Outgoing senate president Tom Niehaus has introduced a bill to overhaul the state’s ethics law. Senate Bill 391, if passed, will:

• Increase the lobbyist registration fee to $35 (will take effect 12/1/14 if passed);
• Change the registration period for executive and retirement system lobbyists to two years, expiring on December 31 of even-numbered years (will take effect 12/1/14 if passed);
• Codify the percentage of time a lobbyist must spend on lobbying before being required to register;
• Increase the itemizing threshold for lobbyist expenditure reporting to $100;
• Exclude maintenance of office facilities and compensation paid to legislative agents from the definition of expenditure; and
• Increase the limit on gifts to public officials to $250, aggregated per calendar year.

The bill also provides additional requirements for financial disclosures from public officials.

The Tallahassee city commission has approved the volunteers appointed to the newly-created ethics advisory panel.

The panel will spend six months reviewing the city’s policies on ethics, financial disclosure, and transparency to determine whether to keep the current policies or adopt new ones.

The meetings will be publicly noticed, and the panel has already invited several outside experts to give feedback.

National:

States Challenge ‘Secret’ Campaign Money

Unions Flexed Muscles in State Campaigns

Federal:

David Petraeus Affair Scandal Tests Washington Code

Forget Creativity: Can lobbying be taught?

From the States and Municipalities:

California

Go Lorrie’s Executives Plead Guilty to Money Laundering in 2011 Mayor’s Race

Florida

Homestead Mayor’s Wife Bought Developer’s Mercedes

Georgia

Governor Denied in Bid to Recover Legal Fees from Watchdog

Illinois

15 Members of Joe Berrios’ Family on County, State Payrolls

Ohio

Fix Redistricting? Sure, But How?

Rhode Island

RI Ethics Board to Require Officials to Disclose Out-of-State Travel Expenses Paid by Others

Rhode Island

Struggling RI City’s Ex-Mayor Pleads Guilty to Federal Corruption Charge over Gifts

Washington

Tea Partiers Fight Disclosure Law in the Ninth

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

“Targeting the ‘Lobbyist’ Next Door” by Jeanette M. Petersen in The Wall Street Journal.

“K Street Files: The British Are Coming to Venn” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

Campaign Finance

“Watchdog group files FEC complaint against Crossroads GPS” by T.W. Farnam in The Washington Post.

“Technology Leaders Endorse Effort to Overhaul Campaign Finance” by Thomas Kaplan in The New York Times.

“California’s political watchdog agency will probe $11 million political donation” by Steven Harmon in the Mercury News.

Michigan: “Campaign finance software updates designed to make filing easier; Candidate committees to experience simpler data entry” in Equities.com.

New York: “NYC Campaign Finance Board Throws The Book At Ex-Brooklyn Councilman Kendall Stewart” by Celeste Katz in New York Daily News.

Ethics

New York: “Annapolis to rewrite ethics rules for elected officials” by Erin Cox in the Baltimore Sun.

“Longtime Oklahoma Ethics Commission workers are honored” by Michael McNutt in the Oklahoman.

National:

If Your Side Lost The Election, Time to Secede from The Union?

Super-Sized Majorities Shift Legislative Power

Federal:

Campaign Finance Reformers Get Back to Work after Record Election Spending

Is Part of Voting Rights Act Outdated, Unfair? High Court to Decide

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona

Tougher Campaign Finance Disclosure Laws Sought

California

After Election, State Lawmakers and Interest Groups Travel in Tandem

Georgia

Georgia Lawmakers Get Luxury-Box Tickets to Dome

Maryland

Ethics Oversight Board Hasn’t Met in Years

Ohio

Ohio Elections Panel Again Clears Gerald McFaul in Controversial Campaign Finance Case

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Ethics Commission Narrows Field of Applicants

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.

Campaign Finance

“Campaign Finance Reformers Get Back To Work After Record Election Spending” by Paul Blumenthal in the Huffington Post.

“Abramoff, Occupy Wall Street join forces on campaign finance reform” by Megan M. Wilson in The Hill.

“U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown calls for campaign finance reform” by Stephanie Warsmith in the Akron Beacon Journal.

