May 25, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 25, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
Study Shows Isolation May Lead to Corrupt State Capitals
Federal:
Researchers Dig Deeper for Dirt on Political Opposition
Study: Congressional speaking levels move back a grade
From the States and Municipalities:
Florida
Appeals Court Upholds Florida’s ‘Electioneering’ Law
Georgia
Republicans Will Vote on Ethics Reform in July
Illinois
Fitzgerald Stepping Down as U.S. Attorney in Chicago
Kentucky
Gov. Steve Beshear’s Backers Given Help on Kentucky Derby Tickets
New York
New NY Rules May ID Donors to Group Backing Cuomo
North Carolina
Federal Judge Strikes Down NC Rescue Funds for Public Financing for Appellate Court Candidates
North Carolina
N.C. House Speaker’s Staffers Receive Month of Pay after Resignations
Pennsylvania
Amid Charges, Critics Call for Justice Joan Orie Melvin’s Resignation
Pennsylvania
Capitol Rallies Not Persuasive, Pennsylvania Lawmakers Say
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.
Limits and Reporting
Nevada Assemblyman Pat Hickey has called for campaign finance, lobbying, and ethic reforms.
Assemblyman Hickey’s recommendations include expanding the reporting of lobbyists’ expenditures to include those made when the legislature is not in session, limiting political contributions to PACs, and creating a ‘cooling off’ period before an ex-legislator may become a lobbyist.
As reported in the Las Vegas Sun, the Assemblyman is also suggesting there be ‘real time’ reporting of political contributions.
Assemblyman Hickey made these recommendations at a news conference and has not yet requested a draft bill for these proposed changes. The Nevada Legislature currently is not in session and not scheduled to meet again until 2013.
More information from the Las Vegas Sun can be found here and here.
Photo of Assemblyman Pat Hickey courtesy of the Nevada Legislature Website.
May 18, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 18, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
ALEC Memo Instructed Members to ‘Navigate Away’ from Tough Questions
Protesters Disrupt WellPoint Annual Meeting
Federal:
Court Ruling May Force Advocacy Groups to Disclose Secret Donors
Ex-Lawmakers on K Street Avoid ‘Scarlet L,’ Shy Away from Registering as Lobbyists
Gay Political Donors Move from Margins to Mainstream
From the States and Municipalities:
Arizona
State Legislator Arrested in FBI Sting
Kentucky
City Paid Louisville Metro Councilwoman’s Grandson While Jailed
Missouri
Rush Limbaugh Inducted into Hall of Famous Missourians
Missouri
Spence Criticized for Handing Out Sports Tickets to Lawmakers
Montana
Judge Strikes Down More Election Laws
New York
Business Lobby Supporting Cuomo Files Late Data
New York
Study: Matching funds up donor diversity in NYC
Tennessee
Tennessee Legislative Event Costs Totaled
Wisconsin
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.
May 10, 2012 •
Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Roundup
Keep up with the latest news items with the following articles:
Lobbying
“Panel discusses effect of campaign and finance reforms on lobbyist spending at St. Peter’s College” by Charles Hack in the Jersey Journal.
“Political favors ‘just the way you do business here,’ lobbyists say” by Joe Schoenmann in the Los Vegas Sun.
Jack Abramoff makes another statement in “Ex-lobbyist: Lawmakers, not lawbreakers, to blame” by Ross Ramsey in the San Angelo Standard-Times.
Campaign Finance
Connecticut: “Legislature splits with Malloy over campaign bill” by Mark Pazniokas in the Connecticut Mirror.
Louisiana: “Senate moves Jindal ethics bills” by Marsha Shuler in the Baton Rouge Advocate.
New Hampshire: “NH Senate considers campaign reporting today” by Grant Bosse in the New Hampshire Watchdog.
New Hampshire: “Campaign finance bill targets nonprofits” by Ted Siefer in the Union Leader.
Vermont: “State senator resigns from committee over campaign finance bill” by Olga Peters in The Commons Online.
Super Pacs
“Dem pollster: Independents want candidates to address money in politics” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
“Insight: Super PACS: Follow the money – if you can” by Marcus Stern, Kristina Cooke and Alexander Cohen (Reuters) in the Chicago Tribune.
