November 17, 2014 •
Wyoming Interim Committee Tables Campaign Finance Bill
A legislative committee has voted to table a draft bill to expand disclosure requirements for political independent expenditure groups. The bill would require a group to report an independent expenditure if it “directly or indirectly” advocated for the election or […]
A legislative committee has voted to table a draft bill to expand disclosure requirements for political independent expenditure groups. The bill would require a group to report an independent expenditure if it “directly or indirectly” advocated for the election or defeat of a candidate.
Current law requires reporting only if the expenditure “expressly” advocates for the election or defeat of a candidate. A majority of the Joint Corporations, Elections, and Political Subdivisions Interim Committee decided the language was overly broad.
November 17, 2014 •
NYC Campaign Finance Board Proposes Rules on Contributions by Text Message
The New York City Campaign Finance Board has proposed rules regulating political contributions by text message. The rules set forth the eligibility requirements for public funds matching of text message contributions, the process of record keeping requirements for such contributions, […]
The New York City Campaign Finance Board has proposed rules regulating political contributions by text message. The rules set forth the eligibility requirements for public funds matching of text message contributions, the process of record keeping requirements for such contributions, and requirements of contributors to certify their identities when making text message contributions.
The rules are open for public comment until November 20, 2014. A public hearing is scheduled for Monday, November 24, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.
November 17, 2014 •
Akron City Council to Consider Raising Campaign Contribution Limits
The Akron City Council is considering legislation to increase campaign finance limits for mayoral and council candidates. Limits for mayor and at-large council candidates would increase to $750 and the limit for ward council candidates would increase to $500. The […]
The Akron City Council is considering legislation to increase campaign finance limits for mayoral and council candidates. Limits for mayor and at-large council candidates would increase to $750 and the limit for ward council candidates would increase to $500.
The council is waiting to take action on the legislation until after public hearings have been held. Hearings will take place at the Rules Committee meeting and at the regular council meeting later today.
The 10 ward council seats, the three at-large council seats, and the mayoral seat will all be on the 2015 election ballot.
November 17, 2014 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “Report: Energy contractor and former lawmaker lobbied officials for no-bid contract worth $2.4 billion per year” by Josh Hicks for Washington Post Arizona: “Ducey Seeking Donations to Gubernatorial Transition Effort” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily […]
Lobbying
“Report: Energy contractor and former lawmaker lobbied officials for no-bid contract worth $2.4 billion per year” by Josh Hicks for Washington Post
Arizona: “Ducey Seeking Donations to Gubernatorial Transition Effort” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star
California: “California Legislators Flying to Maui to Meet with Special Interests” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times
Campaign Finance
“Hate Political Ads? Skip Morning Shows” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity
Massachusetts: “Election Was Awash in Cash, but Effect is Unclear” by David Scharfenberg for Boston Globe
San Diego, CA: “Fines Levied for Illegal Donations” by David Garrick for San Diego Union-Tribune
Ethics
Arkansas: “Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe to Pardon Son on Drug Charge” by Sam Levine for Huffington Post
Hawaii: “Court: State must release financial disclosures for boards” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat
North Carolina: “Ex-Duke Energy Lawyer Now Advising NC Regulators” by Michael Biesecker and Mitch Weiss (Associated Press) for Raleigh News and Observer
Ohio: “Canton Financial Advisor Sentenced to 45 Months in Ohio Treasurer’s Office Kickback Scheme” by Theodore Decker and Kathy Lynn Gray for Columbus Dispatch
Pennsylvania: “Ex-Official Pleads Guilty in Turnpike Scandal” by Angela Couloumbis for Philadelphia Inquirer
Washington: “Lt. Governor Defends Work Ethic, Outside Business” by Susannah Frame for KING
West Virginia: “Ethics Commission Hires Stepto as Director” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette
Procurement
Idaho: “Court Says State Broke Law with Broadband Contract Law” by Nathan Brown for Twin Falls Times-News
Elections
“Spurred by Midterm Losses, Liberal and Moderate Democrats Square off Over Strategy” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times
Redistricting
Alabama: “Justices Hear Black Lawmakers’ Challenge to Alabama Redistricting” by Adam Liptak for New York Times
November 14, 2014 •
News You Can Use Digest – November 14, 2014
National: Democrats Create an ALEC-Killer Politico – Kenneth Vogel | Published: 11/9/2014 Liberal activists at the annual winter meeting of the Democracy Alliance will ask top donors to support a plan to reverse the Democratic decline in state governments. […]
National:
Democrats Create an ALEC-Killer
Politico – Kenneth Vogel | Published: 11/9/2014
Liberal activists at the annual winter meeting of the Democracy Alliance will ask top donors to support a plan to reverse the Democratic decline in state governments. The goal of the State Innovation Exchange – SiX for short – is to compete with a well-financed network of conservative groups, including the American Legislative Exchange Council, that for years have dominated state policy battles, advancing pro-business, anti-regulation bills. SiX ultimately plans to raise as much as $10 million a year to boost progressive state lawmakers and their causes while also using tactics like opposition research and video tracking to derail Republicans and their initiatives.
Federal:
Mitch McConnell’s Triumph Strikes Worry in the Hearts of Campaign Finance Reformers
Huffington Post – Paul Blumenthal | Published: 11/8/2014
The U.S. Senate will likely be led next year by Mitch McConnell, the primary antagonist to campaign finance reformers. Over three decades, he has made it a top priority to disrupt and degrade campaign finance regulations. Believing that limits on campaign funds are a direct impediment to the First Amendment right of free speech, he has opposed past reform efforts. With McConnell’s ascendance and with Republicans increasingly unified in opposition to campaign finance reform, its advocates expect an assault on the few areas where they had hoped to enact new rules in the post-Citizens United world.
