Visit a site that tracks campaign funds
Through a finance explorer site featured by the Washington Post, the 2012 presidential campaign statistics display the development of the 10 candidates. This site includes tracking of campaign funds, contribution sizes of Super PACs and campaigns, and maps that indicate the amount of money each state provides the candidates.
Charts on this site compare raised money to spent money for each candidate during the campaign. The site allows the viewer to choose and compare the funds of two candidates at a time. Below the charts are graphs that indicate the amount of money raised and spent over a given time for the candidates.
Two color-coded interactive maps display contributions to campaigns and super PACs greater than $200. Simply by placing the cursor over a state, the amount of money contributed appears over the state on both maps, allowing for a clear comparison of two presidential candidates at a time. The site also includes a link to the names of the biggest donors to super PACs.
As the presidential candidates continue to progress, this site helps viewers keep track of the financial changes in the campaign. Have fun exploring this site and have a great weekend!
July 13, 2012 •
California Lobbyist Reporting Regulation Amended
FPPC allows cheese and wine exception to gift valuations at “drop-in” events.
The Fair Political Practices Commission has approved a change to simplify lobbyist reporting requirements for “drop-in” events.
The amendment to regulation 18640 allows appetizers and beverages to be excluded from the gift valuation for an official who does not stay for any meal or entertainment. The value of the gift is now any specific item, other than food, presented to the official and guest accompanying the official, if the official notifies the lobbyist in writing that the official did not stay for any meal or entertainment.
The amendment provides consistency with regulation 18946.2(e), which was previously amended to exclude the value of appetizers and drinks from the value of a gift received by an official who briefly appears or drops by an invitation-only event. Prior to the amendment, the value of the gift received was limited to the actual value of the food and beverages consumed by the official and guest, along with the value of any specific item received at the event.
Image of the Seal of California courtesy of Zscout370 on Wikipedia.
July 13, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 13, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Campaign Donations by Text? Not So fast, Wireless Carriers Say
From the States and Municipalities:
Arkansas
Ethics Measure Falls Short of Signature Goal
California
Bill Would Hire Commission to Enforce County’s Campaign Finance Ordinance
California
Pass the Canapés: Now, lobbyists can serve appetizers, not report it
Colorado
Colorado Public Trustee Spending Raises Red Flags
Connecticut
Feds Indict Braddock, Claim Conspiracy Began Last Year
District of Columbia
Vast ‘Shadow Campaign’ Said to Have Aided Gray in 2010
Florida
Miramar Commissioners Approve $2,500 Stipend for Themselves
Illinois
Quinn Abolishes Legislative Scholarships
Illinois
Quinn Signs Super PAC Campaign Finance Law
New York
Cuomo Turns to Campaign Finance
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.
July 13, 2012 •
New Jersey’s ELEC Now on Facebook and Twitter
a great way to stay on top of ELEC news and updates
Following the work of New Jersey’s Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) has become easier through social media. According to a press release by Executive Director Jeff Brindle, the agency now has a presence on Facebook and Twitter. You’ll find updates about campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics news. This is probably the quickest way to keep up with meeting agendas and reporting dates.
ELEC has been maintaining a channel on YouTube since 2008 and now has 21 videos giving brief overviews of issues like lobbying, pay-to-play, and reporting.
A hat tip goes to John Schoonejongen, whose article, “You can now follow ELEC on Facebook, Twitter” in the Asbury Park Press, brought this news to our attention.
Pledging in return for campaign contributions would violate the Legislative Ethics Act
The Alaska Legislative Ethics Committee has issued an advisory opinion allowing incumbent legislators to sign pre-election pledges during re-election campaigns.
So long as the pledge is in exchange only for an endorsement or a promise of an endorsement it does not violate the Legislative Ethics Act. However, the committee also determined the signing of pre-election pledges in a quid pro quo exchange for a campaign contribution or a promise of a campaign contribution would violate the act.
Special interest groups often request candidates to take positions on certain topics by signing a pledge.
July 12, 2012 •
Thursday News Roundup
Jack Abramoff gets a radio show and more lobbying and campaign finance news.
