Lobbying

EU: “Lobbying to Face Greater Scrutiny in European Commission Proposals” by Jennnifer Rankin for The Guardian

Campaign Finance

“Democratic Convention Committee Obliterated Fundraising Goal” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity

“D.C. Circuit Decision Limiting Political Ad Disclosure Will Stand” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA

Alabama: “Ala. PAC-to-PAC Transfer Ban Upheld by Appeals Court” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser

Mississippi: “Hosemann Launches ‘Searchable’ Campaign Finance Reports” by Geoff Pender (Jackson Clarion-Ledger) for Hattiesburg American

North Carolina: “Sen. Fletcher Hartsell Accused of Money Laundering, Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud” by Anne Blythe for Raleigh News & Observer

Ethics

New York: “JCOPE Chief: Staff to pay ‘closer attention’ to disclosures in wake of scandal” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times-Union

Elections

“New Debate Strategy for Donald Trump: Practice, practice, practice” by Patrick Healy, Ashley Parker, and Maggie Haberman for New York Times

Virginia: “In Virginia’s Capital, a Political ‘Bad Boy’ Upends Race for Mayor” by Paul Schwartzman for Washington Post

Nassau County Legislator Judith Jacobs passed away on September 13, 2016.

Jacobs, the presiding officer of the county Legislature, was serving her 11^th term as the District 16 representative.

With more than one year left in her term, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano has set a special election to fill the Jacob’s seat on November 8, 2016.

On September 27, 2016, a federal appeals court upheld the ban on transfers between political action committees, or PAC-to-PAC transfers.

The Alabama Democratic Conference (ADC) sued to overturn the ban arguing the prohibition of PAC-to-PAC transfers was a violation of freedom of speech and due process.

In the opinion, written by U.S. Circuit Judge Beverly Martin, the court found the ban to be closely drawn “to meet Alabama’s interest in preventing quid pro quo corruption (or its appearance) as applied to the ADC here.” In turn, the ban survives constitutional scrutiny.

On September 26, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit let stand a previous decision upholding a Federal Election Commission (FEC) rule concerning contributor disclosure for certain political advertisements. Specifically, the court denied a petition for a rehearing en banc of a previous ruling.

In January, the appellate court had reversed a lower court ruling and rejected the challenge from Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D) concerning the FEC rule about reporting of electioneering communications or advertisements picturing or naming candidates within 60 days of an election. In doing so, the federal appeals court upheld the FEC rule requiring public reporting only of donors who earmark contributions for the ads. Van Hollen and other campaign finance disclosure advocates argued the rule was too narrow and did not conform to a 2002 law prohibiting “soft money” in federal elections.

Fred Wertheimer, who backed Van Hollen’s lawsuit, said the ruling would not be appealed, according to Bloomberg BNA.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther signed emergency legislation yesterday creating a City Council Ethics Policy. The ethics policy aligns with state ethics law as well as with an executive order signed by Ginther in May 2016.

Ginther’s executive order was immediately effective for executive branch public officials and employees. The new City Council policy has nearly identical provisions on prohibited conduct and financial disclosure, but is applicable to all public officials and city employees.

Effective immediately, public officials and employees may not solicit or accept gifts or employment from anyone doing business with the city. They also must wait at least one year after leaving public service before representing any person or entity before any city department or division with respect to a matter they personally participated in while serving with the city.

Designated officials and employees must also file financial disclosure statements each year. The statements must include a description of each gift, or aggregate of gifts, exceeding $75 from certain sources during the previous calendar year.

Photo of Mayor Andrew Ginther by David Paul on Wikimedia Commons.

Lobbying

Rhode Island: “Councilman’s Proposal to Reform Providence Lobbying Ordinance Hits Roadblock” by Dan McGowan for WPRI

Campaign Finance

Delaware: “Judge: Christine O’Donnell violated campaign finance laws” by Randall Chase (Associated Press) for Philadelphia Inquirer

Illinois: “Donation Lifts Fundraising Caps in Illinois Comptroller Race” by Sophia Tareen (Associated Press) for State Journal-Register

Washington: “Ferguson: ‘Shoddy’ accounting, ‘improper disclosure’ by Eyman” by Joel Connelly for Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Ethics

“Trump Directed $2.3 Million Owed to Him to His Tax-Exempt Foundation Instead” by David Fahrenthold for Washington Post

“2008 Crisis Deepened the Ties Between Clintons and Goldman Sachs” by Nicholas Confessore and Susanne Craig for New York Times

California: “Ex-LAPD Sergeant Defends Himself Against Ethics Charge Over Controversial Stop of ‘Django Unchained’ Actress” by Kate Mather for Los Angeles Times

California: “State Auditor Calls for CPUC Reforms” by Jeff McDonald for San Diego Union-Tribune

New York: “Physicist in Albany Corruption Case Was a Geek with Big Goals” by Vivian Yee for New York Times

Contribution limits have been lifted in the Illinois comptroller race between incumbent Leslie Munger and Democratic challenger Susana Mendoza after Munger’s husband loaned $260,000 to her campaign.

State law stipulates any contribution exceeding $250,000 to a candidate’s own race abolishes the limits for all candidates in the race.

