The Chicago City Council voted unanimously to pass Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s ethics ordinance. The ordinance, which is the first overhaul of the city’s ethics code in 25 years, institutes the recommendations made by an ethics board Emanuel appointed to study the city’s ethical issues.

The newly passed ordinance will increase the gift prohibition for city officials and employees. Officials and employees will now only be able to accept gifts that are less than $50 in value. It also limits the ability of lobbyists and contractors to make political contributions. It also includes a reverse revolving door provision, which limits a city official or employee’s participation in matters involving former employers.

The ordinance will go into effect on November 1, 2012.

Photo of Chicago’s City Hall and Daley Plaza by JeremyA in Wikipedia.

Governor Bob McDonnell has set September 4, 2012 as the date of a special election to fill the seats for Senate District 5 and House District 45. The District 5 seat was previously held by the late Senator Yvonne Miller, who passed away July 3, 2012. The District 45 seat is currently held by Delegate David Englin, who announced his resignation effective August 31, 2012.

Governor McDonnell stated in his press release that the timing of the special election will allow the new senator and delegate adequate time to prepare for the 2013 legislative session, as well as allow time to hold a subsequent special election if needed.

We are very excited to go to the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Summit in Chicago. The motto of the conference this year is “Build Strong States,” and six members of our staff will be attending. If you are planning to be there, please stop by booth 923 and say hello!

We sent our booth ahead to Chicago and had a little fun making a little video about it. Take a look!

Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a bill allowing the state Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) to enforce new campaign finance rules in the county. This is the first time the FPPC has been authorized by statute to contract with a county to enforce its campaign contribution limits.

County Supervisor Janice Rutherford originally proposed contracting with the FPPC to enforce a proposed county campaign law in lieu of creating a county ethics commission. Now with statutory permission in place, the county may proceed to craft a campaign finance law and negotiate contractual terms with the FPPC. Rutherford plans to bring her previous proposal to limit campaign contributions to $3,900 back before the board on August 21, 2012 for consideration.

Seal of San Bernardino County by Jetijones on Wikipedia.

The New Orleans City Council has voted to call a special election on November 6 in order to fill the recently vacated District E council member’s position. District E council member Jon Johnson had resigned after pleading guilty in federal court to embezzling FEMA funds to finance his 2007 campaign for state senate. In the interim, the vacant seat will be filled by the city council in an upcoming meeting.

The council’s statement on the special election can be read here.

Campaign Finance

“Apps to Identify Who Backs Political Ads” in Government Technology.

“Romney-Obama Lawyers Raking in Millions” by Jonathan D. Salant in Bloomberg News.

Massachusetts: “Mass. groups take aim at Citizens United” in the Patriot Ledger.

Montana: “Group seeks to take measure saying corporations aren’t people off ballot” by Charles S. Johnson in the Billings Gazette.

Campaign Ads

“Ad-Rating Project Will Assess Campaign TV Spots by Asking Voters” by Gregory Giroux on Bloomberg News.

“Voters Say They Are Wary of Ads Made Just for Them” by Tanzina Vega in The New York Times.

“Obama, Romney Attack Ads Top Charts” by Tim Hanrahan in The Wall Street Journal.

“Obama puts $46.7M into ads, outspends what he raised in June” by Fredreka Schouten and Christopher Schnaars in USA Today.

“Report: Super PACs make up 80 percent of Romney ad spending” by Chris Moody in ABC News.

“Florida PAC Lets Internet Users Create Own Voiceovers For Romney Campaign Ad” by Sarah Lai Stirland in TechPresident.

Ethics

Arizona: “Legislator files ethics complaint against another” by The Associated Press in the Arizona Daily Sun.

Georgia: “Governor admits to ethics missteps, but major cases dismissed” by Aaron Gould Sheinin in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“K Street Files: Bundlers Give to Both Parties” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“You don’t know Jack: Abramoff’s multimedia return” by Patrick Gavin in Politico.

The Hill’s “Bottom Line”.

“Caught on K Street candid camera?” by Dave Levinthal & Anna Palmer in Politico Influence.

Here is the Sunlight Foundation’s 180 ° project link.

“Lobbyists are paid $52.6 million over first half of 2012” in the Boston Globe.

Florida:  “Florida Lobbyists Find Reasons to Spread Cash Around; Washington Lobbyists, Not so Much” by Nancy Smith in the Sunshine State News.

Pennsylvania: “SEPTA says it didn’t think it had to report lobbyist spending” by Mark Fazlollah in the Philadelphia Inquirer‎.

Governor Jerry Brown has approved Assembly Bill 2452, which changes the criteria local government agencies must meet in order to require campaign and lobbying reports to be filed electronically. The bill was chaptered in the Political Reform Act as section 84615.

