November 16, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying Florida: “Toll Board Lobbyist Accused of Foiling County’s Push for Transit Funds” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald Florida: “Ballot Questions Fail in Miami Beach” by Joey Flechas for Miami Herald New Jersey: “GWB Scandal Puts a Light on […]
Lobbying
Florida: “Toll Board Lobbyist Accused of Foiling County’s Push for Transit Funds” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald
Florida: “Ballot Questions Fail in Miami Beach” by Joey Flechas for Miami Herald
New Jersey: “GWB Scandal Puts a Light on the Benefits of Lobbying” by John Reitmeyer for The Bergen Record
Campaign Finance
Missouri: “Missouri Donors Say Effort to Limit Money in Politics Failed” by Summer Ballentine and David A. Lieb (Associated Press) for Southeast Missourian
Tennessee: “Legal Loophole Allows Donors to Obscure State Campaign Contributions” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean
Ethics
Illinois: “Google and Facebook Take Aim at Fake News Sites” by Nick Wingfield, Mike Isaac, and Katie Benner for The New York Times
“Red Light Cameras Figure Given 2 1/2 Years in Prison for Massive Bribe Scheme” by David Kidwell for Chicago Tribune
Elections
“Bernie’s Empire Strikes Back” by Daniel Strauss for Politico
“Trump Draws Sharp Rebuke, Concerns Over Newly Appointed Chief White House Strategist Stephen Bannon” by Jose A. DelReal for The Washington Post
Legislative Issues
“Republicans Unanimously Pick Ryan to Continue as Speaker, but Differences Remain” by Mike DeBonis for The Washington Post
New York: “No Pay Raises for State Legislators, Commission Says” by Rick Karlin for Albany Times Union
April 6, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations
Campaign Finance Wisconsin: “Ted Cruz Leans on Allied Super PAC as GOP Nomination Fight Rolls On” by Matea Gold and Sean Sullivan for Washington Post Ethics “The ‘Panama Papers’: Here’s What We Know” by Liam Stack for New York Times […]
Campaign Finance
Wisconsin: “Ted Cruz Leans on Allied Super PAC as GOP Nomination Fight Rolls On” by Matea Gold and Sean Sullivan for Washington Post
Ethics
“The ‘Panama Papers’: Here’s What We Know” by Liam Stack for New York Times
Alabama: “Were the Gov. Robert Bentley Sex Scandal Tapes Legally Obtained?” by Keith Faulk for AL.com
Hawaii: “Why Was Ethics Director Suspended? Report Offers Few Details” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat
New York: “Local Politics Take an Uncivil Turn, Roiling a Suburb of New York” by Lisa Foderaro for New York Times
South Carolina: “Attorney General’s Deputy Secretly Tried to Discredit Special Prosecutor” by John Monk for The State
Elections
“Control of State Courts Becomes Top Political Battleground” by Christina Cassidy (Associated Press) for Las Vegas Sun
Arizona: “U.S. Seeks Answers to Delays at Phoenix-Area Polls on Primary Day” by Fernanda Santos for New York Times
Wisconsin: “Bernie Sanders Wins Wisconsin Democratic Primary, Adding to Momentum” by Amy Chozick for New York Times
Wisconsin:“Wisconsin Goes to Cruz, Raising Chance of Fight at Convention” by Jonathan Martin and Matt Flegenheimer for New York Times
March 28, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Campaign Finance California: “Bernie Sanders’ Campaign Legacy Could Be How He Raises Money from So Many People” by Evan Halper for Los Angeles Times Arkansas : “Ex-Judge Gets 10-Year Sentence for Taking Bribe” by John Lyon for Arkansas News Ethics […]
Campaign Finance
California: “Bernie Sanders’ Campaign Legacy Could Be How He Raises Money from So Many People” by Evan Halper for Los Angeles Times
Arkansas : “Ex-Judge Gets 10-Year Sentence for Taking Bribe” by John Lyon for Arkansas News
Ethics
Kentucky: “Ex-State Lawmaker Keith Hall Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison” by John Cheves for Lexington Herald-Leader
Elections
“Feeling G.O.P. Peril, Muslims Try to Get Out Vote” by Alan Rappeport for New York Times
“Bernie Sanders Seizes 3 States, Sweeping Democratic Contests” by Amy Chozick for New York Times
“Donald Trump Can’t Stop Saying Nasty Things about Women. It Could Cost Him.” by Jose DelReal and Jenna Johnson for Washington Post
Arizona: “Angry Arizona Voters Demand: Why Such Long Lines at Polling Sites?” by Fernanda Santos for New York Times
March 9, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying New Mexico: “Transparency Legislation Isn’t Quite as Transparent as Billed” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth New York: “PR Firms File Suit over ‘Hopelessly Vague’ JCOPE Lobbying Definition” by Bill Mahoney for Capital New York Campaign Finance […]
