LobbyComply Blog

This week the Montana House of Representatives passed House Bill 340, a bill to dismantle the Office of the Commissioner of Political Practices. The bill was transmitted to the Senate on Tuesday after passing a final vote in the House.

The passage of House Bill 340, aiming to split the Commissioner’s current duties between the Secretary of State and Attorney General, was not unanimous.

Democratic lawmakers believe transferring power to two inherently partisan offices will not remedy what Republican lawmakers are characterizing as a partisan witch-hunt from current outgoing Commissioner Jonathon Motl.

On Tuesday, the House unanimously passed House Bill 1073.

The bill seeks to ban lawmakers from accepting gifts from lobbyists exceeding $100 in value per year.

Lawmakers advanced HB 1073 in response to the recent repeal of Initiated Measure 22, which left the state with no limit on gifts lawmakers could accept from lobbyists.

The bill is now headed to the Senate for consideration.

The Missouri Ethics Commission recently released a series of advisory opinions related to Constitutional Amendment 2. The amendment, passed by the voters in the November election, amended state campaign finance laws.

The new advisory opinions address issues not fully articulated in the constitutional amendment. Opinions confirm: contribution limits do not apply to local candidates; the definitions of continuing and political action committees are substantially the same and are interpreted to be the same; and contribution limits only apply to continuing or political action committees if a contribution to the committee is designated for a specific candidate.

Another opinion finds a limited liability company to be a corporation for the purpose of the corporate contribution ban if the LLC is an eligible entity electing to be classified as a corporation under the federal tax code.

Other opinions relate to the eligibility of foreign corporations contributing to Missouri PACs, the application of the $25,000 per election aggregate limit to be received by a political party, and the applicability of contribution limits to state legislative campaign committees.

Lobbying

“Report Shows ‘Untapped Power’ of Constituent Advocacy” by Bridget Bowman for Roll Call

Florida: “These Lawmakers Are On the Payroll of Firms That Lobby the Legislature” by Zac Anderson for Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Campaign Finance

“Business Roundtable Softening Stance on Political Transparency?” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity

“Supreme Court Set to Eye Challenge to FEC Disclosure Rules” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA

Oregon: “Legislation Would Prohibit Campaign Contributions by State Contractors” by Paris Achen for Portland Tribune

Tennessee: “Amid Ongoing Durham Scandal, Probe Shows Problems with Law” by Joel Ebert and Dave Boucher for The Tennessean

Ethics

“With Michael Flynn’s Resignation, a New Focus on the Logan Act” by Charlie Savage for New York Times

Connecticut: “Commission: Hinchey, Bilda and other NPU officials violated ethics” by Ryan Blessing for Norwich Bulletin

Kentucky: “GOP Senators Want to Cut Sex Harassment Training” by Morgan Watkins for Louisville Courier-Journal

Montana: “House Endorses Cutting Office That Oversees Campaign Rules” by Matt Volz (Associated Press) for The Missoulian

Elections

New Hampshire: “NH Prosecutor: State can’t investigate all voter fraud claims” by Kathleen Ronayne (Associated Press) for Boston.com

North Carolina: “N.C. Supreme Court Blocks Law Stripping Governor of Election Oversight Powers” by Richard Craver for Winston-Salem Journal

Gov. Phil Scott issued an informal directive to staff and administrative personnel to stay clear of legislators and lobbyists in social situations.

The governor is taking aim at the after-hours restaurant and bar scene in Montpelier where staff, lawmakers, and lobbyists are typically seen commingling.

Those in favor of the governor’s directive welcome the crackdown, while others believe forbidden fraternization is impossible to avoid given the small-town nature of the state capital.

Others are concerned the rule will hurt business owners who rely on these social outings for revenue.

Rep. Knute Buehler is set to introduce two bills to restrict pay-to-play politics.

House Joint Resolution 17 seeks to amend the Oregon Constitution to ban corporations, nonprofits and labor unions from making contributions to candidates or political action committees.

House Bill 2914 would require bidders on state contracts to disclose their five greatest campaign contributions in the state.

If passed, the measures would likely face legal challenges on the basis of free speech restrictions.

Monday, the North Carolina Supreme Court issued an order blocking Senate Bill 4 from taking effect while the legal challenge against the law is pending.

This order halts the merger to combine the State Board of Elections with the State Ethics Commission.

Gov. Roy Cooper is currently challenging Senate Bill 4 on the basis that the General Assembly overstepped its state constitutional authority when it adopted the law establishing an eight-member board to oversee elections and consider ethics complaints and issues.

