May 16, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying California: “The Coastal Commission Hopes to Restore Public Trust with Its Latest Decision” by Dan Weikel for Los Angeles Times California: “Brown Vetoes Bill Requiring Advocates for State Contracts to Register” by Jeremy White for Sacramento Bee Rhode Island: […]
Lobbying
California: “The Coastal Commission Hopes to Restore Public Trust with Its Latest Decision” by Dan Weikel for Los Angeles Times
California: “Brown Vetoes Bill Requiring Advocates for State Contracts to Register” by Jeremy White for Sacramento Bee
Rhode Island: “Paiva Weed Hoping for Lobbyist Reform This Session” by Katherine Gregg for Providence Journal
“Lobbyists: Lawmakers turn up pressure to quiet HB2 opponents” by Laura Leslie for WRAL
Ethics
“Gov. Brownback Signs Bill Opening Officials’ Private E-mails on Public Business” by Bryan Lowry for Wichita Eagle
Ohio: “Columbus Mayor Ginther Addresses Ethics Concerns in First Executive Order” by Sam Hendren for WOSU
Rhode Island: “Was a Providence Councilman Stealing from the City’s Kids?” by Amanda Milkovitz for Providence Journal
Virginia: “Bristol Virginia Utilities Shows Culture of Corruption, Entitlement and Greed” by Dan Casey for Roanoke Times
Elections
“Trump’s Candidacy Sparking ‘a Surge’ in Citizenship, Voter Applications” by Ed O’Keefe for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
“Does Size Matter? The Latest Battle Over State Supreme Courts” by Alan Greenblatt for Governing
May 13, 2016 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 13, 2016
National: Conservatives Accuse Facebook of Political Bias New York Times – John Hermann and Mike Isaac | Published: 5/9/2016 Facebook denied allegations from former workers who said the social media site suppressed news about conservative issues on its popular “trending” news […]
National:
Conservatives Accuse Facebook of Political Bias
New York Times – John Hermann and Mike Isaac | Published: 5/9/2016
Facebook denied allegations from former workers who said the social media site suppressed news about conservative issues on its popular “trending” news feature. The website Gizmodo published a report that included allegations from unnamed former Facebook “news curators” who said employees prevented stories about the Conservative Political Action Conference, as well as stories about Mitt Romney, Rand Paul, and other conservative issues from appearing in the section, “even though they were organically trending among the site’s users.” The back-and-forth highlights the extent to which Facebook has now muscled its way into America’s political conversation, and the risks the company faces as it becomes a central force in news production and consumption.
Lobbying Groups Descend on Battleground States
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 5/11/2016
With few chances left for face-to-face advocacy in Washington, D.C. as federal lawmakers campaign for re-election, lobbyists are turning to their election-year playbook, which includes heavy spending on targeted advertising in battleground states. Those efforts are more important than ever before, lobbyists say, due to the unpredictability of a presidential race featuring presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. “[State-level advocacy is] a time-honored tradition, and this is the usual time, but there is still so much uncertainty,” said Bruce Haynes, a founding partner at Purple Strategies. “You may need more allies than you’ve ever had when you just don’t know which way the wind is going to blow.”
Women’s Rising Influence in Politics, Tinted Green
New York Times – Nicholas Confessore | Published: 5/7/2016
Female campaign donors in both parties have described cultural and economic changes that were driving their increased participation in political giving, long among the most exclusive men’s clubs in American culture. More women are founding their own companies or rising to lead family businesses, or have already sold or retired from them, a common springboard to the upper reaches of campaign fundraising. Within marriages, they said, women now had more authority to steer family decisions about political contributions. The increase is especially pronounced on the left, with the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton galvanizing female donors.
Federal:
Hillary Clinton, the First ‘E.T. Candidate,’ Has U.F.O. Fans in Thrall
New York Times – Amy Chozick | Published: 5/10/2016
Known for her grasp of policy details, Hillary Clinton has spoken at length in her presidential campaign on topics ranging from Alzheimer’s research to military tensions in the South China Sea. But it is her unusual knowledge about extraterrestrials that has struck a small but committed cohort of voters. Clinton has vowed that barring any threats to national security, she would open up government files on the subject, a shift from President Obama, who typically dismisses the topic as a joke. Her position has elated UFO enthusiasts, who have declared Clinton the first “E.T. candidate.”
