June 4, 2014 •
Maine Ethics Commission Will No Longer Enforce Aggregate Contribution Limits
The Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices will no longer enforce the yearly aggregate contribution limit applicable to individuals and entities contained in Maine Revised Statutes section 1015(3). In a policy statement issued June 4, 2014, the commission […]
The Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices will no longer enforce the yearly aggregate contribution limit applicable to individuals and entities contained in Maine Revised Statutes section 1015(3). In a policy statement issued June 4, 2014, the commission cited recent U.S. Supreme Court decision McCutcheon v. FEC as authority for its determination.
The commission stated it will no longer enforce the $25,000 aggregate limit “unless and until it receives further guidance from the Maine Legislature or a court of competent jurisdiction.”
The policy statement also noted the commission’s intention to study the issues and perhaps propose legislation during the next state legislative session.
June 4, 2014 •
Executive Director of Alabama Ethics Commission Retiring
Jim Sumner, executive director of the Alabama Ethics Commission, is retiring after 35 years in public service. Sumner has held the executive director position for 17 years. Upon his departure on October 1, 2014, the five-member Ethics Commission will pick […]
Jim Sumner, executive director of the Alabama Ethics Commission, is retiring after 35 years in public service.
Sumner has held the executive director position for 17 years.
Upon his departure on October 1, 2014, the five-member Ethics Commission will pick Sumner’s successor, subject to approval by the state Senate.
June 4, 2014 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying “Lobbying World” in The Hill. “A lifetime ban on lobbying for lawmakers?” by Cristina Marcos in The Hill. Campaign Finance “FEC Summarizes Campaign Activity of the First 12 Months of the 2013-2014 Election Cycle” news release on the Federal […]
Lobbying
“Lobbying World” in The Hill.
“A lifetime ban on lobbying for lawmakers?” by Cristina Marcos in The Hill.
Campaign Finance
“FEC Summarizes Campaign Activity of the First 12 Months of the 2013-2014 Election Cycle” news release on the Federal Election Commission website.
“Reformers: It’ll take scandal to stop PACs” by Joe Battenfeld and Hillary Chabot in the Boston Herald.
Mississippi: “Mississippi Senate: Another race with record money” by The Associated Press on WZVN ABC 7 News.
Ethics
Alabama: “Alabama Ethics Commission director Jim Sumner to retire” by Brian Lyman in the Montgomery Advertiser.
Louisiana: “Senate rejects Jindal ethics board appointee” by The Associated Press on WAFB News.
South Carolina: “SC lawmakers try to find ethics compromise” by Jeffrey Collins (Associated Press) in the Charlotte Observer.
Elections
“Top takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries” by Paul Steinhauser, Ashley Killough and Dana Davidsen on CNN.
Government Tech and Social Media
“How Twitter Could Be Replaced As The Primary Political App” by David Jones in Social News Daily.
June 4, 2014 •
New Mexico Martinez and King Win Gubernatorial Primaries
Attorney General Gary King received more than 33 percent of the vote in a field of five candidates to win the Democratic nomination for governor. King will face a general election match-up with Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, who ran unopposed […]
Attorney General Gary King received more than 33 percent of the vote in a field of five candidates to win the Democratic nomination for governor. King will face a general election match-up with Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Martinez, a former district attorney from Las Cruces, was elected the state’s first female governor and the nation’s first female Hispanic governor in 2010.
King, a former state legislator and son of former Gov. Bruce King, raised about $476,000 for his gubernatorial bid since October. More than half of the contributions were in the form of King’s personal loans to the campaign.
During the same period, Martinez raised more than $2.4 million in campaign contributions.
June 4, 2014 •
Mississippi U.S. Senate Primary May Be Decided in Runoff
The U.S. Senate primary between incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran and tea party challenger Chris McDaniel remains too close to call after the June 3 election date. If neither candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be […]
The U.S. Senate primary between incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran and tea party challenger Chris McDaniel remains too close to call after the June 3 election date.
If neither candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be scheduled for June 24.
The race was considered one of the few remaining chances for a tea party victory after a string of primary challenges ended in defeat.
June 3, 2014 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying “Exodus grows at Patton Boggs” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill. “Wyden-World Comes to GPhA Government Affairs | Downtown Moves” by Bridget Bowman in Roll Call. Campaign Finance “Campaign Finance and Free Speech: Panelists talked about Supreme Court […]
Lobbying
“Exodus grows at Patton Boggs” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.
“Wyden-World Comes to GPhA Government Affairs | Downtown Moves” by Bridget Bowman in Roll Call.
