June 28, 2012 •
Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission Recommends Changes in Ethics Law
Recommendations submitted to legislative research commission
The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission has submitted a recommendation to the legislative research commission for several changes to the code of legislative ethics.
The recommended changes include:
- requiring employers of lobbyists to report the cost of advertising supporting or opposing legislation that appears during a session of the general assembly, if the cost is paid by an employer of lobbyists or a person affiliated with an employer;
- prohibiting employers of lobbyists and PACs from making campaign contributions to legislative candidates or legislators during a regular session of the general assembly, and prohibiting lobbyists from directly soliciting contributions for an election campaign of a legislator or legislative candidate;
- repeal the provision allowing each lobbyist and employer to spend up to $100 annually on food and beverages for each legislator and his or her immediate family, and prohibit lobbyists and employers from paying for out-of-state travel, food, or lodging expenses for legislators or candidates; and
- limiting the interaction between lobbyists and candidates who have filed to run for election to the general assembly, who are currently not subject to the $100 limit on food and beverage or prohibition on receiving anything of value from a lobbyist or employer.
June 26, 2012 •
Tuesday News Roundup
Campaign Finance, lobbying, redistricting
“Public stations may get OK for political ads” by David Bauder (Associated Press) in The Washington Times.
“After winning right to spend, political groups fight for secrecy” by Joseph Tanfani and Melanie Mason in the Los Angeles Times.
Alaska: “Federal government role in Alaska elections questioned” by Becky Bohrer in the Anchorage Daily News.
District of Columbia: “Embattled DC Mayor Gray to propose campaign finance reforms in bid to end ‘pay to play’” by Ben Nuckols (Associated Press) in The Washington Post.
Minnesota: “Lobbying is a big business in Minnesota” by Jennifer Brooks in the Star Tribune.
Minnesota: “High court ruling throws state campaign law into doubt” by Corey Mitchell in the Star Tribune.
Texas: “Cruz-Dewhurst battle pits D.C. and Austin lobbyists” by Priya Anand in the Houston Chronicle.
Vermont: “Vermont Officials Criticize Federal Ruling On Campaign Finance” by Bob Kinzel on Vermont Public Radio.
June 25, 2012 •
Lobbying News Roundup
Don’t miss the latest stories on lobbying!
“In case you missed it: ‘Capitol Assets’ highlights” by Ed O’Keefe in the Washington Post.
“Street Talk: Lobby Shop Ogilvy Now Faces Uncertain Future” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
Indiana: “Daniels unsure of lobbying as Purdue” by The Associated Press in the Evansville Courier & Press.
Minnesota: “Local government units spent $8.3M on legislative lobbying last year” by Brian Lambert on MinnPost.com.
South Carolina: “Ethics hearing for S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley to begin Thursday” by Andrew Shain in the Kansas City Star.
June 22, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – June 22, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
Critics: Lobbying ethics rules go too far
Nonprofits Outspent Super PACs in 2010, Trend May Continue
Supreme Court Rules against Union on Nonmember Fees for Politics
From the States and Municipalities:
Connecticut
Malloy Vetoes Campaign Finance Bill
Connecticut
Probes Cast Shadow in Congressional Race
District of Columbia
District’s Political Corruption Has Deep Roots
Illinois
Illinois House Expulsion in 1905 Laid Groundwork for 2012 Smith Case
Montana
Montana AG Asks Federal Judge to Uphold Campaign Contribution Limits
New Jersey
N.J. Governor Candidates Can Receive More Money from Donors, Public Financing under New Guidelines
Ohio
Ex-Rep. Weddington Gets Three Years for Bribery
Wyoming
Wyoming Lawsuit Challenges FEC Regulations
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.
June 18, 2012 •
Monday Campaign Finance and Lobbying News Summary
Start the week off right with these latest news items:
Campaign Finance
“‘Citizens United’ Case Gets Renewed Scrutiny” by David Welna on NPR.org.
“Post-Watergate campaign finance limits undercut by changes” by Dan Eggen in the Washington Post.
“Will Text-Message Fundraising Revolutionize the Political Cash Game?” by Alex Roarty in the Atlantic.
Connecticut: “Common Cause slams Malloy veto of campaign finance bill” by Mark Pazniokas in CTMirror.org.
Florida: “High school students create a super PAC” by Lane DeGregory in the Miami Herald.