Lobbyists Struggle with Trump Reality
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 5/6/2016
Republican lobbyists in Washington, D.C. are struggling to come to grips with the possibility of a Donald Trump presidency. Much of the GOP crowd on K Street – lobbyists, consultants, and public relations operatives – built their careers working for so-called establishment politicians. Some who spoke with The Hill mentioned that many lobbyists uneasy about whether to support Trump will just shift back to what they know: Congress. Deciding not to participate in the White House race could free up extra resources to ensure Republicans stay in control of the House and Senate, as the party is set to have to defend a large number of seats in the upper chamber. “K Street is worried about the dominos falling below the presidential race,” said Tom Korologos, a strategic advisor for DLA Piper.
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama – Chief Justice’s Suspension Adds to Alabama’s Political Mess
Santa Cruz Sentinel – Jay Reeves (Associated Press) | Published: 5/7/2016
Three top elected officials in Alabama are embroiled in scandal or facing removal from office while a former governor serves time in federal prison on a corruption conviction. State Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore was suspended from his job and faces possible ouster over his attempts to block gay marriage following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Fellow Republicans tried to remove Gov. Robert Bentley by impeachment over a sexually charged scandal involving a top political aide, and an investigation continues. House Speaker Mike Hubbard awaits a state trial on 23 felony ethics counts. If convicted, Hubbard could join imprisoned former Gov. Don Siegelman, who was convicted on federal influence-peddling charges.
Arizona – Legislature Approves Bills Amending Campaign Finance Laws
ABC15; Associated Press – | Published: 5/7/2016
The Arizona Legislature adopted a measure to reinsert criminal penalties that were left out of a sweeping campaign finance bill that was signed by the governor. Among the changes are provisions that make it illegal for individuals to contribute in the name of another person and prevent candidates from donating to one another. House Bill 2297 now moves to the governor’s desk beside a second measure that borrowed language from the same campaign finance rewrite to relax rules on anonymous political spending ahead of the August primary election. The amendment on House Bill 2296 cedes regulation of “dark money” and other nonprofit groups to the IRS, essentially doubling the amount these groups can spend on ballot measures.
California – California Senate Suspends Lobbyist Fundraising Restrictions
Monterey County Herald – Jonathan Cooper (Associated Press) | Published: 5/12/2016
The California Senate voted to remove a fundraising blackout period instituted in the wake of a corruption scandal two years ago. The Senate reversed the ban on members raising money from lobbyist employers during final budget negotiations and the last month of session, a time when lawmakers are typically voting on hundreds of bills. Because the restrictions were only in the Senate’s internal rules, not state law, they are not subject to approval by the Assembly or the governor and take effect immediately.
Kentucky – Kentucky’s Two Most Recent Governors Are Feuding, and It’s Ugly and Very Public, Too
U.S. News & World Report – Adam Beam (Associated Press) | Published: 5/10/2016
While peaceful transitions of power are a longstanding U.S. tradition, the handoff in Kentucky from Steve Beshear to Matt Bevin has been ugly. The spat has intensified so much that Beshear has taken the extraordinary step of starting a nonprofit group that is paying for ads critical of Bevin and his policies. Bevin, in turn, has launched an investigation of the Beshear administration, using a state law granting him subpoena power and public money to hire a private law firm to determine if the ex-governor violated state ethics and procurement laws.
Missouri – Missouri House and Senate Can’t Agree on Banning Lobbyist Gifts
Kansas City Star – Jason Hancock | Published: 5/12/2016
A compromise that would ban gifts to Missouri lawmakers except for lobbyist-funded meals – which would be capped at $40 a day, per lobbyist – got bogged down in the state Senate. But even though the 2016 legislative session ends May 13 at six p.m., the House is not ready to give up the fight. Republicans in that chamber plan to attach a lobbyist gift ban as an amendment to numerous Senate bills in an effort to force senators to deal with the issue.
New York – Dean Skelos Is Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison in Corruption Case
New York Times – Benjamin Weiser and Vivian Yee | Published: 5/12/2016
Former New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was sentenced to five years in prison, making him the second former state lawmaker in recent days to be given time behind bars for public corruption. The judge also sentenced his son, Adam Skelos, to six-and-one-half years in prison following their convictions on charges of extortion, fraud, and bribe solicitation. Prosecutors said Dean Skelos used his public position to obtain jobs and payments for his son with companies that had business before the state. Former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was sentenced to 12 years in prison in a separate corruption case. The sentences conclude an extraordinary chapter during which two trials held a block apart at almost the same time exposed a culture of kickbacks and secret deals in Albany.
Pennsylvania – Behind the Scenes of an Intricate FBI Sting
Philadelphia Inquirer – Mark Fazlollah, Craig McCoy, and Angeles Couloumbis | Published: 5/7/2016
Records and interviews suggest the FBI sting that ensnared lobbyist John Estey could become the most complex and far-reaching corruption investigation in Harrisburg in a decade. Along with Estey, the probe already trapped former state Treasurer Rob McCord, who has agreed to cooperate in return for leniency and secretly recorded his conversations, according to sources. Federal prosecutors have declined to discuss details of an investigation they only broadly describe as focused on “lobbying in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.”
