May 23, 2016 •
Department of Justice Investigating Virginia Governor
Gov. Terry is the subject of a federal investigation surrounding contributions to his gubernatorial campaign. The Department of Justice is looking into donations received while McAuliffe was a board member of the Clinton Global Initiative, a charitable foundation set up […]
Gov. Terry is the subject of a federal investigation surrounding contributions to his gubernatorial campaign. The Department of Justice is looking into donations received while McAuliffe was a board member of the Clinton Global Initiative, a charitable foundation set up by former President Bill Clinton.
Among many contributions of interest, the FBI is focusing on $120,000 from a Chinese businessman, Wang Wenliang. Contributions from foreign nationals are illegal, though Wang holds permanent U.S. resident status. Wang has been known for his contributions in the U.S., giving to Clinton’s foundation as well as to universities and political causes in other states.
May 23, 2016 •
Arkansas Special Session Adjourned Sine Die
On May 23, the Third Extraordinary Session of the 90th General Assembly adjourned sine die. The primary focus of the special session was Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s $50 million highway funding plan. After three days, the plan was given final approval […]
On May 23, the Third Extraordinary Session of the 90th General Assembly adjourned sine die.
The primary focus of the special session was Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s $50 million highway funding plan. After three days, the plan was given final approval by the Legislature.
May 23, 2016 •
Virginia Governor Approves Changes to Ethics Laws
Last week, Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed Senate Bill 692, approving changes to the state’s ethics laws yet again. Among the changes, lobbyists will only have to file one disclosure report each year, down from two, on July 1 for the […]
Last week, Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed Senate Bill 692, approving changes to the state’s ethics laws yet again.
Among the changes, lobbyists will only have to file one disclosure report each year, down from two, on July 1 for the preceding 12-month period. The bill also creates an exception in the definition of gifts for any item with a value of less than $20 and limits the definition of a procurement transaction, in terms of lobbying executive action, to contracts costing $5 million or more.
While most of the bill is effective January 1, 2017, an emergency clause applies to the definition change of procurement transaction, rendering it effective upon passage, and lobbyists will not be required to report until July 1, 2017.
May 23, 2016 •
Minnesota Legislature Adjourns Sine Die
The Legislature adjourned sine die at midnight after a long day on Sunday, May 23. Prior to adjournment, $260 million of a $900 million budget surplus was allotted to tax credits and cuts for parents, farmers, businesses, and college students. […]
The Legislature adjourned sine die at midnight after a long day on Sunday, May 23.
Prior to adjournment, $260 million of a $900 million budget surplus was allotted to tax credits and cuts for parents, farmers, businesses, and college students. Lawmakers also passed extra spending measures for broadband internet infrastructure development and a statewide voluntary preschool program. Despite several last minute efforts, the Legislature could not come to agreement on a bonding bill to fund construction and transportation projects prior to the end of the session.
A special session could be called soon to address the bonding bill.
May 23, 2016 •
Ontario, Canada Lobbying Law Changes Coming in July
Effective July 1, Ontario’s Office of the Integrity Commissioner will begin enforcing a new lobbying law for the province. On December 9, 2014, the Legislative Assembly had passed an omnibus bill with changes to the province’s Lobbyists Registration Act, 1998. […]
Effective July 1, Ontario’s Office of the Integrity Commissioner will begin enforcing a new lobbying law for the province. On December 9, 2014, the Legislative Assembly had passed an omnibus bill with changes to the province’s Lobbyists Registration Act, 1998. The law is now coming into force by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.
Schedule 8 of Bill 8, the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014, gives the Ontario Integrity Commissioner as Lobbyist Registrar new investigative and enforcement power for violations. Individuals found in violation can be prohibited from lobbying for up to two years. Additional changes include a streamlined registration form for certain companies, a lower threshold registration for in-house lobbyists, and new questions on registration forms.
May 23, 2016 •
RI Launches Informational Online Interactive Tool for State’s Lobbying and Public Meeting Information
On May 19, Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea unveiled the launch of Open Government Interactive, an online tool to better understand and interact with the state’s public data, which includes lobbying information. Data visualization is provided through […]
On May 19, Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea unveiled the launch of Open Government Interactive, an online tool to better understand and interact with the state’s public data, which includes lobbying information. Data visualization is provided through interactive graphs displaying the number and types of lobbyists registered, of organizations hiring lobbyists, and of lobbying relationships relative to legislative topics.
The state also includes other material with this interactive online tool, including public meeting information. “It is my belief that government must be effective, transparent, and accountable to the people it serves in order to succeed. Part of this transparency comes with the general public having access to information about meetings happening among our government bodies and knowledge of who is lobbying their elected officials,” Gorbea said in her press release. All data published is from 2011-2015.
