April 29, 2013 •
Indiana Legislature Passes Lobbying Bill Before Adjourning
Enrolled Act 1222 awaits Governor’s approval
The Legislature adjourned Saturday, April 27, 2013, shortly after passing a bill to change lobbying regulations. Enrolled Act 1222 expands the definition of lobbying to include communications with any legislative employee and requires lobbyists to file registration statements and activity reports electronically.
The bill also increases the annual lobbyist registration fee from $100 to $200 and makes the lobbyist registration year match the current lobbyist reporting periods. Lobbyist registration statements issued for 2013 will expire November 1, 2013.
Most of the bill’s provisions will become effective July 1, 2013, following approval by the Governor.
Photo of the Indiana State House by Jasont82 on Wikipedia.
April 26, 2013 •
Florida Ethics Bill Heads to Governor Scott
Adds prohibitions on lobbying by former legislators
Perhaps the most talked-about piece of legislation this session, Senate Bill 2 was passed unanimously by both houses of the Florida Legislature.
The final ethics bill:
- Prohibits members of the legislature from acting as lobbyists for compensation before an executive branch agency, agency official, or employee for two years after leaving office. The version passed by the House eliminated an original provision preventing legislators from becoming lobbyists or principals of lobbying firms lobbying the legislature;
- Provides for a fine of up to $5,000 for executive branch lobbyists who fail to disclose required material facts as required or knowingly provide false information;
- Allows the Commission on Ethics to investigate whether a lobbyist has made a prohibited expenditure if a complaint is filed; and
- Prohibits vendors from providing gifts to a reporting individual or procurement employee for vendors doing business with the reporting individual’s or procurement employee’s agency.
The ethics bill was a top priority of Senate President Don Gaetz. He called the bill his “proudest moment as a senator.” The bill was sent immediately to Governor Rick Scott, who has seven days to sign or veto the bill.
April 26, 2013 •
News You Can Use Digest – April 26, 2013
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
K Street’s Bounce Proves Elusive
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama – Barron, Former Aide Indicted
Arkansas – Arkansas House Sends Ethics, Petition Rules to Voters
California – ‘Hacking’ Open Financial Disclosure Data
California – Many Private Interests Were Brown’s Fellow Travelers in China
Florida – Legislators Finish Rewrite of Ethics, Campaign Bill
Illinois – Emanuel Campaign Taking Donations from Hotel Developers with Projects in Works
Iowa – Affidavit Says Bachmann Approved Hidden Payments to Iowa Senator
New Jersey – Campaign Finance Overhaul by N.J. Senate Democrats Would Also Reform Pay-to-Play
North Carolina – Sweepstakes Donor’s Checks to NC Politicians Scrutinized
Texas – Campaign Accounts Help Texas Legislators Pay Staffers
Vermont – Former Lt. Gov. Dubie, RGA Agree to Settle Election Lawsuit with State
Washington – Donate to Sick Lawmakers? Limits Apply to Some Gifts
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 25, 2013 •
California FPPC Introduces Gift Tracker App
Smartphone app allows state officials to keep tabs on gift limits
The Fair Political Practices Commission has released the first known government ethics app. A free smartphone app called Gift Tracker is available for Android 4.0 phones (coming soon for iPhones) to let state officials and employees record gifts received from restricted sources.
Features allow users to record and search gift donors and the balance of allowable gifts remaining. In other words, an official sitting down to a free meal can check his phone to determine whether he orders the salad or the steak.
Information and download of the app are available here.
April 25, 2013 •
Thursday News Roundup
Here are some great articles for today’s government relations news summary:
Lobbying
“The Shadow Lobbyist” opinion piece by Tom Edsall in The New York Times.
Georgia: “New ethics law’s Jan. 1 start creates uncertainty for lobbyists, legislators” by Aaron Gould Sheinin in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
North Carolina: “NC elections board supports investigation on sweepstakes cash” by Michael Biesecker and Mitch Weiss (Associated Press) in the News & Observer.
Campaign Finance
“Donor Gets Jail Time for Illegal Contributions” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.
“Does Stephen Colbert’s Endorsement of His Sister Violate Election Laws?” by Megan Wiegand in Slate.