South Carolina – State Lawmaker Lived at Contributor’s Half-Million-Dollar Property, Ducks Questions
Charleston Post & Courier – David Slade | Published: 5/7/2016
South Carolina Rep. Brian White and his wife sold their modest ranch home for $150,000 and moved to a nearly 3,900-square-foot house more than seven acres with a pool. The $500,000 property was owned by Bradley and Brian Moorhouse, brothers who are both nursing home administrators for National Healthcare Corp., White’s largest corporate source of campaign donations. The White family lived there as tenants for at least five years, paying an undisclosed amount of rent while Brian White collected campaign donations from his landlords and executives with their company. During that time, White chaired a House subcommittee overseeing the state’s health care spending and policies, including those affecting the nursing home industry.
Washington – ‘End Yourselves’: Councilwomen threatened after voting against Seattle’s NBA arena
Washington Post – Stephanie Kuzydym | Published: 5/11/2016
The five female members of the Seattle City Council who provided the votes to defeat a plan to build a new arena to lure a team from the National Basketball Association have received ugly hate mail and threats from disappointed sports fans. Councilperson Lorena González said her personal and private social-media accounts and email were flooded with vitriolic messages. “What was concerning to me about this is I never came into this position with the expectation that I’d be told to kill myself or that I deserve sexual violence,” González said.
Wisconsin – Kevin Kennedy Stepping Down as Head of Embattled Elections, Ethics Board
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Patrick Marley | Published: 5/10/2016
Wisconsin’s longtime chief elections official, Kevin Kennedy, is retiring on June 29. That is the day before the Government Accountability Board (GAB) he heads is scheduled to be dissolved and reconstituted as two separate commissions. Lawmakers created the GAB in response to a scandal in which lawmakers were convicted of campaigning using state resources. But Republicans came to despise the board, in large part because it participated in an investigation that looked into whether Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign collaborated with conservative groups. Lawmakers last year voted to disband the GAB.
State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.
May 13, 2016 •
California Senate Reverses Ban on Contributions Rule
The California Senate voted to reverse the ban on members raising money from lobbyist employers during budget negotiations. The ban would have gone into effect upon the Governor’s release of the revised budget, which is set for May 13. The […]
The California Senate voted to reverse the ban on members raising money from lobbyist employers during budget negotiations.
The ban would have gone into effect upon the Governor’s release of the revised budget, which is set for May 13.
The reversal of this rule comes amid an election year where many members of the Senate are running for reelection.
May 12, 2016 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “Lobbying Groups Descend on Battleground States” by Megan Wilson for The Hill Arizona: “Lobbying Complaint Filed against Former Arizona Lawmaker” by Staff for Arizona Business Daily New York: “Court Is Asked to Compel de Blasio Nonprofit to Heed Subpoena” […]
Lobbying
“Lobbying Groups Descend on Battleground States” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
Arizona: “Lobbying Complaint Filed against Former Arizona Lawmaker” by Staff for Arizona Business Daily
New York: “Court Is Asked to Compel de Blasio Nonprofit to Heed Subpoena” by J. David Goodman for New York Times
Campaign Finance
New York: “LLC Loophole Bill Moves to Senate Codes as Backers Push for Floor Vote” by Matthew Hamilton for Albany Times Union
Texas: “Nifty or Shifty: A campaign finance quiz” by Lauren Flannery for Texas Tribune
Ethics
Pennsylvania: “U.S. Charges State Sen. Farnese with Bribery” by Chris Brennan and Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer
Rhode Island: “Mattiello, Paiva Weed Back R.I. Ethics Bill” by Katherine Gregg for Providence Journal
Elections
“Trump vs. the Disappearing Tie” by Vanessa Friedman for New York Times
“How Many People Support Trump but Don’t Want to Admit It?” by Thomas Edsall for New York Times
May 11, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Campaign Finance “Donald Trump, in Switch, Turns to Republican Party for Fund-Raising Help” by Maggie Haberman, Ashley Parker, and Nick Corasaniti for New York Times California: “Company Donates Free Billboards to Englander as L.A. Weighs New Sign Regulations” by David […]
Campaign Finance
“Donald Trump, in Switch, Turns to Republican Party for Fund-Raising Help” by Maggie Haberman, Ashley Parker, and Nick Corasaniti for New York Times
