March 28, 2017 •
New Mexico Governor Will Likely Call a Special Session
Despite the 2017 regular session adjourning on March 18th, Gov. Susana Martinez will likely call a special session. Martinez does not like the budget proposed to her by the Legislature and has warned of potential furloughs if a new budget […]
Despite the 2017 regular session adjourning on March 18th, Gov. Susana Martinez will likely call a special session.
Martinez does not like the budget proposed to her by the Legislature and has warned of potential furloughs if a new budget is not passed soon.
The special session date has yet to be determined.
March 23, 2017 •
Drug Price Relief Act Expected to Appear on Ohio Ballot
The Ohio Drug Price Relief Act is expected to appear on the ballot in November, 2017. The proposed initiated statute would prohibit the state from purchasing a prescription drug unless the net cost of the drug is equal to or […]
The Ohio Drug Price Relief Act is expected to appear on the ballot in November, 2017.
The proposed initiated statute would prohibit the state from purchasing a prescription drug unless the net cost of the drug is equal to or less than the lowest price paid for the drug by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA).
It could directly impact more than 4 million individuals served by state programs including those on Medicaid, individuals participating in state retirement programs, and those receiving care through other state programs such as the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) commissioned Vorys Health Care Advisors (VHCA) and Health Management Associates (HMA) to create an independent and objective analysis of the potential impact of the proposed act.
Results of the analysis show it is highly unlikely the proposed act could be effectively implemented; moreover, it is highly likely it would fail to achieve its purpose and negatively impact non-targeted entities via increased prescription drug costs and limited availability of certain medications.
March 20, 2017 •
Monday’s Government Relations and Ethics News You Can Use
Campaign Finance Democrats to Probe Gorsuch Views on Campaign Finance by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA Colorado: Colorado Democrats Propose Reforms to Shed More Light on Political ‘Dark Money’ by Brian Eason for Denver Post Iowa: $43 million in 4 […]
Campaign Finance
Democrats to Probe Gorsuch Views on Campaign Finance by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA
Colorado: Colorado Democrats Propose Reforms to Shed More Light on Political ‘Dark Money’ by Brian Eason for Denver Post
Iowa: $43 million in 4 Years: Exclusive analysis tracks Iowa campaign contributions by Jason Noble for Des Moines Register
New York: No Charges, but Harsh Criticism for Mayor de Blasio by William Rashbaum for New York Times
Ethics
Documents: Office of Government Ethics, Trump team reached détente by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity
New Mexico: Voters Will Decide Future of State Ethics Commission Proposal by Steve Terrell (Santa Fe New Mexican) for New Mexico Politics
Oklahoma: Conservative Oklahoma Senator Charged with Three Felonies after Child Prostitution Investigation by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman
Pennsylvania: Nutter Overruled His Inspector General to Spare a Key City Hall Adviser by David Gambacorda, Claudia Vargas, and Chris Brennan for Philadelphia Inquirer
South Carolina: Veteran State Sen. Courson of Columbia Suspended from Office after Misconduct Indictment by John Monk for The State
Legislative Issues
North Carolina: Judges Issue Split Ruling on NC Governor-Legislature Power Struggle by Anne Blythe (Raleigh News and Observer) for Charlotte Observer
March 14, 2017 •
Tuesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Would-Be Trump Appointees Say ‘No Thanks’ Due to Lobbying Ban” by Ben Brody, Shannon Pettypiece, and Bill Allison for Bloomberg.com Oregon: “Gov. Brown Reverses Course, Says Former Lawmaker Will Not Lobby Legislators” by Saul Hubbard for The Register-Guard Campaign […]
Lobbying
“Would-Be Trump Appointees Say ‘No Thanks’ Due to Lobbying Ban” by Ben Brody, Shannon Pettypiece, and Bill Allison for Bloomberg.com
Oregon: “Gov. Brown Reverses Course, Says Former Lawmaker Will Not Lobby Legislators” by Saul Hubbard for The Register-Guard
Campaign Finance
“FEC Earning Congressional Attention – for the Wrong Reasons” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity
Ethics
Florida: “Corrupt Opa-locka Official Was a Prized Witness. He Was Rewarded with No Prison Time.” by Jay Weaver for Miami Herald
New Mexico: “Senate Yanks Real Estate Bill; Lawmaker Says Pay-to-Play Maneuver Exposed” by Andrew Oxford (Santa Fe New Mexican) for New Mexico Political Report
New York: “Preet Bharara Shunned Politics. His End Was Tinged by Them.” by Benjamin Weiser, Ben Protess, Matthew Goldstein, and William Rashbaum for New York Times
Utah: “Shurtleff Sues State for at Least $1.1M, Alleges Utah A.G. Sean Reyes Interfered in His Case” by Jennifer Dobner for Salt Lake Tribune
Elections
California: “Seeing Red: Membership triples for the Democratic Socialists of America” by Matt Pearce for Los Angeles Times
Legislative Issues
Minnesota: “Lawmakers Clash Over Ethics of Real ID Letter to the Editor” by Don Davis (Forum News Service) for St. Paul Pioneer Press
Redistricting
Texas: “Texas Congressional Maps Are Struck Down for Discrimination” by Manny Fernandez for New York Times
March 10, 2017 •
Florida House Passes Bill to Slow Revolving Door
The Florida House passed a bill today to create greater separation between lawmakers and lobbyists. House Bill 7003 increases the time former public officials must wait before lobbying from two to six years. The measure continues a trend set by […]
The Florida House passed a bill today to create greater separation between lawmakers and lobbyists.
