A complaint filed with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB) is asking for an investigation of whether scholarships provided to legislators by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) violate state ethics and lobbying laws.

Additionally, the complainant, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), requests an examination of whether legislators are receiving impermissible gifts while attending ALEC conferences.

In its press release, the CMD argues that while Wisconsin prohibits legislators from accepting anything of value from lobbyists or corporations that employ lobbyists, the scholarships paying for legislators’ travel to ALEC conferences are funded entirely by corporations, many of which employ lobbyists in the state.

The CMD specifically asks the board to consider

• Whether ALEC scholarships violate W.S. sections 13.625 and 19.45;

• Whether the scholarships fall under an exception in W.S. section 19.56;

• Whether legislators are appropriately disclosing the scholarships;

• Whether the scholarship fund is being used for more than reimbursement; and

• Whether legislators attending ALEC conferences are receiving other impermissible gifts such as tickets to sporting events or free food and drinks.

Exhibits attached to the complaint can be found here.

“FEC fines Charlie Rangel $23K for apartment misuse” by Darius Dixon in Politico.

“Rangel agrees to pay $23,000 FEC fine over use of rent-controlled apartment” by Justin Sink in The Hill.

“Jefferson loses bribery appeal” by Mackenzie Weinger in Politico. (Jefferson, if you recall, hid $90,000 in his freezer.)

“Edwards lawyers seek leeway in questioning Young” by Michael Biesecker (Associated Press) on WOODTV.com.

“House opens hearings into Chicago lawmaker’s bribery charge” by Ray Long in The Chicago Tribune.

Federal:

Foster Friess Aspirin Joke Shows Danger to Candidates of Outside Political Groups

Lobbyists Decertify after Obama Ban

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona

Fiesta Bowl Case: Junker pleads guilty to felony charge

California

Ethics Commission Delays Vote on Raising Contribution Limits

Colorado

Colorado Supreme Court Upholds ‘Magic Words’ Test for Political Spending by 527s

Colorado

Secretary of State Scott Gessler Rewrites Colorado Campaign Finance Rules

Florida

Miami Beach House Rep. Steinberg under Investigation by Feds for Bizarre Texts

Illinois

William Beavers Indicted on Tax Fraud Charges

Indiana

Lawmaker Takes Jab at Girl Scouts

Iowa

Denied Jobs, Blacks in Iowa Test New Bias Theory

Montana

High Court Halts Montana Corporate Spending Ban

New York

Critics Wary of State Elections Panel Plan to Oversee Super PAC Operations

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.

“Super-PAC craze sweeps the nation” by Rachel Leven in The Hill.

“Feds Add Charge to Former Detroit Mayor Corruption Case” by The Associated Press on Governing.

“Chicago most corrupt city, report shows” by MJ Lee on Politico.

“Group fighting campaign finance laws in 3 courts ask federal judge to undo contribution limits” by Matt Gouras (Associated Press) in The Republic.

Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Dave Gallik has resigned his job after his staff accused him of using state resources for private law practice.

For the full story read:

“Staff says ethics commissioner not ethical” by The Associated Press in the Billings Gazette.

“Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practices resigns” by John S. Adams in the Great Falls Tribune.

“Top Montana Ethics Leader Resigns Amid Allegations” by Caroline Cournoyer on Governing.com.

Photo of Dave Gallik courtesy of the Montana Legislature website.

The Ethics Resource Center reports in a new study that four times as many employees of large corporations have seen illegal donations given to public officials.

According to an article in today’s edition of Politico: “Four percent of 4,600 private-sector employees surveyed this fall by the Ethics Resource Center said they witnessed improper contributions to campaigns and parties. By comparison, only 1 percent of respondents reported these transgressions in the group’s previous study, completed in 2009.”

For the full story, read “Ethics Study: More Employees Report Seeing Illegal Donations” by Janie Lorber in Politico.

Bloomberg Business Week has gathered a variety of opinions about the emerging Jack Abramoff redux-as-ethics-teacher phenomenon. The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission hired Jack Abramoff to be a speaker on the subject of ethics at their upcoming legislative training and people are reacting.

Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, and Howard Marlowe, President of the American League of Lobbyists offered their thoughts. You also can find opinions from Craig Holman of Public Citizen in Washington, Melanie Sloan, the director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, and even Jack Abramoff himself.

Bartz was quoted saying: “Certainly you want to give people a chance to rehabilitate themselves. But is Jack Abramoff rehabilitated? I don’t think so.”

You can read the coverage in “Abramoff as Ethics Guru Latest Chapter in Political Second Acts” by Julie Bykowicz.

