March 21, 2019 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Massachusetts: “New Proposal for Massachusetts House Caucus Funding Raises Fears of Legislative ‘Slush Fund’” by Shira Schoenberg for MassLive.com Elections California: “L.A. City Council Candidate Sues to Stop Former Ethics Commissioner from Running” by Emily Alpert Reyes for […]
Campaign Finance
Massachusetts: “New Proposal for Massachusetts House Caucus Funding Raises Fears of Legislative ‘Slush Fund’” by Shira Schoenberg for MassLive.com
Elections
California: “L.A. City Council Candidate Sues to Stop Former Ethics Commissioner from Running” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times
Ethics
National: “Appeals Court Judges Appear Skeptical of Emoluments Case Against Trump” by Sharon LaFraniere (New York Times) for MSN
Indiana: “Complaint Could Cost Attorney General Curtis Hill His Law License – and Elected Position” by Tony Cook, Ryan Martin, and Kaitlin Lange for Indianapolis Star
Missouri: “Voters Approved Clean Missouri, but Lawmakers Want Them to Reconsider” by Galen Barcharier for Columbia Missourian
Oregon: “Cylvia Hayes Settles with Oregonian Over Legal Fees” by Ted Sickinger for Portland Oregonian
Washington D.C.: “D.C. Council Votes to Reprimand Jack Evans Over Ethics Issues” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post
Lobbying
New York: “9 Fund-Raisers in 1 Night: Democrats vow reform in N.Y., but money still flows” by J. David Goodman for New York Times
Oklahoma: “Do You Hire Lobbyists? Agencies Face Deadline from Stitt” by Tres Savage for NonDoc
March 20, 2019 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance California: Donors to D.A. Jackie Lacey Included a Murder Suspect’s Parents and a Convicted Felon by Matt Hamilton and Harriet Myers for Los Angeles Times Maryland: Baltimore Co. Council Approves Public Campaign Financing Measure by Alison Knezevich for […]
Campaign Finance
California: Donors to D.A. Jackie Lacey Included a Murder Suspect’s Parents and a Convicted Felon by Matt Hamilton and Harriet Myers for Los Angeles Times
Maryland: Baltimore Co. Council Approves Public Campaign Financing Measure by Alison Knezevich for Baltimore Sun
North Carolina: Ex-N Carolina Lawmaker Indicted in Campaign Finance Probe by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for WRAL
Ethics
National: Mueller Sought Michael Cohen’s Emails Months Before FBI Raid, Warrants Show by Devlin Barrett, Matt Zapotosky, and Rosalind Helderman (Washington Post) for MSN
National: Steve King Posts Meme Warning That Red States Have ‘8 Trillion Bullets’ in Event of Civil War by Reis Thebault (Washington Post) for MSN
Georgia: Former Ralston Aide Takes Over as Georgia Ethics Director by Staff for AP News
Illinois: The Consummate Political Insider Linked to the Burgeoning City Hall Corruption Probe by Jason Meisner for Chicago Tribune
Lobbying
Kentucky: Former Lobbyist to Pay $15,000 Ethics Fine. He Was Already Convicted in Bribery Case. by Bill Estep for Lexington Herald-Leader
Redistricting
Virginia: Supreme Court Divided Over Virginia Redistricting Case and Question of Racial Discrimination by Robert Barnes for Washington Post
March 19, 2019 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Canada: “An SNC-Lavalin Lobbyist Attended Liberal Donor Events, Critics Say It Was Cash-for-Access” by Maura Forrest and Jesse Snyder for Cochrane Times Arkansas: “Former Arkansas Senator Is Fined $11,000 by Ethics Panel” by Lisa Hammersly for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette […]
Campaign Finance
Canada: “An SNC-Lavalin Lobbyist Attended Liberal Donor Events, Critics Say It Was Cash-for-Access” by Maura Forrest and Jesse Snyder for Cochrane Times
Arkansas: “Former Arkansas Senator Is Fined $11,000 by Ethics Panel” by Lisa Hammersly for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Illinois: “Debt Collector Indicted on Pay-to-Play Charges Linked to Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown” by Patrick O’Connell and Megan Crepeau for Chicago Tribune
Minnesota: “Lawmakers Look to Close Campaign Finance Loophole Affecting Minneapolis Elections” by Peter Callaghan for MinnPost
Elections
National: “Workers on Bernie Sanders’ 2020 Campaign Have Unionized” by Juana Summers for AP News
Kentucky: “Kentucky Legislature Passes Bill Stripping Grimes of Authority Over State Board of Elections” by Jessica Huseman for ProPublica
Ethics
California: “California Is Awash in Cannabis Cash. Some Is Being Used to Bribe Public Officials” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times
Lobbying
National: “Trump-Connected Lobby Firms Cash in With Foreign Governments” by Theodoric Meyer for Politico
National: “Lobbying Case Against Democrat with Ties to Manafort Reaches Key Stage” by Kenneth Vogel and Katie Benner for New York Times
March 18, 2019 •
Oklahoma Increases Political Contribution Limits
Political candidates in Oklahoma will be able to accept $2,800 per election from individuals the next time they run. The Federal Election Commission increased the individual contributions limit $100 to account for inflation. It is the first increase in four […]
Political candidates in Oklahoma will be able to accept $2,800 per election from individuals the next time they run.
