Lobbying

“D.C.’s Riches: More Lobbying Over Less” by Matthew Yglesias in Slate.

Alabama: “Alabama gambling lobbyist seeks probation” by Phillip Rawls (Associated Press) in GoErie.com.

California: “California taps the lobbying crowd” in the Central Valley Business Times.

New York: “Court papers: Convicted NYC lobbyist cooperating with prosecutors in inquiry” by The Associated Press in The Republic.

Washington: “Lobbyists, state staff helped Washington lawmaker’s charity, records show” by The Associated Press in The Oregonian.

Campaign Finance

“Trevor Potter Talks Campaign Finance, Super PACs With Bill Moyers” by Tracy Bloom in Truthdig.

“Ben & Jerry’s co-founder talks campaign finance reform” by Tarini Parti in Politico.

New Mexico: “Albuquerque lawmaker spends campaign money on massages” by The Associated Press in KOB News.

Vermont: “Vt. GOP: Sorrell ad may violate campaign finance law” by WCAX News.

Ethics

“Rep. Waters formally cleared by Ethics panel” by Jordy Jager in The Hill.

“Ethics Committee Details ‘Lessons Learned’ From Maxine Waters Case” by Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

Florida: “State Rep. Mike Horner resigns after being linked to brothel in Orange County” by Toluse Olorunnipa, Steve Bousquet and Marc Caputo in the Miami Herald.

Social Media and Government Tech

“Report: States Should Switch to Digital Resources Within 5 Years” in Government Technology.

“Social Media Now A Must Have In The Political Campaign Toolbox” by Amanda Falcone in the Hartford Courant.

“More than 50 members of Congress just say no to Twitter’s 140 characters” by Alicia M. Cohn in The Hill.

“Facebook lets users announce voter registration” by Jennifer Martinez in The Hill.

Political Campaigns

“‘Trackers’ now a weapon in the modern campaign arsenal” by Ry Rivard in the Charleston Daily Mail.

Campaign Finance

“Phone Company PAC Funds Campaigns Against Republicans With Customer Overpayments” by Janie Lorber in The Hill.

“Super PAC Influence Falls Short Of Aims” by Neil King, Jr. in The Wall Street Journal.

California: “Measure attacks corporate campaign funds” by Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Iowa: “Iowa sees $29.6 million TV ad inundation” by Jennifer Jacobs in the Austin Post-Bulletin.

Washington: “State watchdog says Owen violated campaign laws” by The Associated Press in The Seattle Times.

Lobbying

Alabama: “Probation sought for ex-lobbyist Jennifer Pouncy in bingo bribery trial” by Kim Chandler in the Birmingham News.

Canada:  “Feds respond to Lobbying Act review, but don’t scrap controversial 20 per cent rule” by Bea Vongdouangchanh in The Hill Times.

North Carolina: “Ethics guidance on legislative staffers and lobbyists” by Mark Binker in WRAL.com.

North Carolina:  “Tillis: Second staffer had relationship with lobbyist” by Mark Binker and Laura Leslie in WRAL.com.

Pennsylvania: “Lobbying.ph updated: which tech orgs spent the most lobbying in Philly so far this year?” by Juliana Reyes in Technically Philly.

Ethics

Michigan:  “Kwame Kilpatrick prosecutor: Bernard Kilpatrick acted to ‘cash in’ on son’s mayoral power” by Gus Burns in the Detroit News.

Political Campaigns

“Obama Campaign Adopts ‘Wet Signature’ to Entice New Voters” in Government Technology.

“Campaign expense list: Beer, limos, Chick-fil-A” by Tarini Parti in Politico.

Open Government and Gov 2.0

“One year later We the People petitioners have mixed reviews” by Joseph Marks in Nextgov.

“Open government partnership marks first anniversary” by Kedar Pavgi in Nextgov.

Canada:  “Alberta gets a ‘D’ in freedom of information audit” by Darcy Henton in the Edmonton Journal.

