A complaint filed with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB) is asking for an investigation of whether scholarships provided to legislators by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) violate state ethics and lobbying laws.

Additionally, the complainant, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), requests an examination of whether legislators are receiving impermissible gifts while attending ALEC conferences.

In its press release, the CMD argues that while Wisconsin prohibits legislators from accepting anything of value from lobbyists or corporations that employ lobbyists, the scholarships paying for legislators’ travel to ALEC conferences are funded entirely by corporations, many of which employ lobbyists in the state.

The CMD specifically asks the board to consider

• Whether ALEC scholarships violate W.S. sections 13.625 and 19.45;

• Whether the scholarships fall under an exception in W.S. section 19.56;

• Whether legislators are appropriately disclosing the scholarships;

• Whether the scholarship fund is being used for more than reimbursement; and

• Whether legislators attending ALEC conferences are receiving other impermissible gifts such as tickets to sporting events or free food and drinks.

Exhibits attached to the complaint can be found here.

Alaska: “Alaska Redistricting Board says it has adopted new election districts” by Matt Buxton in the Fairbanks Daily News Miner.

Arizona: “Brewer signs bill to keep Arizona redistricting commission going while new maps are pending” by The Associated Press in The Republic.

Florida: “Redrawn Senate map passes House, scramble for seats begin” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Tampa Bay Times.

Florida: “Legislature ends redistricting session, new Senate map approved” by Mary Ellen Klas in The Miami Herald.

Idaho: “Redistricting will shake up Idaho Legislature” by Sean Ellis in the Capital Press.

Kansas: “Kan. House to debate congressional remap bill” by The Associated Press in the Salina Journal.

Maryland: “Group seeks referendum on new Md. congressional map” by Annie Linskey in The Baltimore Sun.

Missouri: “Missouri Supreme Court upholds House districts” by Elizabeth Crisp in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

West Virginia: “W.Va. lawmakers seek OK of congressional districts” by Eric Eyre in the Charleston Gazette.

Wisconsin: “Judges: Collaboration needed on Wis. voting maps” by The Associated Press on Madison.com.

Wisconsin: Opinion piece “Redistricting decision offers important lesson” by Christine Neumann-Ortiz in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

National: Ethics-violations-as-campaign-tool in “Ethics Talking Points Take Campaign Stage” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

Illinois: “No law stops indicted IL politico from seeking re-election” by Andrew Thomason in the Illinois Statehouse News.

Louisiana: “Watchdog group hopes to shine up Louisiana ethics laws” by Jeff Adelson in the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Here is my personal favorite today: They have taken a poll in New Jersey and found that people there are tired of the cursing and name calling among their politicians. Take a look at “Jerks, snobs and …? N.J. voters are fed up with the nasty names” by Matt Friedman in The Star-Ledger. Here is another article offering good coverage – “NJ voters want less name-calling from politicians” by Michael Symons in the Asbury Park Press.

Federal: “Two SEC Commissioners Could Dramatically Change Campaign Finance” by George Zornick in The Nation. ↬via Eric Brown’s Political Activity Law blog.

California: “State political watchdog ramps up enforcement” by Brian Joseph in the Orange County Register.

Connecticut: “Connecticut legislators set focus on campaign finance reform; look to increase transparency” by Jordan Fenster in The Register Citizen.

District of Columbia: “Campaign money orders to cease?” by Jim McElhatton and Luke Rosiak in the Washington Times.

District of Columbia: “D.C. ethics law overhaul hampered by hiring difficulties, enforcement duties” by Mike DeBonis in The Washington Post.

“FEC fines Charlie Rangel $23K for apartment misuse” by Darius Dixon in Politico.

“Rangel agrees to pay $23,000 FEC fine over use of rent-controlled apartment” by Justin Sink in The Hill.

“Jefferson loses bribery appeal” by Mackenzie Weinger in Politico. (Jefferson, if you recall, hid $90,000 in his freezer.)

“Edwards lawyers seek leeway in questioning Young” by Michael Biesecker (Associated Press) on WOODTV.com.

“House opens hearings into Chicago lawmaker’s bribery charge” by Ray Long in The Chicago Tribune.

The Kentucky Senate unanimously approved House Bill 300 on Monday. The bill requires “placement agents” to register as lobbyists and follow state ethics laws. Placement agents are individuals or firms who are compensated for the purpose of influencing an executive agency decision regarding the investment of Kentucky Retirement Systems or the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement Systems assets.

The bill is a response to concerns raised by last year’s audit of the state pension system. Now the bill returns to the House following technical changes made by the Senate.

The Cuyahoga County Inspector General, Nailah Byrd, has issued an advisory opinion (IGADV-0005) regarding whether a public official or employee’s acceptance of a ticket to a charitable fundraising event violates any provision of the ethics ordinance.

The opinion states that while the ethics ordinance does not explicitly prohibit the acceptance of a ticket, it does require certain conditions to be met.

A charitable event ticket given by a lobbyist or contractor must not include an extravagant or lavish meal, entertainment of significant value, or a fair market value price exceeding $75.

