January 15, 2013 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News
Keep up with the latest government relations news with these articles:
Lobbying
“Fiscal Battles Portend Good Year Ahead for K Street” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
“K Street Files: Media Matters, MoveOn Adviser Takes Reins at NARAL” by Janie Lorber in Roll Call.
“Roundtable’s chief lobbyist Bill Miller: Taking care of business” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
“Tech lobbyists: Immigration reform needed ‘desperately’” by Steve Friess in Politico.
“Outside Groups Spent Big on Congressional Travel” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.
California: “Former state legislator, wine lobbyist Paul Lunardi dies at 91” by Torey Van Oot in the Sacramento Bee.
Europe: “Political groups move closer to creating special committee on lobbying” by Cillan Donnelly in NewEurope.
Missouri: “Ex-state representative relates keys of lobbying” by James R. Campbell in the Daily Mail & Herald Tribune.
New Mexico: “Rotunda buzzes with activity ahead of legislative session” by Stacey Matlock in the Santa Fe New Mexican.
Campaign Finance
North Carolina: “Morning Memo: McCrory gets campaign cash from indicted donor, Hudson on the rise” in the News & Observer.
Legislative Issues
South Carolina: “No Sanford vs. Sanford in South Carolina” by Mike Zapler in Politico.
January 15, 2013 •
Special Election for Kentucky House District 52
Election scheduled February 12
Governor Steve Beshear has set the special election to fill the House District 52 seat for February 12, 2013.
The election will fill the unexpired term of Sara Beth Gregory, who won a special election to the Kentucky Senate after former senate president David Williams resigned to accept a circuit judge appointment by Governor Beshear.
January 14, 2013 •
Georgia Senate Caps Lobbyist Gifts at $100
Rule allows for some exceptions
The Senate has imposed a $100 limit on gifts from lobbyists. Senators approved the gift cap 42-12 on the opening day of the 2013 General Assembly session as part of new rules governing the chamber’s operations for the current two-year term.
The new rule does not apply to travel costs or to gifts provided to groups of senators, including members of committees. The rule also allows lobbyists to give $100 gifts on multiple occasions.
Although not bound by senate rules, house leaders plan to introduce legislation later this week calling for a complete ban on lobbyist gifts.
Photo of the Georgia State Capitol courtesy of connor.carey on Wikipedia.
January 14, 2013 •
Monday News Roundup
Let’s start off the week with these lobbying, campaign finance, and ethics news articles:
Lobbying
“Newly unemployed lawmakers buzzing about million-dollar lobbying jobs” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
California: “Interactive graphic: Hidden lobbying expenses” by Sharon Okada in the Sacramento Bee.
California: “California’s lobby laws keep many influence-peddling details secret” by Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee.
Nevada: “Lobbyists sit through ethics training in Carson City” by David McGrath in the Las Vegas Sun.
“Two Buerkle staffers land jobs with Washington, D.C., lobbying firms” by Mark Weiner in the Post-Standard.
Campaign Finance
“Money in Politics This Week” by Syed Zaidi in the Brennan Center for Justice Blog.
“FEC Appointments Are Deciding the Future of Campaign Finance” by Alex Gauthier in the Independent Voter Network.
Mississippi: “Judge sets trial date for campaign finance case” by The Associated Press in the Mississippi Business Journal.
Wisconsin: “Mike McCabe featured speaker, topic is Campaign Finance Jan. 26 public meeting” in the Bay View Compass.
Ethics
“Harry Reid Disavows Report Linking Him to Bribery Case” by Neils Lesniewski in Roll Call.
Texas: “Some State Legislators Blur Line Between Public and Private Interests” by Emily Ramshaw in The New York Times.
State Legislatures
“More than Half of State Legislatures Convened this Week” by Angela Andrews in NCSL’s The Thicket blog.
Washington: “Key players to watch in the Washington Legislature, which convenes Monday” in the Seattle Times.
The Presidential Inauguration
“Critics Decry Looser Rules For Inauguration Fundraising” by NPR in Oregon Public Broadcasting.
“Fund-Raising Is Lagging, So Far, for Inaugural Plans” by Nicholas Confessore in The New York Times.
“An inauguration first: Apps” by Steve Freiss in Politico.
