The National Conference of State Legislatures just published two summaries:

In “NCSL News: New Laws Ring in the New Year,” they list the new laws in the states that take effect as of January 1. Don’t miss the “Elections” section for news about laws in California, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

NCSL also posted “Top 12 for 2012” by Meagan Dorsch, who lists what she expects to be top issues on the agendas in the state legislatures.

Roll Call sums up what redistricting issues remain unresolved in “Between the Lines: 5 Unknowns as 2012 Begins” by Shira Toeplitz.

Rod Blagojevich looks ahead to 2012 and sends his supporters a message on Twitter according to this Associated Press article.

Here is a techPresident article about how Google has launched a new elections portal that will allow everyone to follow the caucuses and primaries in a new way in 2012.

The City of Philadelphia Board of Ethics has provided interim paper registration forms and instructions for lobbyists, lobbying firms, and principals to be used until an online registration and reporting system is completed.  The registration forms allow filers to fill-in information before printing.

The board reminds filers that registration is not complete until a form is printed, signed, and mailed or delivered to the board of ethics with the registration fee.

Registration must occur within ten days after both the commencement of lobbying and the exceeding of thresholds.  However, no event occurring prior to January 3, 2012 is relevant to determining the thresholds, registration date, or expense reporting.

According to their announcement, you can now view the following on your mobile phone:

• presidential candidate summary data
• a calendar with dates for commission meetings, reporting deadlines, conferences, advisory opinions, and litigation
• an audio archive of recent hearings
• the FEC YouTube channel
• The FEC Twitter feed

FEC Chair Cynthia Bauerly said, “I am pleased to announce the launch of the FEC’s new mobile interface. … I greatly appreciate the efforts of the agency staff who worked on this project, which will further the FEC’s mission of disclosing campaign finance data.”

Here is the FEC’s press release about the new pages.

Bloomberg Business Week has gathered a variety of opinions about the emerging Jack Abramoff redux-as-ethics-teacher phenomenon. The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission hired Jack Abramoff to be a speaker on the subject of ethics at their upcoming legislative training and people are reacting.

Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, and Howard Marlowe, President of the American League of Lobbyists offered their thoughts. You also can find opinions from Craig Holman of Public Citizen in Washington, Melanie Sloan, the director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, and even Jack Abramoff himself.

Bartz was quoted saying: “Certainly you want to give people a chance to rehabilitate themselves. But is Jack Abramoff rehabilitated? I don’t think so.”

You can read the coverage in “Abramoff as Ethics Guru Latest Chapter in Political Second Acts” by Julie Bykowicz.

Don’t miss Scott Suttell’s “Even Those in the lobbying business aren’t Jack Abramoff fans” where he says Bartz’s comment is a contender for “quote of the year.”

Federal:

Fundraisers Take a Gamble on Lotteries

Romney Charity Used for Conservative Donations

Ron Paul’s House Record Marked by Bold Strokes, and Futility

From the States and Municipalities:

California

Business Interests Were Top Bill-Killers in California’s Capitol This Year

California

State Senator Aims to Double Lobby Fee in California – to 14 Cents a Day

Colorado

Gessler Issues 2012 Campaign Finance Rules

Florida

Palm Beach County Approves Countywide Lobbyist Registry

Ohio

Jimmy Dimora Faces Trial as Convictions in Federal Court Soar

South Carolina

Colbert Offering $500,000 to Pay for S.C. GOP Primary

Tennessee

Tennessee Lawmakers Still Haven’t Filled Ethics Commission Seat That Expired in ’09

Washington

Court Invalidates Washington State Cap on PAC Donations

West Virginia

Ethics Agency’s Informal Advice Kept Secret
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.

The city of Pembroke Pines, Florida passed a lobbyist registration ordinance at the most recent city commission meeting. The ordinance requires lobbyists to register with the city clerk prior to engaging in lobbying activities.

Registration will be required annually and lobbyists must pay a registration fee of $50. Lobbyists will also be required to complete a contact log to document meetings with members of the city commission or members of other decision-making bodies under the jurisdiction of the city commission.

The ordinance was passed in response to Broward County’s new code of ethics, which extends the county’s code of ethics to all municipalities within the county. Lobbyists will be required to begin registering on January 2, 2012.

Map of Florida by Bastique on Wikipedia.

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 2012.

We wish you a beautiful New Year.

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

A group that began as entertainment meant to spice up one holiday party thrown by then Illinois Senator Charles H. Percy in 1981 evolved into the well known political satire troupe called “Capitol Steps”.

The Capitol Steps have performed in every U.S. state and several different countries. They have earned their fame by writing satire and performing it while the news and scandals it is based on are circulating through the nation.

When the group first decided to pursue the transition from a one-time party performance to a political satire troupe, one founder, Elaina Newport said,

“We thought, if we add some Democrats, some House people, spread the risk around and make fun of everybody, maybe we’ll get away with this.”

