July 7, 2016 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “Gov2Gov: The lobbying that falls under the radar” by Mike Maciag for Governing Rhode Island: “Raimondo: Lobbying law makes rules ‘clear, simple, consistent and transparent’” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal Campaign Finance Alabama: “Koch Brothers’ Plight Likened to […]
Lobbying
“Gov2Gov: The lobbying that falls under the radar” by Mike Maciag for Governing
Rhode Island: “Raimondo: Lobbying law makes rules ‘clear, simple, consistent and transparent’” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal
Campaign Finance
Alabama: “Koch Brothers’ Plight Likened to That of Civil Rights Workers in the 1950s” by John Dunbar for Center for Public Integrity
Arizona: “Possible Hack Shuts Down Online Portal to Public Campaign Financing” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for East Valley Tribune
Minnesota: “Minnesota Campaign Watchdog Agency Director to Retire” by Rachel Stassen-Berger for St. Paul Pioneer Press
Ethics
“Is the Supreme Court Clueless About Corruption? Ask Jack Abramoff” by Carl Hulse for New York Times
Kentucky: “Lexington’s Ethics Act to Add Domestic Partners to Nepotism Ban” by Beth Musgrave for Lexington Herald-Leader
New York: “In Inquiry into Ex-Cuomo Aide, Disclosure Form Only Adds Mystery” by Vivian Yee for New York Times
South Carolina: “S.C. Ethics Commission Chief to Retire” by Avery Wilks for The State
Elections
“Nate Silver Is Happy to Be Wrong” by Glenn Thrush for Politico
November 20, 2013 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying “Lobbying World” in The Hill. Jack Abramoff resurfaces:“Former Lobbyist Takes Us Behind the Scenes of Washington Deal Making” on WZTV Fox 17. “Second lobbyist leaves Roundtable” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill. New York: “NYPIRG Wants NYS Ethics […]
Lobbying
“Lobbying World” in The Hill.
Jack Abramoff resurfaces:“Former Lobbyist Takes Us Behind the Scenes of Washington Deal Making” on WZTV Fox 17.
“Second lobbyist leaves Roundtable” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.
New York: “NYPIRG Wants NYS Ethics Agency To Get Tough On Lobbying By Political Parties” by Glenn Blain in the New York Daily News.
Campaign Finance
California: “FPPC accuses Mono State Senator of ‘money laundering’” by Bennett Kessler in Sierra Wave.
Maryland: “Gansler spending ‘pledge’ problematic as written, Maryland elections official says” by John Wagner in The Washington Post.
Vermont: “Groups Pay $60,000 In Campaign Finance Disputes” by Taylor Dobbs in Vermont Public Radio.
Ethics
Freehold Borough, New Jersey: “Pay-to-play law enacted” by Clare Marie Celano in the News Transcript.
Michigan: “Prosecutors: Kwame Kilpatrick should pay $195,404 in back taxes” by Robert Snell in the Detroit News.
North Carolina: “John Edwards Is Opening A Law Firm With His Daughter To Tackle ‘Social Inequalities’” by Colleen Jenkins in the Business Insider.
Elections
“Nate Silver announces new hires” by Dylan Byers in Politico.
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October 29, 2012 •
Monday News Roundup
Let’s start off the week with these lobbying, campaign finance, and ethics news articles:
“Federal Offices, Metrorail System in Washington Closed Monday” in the National Journal.
Lobbying
“Lobby shop revenues continue fall” by Catherine Ho in the Washington Post.
“K Street Lobbyists Hit the Campaign Trail in Virginia” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
“Jack Abramoff on America’s bipartisan culture of corruption” by Joseph Cotto in the Washington Times.
Michigan: “Most term-limited Michigan officials stay in government or lobbying” in the Lansing State Journal.
Campaign Finance
“In state races, N.Y.C., Albany dominate campaign donations” by Jon Campbell in the Democrat and Chronicle.
Ethics
“Ron Paul-Inspired Group Lobbies for Bill Prompted by Paul Reimbursements” by Jonathan Strong in Roll Call.
Campaigns and Elections
“Campaign lawyers gear up for nail-biter election” by Michael Knigge in Deutsche Welle.
August 10, 2012 •
Jack Abramoff Gives Speech at NCSL
Presentation called an “eye opener”
On Thursday, former lobbyist Jack Abramoff spoke at the NCSL Legislative Summit in Chicago. While he maintained that 99 percent of his work in lobbying had been ethical, his speech championed the need for ethics and campaign finance reform.
For the full story, be sure to read “Jack Abramoff Urges Ethics Reform In NCSL Speech” by John Celock in the Huffington Post.