Lobbying

“Lobbyists Woo New Lawmakers in D.C. Mating Dance” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“Incoming freshman lawmakers already have bundlers on K St.” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

“Tax fight sneaks up on K Street” by Bernie Becker and Peter Schroeder in The Hill.

“Rove Super PAC will try lobbying” by Rachel Weiner in The Washington Post.

Florida:  “Cretul, Cannon are lobbyists; former speakers start new firm” by Bill Thompson in the Gainesville Sun.

Ethics

“Secretary of state accused of moving too slow on PAC ethics complaint” by Steve Terrell in the Santa Fe New Mexican.

“Montreal Hackathon Aims to Combat Government Corruption” by Elisabeth Fraser in TechPresident.

Redistricting

“Ohio State Bar Association urges commission to take up redistricting reform” by Kate Irby in the Plain Dealer.

Federal:

Spending by Independent Groups Had Little Election Impact, Analysis Finds

From the States and Municipalities:

Arkansas

State Senator’s Campaign Money Went to Girlfriend, Records Show

California

California’s $11 Million Campaign Donation Source Tied to Koch Brothers, Research Reveals

California

Labor Defeats Anti-Union Initiative in California

Colorado

Denver DA Launches Criminal Probe of Secretary of State Scott Gessler

Georgia

50 State Lawmakers Back Ethics Pledge

Illinois

Indicted Former Lawmaker [Wins] State House race

Massachusetts

Trial Starts; Jury to Decide if Cahill Broke Ethics Law during Campaign

Montana

Secretive Conservative Group’s Records Released

Ohio

Issues 1, 2 Overwhelmingly Defeated

Texas

HISD Trustee Got Cut of Contracts Awarded to Associate, Records Show

Washington

Ethics Fines May Follow Gifts of Liquor to City Light Trainer

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.

Campaign Finance

“Outside Spending Defines Elections” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.

California: “California’s 11th-hour, $11 million campaign finance uproar” by Alexander Burns in Politico.

California: “California watchdog only half-way to bottom of Arizona donation” by Peter Henderson (Reuters) in the Chicago Tribune.

Maine:  “Ethics Commission Rules a Republican Candidate Violated State Election Law” by The Associated Press in WABI News.

Lobbying

“2 firms unite in Capitol lobbying” by Mary Jo Pitzl in the Arizona Republic.

Ethics

“Campaigns use secretive ethics process as weapon against opponents” by Jordy Yager in The Hill.

Campaigns and Elections

“One Final Preview of the Election” by Meagan Dorsch in NCSL’s The Thicket.

“5 Unforgettable Social Media Election Moments” by Juliet Barbara in Forbes.

“How to cut through social media noise on Election Night” by Jenna Sakwa on CBS News.

Federal:

Little Girl Cries over ‘Bronco Bamma’

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama

AEA Plays Bigger Role in Politics than Teachers Unions in Most Other States, Study Finds

California

Anti-Tax Group’s Support Can Come with a Price

California

Arizona Nonprofit Must Reveal $11 Million Donor Details

District of Columbia

Inspector General Audit Details Hiring, Ethics Abuses at MWAA

Florida

Justin Lamar Sternad Invokes Fifth Amendment Right in FEC

Idaho

Idaho Nonprofit Reveals Donors after Losing Lawsuit; Bloomberg Gave $200K, Scott $250K

Maine

Senate District 25 Candidate Lachowicz Cleared by Ethics Panel

Michigan

Term Limits Launching Political Careers, Free Press Analysis Shows

Mississippi

Officials to Call for New Anti-Corruption Laws

Montana

Political Practices Reports Apparent Break-in

North Dakota

Judge Blocks ND Election Day Campaign Ban

West Virginia

WV House of Delegates Candidate Killed Because of Storm, Still on Ballot

Wisconsin

Five Wisconsin Lawmakers Settle Suit with Groups Seeking ALEC E-mails

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.

From the States

“Capitols After Dark: A Haunting Prospect” by Mark Wolf in NCSL’s The Thicket.

Lobbying

“Romney Would Limit Lobbyist Roles” by Damian Paletta and Brody Mullins in The Wall Street Journal.

Campaign Finance

“Billionaires, outside groups fueled pricey campaigns” by The Associated Press in the Dallas Morning News.

“30 Issues: Why You Should Care About … Campaign Finance” by Ibby Caputo on WGBH.