Tennessee: “Many TN lawmakers have deeper pockets than challengers” by Elizabeth Bewly on WBIR.com.
Lobbying
“Does ALEC influence politics, laws?” by Dana Beyerle in the Tuscaloosa News.
Arkansas: “Ethics reform emerging in partisan politics” by Rob Moritz in Arkansas News.
Georgia: “Lobbyist fined for $17,000 European trip with Ralston” by Doug Richards in WXIA News.
Rhode Island: “Lawmakers Pocketed Thousands from Lobbyists in May” by Dan McGowan in GoLocalProv.
June 13, 2012 •
Missouri Has New Online Campaign Finance Search Tool
And more campaign finance, lobbying, and government ethics news today:
“Ethics Commission offers new campaign finance search tool” by Mike Lear in MissouriNet.
“2 Campaigns Chasing Funds at Frantic Pace” by Ashley Parker and Helene Cooper.
“Entrepreneurs, small lobby shops challenging K Street’s old guard” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
Arkansas: “Backers optimistic about ethics measure; GOP lawmaker questions proposal” by Jeff Arnold in the Arkansas News.
Connecticut: “Connecticut lawmakers return for special session” by Susan Haigh (Associated Press) in the Norwich Bulletin.
June 12, 2012 •
Today’s Lobbying News
Keep up with the latest lobbying news articles:
“Washington’s Top Lobbying Groups Hire Mostly Men: BGOV Barometer” by Jonathan D. Salant and Jennifer Prince in Bloomberg News.
“Study: Lobbying bad for business?” by Tim Mak in Politico.
Here is the original study the above article references: “Corporate political giving doesn’t pay” by Amy Hodges in Rice University News & Media.
“K Street: ‘Let’s meet’; Hill staffers: ‘Text me’” by Dave Levinthal in Politico.
“The State of K Street: Work in the Shadows – Lobbying Rules That Were Meant to Regulate the Industry Have Spawned the Emergence of the Unlobbyist” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
New York: “Lobbyists directed contributions” by Jimmy Vielkind in the Albany Times Union.
New York: “Lobbyists gave state pols $1.8M” by Erik Kriss in the New York Post.
“Are politicians too rich to understand us?” by Timothy Stanley on CNN.
“Hotel industry’s top lobbyist bringing it back to Main Street” by Elise Viebeck in The Hill.
June 11, 2012 •
Monday News Roundup
Start the week off right with the latest government relations news:
“Text Messages as Campaign Finance Reform?” by Quentin Fottrell in the Wall Street Journal.
“The Politics of Social Networking” by Damon Eris on the Independent Voter Network.
“At Meeting of Left’s Online Activists, Weighing Impact of Attack Ads” by Sarah Wheaton in The New York Times.
Alaska: “Will Citizens United result in Big Oil deciding who wins Alaska elections?” in the Alaska Dispatch.
District of Columbia: “Ex-D.C. Council Chairman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud” by Tom Schoenberg in Bloomberg.
Georgia: “Taking the Pledge – Most see need for lobbyist gift cap” in the Marietta Daily Journal.
Kansas: “Voters will see big changes from new redistricting plan” by Scott Rothschild in the Lawrence Journal World.
New York: “Analysis: $2M gambling bet puts focus on lobbyist” by The Associated Press in The Wall Street Journal.
June 11, 2012 •
Virginia Launches New Lobbyist Disclosure System
Replaces previous online system
The secretary of the commonwealth’s office launched a new online lobbyist disclosure system Monday, June 11, 2012. The new system, available here, replaces the previous online filing system.
Lobbyists will use the account they created for the new registration system last month to access the online disclosure system. The new system allows lobbyists to sign their disclosure form electronically, and does not require a hard-copy signature follow-up.
The secretary of the commonwealth’s office strongly encourages lobbyists to file their disclosure statements electronically rather than mailing a hard copy.
June 8, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – June 8, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
Poll: Sharp increase in partisan divides among Americans
Federal:
Lobbyists Ask Congress for a Mandate on Ethics
From the States and Municipalities:
Arkansas
Democratic, Republican Leaders Back Ethics Initiative
California
State’s Top 100 Political Donors Contribute $1.25 Billion
Delaware
Delaware Lawmakers Approve Campaign Finance Revisions
District of Columbia
D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown Resigns after He Is Charged with Bank Fraud
Florida
Research Group Says Florida Has Most Corrupt Officials
Georgia
Georgia Lawmakers Back Lobbying Cap but Ignored Bill
North Carolina
Legislators, Lobbyists Mix Business with Pleasure
North Carolina
State Ethics Panel to Investigate Lobbyists Tied to Tillis Aides
South Carolina
Gov. Nikki Haley Ethics Inquiry Could Have Major Statehouse Implications
Wisconsin
Walker Survives Wisconsin Recall Vote
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.
