July 30, 2015 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “Billionaire Donors Bypass K Street” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call Nebraska: “Number of Groups Hiring Nebraska Lobbyists Reaches New High” by Grant Schulte (Associated Press) for Seattle Post-Intelligencer Campaign Finance New Jersey: “Super PACs Start Dominating Local Races […]
Lobbying
“Billionaire Donors Bypass K Street” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call
Nebraska: “Number of Groups Hiring Nebraska Lobbyists Reaches New High” by Grant Schulte (Associated Press) for Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Campaign Finance
New Jersey: “Super PACs Start Dominating Local Races in N.J.” by Matt Friedman for Politico
Ethics
Missouri: “McCaskill Calls for Advocacy Group to Give Missouri Capital Interns ‘Someone to Talk to’” by Jo Mannies for KCUR
New York: “Despite Unprecedented Scandal, Calls for Special Ethics Session Fall on Deaf Ears” by David Howard King for Gotham Gazette
Oregon: “Ethics Reforms after Kitzhaber: Going slow means getting it right, Oregon lawmakers argue” by Denis Theriault for Portland Oregonian
Pennsylvania: “Pa. Congressman Fattah Indicted on Corruption Charges from 2007 Mayor’s Race” by Paul Kane and Mike DeBonis for Washington Post
Elections
“Facebook Expands in Politics, and Campaigns Find Much to Like” by Ashley Parker for New York Times
“A Dream Undone” by Jim Rutenberg for New York Times
July 29, 2015 •
Third Special Session Announced for Florida Lawmakers
A third special session of the year has been called in Florida so lawmakers can redraw potentially unconstitutional Senate district lines. The session will take place from October 19 to November 6, 2015. The Florida Supreme Court has already ruled […]
A third special session of the year has been called in Florida so lawmakers can redraw potentially unconstitutional Senate district lines. The session will take place from October 19 to November 6, 2015.
The Florida Supreme Court has already ruled the House district map unconstitutional, prompting a special session in August to redraw the lines. The court has yet to instruct the Legislature on the Senate map, but changes will be made preemptively based on the ruling.
A trial was set to begin in September following a lawsuit filed by The League of Women Voters and Common Cause claiming the Senate map violates the Fair District amendment of the Florida Constitution.
July 29, 2015 •
Proposal to Change Federal Lobbying Laws
On July 28, proposals to reform federal lobbying laws were issued by an American Bar Association task force. The proposals include requiring lobbyists to register if they make more than one lobbying contact, receive more than $2,500 in compensation, or […]
On July 28, proposals to reform federal lobbying laws were issued by an American Bar Association task force. The proposals include requiring lobbyists to register if they make more than one lobbying contact, receive more than $2,500 in compensation, or make expenditures of more than $10,000 per quarter and spend 12 hours or more per quarter conducting lobbying activity.
Other suggested requirements include disclosing the names of individuals providing “support for lobbying through strategic planning, public communications and polling operations.”
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment of Rep. Chaka Fattah on several charges including bribery; conspiracy to commit wire, honest services, bank, and mail fraud; and money laundering. The Philadelphia congressman is accused of misappropriating federal grant money, […]
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment of Rep. Chaka Fattah on several charges including bribery; conspiracy to commit wire, honest services, bank, and mail fraud; and money laundering. The Philadelphia congressman is accused of misappropriating federal grant money, arranging a federal grant in lieu of a payment to a political consultant, and other acts such as using the money to pay off his son’s student loans.
The indictment also includes four members of Rep. Fattah’s campaign and congressional staffs.
The congressman has served 11 terms and is the ranking member on the Appropriations Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee.
Mainers for Accountable Elections, an activist group advocating for stricter campaign finance law, has developed a ballot measure to be considered by voters in the November 2015 election. The measure proposes to establish gubernatorial transition committees to help finance a […]
Mainers for Accountable Elections, an activist group advocating for stricter campaign finance law, has developed a ballot measure to be considered by voters in the November 2015 election. The measure proposes to establish gubernatorial transition committees to help finance a governor-elect’s inauguration; increase penalties for late filings and certain other campaign finance violations; and require independent expenditure communications to include a conspicuous statement listing the top three funders of the communication.
The measure also proposes several amendments to the Maine Clean Election Act related to public funding for candidates. The most ambitious section of the measure proposes to require lawmakers to eliminate $6 million in corporate tax breaks in order to fund the expansion of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.
The measure will appear as “Question 1” on the November 2015 ballot.
