Parliament and parts of the capital are emerging from a security lockdown following shootings at the National War Memorial and inside the Parliament building.

A soldier guarding the memorial has died from his injuries, as well as a gunman. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was addressing his Cabinet at the time, but left Parliament Hill safely.

The House of Commons is meeting today, Thursday, October 23, 2014, at 10:00 a.m.

Photo of the Parliament Centre Block by Adrijko Z. on Wikimedia Commons.

The Ethics Commission has announced two interested persons meetings on November 10 and November 13 to discuss possible changes to the city’s Campaign Finance Reform Ordinance (CFRO). Discussion at the meetings will be limited to potential changes to CFRO’s disclaimer and third-party reporting provisions.

Staff plans to distribute draft CFRO amendments to interested parties prior to the meetings.

Written comments regarding CFRO’s disclaimer and third-party reporting provisions can be sent to Jesse Mainardi at jesse.mainardi@sfgov.org or (415) 252-3100. R.S.V.P. by email at ethics.commission@sfgov.org.

Lobbying

“Lobbyists Mobilize on Ebola Virus” by Megan Wilson for The Hill.

“Some Lobbyists Play Key Role in Washington Campaign Finance” by Austin Jenkins for KUOW.org.

Campaign Finance

“Super PACs Exploit Disclosure Loophole” by Dave Levinthal for The Center for Public Integrity.

“Big Spending by Parties, Independent Groups Drowns Airwaves in Negative Attacks” by Matea Gold for Washington Post.

“Campaign Cash Crackdown OK’d” by David Garrick for San Diego Union Tribune.

“Campaign Mailings Fuel Dispute between Parties over Campaign Finance Law” by Jenny Wilson for Hartford Courant.

“Why Las Vegas Chamber Can Give Only $10K to Candidate but $1M to Anti-Margin Tax Campaign” by Connor Shine for Las Vegas Sun.

“Former Aide Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $1.8 Million from Dewhurst Campaign Funds” by Lauren McGaughey for Houston Chronicle.

“Court Finds Republican Governors Association Violated Vermont Campaign Finance Law” by Dave Gram (Associated Press) for Columbus Republic.

Ethics

“City Council Watchdog Sues Emanuel, Aldermen” by Bill Ruthhart and Hal Dardick for Chicago Tribune.

“Panel Presents Guidelines for Pa. Turnpike Commission” by Paul Nussbaum for Philadelphia Inquirer.

Elections

“Why House Republicans Alienate Hispanics: They don’t need them” by Nate Cohn for New York Times.

City Council unanimously adopted new campaign contribution rules to monitor independent and primarily formed committees.

Ordinance 2015-37 requires earlier disclosure of large contributors and restricts the ability of a committee to reproduce and distribute campaign advertisements used by a candidate.

The ordinance becomes effective January 1, 2015, and is not applicable to the November 2014 election.

Lobbying

“Lobby Firms Beat the Midterm Blues” by Megan Wilson for The Hill.

“Legislators’ Trips Abroad Apparently Above Board” by Tess Townsend for New London Day.

Campaign Finance

“Record Public Financing Amounts Awarded to Candidates” by Gregory Hladky for Hartford Courant.

“Donors Use Loophole to Pour Money into Governor’s Race” by Jeremy Borden for Charleston Post & Courier.

“Campaign Coordination Suit Filed in a Way to Get Favorable Judge” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Ethics

“Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard Indicted” by Brian Lyman (Montgomery Advertiser) for USA Today.

“Legislators Need Stricter Disclosure Rules, Advocate Tells Panel” for Indianapolis Business Journal; Staff

“In William Galvin’s Contracts, Little Public Process” by Waltyer Robinson for Boston Globe.

Elections

“Health Scare in Texas Also Sends Political Ripples” by Manny Fernandez for New York Times.

“Supreme Court Allows Texas to Use Voter ID Law” by Adam Liptak for New York Times.

Political Advertising

“Environmental Issues Become a Force in Political Advertising” by Coral Davenport and Ashley Parker for New York Times.

A constitutional amendment on the November ballot to allow the adjutant general to be appointed has the support of both the Republican and Democratic parties. The adjutant general oversees the state’s National Guard and is currently an elected position held by Bob Livingston, an Army major general.