Florida: “Common Cause: campaign finance ‘reform’ bill is a ‘farce’” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.
Florida: “Legislators send campaign finance and ethics bills to governor” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.
Ethics
“’Hacking’ Open Financial Disclosure Data” by Scott Detrow in KQED Public Media.
Alabama: “Former state senator Lowell Barron indicted on campaign finance, ethics charges” by Kim Chandler in Alabama Live.
Colorado: “San Francisco Considers Ethics Reforms” by Ryan Parker in the Denver Post.
Illinois: “State Sen. Trotter pleads guilty to misdemeanor” by Jason Meisner in the Chicago Tribune.
Government Tech and Social Media
“Get Ready for Mobile Only” by Joseph Marks in Nextgov.
Redistricting
Alaska: “Redistricting Board asks Supreme Court to clarify ruling” by Richard Mauer in the Anchorage Daily News.
April 25, 2013 •
San Francisco Considers Ethics Reforms
Legislation would expand lobbying and squeeze exceptions
City Attorney Dennis Herrera and Board of Supervisors President David Chiu have introduced legislation to better regulate lobbying and campaign finance within the city. The ordinance would amend the Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code to expand the definition of lobbyist and require lobbyists to complete training online.
The lobbying exemption for contractors and their attorneys would be limited to in-house officers and employees. Outside consultants communicating with public officials regarding contract bidding and negotiating would be subject to the registration and reporting requirements of lobbying.
The ordinance would also require the Ethics Commission to publish a guide for campaign contributors regarding contribution regulations and reporting requirements.
The board may begin discussion of the legislation at the next meeting in May.
April 24, 2013 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Here is our roundup of the latest articles on lobbying, campaign finance, ethics, and more!
Lobbying
“Lobbying World” in The Hill.
“Graham’s campaign collects bundle from lobbyists” by Michael Beckel in the Huffington Post (via The Center for Public Integrity).
Nevada: “Nevada advances lobbying cooling-off-period bills” by Matt Woolbright (Associated Press) in the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Campaign Finance
“Follow The Money Bill Proposed For More Transparency in Campaign Financing” in CQ Roll Call’s Political Moneyline.
“S.E.C. Gets Plea: Force Companies to Disclose Donations” by Nicholas Confessore in The New York Times.
Florida: “Senate finishes campaign finance bill, first piece of ethics compromise” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.
New York: “Skelos opposes Cuomo on abortion, campaign finance” by Yancey Roy in Newsday.
New York: “Bad Legal Arguments Can’t Stop Reform” by Lawrence Norden in the Brennan Center for Justice Blog.
South Carolina: “SC Senate advances a piece of ethics reform” by The Associated Press in WJCL News.
Ethics
California: “SF May Make Major Update to City Ethics Policies” by Nina Thorsen in KQED Public Media.
Connecticut: “Foley wants to revive ‘good government’ bill” by Ken Dixon in the Connecticut Post.
New York: “Parole Granted for Political Consultant in a Corruption Case” by Jesse McKinley in The New York Times.
April 24, 2013 •
Arkansas Ethics Amendment to be Decided by the Voters
Bill would ban corporate contributions and lobbyist gifts
Governor Mike Beebe has approved a proposed constitutional amendment to be placed on the November 4, 2014 general election ballot. House Joint Resolution 1009, the Arkansas Elected Officials Ethics, Transparency, and Financial Reform Amendment of 2014, passed both chambers shortly before the regular session recessed on April 24, 2013.
If affirmed by the voters, the constitutional amendment will ban corporate and union gifts to political campaigns, ban lobbyist gifts to legislative and executive officials, and provide 16 year term limits for legislators. The amendment would also increase the time between when a legislator leaves office and when a legislator is permitted to become a lobbyist from one year to two years.
The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on May 17, 2013 for a veto session before adjourning sine die.
April 23, 2013 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News
Keep up with the latest government relations news with these articles:
Lobbying
“K Street’s bounce proves elusive” by Kevin Bogardus and Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.
“Chamber of Commerce Still Keeping Lobbyists Busy” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.
“Religious Groups Throw Lobbying Cash at Immigration Reform” by Elizabeth Flock in U.S. News & World Report.
