June 23, 2016 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying California: “California Political Watchdog Targets ‘Shadow Lobbyists’” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee Maryland: “Here Are the Top Lobbyists in Maryland for the 2016 Legislative Session” by Ovetta Wiggins for Washington Post Oregon: “Post Uber, Portland Leaders Look to […]
Lobbying
California: “California Political Watchdog Targets ‘Shadow Lobbyists’” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee
Maryland: “Here Are the Top Lobbyists in Maryland for the 2016 Legislative Session” by Ovetta Wiggins for Washington Post
Oregon: “Post Uber, Portland Leaders Look to Strengthen Lobbying Rules” by Amelia Templeton for Oregon Public Radio
Campaign Finance
“The Next ‘Citizens United’ Is Coming” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity
District of Columbia: “Close Council Vote Rejects Campaign Contribution Reform” by Rachel Kurzius for DCist.com
Ethics
Colorado: “Colorado Supreme Court to Hear Case Challenging State Ethics Commission’s Role” by Joey Bunch for Denver Post
Elections
“Will Dominant Images of Conventions Be of Unity or Protest?” by Trip Gabriel for New York Times
Florida: “Marco Rubio Will Seek Senate Reelection, Reversing Pledge Not to Run” by Mike DeBonis, Ed O’Keefe, and Sean Sullivan for Washington Post
Florida: “Florida Lawmaker Wants to Give Away an AR-15” by Mike McPhate for New York Times
Legislative Issues
“House Democrats’ Gun-Control Sit-In Turns into Chaotic Showdown with Republicans” by David Herszenhorn and Emmarie Huetteman for New York Times
June 8, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Campaign Finance “FEC Republicans Explain Dropping Gingrich, Murray Cases” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA California: “Ex-California Lawmaker Tom Calderon Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering” by David Siders and Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee Florida: “Florida AG Asked Trump for […]
Campaign Finance
“FEC Republicans Explain Dropping Gingrich, Murray Cases” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA
California: “Ex-California Lawmaker Tom Calderon Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering” by David Siders and Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee
Florida: “Florida AG Asked Trump for Donation before Nixing Fraud Case” by Jeff Horwitz, Gary Fineout, and Michael Biesecker for The Associated Press
Missouri: “On the Trail: St. Louis aldermen will take another look at campaign contribution limits” by Jason Rosenbaum for St. Louis Public Radio
Ethics
Pennsylvania: “Kathleen Kane’s Administration Hit with Discrimination Complaint from Her Twin Sister” by Steve Esack for Allentown Morning Call
Elections
“Exclusive: Trump’s 3,500 lawsuits unprecedented for a presidential nominee” by Nick Penzenstadler and Susan Page for USA Today
“Clinton Celebrates Victory, Declaring: ‘We’ve reached a milestone’” by Anne Gearan, Robert Costa, and John Wagner for Washington Post
Virginia: “Supreme Court Will Weigh in On Whether Va. Districts Are Racially Gerrymandered” by Robert Barnes and Laura Vozzella for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
Rhode Island: “RI Assembly Reworks ‘Community-Service’ Grants Program” by Katherine Gregg for Providence Journal
May 24, 2016 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying Pennsylvania: “Pa. Officials, Lobbyists Split on How to Vet Business Propositions” by Brad Bumsted for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Campaign Finance “Key G.O.P. Donors Still Deeply Resist Donald Trump’s Candidacy” by Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns for New York Times Massachusetts: […]
Lobbying
Pennsylvania: “Pa. Officials, Lobbyists Split on How to Vet Business Propositions” by Brad Bumsted for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Campaign Finance
“Key G.O.P. Donors Still Deeply Resist Donald Trump’s Candidacy” by Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns for New York Times
Massachusetts: “New Bill Would Rein in State GOP’s Fund-Raising” by Frank Phillips for Boston Globe
Ethics
Alabama: “One-Time Rising Star Hubbard to Stand Trial on Ethics Charges” by Mike Cason for AL.com