According to the article: “Abramoff, who served four years in federal prison for crimes related to the Indian gaming lobby, told the National Conference of State Legislatures that public officials need to be mindful of what lobbyists do, and take money and gifts out of politics. Abramoff has spent his time since prison advocating for ethics reform, along with writing a 2011 book on his crimes.”
July 12, 2012 •
Thursday News Roundup
Jack Abramoff gets a radio show and more lobbying and campaign finance news.
Lobbying
“Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who spent years in prison, gets radio show for Clear Channel” by The Associated Press in The Washington Post.
Campaign Finance
“Senate Dems offer new version of DISCLOSE Act to fight Citizens United ruling” by Pete Kasperowicz in The Hill.
“Democrats push for campaign finance disclosure, again” by Tomer Ovadia in Politico.
“FEC Gridlock No Help to Obama Campaign” by Justin Worland in Roll Call.
Connecticut: “Feds indict Braddock, claim conspiracy began last year” by Mark Pazniokas in the CT Mirror.
District of Columbia: “Mayor Vincent C. Gray knew of campaign finance violations in January, sources say” by Mike DeBonis and Nikita Stewart in The Washington Post.
Montana: “Mont. ballot initiative advocates ban on corporate money in elections” by Jessica M. Karmasek in LegalNewsline.
July 5, 2012 •
Jack Abramoff Gives Advice
and other lobbying news today
“Jack Abramoff: Healthy ruling for lobbyists” by MJ Lee in Politico.
“Maryland lobbying totals led by gambling interests” by Annie Linskey in the Baltimore Sun.
“Groups Admit to Lobbying Illegally to Aid Mayor’s Plans” by Ray Rivera in The New York Times.
Take a look at The Hill’s “Lobbying World” news summary.
“Common Cause files complaint against Minnesota Majority” by Jennifer Brooks in the Star Tribune.
Video courtesy of Politico.
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.
March 6, 2012 •
Lobbying News Today
Vice President Biden, Jack Abramoff, and other latest lobbying news from around the country:
Federal: “Biden hires former lobbyist” by T.W. Farnam in The Washington Post.
Federal: “Abramoff says his corrupting influence reached into the media” by Jordy Yager in The Hill.
California: “Record $287M paid to Calif. lobbyists in 2010” by The Associated Press in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Georgia: “Yarbrough: Lawmakers just don’t see need for lobbying reform,” an opinion piece by Dick Yarbrough in the Athens Banner-Herald.
Michigan: “Lobbying in Capitol’s hallways is one business flourishing in Michigan” by Peter Luke in Michigan Live.
February 6, 2012 •
New Step for Jack Abramoff: Watchdog Blogger
Since Jack Abramoff served his three-and-a-half year prison sentence, he has written a tell-all book, given a lecture on ethics to the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission, and now he is becoming a watchdog blogger.
Abramoff will be working with United Republic’s Republic Report, a blog that started just this month.
According to Abramoff’s first blog post from February 3: “Hi, everyone. I’m new to blogging, so this is an exciting experiment for me.
I’ll be posting more serious pieces next week. But, for now, I just want to say how honored I am to join Nick Penniman, Josh Silver, and the gang at United Republic in the vital effort to effect real reform in Washington.
It is a privilege for me to add my insights and experience to their strong and sagacious team and I look forward to working with them to reveal to our nation the way Washington really works.”
For news coverage read: “Jack Abramoff has unlikely second act as watchdog” by Melanie Mason in the Chicago Tribune.
Thank you to News You Can Use Editor Jim Sedor for pointing me in the direction of this news piece.
January 3, 2012 •
Experts React to Abramoff 2.0
Elizabeth Bartz quoted in Bloomberg article.
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.”
December 22, 2011 •
American League of Lobbyists Is Against Abramoff Teaching Ethics in Kentucky
The American League of Lobbyists says Jack Abramoff was never a lobbyist and is asking the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission to “rescind its invitation” to have him speak at their January ethics training.
For full news coverage of the group’s statement, read “Trade group says Abramoff shouldn’t teach ethics” by Catalina Camia in USA Today.
According to the article: “To have a state-run, government ethics commission give this ex-con a paid platform sends the public the wrong message about the Kentucky Legislature,” Howard Marlowe, president of the American League of Lobbyists, said in a statement. “I doubt that many of the lawmakers will want to have their picture taken with this crook.”
Here is the League’s press release on Scribd.
November 4, 2011 •
Abramoff Is Back in the News
Jack Abramoff has taken an interesting stance as he promotes a new autobiography.
He has appeared in a 60 Minutes interview, saying whatever ethics reform measures may be set in place to control the buying of influence, lobbyists will find new ways to get around it.
Here is the CBS interview, “Lobbyists can skirt ethics reform, says Abramoff.”
The Hill covers the story in “Abramoff divulges K Street secrets” by Kevin Bogardus.
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