Outside Groups with Deep Pockets Lift G.O.P.
New York Times – Nicholas Confessore | Published: 11/5/2014
The midterm election was not only a major victory for the Republican Party, but a pivotal moment for the super PACs and political nonprofit groups that helped the party defeat Democrats across the country. Over the last year and a half, the conservative outside groups retooled and revamped, using lessons in how to exploit voter data, opposition research, and advertising learned from their less moneyed but more effective Democratic counterparts during 2012. As federal courts opened new avenues of influence for the wealthy and lenient enforcement effectively neutered what few legal and regulatory restraints remained on big-money politics, they took advantage of every available tool.
From the States and Municipalities:
Arizona – Ducey Seeking Donations to Gubernatorial Transition Effort
Arizona Daily Star – Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) | Published: 11/13/2014
Arizona Gov.-elect Doug Ducey is asking for private contributions to fund his transition team. That is in addition to the donors he will be looking to tap to pay for the ceremonial parts of his inauguration. Spokesperson Daniel Scarpinato said Ducey has placed a $15,000 limit on money from any one source, at least for the transition fund. Scarpinato said there will be no limits on how much anyone can give to the separate fund to pay for the formal inaugural and any parties that might be planned for afterward.
California – California Legislators Flying to Maui to Meet with Special Interests
Los Angeles Times – Patrick McGreevy | Published: 11/12/2014
Two dozen California lawmakers will travel to Hawaii for conferences subsidized and attended by interests that lobby the Legislature, such as oil companies, public employee unions, drug and tobacco firms, and others. Conference organizers said the events, on the island of Maui, provide a relaxed setting in which elected officials and issue experts can discuss solutions to some of the state’s most vexing problems. Watchdogs say it is wrong for corporate executives to pick up the tab so they can meet with lawmakers out of public view just before the next legislative session begins. Sarah Swanbeck of Common Cause said the timing of this year’s event is especially poor because several state senators were hit with criminal charges this year, two of them involving allegations of corruption.
California – Prison Guard Union Failed to Report $24,603 in Gifts to Lawmakers
Los Angeles Times – Patrick McGreevy | Published: 11/11/2014
The state prison officers’ union agreed to a $5,500 fine for failing to disclose gifts it gave to California lawmakers from 2009 to 2011 and a corresponding failure to give gift notifications to the recipients. The gifts include lodging, meals, wine, and spa bags for legislators at the annual Governor’s Cup Foundation golf tournament in Pebble Beach. The California Correctional Peace Officers Association said the failure to report $24,603 in gifts was inadvertent.
California – Sacramento Political Consultant Richie Ross Agrees to Pay Lobbying Fines
Sacramento Bee – Laural Rosenhall | Published: 11/10/2014
Lobbyist Richie Ross agreed to pay $5,000 in fines to the Fair Political Practices Commission for not collecting campaign consulting fees from two lawmakers, thus improperly putting them under the personal obligation to a lobbyist. Ross, who agreed to write off the debt owed by the legislators, is one of a few individuals who serve in dual roles as lobbyist and campaign consultant in California. While state law allows a person to hold both positions, Ross ran into trouble because of his practice of carrying debt for successful candidates who agreed to pay him a “win bonus.”
Connecticut – Election Highlights Flaws In Campaign Finance System
CTNewsJunkie.com – Christine Stuart and Hugh McQuaid | Published: 11/10/2014
On one hand, 2014 was a banner year for Connecticut’s public campaign finance system. Both candidates for governor, all the candidates for constitutional office, and more than 80 percent of the candidates for General Assembly seats participated. On the other hand, outside groups spent $15.9 million on the governor’s race, outpacing the $13 million the two candidates received from the clean election program. The public financing program has been on the books since 2005, but the midterm election was the first test of the law as it was reshaped by the state Legislature last year.
Florida – Link Shows How Lobby Firm Cultivates Influence
New York Times – Eric Lipton | Published: 11/9/2014
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi invited Lori Kalani, a lobbyist and lawyer from Dickstein Shapiro, to stay at Bondi’s Tampa home while Kalani recovered from surgery. Dickstein Shapiro, a Washington, D.C.-based firm that specializes in building personal relationships with state attorneys general to help corporate clients avoid becoming targets of investigation, paid for Bondi’s travel to a resort island in Michigan in 2013. The Florida Commission on Ethics is reviewing a complaint asking it to investigate whether Dickstein Shapiro violated state law by not registering as a lobbying firm.
Georgia – Audit Reveals Systemic Problems at Ethics Commission
Gainesville Times – Joshua Silavent | Published: 11/6/2014
A review of the operations of the Georgia ethics commission by state auditors found inconsistent treatment of complaints, lack of formal procedures that results in unequal application of the law, and questionable expenditures. The report lists management problems, such as underqualified staff, poor documentation, and inadequate data controls. The commission requested the review in hopes of ending a string of scandals stemming from agency operations, according to Chairperson Hillary Stringfellow. There have been four executive secretaries heading the commission staff since 2006 and a 46 percent employee turnover rate in the last two years.
Louisiana – Feds Investigating Arson Attack on Political Operative’s Uptown Home
New Orleans Times-Picayune – Ken Daley | Published: 11/8/2014
The home and two cars of a campaign finance director for a pro-solar energy candidate running for the Louisiana Public Service Commission were firebombed on November 6. No one was injured in the explosions, and authorities have yet to establish a direct link between the apparent attacks and the campaign’s efforts to promote solar energy. The finance director targeted, Mario Zervigon, is a well-known political operative in the state. Zervignon worked for Forest Bradley-Wright, who is campaigning on a program that allows solar-panel users to continue to sell their excess electricity to utility companies. He is facing incumbent Eric Skrmetta in the December 6 run-off election.