Lobbying
New Mexico: “Transparency Legislation Isn’t Quite as Transparent as Billed” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth
New York: “PR Firms File Suit over ‘Hopelessly Vague’ JCOPE Lobbying Definition” by Bill Mahoney for Capital New York
Campaign Finance
“The FEC Just Made It Easier for Super PAC Donors to Hide Their Identities” by Matea Gold for Washington Post
“Ben Carson’s Small-Dollar Donors Could Keep Yielding Big Money” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity
Connecticut: “A Legislative Mystery: Who changed a watchdog’s bill?” by Mark Pazniokas for CT Mirror
Mississippi: “No State Officials Enforce Campaign Finance Laws” by Mollie Bryant, Geoff Pender, and Katie Royals for Jackson Clarion-Ledger
Ethics
California: “Golfing, Tequila and Spa Treatments: These are the gifts given to California lawmakers in 2015” by Patrick McGreevy and Liam Dillon for Los Angeles Times
Wisconsin: “Politics Apparent in Appointments to New Ethics, Elections Panels” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Elections
“Michael Bloomberg Says He Won’t Run for President” by Maggie Haberman and Alexander Burns for New York Times
“Ted Cruz Keeps Up Pressure on Donald Trump; Bernie Sanders Takes 2 on ‘Super Saturday’” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times
North Carolina: “Trump Cracks Down on Protesters” by Ben Schreckinger for Politico
Legislative Issues
Indianapolis: “State to Locals: You can’t do that. Or that.” by Brian Eason for Indianapolis Star
February 24, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying California: “California Bill Would Ban Legislative Junkets Funded by Interest Groups” by Jeremy White for Sacramento Bee Missouri: “Curtis Presents Bill to Cut Union Exemption for Lobbying” by Travis Zimpfer for Missouri Times Campaign Finance “Democratic Party Fundraising Effort […]
Lobbying
California: “California Bill Would Ban Legislative Junkets Funded by Interest Groups” by Jeremy White for Sacramento Bee
Missouri: “Curtis Presents Bill to Cut Union Exemption for Lobbying” by Travis Zimpfer for Missouri Times
Campaign Finance
“Democratic Party Fundraising Effort Helps Clinton Find New Donors, Too” by Matea Gold and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post
“Can You Sell Marijuana Pipes to Help Fund Bernie Sanders?” by Michael Beckel for Center for Public Integrity
Massachusetts: “Baker Taps Wealthy Donors in Bid to Shape Mass. GOP” by Frank Phillips for Boston Globe
Mississippi: “Elected Officials Use Campaign Finds for Private Gain in Mississippi” by Geoff Pender, Mollie Bryant, and Katie Royals (Jackson Clarion-Ledger) for The Sun-Herald
New Jersey: “Birdsall CEO Pleads Guilty in Huge N.J. Pay-to-Play Scheme” by S.P. Sullivan (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star Ledger
Ethics
New York: “Watchdog Group Asks for Inquiry into Nonprofits Tied to de Blasio” by J. David Goodman for New York Times
Elections
“Univision Aims to Make Hispanic Voting Bloc Even More Formidable” by Nick Corasaniti for New York Times
Nevada: “In Nevada Caucuses, Trump Gets a Third Straight Win” by Philip Rucker and David Weigel for Washington Post
February 22, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying New Mexico: “Senators Credit KOB As They Pass Campaign Finance System Reform” by Ryan Luby for KOB Campaign Finance New Mexico: “‘Dark Money’ Disclosure Bill Dies in Final Days of Session” by Trip Jennings for New Mexico In Depth […]
Lobbying
New Mexico: “Senators Credit KOB As They Pass Campaign Finance System Reform” by Ryan Luby for KOB
Campaign Finance
New Mexico: “‘Dark Money’ Disclosure Bill Dies in Final Days of Session” by Trip Jennings for New Mexico In Depth
Washington: “State: Food industry lobby engaged in ‘egregious’ money laundering in 2013 vote” by Joel Connelly for Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Ethics
Alaska: “Former Juneau Lawmaker Fined $18K for Allegedly Helping Oil Companies While Seeking Oil Jobs” by Matt Miller for KTOO
Missouri: “Gutting of Lobbying Bill Clouds Ethics Agenda’s Future” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Missouri: “Missouri Rep. Don Gosen Abruptly Resigns under Cloud of Suspicion” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star
New York: “Former Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak Accused of Sexually Harassing Staffers Is Fined $100G by Legislative Ethics Commission” by Kenneth Lovett for New York Daily News
Ohio: “Ginther’s Ethics Proposals Get Public Hearing” by Mike Foley for WCBE
Texas: “Reports: Indicted Crystal City mayor jailed after disrupted council meeting” by Claire Cardona for Dallas Morning News