Montreal, Quebec: “City asked to investigate undeclared lobbying” by Monique Beaudin in the Montreal Gazette.
Pennsylvania: “Mensch: Improve Campaign Finance, Lobbyist Reporting” in the Lehigh Valley Patch.
Campaign Finance
New York: “Reform does work, New York” editorial piece by Denise Merrill, the Connecticut secretary of the state and Miles Rapoport, president of Demos and former Connecticut secretary of the state in the Albany Times Union.
Ethics
District of Columbia: “D.C. wraps audit of Gray campaign, doesn’t release findings” by Alan Blinder in the Washington Examiner.
New York: “NY governor replaces head of troubled ethics board with lawyer who represented Bernard Madoff” by The Associated Press in the Washington Post.
Procurement
Ohio: “Franklin County, Ohio, Builds Transparent Procurement System From Scratch” by Colin Wood in Government Technology.
Government Tech and Social Media
“Federal Web Visitors are Coming Via Mobile” by Joseph Marks in Nextgov.
April 23, 2013 •
Massachusetts Secretary of Commonwealth Clarifies Lobbyist Disclosure Requirement of Direct Business Associations
“All Direct Business Associations with Public Officials”
The Massachusetts Lobbyist Section of Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office has informed lobbyists it will reinterpret a reporting requirement in order to comply with a court order.
Initially, Secretary of State William Galvin’s office had asserted it had the authority to interpret “all direct business associations with public officials” under state law expansively and require lobbyists disclose the names of all officials with whom a lobbyist has communicated. In reaction, a lawsuit had been brought against the Secretary of State’s office by the ACLU, AirStrategies, the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Citizens for Juvenile Justice, Common Cause, and the Conservation Law Foundation. A Superior Court Judge ruled against the secretary.
To comply with the court’s order, the secretary will now require disclosure of the names of public officials to whom a lobbyist has made a lobbying communication only if the lobbyist also has a direct business association with the public official. Following the court’s order, the secretary informed lobbyists this means a joint enterprise or transaction of a commercial or financial nature directly by or between the lobbyist and the public official.
The Lobbyist Section has rescinded all correction and rejection notices inconsistent with this interpretation of business association.
April 22, 2013 •
Monday News Roundup
Let’s start off the week with these lobbying, campaign finance, and ethics news articles:
Lobbying
“Former Sen. Bob Kerrey joins government affairs firm” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.
“NRA spends record money on lobbying this year” by Dave Levinthal in The Center for Public Integrity.
Florida: “Sound Off: Most email group members think lobbyist limits a good idea” in the Florida Times Union.
Georgia: “Analysis: Lobbyists say the game is changing” by Walter C. Jones in the Savannah Morning News.
Texas: “Agenda Texas: The Twitter Lobby” by Ben Philpott in the Texas Tribune.
Washington: “Lobbying tab $12.9 million — and counting” by Brad Shannon in the News Tribune.
Campaign Finance
California: “Common Cause: Californians should vote for Congress to overturn Citizens United” by Derek Cressman in San Jose Mercury News.
Illinois: “Overturning ‘Citizen’s United’ Decision” by Claudia Johnson in the Alton Daily News.
New Jersey: “N.J. Senate Democrats to introduce major overhaul of campaign finance laws” by Christopher Baxter in the Star-Ledger.
New York: “Reform proposed for state Board of Elections” by Karen Dewitt on WBFO NPR.
New York: “Campaign Finance Reformers To Target Senate In New Ads” by Ken Lovett in the New York Daily News.
Pennsylvania: “Pa. Senate backs stricter rules on reporting campaign funds” by Mary Wilson in Newsworks.
Vermont: “Windham County senator blasts campaign-finance reform bill” by Mike Faher in the Brattleboro Reformer.
Ethics
Connecticut: “Man pleads guilty in campaign finance scheme” by The Associated Press in the Boston Globe.
Kentucky: “Richie Farmer indicted by federal grand jury” on WKYT News.
Minnesota: “Ex-aide to Bachmann prepares to give evidence on alleged payments” by Brett Neely in MPR News.
Tennessee: “Knox County Commission set to reconfigure ethics panel” by Mike Donila in the Knoxville News Sentinel.