House Bill 7003 increases the time former public officials must wait before lobbying from two to six years.
The measure continues a trend set by the new House Speaker, Richard Corcoran, who began the session by implementing new rules to change lobbying practices and increase public confidence in the legislature.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Larry Metz, believes the new restriction will prevent legislators from favoring lobbyists in order to land high-paying jobs after leaving office.
March 10, 2017 •
News You Can Use Digest – March 10, 2017
Federal: ‘Big Candy’ Is Lobbying the Trump Administration. It’s Also Holding Events at Trump Hotels. Washington Post – Amy Brittain and Jonathan O’Connell | Published: 3/7/2017 The National Confectioners Association, which represents Hershey, Mars, and Jelly Belly, among other companies, […]
Federal:
‘Big Candy’ Is Lobbying the Trump Administration. It’s Also Holding Events at Trump Hotels.
Washington Post – Amy Brittain and Jonathan O’Connell | Published: 3/7/2017
The National Confectioners Association, which represents Hershey, Mars, and Jelly Belly, among other companies, is doing a lot of business with President Trump’s company. In addition to its gathering of 600 attendees for an industry conference at the Trump National Doral resort near Miami, the group has booked two upcoming meetings, in September and again in 2018, at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. At the same time, the organization is optimistic about scoring policy wins from the Trump administration. The matter illustrates a repercussion of Trump’s decision to retain ownership of his business during his time in the White House, that he can become financially intertwined with a special interest that is simultaneously seeking to influence policy decisions by his administration.
Ethics Questions Dogged Agriculture Nominee as Georgia Governor
New York Times – Eric Lipton and Steve Eder | Published: 3/7/2017
Sonny Perdue, who is awaiting confirmation to serve as President Trump’s agriculture secretary, became a target of frequent criticism that he was failing to honor his ethics pledge to reform state government during his eight years as Georgia governor. The criticism centers on the fact that, as Trump has, he continued to own or help run his family business ventures – four farming-related companies – while serving as governor. His confirmation is on hold as the Office of Government Ethics office must examine Perdue’s proposal to avoid conflicts while running the department, which may include selling off some of his farming assets. Before his tenure as governor ended in 2011, 13 complaints had been filed against Perdue with Georgia’s ethics commission, which on two occasions ruled he violated state ethics laws.
Iraq’s Lobbyists Mobilized after Travel Ban, Documents Reveal
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 3/7/2017
Lobbyists for the Iraqi government were in contact with Trump administration officials and lawmakers ahead of the decision to remove the country from the travel ban. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, a law and lobby firm, sent letters to senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense James Mattis, requesting the officials meet with Iraq’s new ambassador, Fareed Yasseen, and Naufel Alhassan, the deputy chief of staff to Iraq’s prime minister. The letters came about two weeks after President Trump signed an executive order temporarily banning individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iraq, from entering the U.S.