July 29, 2015 •
Missouri Special Elections Announced
Gov. Jay Nixon has set the special election date for three vacant seats in the General Assembly. The 29th District, 36th District, and the 89th District special elections will be held on November 3, 2015. Rep. Noel Torpey resigned from […]
Gov. Jay Nixon has set the special election date for three vacant seats in the General Assembly. The 29th District, 36th District, and the 89th District special elections will be held on November 3, 2015.
Rep. Noel Torpey resigned from his 29th District seat to take a job as a lobbyist. Rep. Kevin McManus resigned from his 36th District seat following his election to the City Council of Kansas City. Rep. John Diehl Jr. resigned from his 89th District seat after admitting to inappropriate texts with an intern.
July 29, 2015 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Campaign Finance Maine: “Clean Election Referendum Includes Call to End $6 Million in Maine Corporate Tax Breaks” by Steve Mistler for Portland Press Herald Missouri: “Missouri’s ‘Wild West’ Campaign-Finance Rules Are Making Candidates Look Terrible” by Karyn Bruggeman for National […]
Campaign Finance
Maine: “Clean Election Referendum Includes Call to End $6 Million in Maine Corporate Tax Breaks” by Steve Mistler for Portland Press Herald
Missouri: “Missouri’s ‘Wild West’ Campaign-Finance Rules Are Making Candidates Look Terrible” by Karyn Bruggeman for National Journal
Wisconsin: “Emails Show Contact between GAB Head and IRS Mostly Personal in Nature” by Andrew Beckett for Wisconsin Radio Network
Ethics
Florida: “Former Lt. Gov. Carroll Admits Breaking Ethics Law” by Michael Auslen (Tampa Bay Times) for Miami Herald
Hawaii: “Honolulu Ethics Commission Loosens News Media Policy” by Anita Hofschneider for Honolulu Civil Beat
New Jersey: “Christie Has Made Habit of Appointing High School Friends” by Jill Colvin (Associated Press) for Raleigh News & Observer
New York: “New Hire for Ethics Board Attacked” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union
Elections
“As the G.O.P. Base Clamors for Confrontation, Candidates Oblige” by Jackie Chalmes for New York Times
“Are Voters Ready to Cast a Vote Against the Supreme Court?” by Greg Stohr for Bloomberg.com
On July 27, 2015, a jury found state Rep. Steve Kraus guilty of fifth-degree felony theft. Under Ohio law, Kraus was automatically removed from his seat in the Ohio House upon his conviction. Kraus, who also works as an auctioneer […]
On July 27, 2015, a jury found state Rep. Steve Kraus guilty of fifth-degree felony theft. Under Ohio law, Kraus was automatically removed from his seat in the Ohio House upon his conviction.
Kraus, who also works as an auctioneer and real estate agent, was accused of removing items from the home of an elderly woman. He asserted he had been granted permission to enter the home and it was his fiduciary duty to remove the items.
However, the woman’s real estate agent stated Kraus was only given permission to enter the garage to photograph an antique car.
Kraus faces up to 12 months in prison. The sentencing will be held on August 21.
Photo of Steve Kraus courtesy of the Ohio House of Representatives website.
A voter initiative is being developed in Orange County, California, to create a county ethics commission. The commission would enforce campaign finance limits for countywide offices as well as public ethics, including gifts and conflicts of interest. The commission would […]
A voter initiative is being developed in Orange County, California, to create a county ethics commission. The commission would enforce campaign finance limits for countywide offices as well as public ethics, including gifts and conflicts of interest.
The commission would also have a hotline where citizens could provide tips regarding ethics issues and would have the power to subpoena witnesses and documents.
If the initiative qualifies, it would appear on the November 2016 ballot. A version of the proposed initiative is available here.
July 28, 2015 •
NY Senator John Sampson Convicted of Felony
Another New York state senator has been convicted of a felony, thereby losing his Senate seat. Democrat John L. Sampson was convicted of obstructing justice in connection with his efforts to avoid a federal investigation into alleged embezzlement of state […]
Another New York state senator has been convicted of a felony, thereby losing his Senate seat. Democrat John L. Sampson was convicted of obstructing justice in connection with his efforts to avoid a federal investigation into alleged embezzlement of state funds.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not yet set a date for a special election to fill Sampson’s seat; however, it is anticipated the special election will coincide with the regularly scheduled November general election, where Thomas Libous’s Senate seat will also be on the ballot.
Libous was convicted of a felony surrounding allegations he lied to federal agents.
Photo of John L. Sampson courtesy of the New York Senate website.
