September 12, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – September 12, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Bipartisan Bill Would Require Transparency of Super Committee
Facing Voter Discontent, Lawmakers Skip Town Halls
Members of Debt Panel Have Ties to Lobbyists
From the States and Municipalities:
California
Campaign Accountant Held in Theft of Funds
Connecticut
Watchdog Agencies Spared as Malloy Nails Down Budget Cuts
Georgia
Ethics Chief Arrives Amid Makeover
Rhode Island
R.I. Rep. Leo Medina Is Charged with a Felony
Washington
Seattle City Employee to Be Fined for Driving City Car to Casino
Wisconsin
Attorney: New Wisconsin ad rules too broad
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.
Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.
September 9, 2011 •
New York City Campaign Finance Board Proposes Independent Expenditure Reporting Rules
The NYCCFB has proposed new reporting rules
On September 8, 2011 New York City’s Campaign Finance Board proposed new rules requiring the reporting of certain independent expenditures.
The proposed reporting rules would cover expenditures that are for the design, production, or distribution of public communications, that are either express advocacy made at any time in an election cycle or an electioneering communication made within 90 days of an election, and that, when combined with all other expenditures made by the independent spender in support of or in opposition to that candidate or proposal, exceed $1,000.
Generally, in non-election years reports would be due semi-annually and in election years eight reports would be required, with expenditures required to be reported within 24 hours during the two weeks before the election.
September 9, 2011 •
Highlighted Site Of The Week – The Reckoning
The tenth anniversary of September 11 is upon us
Where were you on 9/11 ten years ago? As we approach the ten year anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, this question pops up more and more.
The New York Times has a website called The Reckoning that commemorates the attacks of 9/11, and includes a crowd sourced interactive map that allows you to share your experience, location, and feelings from that fateful day.
You can browse through submitted entries on the map, people from around the world who said they felt either fearful, hopeful, secure, angry, or unmoved by the incident and see their recollections.
This website from the NYT also includes a slideshow documenting the rise and fall of the towers, as well as many other moving features that you can look through.
September 11th was a terrible day in history, and as the tenth anniversary approaches it’s good to reflect on what happened.
Everyone have a good weekend!
September 8, 2011 •
Gov 2.0 Round-Up
A few good articles on social media
For those of you who may have missed some of today’s relevant social media articles, here are a few for you to check out!
- House lawmakers have returned from the August recess resolved to fight the nation’s cyber adversaries with a flurry of new legislative proposals aiming to boost security of public and private networks and infrastructure. Cybersecurity is the Focus of New Bills
- Nearly a quarter of federal executive-branch websites are unreachable and only about a third use a modern content management system like Drupal or WordPress. Analysis Based on Open Data Finds Many Federal Websites Are Behind the Times
- Press Secretary Jay Carney, who rarely uses Twitter, will answer questions in person at the White House Friday from a group of @WhiteHouse followers who have applied to attend through a web form. The White House’s Latest Tweetup Host Hardly Ever Tweets
- Code for America is sending programmers and other technologists to spend a year in city halls in Philadelphia, Penn., Macon, Ga., and Detroit, Mich. Code for America Will Send Geeks for a Year of Service in Philly, Detroit, and Macon
Enjoy!
September 7, 2011 •
State and Federal Communications’ Staff Attending the PLI Seminar
Held in Washington D.C. September 8 and 9
Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, as well as Compliance Associates Myra Cottrill, Steve Quinn, Rebecca South, and George Ticoras will be attending the Practising Law Institute’s Live Seminar, Corporate Political Activities 2011: Complying with Campaign Finance, Lobbying & Ethics Laws, that is to be held in Washington D.C. September 8 and 9.
This seminar will provide information covering topics such as the aftermath of Citizens United, state and federal pay-to-play laws, state lobbying, gift and campaign finance laws and enforcement, FEC rulemakings and litigation, FEC hot topics, and, among other things, recent civil and criminal enforcement cases, policies and sentencing guidelines.
September 7, 2011 •
On This Day In History
California was admitted into the Union 161 years ago
On this day in history 161 years ago, September 7, 1850, California was admitted to enter into the Union as a free state as part of the Compromise of 1850.
Two days after the House passed the bill, President Millard Filmore signed the measure into law, allowing California to enter the union as the 31st state on September 9th.
Read more from The Office of the Clerk.
September 7, 2011 •
Pay-to-Play Ordinance Introduced in Montclair, New Jersey
Public Comments September 20
A pay-to-play ordinance has been introduced in Montclair, New Jersey.