California: “Limit on campaign contributions may be increasing the spending of outside groups” by Stephen Hobbs in the Richmond Confidential.

Ethics

“City Council OKs overhaul of ethics board” by Fran Speilman in the Chicago Sun Times.

Campaigns and Elections

“Romney Campaign Will Use Smartphones To Track Voter Turnout” by Sarah Lai Stirland in TechPresident.

“Why there won’t likely be an electoral vote/popular vote split — in one map” by Chris Cillizza in The Washington Posts’ The Fix.

Federal:

K Street Flags Shortcomings of Lobbying Law

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona

Judge: Listing of PAC contributors unconstitutional

California

California’s Campaign Finance Watchdog Agency Demands Names of Donors to Shadowy Arizona Group

California

Judge Rejects Former Bell Police Chief’s Bid to Double Pension

Florida

State Ethics Commission: David Rivera broke 11 ethics laws while serving in Florida Legislature

Georgia

Atlanta Region Sees Spike in Public Corruption Cases

Idaho

Idaho Sues to Force Disclosure of Secret Donations

Illinois

Appeals Court Allows Illinois Limits on Campaign Financing

Iowa

‘Donations’ to State Agency Let Landlords Avoid Charges

Kentucky

Ethics Panel Wants Lobbyists to Report Ad Spending

Montana

Supreme Court Won’t Block Montana Campaign Finance Law Ahead Of Elections

New Jersey

Infamous Federal Informant Solomon Dwek Is Sentenced to Six Years, Must Pay $22.8 Million

North Dakota

Campaigning Fargo Candidate Finds Body under Tree

Tennessee

With Registry’s Ruling, Burchett Case Closed

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.

Federal:

American Bridge Super PAC Uses Unique Research, Tracking Strategy to Hold Republicans Accountable

Lobbyists Ready for a Comeback under Romney

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama

91-Year-Old Alabama Mayor Admits to $201,000 Theft

California

Campaign Watchdogs Say Arizona Group’s $11 Million Donation Exploits Loophole in California Law

Florida

Legislature’s New Leaders Back Tough Ethics Reform

Georgia

Loopholes Abound in Some Lobbyist Gift Bans

Illinois

City Axes Speed Camera Firm’s Bid, Citing Delay in Reporting Ethics Case

Montana

Montana Contribution Limits in Place through Election

New Jersey

Bergen Executive’s Veto of Changes to Political-Contributions Law Draws No Challenge

Ohio

Ohio Early Voting Cleared by High Court in Obama Victory

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Ethics Commission Will Lose Three Key Workers on Same Day

Pennsylvania

Lobbyists’ Checks Buy Lawmaker Access

Washington

Seattle City Council Revamps Campaign Finance Rules

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.

Campaign Finance

“Big donors give far and wide, influencing out-of-state races and issues” in NBC News.

“Prosecutors face off over suspect campaign activity” by Jeremy Duda in the Arizona Capitol Times.

“Connecticut firm at center of new ‘Citizens United’ controversy” by Michael Beckel in the CTMirror.org.

“Boutique PACs making big splash in surprise races” by Susan Davis in the Indianapolis Star.

Ethics

“Congressional ethics committees protect legislators, critics say” by Scott Higham in the Washington Post.

“Congress members back legislation that could benefit themselves, relatives” by Kimberly Kindy, David S. Fallis and Scott Higham in the Washington Post.

Florida: “Ethics commission ‘wish list’ waiting for Legislature” by Matt Dixon in the St. Augustine Record.

Campaigns and Elections

“Voter Data: What the Candidates Know About You” by Elana Varon in Mashable.

“Campaigns Use Social Media to Lure Younger Voters” by Jenna Wortham in The New York Times.

Campaign Finance

“Campaign Fundraisers in D.C. Continue Despite Recess” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

New York: “Campaign finance reform uncertain” by Jimmy Vielkind in the Albany Times Union.

Lobbying

“US Rep. Frank: No paid lobbying after Congress” by The Associated Press in the Boston Globe.

Ethics

“SC lawmakers vow ethics reform” by Andrew Shain in The State.

Campaigns and Elections

“5 takeaways from the Denver debate” by Maggie Haberman in Politico.