Louisiana – Louisiana Politicians Spent Lavishly on Meals, Golfing, Gifts, Other Perks in 2013
New Orleans Times-Picayune – Lee Zurdik (WVUE) and Manuel Torres | Published: 11/6/2014
Records show Louisiana politicians spent millions of dollars in 2013 on meals, golf rounds and club dues; gifts to unnamed recipients; tickets to Louisiana State University and New Orleans Saints football games; and other events. State law prohibits using campaign money for personal expenses, according to the Board of Ethics, but allows expenses “related to a political campaign or the holding of a public office or party position.” Lawmakers last year failed to clearly define what that means, despite calls by watchdogs and the ethics board for stricter rules.
Mississippi – Christopher Epps, Former Chief of Prisons in Mississippi, Is Arraigned
New York Times – Timothy Williams | Published: 11/6/2014
Mississippi’s former prisons chief pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he accepted cash and mortgage payments in exchange for awarding prison contracts to companies tied to a local businessperson. Christopher Epps, who resigned as commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections on November 5, was indicted on charges he and co-defendant Cecil McCrory were involved in a kickback scheme that started in 2007 and continued for seven years.
Nevada – With a $10,000 Cap on Political Contributions, How Did Caesars Give Gov. Brian Sandoval $215,000?
Las Vegas Sun – Conor Shine | Published: 11/12/2014
In more than a dozen cases, one company or person used multiple companies to donate to a single candidate in excess of Nevada’s standard limit, according to a Las Vegas Sun analysis. The practice stems from the way the law is written. Political contributions are capped at $10,000 per donor, whether it is an individual or a business. But for businesses that operate subsidiaries, each subsidiary or affiliate is eligible to make a $10,000 contribution, even if they are all controlled by the same person or group of people. The result is a gap in the law that allows mostly large companies in Nevada’s gaming, mining, and taxi industries to direct tens of thousands of dollars to their preferred candidates.
Pennsylvania – Sending Signals: Gov.-elect Tom Wolf bans gifts, limits no-bid legal work
Philadelphia Inquirer – Tom Fitzgerald and Amy Worden | Published: 11/12/2014
A code of conduct for Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Tom Wolf’s transition team foreshadows something he plans to impose on his first day on office: a gift ban on his appointees and executive branch employees. Wolf plans to sign an executive order to prohibit gifts, even though state law allows officials to accept gifts worth up to $250 without reporting them, or gifts worth more than that amount if disclosed. Wolf also said he would curb the practice of giving no-bid contracts to private law firms when he takes office.
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.
November 7, 2014 •
News You Can Use Digest – November 7, 2014
National: Cell Phones, Social Media and Campaign 2014 Pew Research Center – Aaron Smith | Published: 11/3/2014 The Pew Research Center found social media platforms and cell phones are playing an increasingly prominent role in how voters get political information and […]
National:
Cell Phones, Social Media and Campaign 2014
Pew Research Center – Aaron Smith | Published: 11/3/2014
The Pew Research Center found social media platforms and cell phones are playing an increasingly prominent role in how voters get political information and follow election news. Republicans and Democrats use social media in this way at similar rates. When asked about some reasons why they might follow political figures on social media, Republicans and conservative-leaning independents express a greater desire to be the first to find out about breaking political news, and to get political information that has not passed through the traditional media “filter.” Voters from both parties place a similar emphasis on the deeper connections that social media allows them to form with the candidates they support.
Hard-Nosed Advice from Veteran Lobbyist: ‘Win Ugly or Lose Pretty’
New York Times – Eric Lipton | Published: 10/30/2014
A veteran lobbyist told the oil and gas industry that, if it wants to continually expand drilling operations, it must be ready to “win ugly or lose pretty,” according to a secretly taped recording of the comments. Consultant Richard Berman, founder and chief executive of the Washington D.C.-based firm Berman and Co., made the comments during a speech to industry executives in June. He said executives must be willing to get dirty and dig up embarrassing information about environmentalists and liberal celebrities. And if the oil and gas executives solicit help from Berman’s firm, he said he would be able to hide their role in funding certain campaigns. One executive took issue with Berman’s comments and secretly recorded the speech, which he then gave to The New York Times.
How Political Donors Are Changing Statehouse News Reporting
Governing – Daniel Vock | Published: 11/1/2014
The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity is deploying reporters to cover state and local governments around the country. Its ultimate ambition is to have bureaus in every state. But they are not news bureaus in the way many traditional journalists understand them. They are being paid to cover government from an unabashedly ideological perspective. In a study of statehouse reporters released this summer, the Pew Research Center found 33 ideological outlets with state Capitol reporters across the country. Some who are affiliated with such groups wonder why citizen journalists, including those who are advocates of one cause or another, should be treated differently than traditional journalists who see themselves as objective.
In States Seen to Be Tilting Left, Voters Defy Democrats’ Forecast
New York Times – Jonathan Martin | Published: 11/5/2014
More striking than any Republican gains in red-state America on November 4 were the party’s U.S. Senate victories in Colorado and North Carolina and the near miss in Virginia. All are states that both parties believed were trending Democratic, and that Democrats boasted would before long be out of reach to Republicans. But demographic shifts that are gradually reshaping the American electorate, making it more racially diverse and younger, cannot overcome a difficult political environment and a weak message in a nonpresidential year. And the Democratic edge in sophisticated technological voter mobilization and targeting is eroding, as Republicans adopt similar techniques and catch up.
