May 3, 2017 •
Wednesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Campaign Finance “Secret Audit Left D.C. Voters ‘In the Dark.’ Now It Stirs Talk of Election Reform” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post Canada: “PM No Longer Under Investigation for Cash-for-Access Fundraisers, but Ethics Commissioner Won’t Say Why” by Zane […]
Campaign Finance
“Secret Audit Left D.C. Voters ‘In the Dark.’ Now It Stirs Talk of Election Reform” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post
Canada: “PM No Longer Under Investigation for Cash-for-Access Fundraisers, but Ethics Commissioner Won’t Say Why” by Zane Schwartz for National Post
Massachusetts: “Can a Congressman Use Campaign Funds to Give You Free T Rides?” by Nicole Dungca for Boston Globe
Utah: “Utah Attorney General Makes a Trump Shortlist, and Donations Pour In” by Matt Apuzzo for New York Times
Ethics
“Ethics Office Details Conflict of Interest Rules for Ivanka Trump” by Olivia Beavers for The Hill
“Trump Starts Dismantling His Shadow Cabinet” by Michael Grunwald, Andrew Restuccia, and Josh Dawsey for Politico
Minnesota: “BCA to Investigate Bribery Solicitation Allegations Against St. Paul Mayoral Candidate Dai Thao’s Campaign” by Jessie Van Berkel for Minneapolis Star Tribune
New York: “Chaos at Rikers, but City Jails Chief Was Gone for 90 Days” by William Rashbaum and Michael Schwirtz for New York Times
Elections
“Emboldened by Trump but Divided by Generations, Democrats Look to 2020” by Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin for New York Times
May 2, 2017 •
April Photo Scrapbook
Check out some photos from recent events!
On April 30, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly was dissolved in order to call a provincial general election. The Chief Electoral Officer, Richard Temporale, issued writs of election for all of Nova Scotia’s 51 electoral districts. The provincial general […]
On April 30, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly was dissolved in order to call a provincial general election.
The Chief Electoral Officer, Richard Temporale, issued writs of election for all of Nova Scotia’s 51 electoral districts.
The provincial general election will be held on Tuesday, May 30.
The 91st General Assembly adjourned sine die on May 1, 2017. A half hour after adjourning, the Legislature convened a special session. The special session was called to address approving authorization for Arkansas Works waivers, restructuring the Arkansas Health Insurance […]
The 91st General Assembly adjourned sine die on May 1, 2017. A half hour after adjourning, the Legislature convened a special session.
The special session was called to address approving authorization for Arkansas Works waivers, restructuring the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace, cleaning up medical marijuana laws, and boosting long-term reserve funding for Arkansas.
The special session is likely to adjourn by the end of the week.
May 2, 2017 •
Head of Kansas Ethics Commission Stepping Down
Carol Williams, executive director of the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, announced her retirement from the commission. She will step down from her post in September, staying on to assist with primary elections for school boards and first class cities. Williams […]
Carol Williams, executive director of the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, announced her retirement from the commission.
She will step down from her post in September, staying on to assist with primary elections for school boards and first class cities.
Williams has worked for the Ethics Commission since 1977 and has been the executive director since 1981.
On April 28, a three-judge panel issued an order in Gov. Roy Cooper’s legal challenge against Senate Bill 68 to put the law on hold until a further hearing on May 10. The new law to combine state elections and […]
On April 28, a three-judge panel issued an order in Gov. Roy Cooper’s legal challenge against Senate Bill 68 to put the law on hold until a further hearing on May 10.
The new law to combine state elections and ethics boards became law when the House and Senate voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 68.
Senate Bill 68 was a renewed effort to revamp the boards after a three-judge panel ruled that the General Assembly overstepped its state constitutional authority when it adopted Senate Bill 4 in 2016 to establish a similar bipartisan board to oversee elections and ethics.
May 2, 2017 •
Montana Legislature Adjourns
The Montana Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session April 28, 2017. House Bill 340, eliminating the Office of the Commissioner of Political Practices, made it through the House but was tabled in the Senate and did not pass. Senate Bill […]
The Montana Legislature adjourned the 2017 regular session April 28, 2017. House Bill 340, eliminating the Office of the Commissioner of Political Practices, made it through the House but was tabled in the Senate and did not pass.
Senate Bill 368, increasing contribution limits for both individuals and political action committees and placing the Office of the Commissioner of Political Practices under the jurisdiction of the state Attorney General, passed at the last minute and will be sent to the Governor.
The Montana Legislature will pick up again in January 2019.
May 2, 2017 •
Tennessee Legislators Considering Disclosure Requirements for Travel Expenses Provided by Lobbyists
The Tennessee House voted unanimously last week to require legislators to disclose travel expenses provided by anyone with an interest in public policy if the travel was for the purpose of educating a legislator with respect to said policy. The […]
The Tennessee House voted unanimously last week to require legislators to disclose travel expenses provided by anyone with an interest in public policy if the travel was for the purpose of educating a legislator with respect to said policy.
The bill, as originally introduced, would cover national organizations such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), or other organizations where corporations provide scholarship funds for legislators to attend a conference.
The bill would require disclosure of the corporation or entity providing the scholarship or funding, but would not require specific dollar amounts.
The Senate passed an amendment to the House bill to exclude from the definition of travel expense any expense paid for by an organization of elected or appointed state government officials, or any other established and recognized organization serving as an umbrella organization for legislative officials and staff.