May 4, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 4, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
Crowd-Sourcing Site Aims to Give Voters Lobbying Power
Federal:
Conservative Group Seeks FEC Approval to Keep Donors Secret
Obama Campaign Puts Bo on the Trail
From the States and Municipalities:
California
Lawmakers Mix Work with Fundraising in Sacramento
Illinois
Mayor’s Ethics Panel Offers Tweaks, Plans to Take Bigger Steps
Kentucky
Audit: Richie Farmer abused system
Maine
Lawmakers Decry Corruption Claim
Maryland
Legislation Would Give State Voters More Political Gift Information
Montana
Groups Ask That Montana Judge Toss Ban Restricting Campaign Donations
North Carolina
Second Tillis Staffer Admits to Inappropriate Relationship with a Lobbyist
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Ethics Panel Reprimands OU Doctor for Accepting Excessive Speaking Fees
Texas
Austin Approves New 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.
April 30, 2012 •
Today’s News Roundup
Keep up with the latest campaign finance, ethics, and government tech news:
Campaign Finance
“FCC’s political ad rule disappoints supporters and foes alike” by Andrew Feinberg in The Hill.
“The FCC Makes Campaign Finance (a Bit) More Transparent” by Kirsten Salyer in Bloomberg.
“FCC Approves Political Ad Rule” by Amy Schatz in The Wall Street Journal.
Ethics
“Former State Senator Is Sentenced to 7 Years in Vast Bribery Case” by Benjamin Weiser in The New York Times.
“Illinois Gov. Ryan’s Corruption Appeal Sent Back to Lower Court” by The Associated Press in Governing.
“Aaron Schock hit with FEC complaint” by John Bresnahan in Politico.
Campaign and Government Tech
“With the 2012 Election Looming, NRCC Names a New Digital Director” by Nick Judd in TechPresident.
“Philadelphia Embraces The World Of Open Data” by Sarah Lai Stirland in TechPresident.
April 27, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – April 27, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
Conservative Nonprofit Acts as a Stealth Business Lobbyist
Social Media Directors Increasing in Government
Federal:
‘We the People’ Petition Site the Newest Tool in K Street Lobbying Repertoire
Who Pays When The President Travels for The Campaign?
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
California
AT&T Wields Enormous Power in Sacramento
California
California Ethics Czar Urges Disclosure of Payments to Web Pundits
Louisiana
Cap on Legislative Wining and Dining Moves to $56
Minnesota
Debt-Laden Minnesota GOP Notified of Eviction
New York
Lobby Formed for Cuomo Blew Deadline
North Carolina
Charles Thomas, N.C. Speaker’s Top Aide, Linked to Lobbyist
North Dakota
North Dakota Bridles at Neighbor’s Capitol Insult
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Lawmaker Wins and Loses on the Same Day
South Carolina
ALEC Has Special Exemption in South Carolina’s Lobbying Law
West Virginia
Ethics Ruling Regarding House Speaker Raises Concerns
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.
April 12, 2012 •
Governors and Ethics
Here are news articles about two state governors and a former governor facing campaign finance issues:
Georgia: “Gov. Deal still has 3 pending ethics complaints” by the Morris News Service in the Augusta Chronicle.
Missouri: “Former Missouri governor, St. Louis attorney indicted in campaign contributions case” by Robert Patrick in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
South Carolina: “Ethics Commission to hear 7 allegations against Haley” by Gina Smith in The State.
Signatures needed by July 6th to get on the ballot
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel certified the language of a proposed initiated act regarding campaign finance and ethics law. The measure would prohibit direct corporate and union contributions to individual campaigns. Currently, corporations and unions are able to directly contribute at the same $2,000 level as individuals.
The measure would also ban lawmakers from accepting gifts of any value from lobbyists. Legislators can currently receive gifts, food, or other items valued up to $100 from a lobbyist.
The group supporting the measure, Regnat Populus, must gather at least 62,507 signatures by July 6 to qualify for the November ballot.
March 28, 2012 •
Complaint Concerning ALEC Filed in Wisconsin
Ethics and Lobbying Laws
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.
March 27, 2012 •
High Profile Ethics Violation Cases in the News
U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel, former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards, and Illinois Rep. Derrick Smith all have made a prominent appearance in the news today:
“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.
February 27, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – February 27, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
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.
February 16, 2012 •
Campaign Finance and Ethics in Thursday’s News!
Super PACs, a new charge against former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Chicago takes first prize in corruption, and a group in Montana takes on that state’s political contribution restrictions:
“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.
January 19, 2012 •
Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Resigns
Steps down after staff accusations.
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.
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