California: “Company Donates Free Billboards to Englander as L.A. Weighs New Sign Regulations” by David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times
California: “‘I Have, in Fact, Done the Crime’: Rep. Ami Bera’s father admits illegal campaign contributions” by John Myers for Los Angeles Times
Pennsylvania: “Allentown Engineer’s Plea in FBI Probe Revealed” by Emily Opilo and Peter Hall for Morning Call
Ethics
“Conservatives Accuse Facebook of Political Bias” by John Herrman and Mike Isaac for New York Times
“Senior Gray Advisor Sentenced to Six Months for 2010 Mayoral ‘Shadow’ Campaign” by Spencer Hsu and Ann Marimow for Washington Post
Kentucky: “Kentucky’s Two Most Recent Governors Are Feuding, and It’s Ugly and Very Public, Too” by Adam Beam (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report
Wisconsin: “Kevin Kennedy Stepping Down as Head of Embattled Elections, Ethics Board” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Elections
“Our Fictional Pundit Predicted More Correct Primary Results Than Nate Silver Did” by Virgil Texas for Washington Post
“Hillary Clinton Gives U.F.O. Buffs Hope She Will Open the X-Files” by Amy Chozick for New York Times
“Sanders, Trump Easily Win West Virginia Primary; Trump Picks Up Nebraska Too” by Abby Phillip, John Wagner, and Anne Gearan for Washington Post
May 10, 2016 •
New York Bill Aims to Curb Corporate Campaign Contributions
The Elections Committee approved a bill to reduce the corporate contribution limit from $5,000 to $1,000 per year and to close a loophole permitting political contributions from limited liability companies. Senate Bill 60, introduced by Sen. Daniel Squadron in 2015, […]
The Elections Committee approved a bill to reduce the corporate contribution limit from $5,000 to $1,000 per year and to close a loophole permitting political contributions from limited liability companies. Senate Bill 60, introduced by Sen. Daniel Squadron in 2015, passed the committee this week, while a parallel bill was being passed in the Assembly.
In response to recent political scandals across the state, those supporting the bill are calling for an up-or-down Senate vote by the end of the legislative session.
May 10, 2016 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying Minnesota: “How Minnesota’s Citizen Lobbyists Seek Change” by Bill Salisbury, David Montgomery, Rachel Stassen-Berger, and Dave Orrick (St. Paul Pioneer Press) for INFORUM Missouri: “Missouri Enacts Waiting Period Before Lawmakers Can Lobby” by Associated Press for Columbia Tribune Campaign Finance “Legislature Approves Bills […]
Lobbying
Minnesota: “How Minnesota’s Citizen Lobbyists Seek Change” by Bill Salisbury, David Montgomery, Rachel Stassen-Berger, and Dave Orrick (St. Paul Pioneer Press) for INFORUM
Missouri: “Missouri Enacts Waiting Period Before Lawmakers Can Lobby” by Associated Press for Columbia Tribune
Campaign Finance
“Legislature Approves Bills Amending Campaign Finance Laws” by Associated Press for ABC15
“Women’s Rising Influence in Politics, Tinted Green” by Nicholas Confessore for New York Times
Ethics
“The Corruption Continuum: When giving gifts bleeds to bribery” by Nancy Gertner for Washington Post
Alabama: “Chief Justice’s Suspension Adds to Alabama’s Political Mess” by Jay Reeves (Associated Press) for Santa Cruz Sentinel
Oklahoma: “Former Oklahoma State House Member Is Charged with 44 Counts over Travel” by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman
Pennsylvania: “Behind the Scenes of an Intricate FBI Sting” by Mark Fazlollah, Craig McCoy, and Angeles Couloumbis for Philadelphia Inquirer
South Carolina: “State Lawmaker Lived at Contributor’s Half-Million-Dollar Property, Ducks Questions” by David Slade for Charleston Post & Courier
Elections
“Trump’s Empty Administration” by Darren Samuelsohn and Ben White for Politico
May 9, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “Lobbyists Struggle with Trump Reality” by Megan Wilson for The Hill “Lobbyist Spending Disclosures Due Soon” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette Connecticut: “State Lawmakers Look to Lobbyists for Money” by Kellianne Jones for WTNH New Mexico: “New Lobbyist […]
Lobbying
“Lobbyists Struggle with Trump Reality” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
“Lobbyist Spending Disclosures Due Soon” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette
Connecticut: “State Lawmakers Look to Lobbyists for Money” by Kellianne Jones for WTNH
New Mexico: “New Lobbyist Reporting Law Could Have Missed $80,000” by Sandra Fish (New Mexico In Depth) for Las Cruces Sun-News
Campaign Finance
Arizona: “AG: Burns has right to depose APS” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star
Florida: “Hialeah Mayor Pays $4,000 Ethics Fine – in Pennies and Nickels” by Enrique Flor (El Nuevo Herald) for Miami Herald
Iowa: “Ron Paul Ex-Aides Guilty in Campaign Payment Scandal” by Grant Rodgers for Des Moines Register
Missouri: “Missouri Voters Could Decide on Campaign Contribution Limits” by David Lieb (Associated Press) for Rock Hill Herald