Colorado: “Audit: Colorado ethics commission rarely helps those filing complaints” by Joey Bunch for Denver Post
Hawaii: “Hawaii Lawmakers Again Balk at Ethics, Lobbying Reform” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat
Elections
“Why Democrats Are Set to Retake State Legislatures in 2016 (and It’s Not Just Trump)” by Amber Phillips for Washington Post
“Bernie Sanders Makes a Campaign Mark. Now, Can He Make a Legacy?” by Jonathan Mahler and Yamiche Alcindor for New York Times
Legislative Issues
Montana: “Term Limits Have Weakened Legislature, Some Observers Say” by Jayme Fraser for Helena Independent Record
Redistricting
Virginia: “Supreme Court Upholds Virginia Redistricting” by Richard Wolf for USA Today
May 23, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying Rhode Island: “Do R.I. General Assembly Grants Funnel Back into Lobbying?” by Patrick Anderson for Providence Journal Campaign Finance “G.O.P. Donors Shift Focus from Top of Ticket to Senate Races” by Nick Corasaniti and Ashley Parker for New York […]
Lobbying
Rhode Island: “Do R.I. General Assembly Grants Funnel Back into Lobbying?” by Patrick Anderson for Providence Journal
Campaign Finance
“G.O.P. Donors Shift Focus from Top of Ticket to Senate Races” by Nick Corasaniti and Ashley Parker for New York Times
California: “Tony Strickland Agrees to $40,000 Ethics Fine” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee
New York: “De Blasio’s Elections Strategy, Under Scrutiny, Recalls Predecessor’s” by William Neuman for New York Times
Ethics
Arkansas: “Ark. High Court Rejects Lawsuit over Campaign Finance Ballot Measure” by Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) for Baxter Bulletin
Hawaii: “Hawaii Ethics Commission Picks Interim Director” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat
Hawaii: “Totto Tells Ethics Commission to Scrap ‘Silly’ Time Sheet Rules” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat
Michigan: “Panel OKs Added Transparency for Governor, Legislators” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News
Elections
“A History of Insurgent Candidates’ Impact On Down-Ballot Races” by Louis Jacobson for Governing
Legislative Issues
“Chaos in House after GOP Votes Down LGBT Measure” by Cristina Marcos and Mike Lillis for The Hill
December 10, 2015 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “Under Contract” in The Hill “Lobbying World” in The Hill “Top McCarthy aide heading to K Street” by Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer in Politico Campaign Finance “Poll: Americans not fans of public campaign financing” by The Associated Press […]
Lobbying
“Under Contract” in The Hill
“Lobbying World” in The Hill
“Top McCarthy aide heading to K Street” by Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer in Politico
Campaign Finance
“Poll: Americans not fans of public campaign financing” by The Associated Press in the Columbia Daily Tribune
“Super-PACs set to influence Senate primaries” by Ben Kamisar in The Hill
Michigan: “Senate votes to write super PACs into state campaign finance law” by Emily Lawler in MLive
Utah: “SLC Council slashes campaign contribution limits” by Christopher Smart in the Salt Lake Tribune
Ethics
District of Columbia: “Long-running probe ends without charges against former D.C. mayor Vincent Gray” by Ann E. Marimow, Spencer S. Hsu and Keith L. Alexander in The Washington Post
Legislative Issues
“Why State Legislatures Are Still Pretty White” by Teresa Wiltz in Governing
Redistricting
“Supreme Court Mulls One-Person, One-Vote Redistricting Case” by Todd Ruger in Roll Call
“Republican Redistricting Rows Rock SCOTUS” by Kimberly Robinson in Bloomberg BNA
Texas: “Analysis: In Redistricting, Somebody Will Be Slighted” by Ross Ramsey in The Texas Tribune
November 12, 2015 •
Thursday News Roundup
Campaign Finance Florida: “Dade Medical College’s Ernesto Perez Pleads Guilty in Criminal Cases” by Michael Vasquez and David Ovalle for Miami Herald “Seattle’s Experiment with Campaign Funding” by Russell Berman for The Atlantic Ethics California: “California Gets C-Minus in Government […]
Campaign Finance
Florida: “Dade Medical College’s Ernesto Perez Pleads Guilty in Criminal Cases” by Michael Vasquez and David Ovalle for Miami Herald