Don’t miss Scott Suttell’s “Even Those in the lobbying business aren’t Jack Abramoff fans” where he says Bartz’s comment is a contender for “quote of the year.”

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has requested the state’s 932 towns show his office their ethics regulations in an effort to bolster ethics in local government.

The Office of the Attorney General has begun reviewing local ethics measures addressing issues like gifts and conflicts of interest.

The goal is to gather the ethics information to make it public and provide the office with referral information for citizen calls and complaints.

The Attorney General has also has assigned public integrity prosecutors in all 13 regional offices to deal with investigations.

Federal:

Gingrich, Romney Campaigns Count on Lobbyists to Pay the Bills

Occupy D.C. Protesters Shut Down K Street

Stephen Colbert Gets Love at FEC

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama

Alabama Ethics Law Limits What Students Can Give Teachers; Homemade Cookies OK, Hams Not Allowed

California

California Ethics Agency Relaxes Rules on Gifts to Politicians

California

Watchdog Agency Fines Former Pinole Councilman $111,500 for Ethics Violations

District of Columbia

D.C. Council Tentatively Approves Ethics Reform Bill

Georgia

Fines Levied on Georgia Politicians Reported Reduced Because of Notification Costs

Illinois

Blagojevich Hit with 14-Year Prison Sentence

Maryland

Jack Johnson, Former Prince George’s Executive, Sentenced to Seven Years in Corruption

Maryland

Rule Would Allow Campaign Donations by Text Message

Minnesota

Minnesota Ads Discussing Gay Marriage Approved For Less Financing Disclosure

Missouri

Missouri Politicians Enjoyed World Series Thanks to Lobbyists

Vermont

Vermont Court Imposes $10,000 Penalty in Campaign Finance Suit

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.

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK:  The Suffolk County Legislature has approved two bills that would overhaul the county’s ethics rules. One bill would create a five-member board of ethics, to replace the three-member commission. The county executive would appoint two members, and the legislature’s presiding officer, majority leader, and minority leader would each appoint one member. All appointees would require confirmation by the legislature.

The other bill consolidates disclosure and ethics requirements into one section of the county code. The bills are awaiting action by the County Executive.

The Suffolk County Ethics Commission is currently under investigation as a grand jury determines if the County Executive attempted to influence actions of the commission, and if the commission disclosed confidential information.

The Torrance City Council will consider recommendations to revise its ethics laws at the October 18, 2011 city council meeting.

The recommendations to be considered include amending the code of ethics to extend to candidates for elective office and adopting guidelines which include a voluntary ethics course and ethics pledge for elected officials, appointed officials, and candidates for elective office.

 Federal:

Bipartisan Bill Would Require Transparency of Super Committee

Facing Voter Discontent, Lawmakers Skip Town Halls

Lobbying Groups Take a Stand

Members of Debt Panel Have Ties to Lobbyists

From the States and Municipalities:

California

Campaign Accountant Held in Theft of Funds

Connecticut

Watchdog Agencies Spared as Malloy Nails Down Budget Cuts

Georgia

Ethics Chief Arrives Amid Makeover

Rhode Island

R.I. Rep. Leo Medina Is Charged with a Felony

Washington

Seattle City Employee to Be Fined for Driving City Car to Casino

Wisconsin

Attorney: New Wisconsin ad rules too broad

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.

Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.

National:

National Organization for Marriage Repeatedly Rebuked For Disclosure Violations

Federal:

Super Committee and K St. Creativity

From the States and Municipalities:

California

California Lawmakers-Turned-Lobbyists Cultivate Relationships under the Dome

Florida

Firefighters’ Fundraiser Gets Ethics OK, with Difficult Restrictions

Georgia

State Utility Commissioner’s Pursuit of Masters Tickets Improper, Critics Say

Nebraska

In-Session Fundraisers Questioned

Nevada

Fake Twitter Accounts Force Their Way onto Political Landscape

New Jersey

How an Irate Response to a Carl Lewis E-Mail Cost an N.J. Assemblyman His Job

New Jersey

Union Sidestep Donation Limits

Pennsylvania

Experts Question Use of $400,000 in Private, Anonymous Funds to Buy out Philadelphia Superintendent

Texas

Perry’s Fundraising for Governors Group Draws Scrutiny

Washington

Longtime Government Worker Now PDC Director

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.

Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.

Andrea McNamara Doyle has been selected to be the new director of the Washington Public Disclosure Commission.

Doyle, who has previous experience as a government manager and legislative staff attorney, was chosen from 71 applicants after a several month search.

She will replace interim director Doug Ellis who is retiring from the agency later this year.