June 7, 2012 •
Ask the Experts – Do I need to register as a lobbyist?
Here is your chance to “Ask the Experts” at State and Federal Communications, Inc.
Q. I am not currently registered as a lobbyist and I would like to send a letter to all state legislators in support of pending legislation. Do I need to register as a lobbyist?
A. The act of sending a letter in support of or in opposition to legislation can be enough to trigger the lobbyist registration requirement in a state. Whether or not registration is required is dependent upon the lobbyist registration threshold in any given state.
Some states have thresholds based on the definition of lobbying whereby engaging in a lobbying activity will require lobbyist registration. For example, in a state where registration is required upon receipt of compensation to encourage the passage, defeat, approval, or modification of legislation by members of the legislature, lobbyist registration would be required prior to sending the letter. Iowa is an example of this type of state.
Other states have thresholds based on the amount of time spent lobbying or preparing to lobby. In Maine, an individual is permitted to spend eight hours lobbying before registration is required. In such a state, tracking your time while preparing the letter will be important in determining if registration is required.
Please consult the lobbyist registration threshold in your jurisdiction prior to sending any correspondence to a public official.
You can directly submit questions for this feature, and we will select those most appropriate and answer them here. Send your questions to: marketing@stateandfed.com.
(We are always available to answer questions from clients that are specific to your needs, and we encourage you to continue to call or e-mail us with questions about your particular company or organization. As always, we will confidentially and directly provide answers or information you need.) Our replies to your questions are not legal advice. Instead, these replies represent our analysis of laws, rules, and regulations.
June 5, 2012 •
Take a Look at the Tuesday News Roundup!
The American League of Lobbyists is approaching Congress to make ethics training mandatory for lobbyists. Also, we have campaign finance, redistricting, and social media in today’s summary.
Lobbying
“Lobbyists ask Congress for a mandate on ethics” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
Campaign Finance
“Tammany businessman’s allegedly illegal campaign donations went to Gov. Jindal’s 2007 run” by Claire Galofaro in the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Redistricting
Iowa: “Redistricting makes for tumultuous Iowa primary” by The Associated Press in the Quad-City Times.
New Hampshire: “Court to hear challenges to NH redistricting plan” by Holly Ramer (Associated Press) in the Boston Globe.
Social Media
“Political campaigns are in a constant technology arms race” by Scott Canon in the Kansas City Star.
June 5, 2012 •
San Diego Ethics Commission to Consider Amendments
Additional lobbyist reporting may be required
The San Diego Ethics Commission is meeting June 14, 2012 to discuss a prepared draft of municipal code amendments concerning campaign related issues, including one which pertains to the lobbying ordinance. Decision point 14 would amend applicable provisions of the lobbying ordinance to require the disclosure of contributions provided to, and fundraising performed for, committees that are primarily formed to support city candidates.
The draft amendments are available on the commission’s website.
The public is invited to provide comment on the proposed amendments at the June 14, 2012, meeting, which will be held at 5:00 p.m. in the committee room on the 12th floor of the city administration building. Correspondence may also be sent by e-mail at: ethicscommission@sandiego.gov.
Photo of the San Diego skyline by Tomcio77 on Wikipedia.
June 1, 2012 •
Do You Have Compliance Questions about Puerto Rico?
State and Federal Communications has your answers!
Sarah Kovit is a Compliance Associate at State and Federal Communications who is a fluent Spanish speaker and who has experience working with Puerto Rican officials and tracking newly enacted legislation. She is here to assist you with your Puerto Rican compliance needs.
According to Kovit: “Navigating the lobbying, political contribution, and procurement lobbying laws in Puerto Rico can be tricky. English copies of newly enacted legislation are rarely available and English language assistance with your questions is not always available. In the last year alone, Puerto Rico has passed a new election code, updated the PAC reporting structure, and created a pay to play law which affects organizations conducting business in Puerto Rico.”
You can contact Sarah Kovit at skovit@stateandfed.com.
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.