January 14, 2013 •
Oklahoma Ethics Commission Hires New Executive Director
Lee Slater
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has hired Lee Slater as its new executive director.
According to The Oklahoman, Mr. Slater will begin working part time with the commission on February 1 and become the full time executive director on July 1, 2013.
The position recently became vacant when Marilyn Hughes retired as executive director after 25 years with the agency.
January 12, 2013 •
Campaign Finance and Ethics Weekend Report
Here are a few breaking news items. Enjoy your weekend!
Ethics
“Be It Dogged or Annoying, Office of Congressional Ethics Survives” by Billy House in National Journal.
Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Ethics Commission executive director named” by Michael McNutt in Tulsa World.
Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Ethics Commission proposes blackout period on complaints” by Michael McNutt in The Oklahoman.
Campaign Finance
Mississippi: “Federal trial scheduled for challenge to Mississippi’s campaign finance law” by The Associated Press in the Mississippi Press.
Montana: “Bill would tighten some Montana campaign finance laws” in the Missoulian.
New York: “Cuomo pushes NY campaign finance reform _ again” by The Associated Press in the Wall Street Journal.
New York City: “Campaign Finance Board fires back at City Council” in by Beth Morrissey in The New York World.
January 11, 2013 •
Federal Campaign Finance Legislation Introduced by Representative Kaptur
Amendments proposed
In the first week of the 113th Congress, House Representative Marcy Kaptur introduced several pieces of legislation dealing with campaign finance.
Three separate House Joint Resolutions propose constitutional amendments aimed at limiting corporations’ influence in public elections. She also introduced a bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require radio and television broadcasters to provide free broadcasting time for political advertising.
Additionally, Representative Kaptur introduced House Concurrent Resolution 6, which expresses “the sense of Congress that the Supreme Court misinterpreted the First Amendment to the Constitution in the case of Buckley v. Valeo.” Buckley v. Valeo is a Supreme Court case decided in 1976 which crystallized the distinction between direct contributions and independent expenditures in political campaigns.
January 11, 2013 •
Idaho Legislature Explores Creation of Independent Ethics Commission
Commission would be formal standing committee
The Idaho Legislature is exploring the idea of creating an independent ethics commission. The new speaker of the house, Representative Scott Bedke, says that house lawmakers are working on the details of what such a commission would look like.
The commission would be a formal standing ethics committee, although Rep. Bedke did not specify whether a proposed commission would be completely independent of the legislature.
Idaho is among the small minority of states that do not have an ethics commission.
Photo of the Idaho Capitol Rotunda by Kencf0618 on Wikipedia.
January 11, 2013 •
News You Can Use Digest – January 11, 2013
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Cynthia Bauerly, FEC Commissioner, to Resign on February 1
From the States and Municipalities:
Colorado – Ethics Panel OKs Continuing Gessler Probe, Mulls Legal Defense Fund
Connecticut – Ex-Convict Candidate Charged with Campaign Fraud
Florida – Orange Mayor Jacobs Proposes Major Texting, Lobbying Reforms
Georgia – Senate Ready to Cap Lobbyists’ Gifts
Illinois – New Illinois Legislature Includes 3 Members Facing Criminal Charges
Kansas – Push to Change Kansas’ Ethics Enforcement Coming
Montana – Helena Judge Rules ‘Dark Money’ Group Violated Election Laws
North Carolina – NC Court of Appeals to Rule on State’s Ability to Levy Lobbying Law Fines
Oklahoma – Former Oklahoma Senate Leader Mike Morgan Is Sentenced to Probation
South Carolina – SC Lawmakers Push More Money for Ethics Commission
Texas – Legislature’s Ethics Rules Raise Concerns
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.
January 10, 2013 •
Thursday News Roundup
Here are some great articles in today’s government relations news summary:
Lobbying
Delaware: “Kowalko introduces ‘revolving-door’ lobbying bill” by Doug Denison in the News Journal.
Florida: “Orange Mayor Jacobs proposes major texting, lobbying reforms” in the Orlando Sentinel.
Georgia: “Ga. Senate moves toward lobbying gift cap” by Ray Henry (Associated Press) in WSAV.com.
North Dakota: “Lobbyists gear up for 2013 ND legislative session” by The Associated Press in InForum.