Lobbying
“Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who spent years in prison, gets radio show for Clear Channel” by The Associated Press in The Washington Post.
Campaign Finance
“Senate Dems offer new version of DISCLOSE Act to fight Citizens United ruling” by Pete Kasperowicz in The Hill.
“Democrats push for campaign finance disclosure, again” by Tomer Ovadia in Politico.
“FEC Gridlock No Help to Obama Campaign” by Justin Worland in Roll Call.
Connecticut: “Feds indict Braddock, claim conspiracy began last year” by Mark Pazniokas in the CT Mirror.
District of Columbia: “Mayor Vincent C. Gray knew of campaign finance violations in January, sources say” by Mike DeBonis and Nikita Stewart in The Washington Post.
Montana: “Mont. ballot initiative advocates ban on corporate money in elections” by Jessica M. Karmasek in LegalNewsline.
July 12, 2012 •
Vermont Campaign Finance Database Two Years Away
Secretary of State hopes to have a searchable database ready for the 2014 elections
It will be two more years before Vermont’s campaign finance reports are available in a searchable database, according to the secretary of state’s office.
Currently, Vermont offers scanned copies of campaign finance reports online, but there is no easy way to search for donor names or contribution totals, and handwriting on the forms may be difficult to read. The secretary of state hoped that such a database would be available for the 2014 elections, but is unable to give a precise timetable or detailed costs.
Common Cause Vermont recently compiled its own searchable database for the 2010 state elections.
July 12, 2012 •
No Louisiana Session to Overturn Vetoes
Senate Decides
The Louisiana Legislature has decided not to convene a session to consider overturning Governor Bobby Jindal’s vetoes.
The veto session, which is automatically set upon a governor vetoing a bill, was scheduled for July 14. A majority of Senate members voted in writing against holding the session. A majority is required from either the House or Senate to cancel a session.
The Legislature had adjourned sine die on June 4.
July 12, 2012 •
Eye on the Races – July 12, 2012
Fundraising a central focus of the presidential campaign as the election heats up
Both President Obama and Gov. Romney’s campaigns have released fundraising numbers in anticipation of the July 20th deadline. For the second month in a row, Gov. Romney and the GOP outraised President Obama and DNC, bringing in $106.1 million to the President’s $71 million. The Romney campaign was helped by a $4.6 million spike in fundraising during the 24 hours following the Supreme Court’s decision on the Affordable Care Act.
President Obama’s campaign has been using the June numbers to encourage supporters to donate, sending out an urgent email claiming, “We’re getting outraised — a first for a sitting president, if this continues.” The Romney campaign reports $160 million cash on hand at the end of June. President Obama’s campaign has not yet released cash on hand numbers, but had roughly $147 million at the end of May.
Additionally, weekly claims for unemployment benefits were released Thursday, which saw a drop of 26,000 claims from the previous week’s total of 376,000 to 350,000.
Other notes from the week in politics:
- Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) is being treated at an undisclosed facility for a mood disorder. Jackson has come under fire from fellow democrats for failing to fully disclose the circumstances surrounding his recent medical leave of absence from the U.S. House of Representatives. Jackson’s office announced June 25, that he had been on leave since June 10 to be treated for exhaustion and calls for further disclosure have come from senior congressional democrats including Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (IL) and most recently, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (MD).
- Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) raised roughly $5 million in the second quarter, falling short of the $8.6 million raised by Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren. Brown and Warren are in a tight race for the seat formerly held by Senator Edward Kennedy. Brown reports $15.5 million cash on hand which gives him a $2 million lead over Warren who reported $13.5 million cash on hand. Recent polling shows Brown and Warren in a statistical tie at 46% each.
- Michigan Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley (R) has called for a special election to fill the seat being vacated by Rep. Thad McCotter. A primary will be held on September 5th, and the election will take place on November 6, the same day as the general election. The winner of the special election will serve the remaining two months of McCotter’s term before the 113th Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2013.
July 12, 2012 •
Living Interns in Akron: A Nine-Part Mini-Story
Part Nine: Peace, Restored.
The kitchen is complete by now. There is no more noise. Today alone, I ran into three people in our recently resized dining area:
Jen and I empathized over our faltering attempts at gardening. Why is it so hard, sometimes?
