November 28, 2011 •
North Carolina Session Convenes
Session to Adjourn Tuesday
NORTH CAROLINA: A special session of the North Carolina General Assembly convened Sunday evening.
The session is scheduled to adjourn on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
The session was called to consider bills vetoed by Governor Bev Perdue, revise redistricting plans, and address election law bills.
Photo of the North Carolina State Legislative Building by Jayron32 on Wikipedia.
November 28, 2011 •
News You Can Use – November 28, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Democratic Groups Stalled on Launch Pad
FEC Permits Small Donor Channeling
Religious Lobbying Groups Multiply on Capitol Hill
South Jersey Congressman Spent $9,000 from Campaign Funds on Donor’s Wedding
From the States and Municipalities:
California
New Chair of Campaign Finance Watchdog Draws Strong Reactions
Connecticut
WFP Director Fined For Lobbying Without Badge
District of Columbia
D.C. Council to Consider Ethics Reform Bill
Illinois
Tony Rezko Sentenced to 10½ Years: Former Blagojevich fundraiser convicted of corruption
Massachusetts
Bump Knocked for Fundraising Letter
Mississippi
Campaigns Downplay Race, but Voters Don’t Follow Suit
Nevada
Trip to Brazil Raises Concerns about Lobbyists’ Access
Pennsylvania
City’s Lobbyist-Disclosure Program to Start in ’12
Washington
Right-Wing PAC Fights Campaign Disclosure
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.
November 23, 2011 •
Happy Thanksgiving!
Everyone at State and Federal Communications would like to wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!
November 23, 2011 •
Lawsuit Brought against Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission
Suit alleges the commission used funds to promote itself.
The Arizona Republic reports that the group No Taxpayer Money for Politicians has brought a lawsuit against the Citizens Clean Elections Commission in Arizona.
Former state Sen. Jonathan Paton is quoted in the article as saying, “They’re using this [public money] for electioneering purposes and not for educating voters.”
The commission’s Executive Director Todd Lang called the suit a “wrong-headed” attempt to eliminate the agency’s education fund.
For the full story, read the article “Suit: Clean Elections agency misused tax dollars” by Mary Jo Pitzl.
November 23, 2011 •
Nebraska Special Session Adjourns
Legislature in Special Session Since November 1
The special session of the Nebraska Legislature adjourned sine die on November 22, 2011.
The session, which began November 1, 2011, concerned the Keystone XL crude-oil pipeline project’s intended route through the state. The special session was called by Governor Dave Heinemen to focus on proposed bills intended to reroute the pipeline around a region of the state rich in groundwater. As a result of the session, two measures in relation to the pipeline were passed.
For more information about the measures passed and the special session, you can read the Legislature’s official news release, “Two pipeline measures approved; Legislature adjourns” on the Unicameral Update page.
Photo of the Nebraska Legislative Chamber by ensignbeedrill on Wikipedia.
November 23, 2011 •
Rhode Island Spending on Lobbyists in Washington
More than $2 Million Was Spent This Year
GoLocalProv.com posted this article today: “RI Groups Have Spent Over $2.2 million on Washington Lobbyists in 2011” by Dan McGowan.
According to the article, “Rhode Island corporations, cities and towns, colleges and universities and non-profit organizations have spent more than $2.2 million this year on lobbyists in the nation’s capital, a GoLocalProv review of lobbyist reports shows.”
November 22, 2011 •
Rezko to Remain in Jail Seven More Years
The sentence for Blagojevich’s former fundraiser arrives.
The U.S. District Court for Northern District of Illinois sentenced Tony Rezko to 10 1/2 years in prison, of which he has served three-and-a-half years.
For the full story:
“Judge sentences Blagojevich fundraiser Rezko to 10½ years, he will get credit for time served” from the Washington Post.
“Top Blagojevich adviser Tony Rezko gets 10½ years” from the Chicago Tribune.
November 22, 2011 •
Alabama Releases 2012 Campaign Finance Filing Calendar
Contains Increased PAC Filing Requirements
The Alabama Secretary of State’s office has released the 2012 campaign finance filing calendar.