“Seattle’s Experiment with Campaign Funding” by Russell Berman for The Atlantic
Ethics
California: “California Gets C-Minus in Government Integrity Survey; 47 States Score D-Plus or Lower” by Thomas Peele for San Jose Mercury News
Michigan: “Integrity Report Ranks Michigan Worst in Nation for Government Transparency, Accountability” by Jonathan Oosting for MLive.com
Missouri “Unlimited Cash, Lavish Meals, Revolving Doors: How Missouri got a D-minus in national ethics report” by Kevin McDermott for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Nevada: “Auditing, lobbying disclosure among trouble spots for Nevada” by Sean Whaley for Las Vegas Review-Journal
New York: “Report: New York has 30th best anti-corruption laws” by Bill Mahoney for Capital New York
Elections
“G.O.P. Candidates, Lagging, Rely on New Hampshire to Get Close” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times
“Scott Walker Is a Diminished Figure – Except in the State He Governs” by David Weigel for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
“Even as House Speaker, Paul Ryan Sleeps in His Office” by Jennifer Steinhauer for New York Times
November 4, 2015 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying “Bush, Clinton Benefit from Lobbying Gray Area” by Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico Campaign Finance “Small Donors Are Clicking More with Democrats than Republicans” by Eric Lichtblau and Nick Corasaniti for New York Times Ethics New York: “Report: JCOPE should […]
Lobbying
“Bush, Clinton Benefit from Lobbying Gray Area” by Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico
Campaign Finance
“Small Donors Are Clicking More with Democrats than Republicans” by Eric Lichtblau and Nick Corasaniti for New York Times
Ethics
New York: “Report: JCOPE should be smaller, more transparent” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union
“How Andrew Cuomo’s Flashy Bid to Clean up Albany Backfired” by Chris Smith for New York Magazine
Elections
“Neuropolitics, Where Campaigns Try to Read Your Mind” by Kevin Randall for New York Times
“Steve Deace and the Power of Conservative Media” by Jackie Calmes for New York Times Magazine
“How the Rising Death Rate among Middle-Aged Whites Helps Explain Our Political Reality” by Janell Ross for Washington Post
California: “Measure Slashing Drug Prices May Go to California Voters Next Fall” by Tracy Seipel for San Jose Mercury News
Legislative Issues
“Paul Ryan Lands at Center of a Rivalry for the Soul of the G.O.P.” by Carl Hulse for New York Times
October 27, 2015 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying “DNC Courts Lobbyist Cash with Promise of VIP Access at Convention” by Megan Wilson for The Hill Illinois: “Spending by Lobbyists Up This Year; Diana Rauner-Led Organization Tops List of Spenders” by Doug Finke for State Journal Register New […]
Lobbying
“DNC Courts Lobbyist Cash with Promise of VIP Access at Convention” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
Illinois: “Spending by Lobbyists Up This Year; Diana Rauner-Led Organization Tops List of Spenders” by Doug Finke for State Journal Register
New York: “JCOPE Issues Fines to Housing Activists, Others on Filing Violations” by Rick Karlin for Albany Times Union
Texas: “Opposition to Lobbying Resolution Organizes” by Elizabeth Pagano for Austin Monitor
Campaign Finance
“‘Fire Paul Ryan’? Rebel PACs Hit Republicans, and It Pays” by Eric Lipton and Jennifer Steinhauer for New York Times
Ethics
“DOJ: No criminal charges in IRS Tea Party probe” by Kevin Johnson and Gregory Korte for USA Today
Colorado: “New Working Group Could Slow Denver Ethics Code Changes” by Jon Murray for Denver Post
North Carolina: “NC Ethics Panel Gets Extra Funding to Chip at Backlog” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for Ashville Citizen-Times
Elections
“Jeb Bush Shakes Up His Struggling Campaign with Major Spending Cuts” by Philip Rucker for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
Kansas: “Kansas Legislation Is Most Anonymous in Nation” by Celia Llopis-Jepsen for Topeka Capital-Journal