The parties have jointly launched “Troops Leading Troops,” a social media project encouraging voters to support the amendment.

The adjutant general position will be appointed by the governor beginning in January 2019, if the amendment passes. Party leaders believe the measure would take politics out of choosing the adjutant general and ensure officeholders are adequately qualified.

State and Federal Communications is excited to be the Keynote Speaker Sponsor of the 2014 WASRG Summit on Tuesday, October 21.

The keynote speakers for the event are Katie Packer Gage, President and a Founding Partner of WWP Strategies and  Erica Prosser, Senior Campaign Consultant with The Pivot Group.

The 2014 WASRG Summit will be held at The Hamilton in Washington, D.C.

On Friday, October 31 State and Federal Communications is hosting its fifth annual Halloween Donut and Apple Cider sale. All proceeds will benefit the United Way of Summit County.

Drop in and say hello from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and enjoy a delicious treat. We’ll be in the lobby of 80 South Summit St. in Downtown Akron, across from Quaker Square.

The Krispy Kreme donuts are $1.00 per donut or $7.00 per dozen. The apple cider will be $1.00 per cup or $8.00 per gallon.

To reserve your donuts, you can email Joe May at jmay@stateandfed.com, or call us at 330-761-9960.

Today the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Canada, will convene for the first session of the 41^st Parliament.

The assembly had adjourned its session with unanimous consent on July 24, 2014, in order to continue to work over the summer to address budget issues.

Photo of the Ontario Legislative Assembly Building by Andrijko Z. on Wikimedia Commons.

Campaign Finance

“How Billionaire Oligarchs Are Becoming Their Own Political Parties” by Jim Rutenberg for New York Times.

“CalPERS Board Strips Priya Mathur of Posts after Ethics Law Violations” by Marc Lifsher for Los Angeles Times.

“Massachusetts Labor Union PAC Agrees to $22K Fine for Various Campaign Finance Violations” by Robert Rizzuto for MassLive.com.

Ethics

“Charter School Power Broker Turns Public Education into Private Profits” by Marian Wang for ProPublica.

“State Drops Case against Mellow” by Borys Krawczeniuk for Scranton Times-Tribune.

“SC House Proposals: End leadership PACS, limit speaker’s term” by Cassie Cope for The State.

Elizabeth Bartz, president and CEO of State and Federal Communications, is offering her expertise today in Washington, D.C. at the Association of Government Relations Professionals Lobbying Certificate Program session on State Lobbying. Congratulations, Elizabeth!

One of the attendees gives this reaction on Twitter:

If you would like to know more about today’s training, here is a decription from the AGRP website:

The states are a breeding ground for new legislation and regulations that will affect your stakeholders and can potentially lead to federal action. Influencing legislators and policy makers at the state level can be a critical component to your overall lobbying efforts. In this upcoming AGRP LCP course, you will learn:

• How to successfully identify whether or not you need to engage at the state level
• Best practices in finding and working with state lobbyists
• How to evaluate your state lobbying efforts
• Making sure that your efforts are compliant with state rules and regulations

A by-election is scheduled in Saskatchewan for November 13, 2014, to elect a member of the Legislative Assembly from the Lloydminster riding.

The polls in Lloydminster will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day.

Federal:

Campaign Finance Forty Years Later

New York Times; Staff –   | Published: 10/13/2014

Forty years after Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act, many of the provisions have been struck down as unconstitutional and U.S. Supreme Court rulings have paved the way for outside groups to raise and spend more money. The New York Times, in its “Room for Debate” feature, asked seven experts on the issue to give their opinions on the state of campaign finance reform today.

FEC Votes Suggest Gridlock Is Easing

Politico – Byron Tau and Kyle Cheney | Published: 10/9/2014

After some five years of ties and gridlock, the FEC approved several measures as part of a compromise brokered between its two newest members: Republican Chairperson Lee Goodman and Democratic Vice Chairperson Ann Ravel. Goodman and Ravel were both appointed at the same time by President Barack Obama in 2013, and they have forged a bipartisan alliance to help the commission function better. The FEC has long been a bastion of gridlock, and the recent votes have no practical impact on campaign finance laws. But the FEC’s action suggests further movement is possible on what has been seen as a hopelessly dysfunctional panel.

