It is summer and you know what that means in state government affairs. Meetings. Meetings. Meetings.

Okay, I know many of you will not be at the first one but I will see you at many of the other places across the continental United States.

1.  Greek Orthodox Clergy-Laity Congress—July 6-10 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

2.  National Governors Association—July 10-July 13 in Nashville, Tennessee;

3.  Council of State Governments MLC—July 13-July 16 in Omaha, Nebraska;

4.  IACREOT Conference—July 23-24 in Bonita Springs, Florida;

5.  NCSL Legislative Leaders—July 24-25 in Washington, DC;

6.  Council of State Governments National and Western Annual Conference—
August 9-13 in Anchorage, Alaska; and

7.  National Conference of State Legislatures—August 18-22 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Now that is a lot of traveling for anyone to handle. I skipped a couple of the other regional CSG meetings because…well, I do need to stop at the office and home every once in a while.

Follow the travel either on Facebook or Twitter @elizabethbartz. You may enjoy the photos and the opportunities or it just might tire you out. Either way, it will not be boring.

Looking forward to sharing with you my reflection of owning State and Federal Communications for 21 years in next month’s issue. Stay tuned.

 

Q. Do gift laws preventing registered lobbyists and employers from giving gifts to public officials, also prohibit gifts to the family members of public officials?

A. Generally, in states that feature a prohibition on lobbyists giving gifts to public officials or employees, the prohibition will extend to members of the public officials’ immediate family. However, immediate family is usually a defined term and will vary by jurisdiction.

For example, Alabama law prohibits lobbyists and employers of lobbyists from offering or providing a thing of value to a public employee, public official, or family member of a public employee or public official. The state defines a family member of a public employee as a spouse or dependent. A family member of a public official is defined as the spouse, dependent, adult child and his or her spouse, spouse’s parent, and siblings of spouse and their respective spouses.

In Kentucky, the General Assembly just passed House Bill 28, which extends the prohibition on gifts to family members of legislators or candidates. Effective July 14, 2014, registered legislative lobbyists will be prohibited from giving gifts to spouses or children of legislators or candidates for General Assembly.

In Pennsylvania, gifts are also prohibited to immediate family members of public officials, employees, or candidates for public office. They interpret immediate family members to include spouses, children, parents, and siblings.

However, not all states include family members in the gift prohibitions. Minnesota’s gift prohibition applies to public officials, employees of the Legislature, and local officials, but it does not extend to their family members.

Before giving a gift to a public official or employee, you should consult the jurisdiction’s ethics commission. Do not expect officials or their family members to know the applicable laws.

You can directly submit questions for this feature, and we will select those most appropriate and answer them here. Send your questions to: marketing@stateandfed.com.

(We are always available to answer questions from clients that are specific to your needs, and we encourage you to continue to call or e-mail us with questions about your particular company or organization. As always, we will confidentially and directly provide answers or information you need.) Our replies to your questions are not legal advice. Instead, these replies represent our analysis of laws, rules, and regulations.

National:

America’s Shifting Statehouse Press

Pew Center on the States – Jodi Enda, Katarina Eva Masta, and Jan Lauren Boyles | Published: 7/10/2014

After more than a decade of scaling back, newspapers still send more reporters to cover state Capitols than any other medium. But the print journalists who remain now work shoulder to shoulder with students and reporters from non-traditional outlets, shows a new survey. The rise of those non-traditional outlets may be the most significant development in statehouse press coverage in the last five years, although no historical data is available to chart their rise. They include publications that tailor to insider audiences, nonprofit news organizations, and ideologically driven news sites.

Federal:

Hobbled IRS Can’t Stem ‘Dark Money’ Flow

The Center for Public Integrity – Julie Patel | Published: 7/15/2014

The scandal over the IRS targeting conservative groups, combined with Congress systematically stripping the agency of resources and clout over decades, has led to an exempt organizations division that has all but quit regulating politically active nonprofits in any consistent, demonstrable way, according to a Center for Public Integrity investigation. The IRS came to a near standstill on deciding whether it should grant “social welfare” nonprofit status to conservative and liberal groups. An exempt organizations division staffer said the IRS knew many of these groups were highly political, but “we stalled so we wouldn’t have to say no.”