The calendar incorporates the changes enacted by the Alabama Legislature as public acts 2011-687 and 2011-697 including increased frequency of reporting required by political action committees.
November 22, 2011 •
Texas Lobbying Software Updated
Activities Report
Lobbyists in Texas must update their filing software to the newest version in order to properly file reports.
Becky Levy, Director of the Disclosure Filings Division of the Texas Ethics Commission, issued a memorandum stating before filing lobby activities reports, the software used must be upgraded in order to have the latest enhancements to file properly. Lobbyist activity reports in Texas must be filed electronically unless qualifying for an exemption.
More information about the software, and how to download it, is located here.
November 22, 2011 •
Tuesday News Roundup
In today’s news: Religious lobbying, law firms donating to Obama, campaign finance rules in New York, and Ann Ravel at the FPPC.
Two articles track the increase in religious group lobbying: Politico’s “Study: Religious lobbying soars in D.C.” by MJ Lee, and the Washington Post’s “Religious lobbying groups multiply on Capitol Hill” by Michelle Boorstein.
Catherine Ho reports about law firms contributing to Obama’s campaign in “Law firms dominating campaign contributions to Obama” in the Washington Post.
An editorial in the Post-Standard discusses the state of campaign finance rules in New York: “Campaign Cash: In NY, even lax contribution rules are easy to evade.”
The San Diego Union-Tribune discusses Ann Ravel’s actions at California’s FPPC in “New chair of campaign finance watchdog draws strong reactions” by Will Evans.
November 22, 2011 •
Tony Rezko to Be Sentenced Today
Three years after Blagojevich’s former fundraiser was convicted.
Tony Rezko, the fundraiser for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, will be sentenced today in federal court.
The Chicago Tribune covers the news in “Top Blagojevich adviser Rezko to be sentenced today” by Annie Sweeney.
The Washington Post posted “Ex-Blagojevich fundraiser Rezko to be sentenced, after 2008 trial exposed pay-to-play culture” by the Associated Press.
November 21, 2011 •
State Court Rules Against Colorado Secretary of State
Appeal of Ruling is Planned
The Denver District Court has ruled Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler did not have the authority to raise contribution thresholds concerning when state issue committees have to register and report their activity.
At issue was Gessler’s adoption of Campaign and Political Finance Rule 4.27, which increased from $200 to $5,000 the threshold at which an issue committee must register and report. The $200 threshold, set by the Colorado Constitution, was found to be too burdensome in the recent Colorado case of Sampson v. Buescher.
The court determined that, despite the conflict, Gessler’s alteration of the constitutionally mandated $200 threshold was an impermissible unilateral alteration of the Colorado Constitution. Gessler plans to appeal the ruling.
November 21, 2011 •
Ethics Bill Passes in Frederick County, MD
FREDERICK COUNTY, MARYLAND: Commissioners reluctantly passed an ethics bill they expect to be challenged in court. The bill forbids county employees from ever working for a company that does business with the county.
Previously, the state rejected a less stringent bill exempting county employees and requiring commissioners to wait just one year before accepting employment with a company they did business with while in office.
Commissioners indicated the only reason for the controversial change was the state’s mandate to pass the ethics ordinance. Changes to the county gift law prohibit commissioners from accepting tickets or free admission to sporting events and require free meals to be consumed in the presence of the donor.
The law now goes back to the State Ethics Commission for its approval.
November 21, 2011 •
ALL’s Annual Meeting Brings New Lineup of Officers
The American League of Lobbyists (ALL) held their Annual Meeting on November 16 and selected a new slate of officers and directors.
Howard Marlowe is the new president. For the whole list of the new lineup, ALL offered this press release on November 18, 2011.
Catherine Ho writes in the Washington Post how the organization is ready to defend the profession of lobbying in 2012. Here is her article, “American League of Lobbyists regroups, heads into 2012 under new director,” from November 20, 2011.
Photo of the United States Capitol Rotunda by UpstateNYer on Wikipedia.
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