Lobbying

“Actor John Corbett gives lobbying new tune” by Patrick Gavin in Politico.

“K Street Files: Business Roundtable Weighs In on Entitlements” by Janie Lorber in Roll Call.

“NRA’s lobbying bags big legislative wins in states over the past two decades” by Peter Wallsten and Tom Hamburger in The Washington Post.

Campaign Finance

Iowa:  “Senators target campaign spending reform in Iowa” by Jason Noble in Des Moines Register.

Maryland: “Groups to rally in Maryland to urge for campaign finance reforms” by The Associated Press in The Washington Post.

Ethics

“Former FEMA exec pleads guilty to conflict of interest charges” by Kegar Pavgi in Government Executive.

“Under Contract” in The Hill.

“California ethics commission is at a crossroads” by Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times.

Oregon:  “Oregon ethics board will consider Kitzhaber speaking fees” by Christian Gaston in The Oregonian.

Texas:  “For Ethics Commission, Big Hurdles to Reform” by Morgan Smith in the Texas Tribune.

Texas:  “Ethics bill would require disclosure of lawmakers’ contracts with state of Texas” by Mark Lisheron in Texas Watchdog.

Secretary of State Jason Kander, sworn in on January 14, 2013, has adopted a new ethics policy barring the staff in his office from accepting gifts from lobbyists.

Kander’s stated purpose was to give the public confidence that the office is being run in a nonpartisan and fair way.

State administrative policy already curtails what state employees may accept from lobbyists, but agencies are free to adopt stricter guidelines.

Campaign Finance

“Ex-Bachmann aide alleges campaign finance violations” by Kevin Diaz in the Star Tribune.

Florida: “Support mounts to allow unlimited political contributions in Florida” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.

Florida: “Florida ethics rules come under Senate committee spotlight” by Matt Dixon in the Florida Times-Union.

Utah: “John Swallow accusations prompt call for ethics, campaign finance reform” by Dennis Romboy in the Deseret News.

Virginia: “Va. AG Cuccinelli will defy tradition, stay on job while campaigning” by David Hill in the Washington Times.

Lobbying

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

“Chamber, union leaders mull alliance to press for immigration reform” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

Florida: “Sweeping ethics bill would curtail lobbying by lawmakers” by Aaron Deslatte in the Orlando Sentinel.

Georgia:  “Lieutenant governor will abide by Senate’s $100 gift cap” by Kristina Torres in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Legislative Issues

Montana:  “New lawmaker launches video about 1st days in state Legislature” by John Grant Emeigh in the Billings Gazette.

New Mexico “Mary Kay Papen elected Senate leader” by Steve Terrell in the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Arizona State Legislature

Arkansas State Legislature

Georgia General Assembly

Iowa Legislature

Kansas Legislature

Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico

Washington State Legislature

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Alaska State Legislature

New Mexico Legislature

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Hawaii State Legislature

The Public Affairs Council asked Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, why she and her staff attend the National Grassroots Conference.

The association is very excited about the approaching event. Their promotion states: “Trust us. You’ll want to be there. But don’t just take our word for it.”

Elizabeth was happy to step forward and here is her response:

State and Federal Communications is proud to be the sponsor for the Live Twitter Board during the event! Don’t miss out on what promises to be an exciting conference by the Public Affairs Council.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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