February 18, 2019 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: Democratic Presidential Hopefuls Increasingly See Small-Dollar Donations as a Sign of Viability by Michelle Ye Hee Lee (Washington Post) for San Francisco Chronicle Alabama: Few Disclosure Requirements for Money Raised After an Election by Brian Lyman for […]
Campaign Finance
National: Democratic Presidential Hopefuls Increasingly See Small-Dollar Donations as a Sign of Viability by Michelle Ye Hee Lee (Washington Post) for San Francisco Chronicle
Alabama: Few Disclosure Requirements for Money Raised After an Election by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser
Louisiana: Campaign Funds Can Be Used for Child Care, Louisiana Ethics Board Rules in Reversal by Julia O’Donoghue for New Orleans Times-Picayune
Rhode Island: Political Donations by Strip-Club Industry Made in Lobbying Firm’s Name by Brian Amaral for Providence Journal
Ethics
National: Supreme Court Takes Up Trump Administration’s Plan to Ask About Citizenship in Census by Robert Barnes (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune
New Mexico: Senator Wants Ethics Panel’s Work Mostly Secret by Andrew Oxford (Santa Fe New Mexican) for New Mexico Political Report
Virginia: Richmond’s Donor Class and the VMI Brotherhood Stand Behind Embattled Virginia Governor by Gregory Schneider for Washington Post
Lobbying
National: Former Trump Officials Are Supposed to Avoid Lobbying. Except 33 Haven’t. by Derek Kravitz for ProPublica
February 15, 2019 •
News You Can Use Digest – February 16, 2019
Federal: Ex-Lawmakers Face New Scrutiny Over Lobbying The Hill – Alex Gangitano | Published: 2/12/2019 Critics say former federal lawmakers have been the biggest offenders when it comes to working as lobbyists without formally registering. Forty-eight former senators and 295 […]
Federal:
Ex-Lawmakers Face New Scrutiny Over Lobbying
The Hill – Alex Gangitano | Published: 2/12/2019
Critics say former federal lawmakers have been the biggest offenders when it comes to working as lobbyists without formally registering. Forty-eight former senators and 295 former representatives were registered lobbyists in the last Congress, and that number is growing as the latest exiting class of lawmakers join firms. Some note the law has loopholes for determining when someone must register. The Lobbying Disclosure Act states that a person must register to lobby if lobbying activities constitute at least 20 percent of their time working for a client. That allows many former members who work for lobbying shops and big firms to handle policy issues but avoid crossing the line to require registering as a lobbyist.
FEC Raises Contribution Limits for 2020
The Hill – Reid Wilson | Published: 2/7/2019
The FEC announced new higher campaign contribution limits. Donors would be able to give up to $2,800 per election, including both the primary and the general election contests, in the new cycle, a $100 increase over the 2018 cycle. Individuals will be allowed to contribute up to $35,500 to party accounts like the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee every year. The commission raises the cap every two years under a provision in the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.
National Enquirer’s Parent Firm Asked U.S. If It Should Register as Foreign Agent for Saudis
NBC News – Josh Lederman | Published: 2/11/2019
The company that publishes the National Enquirer was concerned enough that it may have acted as an agent of Saudi Arabia that it asked the Department of Justice last year whether it needed to register as a foreign lobbyist. Communications between the Justice Department and American Media Inc. offer the fullest picture to date of interactions between the tabloid publisher and the Saudis ahead of AMI’s release last year of flattering magazine about Saudi Arabia’s young leader. Under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, people or entities that work to advance a foreign country’s political interests in the U.S. must disclose their specific activities and register as foreign lobbyists.
Ocasio-Cortez Learned Lobbyists Pay People to Avoid Waiting in Lines in D.C. She’s Not Pleased.
MSN – Eli Rosenberg (Washington Post) | Published: 2/13/2019
Paying people to wait in line to get prime seats at Capitol Hill hearings is a once-controversial maneuver that has now become accepted practice. Critics say line-standing or line-waiting is a small but visible example of how money affects politics in Washington – how people with resources buy access to lawmakers as they deliberate legislation. The practice, which is expensive but not illegal, has long been a popular one for lobbyists. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is experiencing life as a legislator in Washington for the first time, tweeted her reaction to seeing a line of people waiting for a committee hearing: “Shock doesn’t begin to cover it. Apparently this is a normal practice, and people don’t bat an eye.”
