December 2, 2015 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying “Pfizer’s Plan to Leave U.S. Unsettles Drug Lobbyists” by Gardiner Harris for New York Times “Funding for Lawmakers’ Portraits under Fire” by Megan Wilson for The Hill Campaign Finance Alaska: “Supreme Court Rules Against Anti-Pebble Mine Activist Gillam” by […]
Lobbying
“Pfizer’s Plan to Leave U.S. Unsettles Drug Lobbyists” by Gardiner Harris for New York Times
“Funding for Lawmakers’ Portraits under Fire” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
Campaign Finance
Alaska: “Supreme Court Rules Against Anti-Pebble Mine Activist Gillam” by Lisa Demer for Alaska Dispatch News
“High Court Rejects Challenge to Hawaii Campaign Finance Laws” by Associated Press for WRAL
“A Wealthy Governor and His Friends Are Remaking Illinois” by Nicholas Confessore for New York Times
Kansas: “Wichita Council Votes to Change Local Campaign Finance Law, Raise Council Salaries ” by Kelsey Ryan for Wichita Eagle
Montana: “New Campaign Reform Rules Filed with State” by Phil Drake for Great Falls Tribune
North Carolina: “7 Legislators Failing to Detail Campaign Payments to Themselves” by Colin Campbell for Raleigh News & Observer
Ethics
Arizona: “AG Wants to Oust ACC Regulator Bitter Smith” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star
California: “S.F. Ethics Commission Hires Director with Long Experience in L.A.” by Lizzie Johnson and Heather Knight for San Francisco Chronicle
California: “California Campaign Law’s Loopholes Allow Donors to Skirt Limits” by Associated Press for San Jose Mercury News
Nevada: “Appointees to Key Positions in Nevada Remain Little-Known to Taxpayers” by Sean Whaley for Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Sheldon Silver, Ex-New York Assembly Speaker, Is Found Guilty on All Counts” by Benjamin Weiser and Susanne Craig for New York Times
“Thomas Libous, Ex-New York State Senator, Gets Probation and Home Confinement in Corruption Case” by Vivian Yee for New York Times
Oregon: “Online Financial Disclosure System to Launch Jan. 1” by Hillary Borrud for Portland Tribune
Pennsylvania: “Ex-Allentown Official Pleads Guilty in FBI Investigation” by Emily Opilo and Peter Hall for Allentown Morning Call
Elections
“Plan A for GOP Donors: Wait for Trump to fall. (There is no Plan B.)” by Matea Gold and Robert Costa for Washington Post
December 1, 2015 •
Former New York Assembly Speaker Found Guilty of Taking Illegal Kickbacks and Bribes
Former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was expelled from the legislature on November 30, 2015, after being found guilty of abusing his power to collect over four million dollars in illegal bribes and kickbacks. Silver’s conviction triggered the automatic expulsion from […]
Former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was expelled from the legislature on November 30, 2015, after being found guilty of abusing his power to collect over four million dollars in illegal bribes and kickbacks. Silver’s conviction triggered the automatic expulsion from the Assembly, and Silver faces a maximum of 130 years in prison.
Silver, who is currently free on bail, vowed to appeal the conviction.
November 30, 2015 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “Penalty against lobbying firm sends message to an industry unfamiliar with prosecution” by Marcus Howard in the Los Angeles Times New York: “Corruption trial: Adam Skelos laid out lobbyists’ views of upstate, downstate” by Chris Bragg in the Albany […]
Lobbying
“Penalty against lobbying firm sends message to an industry unfamiliar with prosecution” by Marcus Howard in the Los Angeles Times
New York: “Corruption trial: Adam Skelos laid out lobbyists’ views of upstate, downstate” by Chris Bragg in the Albany Times Union
Campaign Finance
“GOP rider would boost party spending” by Kenneth Vogel and Seung Min Kim in Politico
“Campaign Spending’s Gray Areas Are Getting Politicians Into Trouble” by Alan Greenblatt in Governing
California: “California campaign law’s loopholes allow donors to skirt limits” by The Associated Press in the San Jose Mercury News
Hawaii: “High Court Rejects Challenge to Hawaii Campaign Finance Laws” by The Associated Press on ABC News
New Mexico: “New Mexico lawmakers to discuss campaign finance reform” by The Associated Press in the San Francisco Chronicle
Ethics
“Funding for lawmakers’ portraits under fire” by Megan Wilson in The Hill
New Mexico: “Will 2016 be the year for ethics reform in New Mexico?” by Steve Terrell in The New Mexican
Elections
“5 takes on 2016 as the campaign kicks into high gear” by Glenn Thrush in Politico
“The 2016 ballot wars begin” by Shane Goldmacher in Politico
Congress
“Congress Has a List of Deadlines, Is Checking It Twice” by Emma Dumain in Roll Call
“Dems go digital with whip operation” by Scott Wong in The Hill
November 25, 2015 •
New Executive Director Named to San Francisco Ethics Commission
Beginning January 2016, LeeAnn Pelham will be the new executive director of the San Francisco Ethics Commission. Pelham previously served as the director of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission and is expected to use her prior experience to shape ethics […]
Beginning January 2016, LeeAnn Pelham will be the new executive director of the San Francisco Ethics Commission.