Campaign Finance

Federal: “FEC launches two new campaign finance disclosure tracking tools” by David Phillips in the Examiner.

“Political Fundraising Post-Citizens United” on PBS Newshour.

District of Columbia: “Wells joins call for D.C. campaign reforms” by Tom Howell, Jr. in the Washington Times.

Florida: “N Miami Bch ex-mayor charged in campaign case” by The Associated Press in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Maryland: “Franchot calls for real-time campaign finance reporting” by Holly Nunn in the Gaithersburg Gazette.

Ethics

“Maxine Waters Expected to Be Cleared of Conflict of Interest Charges” by Emma Dumain and Amanda Becker in Roll Call.

“Venue change nixed; Kilpatrick corruption trial gets under way” by Tresa Baldas and Jim Schaefer in the Detroit Free Press.

The city council’s rules committee has tentatively approved amendments to the city’s campaign finance laws that would increase the contribution limits for citywide offices from $500 to $1,000.

Limits for elections within districts would remain at $500.

If the entire city council approves the amendments, the new contribution limits would be in effect for the 2014 election cycle.

Seal of San Diego courtesy of Zscout370 on Wikipedia.

National:

Bain Capital Gives Millions to Democrats

Federal:

Appeals Court Overturns Political Donor Disclosure Ruling

Behind The Big-Ticket Political Fundraisers

From the States and Municipalities:

California

State Ethics Czar to Scale Back Proposed Disclosure Rules on Blogs

Connecticut

Ethics Agency Destroys Public Records of State Officials’ Financial Interests

Georgia

Ethics Commission: State has defanged its watchdog

Kansas

Kansas Ethics Panel Fines Candidates for Posts about Fundraisers on Facebook during Session

Maryland

More Than Half of City Officials, Employees Fill out Ethics Forms Wrong

Michigan

Detroit’s Former Mayor Faces Corruption Trial

Minnesota

Lobbyist Fined Who Donated to Davids’ Campaign

Montana

Federal Appeals Strikes Ban on Partisan Endorsements in Montana Judicial Elections

Oklahoma

Executive Director of Oklahoma State Ethics Commission Retires after 25 Years on Job

Pennsylvania

Pa. High Court Wants Review of Voter ID Access

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.

Lobbying

“Street Talk: From K Street to School Corridors” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“K Street abuzz over who will get the $1.8 million Roundtable job” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

“Report: gambling interests spend heavy in Albany” by The Associated Press in the Wall Street Journal.

“Facebook, Google, Amazon join forces in D.C. lobby” by Cecilia Kang in the Washington Post.

“Twitter hires GOP congressional staffer” by Brendan Sasso in The Hill.

Campaign Finance

“Romney campaign took out $20-million loan, still owes $11 million” by Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times.

“FPPC Delays Vote on Paid Political Blogger Regulations” by Ben Adler in Capital Public Radio.

Electoral Maps

“2012 Swing States Map” in Politico 2012 Live.

“The Electoral Map: Building a Path to Victory” in the New York Times.

State Legislatures

“Too Much Information: Enemy # 1 for New Member Orientation” by Bruce Feustel in NCSL’s The Thicket.

Social Media

“Gov Website Evolution: Changes in 2013” by Sarah Rich Government Technology.

“The time of the ‘social media’ candidate is nigh” by Jen Doll on TechPresident.

A federal appellate court has reversed a district court’s electioneering reporting decision, sending the issue back to the FEC.

The significance of today’s decision, pending further possible rule changes or court decisions, is that political contributors giving to an organization making an electioneering communication will not have to be disclosed to the FEC unless the donor specifically earmarks his or her contributions to fund electioneering communications.

This was the rule from 2007 until this spring when a district court ruled that all contributors giving over $1,000, regardless of whether they gave for the specific purpose of electioneering communications, had to be disclosed to the FEC.