From the States and Municipalities:
California: To Do Business with L.A., City Contractors Now Must Disclose Ties with the NRA
Los Angeles Times – Dakota Smith | Published: 2/12/2019
The Los Angeles City Council passed an ordinance that requires companies seeking contracts with the city to disclose any ties to the National Rifle Association (NRA). Prospective contractors now must disclose under affidavit any contracts or sponsorships they or their subsidiaries have with the NRA. The city has similar policies about companies involved in the construction of President Trump’s proposed border wall. The NRA disclosure law contains more than a dozen exemptions, including contracts involving the city’s pension funds and other investment agreements. Still, attorneys for the NRA said they would file a lawsuit if the ordinance passed, according to a letter sent to the city.
Colorado: High Cost of Influence: $33 million spent last year lobbying Colorado lawmakers
Denver Post – Nic Garcia | Published: 2/7/2019
More than $33 million was spent lobbying Colorado lawmakers in 2018. Lawmakers sometimes rely on lobbyists for expertise and resources the politicians do not have. They fill a knowledge gap for state lawmakers, who have slim staffs to help research and write legislation. Also, because lawmakers can only serve eight years in each chamber, they are limited in the institutional knowledge they can build. Critics say that gives lobbyists access and influence the general public does not always have. “They obviously provide information that is favorable to their clients and not the whole picture,” said Paul Teske, dean of the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado at Denver.
Florida: The Lawmaker Who Dressed in Blackface Is Pushing an Ethics Bill Today. Does It Matter?
Tampa Bay Times – Lawrence Mower | Published: 2/12/2019
Florida Rep. Anthony Sabatini has been making national headlines for wearing blackface in a high school prank 14 years ago. It has not stopped him from pushing numerous bills in Tallahassee, including a sweeping bill that would strengthen the state’s ethics laws. It includes provisions that would ban officials from getting investment advice from lobbyists, require lobbyists who influence the executive branch to register online, and make it illegal for officials to seek jobs that conflict with their lawmaking duties. Sabatini he initially felt terrible for anyone who saw the photograph and did not understand the context. But as the story grew, he felt some news reports were using the incident to be sensational, and he has since refused to apologize.
Georgia: State Ethics Commissioners Move to Fill Executive Secretary’s Post After Resignation
Yahoo Finance – R. Robin McDonald (ALM Media) | Published: 2/11/2019
Stefan Ritter resigned as executive secretary of the Georgia Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission after being placed on paid leave amid accusations he misused his state-issued computer. Three formal complaints revealed Ritter’s departure stemmed from the discovery by commission staff of “hundreds of pornographic images” on his computer that at least one staff member observed Ritter viewing in the office. The complaints accused him of instructing staff not to open inquiries of multiple candidates in the 2017 Atlanta mayoral race who staffers believed may have violated state campaign finance laws. Ritter also was accused of making a similar call regarding possible campaign violations by Stacey Abrams’ gubernatorial campaign.
Indiana: Veteran Agency’s Secretive Deal with Former State Senator Possibly Violated Lobbying Laws
Indianapolis Star – Tony Cook and Chris Sikich | Published: 2/14/2019
After a state lawmaker pushed to expand the reach of the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA), the agency awarded him a secretive, and possibly illegal, lobbying contract that has paid him more than $150,000. The deal, signed nine months after former state Sen. Allen Paul left office, appears to run afoul of Indiana’s “revolving door” law meant to curb politicians from cashing in on government service. Paul also failed to register as a lobbyist. While the contract was in effect, Paul rarely showed up at the office, interacted little with key lawmakers, and did not maintain an account of the hours he worked. Paul continued to be paid even after the IDVA hired a full-time employee to do essentially the same job.