It has been placed back on the House calendar for early May.
May 2, 2017 •
North Dakota Adjourns Legislative Session
The North Dakota Legislature adjourned its legislative session on April 27. The session lasted 77 days, ending ahead of the 80-day maximum set by the Constitution. Lawmakers approved a $13.6 billion budget for the 2017-2019 biennium before adjourning.
The North Dakota Legislature adjourned its legislative session on April 27.
The session lasted 77 days, ending ahead of the 80-day maximum set by the Constitution.
Lawmakers approved a $13.6 billion budget for the 2017-2019 biennium before adjourning.
May 2, 2017 •
Party Leaders Ask Utah Governor for Special Session
On April 27, leaders of the Utah Republican and Democratic parties sent a joint letter to Gov. Gary Herbert requesting a special session to clarify state law on calling a special election for a U.S. House member midterm. Utah Rep. […]
On April 27, leaders of the Utah Republican and Democratic parties sent a joint letter to Gov. Gary Herbert requesting a special session to clarify state law on calling a special election for a U.S. House member midterm.
Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz announced he will not run for office in 2018, and will likely step down before his current term ends. Current law says the governor shall call a special election for a U.S. House vacancy, but does not lay out any details for the process.
Gov. Herbert does not believe a special session is necessary and believes some state lawmakers could have a vested interest in amending the law in order to increase their own chances to win the seat.
Members of the Legislature stated they want to offer their perspective to Herbert to show it is a bipartisan effort to work towards a process needing to be put in place.
May 2, 2017 •
Procurement Fraud Prevent Act Introduced in U.S. Senate
On April 25, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Gary Peters introduced legislation designed to help small businesses registering to procure federal contracts. Senate Bill 938, the Procurement Fraud Prevent Act, would require small businesses, when registering to contract with the […]
On April 25, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Gary Peters introduced legislation designed to help small businesses registering to procure federal contracts.
Senate Bill 938, the Procurement Fraud Prevent Act, would require small businesses, when registering to contract with the federal government, to be notified of free federal program assistance when procuring federal contracts. These federal programs include the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, the Small Business Administration, and the Minority Business Development Agency.
“Our legislation would ensure that more small businesses are aware of the free tools and resources already available to them so they can focus on making competitive bids, growing their companies, and creating jobs in their communities,” said Collins in a press release.
May 2, 2017 •
Tuesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “New Registration Details Manafort’s Lobbying for Group with Pro-Russia Ties” by Megan Wilson for The Hill Campaign Finance Massachusetts: “Regulator Sees ‘Evidence of Violations’ at Thornton Law Firm” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe Missouri: “Missouri Governor to Pay […]
Lobbying
“New Registration Details Manafort’s Lobbying for Group with Pro-Russia Ties” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
Campaign Finance
Massachusetts: “Regulator Sees ‘Evidence of Violations’ at Thornton Law Firm” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe
Missouri: “Missouri Governor to Pay Fee for Using Nonprofit Donor List” by David Lieb (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report
Washington: “Washington State Senators Tap Surplus Campaign Money for Food, Clothes, Furnishings” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times
Ethics
“Ethics Rules Waivers for Trump’s Team to Get Federal Scrutiny” by Bill Allison for Bloomberg.com
Florida: “Hooters ‘Calendar Girl’ and Playboy ‘Miss Social’ Were Artiles’ Paid Consultants” by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald
Florida: “Miami Firm Involved in Anti-Hazing Program Did Not Detail Use of $1 Million from State” by Arek Sarkissian for Naples Daily News
Illinois: “Byrd-Bennett Sobs While Trying to Explain Corruption, Gets 4 1/2 Years in Prison” by Jason Meisner and Juan Perez Jr. for Chicago Tribune
Elections
“Guns and Religion: How American conservatives grew closer to Putin’s Russia” by Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
North Carolina: “North Carolina Judges Back Governor Over Election Changes” by Emery Dalesio (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report
Among the amendments in the 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act expected to pass into law this week are two provisions affecting campaign financing. House Resolution 244 explicitly prohibits the Internal Revenue Service from making new rules concerning the political speech or […]
Among the amendments in the 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act expected to pass into law this week are two provisions affecting campaign financing.
House Resolution 244 explicitly prohibits the Internal Revenue Service from making new rules concerning the political speech or activity of 501(c)(4) organizations. The legislation also prohibits the Securities and Exchange Commission from finalizing, issuing, or implementing any rule, regulation, or order regarding the disclosure of political contributions, contributions to tax exempt organizations, or dues paid to trade associations.
On May 2, the Senate Committee on Rules will meet on address these and other amendments in the bill.
Q. Can I use my company’s federal PAC to make contributions to candidates for state office? A. With the exception of Massachusetts, contributions from a federal PAC to non-federal state candidates are permissible. However, the challenging aspect of making these […]
Q. Can I use my company’s federal PAC to make contributions to candidates for state office?
A. With the exception of Massachusetts, contributions from a federal PAC to non-federal state candidates are permissible. However, the challenging aspect of making these types of contributions is that every jurisdiction has different rules regarding how to register and report such contributions. To make this a little easier to digest, we have broken down the states into five categories. Please note: regardless of the registration and reporting process, in all jurisdictions the federal PAC is subject to the contribution limits according to the law of that jurisdiction…
We have not listed PAC rules for all the states, only examples of some states.
If you have a question on a state not listed here, please contact us directly
at 1-330-761-9960.
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