January 19, 2012 •
Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee Nixes Lawmakers and Staff from Lobbyist Ads
Also Cautions Against Promoting Lobbyists in Merely a Personal Capacity
The Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee has released Advisory Opinion 2012-001, which prohibits members and employees of the Ohio General Assembly from using their office or employment status in order to promote a registered lobbyist. In its first advisory opinion to be released since 2009, the Committee pointed to Ohio Revised Code section 102.03(D), which prohibits a public official or employee from using his or her status acquired by such position in order to secure anything of value.
The Committee opined that the use of the member or employee in his or her official capacity as Senator, Representative, or legislative staffer in an advertisement or other promotional item would result in a value to the lobbyist, thus resulting in the prohibition. Additionally, the Committee cautioned against allowing such a promotion in merely a personal capacity in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety despite no specific prohibition existing.
The opinion, which was requested by an Ohio registered lobbyist, was deemed necessary after things such as requests for quotes on websites or letters of recommendation to be sent to potential clients had been made of members and employees of the Ohio General Assembly by registered lobbyists.
January 19, 2012 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying, Procurement, and Gov 2.0
Lobbying
“K Street headhunters enamored with upcoming class of retiring lawmakers” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
“Lobbyists get face time with House GOP at retreat” by Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer on Politico.
Procurement
“Cuomo Limits State Money for Salaries of Contractors” by John Eligon in The New York Times.
Government 2.0
“State Legislatures’ Mobile Websites” on the NCSL website.
January 19, 2012 •
Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Resigns
Steps down after staff accusations.
Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Dave Gallik has resigned his job after his staff accused him of using state resources for private law practice.
For the full story read:
“Staff says ethics commissioner not ethical” by The Associated Press in the Billings Gazette.
“Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practices resigns” by John S. Adams in the Great Falls Tribune.
“Top Montana Ethics Leader Resigns Amid Allegations” by Caroline Cournoyer on Governing.com.
Photo of Dave Gallik courtesy of the Montana Legislature website.
January 19, 2012 •
SuperPAC Spending and Disclosure in the News
Here is a chart revealing television ad spending in South Carolina by candidates versus spending by super Pacs, legislation in Arizona that would require disclosure of corporate spending on campaigns, and a run-down of super PAC disclosure in California:
“Candidate and Super Pac Spending” by Khang Nguyen in the Los Angeles Times.
“Bill would require disclosure of campaign spending” by Alia Beard Rau in the Arizona Republic.
“California could be model for ‘super PAC’ disclosure” by Josh Richman in the San Jose Mercury News.
January 19, 2012 •
Internet Companies Flex Muscles, Challenge to Traditional Lobbying?
However you may feel about SOPA and PIPA, one thing became clear in the last day or so – something new has happened in the realm of lobbying. Here are three articles that take a look at the implications of the internet blackout from a government relations perspective:
“Google Protest of Anti-Piracy Bills Upends Traditional Lobbying” by Eric Engleman in Bloomberg News.
“One early winner in SOPA protest: Wikipedia” by Charles Cooper on CBS News.
“Silicon Valley learns fast in game of lobbying” by April Dembosky in Financial Times.
January 19, 2012 •
We’ll See You at PAC Grassroots!
State and Federal Communications will be attending the Public Affairs Council’s National Grassroots Conference in Miami Beach, Florida from January 30 until February 2, 2012. This year is the 35th anniversary and the theme of the conference is “Building Allies, Producing Champions.” We hope to see you there!
January 18, 2012 •
No Political Contributions on New Jersey Public Properties
ELEC Authority
A New Jersey law prohibiting candidates for elective public office from accepting political contributions on public property has been expanded.
Senate Bill 3166, which has been signed into law and is effective immediately, amends state law to prevent the solicitation or contribution of political donations to candidates and officeholders on various public properties.
The prohibited properties include any property owned by any county, municipality, board of education of a school district, fire district, authority, or other state or local entity, district or instrumentality.
The new law also grants jurisdiction to the Election Law Enforcement Commission to enforce this rule.
January 18, 2012 •
Nevada Now Has Online Campaign Finance Database
Secretary of State says new searchable system will “bring a whole level of transparency” to those seeking campaign finance data.
Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller has announced the launch of a new searchable online database for the state’s campaign finance data. Named Aurora, the system began at midnight last night.
For more information read “Nevada Secretary Of State Launches Aurora, A Searchable Database For Campaign Finance Information” from the Nevada News Bureau.
According to the news release on the the Secretary of State’s web site:
The Contribution Search and Expenditure Search functions will allow users to search results by the following criteria:
– Individual Candidates
– Political Races
– Groups
– Contributions, including by amount, date range and similar addresses
– Contributors
– Expenditure Recipients
January 17, 2012 •
Several Cities to Vote on Changes to Broward County Ethics Code
Voters to Consider Whether Restrictions on Non-Government Side Jobs Will Continue
Voters in three Broward County cities will be asked to undo part of the recently enacted countywide code of ethics. Residents of Wilton Manors, Hillsboro Beach, and Sea Ranch Lakes will all vote during the January 31, 2012 election as to whether local elected officials should be subjected to state law on issues relating to their side jobs instead of the new county code of ethics.
The effort to pass the referendum has been spearheaded in large part by Wilton Manors Mayor Gary Resnick. Resnick, a telecommunications attorney who lobbies in other cities in Broward County, fears he will be unable to run for another term in office after his current term is complete due to the ban on elected officials also being employed as lobbyists or engaging in lobbying activities in Broward County.
The code of ethics became effective countywide on January 2, 2012.
January 17, 2012 •
Arizona Bill Removes Entertainment Exception for Lobbyists
School Sporting Events Exception
Arizona Senator David Schapira has introduced a bill removing the lobbyists gift exception for entertainment and for some athletic events.
The Democratic Minority leader’s bill, SB 1068, amends the current law by removing the exception for expenditures of entertainment and athletic events provided to officials by lobbyists.
Sporting events would still be a permitted expenditure if the event is sponsored by a school district governing board, a community college district governing board, or any institution under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents.
Photo of Arizona Senator David Schapira by DShippy on Wikipedia.
January 17, 2012 •
Proposed Ballot Initiative Seeks to Reduce Role of Corporate Money in D.C. Politics
Initiative Could Appear on November Ballot
A former D.C. council candidate and a ward commissioner are submitting a ballot measure which would ban corporate contributions to electoral campaigns if approved by voters this November.
The summary of the initiative states that it will restore the public trust by eliminating the outsized influence corporate money has in D.C. government and elections by prohibiting direct contributions from corporations to elected officials and candidates for public office. The measure would align D.C. with federal law, which bans direct corporate contributions to public officials and candidates.
Proponents of the measure need to collect over 22,000 signatures from registered voters within six months for it to appear on the November ballot.
January 17, 2012 •
Washington House Introduces Ethics Enforcement Responsibility Reform Bill
Bill Merges Legislative and Executive Ethics Commissions into the Public Disclosure Commission
The Washington House of Representatives has introduced house bill 2402, which will transfer ethics enforcement responsibility.
This bill merges the legislative branch ethics commission and the executive branch ethics commission into the public disclosure commission.
Photo of the interior of the Washington State Capitol Building by Cacophony on Wikipedia.
January 17, 2012 •
Political Campaigns Vie for Social Media Attention
Whether claiming this to be the “year of Facebook” or the “year of Twitter” for political campaigns, news items are covering how political campaigns are using social media to advertise in new ways. Here are a few pieces that appeared today:
“Social media sites in race for lucrative political ads” by Kim Hart (Politico) in the Virginian-Pilot.
“The New Political Battleground: Your Social Network” by David Binetti on TechCrunch.
Mashable talks about new advertising service called Socialitical that helps political campaigns craft ads and find their best audience on Facebook in “New Tool Helps Politicians Advertise on Facebook” by Alex Fitzpatrick.
January 16, 2012 •
SuperPACs and the Presidential Race
NBC takes a look at the issue tonight.
Don’t miss Ted Koppel’s in-depth look at Super PACs tonight at 10 PM ET on Rock Center with Brian Williams on NBC.
Read more about the segment in “Unlimited contributions give ‘Super PACs’ power to change presidential race” by Jessica Hopper of Rock Center.
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.