Michigan: Benson: Pro-Whitmer group broke campaign finance law, will pay fine
Detroit News – Jonathan Oosting | Published: 2/8/2019
A group that ran television ads last year featuring Gov. Gretchen Whitmer violated the Michigan Campaign Finance Act and has agreed to pay a $37,500 settlement, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said. Build a Better Michigan spent more than $2.4 million in 2018 and ran a series of pro-Whitmer ads it described as a form of “issue advocacy” traditionally exempt from the law. But some of those ads violated the statute by identifying Whitmer as a “candidate for governor,” Benson said. Benson also ruled the group’s spending could not be considered an “independent expenditure” because of apparent coordination between the group and Whitmer’s campaign.
New York: Claiming Attempt to Silence Them, Advocacy Groups Oppose Cuomo Lobbying Proposal
Gotham Gazette – Lysette Voytko | Published: 2/10/2019
One provision of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s reform agenda would require any individual or organization spending over $500 in a year on lobbying to be required to register as a lobbyist, lowering the threshold from $5,000. The proposal is sparking outcry from nonprofit leaders and others, who say the proposal would harm smaller organizations and activist groups that do little formal lobbying and cannot afford the labor or time to navigate the state’s complex lobbying regulations. “Perversely, while this might increase the number of filings, it will effectively silence small groups while increasing the influence of big money in government,” states a letter from 15 nonprofits.
Texas: In Texas, More Than a Million Dollars in Ethics Fines Have Gone Unpaid
Texas Monitor – Johnny Kampis | Published: 2/7/2019
Data from the Texas Ethics Commission shows state Rep. Ron Reynolds owes $52,500 in fines for failing to file timely personal finance statements required for all candidates. Reynolds is one of the worst offenders in terms of unpaid ethics fines, but he is far from alone in thumbing his nose at the commission. As of the most recent updating on February 4, the ethics agency’s delinquent filer list shows that Texas officeholders and candidates owe more than $1.3 million in fines for being lax on those financial statements.
Virginia: Virginia Democrats Looking for a Clear Path Forward from Scandals
San Francisco Chronicle – Amy Gardner and Jenna Portnoy (Washington Post) | Published: 2/10/2019
Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring are staying, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax is fighting, and Virginia Democrats are grappling with how to proceed in a situation with no precedent and no one leading the way out of one of the party’s most disastrous periods in history. More than a week has passed since images emerged of Northam’s medical school yearbook page depicting a man in blackface and another in a Ku Klux Klan robe. Since then, two women have accused Fairfax of sexual assault and Herring has admitted he wore blackface as a young man. As a group, Democrats in the state publicly embraced their party’s zero tolerance for racism and sexual violence. But privately, Democrats are divided, particularly about whether ousting Northam is best for their party.
Washington: Seattle Ethics Commission May Shine Light on Political Work, City Hall Lobbying
Seattle Times – Daniel Beekman | Published: 2/12/2019
The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission may require lobbyists to report the work they do for political campaigns. The debate follows a Seattle Times story about partners at Sound View Strategies who helped elect Mayor Jenny Durkan and have given her informal political advice. They have also been paid by corporate clients to lobby Durkan’s administration on legislation and advocate at City Hall on regulatory matters. Though Seattle already requires candidates to disclose their payments to consultants and mandates lobbyists list their payments from clients, those activities are reported separately and differently, so it can be hard to connect the dots.
February 14, 2019 •
NM Bill Setting Out New Ethics Commission’s Duties Introduced
In November, New Mexico voters approved a constitutional amendment to Article 5 of the state’s constitution. Constitutional Amendment 2 creates an independent ethics commission with jurisdiction to investigate, adjudicate and issue advisory opinions concerning civil violations of laws governing ethics, […]
In November, New Mexico voters approved a constitutional amendment to Article 5 of the state’s constitution.
Constitutional Amendment 2 creates an independent ethics commission with jurisdiction to investigate, adjudicate and issue advisory opinions concerning civil violations of laws governing ethics, standards of conduct and reporting requirements.
In order to be a functional commission, the Legislature must pass laws granting the commission all of its powers and duties.
As a result, state Rep. Daymon Ely introduced House Bill 4 setting out the new agency’s responsibilities.
The bill states the commission will have jurisdiction to investigate and adjudicate a complaint alleging a civil violation of the Lobbyist Regulation Act and the Campaign Reporting Act.