Pelham previously served as the director of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission and is expected to use her prior experience to shape ethics and enforcement policy in the city.
November 25, 2015 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying “Twilio, TaskRabbit hire first lobbyists” by Mario Trujillo in The Hill Campaign Finance “Ben Carson’s Book Tour Draws Campaign Finance Complaint” by Trip Gabriel in The New York Times Montana: “Political Practices boss adopts new campaign finance rules” by […]
Lobbying
“Twilio, TaskRabbit hire first lobbyists” by Mario Trujillo in The Hill
Campaign Finance
“Ben Carson’s Book Tour Draws Campaign Finance Complaint” by Trip Gabriel in The New York Times
Montana: “Political Practices boss adopts new campaign finance rules” by The Associated Press in the Independent Record
New Mexico: “House Democrats push campaign finance reform, ethics board” by Susan Montoya Bryan (Associated Press) in the Sun Herald
Ethics
California: “S.F. Ethics Commission hires director with long experience in L.A.” by Lizzie Johnson and Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle
New York: “Thomas Libous, Ex-New York State Senator, Gets Probation and Home Confinement in Corruption Case” by Vivan Yee in The New York Times
Elections
“Forget the 2016 Polls: Nobody Knows Anything Yet” by S.V. Dáte (National Journal) in Government Executive
Government Transparency
Missouri: “Auditor finds Sunshine Law violations in closed meetings” by Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) in the Columbia Daily Tribune
Social Media and Tech
“Top Ten Presidential Campaign Facebook Posts (11/13 to 11/19/2015)” by Colin Delany in Epolitics.com
November 23, 2015 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “Start-Up Leaders Embrace Lobbying as Part of the Job” by Cecilia Kang in The New York Times Campaign Finance Kansas: “Wichita City Council considers changes to campaign finance, salaries” by Kelsey Ryan in The Wichita Eagle Washington: “Seattle provides […]
Lobbying
“Start-Up Leaders Embrace Lobbying as Part of the Job” by Cecilia Kang in The New York Times
Campaign Finance
Kansas: “Wichita City Council considers changes to campaign finance, salaries” by Kelsey Ryan in The Wichita Eagle
Washington: “Seattle provides cash for average political players” by Gene Johnson (Associated Press) in The Detroit News
Ethics
“Ethics Committee Defers to DOJ on Pittenger Probe” by Bridget Bowman in Roll Call
Oregon: “Online financial disclosure system to launch Jan. 1” by Hillary Borrud in The Daily Astorian
Elections
Maine: “Maine May Be 1st State to Eliminate ‘Winner Take All’ Elections” by Christopher Cousins (Tribune News Service) in Governing
Legislative Sessions
Indiana: “Four things to expect from the Indiana legislature” by Brian Slodysko (Associated Press) in the Courier-Journal
Kansas: “Kansas black leaders agree on legislative, election agenda” by The Associated Press in The Topeka Capital-Journal
Massachusetts: “State legislative session sputters to an end” by Frank Phillips in the Boston Globe
Government Transparency
Alaska: “Alaska’s Open Data Portal Still Dark” by Nathaniel Herz (Alaska Dispatch News) in Government Technology
November 19, 2015 •
Thursday News Round Up
Lobbying “Refugee Groups Scramble to Defend Syrian Resettlement” by Simone Pathe for Roll Call California: “California Ethics Panel Targets Vague Lobbying Payments” by Jeremy White for Sacramento Bee New Mexico: “Acting SOS Plans to Clarify Lobbyist Contributions” by Sandra Fish […]
Lobbying
“Refugee Groups Scramble to Defend Syrian Resettlement” by Simone Pathe for Roll Call
California: “California Ethics Panel Targets Vague Lobbying Payments” by Jeremy White for Sacramento Bee
New Mexico: “Acting SOS Plans to Clarify Lobbyist Contributions” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico in Depth
Campaign Finance
“New Tax Documents Show Crossroads GPS Poured Millions into 2014 Senate Race” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity
Montana: “Committee Fails to Block New Campaign Rules” by Matt Volz (Associated Press) for Flathead Beacon
New York: “Statewide Officials Seek to Narrow Draft Opinion Curbing Own Fundraising” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
New York: “Schneiderman, Sugarman Charge Ex-Assembly Candidate for Not Filing Reports” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
Elections
“The Koch Intelligence Agency” by Kenneth Vogel for Politico
“Bobby Jindal Quits Republican Presidential Race” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times
November 18, 2015 •
Public Comments Sought by New York’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics
The Joint Commission on Public Ethics is seeking public comment on a recent proposal aiming to prohibit pay-to-play contributions. The proposal comes in the form of an advisory opinion, and would prohibit statewide executive and legislative candidates from accepting campaign […]
The Joint Commission on Public Ethics is seeking public comment on a recent proposal aiming to prohibit pay-to-play contributions. The proposal comes in the form of an advisory opinion, and would prohibit statewide executive and legislative candidates from accepting campaign contributions from persons or organizations subject to their enforcement powers.