Campaign Finance
“McConnell, Reid Spar Over Campaign Financing” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.
“Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz spar over campaign finance amendment” by Byron Tau in Politico.
“McConnell skewers Dem plan as ‘shockingly bad’” by Alexander Bolton in The Hill.
“Cruz: Abolish limits on political cash” by Benjamin Goad in The Hill.
“Ultra-Rich Hijacking American Politics” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.
“Crowd packs San Luis Obispo campaign finance forum” by Nick Wilson in The Tribune.
District of Columbia: “Former D.C. council candidate Kelvin Robinson pleads guilty in campaign finance scheme” by Ann E. Merrimow in The Washington Post.
Ohio: “People close to case: Ohio politicians subpoenaed” by The Associated Press in The Washington Times.
South Carolina: “S.C. Ethics Commission won’t punish 2010 candidates for quirk” by Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) in The Post and Courier.
Texas: “Legal battle to reinstate DeLay conviction grows” by Mike Ward in the Houston Chronicle.
Wisconsin: “Candidates could operate secret committees under John Doe ruling, elections head warns” by Mary Spicuzza in the Wisconsin State Journal.
Ethics
Kentucky: “Northern Kentucky University law professor named to state ethics commission” by Kevin Wheatley in The State Journal.
Louisiana: “Senate rejects Ethics appointee” in The Advocate.
Elections
Alabama: “If challenge succeeds: New map, maybe not new elections” by Brian Lyman in the Montgomery Advertiser.
June 3, 2014 •
Louisiana Legislature Adjourns Regular Session
The 2014 regular session of the Louisiana Legislature adjourned sine die on June 2, 2014. Upon transmittal of a bill, Gov. Bobby Jindal will have 20 days to sign or veto the legislation. Photo of the Louisiana State Capitol by […]
The 2014 regular session of the Louisiana Legislature adjourned sine die on June 2, 2014. Upon transmittal of a bill, Gov. Bobby Jindal will have 20 days to sign or veto the legislation.
Photo of the Louisiana State Capitol by Bluepoint951 on Wikimedia Commons.
June 3, 2014 •
Don’t Miss the Senate Panel Hearing on Campaign Finance
You can listen to today’s live broadcast of the U.S. Senate Hearing on campaign finance, “Examining a Constitutional Amendment to Restore Democracy to the American People” on the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary website. Panel I will feature U.S. […]
You can listen to today’s live broadcast of the U.S. Senate Hearing on campaign finance, “Examining a Constitutional Amendment to Restore Democracy to the American People” on the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary website.
Panel I will feature U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and U.S. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Panel II will feature North Carolina State Senator Floyd B. McKissick, Jr., Floyd Abrams, Partner Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, and Jamie Raski, Professor of Law and Director of the Law and Government Program at American University, Washington College of Law.
The streaming broadcast will be available at 10:30 a.m.
June 2, 2014 •
San Francisco Ethics Commission to Ignore Aggregate Contribution Limits
The Ethics Commission adopted a resolution stating it will not enforce the aggregate limit on contributions to city candidates in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission. The San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct […]
The Ethics Commission adopted a resolution stating it will not enforce the aggregate limit on contributions to city candidates in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission.
The San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code imposes an aggregate limit of $500 multiplied by the number of city elective offices to be voted on in the election. The McCutcheon decision found federal aggregate limits to be a violation of constitutional free speech.
The city’s $500 limit on contributions from an individual to a single city candidate remains in full force.
The resolution is available here.
June 2, 2014 •
Wisconsin John Doe Sues GAB
Targets of a John Doe investigation by the Government Accountability Board (GAB) have countered by filing suit against GAB. Conservative activist Eric O’Keefe, his Wisconsin Club for Growth, and “others similarly situated” filed the lawsuit in the Waukesha County Circuit […]
Targets of a John Doe investigation by the Government Accountability Board (GAB) have countered by filing suit against GAB. Conservative activist Eric O’Keefe, his Wisconsin Club for Growth, and “others similarly situated” filed the lawsuit in the Waukesha County Circuit Court.
The plaintiffs allege GAB does not have the statutory authority to appoint and pay special investigators to probe conservative organizations suspected of illegally coordinating with Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign during the state’s partisan recall elections.
The lawsuit follows a U.S. District Court decision effectively ending the John Doe investigation and a 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decision declaring the state’s campaign laws restricting issue advertising unconstitutional.
June 2, 2014 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “The new landscape of lobbying” by Catherine Ho in The Washington Post. “Lobbyists group backs disclosure reforms” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill. Campaign Finance “Reid, McConnell to Testify at Campaign Finance First Amendment Hearing” by Niels Lesniewski […]
Lobbying
“The new landscape of lobbying” by Catherine Ho in The Washington Post.