As I am sitting here in my office, movers are taking computers, desks, phones, credenzas, and printers upstairs at 80 South Summit. It’s an expansion and not a move for State and Federal Communications.

A year ago I thought this would be moving week out of the building, but we were able to take over available space after a Cleveland law firm downsized its Akron office.  That’s good for a lot of reasons including letterhead and business cards stay the same.

State and Federal Communications will soon celebrate its 19^th anniversary in Akron, Ohio. We started on Akron-Peninsula Road in a 900 square foot office. In 1996, we moved to Merriman Road where I thought the 3,500 square foot office would be home for a long, long time. We grew out of it and in 2002 we moved to Downtown Akron in the Courtyard Square building and now have 15,000 square feet of space. According to building developers, that amount of space can hold 50 staff people. We are almost there with 30 people on staff.

This expansion is allowing State and Federal Communications to increase our staff to help all of our clients. The changes in lobbying, political contributions, ethics, and procurement lobbying are changing all of the time in the states, cities, counties, and federal governments. Keeping up with it requires people devoted to research and understanding how they affect you—our clients.

You might not see changes, but I want you to know we are always making sure we are providing you with the resources you need for your government affairs work.

Until next month, stay off the eBay Political Collectibles site…I have wall space to cover!

The Philadelphia Board of Ethics issued an advisory alert announcing a delay in the availability of their online filing system for receipt of lobbyist and principal’s quarterly expense reports. The board’s online expense report function will not be available by April 30, the next date the reports are due.

However, because the quarterly expense reports, covering January 3 through March 31, remain due on April 30, the board intends to create an interim paper form expense reporting method. Lobbyists and principals will be able to fill out the interim form on the board’s website, which can then be downloaded and signed. The signed copy must be mailed or delivered to the board by the same April 30 deadline.

The board will advise all registered principals when the interim reporting method becomes available.

The current registration procedure is unaffected by the board’s announcement.

Lawmakers began the 2012 Special Session I last week to consider budget bills including a two-year, $85 billion proposal.

The special session was convened immediately upon adjournment sine die of the 2012 regular session, but was in recess until Wednesday, March 21st.

The House and Senate adjourned in the afternoon on March 21st and will again convene this afternoon on Monday, March 26th to continue the special session.

No person or PAC may make or promise to make a contribution to a member of the general assembly, the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, or their campaign committees, during the annual regular session of the general assembly. This ban does not apply to contributions during special sessions.

Photo of the Virginia State Capitol by Amadeust on Wikipedia.

In the wake of the State Integrity Investigation corruption risk report, Governing posted this article revealing how many public corruption convictions have occurred in each state from 2001 to 2010, as well as calculating a per capita conviction index.

According to the article: “In terms of raw totals, the more populous states racked up the most prosecutions over the decade, led by Texas (697), California (679), Florida (674) and New York (589).”

The per capita ranking was a bit different, with Louisiana leading the list.

Be sure to read “Which States Have the Highest Public Corruption Convictions?” by Mike Maciag in Governing.

A committee hearing is scheduled this week in the Senate to examine its version of the DISCLOSE Act of 2012.

Introduced last week, Senate Bill 2219, also entitled “Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2012”, amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for additional disclosure requirements for corporations, labor organizations, Super PACs, and other entities.

A House version of the bill, H.R. 4010, introduced in February, revives a previously failed effort in 2010 to pass the legislation.

The Senate Bill 2219 hearing with the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration is scheduled for Thursday March 29 at 10 a.m.

National and Federal

“Can 46 rich dudes buy an election?” by Charles Riley in CNN Money.

“Obama ‘Super’ PAC Donors Among White House Guests” by Jack Gillum (Associated Press) in The San Francisco Chronicle.

“Planners for Democratic convention in Charlotte scramble to raise funds” by David Nakamura in The Washington Post.

In the States

Indiana: “Super PACs start battle in Senate race” by The Associated Press in the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Iowa: “Group wants to close campaign finance loophole” by Rod Boshart in the Sioux City Journal.

Montana: “New arguments filed in campaign finance case” by Matt Gouras in the Great Falls Tribune.

Federal

“Generation X joining K Street” by Jonathan Allen and Jennifer Martinez in Politico.

“Administration Staffers Head Out the Revolving Door” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

In the States

Illinois: “Illinois Senate panel blocks lobbyist ethics legislation” by Shannon McFarland (Associated Press) in the Jacksonville Journal Courier.

Illinois: “Lobbying reforms buried in subcommittee” by Rick Miller in Capitol Fax.

Iowa: “Iowa’s lobbying free-for-all” by Jason Clayworth and Jeffrey Kummer in the Des Moines Register.

Massachusetts: “AP: Mass. health care 5-year lobbying topped $51M” by Steve LeBlanc (Associated Press) in Bloomberg BusinessWeek.

Minnesota:  “$61M spent on lobbying in 2011” by Matt Herbert in Minnesota Daily.