Ohio has increased its campaign contribution limits. Individuals, political action committees (PACs), and political contributing entities (PCEs) may now contribute up to $12,155.52 to any one statewide, senate, or house campaign committee during a primary or general election period, or to a PAC or PCE during a calendar year. An individual may contribute this same amount to the state candidate fund of a county political party in the individual’s county of residence. The previous limit was $11,543.70.

Additionally, the limit individuals, PACs, and PCEs may contribute per calendar year to any one state candidate fund of a state political party increased to $36,466.56 from $34,631.11, and to any one legislative campaign fund, $18,233.28, up from $17,315.55.

These limits are effective beginning February 25, 2013 until February 24, 2015.

Today the United States Supreme Court decided not to grant a review of the case of United States v. Danielczyk.

Danielczyk is a criminal case in which one of the defense arguments was the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 prohibiting direct corporate contributions to federal candidates was unconstitutional.

The U.S. District Court Judge presiding over the case had agreed with the defense and, based on Citizens United v. FEC, found corporations have an equal right to make political contributions under federal law as do human beings. The judge’s decision was reversed on appeal. The reversal on this issue of law now stands.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg vetoed a campaign finance bill aimed at decreasing campaign finance disclosure, even though City Council overwhelmingly passed the bill by a 47-1 margin in January. The bill would have allowed labor or other membership organizations, as well as corporations, to send communications to its members, executive and administrative personnel, and stockholders without having to disclose that information to the Campaign Finance Board.

Bloomberg was noncommittal at the time about whether he would veto the bill, even though he was adamantly opposed to its passage. However, now with his decision to veto it, the ball will bounce back into the City Council’s court.

The council has 30 days to override the veto, with a two-thirds majority required, or allow the bill to die. The council had enough votes to override the veto originally, but there has been no word on whether every council member will stick with his or her original vote.

Photo of Mayor Michael Bloomberg by Rubenstein on Wikipedia.

Campaign Finance

“Justices reject campaign finance appeal over corporate contributions” by Bill Mears on CNN.

California: “California campaign-finance reporting ripe for abuse” by Steve Harmon in the San Jose Mercury News.

New York: “Tax loopholes cited in push for NY campaign reform” by The Associated Press in the Albany Times Union.

Lobbying

“Rules of the Game: Sequester Spells Bitter K Street Failure” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.

Michigan: “Lobby spending increases in Michigan” by The Associated Press in Upper Michigan Source.

Rhode Island: “Former R.I. House speaker joins Twin River lobbying team” by Katherine Gregg in the Providence Journal.

Ethics

Georgia: “Week Ahead: Ga. lawmakers take up ethics, juvenile justice” by Walter C. Jones in the Augusta Chronicle.

Washington: “State Senate Democrats’ campaign chief accused of financial misconduct” by The Associated Press in the News Tribune.

The General Assembly adjourned sine die on February 23, 2013.

A reconvened session is scheduled to begin April 3, 2013.

Campaign Finance

“Watchdogs call for new campaign regulator to replace ‘woefully inept’ FEC” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“Campaign Finance Poll Finds Most Support Donation Limits” by Emily Swanson in the Huffington Post.

Arizona: “2 Arizona bills target campaign finances” by Mary Jo Pitzl in the Arizona Republic.

Montana: “Campaign finance reforms bills pass Montana House vote” by Marnee Banks in KBZK News.

New York: “Conference to tackle lobbying and campaign finance” by Ilene Fleischmann in the UB Reporter.

Lobbying

Alaska: “Alaska: Who’s lobbying Alaska’s lawmakers? And for how much?” by Laurel Andrews in the Alaska Dispatch.

Florida: “Lobbying a lucrative cap for a legislator’s career” by Aaron Deslatte in the Orlando Sentinel.

Georgia: “Lobbying Restrictions Vote Scheduled” by The Associated Press in Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Ethics

Utah: “Ethics bill emerges in wake of probes of Utah Lt. Gov Bell, Swallow” by Robert Gehrke in the Salt Lake Tribune.

State lawmakers introduced a bill aimed at keeping former legislators out of the lobbying ranks following the end of their terms. Senate Bill 33 would prohibit legislators from lobbying for two years following the end of their public service.

Representative Dana Wachs, a co-sponsor of the bill, said, “If we don’t start doing something about these issues, I think our republic is somewhat in danger. We’re supposed to represent people, not corporations.”

The state does not currently have a prohibition against lobbying after public service, but it does prevent state public officials from appearing, on behalf of someone else for compensation, before a governmental entity under the former official’s responsibility for one year following employment.

Photo of the Wisconsin Capitol Building by Dori on Wikipedia.

Two ethics reform bills will likely be voted on by the full House on Monday, February 25, 2013. House Bill 142, sponsored by Speaker David Ralston, would ban lobbyist spending on individual lawmakers, return regulatory powers to the state ethics commission, and require activists representing an organization to register as lobbyists.

House Bill 143, also sponsored by Ralston, would require lawmakers to file a report early in the legislative session detailing campaign contributions and expenditures during the five-day period before the Legislature convenes.

Photo of the Georgia State Capitol by Autiger on Wikipedia.