“Lobbyists group backs disclosure reforms” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.
Campaign Finance
“Reid, McConnell to Testify at Campaign Finance First Amendment Hearing” by Niels Lesniewski in Roll Call.
“‘Colbert Report’ Taught Viewers More About Super PACs Than Cable News” by Tierney Sneed in U.S. News & World Report.
“Ethics Commission hits anti-gay marriage group with record fine, orders disclosure of donors from ’09 campaign” by Mario Moretto in Bangor Daily News.
Alabama: “Ads don’t violate campaign finance law, Foundation says” by Brian Lyman in the Montgomery Advertiser.
Massachusetts: “Shadowy Super PACs are skirting laws and tilting Massachusetts gubernatorial contest” by Hillary Chabot and Joe Battenfeld in the Boston Herald.
New York: “Without public campaign finance, Senate coalition a ʹfailure,ʹ Cuomo says” by Jon Campbell in The Journal News.
New York: “Cuomo gives campaign financing ultimatum to Senate” by David Klepper (Associated Press) in Newsday.
Ethics
“Former Member of Congress Cashes In on Connections” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.
Hawaii: “Hawaii Monitor: Legislative Silence Shouldn’t Trump Ethics Oversight” by Ian Lind in the Honolulu Civil Beat.
New Jersey: “Christie staffers get hefty pay increases as other areas face cuts” by Melissa Hayes in The Record.
Rhode Island: “Senate panel to vote on new ethics measure” by The Associated Press in the Washington Times.
Rhode Island: “Mattiello ‘receptive’ to new Senate ethics bill” by The Associated Press in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Elections
“Red, Blue States Find Some Common Ground on Elections Reform” by Jake Grovum in Stateline.
Government Tech and Social Media
“Can software replace Congress?” in Government Technology.
Oregon: “Portland hackers tackle campaign finance, garbage data to make civic apps” by Malia Spencer in the Portland Business Journal.
June 2, 2014 •
MA Will Continue to Enforce Aggregate Contribution Limits to Political Party Committees
Today, the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) announced it will continue to enforce the $5,000 aggregate limit an individual may contribute to political party committees during a calendar year. In response to U.S. Supreme Court’s decision of […]
Today, the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) announced it will continue to enforce the $5,000 aggregate limit an individual may contribute to political party committees during a calendar year.
In response to U.S. Supreme Court’s decision of McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, in which the Court found aggregate limits on campaign contributions unconstitutional, the OCPF had previously announced it would no longer enforce the state’s aggregate limits for the amount an individual could contribute to candidates. At the time, the OCPF stated it would review the decision more closely before deciding whether the $5,000 aggregate contribution limit to party committees could remain standing.
In affirming that limit today, the OCPF “determined that, because the federal statutory provisions that were analyzed in McCutcheon differ substantially from the law in Massachusetts, this office will continue to enforce the $5,000 aggregate limit.”
June 2, 2014 •
Anne Arundel County, Maryland to Restrict Lobbyist Campaign Activities
A bill restricting the political activities of lobbyists registered with the county is set for public hearing on June 2, 2014. Bill No. 39-14 would prohibit registered lobbyists from soliciting campaign contributions, serving on a fundraising committee, acting as a […]
A bill restricting the political activities of lobbyists registered with the county is set for public hearing on June 2, 2014. Bill No. 39-14 would prohibit registered lobbyists from soliciting campaign contributions, serving on a fundraising committee, acting as a treasurer for a candidate, establishing a political committee, or forwarding tickets to fundraising events.
The bill would also comply with a 2010 state law requiring local ethics laws to be at least as strong as state standards.
Proposed amendments to the bill include delaying the effective date till after the general election and allowing former lobbyists to participate in campaigns without any lapse in time after termination.
May 30, 2014 •
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Adjourns
On May 29, the second session of the 40th parliament of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia adjourned for the summer. It is scheduled to reconvene on October 6, 2014, and to adjourn on November 27, 2014. Two campaign finance […]
On May 29, the second session of the 40th parliament of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia adjourned for the summer. It is scheduled to reconvene on October 6, 2014, and to adjourn on November 27, 2014.
Two campaign finance bills affecting local elections in the province were passed during the session. Bill No. 20, the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, and Bill No. 21, Local Elections Statutes Amendment Act, 2014 require, among other changes, third party advertising sponsors to register with Elections B.C., report expenditures and contributions of $50 or more, and clearly identify themselves in any election advertisement. Both bills received royal assent on May 29.
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.