Jon and I discussed Radiohead and Hilton Head. Thom Yorke is a dancing machine!
And Sarah and I talked weddings. “I’m a bridesmaid, and it’s carnival themed.”
Just through these tiny interactions, I notice myself getting more comfortable here, in my new surroundings. I feel more at ease as an intern, and I’m happy.
It seems like all that racket was worth it.
July 11, 2012 •
National Governors Association to Host Meeting in Virginia
Governors gather for annual meeting, discuss issues among states
This year marks the 104th annual meeting of the National Governors Association. The meeting will be held in Williamsburg, Virginia, from July 13 through the 15. Governors from different regions will attend to discuss leadership methods and issues regarding states.
Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, Inc., will attend the meetings and listen to the distinguished speakers discuss governing approaches.
A news conference will kick off the meeting on July 13, highlighting business tactics and economic development methods. Saturday’s events consist of meetings with organizations including the Economic Development and Commerce, the Human Services Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.
The sessions on July 15 cover entrepreneurial opportunities for governors and other policy leaders. According to the NGA news website, Delaware Governor Jack Markell, vice chair of the NGA, acknowledged the importance of governors joining to make improvements.
“The annual meeting brings governors together at a bipartisan level to develop innovative and improved approaches to governing,” Markell said. “As evidenced over the past year, when we come together great things can be accomplished. I look forward to hearing about the work governors are doing in their states.”
July 11, 2012 •
Ottawa to Create Lobbyist Registry
and more news in our Wednesday lobbying, campaign finance, and ethics roundup!
Lobbying
Ottawa, Ontario: “Council endorses lobby registry, integrity commissioner” by Errol McGihon in the Ottowa Sun.
The Hill’s “Lobbying World” staff report.
Campaign Finance
Alaska: “Assembly to weigh resolution on campaign finance” by The Associated Press in the Juneau Empire.
District of Columbia: “Vast ‘shadow campaign’ said to have aided Gray in 2010” by Mike DeBonis and Nikita Stewart in The Washington Post.
New York: “Cuomo turns to campaign finance” by Jimmy Vielkind in the Albany Times Union.
Pennsylvania: “SEPTA found to violate federal lobbying rules” by Mark Fazlollah in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
West Virginia: “W.Va. group wants contribution limit blocked” by The Associated Press in The Republic.
Ethics
“Panel Seated in Ethics Inquiry Into Nevada Lawmaker” by Eric Lipton in The New York Times.
July 11, 2012 •
Political Campaigns and Social Media
Social media is playing a high profile role in the 2012 political campaigns and these articles seek to make sense of the latest trends:
“CNN, Facebook Partner to Make ‘America’s Choice 2012’ Political Coverage an Interactive, Social Experience” on CNN News.
“Facebook Wants to Be the ‘Second Screen’ of Election 2012 Coverage” by Zoe Fox in Mashable.
“Facebook will be a key part of the 2012 election” in the Capitol Column.
“Social Fundraising Platform Rally To Launch One-Click Donations” by Sarah Lai Stirland in TechPresident.
Also, be sure to take a look at:
“A Politician’s Guide to Social Media (VIDEO)” in Government Technology.
Video courtesy of Govgirlblog on YouTube.
July 10, 2012 •
Redistricting in the News
Keep up with the latest redistricting articles from five states.
“On the (Non-)Effects of Redistricting on Electoral Competition” by Karl Kurtz in NCSL’s The Thicket.
Alabama: “Democrats punt in state court, look to feds to fight redistricting of the Alabama Legislature” by Kim Chandler in the Birmingham News.
California: “State Legislative Campaigns Least Competitive in Nation” by Will Evans in KQED News.
Maryland: “Md. petitioners confident of sufficient signatures for redistricting vote” by Elizabeth Sallie in the the Washington Times.
North Carolina: “NC Supreme Court hears redistricting issue Tuesday” by Gary D. Robertson (Associated Press) in the Greensboro News-Record.
Pennsylvania: “Districts map redraws challenges in state Senate” by Marc Levy in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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.