Ethics
“How the Supreme Court Gets Corruption Totally Wrong” by Zephyr Teachout for Washington Post
“The U.S. Political System Is Flawed but Not Corrupt” by Stephen Medvic for Washington Post
“New Questions Emerge about Bentley’s Vegas Trip, Republican Governors Association’s Influence” by Connor Sheets for AL.com
Elections
“Bernie Sanders’s Online Foot Soldiers Weigh Their Next Campaign” by Jonathan Mahler and Nick Corasaniti for New York Times
May 6, 2016 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 6, 2016
National: Often-Secret Donors Spend Big to Push Elected Officials’ Pet Projects USA Today – Fredreka Schouten and Mary Troyan | Published: 4/5/2016 Nonprofit groups have become a fixture in federal politics, allowing secret donors to pump unlimited sums into advertising and […]
National:
Often-Secret Donors Spend Big to Push Elected Officials’ Pet Projects
USA Today – Fredreka Schouten and Mary Troyan | Published: 4/5/2016
Nonprofit groups have become a fixture in federal politics, allowing secret donors to pump unlimited sums into advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts in elections. But their use has spread rapidly to statehouses and city halls as another source of cash that elected officials of both parties can tap to help shape public policy. Elected officials defend their use, saying nonprofits can move more nimbly than government agencies to advance civic initiatives and are less likely to draw the public’s ire over using taxpayer funds for pet projects or quasi-political expenses, such as polling. Campaign finance watchdogs, however, said they are just another way for unregulated money to seep into the political process and give big donors a covert method to curry favor with decision makers.
Stricter Rules for Voter IDs Reshape Races
New York Times – Michael Wines and Manuel Fernandez | Published: 5/1/2016
Since their inception a decade ago, voter identification laws have been the focus of fierce political and social debate. Proponents, largely Republican, argue the regulations are essential tools to combat election fraud, while critics contend they are mainly intended to suppress turnout of Democratic-leaning constituencies like minorities and students. As the general election nears, in which new or strengthened voter ID laws will be in place in 15 states for the first time in a presidential election, recent academic research indicates the requirements restrict turnout and disproportionately affect voting by minorities. The laws are also reshaping how many campaigns are run, with candidates not only spending time to secure votes, but also time to ensure those votes can be cast.
Federal:
Clinton Fundraising Leaves Little for State Parties
Politico – Kenneth Vogel and Isaac Arnsdorf | Published: 5/2/2016
The Hillary Victory Fund is a joint fundraising committee comprised of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and 32 state party committees. The set-up allows Clinton to solicit checks of $350,000 or more from her wealthy supporters. In the days before Clinton launched the unprecedented fundraising vehicle, she proclaimed “when our state parties are strong, we win. That’s what will happen.” But less than one percent of the $61 million raised by that effort has stayed in the state parties’ coffers. The arrangement has sparked concerns among watchdogs, who see it as a circumvention of contribution limits by a national party apparatus intent on doing whatever it takes to help Clinton win the Democratic nomination and then the White House.
Now, Dennis Hastert Seems an Architect of Dysfunction as Speaker
New York Times – Carl Hulse | Published: 5/2/2016
Dennis Hastert’s admission in federal court that he sexually molested wrestlers on the Illinois high school team he coached years before setting foot on Capitol Hill is provoking a re-evaluation of his tenure as the longest-serving Republican House speaker. Hastert emerges as a deeply flawed figure who contributed significantly to the dysfunction that defines Congress today. Even his namesake Hastert rule, the informal standard that no legislation should be brought to a vote without the support of a majority of the majority, has come to be seen as a structural barrier to compromise.
With Donald Trump in Charge, Republicans Have a Day of Reckoning
New York Times – Patrick Healy, Jonathan Martin, and Maggie Haberman | Published: 5/4/2016
For a Republican Party that usually rallies around its presumptive presidential nominee quickly, the brutal primary campaign and the questions about Donald Trump’s substance and style have fueled a remarkable level of dissatisfaction, antipathy that will not fade simply because Ted Cruz and John Kasich have ceded the race. The journey from denial and resistance to grudging acceptance, and even peace, with the Trump nomination may never be complete for some Republicans. But leaders hope to change that quickly, to save the party from splintering and to have a real shot at winning in November.