Federal:
Capitol Book Club, with a Bonus
New York Times – Ben Protess and Eric Lipton | Published: 11/2/2014
A book club gathers every month for lunch inside a private room at the National Republican Club of Capitol Hill. Unlike a local library’s book club, this event doubles as a political fundraiser. For the book club’s members – an A-list of lobbyists from banks and insurance companies – the main attraction is access to the U.S. House Financial Services Committee. The cost of admission is a campaign donation to whichever committee member is playing host. Each month, attendees say, the lobbyists typically donate $1,000 to $5,000. “It is a $50,000 fundraiser, without a sweat,” said one lobbyist.
Election 2014: A new level of collaboration between candidates and big-money allies
Washington Post – Matea Gold | Published: 11/3/2014
Just a decade ago, candidates shied away from being too closely associated with money raised by independent groups for reasons of appearance and for fear of running afoul of election laws. But the rapid spread of super PACs and politically active nonprofit organizations that followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision has dramatically altered the climate. Political operatives are also taking advantage of the hands-off approach of a divided FEC, which has not re-examined coordination rules in the wake of the 2010 ruling. In that void, candidates and independent groups have sought to bring their operations in alignment as much as possible this year.
How to Waste 10 Million Dollars
Politico – Kenneth Vogel and Byron Tau | Published: 11/6/2014
Mayday PAC burst onto the political scene in the spring of 2014 with grandiose designs to elect a pro-campaign finance reform majority to the U.S. Congress by 2016. The 2014 cycle was a test run of sorts, with the group spending more than $10 million on a slate of candidates ostensibly united only in their belief in curbing the influence of big donors, lobbyists, and money in the political system. But voters cast their ballots for business as usual, leaving Mayday and its founders facing questions about the contrast between its bold predictions and results.
Republicans First Step was to Handle Extremists in Party
New York Times – Jeremy Peters and Thomas Hulse | Published: 11/5/2014
Republicans’ impressive showing on November 4 – marking the first time the GOP will have a majority in both the U.S. House and Senate since 2006 – was in large part the result of methodical plotting, careful candidate vetting, and abundant preparation to ensure the party’s candidates would avoid repeating the same devastating mistakes that cost them dearly in 2010 and 2012. In the end, the disciplined approach worked: no Republican imploded with the kind of fatal campaign gaffe that crushed the party’s hopes in the last two elections, and every established candidate prevailed in the primaries.
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama – Firebrand Alabama Republican Collides With Ethics Law He Espoused
New York Times – Campbell Robertson and Alan Blinder | Published: 10/31/2014
State Rep. Michael Hubbard was arrested after a grand jury returned a 23-count indictment, partly on the basis of an ethics law he had championed, accusing him of using his positions as Alabama GOP chairperson and House speaker to steer thousands of dollars’ worth of business to companies in which he had a financial interest. Hubbard has denied the charges. Though they have not been accused of wrongdoing, some of Alabama’s most prominent executives appeared in the indictment, as did Bob Riley, a former two-term governor. This was unexpected, though perhaps it should not have been: Hubbard has been as strong a center of political gravity as the state has had in decades.
Arkansas – Arkansas Voters Approve Extended Term Limits
Governing – J.B. Wogan | Published: 11/5/2014
A ballot measure that would tighten ethics laws and change term limits passed in Arkansas. Issue 3 prohibits legislators and constitutional officers from taking gifts from lobbyists, with some exceptions; bans candidates from accepting campaign donations from corporations; increases the period that a former legislator must wait before registering as a lobbyist; and allows a lawmaker to serve up to 16 years in either chamber instead of the current limit of three two-year terms in the House and two four-year terms in the Senate.
California – California Lawmakers’ Campaign Credit-Card Spending Often Lacks Disclosure, Sacramento Bee Review Finds
Sacramento Bee – Jim Miller | Published: 11/2/2014
A review of California lawmakers’ credit-card spending by The Sacramento Bee found many provided only the barest of descriptions of their expenses on state-required campaign reports, despite a 2008 rule meant to improve disclosure. The lack of detail makes it difficult to determine whether legislators are using their campaign accounts to help them win re-election or do their jobs, or whether some have found an easy way to live a more luxurious lifestyle. Overall, lawmakers racked up more than $4 million in campaign credit-card charges during the first 18 months of this election cycle.
Florida – City Ethics Amendment Passes by Wide Margin
Tallahassee Democrat – Jeff Burlew | Published: 11/5/2014
Tallahassee voters overwhelmingly approved a charter amendment beefing up the city’s ethics program. It will create a seven-member ethics board with the power to investigate complaints and levy civil penalties; lower the maximum contribution that can be given to candidates from $1,000 to $250; and allow donors to receive rebates from the city of up to $25 if they give that much or more to candidates. The city commission has six months to enact an ethics code with jurisdiction over all officers and employees, including elected and appointed officials.
New York – 4 Indicted N.Y. Pols Win Re-election
Politico – Lucy McCalmont | Published: 11/5/2014
New York voters overwhelmingly re-elected four lawmakers – one to Congress and three to the state Legislature – who are under federal criminal indictments. U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm was re-elected to his House seat despite a 20–count indictment on tax related and other charges. Assemblyperson William Scarborough has been accused of misusing campaign funds for personal expenses. Sen. John Sampson could be sentenced to prison on charges including obstruction of justice, and witness and evidence tampering. Sen. Thomas Libous faces trial in 2015 following an indictment on charges of lying to federal agents.
Ohio – State Rep. Sandra Williams Found Guilty of Profiting from Ohio State Football Tickets
Columbus Dispatch – Jim Siegel | Published: 10/31/2014
State Rep. Sandra Williams pleaded no contest to charges she illegally sold Ohio State football season tickets purchased with campaign funds and did not report it to the state. She faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. The four 2010 tickets, worth a total of $2,255, were sold to lobbyist Ed Hogan. But Hogan made a money order out to Williams herself instead of to the campaign. Williams then deposited the money in her personal account and did not reimburse her campaign until FBI investigators discovered the error.
