Lobbying

“Technology and lobbying in 2012” on Federal News Radio.

“K Street Files: Clark Lytle, Thorn Run Add New Partners” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Americans Believe the System Is Rigged Against Them: An Interview with Former Lobbyist Jack Abramoff”  by Elliot Resnick in The Jewish Press.

California: “Greuel faults DWP for bypassing bids on lobbying contracts” by David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times.

Campaign Finance

Arkansas: “Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson reports self to Ethics Commission giving campaign cash to girlfriend” by The Associated Press in The Republic.

New Jersey: “N.J. Democratic Party fined $42K for alleged campaign finance violations” by Matt Friedman in the Star-Ledger.

Texas: “Ethics Commission Fines Simmons’ PAC Over Donations” by Becca Aaronson in the Texas Tribune.

Ethics

“Report links McConnell campaign donations to legislative work” by Alexandra Jaffe in The Hill.

“House Ethics Reviewed 96 Cases During 112th” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

New York: “NY comptroller sues Qualcomm on political spending” by The Associated Press in The Wall Street Journal.

Pennsylvania:  “Gov. Corbett’s trip paid for by a businessman is subject of a complaint filed by activist Gene Stilp” by Jan Murphy in the Patriot-News.

Nevada lobbyists must now complete training before they can lobby the Legislature.

The Legislative Commission issued amended regulations on lobbying on December 20, 2012. The training will be provided by the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

Lobbyists can either attend a training session in person or arrange to obtain a video of the training and then certify having watched the video.

Additionally, the photo identification badges for lobbyists have been assigned different colors based on a category, such as whether a lobbyist is paid or not paid.

Campaign Finance

“Political Spending Sets New Records During Tumultuous Year” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.

California:  “Lawmakers try to curb anonymous political donations in California” by Michael J. Mishak in the Los Angeles Times.

Canada: “ $100 lid on private political donations enacted” by Marian Scott in the Montreal Gazette.

Idaho: “Campaign Finance Loopholes Have Some Wondering: Who’s Watching the Money?” by Melissa Davlin in the Twin Falls Times-News.

Lobbying

“In Congress, relatives lobby on bills before family members” by Mark Zaleski (Associated Press) in The Washington Post.

Tennessee: “Proposed bill limits make Tenn. lobbyists scramble” by Erik Schelzig (Associated Press) in the San Antonio Express-News.

Ethics

District of Columbia: “Year of convictions doesn’t end D.C. corruption probes” by Alan Blinder in the Examiner.

Georgia:  “Ethics likely on General Assembly agenda” by Michael Davis in the Jackson Progress-Argus.

Social Media

“Social Media 2012: A Look Back” by Pam Greenberg in NCSL’s The Thicket.

Legislative Issues

“From Congress to Halls of State, in New Hampshire, Women Rule” by Katherine Q. Seelye in The New York Times.

Ethics

“House Ethics Ends Countrywide Loan Probe” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

“House Ethics closes Countrywide probe without taking action” by Peter Schroeder in The Hill.

“House Ethics Amends Private Travel Rules” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

Louisiana: “Louisiana Board of Ethics to challenge Baton Rouge Mayor in appeals court” by Quincy Hodges in the New Orleans Times Picayune.

Campaign Finance

“Our states vouch for transparent campaign financing” opinion piece by U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Lisa Murkowski in the Washington Post.

“Lisa Murkowski crosses aisle to reign in Super PACs” by Jill Burke in the Alaska Dispatch.

South Carolina: “South Carolina campaign funding will face scrutiny” by Stephen Largen in the Post and Courier.

Lobbying

“Former lobbyist, state legislator John Quimby dies at 77” by Torey Van Oot in the Sacramento Bee.

Maryland:  “Gambling companies doubled down on lobbying Md. lawmakers over past year” by John Wagner in the Washington Post.

Elections

“Ed Markey to run for Kerry’s Senate seat” by Rachel Weiner in the Washington Post.

“Should Kansas switch dates for elections?” by The Associated Press in the Kansas City Star.

Legislative Issues

Michigan: “Michigan lawmakers get perks beyond salaries” by Kristen M. Daum in Lansing State Journal.

Since this is the last week of the year, I wondered which blog posts received the most visits, so I ran a content report for the past year and I thought I would share with you what I found. Here are the most-read blog posts of 2012:

The top spot goes to …

1. Highlighted Site Of The Week – All The Presidents’ Money by Emily Kesler (for the second year)

followed by

2. Eye on the Races – Electoral Math: A Brief Primer on the Electoral College by Jon Spontarelli
3. Who Were the One Term Presidents? by Nicolette Koozer

4. Living Interns in Akron by Maria Varonis

5. Ask the Experts – Using Federal PAC Funds to Contribute to State Candidates by Nola Werren (for the second year)

Take a look at last year’s Top Blog Posts entry here.