Gov. Bruce Rauner appointed Munger last year following Judy Baar Topinka’s death. The winner of the November election will finish the remainder of the four-year term.

Lobbying

Florida: “Homestead Developer Off the Hook for Accepting Illegal Contingency Fee” by Monique Madan for Miami Herald

Tennessee: “Voucher Advocate Hosted Tennessee Lawmakers at Seaside Condo” by Joel Ebert and Dave Boucher for The Tennessean

Campaign Finance

New York: “City Council Drafting Bills to Regulate Political Nonprofits Like Campaign for One New York” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Ethics

“For Cuomo and Christie, Parallel Paths to the Top, and Trouble When They Got There” by Vivian Yee for New York Times

“Sunlight Foundation Scales Down, May Merge” by Josh Gerstein for Politico

Colorado: “Denver Ethics Chairman Resigns, Cites Potential Conflict” by Jon Murray for Denver Post

Indiana: “Ethics Office Reflects Shift for Indiana Lawmakers” by Niki Kelly for Ft. Wayne Journal-Gazette

Maryland: “Del. Dan Morhaim Faces Ethics Probe Inquiry Over Dual Medical Marijuana Roles” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post

New York: “Preet Bharara Wields Ax in Albany Corruption Scandal” by Chris Bragg and Mathhew Hamilton for Albany Times-Union

Rhode Island: “Approval of Question 2 Would Restore Ethics Panel Oversight of R.I. Assembly” by Alisha Pina for Providence Journal

Elections

“Trump vs. Clinton: Her jabs put him on the defensive in first debate” by Philip Rucker and Anne Gearan for Washington Post

Voting is one of the most basic civil actions Americans can take. Our ability to vote in an election is a right we should not take for granted, but too often many do. It is a privilege that comes with responsibility. With our votes, we shape the future of our country.

September 27, 2016, is National Voter Registration Day. On this day, volunteers and organizations will be out in force in order to reach out to thousands of voters and citizens about the importance of voting and helping people register to vote. So check out the National Voter Registration Day website and see how you can help other citizens register.

But the effort to Get Out the Vote doesn’t end with National Voter Registration Day. Here are some more ways you can help:

• Make sure your registration record is up-to-date. If you moved recently, have you updated your record?
• Know where your polling location is. Has it been moved due to building closings or expected crowds?
• Help someone get to the polls on Election Day. Many people want to vote, but have trouble getting to the polling locations. Do you know someone who could use a lift?
• If your jurisdiction has early in-person voting, help someone get there to vote early.
• Help someone request an absentee ballot when it is not possible for them to make it to polls. And help them make sure it is mailed in time to count.
• Work the polls. Help other voters exercise their rights.
• Spread the word about voting importance on social media. The more people talk about it, the more people will know about it.

For more information on registering and voting, check out the National Voter Registration Day website.

And always remember to find out the answers to these questions:

• By when do you have to register?
• By when do you have to request an absentee ballot?
• Is there early in-person voting, and if so, where?
• When do the polls open and close?
• What candidates and issues are on the ballot?

The answers can be found on the website of your secretary of state’s office and local elections office.

#KeepUSstrong! #VoterRegistrationDay

Say hello to our team at the 2016 State and Local Government Relations Conference!

On September 22, an ordinance revising the lobbying law for the city of Austin, Texas, was approved by the City Council.

The new law repeals and replaces Chapter 4-8 of the city’s code relating to the regulation of lobbyists.

The ordinance, which was to have taken take effect on January 1, 2017, was amended before passing and will now take effect on June 1, 2017.

Gov. Dannel Malloy has summoned lawmakers back into a special session beginning Wednesday, September 28, 2016, to approve a deal with Sikorsky Aircraft.

The tentative agreement, worth $220 million in grants and tax exemptions, will keep the company in the state for the next 14 years.

Sikorsky has also committed to growing its Connecticut workforce to 8,000 individuals, and they will build nearly 200 CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters in-state.

Photo of the Connecticut State Capitol by jglazer75 on Wikimedia Commons.

Campaign Finance

“Former Ohio Lawmaker’s Case Shows Flaws in Campaign Finance Law Enforcement” by Deirdre Shesgreen for USA Today

California: “Political Watchdog Launches Probe into California Democratic Party over Jerry Brown Donations” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee

Missouri: “Candidates and Donated Campaign Cars – Practical or Unethical?” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Washington: “Labor Council to Pay $16,000 for Alleged Public-Disclosure Violations” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times

Ethics

New York: “Ex-Cuomo Aides Charged in Federal Corruption Inquiry” by Benjamin Weiser, William Rashbaum, and Vivian Yee for New York Times

Texas: “Analysis: ‘Smitty,’ a Texas lobbyist for the small fry, retiring after 31 years” by Ross Ramsey for Texas Tribune

Elections

“Republican Lawmakers Under Fire for Racially Insensitive Comments after Charlotte Unrest” by Elise Viebeck for Washington Post

Ohio: “Federal Appeals Court Rules against Ohio Voter-Roll Purges” by Sean Sullivan and Sari Horwitz for Washington Post