Virginia: “Virginia Taxpayers Pick Up $2,435 Food and Beer Bill for Mystery Guests in Redskins Suite” by Graham Moomaw for Richmond Times-Dispatch
Elections
“Fall of the House of Bush: How last name and Donald Trump doomed Jeb” by Ed O’Keefe, Dan Balz and Matea Gold for the Washington Post
“Sanders Supporters Like Chipotle, While Trump Fans Prefer Sonic” by Tim Higgins for Bloomberg.com
“Bernie’s Army of Coders” by Darren Samuelsohn for Politico
“Pope Francis Suggests Donald Trump Is ‘Not Christian’” by Jim Yardley for The New York Times
Nevada: “Hillary Clinton Beats Bernie Sanders in Nevada Caucuses” by Amy Chozick and Patrick Healy for The New York Times
South Carolina “The More Donald Trump Defies His Party, the More His Supporters Cheer” by Trip Gabriel for The New York Times
South Carolina: “Donald Trump’s South Carolina Victory Spurs New G.O.P. Jostling” by Maggie Haberman and Alan Rappeport for The New York Times
February 8, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “Does Lobbying Involve Social Media Activity? New York Regulators Are Looking Into It” by Dipka Bhambhani for PRWeek Campaign Finance “Clinton Blasts Wall Street, but Still Draws Millions in Contributions” by Matea Gold, Tom Hamburger, and Anu Narayanswamy for […]
Lobbying
“Does Lobbying Involve Social Media Activity? New York Regulators Are Looking Into It” by Dipka Bhambhani for PRWeek
Campaign Finance
“Clinton Blasts Wall Street, but Still Draws Millions in Contributions” by Matea Gold, Tom Hamburger, and Anu Narayanswamy for Washington Post
“Ted Cruz, a Public Firebrand on Social Issues, Is Cooler When Wooing Donors” by Jeremy Peters and Maggie Haberman for New York Times
Minnesota: “Does Minnesota’s Constitution Need a Campaign Finance Amendment? DFL Thinks So” by Rachel Stassen-Berger for St. Paul Pioneer Press
Virginia: “Panel Punts on Bill to Limit Personal Use of Campaign Funds” by Alan Suderman (Associated Press) for WTOP
Ethics
“Senate Ethics Panel Has Issued No Punishments in 9 Years” by Paul Singer and Jenny Ung for USA Today
California: “San Jose Mayor Cancels Calls with His ‘Kitchen Cabinet’” by Ramona Giwargis for San Jose Mercury News
Colorado: “Michael Hancock Seeks Guidance on City Money for Super Bowl Trip” by Jon Murray for Denver Post
Michigan: “Amid the Flint Water Crisis, Journalists Are Calling for Changes to Michigan’s FOIA Law” by Annie Byrnes for Poynter.org
Texas: “Federal Corruption Case Snares Leaders of South Texas City” by Nomaan Merchant (Associated Press) for ABC News
Elections
“Young Democrats Flock to Bernie Sanders, Spurning Hillary Clinton’s Polish and Poise” by Amy Chozick and Yamiche Alcindor for New York Times
November 25, 2014 •
Sen. Bernie Sanders Introduced Bill to Create Federal Election Holiday
Sen. Bernie Sanders has introduced a bill creating a federal Election Day. The Democracy Day Act of 2014 designates “the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year” as a public holiday. Senate Bill 2918, introduced […]
Sen. Bernie Sanders has introduced a bill creating a federal Election Day. The Democracy Day Act of 2014 designates “the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year” as a public holiday.
Senate Bill 2918, introduced on November 12, has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
March 13, 2013 •
Sen. Bernie Sanders Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United
Democracy is for People Amendment
A bill introduced on March 12, 2013 by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution overturning the Supreme Court decision of Citizens United v. FEC.
The amendment is divided into four sections. The first section declares because the right to vote belongs only to “natural persons as citizens of the United States”, political contributions and expenditures may only be made by “natural persons”.
The second section affirmatively grants Congress and the States power to regulate campaign finance laws. Sen. Sanders’ fact sheet explaining the amendment states, “This [second] section overturns the Buckley v. Valeo (1976) ‘money is speech’ decision allowing individuals – including individuals who are candidates – to spend unlimited sums of money independent of candidates.”
The remaining two sections explicitly state the amendment does not limit the freedom of the press and that Congress and the States will have the power to enforce the amendment through their legislative powers. Sen. Sanders’ press release can be found here. U.S. Representative Ted Deutch has filed this same amendment, House Joint Resolution 34, in the House.
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