From the States and Municipalities:
California – Legislature Passes Bill to Disclose Lobbying on State Contracts
KQED – Guy Marzorati | Published: 5/3/2016
Communicating with government officials to try to win state contracts would be considered lobbying under legislation the California Assembly sent to Gov. Jerry Brown despite opposition from the Fair Political Practices Commission. If Brown signs the Assembly Bill 1200, people who communicate with government officials about contracts enough to earn $2,000 or more a month for their efforts would have to register as lobbyists. It would apply only to people working on contracts worth at least $250,000.
California – State Senator Calls for a Ban on Private Meetings with Coastal Commissioners to ‘Level the Playing Field’
Los Angeles Times – Dan Weikel and Kim Christensen | Published: 5/3/2016
Ex-parte communications between individual members of the California Coastal Commission and developers, lobbyists, environmentalists, and other interested parties have become a major element in the way the commission presides over land use, public access, and environment protection. Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson has introduced legislation to ban those communications, a move that has raised questions about who gets access to individual commissioners and the fairness of the panel’s quasi-judicial process that weighs both sides before rendering a decision.
Kentucky – FBI Agent: Illegal donations went to campaigns of Andy Beshear, Jack Conway
Lexington Herald-Leader – John Cheves | Published: 5/3/2016
Newly released court documents show former Kentucky Personnel Cabinet Secretary Tim Longmeyer, who pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge, arranged for illegal campaign donations to Andy Beshear, who was elected attorney general, and Jack Conway, who lost his bid to become governor. An affidavit states there is no indication the candidates were aware of the scheme. Court documents indicate the money came from a scheme Longmeyer had with MC Squared Consulting, which gave him kickbacks in exchange for help securing contracts with two insurers.
New York – Executive Chamber Receives Subpoena; Percoco Said to Be Under Federal Gaze
Albany Times Union – Casey Seiler | Published: 4/29/2016
The federal investigation into one of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signature economic development programs has come to focus on one of his former top aides, Joseph Percoco. The inquiry is also focused on several other men and a company linked to the program, called the Buffalo Billion. The governor’s office was served with a federal grand jury subpoena for documents related to the investigation. “The state has reason to believe that in certain programs and regulatory approvals they may have been defrauded by improper bidding and failures to disclose potential conflicts-of-interest by lobbyists and former state employees,” the governor’s office said in a statement.
New York – From Albany to Prison: Ex-lawmakers on life behind bars
New York Times – Vivian Yee | Published: 4/30/2016
In interviews, four former New York lawmakers that were convicted on corruption charges tell of spiritual awakenings, physical survival, and mental toughening. But what figures largest in these personal narratives – what they say has sustained them throughout – is the belief they were wrongly prosecuted. With onetime Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver being sentenced to 12 years recently, along with the expected arrivals of convicted ex-Sens. Dean Skelos and John Sampson, there will be at least nine former members of the Legislature in the federal prison system. Nine more were released over the last few years.
New York – Sheldon Silver, Ex-New York Assembly Speaker, Gets 12-Year Prison Sentence
New York Times – Benjamin Weiser and Vivian Yee | Published: 5/3/2016
A federal judge sentenced former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to 12 years in prison after he was convicted of corruption charges. The judge also ordered him to forfeit more than $5 million in proceeds from his crimes and pay a $1.75 million fine. Silver was found guilty of fraud, extortion, and money laundering in dealings with real estate developers and a Columbia University cancer researcher. Prosecutors also alleged he found jobs for two women with whom he had extramarital affairs. “Silver’s crimes corrupted the institution that he led for more than 20 years,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing recommendation. “As a fixture in the legislative leadership, an entire generation of New York legislators served in an institution framed by his corrupt example.”
Pennsylvania – Guilty: Aide to former PA Gov. Rendell pleas to wire fraud
Binghamton Press & Bulletin – Marc Levy (Associated Press) | Published: 5/1/2016
An ex-chief of staff to former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges in connection with an FBI undercover investigation into lobbying activities in Harrisburg. John Estey is accused of taking $20,000 from an undercover business created by the FBI five years ago. He agreed to make campaign contributions that would influence state lawmakers and to distribute the money in a way that would hide the company’s role. State law bans campaign donations from corporations. But Estey only gave $7,000 to legislators, secretly keep the rest for himself.
Utah – Donor Speed-Dating with Guv Doesn’t Sit Well with Some
Salt Lake Tribune – Robert Gehrke | Published: 4/28/2016
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert’s campaign is pitching a novel fundraising approach, granting one-on-one meetings with the governor in a speed-dating-style format for donors who give generously to his re-election efforts. The tactic, presented by the governor’s campaign staff at a meeting at the Alta Club in Salt Lake City to more than two dozen lobbyists and supporters, was alarming to several in attendance. “I think everyone who was there was like, ‘Too much,'” said one of several lobbyists who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to not upset the governor or his staff. “It made people cringe.”