Oregon: “Oregon Democratic legislators receive make-up donations” by Jeff Mapes in The Oregonian.
“K Street Files: TCH Group, Polaris Add Lobbyists” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
Campaign Finance
“Campaign Finance Reform In Congress Moves Forward With Little Hope For Passage” in the Huffington Post.
“Watchdog group criticizes Rep. Tim Ryan’s ‘campaign meals’ in congressional dining room” by Sabrina Eaton in the Plain Dealer.
Ethics
Idaho: “Idaho lawmakers get ethics training, a first” by The Associated Press in the Idaho Press-Tribune.
South Carolina: “SC lawmakers push more money for Ethics Commission” by Adam Beam in The State.
Legislative Issues
Kentuckey: “Kentucky House elects first woman to leadership post” by Jack Brammer and Beth Musgrave in the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Michigan: “Governor calls May special election to fill Flint-area state Senate seat vacated by John Gleason” by Kristin Longley in MLive.
Michigan: “5 things to watch today as the Michigan Legislature starts its 2013-14 session” by Tim Martin in MLive.
Redistricting
“Alaska redistricting board wants high court to reconsider” by The Associated Press in the Daily News-Miner.
Open Government
“House Republicans Release More Data Catnip for Developers” by Nick Judd in TechPresident.
Government Tech
“Technology’s Real Value for Government” by Jerry Mechling in Public CIO.
January 10, 2013 •
Minnesota Sets Special Election Dates
Date Ensures that College Students May Participate
Governor Mark Dayton has set special election dates for two house seats after the incumbents turned in their resignations on January 7.
The special elections for the house seats in districts 14A and 19A will take place on February 12.
The special primary, if necessary, will take place on January 29. Both districts are home to large college student populations, so the governor decided to ensure that as many students as possible would be back for the election.
January 9, 2013 •
Wednesday Campaign Finance and Lobbying News
Keep up with the latest articles on campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics!
Lobbying
“Matt Walker Heads to the National Restaurant Association” by Alex Roarty in National Journal.
Campaign Finance
“Coalition Presses for Rules on Corporate Political Spending” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.
“Campaign finance fight lands at the SEC’s door” by Anna Palmer and Zachary Warmbrodt in Politico.
District of Columbia: “Campaign finance reform bills introduced at D.C. Council” by Alan Blinder in The Examiner.
Ethics
Georgia: “Senate committee meets on ethics rules” by Melissa Roberts on CBS Atlanta.
Kansas: “GOP conservatives’ ire at ethics commission likely to result in proposals to revamp watchdog” by John Hanna in The Republic.
South Carolina: “Sanford set for political comeback trail” by Cameron Joseph in The Hill.
Legislative Issues
“The Hill’s 2012 New Members Guide” in The Hill.
“Americans prefer Nickelback, root canals to Congress” by Breanna Edwards in Politico.
“Rhode Island Likely to Lose a House Seat” by Katherine Q. Seelye in The New York Times.
Michigan: “Michigan Legislature starts new session Wednesday” by David Eggert (Associated Press) in the Lansing Journal.
Vermont: “As new legislative session starts, a look at the old Statehouse” by Terri Hallenbeck in the Burlington Free Press.
Wisconsin: “Wis. lawmakers reach no deal on changing rules” by Scott Bauer in the La Crosse Tribune.
Government Tech
“Who has the worst web presences in politics?” by Steve Friess in Politico.
January 9, 2013 •
North Carolina to Hold Special Session January 9
Session to decide officers and organize the upcoming regular session
The North Carolina General Assembly will have a one-day special session January 9, 2013, before convening the regular session on January 30, 2013. This one-day special session is for both houses to elect officers, adopt rules and organize the upcoming session.
This is the first time the general assembly has decided to hold this one-day special organization session, but both parties have expressed interest in continuing the idea in the future.
Photo of the North Carolina State Legislative Building by Jayron32 on Wikipedia.
January 8, 2013 •
California Special Election Scheduled
Senate Districts 32 and 40
Governor Jerry Brown has called a special election for Senate Districts 32 and 40 to fill vacancies.
The primaries will be held March 12, with runoffs on May 14, 2013.
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