From the States and Municipalities:
Arkansas – Ex-Arkansas Senator Indicted by U.S.; 2 Others Accused in Kickbacks Case
Arkansas Online – Doug Thompson | Published: 3/3/2017
Former Arkansas Sen. Jon Woods and two others were named in a federal indictment alleging corruption involving state funds intended for economic development in a case in which another former state lawmaker has already pleaded guilty. Woods of Springdale is charged with mail and wire fraud in the 13-count indictment that also names Oren Paris III and Randell Shelton, Jr. The indictment alleges Woods and former Rep. Micah Neal directed the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District to distribute hundreds of thousands of dollars from the state’s general improvement fund that is intended for economic development to specific, unnamed entities. Neal pleaded guilty in January to arranging kickbacks with a then-unnamed former state senator. Neal said he received $38,000 from funds awarded to two entities by the district.
California – California Lawmakers Report Accepting $518,000 in Gifts, Including Travel and Expensive Meals
Los Angeles Times – Patrick McGreevy, Melanie Mason, and Chris Megerian | Published: 3/2/2017
Three years after Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would have severely restricted gifts to public officials – limiting their value to $200 per giver, and banning amusement park and sports tickets – veteran lawmakers continue to rake in such gifts, many from special interest groups seeking favors from state government. The flood of 2,312 gifts totaling $518,000 to 114 lawmakers is troubling to former state Sen. Sam Blakeslee, who tried unsuccessfully four times to pass a bill that would have prohibited gifts from interests that employ lobbyists. “I believe these gifts are corrosive to the public trust and create an appearance of an unhealthy intimacy between legislators and moneyed interests,” said Blakeslee.
Colorado – Denver Council Approves New Ethics Rules, Including $300 Gift Limit
Denver Post – Jon Murray | Published: 3/6/2017
The Denver City Council adopted a series of changes to the ethics code that, for the first time, puts a monetary cap on the value of meals and event tickets council members and other city officials can accept from people over whom they have decision-making authority. That cap replaces a loose four-item limit that does not set a maximum value. Critics argued it was vulnerable to abuse. The new ordinance also creates an independent body to establish the list of people who are eligible to be appointed to the Denver Board of Ethics. It also expands the list of family members in the conflict-of-interest rules who cannot benefit from contracts or official action, among other provisions.
Maryland – Former Md. Del. Michael Vaughn Charged with Selling His Vote in Bribery Scheme
Washington Post – Linh Bui | Published: 3/8/2017
A federal grand jury indicted Former Maryland Del. Michael Vaughn on charges he took bribes to support a liquor license bill in the General Assembly and misused his campaign finance account. Vaughn is accused of accepting more than $10,000 in cash bribes from liquor store owners in exchange for his support of a 2015 bill that allowed some businesses in Prince George’s County to sell liquor on Sundays. With that bill passed, authorities say Vaughn worked during the 2016 session to block legislation that would have created more licenses to protect the liquor store owners. The indictment also alleges Vaughn siphoned money from his campaign account and used it for his personal benefit. He allegedly filed fraudulent campaign finance reports to cover up how he was using the money.
Massachusetts – Healey Hands Thornton Law Case to Independent Prosecutor
Boston Globe – Andrea Estes | Published: 3/4/2017
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey will appoint a special prosecutor and recuse herself from any investigation into alleged campaign finance violations by Boston’s Thornton Law Firm, whose lawyers donated to her political campaign. The Office of Campaign and Political Finance said it has evidence the firm, a major Democratic funder, illegally reimbursed the firm’s partners and their spouses for up to $175,000 in campaign contributions. Thornton officials have said they did nothing wrong and the reimbursements, termed “bonuses” in the firm’s payroll records, were not really bonuses at all, but the partners’ own money, taken out of each’s equity in the firm.
New Jersey – David Samson Avoids Jail in United Airlines Bribery Scandal
NJ.com – Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 3/6/2017
David Samson, a former attorney general of New Jersey and longtime friend of Gov. Chris Christie, avoided prison time during his sentencing for pressuring executives of United Airlines into operating a weekly flight to South Carolina for his personal convenience. Instead, he was ordered to serve one year of home confinement. Samson had pleaded guilty to bribery, admitting he had used his power as chairperson of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to coerce United into running the route even though it was not profitable. He had threatened to block the construction of a hangar that United needed at Newark Liberty International Airport if the airline did not provide the service. The route ended in Columbia, near one of Samson’s homes.