A local government agency requiring campaign committees and lobbyists to file electronically must provide a secure, standardized, and free filing system. In addition, if a local ordinance requires a statement or report to be filed electronically, local officials can no longer require an additional copy to be filed in paper format.

The law becomes effective January 1, 2013.

In the midst of our employee walking challenge, State and Federal Communications has a new friendly rival.

Beginning July 23, the Public Affairs Council and State and Federal Communications will work up a sweat, taking part in a one week challenge called “Ready, Set, Walk” to promote wellness and stir up healthy competition.

Wearing pedometers to track their daily steps, 24 employees from each organization will aim to motivate their co-workers and accumulate the most steps by July 29. Both teams are giving their best effort to walk for the win.

Best of luck to all participants, and let the walking begin!

Campaign Finance

“Tallying Up Presidential Campaign Finances” in The New York Times.

Arizona: “Arizona campaigns often in gray area financially” by Mary Jo Pitzl in The Arizona Republic.

Montana:  “Former Montana governor candidate wants political practices findings reversed” by Charles S. Johnson in the Missoulian.

New York:  “Analysis: New York political money gushing to campaigns, but upstart Democratic group makes strides” by Michael Gormley (Associated Press) in the Syracuse Post-Standard.

Lobbying

“K Street’s continuing slump” by Anna Palmer in Politico.

“Blue Chips Mull Moves to K Street” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Chamber ups lobbying spending” by Erik Wasson in The Hill.

“Facebook lobbying sets record in Q2” by David Saleh Rauf in Politico.

Nevada:  “Dems honor longtime women’s lobbyist” by Ray Hagar in the Reno Gazette-Journal.

New York:  “Lobbyists in swing of things at political golf fundraisers” by Jimmy Vielkind in the Albany Times Union.

New York: “Cuomo’s Office Releases 2,200-Word Letter on Lobbying Group” by Jon Campbell in State Politics Albany Watch.

Oklahoma: “Report: Lobbyists provided pols Thunder tickets” by The Associated Press in The Republic.

A citizens’ oversight committee to take on ethics-related issues will be studied by a committee of city council. City coalitions, including a group of organizations that are pushing a sunshine ordinance, are pushing for a city ethics commission in order to review issues having to do with campaign finance, regulation of lobbyists, and transparency.

Proponents say the ethics commission could be created by voters or the council. David Tristan, deputy executive director of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, will talk about what his commission does, and the forum will take up the possibility of creating an ethics commission in Santa Ana.

For information about the July 26, 2012 forum, email info@santaanacoalition.org.

Ever wonder if today’s date holds any significance in American history, or perhaps if your birthday was a time of great importance in the past? Through a site called This Day in History featured by History.com, viewers can select a date and learn about different events that have shaped American society.

72 years ago on this week in 1940, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was selected for an unprecedented third term in office on July 18. As the 32nd president, Roosevelt went on to serve a record of four terms in office, becoming the only U.S. president who served more than two terms.

Roosevelt was elected by the Democratic Party convention for his third term, and despite some disapproval about his running, Roosevelt believed it was his calling to lead his country through difficult times that led the country into World War II. Roosevelt died in office at the age of 63 during his fourth term as president.

This Day in History features a calendar in the top left corner that can navigate to historical information based on the selected date. Viewers can navigate through the site to find related articles or select the featured articles pertaining to the week of a chosen date. The site also includes a What Happened on Your Birthday button and a selection of games and apps under Editor’s Picks.

Explore this site to learn more interesting trivia. Have a nice weekend!

Federal:

House Ethics Panel Has Track Record of Leniency

Most Lawmakers Mum on Taxes

Son of Liberal Financier George Soros Launches Anti-Super PAC Super PAC

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama

Alabama Casino Developer, Lobbyist, Ex-Lawmaker Sentenced to Prison in Statehouse Gambling Scheme

California

Battle Lines Drawn over Payroll Deductions

California

Feds Detail Scale of Graft in Cudahy

Michigan

Prosecutor: Bolger conspired with party switcher, but didn’t break law

Minnesota

Minnesota GOP, Former Chairman Face Fines Over Recount

Nevada

Felon Was a Lobbyist for Catholic Officials in Nevada

New Jersey

FBI Raids City Hall in New Jersey’s Capital

New York

NY Ethics Board Member Resigns from Lobbying Group

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.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s new proposed ethics ordinance has advanced out of committee and will now head to a full city council vote. The proposal, which stems from the first set of recommendations handed out by Emanuel’s appointed Ethics Board, will, among other things, lower the value of gifts that city’s employees and officials may receive. Currently, the limit is $100, but the proposed ordinance lowers that limit to $50.

The proposal is expected to pass the city council. The ethics board is expected to release its second set of ethics recommendations in late summer.