From the States and Municipalities:

Alaska – APOC Rejects Complaint That Parents Should Be Registered Lobbyists

Alaska Dispatch – Richard Mauer (Anchorage Daily News) | Published: 7/11/2014

The Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) determined there was no merit to a complaint filed by former middle school math teacher and legislative candidate David Nees that said parents who volunteered to spend the last month of the legislative session in Juneau seeking money for schools should have registered as paid lobbyists. APOC ruled that even if his allegations were true, there would be no violation of the law because the parents were unpaid and their lobbying trips unsubsidized by others.

California – San Diego’s Ethics Commission Votes to Reign in Independent Committees

inewssource.org – Joe Yerardi | Published: 7/11/2014

The San Diego Ethics Commission voted to forward a proposal to city council that would have the practical effect of ending independent committees taking campaign videos published on candidates’ web sites, downloading them, and paying television stations to run them as advertisements. Specifically, the rule would expand the definition of ‘contribution” to include the republication and dissemination of many candidates’ campaign-created materials. Independent committees are usually prohibited from making contributions of any kind to candidates for city office. So replicating candidates’ videos would constitute an illegal non-monetary contribution to a campaign.

Connecticut – Banned Donors Skirt Law Designed To Prevent Pay-To-Play

Hartford Courant – Dave Altimari and Matthew Kauffman | Published: 7/13/2014

Corporations are donating to the federal fundraising accounts of Connecticut’s political parties to navigate around laws banning employees of some companies from giving to candidates for state office. The State Elections Enforcement Commission earlier this year warned federal laws do not “create a loophole” allowing prohibited donors to support state campaigns. The Legislature in 2005 enacted limits on political contributions by state contractors after a kickback scandal that ultimately led to federal prison terms for former Gov. John Rowland and others.

Georgia – Georgia Ethics Chief Claims Lawyer for Gov. Deal Made Threat over Ethics Complaints

Greenfield Daily Reporter – Christina Cassidy (Associated Press) | Published: 7/14/2014

Holly LaBerge, executive secretary of Georgia’s ethics commission, said top aides to Gov. Nathan Deal once threatened to thwart efforts to expand the agency’s authority unless she made campaign finance complaints against the governor “go away.” The governor and his staff have repeatedly denied any interference with the case, which was settled for $3,350 in fines. LaBerge’s attorney said she was speaking out under the state’s whistleblower law and wanted to make sure she would not be retaliated against. In a television interview, LaBerge said she was tired of being accused of carrying out favors on Deal’s behalf.

Indiana – Slippery Government Ethics Rules Raise Calls for Reforms

Indianapolis Star – Tony Cook, Ryan Sabalow, and Eric Weddle | Published: 7/10/2014

Like many states, Indiana has laws intended to prevent long-recognized ethical problems. State officials are restricted from using government resources for political purposes, must disclose certain financial interests, and are supposed to wait at least a year before taking a job with a company they regulate or whose contracts they administer. But in Indiana, there are lots of exceptions to those rules, which were on display in recent cases involving former Superintendent of Schools Tony Bennet, top transportation official Tony Wodruff, and state Rep. Eric Turner.

Kentucky – Meet the Nation’s Most Honest Politician

CNN – Wade Payson-Denney | Published: 7/16/2014

Gil Fulbright is a fake political candidate, appearing in a brutally honest viral video. Actor Frank Ridley plays the character of a money-hungry politician, who lets the public know in his ad that the issues do not matter, as long as he can get re-elected. The faux campaign is raising real money, even though Fulbright’s name will not appear on any ballot. Represent.Us is sending this character to campaign events in Kentucky to bring a message to the public – limit the influence of money in politics.

Maryland – Excuses Abound for Md. Campaign Report Failings

CapitalGazette.cm; Associated Press –   | Published: 7/14/2014

Jared DeMarinis, the director of candidacy and campaign finance for the Maryland Board of Elections, is the person that candidates call when they receive notification the state is assessing them for failing to file timely campaign finance reports. Because the reports are filed electronically, about the only thing DeMarinis has not heard is that the dog ate the report. By far, the most popular excuse is that the campaigns did not understand the software they are required to use.

Pennsylvania – Convicted of Crimes, They Now Have Plaques under Their Portraits

Philadelphia Inquirer – Angela Couloumbis | Published: 7/15/2014

In the Pennsylvania Capitol, roughly two dozen portraits of legislative leaders hang in a place of honor near the rotunda. As of this week, some of them come with a footnote. Plaques were placed beneath the portraits of three former House speakers and a former Senate president pro tempore listing when the lawmakers left office –and when they were sentenced to prison.