The Federal Election Commission increased the individual contributions limit $100 to account for inflation. It is the first increase in four years.
The limit increase applies to primary, runoff primary, and general election ballots in 2020, as well as candidates in any special election this year.
March 18, 2019 •
NYCU Video Digest – March 18, 2019
Campaign finance reform, elections changes, and new lobbying and ethics bills passed in this week’s News You Can Use video digest!
Campaign finance reform, elections changes, and new lobbying and ethics bills passed in this week’s News You Can Use video digest!
March 18, 2019 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance
Nevada: Municipal Election Voters Blind to Campaign Donors by Shea Johnson for Las Vegas Review-Journal
Campaign Finance
Nevada: Municipal Election Voters Blind to Campaign Donors by Shea Johnson for Las Vegas Review-Journal
Elections
California: ‘We Got Our Clocks Cleaned’: GOP quietly works to expand ballot-harvesting in California while criticizing Democrats for the practice by Amy Gardner (Washington Post) for San Jose Mercury News
Ethics
National: Former Spa Owner and Frequent Mar-a-Lago Guest Sparks Concerns About ‘Porous’ Environment at President’s Club by Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Emily Rauhala, Lori Rozsa, and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for MSN
National: GAO Urges More Transparency of Political Appointments, Compliance with Agency Ethics Programs by Nicole Ogrysko for Federal News Network
Arkansas: Former Arkansas Senator Is Fined $11,000 by Ethics Panel by Lisa Hammersly for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Maryland: Baltimore Mayor Pugh Didn’t Disclose Seat on Maryland Medical System Board, as Required on City Ethics Forms by Doug Donovan and Luke Broadwater for Baltimore Sun
Missouri: Missouri Considers Trimming Impeachment After Greitens’ Case by David Lieb for AP News
New Mexico: Legislature Seals Deal on Independent Ethics Commission by Trip Jennings for New Mexico In Depth
March 14, 2019 •
Ohio Senator Introduces Bill to Allow Electronic Filing of Campaign Finance Reports
State Sen. Michael Rulli introduced legislation to promote greater transparency in local elections by allowing local candidates to file campaign finance reports electronically. Senate Bill 107 would remove the paper-only filing requirements for individuals who file with local boards of […]
State Sen. Michael Rulli introduced legislation to promote greater transparency in local elections by allowing local candidates to file campaign finance reports electronically.
Senate Bill 107 would remove the paper-only filing requirements for individuals who file with local boards of elections.
The bill would also require the secretary of state to make the information in those electronic statements available online.
If passed, the bill would take effect on the first day of January that occurs at least 180 days after the act is filed with the secretary of state.