Additionally, the commission would have the authority to suspend a person from consideration for award of a contract if the person violates the Procurement Code.
If passed, sections 1 through 5, 7, and 37 of the bill will be effective July 1, 2019. The remaining sections will be effective January 1, 2020.
February 14, 2019 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Court Ruling Doesn’t Stop Untraceable Election Spending” by Brian Slodysko (Associated Press) for apnews.org Tennessee: “Tennessee Lawmakers Appeared to Violate Fundraising Rules – but They’re Unlikely to Face Penalties” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean Elections National: […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Court Ruling Doesn’t Stop Untraceable Election Spending” by Brian Slodysko (Associated Press) for apnews.org
Tennessee: “Tennessee Lawmakers Appeared to Violate Fundraising Rules – but They’re Unlikely to Face Penalties” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean
Elections
National: “How Manafort’s 2016 Meeting with a Russian Employee at New York Cigar Club Goes to ‘the Heart’ of Mueller’s Probe” by Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post
National: “Former Federal Election Commission Chair Ann Ravel Runs for State Senate in San Jose” by Casey Tolan for San Jose Mercury News
Oregon: “Oregon Secretary of State Proposes $95K Fine for Ballots Turned in Late” by Hillary Borrud for Portland Oregonian
Ethics
National: “Top Leader at Interior Dept. Pushes a Policy Favoring His Former Client” by Coral Davenport for New York Times
Montana: “Who Should Fall Under the Montana Legislature’s Anti-Harassment Policy? No Easy Answer” by Holly Michels for Helena Independent Record
New Mexico: “Ethics Commission Measure Unveiled” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal
Lobbying
Washington: “Seattle Ethics Commission May Shine Light on Political Work, City Hall Lobbying” by Daniel Beekman for Seattle Times
Procurement
California: “To Do Business with L.A., City Contractors Now Must Disclose Ties with the NRA” by Dakota Smith for Los Angeles Times
February 13, 2019 •
North Dakota Legislators Debate How to Create an Ethics Commission
North Dakota lawmakers are dealing with dual proposals to create a state ethics commission, as required by the passage of Measure 1 in November. House Bill 1521 and Senate Bill 2148 have held multiple hearings, and several senators have proposed […]
North Dakota lawmakers are dealing with dual proposals to create a state ethics commission, as required by the passage of Measure 1 in November.
House Bill 1521 and Senate Bill 2148 have held multiple hearings, and several senators have proposed amendments to alter the definition of a lobbyist, while the House version prohibits public officials from accepting gifts from lobbyists valued at more than $60 per event.
The next hearings will take place on Thursday.
February 13, 2019 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Louisiana: “Ethics Board to Reconsider If Louisiana Candidates Can Pay for Child Care with Campaign Funds” by Elizabeth Crisp for New Orleans Advocate Ethics National: “Rick Scott Won’t Put His Wealth in a Blind Trust Anymore” by Steve […]
Campaign Finance
Louisiana: “Ethics Board to Reconsider If Louisiana Candidates Can Pay for Child Care with Campaign Funds” by Elizabeth Crisp for New Orleans Advocate
Ethics
National: “Rick Scott Won’t Put His Wealth in a Blind Trust Anymore” by Steve Contorno for Tampa Bay Times
Canada: “Ethics Inquiry Opened Over Justin Trudeau’s Actions in Bribery Case” by Ian Austen for New York Times
Colorado: “John Hickenlooper Ethics Complaint Over Travel Is Moving Forward After Commission Refuses to Dismiss” by Nic Garcia for Denver Post
Florida: “The Lawmaker Who Dressed in Blackface Is Pushing an Ethics Bill Today. Does It Matter?” by Lawrence Mower for Tampa Bay Times
North Dakota: “North Dakota Bill Would Keep Ethics Complaint Process Largely Secret” by Patrick Springer for Inforum.com
Lobbying
National: “Ex-Lawmakers Face New Scrutiny Over Lobbying” by Alex Gangitano for The Hill
National: “National Enquirer’s Parent Firm Asked U.S. If It Should Register as Foreign Agent for Saudis” by Josh Lederman for NBC News
New Mexico: “Public Disclosure of Legislation a Lobbyist Works on Moves Forward” by Marjorie Childress for New Mexico In Depth
February 12, 2019 •
Oklahoma Ethics Commission Acts on Proposed Rule Changes
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission chose not to vote on Proposed Rule 2019-02 after hearing public comments that the proposal would affect free speech and political activity. The proposed rule would have required disclosure of the names of organizations involved in […]
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission chose not to vote on Proposed Rule 2019-02 after hearing public comments that the proposal would affect free speech and political activity.
