July 5, 2011 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 5, 2011
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Colbert Declares Victory at FEC
FEC Limits Lawmakers’ Fundraising for Super PACs
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama
Gambling Trial Highlights Fees Paid to Legislators
Arizona
Justices Strike Down Arizona Campaign Finance Law
Florida
Judge Strikes Down Florida Campaign Finance Matching Law
Illinois
Jury Finds Blagojevich Guilty of Corruption
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Special Education Director Said to Siphon $10 Million
Missouri
Missouri Lawmakers Eat for Free
Nevada
Tougher Nevada Campaign Money Laws Come into Play
New York
New Contribution Rule Limits Assignments to Elected Judges
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Ethics Commission Reprimands NRA Lobbyist
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Justices in Altercation
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.
Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.
March 16, 2011 •
Georgia Governor Signs House Bill 232
New Law Eases Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements
Governor Deal signed House Bill 232 on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. The law, which is effective retroactively to January 10, 2011, redefines the term “lobbyist” to require a person to be compensated specifically for lobbying activities before being required to register and report as a lobbyist. Also, a person is now only deemed a “lobbyist” if more than 10 percent of his or her working hours are spent engaged in lobbying activities.
A “lookback” period is included for each calendar month, requiring lobbyist registration and an initial disclosure report within five days if at the end of any month a person has met the 10 percent test. Further, the expenditure triggers for lobbyist registration have been increased from $250 to $1,000.
Additionally, lobbyists are granted a grace period of three business days in filing all disclosure reports. Finally, persons who are employed as bona fide salespersons are exempt from regulation as vendor lobbyists.
Photo of the dome of the Georgia State Capitol by Connor.carey on Wikipedia.
December 21, 2010 •
Governor Riley Approves Ethics Reform Bills
Alabama Governor Bob Riley signed seven bills relating to lobbying, campaign finance, and ethics into law yesterday.
While not as strict as the bills originally proposed by the Governor, the newly passed rules represent a dramatic overhaul to Alabama ethics law. Under the new rules, PACs will be forbidden from making transfers of funds to other PACs with a few exceptions.
State lawmakers will be unable to hold a second public job, and one bill imposes a ban on “pass-through pork” whereby a legislator can appropriate funds to a specific agency or project without legislative approval. In the new year, lobbyists will be required to complete a training program, and the State Ethics Commission will have subpoena power.
Another bill signed by Governor Riley will forbid public employees from donating to political groups via payroll deduction. This law has been criticized as politically motivated by state Democrats.
November 10, 2010 •
Louisiana Extends Lobbying Law to Local Governments
With the passage and subsequent gubernatorial approval of Senate Bill 507, Louisiana has extended the application of its lobbying law to local governments. The provisions of the bill take effect on January 1, 2011.
Although the provisions of the bill were enacted as a new and separate chapter in the Louisiana Revised Statutes, they largely mirror the requirements of the lobbying laws already applicable to legislative and executive branch lobbying on the state level. For example, as it is on the state level, registrations expire on December 31st of each year and registration renewals are due on January 31st at the latest. Reports of local lobbying activity are due on the 25th day of each month, as they are at the state level. And the information required to be disclosed is largely the same.
The bill contains a provision found in the state executive branch lobbying law, but not in the legislative branch lobbying law, which allows an employer to file reports on behalf of all the lobbyists representing that employer’s interests. An employer wishing to exercise that option must notify the board of ethics by January 31st.
Unlike the state-level lobbying laws, the bill does not specify a registration fee for local lobbyists.
The Louisiana Board of Ethics is responsible under the bill for administering and enforcing the provisions of the bill. This includes educational activities and seminars related to the bill, as well as the assessment of late filing fees.
State and Federal Communications will continue to monitor developments with regard to local lobbying laws in Louisiana as the bill goes into effect and is implemented by the board of ethics.
Photo of the Louisiana State Capitol by Bluepoint951 on Wikipedia.
September 23, 2010 •
Lobbying News from Guam
Governor signs a new law affecting lobbying registration and reporting.
The governor of Guam has signed legislation replacing its existing lobbying law with new provisions requiring registration for legislative lobbyists and reporting on the 10th day of the month following the end of a quarter.
The legislation also contains a revolving door provision and penalties for violations of the act.
The Office of the Governor of Guam and the 30th Guam Legislature.
July 29, 2010 •
Illinois Governor Signs Bill
Governor Pat Quinn signed Senate Bill 1526 into law into law late Wednesday.
This bill changes several provisions of the lobbying laws. The registration fee is lowered to $300 in response to the previous fee of $1,000 having been enjoined. Under this new law, lobbyists must notify officials in writing of reportable expenditures at the time the expenditures are made.
Effective January 1, 2011, lobbyist reports are due on a semi-monthly basis. For 2010, a report covering the second half of the year is due January 15, 2011; the Secretary of State will issue instructions for reporting lobbyist expenditures incurred during the first half of the year.
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.