supposed to face Libertarian Gage Fenwick, but Merrill’s office stated Fenwick failed to get enough signatures to qualify for ballot access.

Lobbying

“Evan Bayh’s Shadow Lobbying” by Maggie Severns and Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico

Tennessee: “Ex-Lobbyist Paid for Private Plane for Beth Harwell, Karl Dean” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert (The Tennessean) for WBIR

Campaign Finance

“Democrats Rake in Money, Thanks to Suit by Republicans” by Nicholas Confessore and Rachel Shorey for New York Times

California: “More California Cities Can Have Publicly Financed Election Campaigns” by Jeremy White for Sacramento Bee

Maine: “Maine Lawmakers Could No Longer Pay Themselves from PACs” by Marina Villeneuve (Associated Press) for Washington Times

Ethics

Alabama: “Roy Moore, Alabama Chief Justice, Suspended Over Gay Marriage Order” by Campbell Robertson for New York Times

California: “Upgrade to Campaign and Lobbying Database Approved” by Samantha Young for Techwire.net

Kentucky: “Political Consultant Is Second to Plead Guilty in State Corruption Probe” by Bill Estep for Lexington Herald-Leader

Nevada: “Political Firm Tied to Corruption Investigation of Las Vegas Councilman Ricki Barlow” by Jeff German for Las Vegas Review-Journal

Elections

“Memo to Obama Aides: Don’t prank Trump or Clinton on your way out” by Elise Viebeck for Washington Post

“How Donald Trump Set Off a Civil War Within the Right-Wing Media” by Robert Draper for New York Times Magazine

“Donald Trump Tax Records Show He Could Have Avoided Taxes for Nearly Two Decades, The Times Found” by David Barstow, Susanne Craig, Russ Buettner, and Megan Twohey for New York Times

Brian Spano, chairman of the Denver Board of Ethics, has resigned due to a potential conflict of interest.

Spano is a law partner with Kristin Bronson, the newly appointed city attorney. Mayor Michael Hancock appointed Bronson in mid-August, and she will begin her position with the city on October 17.

Because the city attorney occasionally appears before the Board of Ethics, Spano is stepping down to avoid any questions about future conflicts of interest, real or perceived. His term was set to end in April. His resignation is effective October 19.

See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!

On September 29, 2016, Gov. Susana Martinez called a special session for September 30, 2016. The long-awaited proclamation will focus on fixing budget shortfalls and restoring the death penalty.

The ban on fundraising during regular or special session is a major concern for New Mexico legislators as the general election is on November 8, 2016. Per New Mexico law, all legislators are prohibited from soliciting a campaign contribution beginning when a proclamation has been issued and ending when the special session adjourns.

The adjournment date has yet to be determined.

Photo of Gov. Susana Martinez by the New Mexico State Government on Wikimedia Commons.