As everyone prepares to celebrate the New Year, I would like to take this opportunity to offer a note of thanks. State and Federal Communications has had an exciting year and we look forward to a bright 2013.

We wish you a beautiful New Year.

Elizabeth Bartz
President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, Inc.

Federal:

FreedomWorks Tea Party Group Nearly Falls Apart in Fight between Old and New Guard

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama

Troy Gives Up on AEA Challenge to Ethics Law, Launches New Fundraising Campaign for PAC

California

Citigroup among 5 Banks Fined Over Muni-Bond Lobbying Costs

California

Labor Beat Prop. 32 Via Social Media

Florida

Senate President’s Hire Seems at Odds with Ethics Reform

Georgia

Ethics Changes in Georgia Senate Could Include $100 Gift Cap

Louisiana

Ethics Board Tactics Disputed

Maine

Outsiders Spent More than Maine Legislative Candidates

Maryland

2012 Lobbyist Rankings

Missouri

Missouri Ethics Chief Headed to Kander’s Office

New Jersey

Jersey City ‘Pay-to-Play’ Restrictions Made Stricter by City Council

South Carolina

Mark Sanford House Run: Former South Carolina governor seriously considering bid for Congress

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.

Julie Allen, the executive director of the Missouri Ethics Commission, will be leaving to work at the Secretary of State’s office as the director of elections and information technology.

For full news coverage, be sure to read:

“Missouri ethics chief headed to Kander’s office” by The Associated Press in Connectmidmissouri.com.

“Kander hires executive director of Missouri Ethics Commission to oversee state elections” by Jo Mannies in the St. Louis Beacon.

Ethics Commission executive director Theresa Kirk is planning to leave the agency to work in the private sector. She expects to stay on for 60 to 90 days to assist in preparing the commission’s 2013 legislative agenda and the transition to a new executive director.

Ms. Kirk has been the commission’s executive director since February 2009, and prior to that served as the commission’s legal counsel. The commission approved an employment exemption allowing her to seek work in the private sector.

Lobbying

Maryland: “2012 lobbyist rankings” by Erin Cox in the Baltimore Sun.

Campaign Finance

Maryland: “Maryland panel recommends campaign finance reform” in the Capital Gazette.

Wisconsin: “Gov. Scott Walker voices support for limits on political fundraising” by Bill Lueders in the Daily Page.

Ethics

“Philadelphia Ethics Board plans crackdown on independent expenditures” by Dave Davies in Newsworks.org.

“D.C. Ethics Board Names New General Counsel” by Sam Skolnik in The Blog of Legal Times.

New York:  “Updated indictment filed against ex-NC lawmaker” by The Associated Press in the Winston-Salem Journal.

Social Media

“Answering government officials’ hesitation toward social media use” by Aimee Ingalls in the Washington Times.

Maryland:  “Ethics Commission: No new ethics law eyed for social media” by Sherry Greenfield in the Southern Maryland News.

January 29-30, 2013  GOVERNING’s Outlook in the States & Localities Conference 2013: The Power of States and Localities,
Washington, D.C.

February 5-8, 2013   Public Affairs Council National Grassroots Conference, Key West, Florida

February 22-25, 2013   National Governors Association Winter Meeting Washington, D.C.

The essence of the rule will force people who make independent expenditures to disclose funding and amounts spent by treating them as a political committee. Therefore, they will have to register as an independent expenditure committee and, for those elections in which they support or oppose a candidate, file reports before and after the election. The committee will also be responsible for filing periodic reports on January 15 and July 15 of each year.

Independent expenditures are defined by the state as expenditures made in support of or opposition to a candidate, expressly advocating for the election or defeat of a candidate, and made in complete independence from the candidate. Expressly advocate is defined as communicating with specific words calling for the election or defeat of a candidate, such as “vote,” “oppose,” “support,” “defeat,” “elect,” or “reject.”

Using these definitions, groups can avoid registering and reporting as an independent expenditure committee if they avoid using the special buzz words that would make their advertisements expressly advocating. The board of elections has said these rules are not completely new, but rather have been adopted to shed light on the rules and to ensure that people understand exactly what is expected when making independent expenditures. The rules have already taken effect and committees making these expenditures will next have to file a report on January 15, 2013.

The Suffolk County legislature has voted to hold a special election on January 15, 2013 to replace outgoing legislator Ed Romaine.

Mr. Romaine was recently sworn in as the town supervisor of Brookhaven, New York.

Sean Walter, the republican candidate, and Al Krupski, the democratic candidate, will vie for the vacant seat in the county’s first legislative district.