Pennsylvania – Harrisburg Lobbying Costs on the Rise
Citizens Voice – Robert Swift | Published: 11/2/2014
Lobbyists spent $116 million to influence Pennsylvania lawmakers last year, a 10 percent increase over 2012, with the top areas of lobbying interest in energy, the state budget, and healthcare issues. The lobbyist disclosure law requires corporations and trade associations that spent more than $2,500 in any quarter to register, broadly categorize how the money is spent, and identify general issues on which they lobby. Revelations that four House members allegedly accepted cash gifts from a confidential informant during a sting operation led the House and Senate to adopt rules banning lawmakers from accepting cash gifts. But bills to enact a total ban on gifts from lobbyists to lawmakers and public officials did not make much headway.
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.
November 6, 2014 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “Sacramento Report: Five questions for a lobbyist” by Brian Joseph for Voice of San Diego “Lobbying Fee Increase Drawing Criticism in Harrisburg” by John Kennedy for Legal Intelligencer “Schilling a No-Show at Lobbying Hearing on 38 Studios, Declared in […]
Lobbying
“Sacramento Report: Five questions for a lobbyist” by Brian Joseph for Voice of San Diego
“Lobbying Fee Increase Drawing Criticism in Harrisburg” by John Kennedy for Legal Intelligencer
“Schilling a No-Show at Lobbying Hearing on 38 Studios, Declared in Default” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal
Campaign Finance
“New Jersey’s Most Generous Donors to Political Causes and Super PACs” by Collen O’Dea for NJ Spotlight
Ethics
“Arkansas Voters Approve Extended Term Limits” by J.B. Wogan for Governing
“City Ethics Amendment Passes by Wide Margin” by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat
Elections
“Republicans Gain Big in State Legislative Elections” by Karen Pierog for Reuters
“Republicans Hold the Top 2 Prizes in Governor Races” by Trip Gabriel for New York Times
“As New Rules Take Effect, Voters Report Problems in Some States” by Erik Eckholm and Richard Fausset for New York Times
“Republicans Extend House Control as Democratic Holdouts Fall” by Jeremy Peters for New York Times
“Republicans First Step was to Handle Extremists in Party” by Jeremy Peters and Thomas Hulse for New York Times
“Ted Kennedy Jr. Wins State Senate Race in Connecticut” by Alison Leigh Cowen for New York Times
November 5, 2014 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying: “Capitol Book Club, with a Bonus” by Ben Protess and Eric Lipton for New York Times “Harrisburg Lobbying Costs on the Rise” by Robert Swift for Citizens Voice “Ex-Lawmakers Predict Post-Election Return of Earmarks” by Katelyn Plantz for National […]
Lobbying:
“Capitol Book Club, with a Bonus” by Ben Protess and Eric Lipton for New York Times
“Harrisburg Lobbying Costs on the Rise” by Robert Swift for Citizens Voice
“Ex-Lawmakers Predict Post-Election Return of Earmarks” by Katelyn Plantz for National Journal
“Complaint: D.C. law firm illegally lobbied Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi” by Michael Van Sickler for Tampa Bay Times
Ethics:
“California Lawmakers’ Campaign Credit-Card Spending Often Lacks Disclosure, Sacramento Bee Review Finds” by Jim Miller for Sacramento Bee
“How Political Donors Are Changing Statehouse News Reporting” by Daniel Vock for Governing
“Ex-Homestead Mayor Now a Convicted Felon” by David Ovalle for Miami Herald
Elections:
“Rogue Pastors Endorse Candidates, but IRS Looks Away” by Rachael Bade for Politico
“Cell Phones, Social Media and Campaign 2014” by Aaron Smith for Pew Research Center
Campaign Finance:
“Election 2014: A new level of collaboration between candidates and big-money allies” by Matea Gold for Washington Post
“Surplussing: How donors, parties legally circumvent campaign contribution caps” by Austin Jenkins for KPLU
November 4, 2014 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying “Hard-Nosed Advice from Veteran Lobbyist: ‘Win Ugly or Lose Pretty’” by Eric Lipton for New York Times “At Fast-Growing Brookings, Donors May Have an Impact on Research Agenda” by Tom Hamburger and Alexander Becker for Washington Post “After Probe, […]
Lobbying
“Hard-Nosed Advice from Veteran Lobbyist: ‘Win Ugly or Lose Pretty’” by Eric Lipton for New York Times
“At Fast-Growing Brookings, Donors May Have an Impact on Research Agenda” by Tom Hamburger and Alexander Becker for Washington Post
“After Probe, Ferguson Seeks Limits on Former AG Staff Lobbying” by Jim Brunner for Seattle Times
Campaign Finance
“A Flood of Late Spending on Midterm Elections, from Murky Sources” by Nicholas Confessore and Derek Willis for New York Times
“Straw into Gold: Candidates Trading Leadership PAC Dollars for Campaign Cash” by Viveca Novak and John Sugden for The Center for Public Integrity
“Judge Refuses to Toss Campaign-Finance Allegations against AG” by Howard Fischer (Capitol News Service) for East Valley Tribune
“Judge Hears Arguments in Campaign Coordination Case” by Bruce Vielmetti for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ethics
“Firebrand Alabama Republican Collides With Ethics Law He Espoused” by Campbell Robertson and Alan Blinder for New York Times
“Staff Lawyer Sues Georgia Ethics Commission” by Lisa Coston for Courthouse News
“SC House Moves to Limit Speaker’s Terms, Ban Some PACs” by Cassie Cope for The State
Elections
“Cancel the Midterms” by David Schanzer and Jay Sullivan for New York Times
“Senate Control May Be Decided by Runoff Votes in Louisiana and Georgia” by Campbell Robertson and Sheryl Gay Stolberg for New York Times
“K Street Descends on Kentucky” by Anna Palmer for Politico
“State Supreme Court Orders Election for Harrell’s Seat to Continue Tuesday Pending Review” by Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) for Greenfield Daily Reporter