Pennsylvania – Ethics Board to Consider Stricter Campaign Finance Regulations

Philadelphia Inquirer – Claudia Vargas | Published: 7/16/2014

Looking ahead to the 2015 mayoral campaign, the Philadelphia Board of Ethics met to work out a series of proposed changes to the city’s campaign finance regulations. Given the rise in independent campaign contributions and coordinated expenditures nationwide, the board’s director of enforcement, Michael Cooke, said the panel should add specific language to the existing regulations to make clear what counts as a contribution and for what purposes. A public hearing on the proposed amendments will be held on September 7.

South Carolina – South Carolina’s State Ethics Commission Restricts Media Policy

Charleston Post & Gazette – Jeremy Borden | Published: 7/16/2014

South Carolina Ethics Commission Chairperson James Burns said until the agency has an official policy for dealing with the media, all comments made to news media should come from Director Herb Hayden. Deputy Director Cathy Hazelwood has acted as the primary spokesperson for the commission, and has often been forthright on issues before the agency. Media attorney Jay Bender said the move to change the policy without a motion, discussion, or vote was against the state’s open records laws. “…If we had more people in government like Cathy Hazelwood, we’d have a better government,” said Bender.

Tennessee – Carr Gave Loan to Company of Political Supporter

The Daily Journal – Chas Sisk (The Tennessean) | Published: 7/15/2014

Tennessee Rep. Joe Carr loaned Life Watch Pharmacy $200,000 last year from his campaign fund. The company is led by conservative fundraiser Andrew Miller, who gave Carr $2,600 for his primary and general election campaigns. Miller also has been the largest donor to the Real Conservatives National Committee, giving $22,500 to the super PAC. Carr has been waging a tea party battle to defeat U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander.

Utah – Former Utah Attorneys General John Swallow, Mark Shurtleff Arrested

Deseret News – Pat Reavy and Dennis Romboy | Published: 7/15/2014

Former Utah Attorneys General John Swallow and Mark Shurtleff were arrested and now face multiple felony counts, including accepting bribes and destroying evidence. The two are accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and campaign contributions from individuals facing legal action in return for favorable treatment from the attorney general’s office.

Wisconsin – After Subpoenas in Walker Criminal Probe, WI GOP Sought to Quietly Change Law

Center for Media and Democracy – Brendan Fischer | Published: 7/15/2014

New documents indicate that weeks after the first subpoenas were issued in Wisconsin’s “John Doe” criminal campaign finance probe in October 2013, state Senate Republicans began working to change the law to legalize the activities under investigation. Republicans surprised many when they tried to rush Senate Bill 654 through the Legislature to explicitly carve-out an exception to the state’s campaign finance statutes for issue ads, the election messages that stop short of telling viewers to vote for or against a candidate.

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.

News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.

 

Lobbying

“Who Has Time for Legislating Anyway? | K Street Files” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“K Street eyes spending bills to stop Obama” by Megan R. Wilson and Tim Devaney in The Hill.

Kentucky: “U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield of Kentucky Had Decade-Long Financial Tie To a Lobbyist” on WKMS.

Campaign Finance

“Data Delayed Is Democracy Denied” op-ed by Robert Biersack in The New York Times.

“Big Checks Strengthen Super PACs” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

“The massive difference in how Democrats and Republicans raise money” by Philip Bump in The Washington Post.

“Senate hopeful’s donations raise questions on source” by Todd Spangler (Detroit Free Press) in USA Today.

“The Easiest Fix for Dark Money: Disclose Less Often” by Lindsay Mark Lewis in The Atlantic.

California: “Gov. Brown allows advisory ballot measure on Citizens United decision” by Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times.

Kentucky: “Fake KY senate candidate draws attention campaign finance reform” by Lawrence Smith on WDRB.

Missouri: “We Asked Five Questions About Campaign Finance Reports. Here Are The Answers” by Jason Rosenbaum on St. Louis Public Radio.

New Jersey: “Princeton moves to restrict campaign donors” by Nicole Mulvaney in Times of Trenton.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: “Ethics Board to consider stricter campaign finance regulations” by Claudia Vargas in The Inquirer.

Ethics

“Bill proposes ethics classes for Congress” by Al Kamen and Colby Itkowitz in The Washington Post.