Federal:

Jesse Jackson Jr. Pleads Guilty: ‘I lived off my campaign’

Justices Take Case on Overall Limit to Political Donations

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona – Arizona Senators Look to Revamp Lobbying Gift Ban

California – Prosecution of California Lobbyists on the Rise, FPPC Reports

Kansas – Lobbyists Vouch for Bill to Increase Spending Limits

Kentucky – Kentucky Bill Would Prohibit Lobbying during Legislative Session

Nebraska – Senators Want to Stop Lobbyist Contributions during Session

New York – Review Shows NY Pension Fund Fixed Ethics

North Carolina – Lawmakers’ Economic Interests Not Easily Tracked

Pennsylvania – Pa. Justice Convicted of Corruption

Virginia – Justices Consider Va. Limits on Access to Public Records

West Virginia – Ethics Commission Taps New Director

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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Good morning, everyone! We are excited to announce that we are launching a new LinkedIn group called Government Relations Compliance.

If you have a LinkedIn account, this is a great place to discover what your colleagues are talking about. Find out how they are solving the challenges in complying with government rules and regulations for lobbying, grassroots lobbying, political contributions, and procurement.

Join the conversation!

Lobbying

California: “Prosecutions of California lobbyists on the rise, FPPC reports” by Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee.

Campaign Finance

“McCutcheon case could give Citizens United a run for its money in Supreme Court” by T.W. Farnam in the Washington Post.

Ethics

Oklahoma: “Bribery case against Oklahoma ex-legislators to move forward” by Nolan Clay in the Oklahoman.

West Virginia: “Ethics commission taps new director” by Dave Boucher in the Daily Charleston Mail.

Lobbying

“K Street Files: A Business-Labor Brotherhood?” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

Arizona: “Arizona senators look to revamp lobbying gift ban” by Bob Christie in Arizona Capitol Times.

Arkansas:  “Bill to delay ex-executive, judicial officials from lobbying advances” by Rob Moritz in the Arizona Times.

Campaign Finance

“David Axelrod blasts campaign finance system” by Tarini Parti in Politico.

“Citizens United Part II? Supreme Court takes up direct campaign donations” by Krissy Clark in American Public Media Marketplace.

Florida: “House Democrats to Oppose $10,000 Campaign Contribution Cap” by Jim Turner in Sunshine State News.

West Virginia: “Dozens protest Citizens United decision at state Capitol” by Paul J. Nyden in the Charleston Gazette.

Ethics

Florida: “Florida Senate Committee Weakens Ethics Bill” by Ashley Lopez in the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting.

Florida: “Ethics bill goes to full Florida Senate” by The Associated Press in the St. Augustine Record.

Senator Ray Jones has introduced a bill to prohibit lobbying during legislative sessions. Senate Bill 183 prohibits both legislative and executive lobbyists from contacting any member of the General Assembly, directly or indirectly, regarding any issue, bill, or proposal under consideration by the General Assembly during regular or extraordinary sessions.

The bill restricts the definitions of legislative agent and executive branch lobbyist to include only those who either receive compensation for lobbying, or those lobbying on behalf of more than one group, organization, business, or public interest issue entity. If passed, lobbyists violating the prohibition will face a fine of $500 for each violation.

Lobbying

“Lobbyists Use Campaign-Style Opposition Research to Turn Tables on Rivals” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Data mining is new lobbying gold” by Byron Tau in Politico.

“First ladies, first lobbyists?” by Kristin Donnelly in MSNBC.

Arizona: “Arizona senators look to revamp lobbying gift ban” by The Associated Press in the Arizona Daily Sun.

Colorado: “Colorado gun-control bills draw no big lobbying money — yet” by Karen E. Crummy in the Denver Post.

Florida: “Legislative lobbying hit $123 million last year” by Travis Pillow in the Tallahassee Democrat.

Georgia: “Vote possible on proposed Ga. lobbying rules” by The Associated Press in the Daily Citizen.

Kansas:  “Lobbyists vouch for bill to increase spending limits” by Andy Marso in the Topeka Capitol-Journal.

Nebraska: “Senators want to stop lobbyist contributions during session” by Kevin O’Hanlon in the Lincoln Journal Star.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: “Nutter asks Ethics Board for ruling on city lobbying regs” by Jan Ransom in the Philadelphia Inquirer-Daily News.

Campaign Finance

“Watchdog groups warn of fundraising scandal in Obama second term” by Alexander Bolton in The Hill.

Alaska:  “Democratic proposal seeks campaign finance change” by The Associated Press in the Anchorage Daily News.

California: “Proposal would repeal limits on campaign contributions in California” by Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times.

New York: “Public Forum Discusses Campaign Finance Reform” by Adam Littman in the Nanuet Patch.

New York:  “Republican candidate George McDonald tries an unusual path to New York’s mayoralty: the brazenly defiant fundraising scofflaw” by Jonathan Lemire in the Daily News.

Ethics

Colorado: “Ethics commission delays release of Gessler probe once again” by Tim Hoover in the Denver Post.

Florida: “Michelle Anchors appointed to Commission on Ethics” by Tom McLaughlin in the NWF Daily News.

North Carolina: “Lawmakers’ economic interests not easily tracked” by Mark Binker in WRAL.

Oklahoma:  “New Ethics Commission director eyes reforms” by James Coburn in the Edmund Sun.

Knox County, Tennessee:  “Panel to examine ethics commission makeup, scope of investigative powers” by Mike Donila in the Knoxville News-Sentinel.