Ohio – Special Report: Politicians allowed freebies, favors under Ohio ethics laws
Dayton Daily News – Laura Bischoff | Published: 3/2/2017
Ohio’s ethics laws, which date to the Watergate scandal, exist to hold those in government accountable. The law covers 590,000 people, including 10,300 key officials who must file annual financial disclosure statements. State Ethics Commission Executive Director Paul Nick said Ohio has a track record for enforcement that is equaled by only a handful of other states. Ohio is not shy about who it goes after either: the list of public officials who have been caught violating ethics laws includes then-Gov. Bob Taft. Others say the laws themselves keep government clean and its officials honest. But a Dayton Daily News investigation found loopholes in Ohio’s system for policing unethical activity.
Tennessee – Exclusive: Jeremy Durham may face $7 million in state penalties
The Tennessean – Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert | Published: 3/8/2017
Former Rep. Jeremy Durham may face almost $7 million or more in state fines as a result of at least 690 violations of Tennessee’s campaign finance law. The information, contained in a “show cause” notice issued by the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance, also provides for the first time the names of prominent campaign donors and business owners who gave Durham thousands of dollars that the former lawmaker never reported on his campaign disclosures. The report also details nearly $76,000 in improperly disclosed campaign expenditures, on everything from Florida restaurants and airplane tickets to flowers and a Yankee Candle purchase. Among these findings are many of the more than $10,000 in illegal purchases Durham made that were included in a state audit.
Utah – Complaints Accuse Utah Lawmaker of Bullying, Berating School Officials in Front of Students
Salt Lake Tribune – Benjamin Wood | Published: 3/7/2017
Students who visit the Capitol during the legislative session get a civics lesson on state history and government, and, for at least one group of Utah County fifth-graders, a front-row view to rancorous politics. That is what Jenna Wood described in a letter to Senate President Wayne Niederhauser after witnessing an “agitated” Sen. Howard Stephenson threatening to sue Alpine School District administrators during a confrontation in the Capitol Rotunda with several of her daughter’s Foothill Elementary School classmates nearby. In a separate letter, Alpine Superintendent Sam Jarman complained about the incident and alluded to other confrontations with Stephenson, noting the most recent meeting was notable for occurring in a public place.
Utah – Jury Acquits John Swallow of All Charges
Deseret News – Dennis Romboy and McKenzie Romero | Published: 3/2/2017
Former Utah Attorney General John Swallow was acquitted of bribery and evidence tampering charges in one of the highest-profile scandals in state history. Jurors found Swallow not guilty of nine counts that also included obstruction of justice, falsifying government documents, and misuse of public funds. He had faced one to 30 years in prison. Prosecutors accused Swallow of hanging a virtual “for sale” sign on the door to the state’s top law enforcement office by taking campaign donations and gifts like beach vacations from fraudsters and businesspeople in exchange for favorable treatment. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said it was a complex case where jurors were asked to consider matters that were not black and white but “various shades of gray.”
Washington – Ferguson Delivers the Laundry Bill: Grocery Manufacturers told to pay $1.1 million
Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Joel Connelly | Published: 3/1/2017
A Thurston County Superior Court judge ordered the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) to pay $1.1 million in legal fees after it violated Washington’s campaign finance disclosure laws. Those fees are on top of the $18 million in fines the food industry trade group was ordered to pay in November. State Attorney General Bob Ferguson sued the GMA in 2013, claiming it failed to register and report its political committee that opposed voter Initiative 522. The initiative would have required labeling of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, in food sold to consumers. Judge Anne Hirsch said the group “intentionally violated” state disclosure laws in its efforts to oppose the initiative.
State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.