Redistricting

“Florida Will Wait Til After November to Redraw Redistricting Map” by Mary Ellen Klas in Governing.

Lobbying

“Lobbying World” by Megan Ruyle in The Hill.

“Big-game hunting on K St.” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

Massachusetts: “Casino Interests Have Spent Over $16.5m on Lobbyists Since 2007” by Sara Morrison in the Boston Globe.

Missouri: “Does your legislator accept lobbyist gifts?” by Walter Moskop in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

New York: “Lobbying Group Adopts de Blasio’s Agenda” by Kate Taylor in The New York Times.

Campaign Finance

“Republican Governors Association Raises $24 Million” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

“Democratic Governors Association Raises $13.8 Million” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

“Party Polarization and Campaign Finance” by Thomas E. Mann and Anthony Corrado in the Brookings Institution.

California: “O.C. Voters to Decide if They Want State to Prosecute Violations of Local Campaign Finance Laws” by Penny Arévalo in the Patch.

Ethics

“Chairman: Ethics Committee Can Only ‘Offer Up Advice’” by Matt Fuller in Roll Call.

South Carolina: “SC Ethics Commission to discuss talking to the press” by Jamie Self in The State.

Utah: “Does Utah Have a Bribery Problem?” by Matt Pearce (McClatchy News) in Governing.

State Legislatures

Missouri: “Gov. Jay Nixon vetoes record number of bills” by Alex Stuckey in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Redistricting

Florida: “Florida Lawmakers Won’t Challenge Redistricting Ruling” by Andrew Harris and Christine Sexton in Bloomberg.

Florida: “Legislature agrees to redraw invalid congressional districts — for 2016” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.

Government Tech and Social Media

New York: “In Brooklyn, Testing a Texting Platform That Connects Locals, Representatives & Community Leaders” by Jessica McKenzie in TechPresident.

Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Launching Giant Cloud” in Government Technology.

The Ethics Commission has produced a summary of changes to the city lobbyist ordinance taking effect July 26, 2014. Ordinance File No. 130374 expands the definition of “lobbyist” and requires random audits of lobbying reports.

Meeting the registration threshold of a lobbyist will now depend on the number of compensated contacts with a covered official rather than the level of compensation received. The lobbying exemption for contractors and their attorneys will be limited to in-house officers and employees. Outside consultants communicating with public officials regarding contract bidding and negotiating will be subject to the registration and reporting requirements of lobbying.

The commission’s summary is available here. 

Lobbying

“Accepting Resumes! AGRP Executive Director Position” from the Association of Government Relations Professionals Blog.

“Bottom Line” in The Hill.

Rhode Island: “GOP Candidates Wants Tougher Lobbying and Ethics Law in RI” by Mark Curtis on WLNE TV News.

Virginia: “Va. hospital group spends $400,000 on lobbying” by Alan Suderman (Associated Press) on WTOP.

Campaign Finance

“House Democrats to unveil campaign finance amendment” by Lauren French in Politico.

“How to Raise $5 Million Online For Campaign Finance Reform: Why MayDay PAC Succeeded” by Ben Winkler in TechPresident.

“DeMint rakes in Heritage cash” by Alexander Bolton in The Hill.

New York: “Rolling updates: NYC Campaign Finance Board filings” by Celeste Katz on NY Daily News.

Ohio: “Ben Suarez asks federal judge to throw out obstruction of justice conviction or grant new trial” by James F. McCarty in The Plain Dealer.

South Carolina: “House Speaker Harrell uses campaign funds to pay Charleston attorneys” by Jeremy Borden in The Post and Courier.

Ethics

“Partisan Activities of Lerner Co-Worker at FEC” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

Elections

North Carolina: “NC voters see runoff primaries in 37 counties” by The Associated Press on WSOC TV.

Redistricting

“Interactive: Understanding congressional redistricting” by The Associated Press in the Wisconsin State Journal.

New Jersey: “Top Assembly Republican wants redistricting do-over” by Matt Friedman in The Star Ledger.

Texas: “Texas accused of purposely excluding minorities in redistricting” by Will Weissert (Associated Press) in The Dallas Morning News.

Texas: “The Source: Texas Redistricting Back In San Antonio Federal Court” by Paul Flahive on Texas Public Radio.

Applications for tax-exempt status of charities filing under section 501(c)(3) of the tax code are now quicker and easier for as many as 70 percent of all applicants, says the IRS.