November 3, 2014 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “Advice on How to Stay Out of Jail – From a Lobbyist Who Didn’t” by Kevin Ring for Washington Post Missouri: “Missouri Attorney General May Face Inquiry over Money from Lobbyists” by Eric Lipton for New York Times Campaign […]
Lobbying
“Advice on How to Stay Out of Jail – From a Lobbyist Who Didn’t” by Kevin Ring for Washington Post
Missouri: “Missouri Attorney General May Face Inquiry over Money from Lobbyists” by Eric Lipton for New York Times
Campaign Finance
“Donors Get Special Access to GOP Governors as Potential 2016 Contenders” by Matea Gold for Washington Post
California: “Once a Crusader against Big Money, Gov. Brown is Collecting Millions” by Michael Finnegan and Ben Welsh for Los Angeles Times
New Mexico: “PRC Member Told He Can’t Pay Himself to Campaign” by Thomas Cole for Albuquerque Journal
Texas: “Ethics Commission Approves Dark Money Regulation” by David Saleh Rauf (San Antonio Express-News) for Austin American-Statesman
Ethics
Alabama: “Jury Finds Alabama Lawmaker Not Guilty of Perjury” by Kim Chandler (Associated Press) for Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Ohio: “State Rep. Sandra Williams Found Guilty of Profiting from Ohio State Football Tickets” by Jim Siegel for Columbus Dispatch
South Carolina: “Bobby Harrell: A quick rise to power, and a quicker fall” by Jeremy Borden and Schuyler Knopf for Charleston Post & Courier
Texas: “Houston Drops Subpoenas to Get Speeches from Pastors Opposed to Anti-Discrimination Ordinance” by The Associated Press for Fox News
Elections
“Election Could Tip Historic Number of Legislatures into Republican Hands” by Reid Wilson for Washington Post
California: “L.A. Officials to Consider Ballot Measures to Change Election Years” by David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times
Louisiana: “Louisiana’s Rogues Yield to National Issues” by Campbell Robertson and Jonathan Martin for New York Times
Minnesota: “Campaigning to Extend, or End, One-Party Rule” by Monica Davey for New York Times
Montana: “Stanford Research Gaffe: School apologizes to Montana voters for ‘election guide’” by Katy Murphy for San Jose Mercury News
South Carolina: “State Election Officials Opt to Delay Election in Bobby Harrell’s Old House Seat” by Jeremy Borden for Charleston Post & Courier
Political Advertising
“In Democratic Election Ads in South, a Focus on Racial Scars” by Jeremy Peters for New York Times
October 31, 2014 •
News You Can Use Digest – October 31, 2014
National: In Democratic Election Ads in South, a Focus on Racial Scars New York Times – Jeremy Peters | Published: 10/29/2014 Democrats in the closest U.S. Senate races across the South are turning to racially charged messages jolt African-Americans into voting […]
National:
In Democratic Election Ads in South, a Focus on Racial Scars
New York Times – Jeremy Peters | Published: 10/29/2014
Democrats in the closest U.S. Senate races across the South are turning to racially charged messages jolt African-Americans into voting and stop a Republican takeover in Washington. The images and words they are using are striking for how overtly they play on fears of intimidation and repression. And their source is surprising. The effort is being led by national Democrats and their state party organizations – not, in most instances, by the shadowy and often untraceable PACs that typically employ such provocative messages.
Lobbyists, Bearing Gifts, Pursue Attorneys General
New York Times – Eric Lipton | Published: 10/28/2014
State attorneys general are now the object of aggressive pursuit by lobbyists and lawyers who use campaign contributions, personal appeals at lavish corporate-sponsored conferences, and other means to push them to drop investigations, change policies, negotiate favorable settlements, or pressure federal regulators, found an investigation by The New York Times. A robust industry of lobbyists and lawyers has blossomed as attorneys general have joined to conduct multistate investigations and pushed into areas as diverse as securities fraud and Internet crimes. But unlike the lobbying rules covering other elected officials, there are few “revolving-door” restrictions or disclosure requirements governing state attorneys general.
Federal:
FEC Deadlock Keeps Internet Free from Broadcast Campaign Ad Regulations
Washington Times – Stephan Dineen | Published: 10/26/2014
Democrats on the FEC want to extend the agency’s reach to online political ads, a change in policy that critics fear could lead to tough new limits on speech. The FEC deadlocked on whether to investigate Checks and Balances for Economic Growth, a group that ran a pair of online advertisements attacking President Barack Obama and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. While the organization may have spent close to a million dollars on the ads, it did not file any disclosure reports with the FEC, as it would have if the ads were run on television or radio. The carve-out for online-only communications has existed for more than eight years, but FEC Vice Chairperson Ann Ravel said the rules have not kept pace with the changing times.
From the States and Municipalities:
Arizona – Lobbyists Aid Campaigns of Doug Ducey, Fred DuVal
Arizona Republic – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Rob O’Dell | Published: 10/26/2014
Arizona gubernatorial candidates Fred DuVal and Doug Ducey have each relied heavily on the state’s lobbying corps for advice and to finance their campaigns. Combined, the candidates have collected at least $435,000 from donors who have registered as lobbyists and many of whom hope to have access to the next governor and his administration. “Lobbyists are premier players on both sides, and these lobbyists represent big interests that have large stakes in the outcome of the election; they do what comes naturally – they try to influence the results,” said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.