No one is immune from becoming the next muse for the Capitol Steps. They have songs about the presidents who have served since the establishment of the group including their song about George W. Bush called “Don’t Go Faking You’re Smart,” a duet with a Laura Bush singing to her husband. His response: “I couldn’t if I tried.”

Even if they have bruised a few egos along the way, Capitol Steps is an accepted and loved part of the political culture. As long as they have scandal and breaking news they can use as inspiration, it doesn’t look like they are going anywhere.

Read “Capitol Steps Turn 30” from the Washington Post.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has invalidated a Washington state law that prevented individuals from making contributions of more than $5,000 to PACs supporting ballot measures during the three weeks prior to an election.

The blackout period on contributions was challenged in a lawsuit filed by Family PAC, a political action committee that was formed to oppose Washington’s domestic partnership law.

While Family PAC was successful on the merits in challenging the blackout period, it was unsuccessful in its challenge to laws requiring PACs to report the name and address of anyone who contributes more than $25, and the occupation and employer of those who make contributions in excess of $100.

Thursday’s 4-1 decision by the Indiana Supreme Court upholds the Indiana law that restricts automated robocalls.

The court determined that requiring a live operator did not violate the right to free speech.

View the original press release, “State supreme court upholds Indiana robocall law” from the Associated Press.

You can find Politico’s coverage in “Super PACs go stealth through first contests” by Dave Levinthal and Kenneth P. Vogel.

According to the article, some in the Federal Election Commission are calling for a change of the rules to allow for greater disclosure:

The disclosure rules may need to be updated to reflect the rise of super PACs as driving forces in presidential politics, two Democratic FEC commissioners suggested in interviews with POLITICO. “Super PACs are functioning as the alter egos of the campaigns, and their activity was clearly not anticipated when the statutes were put in place,” said Ellen Weintraub, a Democratic FEC appointee. The commission, she said, “should reconsider the regulations about caucuses and disclosure or at least take a hard look at them.”

10)  “Hamilton Sentenced in Bribery, Extortion Case” – from The Washington Post on August 12.

9) “City Hall Plotters Accused in Gun-Smuggling Scheme” – from The Wall Street Journal on March 14.

8)  “Blagojevich Hit with 14-Year Prison Sentence” – from The Chicago Tribune on December 9.

7)  “Leslie Johnson Gets One-Year Sentence” – from The Washington Post on December 9.

6) “Second Bribe Case for Lawmaker Just Acquitted” – from The New York Times on November 29.

5) “Ex-Judge Gets 17 1/2 Years in Pa. Kickbacks Case” – from The Seattle Times on September 23.

4) “Disgraced DiMasi Is Given Eight Years” – from The Boston Globe on September 10.

3) “Casino Developer Gilley Pleads Guilty” – from  The Tuscaloosa News (Associated Press) on April 21.

2) “Weiner Resigns in Chaotic Final Scene” – from The New York Times on June 16.

And here it is, the number one most egregious news item of 2011 …

1) “Sen. Ensign, Under Ethics Inquiry, Admits No Wrongdoing But Says He Will Resign” – from The Washington Post on April 21.

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.

It is a time when the average citizen taking action and working to get their voice is heard is becoming increasingly common, and more and more tools are being created that help organize and mobilize such actions.

This week’s Highlighted Site Of The Week is Change.org, a site launched in 2007 which offers an effective way that people can engage in social issues. Anyone with a cause can log in, create and sign petitions, mobilize support, and cause change.

The site’s founder, Ben Rattray, says that Change.org aims to

Transform social activism by serving as the central platform that connects likeminded people, whatever their interests, and enables them to exchange information, share ideas, and collectively act to address the issues they care about.

Once someone creates a petition for their cause, Change.org may connect these advocates with nonprofits that work towards a similar goal, and in doing that they are making a dialogue possible between the two groups, mobilizing communities in a way what was not before possible.

Change.org has already contributed to many victories such as Bank of America dropping their debit card fee, JCPenny compensating families of Bangladash worker’s who were killed in the 2011 fire, and countless other victories for a variety of different causes.

Lately it seems like causes born from a grassroots movement are achieving success every day, and Change.org has made this easier to achieve.

Have a great weekend and a Happy New Year!

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. I thought I would share with you what I found. Here are the most-read blog posts of 2011:

The top spot goes to …

1. Highlighted Site Of The Week – All The Presidents’ Money by Emily Kesler

followed by

2. Wisconsin Special Election Set for May 3, 2011 by Nathan Shaker
3. Highlights from the NCSL Legislative Summit 2011 by Joe May
4. Corporations Must Disclose Independent Expenditures in Maryland by George Ticoras
5. Ask the Experts – Using Federal PAC Funds to Contribute to State Candidates by Nola Werren. This one actually was written in October 2010, but was still popular reading material in 2011.

Thank you for following Lobby Comply, and we’ll see you in 2012!