July 28, 2015 •
State Senator Resigns Following Sexual Harassment Allegations
A Missouri state senator accused of sexually harassing an intern has resigned. Sen. Paul LeVota denies he made any unwanted advances, but wants to spare his family and the Senate the “process of dealing with the veracity of false allegations […]
A Missouri state senator accused of sexually harassing an intern has resigned.
Sen. Paul LeVota denies he made any unwanted advances, but wants to spare his family and the Senate the “process of dealing with the veracity of false allegations and character assassination against me.”
A Senate investigation was conducted, but the report drew no conclusions. However, a report by the University of Central Missouri, where the intern was a student, concluded there was evidence supporting the allegations.
LeVota’s resignation is effective August 23.
Photo of Sen. Paul LeVota courtesy of the Missouri Senate website.
July 28, 2015 •
Montgomery, AL Developing Online Voting System
The city of Montgomery, Alabama, in cooperation with the Secretary of State’s office, will pilot a live electronic balloting system for overseas military and civilian voters in the upcoming municipal election on August 25, 2015. The electronic voting system will […]
The city of Montgomery, Alabama, in cooperation with the Secretary of State’s office, will pilot a live electronic balloting system for overseas military and civilian voters in the upcoming municipal election on August 25, 2015.
The electronic voting system will allow citizens of Montgomery living overseas an opportunity to vote in the municipal election.
This pilot project is a test of the electronic balloting system being developed throughout the state of Alabama for military and civilian voters who are out of the country during an election.
July 28, 2015 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying Arkansas: “Ethics Panel Reaffirms Past Ruling on Ticket Sales to Legislators” by John Lyon (Arkansas News Bureau) for Arkansas News Ohio: “City Council Officials Got Box Seats at Ohio State Game” by Lucas Sullivan for Columbus Dispatch Campaign Finance […]
Lobbying
Arkansas: “Ethics Panel Reaffirms Past Ruling on Ticket Sales to Legislators” by John Lyon (Arkansas News Bureau) for Arkansas News
Ohio: “City Council Officials Got Box Seats at Ohio State Game” by Lucas Sullivan for Columbus Dispatch
Campaign Finance
“Chamber Gearing Up to Take Out GOP Incumbents” by Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman for Politico
Arizona: “Election Director Threatens Lawsuits against ‘Dark Money’ Watchdogs” by Howard Fischer (Capitol News Service) for Arizona Daily Sun
Nevada: “Nevada Lobbyists Spend Record Amount on Legislators” by Sandra Chereb for Las Vegas Review-Journal
Pennsylvania: “Documents Show Pennsylvania GOP’s Courtship of Gas Industry” by Rich Lord for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Ethics
Florida: “Ethics Board Facing Criticism from Amendment Backers” by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat
Mississippi: “Sources: FBI probing Pickering campaign funds” by Geoff Pender for Jackson Clarion-Ledger
Missouri: “Missouri Senator Resigns Seat, Continues to Deny Allegations He Sexually Harassed Interns” by Alex Stuckey for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
New York: “John Sampson, New York State Senator, Is Guilty on Some Federal Charges” by Stephanie Clifford for New York Times
July 27, 2015 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying Colorado: “Colorado Senator Says He Has No Records on His Lobbyist-Written Elderly Care Bill” by Arthur Kane for Colorado Watchdog Campaign Finance “D.N.C. Lifts Ban on Convention Fundraising” by Maggie Haberman for New York Times Rhode Island: “R.I. Board […]
Lobbying
Colorado: “Colorado Senator Says He Has No Records on His Lobbyist-Written Elderly Care Bill” by Arthur Kane for Colorado Watchdog
Campaign Finance
“D.N.C. Lifts Ban on Convention Fundraising” by Maggie Haberman for New York Times
Rhode Island: “R.I. Board of Elections Drops Fines in 208 Cases” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal
Ethics
“Criminal Inquiry Is Sought in Clinton Email Account” by Michael Schmidt and Matt Apuzzo for New York Times
“Drug Companies Pushed From Far and Wide to Explain High Prices” by Andrew Pollack for New York Times
District of Columbia: “New Details Emerge about Metro Contract That Raised Ethical Questions” by Lori Aratani for Washington Post
Hawaii: “Hawaii’s Student Travel Still Up in the Air as Free Trips Debated” by Ian Lind for Honolulu Civil Beat
New Jersey: “N.J. Lawmaker Plans Bill Curbing Governors Use of Public Funds for Out-of-State Trip Expenses” by Melissa Hayes for Bergen Record
Texas: “Appeals Court Rejects One Count in Perry Indictment” by Patrick Svitek for Texas Tribune
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