According to an IRS press release, organizations with gross receipts of $50,000 or less and assets of $250,000 or less are eligible to use a new three-page application form. The standard form is 26 pages.

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said, “It didn’t matter if you were a small soccer or gardening club or a major research organization. [The standard form] process created needlessly long delays for groups, which didn’t help the groups, the taxpaying public or the IRS.” According to the IRS, the new shorter form will “speed the approval process for smaller groups and free up resources to review applications from larger, more complex organizations while reducing the application backlog.”

There is a concern groups not having true charitable purposes may use the tax-exempt status to make political contributions without having to reveal the original source of the funds. In a TIME magazine article published July 13, Koskinen dismissed the idea that “if someone has been forced to do more paperwork they’re going to be less nefarious.”

State and Federal Communications is proud to be a sponsor and associate for The Council of State Governments Midwest Legislative Conference in Omaha, Nebraska!

Elizabeth Bartz, president and CEO of State and Federal Communications, is attending the conference, which runs from July 13-16.

The CSG website offers the following explanation of the event: “The Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting is a family-friendly, regionally focused event designed to meet the needs and interests of state legislators from our 11-state region. Held in a different Midwestern city every year, the four-day event features policy sessions on issues of critical importance to this region and its legislators.”

 

Lobbying

Canada: “Foreign lobbying transparency bill another attack on environmental groups: critics” by Mark Burgess in The Hill Times.

Iowa: “Lobbyists of All Kinds Flock to Farm Bill” by Peggy Lowe on Iowa Public Radio.

Kansas: “Hearing held on 38 Studios lobbying questions” by The Associated Press in The Wichita Eagle.

Campaign Finance

“Lawrence Lessig’s Public Q&A on How His $12 million Super PAC Will Fix Campaign Finance” by Rebecca Chao in TechPresident.

California: “San Diego Ethics Commission Votes To Rein In Independent Committees” by Joe Yerardi in KPBS.

Connecticut: “Banned Donors Skirt Law Designed To Prevent Pay-To-Play” by Dave Altimari and Matthew Kauffman in the Hartford Courant.

Maine: “Analysis: One candidate’s unfair campaign finance law is another’s protection” by Mario Moretto in the Maine Daily Journal.

Maryland: “Excuses abound for Md. campaign report failings” by The Associated Press in The Washington Post.

Massachusetts: “Union fights to strip reporting provision from campaign finance reform bill” by Frank Phillips in The Boston Globe.

Missouri: “Money, Money, Money: Five Things To Look For In Tuesday’s Campaign Finance Reports” by Jason Rosenbaum on KBIA.

Ethics

Indiana: “Bennett accepts $5,000 fine in ethics settlement” by Tom LoBianco (Associated Press) in the Naples Daily News.

Nevada: “What a difference a word could make” by Steve Sebelius in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Pennsylvania: “Pa. lawmakers left town with plenty of unfinished business” by Andrew Staub in the Daily Local News.

Redistricting

Florida: “House Democrats Have Mixed Reaction to Florida Redistricting Ruling” by Abby Livingston in Roll Call.

New restrictions on legislative lobbying expenditures take effect Monday, July 14, 2014. House Bill 28 includes a “no cup of coffee rule” to eliminate the gift exception allowing legislative lobbyists to spend $100 on food and beverage for a legislator.

Legislative lobbyists and their employers are now also prohibited from providing out-of-state transportation or lodging for legislators.

Employers of legislative lobbyists are prohibited from making campaign contributions during a regular legislative session and required to disclose the cost of advertising supporting or opposing legislation.

The Ethics Commission has voted to prevent independent committees from using material produced by candidates in committee advertisements.

The amendment to the Election Campaign Control Ordinance (ECCO) will classify a committee’s otherwise independent payment as a “contribution” if the payment is for an advertisement duplicating materials found in a candidate’s advertisement or on the candidate’s website. Such payments would be subject to both contribution limits and source prohibitions.

The amendment now must be considered by City Council. Approval is not expected before September, 2014.

Photo of the San Diego skyline courtesy of Tomcio77 on Wikimedia Commons.

 

National:

Eschewing Lobbyists, States Advocate for Themselves

USA Today – Elaine Povich (Pew Center on the States) | Published: 7/10/2014

The 2011 ban on earmarks – the inclusion of money for specific local projects in broader bills – has prompted a shift away from states paying Washington, D.C.-based lobbyists to advocate for them. Now, more state lawmakers and other officials are combining forces to advocate for themselves. K Street lobbyists were specialists in getting earmarks because of their personal connections to federal lawmakers. The state coalitions are making broader arguments for funds that benefit more than one individual project.