October 22, 2015 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “K Street Eyes Late-Year Rebound” by Megan Wilson for The Hill Campaign Finance “Divided D.C. Council Takes Aim at Mayor Bowser’s Super PAC” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post Missouri: “Ten Missouri Megadonors Drive Largest Political Contributions” by Jason […]
Lobbying
“K Street Eyes Late-Year Rebound” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
Campaign Finance
“Divided D.C. Council Takes Aim at Mayor Bowser’s Super PAC” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post
Missouri: “Ten Missouri Megadonors Drive Largest Political Contributions” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star
Ethics
California: “Does Orange County Need an Ethics Commission? Voters to Decide in June” by Meghann Cuniff for Orange County Register
“Report Traces Jeb Bush’s Ties to Companies That Had Business with Florida” by Matt Flegenheimer and Steve Eder for New York Times
Wisconsin “Lawmakers Approve Bill Ending John Doe Probes of Political Crimes” by Patrick Marley and Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Elections
“Biden’s Decision Boosts Clinton and Sets Up a Two-Way Race With Sanders” by Paul Kane and Karen Tumulty for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
“Paul Ryan Tells House Republicans He’s Willing to Run, If Conditions Are Met” by Mike DeBonis and Robert Costa for Washington Post
January 6, 2015 •
Oklahoma’s Revised Constitutional Ethics Rules
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission’s newly promulgated Revised Constitutional Ethics Rules, effective at staggered intervals, significantly amend lobbying and campaign finance laws. Lobbyist registration provisions were effective December 1. Rules outlining lobbyist reporting due dates are effective February 1, 2015. All […]
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission’s newly promulgated Revised Constitutional Ethics Rules, effective at staggered intervals, significantly amend lobbying and campaign finance laws. Lobbyist registration provisions were effective December 1. Rules outlining lobbyist reporting due dates are effective February 1, 2015. All other revised rules were effective January 1, 2015. Except as may otherwise be provided, all current rules under Title 74, Chapter 62-Appendix, of the Oklahoma Statutes were repealed on January 1, 2015. O.S. §257:23-1-2, as it pertains to lobbyist reporting requirements, will remain effective until January 31, 2015.
Lobbyists were required to register online in December for calendar year 2015. There are now separate registration requirements dependent upon whether a lobbyist is a legislative lobbyist, executive lobbyist, or legislative liaison. Legislative lobbyists and legislative liaisons will be required to file monthly reports from February to July; executive lobbyists will file quarterly reports.
The revised rules also place new limits on lobbyist expenditures. Each lobbyist will be permitted to spend up to $500 per calendar year for meals for the governor, a legislator, or their staff. Moreover, lobbyists may spend up to $200 per year on certain gifts other than meals, provided the total for all meals and gifts does not exceed $500. New provisions also allow lobbyist principals to provide food and beverage for professional conferences, seminars, and similar events held outside the geographical boundaries of the state, subject to certain restrictions.
Changes to campaign finance laws include a new registration threshold for political action committees (PACs), new campaign contribution limits, specific reporting for out-of-state and federal PACs, and amendments to some reporting requirements. A PAC will be required to register within 10 days of receiving contributions or making expenditures in excess of $1,000. Certain contribution limits will increase and family contribution limits will no longer exist. Limited PACs registered for less than a year or that have fewer than 25 contributors will be permitted to contribute only half the amount of other limited PACs.
This article provides a summary of the major changes to the Revised Constitutional Ethics Rules. It is not exhaustive and additional changes have been made. A final annotated version of the rules is accessible on the new Ethics Commission website at http://www.ok.gov/ethics/.