March 14, 2019 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “2020 Dems Fight to Win Big-Money Purity Test” by Maggie Severns for Politico New Mexico: “GOP Lawmakers Blast Campaign Finance Bill” by Colleen Heild for Albuquerque Journal Ethics Connecticut: “Ethics Office: Sen. Alex Bergstein Not Barred from […]
Campaign Finance
National: “2020 Dems Fight to Win Big-Money Purity Test” by Maggie Severns for Politico
New Mexico: “GOP Lawmakers Blast Campaign Finance Bill” by Colleen Heild for Albuquerque Journal
Ethics
Connecticut: “Ethics Office: Sen. Alex Bergstein Not Barred from Paying Staffer with Personal Funds” by Neil Vigdor for Hartford Courant
Illinois: “Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Ethics Reform Plan Stalls in City Council Committee” by John Byrne for Chicago Tribune
Iowa: “County Officials Vacationed at Vendor’s Florida Beach Condo” by Ryan Foley for AP News
New York: “New York AG Subpoenas Deutsche Bank for Records Related to 3 Trump Properties, Including Chicago’s Trump Tower” by David Fahrenthold and Jonathan O’Connell (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune
Legislative Issues
Tennessee: “How Little-Known Meetings in Hard-to-Find Locations Can Make or Break Legislation in Tennessee” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean
Lobbying
National: “Paul Manafort Is Sentenced to a Total of 7 1 / 2 Years in Prison for Conspiracy and Fraud, and Charged with Mortgage Fraud in N.Y.” by Spencer Hsu, Rachel Weiner, and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) for MSN
Canada: “SNC-Lavalin Board Chair, a Former Top Bureaucrat, May Have Run Afoul of Federal Lobbying Rules” by Beatrice Paez for Hill Times
Florida: “Miami-Dade Ethics Board Dismisses Lobbying Complaint Against Beckham Group” by Joey Flechas for Miami Herald
March 13, 2019 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Election Watchdog Hits Jeb Bush’s Super-PAC with Massive Fine for Taking Money from Foreign Nationals” by Nihal Krishan for Mother Jones New Mexico: “Changes Likely for Dark-Money in New Mexico Elections” by Associated Press for KOB Ethics […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Election Watchdog Hits Jeb Bush’s Super-PAC with Massive Fine for Taking Money from Foreign Nationals” by Nihal Krishan for Mother Jones
New Mexico: “Changes Likely for Dark-Money in New Mexico Elections” by Associated Press for KOB
Ethics
Florida: “Gov. Ron DeSantis Hitches Ride to New York on South Florida Gambling Mogul’s Jet; GOP Picks Up Tab” by Steve Bousquet for South Florida Sun Sentinel
Nevada: “Former State Sen. Atkinson Pleads Guilty, Used $250K in Campaign Funds for SUV, Night Club” by James DeHaven for Reno Gazette-Journal
New York: “Freebies, No-Show Jobs and Bribes: Ex-Long Island official convicted of graft” by Sarah Maslin Nir and Arielle Dollinger for New York Times
Lobbying
National: “Incendiary N.R.A. Videos Find New Critics: N.R.A. leaders” by Danny Hakim (New York Times) for MSN
Canada: “Sask. Lobbyist ‘Loophole’ Should Be Closed: NDP” by Adam Hunter for CBC
New York: “Lobbyists Accused of Misconduct Create Quandary at Capitol” by Rachel Silberstein for Albany Times Union
March 12, 2019 •
Major Campaign Finance Reform Becomes Effective
District of Columbia Act 22-578 passed Congressional review and is now effective. The Campaign Finance Reform Amendment Act of 2018 removes the Office of Campaign Finance from the Board of Elections and establishes an independent five-member Campaign Finance Board (CFB). […]
District of Columbia Act 22-578 passed Congressional review and is now effective.
The Campaign Finance Reform Amendment Act of 2018 removes the Office of Campaign Finance from the Board of Elections and establishes an independent five-member Campaign Finance Board (CFB).
The Act restricts political contributions by contractors doing business with the district and addresses improper coordination between campaigns, political action committees, and independent expenditure committees.
The pay-to-play component of the bill bans campaign contributions by businesses seeking contracts of $250,000 or more.
The pay-to-play provisions take effect after the November 2020 general election.