March 9, 2017 •
Thursday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “‘Big Candy’ Is Lobbying the Trump Administration. It’s Also Holding Events at Trump Hotels.” by Amy Brittain and Jonathan O’Connell for Washington Post Campaign Finance “GOP Commissioner: Trump poised to revamp election agency” by Rudy Takala for The Hill […]
Lobbying
“‘Big Candy’ Is Lobbying the Trump Administration. It’s Also Holding Events at Trump Hotels.” by Amy Brittain and Jonathan O’Connell for Washington Post
Campaign Finance
“GOP Commissioner: Trump poised to revamp election agency” by Rudy Takala for The Hill
Maryland: “Baltimore County Bill to Ban Developer Donations Fails” by Pamela Wood for Baltimore Sun
Tennessee: “Exclusive: Jeremy Durham may face $7 million in state penalties” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean
Ethics
“Ethics Questions Dogged Agriculture Nominee as Georgia Governor” by Eric Lipton and Steve Eder for New York Times
Alabama: “Alabama’s Governor Was Recorded Having a Sexually Explicit Conversation. Is Impeachment Next?” by Amy Wang and Amber Phillips for Washington Post
New Jersey: “Mayor of Paterson, N.J., Is Indicted in Corruption Probe” by Nick Corasaniti for New York Times
New York: “For Years, City Spent $300 an Hour Looking for $5,000” by Jim Dwyer for New York Times
Virginia: “For First Time, Va. Legislators’ Reports Showing Their Gifts and Stocks Are Now Online” by Patrick Wilson for Richmond Times-Dispatch
Legislative Issues
Utah: “Complaints Accuse Utah Lawmaker of Bullying, Berating School Officials in Front of Students” by Benjamin Wood for Salt Lake Tribune
March 1, 2017 •
Wednesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Campaign Finance “Judge Backs Blind FEC Eye on Campaign-Finance Violations” by Tim Ryan for Courthouse News Service New Jersey: “A $500 Contribution to Republicans Costs Paving Company $7M” by Dave Hutchinson (NJ Advance Media) for NJ.com Elections Texas: “Justice Department […]
Campaign Finance
“Judge Backs Blind FEC Eye on Campaign-Finance Violations” by Tim Ryan for Courthouse News Service
New Jersey: “A $500 Contribution to Republicans Costs Paving Company $7M” by Dave Hutchinson (NJ Advance Media) for NJ.com
Elections
Texas: “Justice Department Changes Its Position in High-Profile Texas Voter-ID Case” by Sari Horwitz for Washington Post
Ethics
“From K Street to Congo: Abramoff’s new adventure” by Anna Palmer, Jake Sherman, and John Bresnahan for Politico
“Who’s Watching Trump’s Ethics Watchdogs?” by Darren Samuelsohn for Politico
New York: “The F.B.I. Questioned de Blasio. Hours Later, This Man Was Fired.” by William Rashbaum, William Neuman, and J. David Goodman for New York Times
Texas: “Political Corruption Trial Kicks off in Dallas” by David Lee for Courthouse News Service
West Virginia: “WV Lawmakers Pass Nepotism Ban” by Eric Eyre for Charleston Gazette
Legislative Issues
“The DNC Isn’t Enough: Democrats demand more leadership changes” by Gabriel Debenedetti and Edward-Isaac Dovere for Politico
Lobbying
Colorado: “How the Charities on Your Colorado Tax Form Used Connections, Money and Legislation to Earn the Coveted ‘Godsend’” by Brian Eason for Denver Post
February 28, 2017 •
West Virginia House Passes Ethics Bill
On February 27, the West Virginia House of Delegates passed House Bill 2001 requiring companies and consultants with state contracts to disclose the names of those who have at least a 25 percent financial interest in the contract. Under the […]
On February 27, the West Virginia House of Delegates passed House Bill 2001 requiring companies and consultants with state contracts to disclose the names of those who have at least a 25 percent financial interest in the contract.
Under the bill, business entities performing the work, such as lawyers, brokers and advisors, must also be disclosed to the Ethics Commission. The bill also includes provisions to expressly prohibit nepotism. House Bill 2001 unanimously passed the House and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
February 23, 2017 •
Independent Ethics Commission Bill A Possibility in New Mexico
A bill creating an independent ethics commission is advancing through the New Mexico legislature. House Joint Resolution 8 (HJR 8) seeks to amend the state constitution and establish a state ethics commission. The ethics commission would oversee complaints against public […]
A bill creating an independent ethics commission is advancing through the New Mexico legislature.
House Joint Resolution 8 (HJR 8) seeks to amend the state constitution and establish a state ethics commission. The ethics commission would oversee complaints against public officials, both in the legislative and executive branches, as well as lobbyist and government contractors.
If passed, the proposed amendment would be placed on the 2018 general election ballot for voter approval.
HJR 8 unanimously passed the House Local Government, Elections, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs Committee and will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee next.