Virginia – Fla. Businessman Paid $10K for Va. Senator’s Trip to Meet Syrian President Assad
Washington Post – Laura Vozzella | Published: 5/3/2016
A businessperson paid $10,000 for the cost of Virginia Sen. Richard Black’s recent trip to Syria, where he met with President Bashar al Assad. State ethics officials signed off on the gift, finding it complied with state ethics laws. Black will be required to report the free business-class air travel and accommodations on his financial disclosure form. But he is not sure how to put a dollar figure on something the Syrian government lavished on him during his visit: security. “When we went to Palmyra, as we were traveling some of the roads, they had a very large assault jet flying in at treetop level with ear-splitting roars, and on the other side were four assault helicopters,” Black said. Accounting for largesse of that sort will be a new one in Richmond, even after three rounds of ethics reform.
State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.
May 5, 2016 •
New York Representative Seeks Ethics Reform
Rep. Steve McLaughlin is seeking bipartisan support for a package of ethics reform bills. The bills seek reform on multiple fronts by lowering the permissible amount individuals, unions, corporations, lobby groups, or businesses can donate to a PAC; increasing disclosure […]
Rep. Steve McLaughlin is seeking bipartisan support for a package of ethics reform bills. The bills seek reform on multiple fronts by lowering the permissible amount individuals, unions, corporations, lobby groups, or businesses can donate to a PAC; increasing disclosure requirements for pay-to-play lobbying; placing eight-year term limits on legislative leaders; and stripping pensions from those convicted of public corruption offenses.
The proposed bills come in response to former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s recent 12-year prison sentence for conviction on multiple corruption charges.
Photo of Rep. Steve McLaughlin courtesy of the New York State Assembly website.
May 5, 2016 •
Ask the Experts – Aggregation of Contribution Limits
Q. My employer is a wholly owned subsidiary of a parent corporation. Does a parent corporation, a subsidiary, or other affiliated entity have its own contribution limit or must the contributions be aggregated and have a shared limit? A. This […]
Q. My employer is a wholly owned subsidiary of a parent corporation. Does a parent corporation, a subsidiary, or other affiliated entity have its own contribution limit or must the contributions be aggregated and have a shared limit?
A. This is a very important question that must be addressed when making a contribution, particularly when there is a hierarchy to the corporate structure. If a limit is shared, the parent, subsidiary, or other affiliated entity must have an open line of communication when it comes to making political contributions.
In New York, each affiliated or subsidiary corporation, if a separate legal entity, has its own limit.
In California, contributions made by certain combinations of affiliated individuals, entities, and committees must be aggregated. It all comes down to a matter of control:
- The contributions of an entity whose contributions are directed and controlled by any individual must be aggregated with contributions made by that individual and any other entity whose contributions are directed and controlled by the same individual.
- If two or more entities make contributions directed and controlled by a majority of the same persons, the contributions of those entities must be aggregated.
- Contributions made by entities majority-owned by any person must be aggregated with the contributions of the majority owner and all other entities majority-owned by that person, unless those entities act independently in their decision to make contributions.
So in California, a parent and subsidiary share a contribution limit if the decision to make a contribution is directed and controlled by a majority of the same persons. If the parent and subsidiary act wholly independently of each other in deciding to make a contribution, the parent and subsidiary each have their own limit.
In New Jersey, if a corporation has subsidiaries, affiliates, branches, or locals, then the contributions of these organizations cannot exceed the applicable contribution limit in the aggregate. Two or more corporations will be conclusively deemed to be affiliated if:
- Any individual, corporation, partnership, company, association, or other entity owns, directly or indirectly, more than a 30 percent interest in each of such corporations; or
- One such corporation owns, directly or indirectly, more than a 30 percent interest in the other such corporation.
These are just a few examples of aggregation of limits. As we always advise, verify the rules in your state before making political contributions.
You can directly submit questions for this feature, and we will select those most appropriate and answer them here. Send your questions to: experts@stateandfed.com.
(We are always available to answer questions from clients that are specific to your needs, and we encourage you to continue to call or e-mail us with questions about your particular company or organization. As always, we will confidentially and directly provide answers or information you need.) Our replies to your questions are not legal advice. Instead, these replies represent our analysis of laws, rules, and regulations.