Currently, there is no prohibition on pay-to-play type contributions for legislative statewide elected candidates. The Joint Commission has not established a deadline for accepting public comments.
November 18, 2015 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying Texas: “Lobby Reform Rules Move Forward” by Jo Clifton for Austin Monitor Campaign Finance “What Are the Benefits of Campaign Finance Reform?” by Sam Power for Washington Post California: “Vacations, Groceries, Hotels: Supervisor Todd Spitzer’s spending from obscure fund […]
Lobbying
Texas: “Lobby Reform Rules Move Forward” by Jo Clifton for Austin Monitor
Campaign Finance
“What Are the Benefits of Campaign Finance Reform?” by Sam Power for Washington Post
California: “Vacations, Groceries, Hotels: Supervisor Todd Spitzer’s spending from obscure fund raises questions” by Meghann Cuniff for Orange County Register
Connecticut: “Dems Would Scrap Clean Election Program to Balance Budget” by Christine Stuart for CTNewsJunkie.com
Ethics
“Chris Christie, Taking Law-and-Order Stance, Sidesteps Bridge Scandal in ’16 Race” by Alexander Burns for New York Times
North Carolina: “NC Rep. Lewis Took Last-Minute Action to Protect Friend’s State Contract” by Patrick Gannon for Raleigh News & Observer
Wisconsin: “Assembly GOP Approves Rewritten Campaign Finance Laws, GAB Overhaul” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Redistricting
“Supreme Court Takes Up Virginia Redistricting Case” by Jenna Portnoy for Washington Post
November 17, 2015 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying Arizona: “Lobbying Records Only Disclose Recipient for $1 Out of Every $8 Spent” by Justin Price for Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting Texas: “Travis County Has No Rules for Registering Lobbyists” by Sean Collins Walsh for Austin American-Statesman Campaign […]
Lobbying
Arizona: “Lobbying Records Only Disclose Recipient for $1 Out of Every $8 Spent” by Justin Price for Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
Texas: “Travis County Has No Rules for Registering Lobbyists” by Sean Collins Walsh for Austin American-Statesman
Campaign Finance
“Clinton, Bush Lawyers Square Off in FEC Proxy War” by Isaac Arnsdorf and Theodoric Meyer for Politico
Alaska: “Group Files Federal Lawsuit Challenging Alaska Campaign Contribution Limits” by Austin Baird for KTUU
Wisconsin: “Assembly GOP Approves Rewritten Campaign Finance Laws” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ethics
District of Columbia: “Metro Board Chairman Cleared of Alleged Ethics Violation” by Paul Duggan for Washington Post
Illinois: “Feds Seize Computers, Files on Chicago Officials from Outgoing Inspector General” by Natasha Korecki for Politico
New York: “At Trial, Prosecutors to Detail Dean Skelos’s Favors for His Son” by William Rashbaum for New York Times
Elections
“How the Kochs Launched Joni Ernst” by Kenneth Vogel for Politico
“In Presidential Campaign, It’s Now Terrorism, Not Taxes” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times
November 16, 2015 •
State and Federal Communications Has Three Staff Members Receive AGRP Professional Lobbying Certificate
State and Federal Communications is pleased to announce the following individuals received their Professional Lobbying Certificate at the AGRP Annual Meeting. Michael Beckett, Esq., George Ticoras, Esq., and John Cozine, Esq. received their certificates after completing the year-long Lobbying Certificate […]
State and Federal Communications is pleased to announce the following individuals received their Professional Lobbying Certificate at the AGRP Annual Meeting.