May 23, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying Rhode Island: “Do R.I. General Assembly Grants Funnel Back into Lobbying?” by Patrick Anderson for Providence Journal Campaign Finance “G.O.P. Donors Shift Focus from Top of Ticket to Senate Races” by Nick Corasaniti and Ashley Parker for New York […]
Lobbying
Rhode Island: “Do R.I. General Assembly Grants Funnel Back into Lobbying?” by Patrick Anderson for Providence Journal
Campaign Finance
“G.O.P. Donors Shift Focus from Top of Ticket to Senate Races” by Nick Corasaniti and Ashley Parker for New York Times
California: “Tony Strickland Agrees to $40,000 Ethics Fine” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee
New York: “De Blasio’s Elections Strategy, Under Scrutiny, Recalls Predecessor’s” by William Neuman for New York Times
Ethics
Arkansas: “Ark. High Court Rejects Lawsuit over Campaign Finance Ballot Measure” by Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) for Baxter Bulletin
Hawaii: “Hawaii Ethics Commission Picks Interim Director” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat
Hawaii: “Totto Tells Ethics Commission to Scrap ‘Silly’ Time Sheet Rules” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat
Michigan: “Panel OKs Added Transparency for Governor, Legislators” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News
Elections
“A History of Insurgent Candidates’ Impact On Down-Ballot Races” by Louis Jacobson for Governing
Legislative Issues
“Chaos in House after GOP Votes Down LGBT Measure” by Cristina Marcos and Mike Lillis for The Hill
May 20, 2016 •
Baltimore Election Results Decertified
Baltimore City’s primary election results have been ordered to be decertified by state election officials, and a precinct-level review of irregularities is being conducted. The decision comes in response to a discrepancy between the number of voters who checked in […]
Baltimore City’s primary election results have been ordered to be decertified by state election officials, and a precinct-level review of irregularities is being conducted.
The decision comes in response to a discrepancy between the number of voters who checked in at polling locations and the number of ballots cast, which were higher than the number of check-ins. State elections officials became concerned when they learned Baltimore city officials certified their primary election results and later located 80 provisional ballots which were never analyzed.
The investigation into these discrepancies is expected to continue throughout next week.
May 20, 2016 •
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Adjourned
On May 19, the fifth session of the 40th parliament of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia adjourned. The Local Elections Campaign Financing (Election Expenses) Amendment Act, 2016, also received royal assent on May 19. Member Bills 213, 219, and […]
On May 19, the fifth session of the 40th parliament of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia adjourned. The Local Elections Campaign Financing (Election Expenses) Amendment Act, 2016, also received royal assent on May 19. Member Bills 213, 219, and 229, which also dealt with campaign finance, did not progress pass the first reading stage.
The Legislature is scheduled to convene again this year on October 3.
May 20, 2016 •
Michigan Government Transparency Bills Clear House Committee
A package of government transparency bills making the governor and Legislature subject to Michigan public record laws has reported out of a House committee in a unanimous vote. The reform package strives to open the majority of the Legislature’s records […]
A package of government transparency bills making the governor and Legislature subject to Michigan public record laws has reported out of a House committee in a unanimous vote.
The reform package strives to open the majority of the Legislature’s records to public inspection and would eliminate many existing public records exemptions for the governor and lieutenant governor by including these records under the umbrella of the Freedom of Information Act.
Lawmakers are hopeful the bills will pass the Legislature prior to adjournment for the summer. If passed, the reform measures would apply only to records created after January 1, 2017.
May 20, 2016 •
Arkansas State Supreme Court Rejects Ethics Initiative Lawsuit
The state Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit requiring Attorney General Leslie Rutledge to approve language or offer an alternative to Attorney David Couch’s ethics initiative for the November ballot. Couch is unlikely to submit a new proposal since state law […]
The state Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit requiring Attorney General Leslie Rutledge to approve language or offer an alternative to Attorney David Couch’s ethics initiative for the November ballot.
Couch is unlikely to submit a new proposal since state law would require statewide notice to be published by June 8, with language preapproved by Rutledge.
May 20, 2016 •
Delaware Hit with Wave of Lobbyist and Donor Bills
On May 17, three separate bills regarding lobbyists and political donors were introduced in the General Assembly. If all three bills pass, political committees would be required to report a contributor’s occupation and employment information (Senate Bill 224), lobbyists would […]
On May 17, three separate bills regarding lobbyists and political donors were introduced in the General Assembly.
If all three bills pass, political committees would be required to report a contributor’s occupation and employment information (Senate Bill 224), lobbyists would be required to disclose the source and amount of received payments (Senate Bill 225), and lobbyists would be required to pay a registration fee or face certain penalties (House Bill 385).
May 20, 2016 •
Alabama Launches Voter Registration App
On May 19, Secretary of State John Merrill launched a Vote for Alabama app, available to all iPhones and Androids. The app enables all Alabamians to register to vote and locate relevant election information. Voters now have the ability to […]
On May 19, Secretary of State John Merrill launched a Vote for Alabama app, available to all iPhones and Androids.
The app enables all Alabamians to register to vote and locate relevant election information. Voters now have the ability to register to vote on the Secretary of State’s website and via the new app, along with traditional registration methods.
May 19, 2016 •
Ethics Law Changes May Appear on November Ballot in Miami-Dade County
A group of current and past politicians have announced an initiative to strengthen ethics laws in Miami-Dade County. The group, named An Accountable Miami-Dade, is leading the charge to place a measure on the November ballot. The measure would strengthen […]
A group of current and past politicians have announced an initiative to strengthen ethics laws in Miami-Dade County.
The group, named An Accountable Miami-Dade, is leading the charge to place a measure on the November ballot. The measure would strengthen enforcement of existing campaign finance laws, create pay-to-play restrictions on large contractors, create a ban on gifts from lobbyists, and institute a $250 per-election contribution limit to mayoral and commission candidates.
An Accountable Miami-Dade is headed by Monica Russo, president of the SEUI Florida Council, and Bettina Rodriguez, a former mayor of Doral. It also includes several local officeholders and party leaders.
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.