May 5, 2016 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying California: “State Senator Calls for a Ban on Private Meetings with Coastal Commissioners to ‘Level the Playing Field’” by Dan Weikel and Kim Christensen for Los Angeles Times Campaign Finance Kentucky: “FBI Agent: Illegal donations went to campaigns of […]
Lobbying
California: “State Senator Calls for a Ban on Private Meetings with Coastal Commissioners to ‘Level the Playing Field’” by Dan Weikel and Kim Christensen for Los Angeles Times
Campaign Finance
Kentucky: “FBI Agent: Illegal donations went to campaigns of Andy Beshear, Jack Conway” by John Cheves for Lexington Herald-Leader
Montana: “Montana Defends Campaign Finance Law Ahead of Elections” by The Associated Press for Billings Gazette
Ethics
“When It Comes to Politics, Corruption Is Subtler Than You Think” by Trevor Burrus for Washington Post
Louisiana: “Walter Reed Guilty on 18 of 19 Counts in Federal Corruption Trial” by Robert Rhoden for New Orleans Times-Picayune
New York: “From Albany to Prison: Ex-lawmakers on life behind bars” by Vivian Yee for New York Times
Rhode Island: “R.I. House Finance Chairman Resigns; Investigation Involves Prostitution” by Katherine Gregg for Providence Journal
Elections
“John Kasich Exits the Presidential Race, Leaving Trump as Presumptive Nominee” by David Fahrenthold, David Weigel and Philip Rucker for Washington Post
“Big Business Fears Campaign-Trail Criticisms Putting Policy Priorities at Risk” by Jim Tankersley for Washington Post
May 4, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying California: “Legislature Passes Bill to Disclose Lobbying on State Contracts” by Guy Marzorati for KQED Campaign Finance New Jersey: “Ex-Birdsall Exec Admits Role in $1M Pay-to-Play Scheme” by S.P. Sullivan (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger New York: “Hearing […]
Lobbying
California: “Legislature Passes Bill to Disclose Lobbying on State Contracts” by Guy Marzorati for KQED
Campaign Finance
New Jersey: “Ex-Birdsall Exec Admits Role in $1M Pay-to-Play Scheme” by S.P. Sullivan (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger
New York: “Hearing Advances Reforms to City Campaign Finance System” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette
Ethics
“What is Corruption?” by Robert Gebelhoff for Washington Post
Alabama: “Zeigler Says He’ll File Court Motion Seeking Bentley Testimony” by Mike Cason for AL.com
New York: “Sheldon Silver, Ex-New York Assembly Speaker, Gets 12-Year Prison Sentence” by Benjamin Weiser and Vivian Yee for New York Times
Virginia: “Fla. Businessman Paid $10K for Va. Senator’s Trip to Meet Syrian President Assad” by Laura Vozzella for Washington Post
Elections
“Ted Cruz Drops Out of the Republican Presidential Race” by Sean Sullivan and Katie Zezima for Washington Post
“Sanders Wins Indiana, but Clinton Looks to November” by Heidi Przybyla for USA Today
Legislative Issues
“Now, Dennis Hastert Seems an Architect of Dysfunction as Speaker” by Carl Hulse for New York Times
May 3, 2016 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Campaign Finance “Clinton Fundraising Leaves Little for State Parties” by Kenneth Vogel and Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico “Cruz’s Faltering Campaign Shows the Risks of Depending on a Few Wealthy Donors” by Joseph Tanfani and Noah Bierman for Los Angeles Times […]
Campaign Finance
“Clinton Fundraising Leaves Little for State Parties” by Kenneth Vogel and Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico
“Cruz’s Faltering Campaign Shows the Risks of Depending on a Few Wealthy Donors” by Joseph Tanfani and Noah Bierman for Los Angeles Times
Massachusetts: “Top Donors Could Gain More Access to Baker, Officials” by Jim O’Sullivan for Boston Globe
Washington: “Sen. Roach Wants AG to Decide If Campaign Donors Should Be Named on Petitions” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times
Ethics
Florida: “Nonprofit Contributions from Developers Get Scrutiny in Miami Beach” by James Teeple for The Real Deal
New York: “Executive Chamber Receives Subpoena; Percoco Said to Be Under Federal Gaze” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union
Pennsylvania: “Guilty: Aide to former PA Gov. Rendell pleas to wire fraud” by Marc Levy (Associated Press) for Binghamton Press & Bulletin
South Carolina: “Watchdogs Say Ethics Bills Could Instill Confidence” by Tim Smith for Greenville News
Elections
“Stricter Rules for Voter IDs Reshape Races” by Michael Wines and Manuel Fernandez for New York Times
Virginia: “Va. Republicans Hire Lawyer in Bid to Stop Restoration of Felons’ Voting Rights” by Laura Vozzella for Washington Post
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