Federal:

Sen. Robert Menendez Seeks Probe of Alleged Cuban Plot to Smear Him

Washington Post – Carol Leonnig and Manuel Roig-Franzia | Published: 7/7/2014

With a public corruption investigation hanging over him, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez suggested Cuban spies had planted the seeds of that inquiry as a way to discredit him and mute his strident opposition to the government in Havana. His comments followed media stories that said a 2013 CIA report had cited credible evidence linking Cuban agents to a campaign to smear Menendez. The FBI is investigating whether Menendez received free airplane rides and other perks from a wealthy donor and repaid him with political favors. Even if Menendez’s Cuba theory is correct, it is unlikely to derail the probe.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – Support Wanes in Sacramento for Tough Ethics Reform following Scandal

San Jose Mercury News – Jessica Califati | Published: 7/5/2014

Since voting to suspend Leland Yee and two other state senators indicted in recent months, California lawmakers have held a “day of reflection” and considered more than a dozen new pieces of ethics reform legislation. But while support for bills requiring more disclosure of gifts and contributions remains strong, interest in tougher proposals that would restrict politicians’ fundraising and access to free trips has waned significantly in the last few months. “You can’t be against an ethics bill the day after the scandal, but it’s no longer the day after the scandal,” said Jessica Levinson, a professor who specializes in campaign finance law.

Florida – Miami Lakes’ Muzzled Mayor Misses ‘My People’ as Trial Is Set to Begin

Miami Herald – Jay Weaver | Published: 7/7/2014

Michael Pizzi, the suspended mayor of Miami Lakes, is facing a trial in federal court on corruption charges. He is charged with conspiracy and extortion offenses for allegedly accepting $6,750 in mostly cash bribes during an FBI sting operation. Pizzi, a Brooklyn native, sees himself as the character Carmine Polito in the Oscar-nominated movie American Hustle – an over-the-top tale of the FBI’s undercover takedown of a fictional blue-collar New Jersey mayor who lived for his constituents.

Florida – Sternad, Saying He Was Duped, Gets 7 Months

Miami Herald – Jay Weaver | Published: 7/10/2014

A judge sentenced a failed South Florida congressional candidate to seven months in prison for campaign finance violations in a case linked to former U.S. Rep. David Rivera. Justin Sternad pleaded guilty last year to campaign finance violations, including accepting illegal contributions and filing false reports. The case involves allegations that Rivera, a Republican, secretly financed Sternad’s campaign to weaken Democratic rival Joe Garcia. Rivera has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, although close Rivera associate Ana Alliegro is also charged in the case. Rivera is again running for the House seat against Garcia after losing to him in 2012.

Hawaii – Ethics Commission Investigates Golf Perks

Hawaii News Now – Rick Daysog | Published: 7/9/2014

The Hawaii Ethics Commission is winding down its year-old investigation targeting number of employees at the University of Hawaii (UH) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) for receiving thousands of dollars in free golf outings provided by government contractors. Recent filings with the commission by DOT and UH employees indicates just how widespread the practice is. “For a lot of these firms, it’s simply the cost of doing business and this has got to stop because it makes people trust their government less,” said UH political science professor Colin Moore.

Iowa – Koch Brothers Group Targets Iowa Politics

USA Today – Jennifer Jacobs (Des Moines Register) | Published: 7/6/2014

Americans for Prosperity, the conservative political advocacy organization backed by Charles and David Koch, is building an operation in Iowa –– the site of the first presidential primary – that is intended to sway voting in the state for years to come. Using methodical canvassing, Americans for Prosperity-Iowa seeks to identify voters who are sympathetic to its message. Its database is to include an individual’s political orientation, likelihood to vote, and serve as a roster of probable swing voters.

Louisiana – C. Ray Nagin, Former New Orleans Mayor, Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

Los Angeles Times – David Zucchino | Published: 7/9/2014

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his participation in a $500,000 bribery scheme that operated during most of his time in office. Many of the kickbacks took place after Hurricane Katrina, when contractors crowded into the city for rebuilding work. The sentence was less than the recommended 15 years, but U.S. District Court Judge Ginger Berrigan said the evidence failed to show Nagin had organized or had been a leader of a conspiracy. Prosecutors objected to the sentence, a move that could set up an appeal.