Secret Money Fueling a Flood of Political Ads

New York Times – Nicholas Confessore | Published: 10/10/2014

Fifty-five percent of broadcast advertising in the midterm elections has been paid for by groups that do not fully disclose their donors, compared with 45 percent from super PACs, which are required to file regular financial disclosures, according to an analysis by The New York Times. The preponderance of secretly funded advertising defies one of the assumptions of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which allowed outside groups to raise and spend more money, so long as they did not coordinate with candidates and parties. In the majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy envisioned campaigns in which unlimited independent spending by unions and corporations would be paired with robust real-time disclosure.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – Kevin de León Becomes State Senate Leader in $50,000 Event

Los Angeles Times – Seema Metha and Patrick McGreevy | Published: 10/15/2014

Kevin de Leon was sworn in as the first Latino to head the California Senate in more than a century with an expensive soiree. The event at Walt Disney Concert Hall with an estimated price tag of $50,000 resembled a presidential inaugural more than the low-key affairs at the Capitol held by past Senate leaders. The California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation, which receives donations from special interests seeking influence in the Legislature, picked up the tab for the event. Some suggested it was an inappropriate extravagance at a time when the state Senate is struggling to shake off the taint of corruption scandals and regain public trust.

Colorado – Citizens United Can Make Movie without Disclosing Donors, Court Says

Denver Post – Joey Bunch | Published: 10/14/2014

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Citizens United can air a movie it has produced about Colorado politics without identifying its donors. Citizens United sued after Secretary of State Scott Gessler said the movie fell under Colorado’s campaign finance laws. A federal judge agreed the movie was electioneering that required disclosure. But Citizens United argued the film deserved the same free-speech protections as traditional media. The appeals court said while the movie is exempt from disclosure, the secretary of state’s office could require it for ads if the ads name a candidate and make a case for support or defeat.

Georgia – Once Again, a Carter Aims to Govern in Georgia

New York Times – Richard Fausset | Published: 10/15/2014

The most famous name in Georgia gubernatorial race belongs to state Sen. Jason Carter, grandson of former President Jimmy Carter. But rather than a referendum on the Carter legacy, the contest remains focused to a large extent on the record of incumbent Nathan Deal. One hurdle for Deal, said Merle Black, a political science professor at Emory University, is the possibility that conservative voters, soured by continuing ethics controversies tied to Deal’s 2010 campaign, may see him as “a candidate that they cannot get really excited about,” and sit out the election.

Illinois – Campaign Contribution Limits Off in Chicago Mayor’s Race

Chicago Tribune – John Byrne | Published: 10/14/2014

William Kelly gave $100,000 of his own money to his Chicago mayoral campaign. In doing so, he has also lifted the cap for campaign donations in the race. State law mandates that the $5,300 individual campaign contribution limit be lifted in a municipal race in one of two instances: a candidate donates at $100,000 or more to their campaign fund or an outside organization puts that much into a race to support or attack a candidate in the race.

Kentucky – Top Lobbyists Make More than Governor – a LOT More

Louisville Courier Journal – Tom Loftus | Published: 10/16/2014

Through the first eight months of 2014, Kentucky’s top lobbyists have made more money in fees than Steve Beshear will make in salary all year as governor. Lobbyist Bob Babbage, for example, has been paid $562,433 through August 31. Beshear is paid an annual salary of $138,012.

Missouri – Ethics Complaint Filed over Lobbyist Gifts to Missouri Lawmakers

Kansas City Star – Jason Hancock | Published: 10/15/2014

A complaint was filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission over a $3,000 dinner held at a Dallas steakhouse in August for five state legislators during the American Legislative Exchange Council’s annual convention. While five lobbyists reported the gifts to the commission as going to the individual lawmakers who attended, seven other lobbyists reported the gifts to “the entire General Assembly.” Missouri law states that a gift can be reported to a group – such as a committee, legislative chamber, or the entire Legislature – if all of the members of that group are “invited in writing.”