District of Columbia – Ethics Reforms Shepherded by Bowser Look Better in Hindsight, Some Say
Washington Post – Mike DeBonis | Published: 10/28/2014
When the District of Columbia Council passed an ethics reform bill more than two years ago, Councilperson Tommy Wells said the bill’s lack of teeth was “embarrassing.” Now, Wells supports the legislation, which was shepherded through the council by Muriel Bowser, who is running for mayor. It is an indication of how Bowser’s much-criticized ethics package looks considerably better in hindsight. Observers say they have seen a marked improvement in the city government’s handling of ethics matters, even if there is more room for improvement.
Atlanta Magazine – Jim Walls | Published: 10/23/2014
During this year’s election season, questions about ethics allegations filed against Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal four years ago have grown stronger. His opponent, Jason Carter, returns to them almost daily. Technically speaking, all the complaints against Deal were resolved in 2012, when he paid $3,350 in administrative fees for filing defective campaign and personal finance disclosures. But a review of the state ethics commission’s files shows the investigation leading to that settlement was never really completed. Commission staffers abandoned inquiries into tens of thousands of dollars spent on air travel and credit card charges, and questioned no one but lawyers for the campaign accused of wrongdoing.
Kentucky – State Rep. Keith Hall Indicted on Bribery Charge
Lexington Herald-Leader – John Cheves | Published: 10/23/2014
A federal grand jury indicted Kentucky Rep. Keith Hall on bribery charges, alleging he paid a state inspector more than $46,000 to ignore environmental violations at his Pike County coal mines. The indictment also charged the inspector, Kelly Shortridge, who resigned in February from his job in the Kentucky Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement. The indictment alleges Hall paid bribes to Shortridge as bogus consulting fees, most of them from a company owned by Hall through a shell corporation.
New York – Mayor’s Old Pal Wins New Biz as Lobbyist
Crain’s New York Business – Chris Bragg | Published: 10/26/2014
Soon after vetting administration hires as a member of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s transition team, Harold Ickes opened a New York branch of his K Street lobbying firm, the Ickes & Enright Group. He and his employees have since lobbied a dozen de Blasio administration officials for a rapidly growing number of clients. In recent months, the Ickes & Enright Group has signed a number of clients seeking to influence local government. At the same time, Ickes remains a key de Blasio political adviser.
Ohio – State Rep. Mallory Pleads Guilty to Improperly Accepting, Disclosing Gifts from Lobbyists
Columbus Dispatch – Jim Siegel | Published: 10/29/2014
Ohio Rep. Dale Mallory pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor ethics law violations related to taking Cincinnati Bengals tickets from lobbyists then failing to properly report them on required disclosure forms. The Joint Legislative Ethics Committee referred Mallory for prosecution after finding he improperly accepted tickets from payday lending industry lobbyists in 2009 and 2013 that exceeded the $75 gift limit. Lawmakers also must disclose any gift valued at over $25. A pair of lobbyists connected to the matter have already pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges.
Oklahoma – Rule Change Will Allow Lobbyists to Spend More on Oklahoma Lawmakers
The Oklahoman – Rick Green | Published: 10/27/2014
Current rules limit to $100 the amount a lobbyist can spend on an Oklahoma lawmaker, but that amount can be multiplied by the number of clients the lobbyist represents. Under new rules that take effect next year, lobbyists will be limited to spending $500 on a particular lawmaker, no matter how many clients they represent. The net effect will be that some lobbyists, particularly those with fewer clients, could see an increase in the amount of money they can spend per legislator, and some, particularly those with numerous clients, could see a decrease.
Pennsylvania – Pa. Lobbyist Fees Increased to Pay for Public Disclosure Database
Harrisburg Patriot-News – Christian Alexandersen | Published: 10/23/2014
The Independent Regulatory Review Committee voted to increase Pennsylvania’s lobbyist registration fee from $200 to $300. The increase will go to offset the cost of maintaining the department of state’s online disclosure database. The state attorney general’s office must review the committee’s decision in the next 30 days before the fee increase can be implemented for the 2015-2016 legislative session. The attorney general is expected to approve the increase.
Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania Justice in Porn Email Scandal Retires
Greenfield Reporter – Mark Scolforo and Marc Levy (Associated Press) | Published: 10/27/2014
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery, embroiled in an email pornography scandal and accused of other workplace misconduct, retired days after he was suspended from his job. McCaffery, who served for nearly seven years, was named in a review by the court’s chief justice as exchanging hundreds of pornographic emails with lawyers in the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office. McCaffery also was accused of authorizing hundreds of thousands of dollars in referral payments by personal injury law firms to his wife, helping fix a traffic ticket she received, and improperly attempting to influence the assignment of judges in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
South Carolina – Bobby Harrell: A quick rise to power, and a quicker fall
Charleston Post & Courier – Jeremy Borden and Schuyler Knopf | Published: 10/24/2014
When Bobby Harrell first entered the South Carolina Legislature in 1993, he quickly proved adept at moving up the ranks. When he became House speaker in 2005, some members expected the gregarious leader with an open-door policy would usher in a new era of inclusion. Harrell’s charm remained as strong as ever, but he did not shy away from flexing the considerable power of the speaker’s office when he felt he needed to. Harrell’s resignation due to ethics violations has generated sympathy in Columbia, but observers also see a cautionary tale. His critics have said Harrell had begun to feel “bulletproof,” becoming more focused on the trappings of his leadership position than legislative agendas and policy.
