November 2, 2011 •
Arizona Special Session Impeaches Independent Chairwoman
Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission
A one-day special session of the Arizona Legislature was called by Governor Jan Brewer yesterday to impeach the chairwoman of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission.
The Senate vote to impeach Chairwoman Colleen Coyle Mathis passed with the required two thirds majority. The chairwoman, a registered independent, was ousted with a party line vote of 21 Republican senators in favor of the removal and 6 Democratic senators opposed.
Governor Brewer alleges gross misconduct by Chairwoman Mathis in her role in the independent commission, which also has two democratic members and two republican members.
Photo of the Arizona State Capitol building by 2candle on Wikipedia.
August 19, 2011 •
We Cover New Jurisdictions
In a continuing effort to better serve the needs of its clients, State and Federal Communications, Inc. is expanding coverage of laws and regulations in more municipalities.
We now provide information on lobbying, political contributions, and procurement lobbying for:
Chandler, Arizona
Fort Collins, Colorado
New Haven, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Chesapeake, Virginia
July 28, 2011 •
State and Federal Communications Expands Coverage
In a continuing effort to better serve the needs of its clients, State and Federal Communications, Inc. is expanding coverage of laws and regulations in more municipalities.
We now provide information on lobbying, political contributions, and procurement lobbying for Gilbert, Arizona; Savannah, Georgia; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Springfield, Missouri; and Syracuse, New York on our website.
The image of North America by Bosonic dressing on Wikipedia.
July 18, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 18, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
State Legislative Bills Raise Conservative Group’s Profile
Federal:
Key Senator Urges Federal Investigation of Murdoch Media Company
The Influence Industry: Coming soon to a screen near you – a lobbying campaign
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Legislature’s Ethics Chairs Say Referral Fees Are ‘Unquestionably Illegal’
Arizona
Arizona Lawmaker Says Pointing Gun at Reporter Wasn’t Deliberate
California
Gays Gaining Ground in State Political District Boundary Talks
Connecticut
Agency Head: Malloy’s undermining watchdogs’ fiscal autonomy
Idaho
Watchdog Group Says Idaho Should Have Stricter Lobbyist Reporting
Indiana
City Ponders Campaign-Gift Curbs
Minnesota
Full Eighth Circuit to Hear Minnesota Disclosure Law Case
Montana
High Court Sets Oral Arguments in Campaign Lawsuit
South Carolina
Campaign Reports, Fines Dog Son of Late S.C. Gov. Campbell
Tennessee
Haslam’s Office Cuts Off Hundreds from Clip Service
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.
July 5, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 5, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Colbert Declares Victory at FEC
FEC Limits Lawmakers’ Fundraising for Super PACs
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Gambling Trial Highlights Fees Paid to Legislators
Arizona
Justices Strike Down Arizona Campaign Finance Law
Florida
Judge Strikes Down Florida Campaign Finance Matching Law
Illinois
Jury Finds Blagojevich Guilty of Corruption
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Special Education Director Said to Siphon $10 Million
Missouri
Missouri Lawmakers Eat for Free
Nevada
Tougher Nevada Campaign Money Laws Come into Play
New York
New Contribution Rule Limits Assignments to Elected Judges
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Ethics Commission Reprimands NRA Lobbyist
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Justices in Altercation
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.
June 9, 2011 •
Arizona Legislature Called to Special Session
Special Session to Convene Friday
Governor Jan Brewer has called the Legislature to begin a special session on Friday, June 9, 2011.
The purpose of the special session is to extend unemployment benefits for the state’s jobless.
March 7, 2011 •
Arizona Releases Adjusted Contribution Limits
Limits Increased in Accordance with Consumer Price Index
Secretary of State Ken Bennett has released contribution limits for the 2011-2012 election cycle. Under the new limits individuals and noncertified political committees cannot contribute more than $872 to a statewide candidate, $430 to a non-statewide local candidate, and $424 to a non-statewide legislative candidate.
Certified committees or “Super PACs” are now limited to contributions of $4,352 to a statewide candidate, $2,170 to a non-statewide local candidate, and $1,736 to a non-statewide legislative candidate. Individuals are now limited to contributions totaling $6,100 in a calendar year to political committees or candidates.
The Secretary of State biennially adjusts campaign contribution limits based upon the consumer price index.
November 29, 2010 •
Supreme Court to Consider Arizona Campaign Finance Regulations Again
US Supreme Court to Determine Constitutionality of Arizona’s Clean Elections Campaign Finance Law
The United States Supreme Court will again review Arizona’s attempt to level the playing field for political candidates, agreeing to determine the constitutionality of Arizona’s law to distribute campaign subsidies to publicly funded candidates who face big-spending opponents.
In June, the Supreme Court blocked a portion of Arizona’s Clean Elections program, which authorized the state to provide “matching funds” to those candidates who face opponents spending large amounts of their own money or outside groups that target them. The court combined two cases, Arizona Free Enterprise, et al v. Bennett and McComish v. Bennett, and will hear arguments in the spring of 2011.
Picture of the U.S. Supreme Court by UpstateNYer on Wikipedia.
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.