In the initial lawsuit, Van Hollen v. FEC, the plaintiff,  U.S. Representative Van Hollen, claimed the FEC regulation 11 C.F.R. §104.20(c)(9), which requires disclosure only of those making contributions over $1,000 to an entity for the purpose of furthering electioneering communications, contradicts the statute requiring disclosure of all donors making contributions over $1,000.

In the spring, a U.S. district court agreed and declared 11 C.F.R. §104.20(c)(9) invalid and vacated the regulation. The court reinstated the FEC’s prior regulation, which was promulgated on December 17, 2002 and was in effect until December 25, 2007. The FEC had formally reiterated the district court’s requirement on July 27, 2012, retroactively applying the disclosure of donors to March 30, 2012.

Today, in Center for Individual Freedom v. Van Hollen, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit reversed Van Hollen v. FEC, vacated the district court’s prior judgment, and remanded the case to the district court. Presently, under the jurisdiction of the district court, the FEC must pursue rulemaking to address the issues brought by the lawsuit or defend 11 C.F.R. §104.20(c)(9) in court against the parties bringing the action.

This is a signature issue for Representative Van Hollen who will probably continue to vigorously litigate this issue.

The FEC has not publicly declared its next course of action.

Lobbying

“At Holland & Knight, lobbyists no longer have corner offices” by Catherine Ho in the Washington Post.

Florida: “Lobbyist’s lobbying group coming to Jacksonville for annual conference” by Matt Dixon in the Florida Times-Union.

Campaign Finance

“Poll: Americans largely in favor of campaign spending limitations” by Morgan Little in the Los Angeles Times.

“Republican super PACs ramp up spending in House races” by Jake Sherman in Politico.

District of Columbia:  “Michael A. Brown’s missing campaign funds” in the Washington Post.

Washington: “Parties pouring cash into race for governor” by Andrew Garber and Justin Mayo in the Seattle Times.

Elections

“Voter Information Guides Go Social With TheBallot.org” by Sarah Lai Stirland in TechPresident.

Ethics

Georgia: “Ethics commission: State has defanged its watchdog” by Chris Joyner in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

New Hampshire: Opinion piece by Grant Bosse,“Election laws grow more confusing” in the New Hampshire Watchdog.

Social Media

“Could a workplace social network replace email and phone? One agency thinks so.” by Joseph Marks in NextGov.

“Facebook knows how to trick you into voting” by Kevin Charles Redmon in Nextgov.

The West Virginia Supreme Court has struck down the state’s public campaign financing pilot program.

The program, similar to other programs invalidated in Arizona and Nebraska, provided additional public financing to candidates whose privately-financed opponents made expenditures beyond a certain amount.

The court held that West Virginia’s program violated privately-financed candidates’ free speech rights by essentially preventing them from making expenditures in order to avoid their opponents’ receipt of additional funds.

Campaign Finance

“House Dems push new campaign finance reform” by T.W. Farnam in the Washington Post.

“FEC move on wireless campaign contributions could aid Democrats” by Adam Mazmanian in Nextgov.

“Groups Ask Appeals Court to Keep Issue-Ad Donors Secret” by Tom Schoenberg in Bloomberg News.

“US election system criticised over finance rules and voting restrictions” by Karen McVeigh in The Guardian.

Minnesota:  “Campaign Finance Board stands by ‘John Doe decision’” by Tom Scheck in MPR News.

“’Citizens United’ on the Corporate Court” by Jamie Raskin in The Nation.

Lobbying

“Lansing lobbyists’ spending on record pace” by Rich Robinson in the Michigan Campaign Finance Network.

Ethics

“Gov. Christie to stop showing GOP-produced video before town hall meetings” by Jenna Portnoy in the Star-Ledger.

Social Media

“New Tool Verifies Authenticity of Gov’t Social Media Sites” by John K. Higgins in E-Commerce Times.

Redistricting

“Serious problems still exist’ with redistricting maps, attorney tells Pennsylvania Supreme Court” by Nick Malawskey in the Patriot-News.