North Carolina – Former Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon Sentenced to 44 Months in Federal Prison

Charlotte Observer – Mark Washburn, Michael Gordon, Ames Alexander, and Rick Rothacker | Published: 10/14/2014

Former Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon was sentenced to 44 months in prison after admitting to using his public positions in North Carolina’s largest city for personal financial gain, including taking at least $50,000 in bribes. A nearly four-year investigation resulted in his arrest and resignation in March. Prosecutors said Cannon accepted bribes from a strip club owner and two undercover federal agents posing as investors in exchange for helping them navigate city government and zoning issues through his elected positions. Prosecutors said he took cash, paid travel to Las Vegas, and use of a luxury apartment from the undercover agents.

Oregon – Oregon’s Embattled First Lady Faces Ethics Probe over Business Activity

Washington Post – Jose DelReal | Published: 10/14/2014

After admitting to a sham marriage to help an immigrant remain in the U.S., Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber’s fiancée said she lived on a property in 1997 that was intended to be used for a marijuana growing operation. Cylvia Hayes issued a statement saying the plan “never materialized” on the remote property. She is also under fire for earning money as a consultant from organizations seeking to influence state policy. Kitzhaber asked the Oregon Government Ethics Commission for a formal opinion on whether Hayes is subject to state ethics laws and, if so, whether she has broken them in the consulting matter. It is not clear how much damage the reports about Hayes could do to Kitzhaber’s re-election campaign.

Pennsylvania – Phila. Ethics Board Tightens Campaign-Finance Rules

Philadelphia Inquirer – Chris Hepp | Published: 10/15/2014

The Philadelphia Board of Ethics approved a series of amendments to the city’s campaign finance law, the most significant aimed at tightening restrictions on what constitutes a third party’s support of a candidate. The board approved an amendment to address the reuse of campaign materials produced by a candidate, but then picked up and distributed by an individual or PAC independent of the candidate. Under the new rule, such reuse would be considered an in-kind campaign contribution and would fall under the city’s donation limits.

Texas – An Ad with a Wheelchair Shakes up the Texas Governor’s Race

New York Times – David Montgomery | Published: 10/13/2014

Texas gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis defended her campaign television ad that highlights opponent Greg Abbott’s use of a wheelchair, denying it exploits his disability while attacking his record. The 30-second ad begins with a shot of an empty wheelchair. It criticizes Abbot, the state’s attorney general, for receiving millions from a 1984 lawsuit after a falling tree injured his spine, then working to limit the legal rights of other victims. The spot has provoked a nationwide debate over its tone and the boundaries of political attack ads.

Washington – Ethics Panel Votes to Limit Number of Free Meals Lawmakers Can Accept from Lobbyists

Columbus Republic – Rachel LaCorte (Associated Press) | Published: 10/14/2014

Beginning January 1, Washington lawmakers could accept as many as a dozen free meals from lobbyists each year under a new rule adopted by the Legislative Ethics Board. The rule also defines a meal as a sit-down meal such as breakfast or lunch, even if the meal is served at a private residence. Receptions hosted by lobbyists would not count as a meal. The board planned to meet again before the end of the year to consider draft legislation to change the current law that only requires meals worth $50 or more to be reported to the state Public Disclosure Commission.

Wisconsin – Federal Judge Orders State to Stop Enforcing Anti-‘Coordination’ Law

WiscNews.com – Dee Hall | Published: 10/14/2014

U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Randa blocked enforcement of a Wisconsin election law that is at the center of an investigation into Gov. Scott Walker’s 2012 recall campaign and more than two dozen conservative organizations. The ruling allows candidates to coordinate and work closely with independent groups that do not explicitly tell people how to vote. State prosecutors cited the coordination law in launching a so-called John Doe investigation into Walker’s campaign. A federal appeals court overturned a ruling from Randa in May that stopped the probe, but also said the issue needs to be resolved in state courts.

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday to curtail pay-to-play politics in state contracts.

House Bill 201 prohibits state employees from evaluating contract proposals submitted by companies they worked for during the previous two years.

The legislation has been sent to Gov. Tom Corbett for his signature.

Photo of the Pennsylvania State Capitol by ThePlaz on Wikimedia Commons.