The ordinance would prohibit business entities which have made local political contributions from contracting with the township if the contributions were made within one year immediately preceding the date of the contract or agreement and are in excess of certain thresholds. Contribution thresholds include a maximum of $300 per calendar year each for any purpose to any candidate or candidate committee for mayor or governing body, $500 per calendar year to any joint candidates committee for mayor or governing body, and $500 maximum per calendar year to any PAC. Penalties for violating the ordinance include a four ban on contracting with the township.
A business entity may cure a violation of the ordinance, if, within 30 days after the date on which the applicable ELEC report is published, the business entity notifies the municipality in writing and seeks and receives reimbursement of the contribution from the recipient of such contribution.
Public comments will be accepted at the next Township Council meeting on September 20.
September 6, 2011 •
First Spouse’s Fund Approved in Nebraska
Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission Decides Fund Passes Legal Muster
The Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission has voted to approve the creation of the proposed First Spouse’s Fund to benefit the spouse of the state’s governor.
The Commission voted 7-1 to approve an advisory opinion concerning the legality of collecting private donations to cover expenses of the governor’s spouse.
The fund is designed to reimburse the spouse of the governor for expenses incurred as a result of his or her position as first spouse, while also ensuring there is no conflict with Nebraska gift and contribution laws.
September 6, 2011 •
Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission Makes Reform Recommendations
Gift law provisions to be modified
The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission has issued recommendations to reform the state code of ethics.
The Commission has recommended repealing the provision allowing lobbyists to spend $100 annually on food and beverages for each legislative official and their respective families.
Further, the Commission has recommended that candidates for the state legislature be subjected to the same gift restrictions as legislative officials.
This would include a prohibition on the receipt of anything of value from lobbyists.
September 6, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – September 6, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Interest Groups Push Obama on Order
SEC Whetting Incentives for Whistle-Blowers
Super Committee Pits Lobbying Firms’ Clients against One Another
The Influence Industry: ‘Candidate super PACs’ surge ahead in the 2012 money race
From the States and Municipalities:
Connecticut
Guay to Head Unified Watchdog Group
Florida
New South Florida Politicians Go to ‘Good Government’ Boot Camp
Florida
Nonprofit Writes Florida Law for its Own Program
Georgia
Georgia Lobbyists Hope to Boost Ethics
Georgia
Montana
Schweitzer Fined $4,100 in Ethics Case
Nebraska
Donations OK’d for First Lady’s Expenses
Nebraska
State Not Enforcing Campaign Limits
North Carolina
Candidate Criticized for Scheduling Fundraiser at Lobbyist’s Home
Pennsylvania
Ex-Pa. House Speaker Pleads Guilty to Corruption
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.
Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.
September 2, 2011 •
Guay to Head Connecticut Office of Governmental Accountability
Executive Administrator Named For New Connecticut Watchdog Office
Governor Dannel P. Malloy is set to name David L. Guay as the head of Connecticut’s newly created Office of Governmental Accountability.
Guay was one of three finalists for the position of executive administrator recommended to the governor in July by the heads of the nine agencies comprising the new Office of Governmental Accountability, including the Office of State Ethics and the State Elections Enforcement Commission.
Guay has served as the executive director of the Board of Accountancy since 1989, and has also held the position of director of election campaign finance services.
Guay’s new position calls for assisting each of the nine agencies in meeting their needs, while also promoting autonomy over the watchdog function each agency provides.
September 2, 2011 •
Government Contractors and Social Media
GovWin discusses communications strategies
Elliot Volkman has written a piece, “Contractors Use Webinars, Social Media To Extend Their Voices,” on GovWin.com’s blog. He discusses the benefits and limitations government contractors may face when using social media for their communications strategies.
Aside from discussing how to make the most out of using Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, Volkman also gives advice on hosting webinars and how they can fit in with the use of social media.
September 2, 2011 •
Gov 2.0 Round Up
A few good articles on social media
For those of you who may have missed some of today’s relevant social media articles, here’s a few for you to check out!
- A platform called Change By Us allows anyone from a city agency, not-for-profit, business, community-based organization, block association, and just normal citizens to start a project to improve his or her city. ‘Change by Us’ Connects Citizens to Government
- You can post and vote for questions that will be asked at the GOP debate that will be held in Orlando, Florida on Sept. 22. GOP Candidates to Face User-Submitted Questions in Google/FOX News Debate
- While government apps have starting to appear everywhere, if they are not updated regularly, they become useless and misleading. Agency apps must be regularly updated or face obsolescence
- The White House will soon be launching a tool that will allow the public to float a petition to the executive branch that becomes “searchable” once it accumulates at least 150 electronic signatures, and the White House will issue an official response if it gets 5,000 signatures. With ‘We The People,’ White House Promises to Go E-to-the-People
Enjoy!
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.