The proposed rule would have required disclosure of the names of organizations involved in indirect or grassroots lobbying via radio, phone, internet or other broadcast media if those groups spent more than $500 on campaigns for or against specific pieces of legislation.
Those groups would also have been required to file reports with the Ethics Commission if expenditures exceeded $5,000.
The Ethics Commission passed other proposals for consideration, including a revolving door provision prohibiting elected state officers and chief administrative officers from lobbying for two years following their terms of office or service, new rules regarding the due dates of electronic filings, and revised reporting periods for candidate election reports and independent expenditure reports.
Additionally, the Ethics Commission submitted a proposal to prohibit state legislators from operating or becoming an officer of a PAC.
If the Legislature chooses not to reject the proposed rule changes again, all passed amendments will be effective upon adjournment sine die of the regular legislative session on May 31.
February 12, 2019 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Michigan: “Benson: Pro-Whitmer group broke campaign finance law, will pay fine” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News New York: “Analysis: Public matching program increases heft of small donors” by David Lombardo for Albany Times Union Ethics National: “House […]
Campaign Finance
Michigan: “Benson: Pro-Whitmer group broke campaign finance law, will pay fine” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News
New York: “Analysis: Public matching program increases heft of small donors” by David Lombardo for Albany Times Union
Ethics
National: “House Democratic Leaders Call Ilhan Omar’s Tweets ‘Anti-Semitic’ and ‘Deeply Offensive’” by Rachel Bade, Kristine Phillips, Mike DeBonis, and Meagan Flynn for Washington Post
Georgia: “Ethics Commission Director Resigns in Middle of Ethics Investigation” by Dale Russell for WAGA
Pennsylvania: “No Prison Time for Former Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s Top Aide” by Emily Opilo and Peter Hall for Allentown Morning Call
Texas: “In Texas, More Than a Million Dollars in Ethics Fines Have Gone Unpaid” by Johnny Kampis for Texas Monitor
Virginia: “Virginia Democrats Looking for a Clear Path Forward from Scandals” by Amy Gardner and Jenna Portnoy (Washington Post) for San Francisco Chronicle
Lobbying
New York: “Claiming Attempt to Silence Them, Advocacy Groups Oppose Cuomo Lobbying Proposal” by Lysette Voytko for Gotham Gazette
February 11, 2019 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “FEC Raises Contribution Limits for 2020” by Reid Wilson for The Hill California: “Downtown L.A. Developer Donated $50,000 Before Pivotal Vote Involving High-Rise Project, Records Show” by David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times Ethics National: “Prosecutors Probing […]
Campaign Finance
National: “FEC Raises Contribution Limits for 2020” by Reid Wilson for The Hill
California: “Downtown L.A. Developer Donated $50,000 Before Pivotal Vote Involving High-Rise Project, Records Show” by David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times
Ethics
National: “Prosecutors Probing Enquirer after Bezos Report” by Michael Sisak, Michael Balsamo, and Zeke Miller (Associated Press) for MSN
Florida: “City Manager Goad: City email to non-profits asking for tickets ‘out of step’” by Karl Etters for Tallahassee Democrat
Hawaii: “Former OHA Trustee Rowena Akana Hit with $23K Ethics Fine” by Anita Hofschneider for Honolulu Civil Beat
Missouri: “Missouri House Passes Bill on Closing Public Records” by Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) for Jefferson News Tribune
Virginia: “Virginia Sen. Tommy Norment Was an Editor for VMI Yearbook Filled with Racist Photos and Slurs” by Katherine Hafner, Elisha Sauers, and Dave Ress for The Virginian-Pilot
Lobbying
Colorado: “High Cost of Influence: $33 million spent last year lobbying Colorado lawmakers” by Eric Garcia for Denver Post
February 8, 2019 •
News You Can Use Digest – February 8, 2019
National: Inaccurate Claims of Noncitizen Voting in Texas Reflect a Growing Trend in Republican States Stamford Advocate – Amy Gardner (Washington Post) | Published: 2/6/2019 When Texas officials announced in January that as many as 58,000 noncitizens may have voted illegally in […]
National:
Inaccurate Claims of Noncitizen Voting in Texas Reflect a Growing Trend in Republican States
Stamford Advocate – Amy Gardner (Washington Post) | Published: 2/6/2019
When Texas officials announced in January that as many as 58,000 noncitizens may have voted illegally in state elections over nearly two decades, top Republicans, including President Trump, quickly warned about the prevalence of voter fraud and the need to crack down on it. But just as quickly, the numbers stopped adding up. The secretary of state’s office called local election officials to say thousands of people on the list were in fact American citizens, eligible to vote. The episode is the latest in bungled attempts by states to show that huge numbers of noncitizens are registered to vote and have cast ballots in U.S. elections.
‘It’s the Human Way’: Corruption scandals play out in big cities across U.S.
New York Times – Richard Fausset, Monica Davey, and Tim Arango | Published: 2/5/2019
Four of America’s largest cities – Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia – are under the cloud of major federal corruption investigations. The probes raise questions about whether there can be any lasting cure for the chronic corruption problems that seem to dog big cities, so often dominated by a single party or political machine. The Chicago and Los Angeles metropolitan areas are the two most corrupt in the U.S., based on the number of federal public corruption convictions from 1976 to 2016. Philadelphia comes in at number eight. Atlanta did not make the top 10, but the city’s political atmosphere is influenced by the conviction of former Mayor Bill Campbell on tax evasion charges stemming from an earlier corruption investigation.
Federal:
Firms Recruited by Paul Manafort Investigated Over Foreign Payments
MSN – Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 2/5/2019
Federal prosecutors in New York have been investigating payments to three law and lobbying firms recruited by Paul Manafort to help improve the image of the president of Ukraine. The previously unreported interviews are among the latest developments in the investigation of key figures who worked at the three firms: Mercury Public Affairs, the Podesta Group, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. The case has drawn interest in Washington in part because of the prominence of the three main figures, each of whom has played high-profile roles in politics and lobbying. But it has also sent shock waves through the lobbying industry by underscoring an aggressive legal crackdown on lobbyists and lawyers who do lucrative work representing foreign governments without registering as foreign agents.
K Street in Overdrive as Investigations Ramp Up
The Hill – Alex Gangitano | Published: 2/7/2019
Lawmakers this year are vowing to press companies across diverse industries on a number of hot-button issues, including how technology companies are handling consumer data, how the nation’s companies have benefited from the tax law, and how drug makers set their prices. For corporations, a public inquiry into their practices, often with top executives hauled before Congress and cameras, is a worrying prospect. More than ever, businesses are coming to lawyers on K Street to help them handle those unique challenges. Handling congressional investigations requires a complex team with lobbyists who can provide insight into what policymakers are thinking, as well as lawyers who know how to best protect a client’s rights.
Trump Inaugural Committee Ordered to Hand Over Documents to Federal Investigators
MSN – Maggie Haberman and Ben Protess (New York Times) | Published: 2/4/2019
Federal prosecutors in New York delivered a wide-ranging request for documents related to donations and spending by President Trump’s inaugural committee. Investigators showed interest in whether any foreigners illegally donated to the committee, as well as whether committee staff members knew such contributions were illegal, asking for documents laying out legal requirements for donations. Federal law prohibits foreign contributions to federal campaigns, PACs, and inaugural funds. Prosecutors also requested all documents related to vendors and contractors with the inaugural committee. The subpoena showed the investigations surrounding Trump, once centered on potential ties to Russia during the 2016 election, have spread beyond the special counsel’s office to include virtually all aspects of his adult life.