City Council has approved campaign reform measures for candidates and political committees. The new ordinance raises contribution limits to candidate campaigns from $500 to $700 in council races and from $1,000 to $1,300 in citywide races.

Beginning in 2015, public matching funds will be given for donations raised only within city limits. To be eligible for the city money, candidates will have to collect contributions from at least 200 people living in the district they hope to represent.

Beginning next year, candidates will also be eligible for increased matching funds, including four public dollars for every dollar contributed during the general election and two dollars for every dollar contributed during the primary. Donors will also be able to give to campaigns via text message.

The ordinance is scheduled for a final vote next week.

Photo of Los Angeles by Bobak on Wikipedia.

National:

Democrats Risk No Female Governor, First Time in 17 Years

U.S. Election System Criticized Over Finance Rules and Voting Restrictions

Federal:

Andrews Used wife to Vet Use of Campaign Funds on Trip

Look-Alike Sites Funnel Big Money to Mystery PAC

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona

Ex-Fiesta Bowl Lobbyist Takes Plea Deal in Probe

Illinois

Appeals Court Upholds Illinois Campaign Disclosure Law

Minnesota

Despite Campaign Finance Ruling, Regulators to Continue Requiring Disclosures

Montana

Republicans Ask Court to Axe Montana’s Campaign Contribution Laws

Nebraska

AG: Sen. Council withdrew campaign funds at casinos

New Jersey

Mayor of NJ’s Capital Arrested in Corruption Probe

New York

Under Scrutiny, JCOPE Speaks

West Virginia

West Virginia Court Candidate Denied ‘Rescue Funds’

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.

Lobbying

“Lobbyists Keep Busy Despite Legislative Lull” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“How Many Lobbyists Are Really Breaking the Law?” by Elahe Izadi in the National Journal.

Campaign Finance

Montana: “Republicans ask court to axe Montana’s campaign contribution laws” by Matt Gouras (Associated Press) in The Republic.

New Jersey: “Political action committees gave $18M to N.J. campaigns last year, analysis shows” by Matt Friedman in the Trenton Times.

Redistricting

Ohio: “Ohio Supreme Court says ballot summary for redistricting issue is inaccurate” by Joe Guillen in the Plain Dealer.

Pennsylvania: “Supreme Court to hear redistricting arguments today” in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Ethics

“HHS chief violated law restricting political activity, OSC finds” by Eric Katz in Government Executive.

“Scandals are making uphill battles even steeper for some lawmakers” by Alexandra Jaffe in The Hill.

Alaska: “APOC says Senate candidate failed to disclose clients” by Richard Mauer in the Anchorage Daily News.

Social Media and tech

“You Gotta Have Friends: New Study Shows Facebook Can Get Out the Vote” by Micah L. Sifry in TechPresident.

“Study: Facebook drove turnout in 2010” by Steve Friess in Politico.

“Facebook to Cities: Change Page Names, or Else” by Noelle Knell in Governing.

“Web pioneer providing voter database for free” by Gregory Korte in USA Today.

A federal appeals court in Chicago upheld an Illinois state law regarding disclosure related to campaign advertisements. The Center for Individual Freedom, a Virginia based advocacy group, sued the state, claiming that its First Amendment rights were violated by a law that requires all entities, regardless of whether their main purpose is influencing elections, to register and report as a political committee once it spends $3,000 for independent expenditures in a 12-month period.

In dismissing the case, the court ruled this law did not violate the free speech rights of organizations. The case was originally dismissed in district court last year on the same grounds.

This continues an ongoing cycle where groups are suing states, and obtaining mixed results, for the state’s disclosure laws based on the Supreme Court’s landmark Citizens United decision in 2010. Most experts believe these cases will eventually end up in Supreme Court, where the nation’s highest court will determine whether states can force groups to disclose donors who wish to remain anonymous.