Michael Beckett, Esq., George Ticoras, Esq., and John Cozine, Esq. received their certificates after completing the year-long Lobbying Certificate program. Since 2008, 11 staff from the company have completed the program, which is the only certificate program for the government relations professional that covers the wide range of activities that comprise modern government relations.
Through 14 courses over a year, participants have the opportunity to get the baseline knowledge of the numerous topics that need to be known by lobbyists and grassroots practitioners. Within those courses, five are required that cover Ethics of Advocacy, LDA & Compliance, PAC & Campaign Fundraising, Congressional Rules & Procedure and Communications & Media.
The Association of Government Relations Professionals (AGRP) is the national professional society dedicated exclusively to government relations, public policy and lobbying. AGRP’s mission is to enhance the development of the profession, competence, and high ethical standards for advocates in the public policy arena; and to collectively address the challenges affecting the First Amendment right to “petition the Government for redress of grievances.” For more information, visit http://grprofessionals.org.
November 16, 2015 •
Pennsylvania Cracking Down on Those Failing to Report Lobbying Expenses
The Pennsylvania Ethics Commission is increasing its enforcement efforts against those who fail to report lobbying expenditures. This year, 31 groups were cited for failing to file expense reports with fines totaling $90,300. In comparison, last year, only 15 citations […]
The Pennsylvania Ethics Commission is increasing its enforcement efforts against those who fail to report lobbying expenditures. This year, 31 groups were cited for failing to file expense reports with fines totaling $90,300. In comparison, last year, only 15 citations were issued with fines reaching $44,000.
At the same time, the General Assembly is working on legislation to increase the penalty for noncompliance. House Bill 1348’s proposed increase is from $50 per day to a tiered system where the fine increases the later the report becomes. The bill passed the House unanimously in October and is awaiting action in the Senate.
November 16, 2015 •
Wisconsin Senate Passes GAB and Campaign Finance Bills
Two bills passed the Wisconsin Senate early this month, likely changing the state’s future political landscape. One bill eliminates the Government Accountability Board and creates two bipartisan commissions to oversee ethics and elections. The other bill overhauls state campaign finance […]
Two bills passed the Wisconsin Senate early this month, likely changing the state’s future political landscape. One bill eliminates the Government Accountability Board and creates two bipartisan commissions to oversee ethics and elections.
The other bill overhauls state campaign finance laws. It doubles campaign contribution limits and defines express advocacy. Critics argue it creates a potentially dangerous loophole for candidates to loosely coordinate with outside advocacy groups.
The Assembly passed both bills in October but must vote on the revised versions with Senate amendments. It will consider both bills on November 16 in an extraordinary session. The bills are expected to pass and be delivered to Gov. Scott Walker by the end of the month.
Photo of the interior of the Wisconsin State Capitol by Dori on Wikimedia Commons.
November 16, 2015 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “Ethics Commission Recommends Controversial Lobbying Ordinance” by Jack Craver for Austin Monitor Campaign Finance “FEC: Notable conservatives tied to nonprofit scofflaw” by Cady Zuvich for Center for Public Integrity Alaska: “Campaign Finance Commission Says Group Tied to Gov. Walker […]
Lobbying
“Ethics Commission Recommends Controversial Lobbying Ordinance” by Jack Craver for Austin Monitor
Campaign Finance
“FEC: Notable conservatives tied to nonprofit scofflaw” by Cady Zuvich for Center for Public Integrity
Alaska: “Campaign Finance Commission Says Group Tied to Gov. Walker Aide Broke Law” by Nathaniel Herz for Alaska Dispatch
District of Columbia: “D.C. Mayor’s Allies Reluctantly Shut down Controversial PAC” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post
Utah: “Pricey Mayoral Race Prompts Salt Lake City Council to Consider Campaign Finance Reform” by Katie McKellar for Deseret News
Ethics
Georgia: “Ethics Group Gives Georgia a D- for Ethics, Openness” by Walter Jones (Morris News Service) for Southern Political Report
Maryland: “Annapolis Commission Member Removed after Failure to Sign Ethics Compliance Form” by Chase Cook for Capital Gazette
North Carolina: “North Carolina Gets Mixed Marks on Integrity Report” by Mark Binker for WRAL
Elections
“Obama Legacy in State Offices: A shrinking Democratic share” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Michael Shear, and Alan Blinder for New York Times
“Time for GOP Panic? Establishment Worried Carson or Trump Might Win” by Philip Rucker and Robert Costa for Washington Post
Procurement
“D.C. Lawmakers Look at How to Fix the City’s Troubled Contracting Process” by Abigail Hauslohner for Washington Post
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.