December 18, 2014 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “Republican Congress Lures Lobbyists Back to Capitol Hill” by Megan Wilson for The Hill “Mollis Adopts Hearing Officer’s Decision that Corso Engaged in Unregistered Lobbying Related to 38 Studios” by Jennifer Bogdon for Providence Journal Campaign Finance “Secretive Nonprofits […]
Lobbying
“Republican Congress Lures Lobbyists Back to Capitol Hill” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
“Mollis Adopts Hearing Officer’s Decision that Corso Engaged in Unregistered Lobbying Related to 38 Studios” by Jennifer Bogdon for Providence Journal
Campaign Finance
“Secretive Nonprofits Flourished – and Succeeded – in 2014 State Elections” by Reity O’Brien for The Center for Public Integrity
“Who Wants to Buy a Politician?” by Binyamin Appelbaum for New York Times
“New FEC Chief on ‘Dark Money’ Mission” by Dave Levinthal for The Center for Public Integrity
“Ethics Commission Hits Former Candidate, Treasurer with $43,000 Fine” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times
“PA Supreme Court: Law firm can forgive U.S. Rep. Bob Brady’s 2007 debt” by Chris Brennan for Philadelphia Daily News
“State High Court to Take up Doe Cases Centered on Walker’s Campaign” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ethics
“Payouts to McCrory, Sanford from Mortgage Broker Raise Ethical Questions” by Michael Biesecker and Mitch Weiss (Associated Press) for Charlotte Observer
Elections
“Jeb Bush’s Decision to Explore Presidential Bid Scrambles the 2016 GOP Field” by Matea Gold and Philip Rucker for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
“Message to Lawmakers: Say what you really think” by Alan Greenblatt for Governing
November 19, 2014 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying “Top Spenders on Capitol Hill Pay Billions, Receive Trillions” by Bill Allison and Sarah Harkins for Sunlight Foundation “Gift Ban Legislation to Get Second Chance as Wolf Pushes Own Ethics Reform” by Andrew Staub for Pennsylvania Independent Campaign Finance […]
Lobbying
“Top Spenders on Capitol Hill Pay Billions, Receive Trillions” by Bill Allison and Sarah Harkins for Sunlight Foundation
“Gift Ban Legislation to Get Second Chance as Wolf Pushes Own Ethics Reform” by Andrew Staub for Pennsylvania Independent
Campaign Finance
“Pay-to-Play Restrictions on Government Contracting Under Assault” by Craig Holman for Huffington Post
“FINRA Proposes Pay-to-Play Rules” in ThinkAdvisor
“APOC, Marijuana Activist Charlo Greene Clash over Campaign Disclosure Questions” by Suzanna Caldwell for Anchorage Daily News
“Vincent Gray Rejects Plea Offer; Federal Prosecutors Moving Closer to Indictment” by Mike DeBonis for Washington Post
“Colleagues Defend Councilwoman Debi Rose against ‘Witch Hunt’” by Anna Sanders for Staten Island Advocate
Ethics
“Ethics Changes, Court Rules among First Bills Arkansas Lawmakers File for 2015 Session” by Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) for The Daily Journal
“Florida Attorney General to Head Group That Financed Her Campaign” by Bill Cotterell for Reuters
“SC House Panel OKs ‘Sunshine’ Proposals” by Jamie Self for The State
Legislative Issues
“Senate Officials Ponder Definition of Journalist for Pressroom Access” by Tim Lockette for Anniston Star
March 23, 2011 •
Two Special Sessions of State Legislatures
Utah and Louisiana
UTAH: Governor Gary Herbert has called a special session of the legislature to convene at noon on March 25. The governor stated the purpose of the special session will be to repeal HB477, an open records law which the governor had previously signed earlier this month. The legislature had adjourned on March 10.
LOUISIANA: The legislature convened on March 20 for an ‘extraordinary session’ to establish redistricting boundaries for all congressional, state and local entities’ elections. The session is scheduled for no later than April 13. The regular session of the legislature convenes on April 25.
March 1, 2011 •
Wisconsin Special Election Set for May 3, 2011
Special Election to Replace Three Assembly Seats Vacated by Legislators Serving in Walker Administration
A special election has been scheduled for May 3, 2011 to fill three seats left vacant in the Wisconsin State Assembly by legislators who accepted positions in the Walker Administration. In an executive order, Governor Walker ordered the special election for Assembly Districts 60, 83 and 94.
If primaries are necessary in any of the districts, they will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, concurrent with the spring election.
Photo of the Wisconsin State Capitol by Jeff dean on Wikipedia.
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