February 23, 2017 •
Thursday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying California: “Penalty for Lobbyist – But Not Politicians – After $51,000 Birthday Party” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times Utah: “Utah Lobbyists Treat Lawmakers with No Scrutiny” by Michelle Price (Associated Press) for Deseret News Campaign Finance […]
Lobbying
California: “Penalty for Lobbyist – But Not Politicians – After $51,000 Birthday Party” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times
Utah: “Utah Lobbyists Treat Lawmakers with No Scrutiny” by Michelle Price (Associated Press) for Deseret News
Campaign Finance
“FEC Member: I have the right to demand Trump prove voter fraud claims” by Eli Watkins for CNN
Kansas: “Kansas Rejects Higher Limits on Donations to Candidates” by John Hanna (Associated Press) for McClatchyDC.com
Texas: “House Member Marks One-Year Anniversary of Filing Zero Campaign Finance Reports” by Jackie Wang for Texas Tribune
Ethics
“Trump’s ‘Winter White House’: A peek at the exclusive members’ list at Mar-a-Lago” by Nicholas Confessore, Maggie Haberman, and Eric Lipton for New York Times
“From Trump the Nationalist, a Trail of Global Trademarks” by Danny Hakim and Sui-Lee Wee for New York Times
Colorado: “Denver City Council Panel Advances New Ethics Rules” by Jon Murray for Denver Post
Florida: “Brevard County Commissioners Put Forth Ethics Reform Plan” by Dave Berman for Florida Today
Kentucky: “Liquor Dealer in Kentucky House Getting Action on His Liquor Bills” by John Cheves for Lexington Herald-Leader
Legislative Issues
“Tennessee, Texas Stand Out for Strengthened Hill Sway” by David Hawkins for Roll Call
Virginia: “Some Hope to Increase Diversity Among Va. Legislative Aides” by Patrick Wilson for Richmond Times-Dispatch
February 22, 2017 •
South Dakota Lawmakers to Consider Ethics Bills Ahead of Crossover Deadline
Thursday, February 23, is South Dakota’s crossover day, which is the final day for lawmakers to pass bills out of their chamber of origin. Ahead of the deadline, lawmakers are set to consider campaign finance and ethics bills that were […]
Thursday, February 23, is South Dakota’s crossover day, which is the final day for lawmakers to pass bills out of their chamber of origin.
Ahead of the deadline, lawmakers are set to consider campaign finance and ethics bills that were proposed in the wake of the repeal of Initiated Measure 22.
A bill to create a state government accountability board is scheduled to be heard by the House on Wednesday, February 22, and another bill to increase the revolving door restriction to three years was scheduled to be heard by the House on Tuesday, February 21.
February 22, 2017 •
Kentucky Senate Passes Bill to Double Contribution Limits
A bill to raise the limit on what individuals may contribute to campaigns has passed the Kentucky Senate. Senate Bill 75, sponsored by Sen. Damon Thayer, doubles the limit for individuals giving to candidates, caucus committees, and political parties. The […]
A bill to raise the limit on what individuals may contribute to campaigns has passed the Kentucky Senate.
Senate Bill 75, sponsored by Sen. Damon Thayer, doubles the limit for individuals giving to candidates, caucus committees, and political parties.
The bill, similar to a measure introduced by Thayer in the past, also creates an additional disclosure report 60 days prior to an election. The bill has been transmitted to the House for consideration.
February 21, 2017 •
Tuesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Campaign Finance ‘Soft Money’ Case a Test for Trump, Supreme Court by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA Missouri: Amid Greitens Mystery, Missouri Democrats Revive Inauguration Funding Disclosure Bill by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star Ethics Americans Are Seriously Stressed […]
Campaign Finance
‘Soft Money’ Case a Test for Trump, Supreme Court by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA
Missouri: Amid Greitens Mystery, Missouri Democrats Revive Inauguration Funding Disclosure Bill by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star
Ethics
Americans Are Seriously Stressed Out About the Future of the Country, Survey Finds by Colby Itkowitz for The Washington Post
Democratic Party Chairs Struggle to Harness Activism Burst by Heidi Przybyla and Fredreka Schouten for USA Today
New Jersey: Judge: Bridge case complaint against Christie can proceed by David Porter (Associated Press) for ABC News
Pennsylvania: Closer Monitoring on Tap for City Council’s Ethics Training by Julia Terruso for Philadelphia Inquirer
South Carolina: SC Government Watchdog Crangle Takes New Post but Will Still Be Working General Assembly by John Monk for The State
Texas: Texas May Still Be Giving State-Funded Pension to Convicted Elected Officials by Jackie Wang for Texas Tribune
Lobbying
Hawaii: Tightening The Rules for Lobbyists by Ian Lind for Honolulu Civil Beat
Procurement
Arizona: Rival Sues Taser Over Loss of Phoenix Police Body-Cam Contract by Megan Cassidy for Arizona Republic
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