Maine – Cutler Supporters’ Lawsuit Challenges Constitutionality of Maine Donation Limits

The Sun Journal – Christopher Cousins (Bangor Daily News) | Published: 7/8/2014

Four supporters of independent gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler filed a lawsuit against Maine’s ethics commission for not being allowed to contribute as much to Cutler as they could to a party candidate. State law allows party candidates to accept $1,500 donations from individuals for both the June primary and the general election, even if those candidates do not face primary challengers. As an independent, Cutler can collect no more than $1,500 per donor. The lawsuit says that law should be struck down as unconstitutional.

Massachusetts – Robert DeLeo in Glare at Probation Hiring Trial

Boston Globe – Milton Valencia and Michael Levenson | Published: 7/10/2014

Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo strongly denied assertions by prosecutors at the federal trial of the state’s former probation department commissioner that DeLeo traded jobs for votes or deliberately spared the agency from budget cuts. Prosecutors said in a court filing that such an arrangement had existed between DeLeo and former probation commissioner John O’Brien, who is being tried along with two deputies for allegedly rigging the agency’s hiring process to favor applicants referred by powerful lawmakers, in exchange for favorable legislative action on the budget or other matters.

Missouri – Ex-Missouri House Speaker’s Campaign Fund Still Yielding Benefits Two Years Later

St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Kevin McDermott | Published: 7/6/2014

It is not unusual for former Missouri lawmakers to jump immediately into lobbying their former colleagues with no waiting period. What is unusual is for ex-legislators to keep their campaign funds open and use it in ways that appear to promote their lobbying activities, such as with former House Speaker Steve Tilley. A St. Louis Post-Dispatch review found no other current lawmaker-turned-lobbyist operating under circumstances like the ones surrounding Tilley. That makes some reformers wonder if he is setting a dangerous new precedent that others might follow.

Ohio – Cleveland to Host 2016 GOP Convention

Politico – Katie Glueck and Maggie Haberman | Published: 7/8/2014

In choosing Cleveland as the site of the 2016 Republican National Convention, party organizers opted for a Democratic enclave in the pivotal battleground state of Ohio over the wealthier and more conservative Dallas area. The announcement is a coup for Cleveland as it seeks to update its image from an economically struggling Rust Belt city to a thriving metropolis with a revitalized downtown. The decision to go with Ohio was anticipated by many Republican operatives and donors. “We’re going where the swing voters are,” said GOP strategist Mike Murphy.

Pennsylvania – Interest Groups’ Lobbying Tally Tops $500M in Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – Melissa Daniels | Published: 7/4/2014

In 2013, lobbyists spent $518 million on costs related to influencing Pennsylvania lawmakers. It is the first time the spending exceeded the $500 million mark. Gabrielle Sedor, president of the Pennsylvania Association for Government Relations, said the increase in spending is likely is because of rising costs overall, such as salaries and travel costs. She said lobbyists try to provide expertise and research about industry trends, and to keep tabs on statehouse activity. “To be a lobbyist and have a good relationship, you have to be honest and ethical and be a source of information, a reliable resource above anything else,” said Sedor.

Rhode Island – R.I. Lobbyist Rickman Discloses He Loaned $10,000 in 2009 to Ex-House Leader Fox

Providence Journal – Katherine Gregg | Published: 7/8/2014

A lobbyist who failed to disclose he loaned money to former Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox has now said the loan was for $10,000. Ray Rickman and Fox had both neglected to report the loan from August 2009 in required filings. State Ethics Commission attorney Jason Gramitt said nothing in the law bans a lobbyist from giving a public official a loan, but the loan would create a ‘business relationship” which in all cases, except those involving legislators, would create a clear conflict-of-interest if that official took any action that financially benefited that business associate.

South Carolina – SC Supreme Court: Harrell probe can continue

The State – Jamie Self | Published: 7/9/2014

The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled the state’s top prosecutor has the authority to investigate House Speaker Bobby Harrell over allegations the lawmaker abused his power for personal benefit. The justices said Attorney General Alan Wilson is fully empowered to probe wrongdoing wherever it may occur, and his powers are not blunted because the investigation involves a lawmaker’s ethical conduct. The ruling overturned a lower court’s decision to halt Wilson’s investigation.

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.

News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.