Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh filed a bill to be considered during the Alabama Legislature’s upcoming session, beginning January 14, 2014.

The bill would ban a former legislator for a period of two years from lobbying members of either chamber of the Legislature. The current law allows former members of the Legislature to lobby members of the other chamber without any waiting period, and imposes a two year waiting period on lobbying members of the former legislator’s chamber.

If passed, this bill would take effect immediately.

A special runoff election for Alabama House District 74 will be held on November 19, 2013.

This election will determine the outcome of the race for this House seat because the two candidates remaining, Dimitri Polizos and Charlotte Meadows, are both Republicans.

There are no candidates from opposing parties contesting these two candidates, so there is no need for a special general election.

Special elections have been announced for House Districts 74 and 104. A special primary will be held on October 15, 2013, with the general election to take place on December 10, 2013 whether or not a primary is needed.

If a primary runoff is needed, it will be held December 3, 2013, with the general election postponed until January 28, 2014. Voters will be replacing Rep. Jim Barton in District 104 and Rep. Jay Love in District 74.

The Alabama Legislature adjourned just before midnight on Monday, May 20, 2013, but not before passing major changes to the state’s Fair Campaign Practices Act.

The most significant change is the elimination of limits on corporate contributions to candidates and political action committees. Under the new law, corporations will be permitted to contribute in the same manner as individuals, who are not subject to any contribution limits, with the exception of retaining the state’s pay-to-play prohibition on contributions to the Public Service Commission by utilities the commission regulates. The bill also makes 527 organizations subject to the ban on PAC-to-PAC transfers and adds enforcement and penalty provisions.

The Secretary of State’s Office will release information regarding the effective date of these provisions since the law must first receive Department of Justice preclearance before it becomes enforceable.

Secretary of State Beth Chapman announced Janice McDonald, Director of Elections, will retire at the end of the month.

She has worked in the elections division for more than a decade.

Her replacement will be the current supervisor of voter registration, Ed Packard, who has been with the office for more than 15 years.

A runoff election is scheduled for Alabama’s 35th Senate District.

Businessman Bill Hightower, who received 47 percent of the votes in the primary election, will face Rep. Jim Barton on March 12.

Governor Bentley has set the special election schedule for House District 97. The seat was formerly held by Rep. Yvonne Kennedy, who passed away December 8.

The election timeline will be as follows:

• The primary election will be held February 26, 2013, unless the major parties have only one candidate, in which case the general election will be held that date;
• A primary runoff, or the general election if no runoff is needed, will be held April 9, 2013; and,
• If both a primary and runoff are required, the general election will be held May 21, 2013.

If a primary and runoff are both needed, the seat will remain vacant for the entire 2013 legislative session.

Governor Robert Bentley has set the special election schedule for the seat in Senate District 35:

• The special election primary will be held on January 29, 2013, or if no primary is needed, the special general election will be held that date;
• If a primary is held and a runoff is needed, it will be held March 12, 2013. If a primary is held and no runoff is needed, the special general election will be held March 12; and
• If a runoff is needed, the special general election will be held April 23, 2013.

The seat was held by Ben Brooks, who resigned upon being elected to circuit judge.

The governor has set the special election timeline to fill the House District 11 seat, vacated by Jeremy Oden upon accepting an appointment to the state public service commission:

• The special primary election will be held February 12, 2013, if needed, otherwise the special general election will be held on that date;
• The runoff following the primary, if needed, or the special general election if no runoff is needed following a primary, will be held March 26, 2013; and
• The special general election will be held on May 7, 2013 if both a primary and runoff are required.

Governor Robert Bentley has set the special election timeline for the House District 30 seat. The seat was vacated by Representative Blaine Galliher, who resigned to become the governor’s legislative director.

The primary will be held October 23, 2012, and the special general election held December 11, 2012 if no runoff is needed. If a runoff election is required, it will be held December 11, 2012, and the special general election held January 29, 2013.

The governor said in a statement that the timeline will allow the new lawmaker to be in place for the legislative session beginning February 5, 2013.

“Sunlight Foundation Unveils New Legislative Alert Service, Monitoring Action On Capitol Hill And All 50 States” by Sarah Lai Stirland in TechPresident.

“More on Legislative Turnover” by Karl Kurtz in NCSL’s The Thicket.

Arizona: “Fewer candidates vie for Arizona Legislature” by Mary Jo Pitzl in The Arizona Republic.

Maryland: “Maryland Becomes 40th State to Ratify 17th Amendment” by Karl Kurtz in The Thicket.

Redistricting

Alabama: “Inside the Statehouse: New district lines won’t change legislature” by Steve Flowers in the Jacksonville News.

Alaska: “Lawsuit claims redistricting procedure violates federal law” by Becky Bohrer in the Anchorage Daily News.

Illinois: “Ill. Supreme Court rejects GOP challenge to state legislative remap” by Dave McKinney in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Kansas:  “In Kansas redistricting, new boundaries quickly bring new faces” by Dave Helling in the Kansas City Star.

Missouri: “Missouri senator will pursue redistricting changes” by The Associated Press in the Kansas City Star.

Photo of the Illinois State Capitol by Nikopoley in Wikipedia.

Alabama: “Redistricting bill stalls in Senate” by Sebastian Kitchen and Brian Lyman in the Montgomery Advertiser.

Alaska: “Haines Borough challenges latest redistricting plan” by Becky Bohrer in the Anchorage Daily News.

Arizona: “Ariz. redistricting headed to two courts” by Howard Fischer in the Arizona Daily Sun.

California: “In Calif. redistricting experiment, how much better off will Democrats be?” by Tom Curry on MSNBC.com.

Kansas:  “Court allows lawmakers, voters to intervene in redistricting suit” by John Hanna of the Associated Press and Brent D. Wistrom of the Eagle Topeka bureau in the Kansas City Star.

“1,000 Independent Agents Lobbying Lawmakers in Washington” by Young Ha in Insurance Journal.

Alabama: “Lawmakers recommend reprimand for lobbyist” by Sebastian Kitchen in the Montgomery Advertiser.

California: The San Francisco Ethics Commission announced that their Lobbyist Electronic Filing System will experience down time for maintenance. For the schedule, see the Ethics Commission news update.

Delaware: “Bill would expand lobbyist disclosures” by Randall Chase (Associated Press) on WDEL.com.

Federal:

FEC Moves on Outdated Rules

One Super PAC Takes Aim at Incumbents of Any Party

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama

Jury Acquits All Defendants, Including Means, in Gambling Corruption Case

California

Ethics Panel Raises Donation Limits in Municipal Campaigns

California

Trutanich Paid for YouTube Views of D.A. Campaign Videos

Georgia

Some Priorities Fade as Lawmakers Favor Social Issues Ahead of Election Season

Maryland

Bereano’s 1994 Conviction Upheld

Maryland

Leopold Indicted on Charges of Using Police Detail for Political Gain

Missouri

Honor for Rush Limbaugh is Fracas for Missouri

Nevada

Ethics Case Back before Nevada Supreme Court

New Mexico

Newly Elected Sunland Park Mayor to Seek Court Order to Do Job

Oklahoma

Ex-Senator Convicted of Bribery; Co-Defendant Free

Utah

Special Interests Busy Providing Perks to Legislators

West Virginia

W.Va. Ethics Panel Clarifies Cohabitation Law

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