From the State Legislatures
Featured speakers at the NCSL Legislative Summit, August 12-15 in Atlanta, GA.
April 20, 2013 •
NJ ELEC Makes Recommendations in Annual Report
2012 Annual Report
In the 2012 Annual report issued by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) on April 15, the Commission listed several recommendations and ideas to strengthen the state’s campaign finance and lobbying laws.
ELEC recommends requiring disclosure from super PACs and non-profit groups organized under Section 527 and Section 501(c) of the IRS code, requiring disclosure of lobbying activity by local vendors who are required to report pay-to-play contributions, and expanding the 48-hour notice requirement for continuing PAC expenditures to require the filing of notices for expenditures made in May municipal, runoff, school, and special elections.
Among its other recommendations, ELEC calls for the state to expand the regulation of “wheeling” to include contributions by county political party committees to other county political party committees during the entire year.
In the report, the Commission also lists general ideas to strengthen the laws, including requiring grassroots lobbying materials to list the name and address of the committee paying for the material, increasing penalties for public financing violations, and banning the use of partnership funds for the purpose of making contributions.
The annual report can be found here.
April 20, 2013 •
News You Can Use Digest – April 20, 2013
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
From the States and Municipalities:
California – Legislative Staffers Lavished with Gifts
Indiana – Indiana Speaker Pro Tem Turner Defends Supporting Company Daughter Represents as Lobbyist
Kentucky – Kentucky Group Is the PAC That Couldn’t Shoot Straight
Montana – Montana House Panel Kills Bill to Disclose ‘Dark Money’ in Campaigns
Nebraska – Golf Tops List of Gifts Dave Heineman Reported
New Jersey – Bergen County Freeholders Introduce Plan to Relax Pay-to-Play Restrictions
New Jersey – In N.J. Governor’s Race, Christie and Buono Choose to Keep Some Donors Secret
New York – Sandra Lee OK’d for Takeoff
Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania Turnpike Scandal Has Some Eyeing a Pay-to-Play Law
Pennsylvania – Senate Passes Three Bills to Strengthen Transparency and Efficiency in State Government
South Carolina – National GOP Campaign Arm Withdraws Sanford’s Financial Support
Tennessee – Bill Fails That Would Raise Campaign Contribution Limits, Allowing Direct Corporate Donations
Texas – Exotic Trips, Luxury Gifts Are Perks of Elective Office
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 17, 2013 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Here is our roundup of the latest articles on lobbying, campaign finance, ethics, and more!
Lobbying
“McCain roasts lobbyist at awards dinner” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
“OFA files lobbying registration in New York” by Reid J. Epstein in Politico.
Florida: “House advances ethics bill to ban ‘revolving door’ lobbying” by Aaron Deslatte in the Orlando Sentinel.
North Carolina: “Bill would allow legislators to receive gifts from lobbyists” by Claire Bennett in The Daily Tar Heel.
Ottawa, Ontario: “City lobbying registry due for upgrade, weeks behind schedule” by David Reevely in the Ottawa Citizen.
Wisconsin: “Lobby outlays drop in 2011-12” by Bill Lueders in WisconsinWatch.org.
Campaign Finance
Hawaii: “Bill boosts public campaign funds” by Sarah Zoellick in the Honolulu Star Advertiser.
Massachusetts: “DeLeo, Murray break Mass. campaign spending tally” by The Associated Press in the Boston Globe.
Ethics
“Congressional Travel Costs Questioned” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political Moneyline.
New York: Prosecutors: “Liu Aides Didn’t Count On Getting Caught In Campaign Finance Scheme” by The Associated Press in CBS New York.
South Carolina: “SC House panel revives ethics reform effort” by Adam Beam in The State.
Election Law
New York: “Tougher state elections rules” by Jimmy Vielkind in the Albany Times Union.
New York: “Cuomo Adds Election Law Office to Anticorruption Proposals” by Thomas Kaplan in The New York Times.
From the State Legislatures
Nevada: “Senate OKs resolution seeking annual legislative sessions” by Sean Whaley in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Redistricting
North Carolina: “Bill would make N.C. redistricting nonpartisan” by Travis Fain in the News & Record.
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.