Texas – Ethics Commission Approves Dark Money Regulation
Austin American-Statesman – David Saleh Rauf (San Antonio Express-News) | Published: 10/29/2014
The Texas Ethics Commission approved a new rule that requires so-called dark money groups to reveal their donors. At the heart of the commission’s regulation is an attempt to determine when a nonprofit’s political activity crosses the line to qualify it as a bona fide PAC that is required under state law to disclose donors. Under the new rule, a nonprofit would have to start disclosing donors if 25 percent or more of its expenditures can be classified as politically motivated. It also would require disclosure if political contributions account for more than 25 percent of the group’s total donations in a calendar year.
Virginia – McAuliffe’s New Virginia Ethics Panel Meets for First Time
Washington Post – Laura Vozzella | Published: 10/27/2014
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s ethics reform commission is poised to recommend a tightening of gift and travel rules for state leaders, but consensus proved more difficult on other points during the panel’s first meeting. The Commission on Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government plans to have recommendations ready by December 1. It will be up to the General Assembly to write the actual rules. The commission also decided to move redistricting reform to the front burner after a federal judicial panel ruled the state’s Third Congressional District lines are unconstitutional.
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.
October 30, 2014 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “Lobbyists, Bearing Gifts, Pursue Attorneys General” by Eric Lipton for New York Times “K Street Files: Is that a lobbyist knocking on your door?” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call “K Street’s Republicans Hope for Uptick in Business” by […]
Lobbying
“Lobbyists, Bearing Gifts, Pursue Attorneys General” by Eric Lipton for New York Times
“K Street Files: Is that a lobbyist knocking on your door?” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call
“K Street’s Republicans Hope for Uptick in Business” by Anna Palmer for Politico
“State Rep. Mallory Pleads Guilty to Improperly Accepting, Disclosing Gifts from Lobbyists” by Jim Siegel for Columbus Dispatch
Campaign Finance
“House Dems Shame Stingy Members” by Mike Lillis for The Hill
“Super PACs Keep Candidates Afloat with a Little Help from Their Friends” by Paul Blumenthal for Huffington Post
“Finance Laws Aim to Be Clear” by Joy Hampton for Moore American
Ethics
“Ethics Reforms Shepherded by Bowser Look Better in Hindsight, Some Say” by Mike DeBonis for Washington Post
Elections
“Nothing in Moderation” by Thomas Edsall for New York Times
“Iowan’s Playbook, for Women to Win Men’s Vote” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg for New York Times
October 29, 2014 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying “Former Senator Tom Daschle Forms New Lobbying Group” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post Campaign Finance “Would Stronger Parties Mean Less Polarization?” by Thomas Edsall for New York Times “Michigan’s New Campaign Contribution Limits Benefiting Republicans More Than Democrats” […]
Lobbying
“Former Senator Tom Daschle Forms New Lobbying Group” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post
Campaign Finance
“Would Stronger Parties Mean Less Polarization?” by Thomas Edsall for New York Times
“Michigan’s New Campaign Contribution Limits Benefiting Republicans More Than Democrats” by Jonathan Oosting for MLive.com
“W.Va. Delegate’s Campaign Expenses Include Steer Bought at County Fair” by The Associated Press for Greenfield Daily Reporter
Ethics
“Politics of Ebola Tricky for Christie, Cuomo” by Jonathan Lemire and Jill Colvin (Associated Press) for ABC News
“Finding: Farmer girlfriend violated ethics code” by Tom Loftus for Louisville Courier-Journal
“William Lantigua, Mired in Political Controversy from the Start” by Bruce Wright for Boston Globe
“Coakley Denies Allegation She Had No-Interest in DiMasi Case” by Gintautas Dumcius and Matt Murphy (State House News Service) for Lowell Sun
“Pennsylvania Justice in Porn Email Scandal Retires” by Mark Scolforo and Marc Levy (Associated Press) for Greenfield Reporter
“McAuliffe’s New Virginia Ethics Panel Meets for First Time” by Laura Vozzella for Washington Post
Political Advertising
“Pants on Fire? Ohio Campaign Ads Take Liberties, Both Parties Say” by Darrell Rowland for Columbus Dispatch
October 28, 2014 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying Arizona: “Lobbyists Aid Campaigns of Doug Ducey, Fred DuVal” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Rob O’Dell for Arizona Republic New York: “Mayor’s Old Pal Wins New Biz as Lobbyist” by Chris Bragg for Crain’s New York Business Oklahoma: “Rule […]
Lobbying
Arizona: “Lobbyists Aid Campaigns of Doug Ducey, Fred DuVal” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Rob O’Dell for Arizona Republic
New York: “Mayor’s Old Pal Wins New Biz as Lobbyist” by Chris Bragg for Crain’s New York Business
Oklahoma: “Rule Change Will Allow Lobbyists to Spend More on Oklahoma Lawmakers” by Rick Green for The Oklahoman
Campaign Finance
“The Cost of Campaigns” by Clyde Haberman for New York Times
“Campaign Finance Officials Aim to Cure the Paper-Obsessed Senate through Crowd-sourcing, Algorithms” by Nancy Scola for Washington Post
“FEC Deadlock Keeps Internet Free from Broadcast Campaign Ad Regulations” by Stephan Dineen for Washington Times
Connecticut: “In Connecticut Race, a Loophole Lets Party Money Flow for a Kennedy Scion” by Alison Leigh Cowan for New York Times
Kansas: “A Kansas Group’s Push to Oust Judges Reveals a Gap in Campaign Finance Rules” by Robert Faturechi for ProPublica
Ethics
Florida: “Palm Beach County Considers Changes to Ethics Rules” by Andy Reid for South Florida Sun Sentinel
Pennsylvania: “Federal Grand Jury Reviewing Liquor Control Board Violations, Sources Tell Trib” by Kari Andren for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Political Advertising
“As Bottle Bill Politics Hits Supermarket Aisles, Shoppers Have Mixed Reactions” by Shira Schoenberg and Carolyn Robbins for MassLive.com
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