March 12, 2019 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance West Virginia: “Lawmakers Vote to Raise Their Campaign Contribution Limits” by Erin Beck for Beckley Register-Herald Ethics National: “After Week of Infighting, Democrats Wonder Where to Draw Line on Speech” by Glenn Thrush and Sheryl Gay Stolberg (New […]
Campaign Finance
West Virginia: “Lawmakers Vote to Raise Their Campaign Contribution Limits” by Erin Beck for Beckley Register-Herald
Ethics
National: “After Week of Infighting, Democrats Wonder Where to Draw Line on Speech” by Glenn Thrush and Sheryl Gay Stolberg (New York Times) for MSN
Kansas: “White Linen Restaurant Bans Lawmakers, Lobbyists After Altercation” by Sherman Smith for Topeka Capital-Journal
New York: “State Legislature Pushing to Revamp Embattled Ethics Board” by Michael Gormely for Newsweek
Washington D.C.: “D.C. Council, Bowser Administration Receive Federal Subpoenas in Jack Evans Ethics Probe” by Peter Jamison, Steve Thompson, and Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post
Lobbying
National: “How Lobbying Has Changed in Donald Trump’s Washington” by Luke Mullins for Washingtonian Magazine
Nevada: “RJ Investigation Finds Violations, No Enforcement of County Lobbying Disclosures” by Michael Scott Davidson for Las Vegas Review-Journal
New Mexico: “Lobbyists Weigh in on Disclosure, Ban on Spending Proposals” by Marjorie Childress for New Mexico In Depth
March 11, 2019 •
NYCU Video Digest – March 11, 2019
Keeping track of changes to federal and state ethics and campaign finance laws is tough. Here are four stories you don’t want to miss from last week about changes happening all across the country!
Keeping track of changes to federal and state ethics and campaign finance laws is tough. Here are four stories you don’t want to miss from last week about changes happening all across the country!
March 11, 2019 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Michigan: “Dark Money Used to Evade Donor Disclosure Laws in Michigan” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News Ethics National: “The Mueller Report No One’s Talking About” by Darren Samuelsohn and Andrew Desiderio for Politico National: “House Votes for […]
Campaign Finance
Michigan: “Dark Money Used to Evade Donor Disclosure Laws in Michigan” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News
Ethics
National: “The Mueller Report No One’s Talking About” by Darren Samuelsohn and Andrew Desiderio for Politico
National: “House Votes for Sweeping Ethics Overhaul That GOP Plans to Block” by Anna Edgarton for Bloomberg News
Connecticut: “State Ethics Board Fines Ex-UConn Diversity Official $20,000 for Improperly Giving Husband a $54,000 Fellowship” by David Owens for Hartford Courant
Florida: “Former City Manager Rick Fernandez Fined $6K in Ethics Case” by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat
Missouri: “Hawley Insider Had Seat at Table in Secretary of State Inquiry That Cleared Senator” by Jason Hancock, Steve Vockrodt, and Lindsay Wise for Kansas City Star
Oregon: “Oregon Ethics Commission Rejects Settlement with Cylvia Hayes, Ex-First Lady” by Gordon Friedman for Portland Oregonian
Texas: “Former Richardson Mayor, Developer Found Guilty in Bribery, Corruption Trial” by Kevin Krause for Dallas News
March 8, 2019 •
US House Passes HR 1, For the People Act of 2019
![US House Passes HR 1, For the People Act of 2019](https://stateandfed.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/20190319-For-The-People-Passed-1000x563.jpg)
On March 8, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a sweeping campaign finance, lobbying, ethics, and election gerrymandering reform bill. Introduced by Rep. John Sarbanes, House Bill 1, the For the People Act of 2019, requires any organization involved in […]
On March 8, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a sweeping campaign finance, lobbying, ethics, and election gerrymandering reform bill.
Introduced by Rep. John Sarbanes, House Bill 1, the For the People Act of 2019, requires any organization involved in political activity to disclose its largest donors, creates a multiple matching system for small donations for political campaigns, and amends rules governing super PACs.
Additionally, the bill restructures the Federal Election Commission, amends the federal conflict of interest law, and expands the revolving door provision by prohibiting Members of Congress from serving on corporate boards.
If enacted, the bill also requires presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns, prohibits partisan gerrymandering, increases oversight over election vendors, creates an automatic voter registration across the country, and changes registration requirements for lobbyists and foreign agents.
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.