Campaign Finance

California: “Sacramento Wants State Watchdog to Enforce City Ethics Rules” by Anita Chabria for Sacramento Bee

Michigan: “Michigan Unions Lose Campaign Finance Fight” by Kevin Koeninger for Courthouse News

Ethics

“Wearing Wig, Lawyer Tried to Sell Confidential Document, U.S. Charges” by Liz Moyer for New York Times

“Saudis Foot Tab at Trump Hotel” by Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico

“Trump Sons Forge Ahead Without Father, Expanding and Navigating Conflicts” by Eric Lipton and Susanne Craig for New York Times

Florida: “At Miami’s Airport, There’s Economy, First Class and … Politician” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald

Pennsylvania: “Philly DA Seth Williams: Brought ‘shame’ to office, won’t run for reelection” by Jeremy Roebuck and Chris Brennan for Philadelphia Inquier

Texas: “How Blind Is This Texas Oil Regulator’s Blind Trust, Managed by His Brother-in-Law?” by Steve Thompson for Dallas News

Lobbying

New Mexico: “Lobbying Fix Faces New Opposition” by Trip Jennings for New Mexico In Depth

Tech and Social Media

“Fake News 101: The new civics course in US schools?” by Carolyn Thompson (Associated Press) for ABC News

Enjoy these fun photos from recent events!

U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions was confirmed as President Trump’s attorney general on February 8, 2017.

To fill the Senate vacancy, Gov. Robert Bentley has appointed state Attorney General Luther Strange to succeed Sessions. Bentley’s appointee will serve the U.S. Senate with 22 months of incumbency until the next general election.

Some controversy surrounds Bentley’s appointment; state Auditor Jim Ziegler filed a written request with Bentley opposing his decision to appoint a replacement and hold off with special elections until November 2018.

Ziegler cited Alabama code stating a special election could only be delayed until the next regular election if the senate vacancy occurred within four months of the next regular election.

Photo of Senator Luther Strange from the State of Alabama website.

Campaign Finance

California: “Republicans Face $30,000 Fine from California Campaign Regulators” by Jim Miller for Sacramento Bee

Mississippi: “Senate Passes Its Campaign Finance Reform” by Geoff Pender for Jackson Clarion-Ledger

Tennessee: “Jeremy Durham Spent Campaign Funds on Suits, Sunglasses and Spa” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Elections

“Rural Americans Felt Abandoned by Democrats in 2016, So They Abandoned Them Back. Can the Party Fix It?” By David Weigel for The Washington Post

Ethics

“Lawyer at Major D.C. Firm Accused in Scheme to Sell Sealed Lawsuit to Suit’s Target” by Spencer Hsu for The Washington Post

Minnesota: “Auditor: U.S. Bank Stadium Authority violated core ethical principles with free tickets for friends and family” by Rochelle Olson for Minneapolis Star Tribune

Lobbying

Florida: “Want to Build a Marina in Miami? Lobbying Required.” By David Smiley for Miami Herald

New Mexico: “Lobbyist Loophole Fix Stalls in Senate Committee” by Sandra Fish and Trip Jennings for New Mexico In Depth

Tech and Social Media

Maryland: “Gov. Hogan’s Office Has Blocked 450 People from His Facebook Page in Two Years” by Ovetta Wiggins and Fenit Nirappil for The Washington Post

Filing opens today for candidates participating in the May 30 special election for South Carolina House District 84. At least two individuals have expressed interest in running for the seat. If a primary election is necessary, it will be held on April 11 with a runoff on April 25.

Former Rep. Chris Corley resigned from the seat in January to avoid being expelled following his indictment on felony domestic violence and weapons charges.

On Thursday, a ruling from the North Carolina Court of Appeals overturned a lower court order that blocked Senate Bill 4 from taking effect while the legal challenge against the law was pending.

This allows the merger to go forward to combine the State Board of Elections with the State Ethics Commission.

Gov. Roy Cooper appealed this ruling today to the state Supreme Court.

Texas ethics overhaul, Senate Bill 14, passed unanimously in the Senate this week and is headed to the House.

Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement praising the Senate’s swift movement, stating his confidence the comprehensive reforms will be passed.

An identical bill, House bill 1238, as well as six separate back-up bills duplicating each of the six articles in the reform package, were filed to avoid replicating the failure of a large ethics reform package during the 2015 legislative session.