From the States and Municipalities:
California: Sebastian Ridley-Thomas’ Work as a Lobbyist Sparks Criticism in California Capitol
Los Angeles Times – Melody Gutierrez | Published: 2/4/2019
Former California Assemblyperson Sebastian Ridley-Thomas registered as a lobbyist in January, just weeks after an investigation supported claims that he sexually harassed two legislative staffers in 2016. When the allegations were made public, Ridley-Thomas’ first client, the Los Angeles Unified School District, canceled his four-week, $15,000 contract for work in Sacramento. While the Legislature spent much of the past year creating new sexual harassment policies and procedures for lawmakers and its employees, the conduct of lobbyists was largely unaddressed. A lobbyist found to have sexually harassed a legislative staffer or lawmaker might be restricted from going to certain parts of the Capitol, but the Legislature’s power is limited beyond that, said Assemblyperson Laura Friedman.
Connecticut: When the Governor’s Adviser Is Married to a Lobbyist
Connecticut Mirror – Mark Pazniokas | Published: 2/1/2019
Colleen Flanagan Johnson is the senior adviser to Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and is married to Michael Johnson, a lobbyist at Sullivan & LeShane. In consultation with the Office of State Ethics and the Lamont administration, Flanagan Johnson said she will not meet with any of her husband’s two dozen clients, and she and her husband will not talk about his clients and the issues on which he lobbies. Flanagan Johnson and Ryan Drajewicz, the governor’s chief of staff, also will decide on a case by case basis if she needs to completely recuse herself from any issue “to avoid even the appearance of a potential conflict-of-interest.” Under the ethics code, which is established by state laws that have not changed in decades, there is no legal bar to Flanagan Johnson acting on any issue of importance to her husband or his employer.
Florida: A Florida Politician Allegedly Made a Habit of Licking Men’s Faces. She’s Now Resigned.
Washington Post – Antonia Noori Farzan | Published: 2/6/2019
Madeira Beach Commissioner Nancy Oakley is being accused of sexually harassing a former city manager. The Florida Commission on Ethics said Oakley possibly violated state law because she was “exhibiting inappropriate behavior” when she licked Shane Crawford’s face at a fishing tournament. The report said there was testimony from multiple witnesses saying Oakley also touched Crawford inappropriately, and that she was intoxicated. Since the issue was brought to light, others have said Oakley behaved in a similar manner. The sponsor of the fishing tournament where Oakley allegedly licked the city manager said she had licked his face and the faces of volunteers at other fishing tournaments. Oakley resigned to avoid being fired.
Indiana: A State Election Panel Won’t Investigate Brian Bosma. Opponents Say the Process Is Rigged.
Indianapolis Star – Tony Cook and Kaitlin Lange | Published: 2/7/2019
The Indiana Election Commission declined to investigate House Speaker Brian Bosma’s use of campaign money to uncover unflattering information about a woman who claims she had a sexual encounter with him 27 years ago when she was an intern. A separate House Ethics Committee complaint is still pending. Those who filed the complaints say the process so far appears to be rigged in Bosma’s favor. Both the election and ethics proceedings have taken place largely outside public view and without any notice to those who filed the complaints, including the former intern and her attorney. Bosma and his team were permitted to submit dozens of pages of legal arguments and other materials to the election commission with no opportunity for the person who filed the complaint to respond.
Kentucky: After Democratic Kickback Scheme, State Lawmaker Pushes for Ethics Bill
Louisville Courier-Journal – Tom Loftus | Published: 2/5/2019
The bribery, kickbacks, and illegal campaign money revealed in the federal convictions of political operatives Tim Longmeyer and Jim Sullivan demand the General Assembly strengthen laws over those who lobby the state’s executive agencies, Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers said. Stivers said the legislation he introduced, Senate Bill 6, would be as a step toward reform by requiring disclosure of fees paid to lobbyists who attempt to influence executive agencies, just as fees paid to those who lobby the Legislature have been required to be disclosed for many years. Senate Bill 6 would also clarify what is already in state law – that an executive lobbyist cannot be paid on a contingency fee basis.
Massachusetts: Massachusetts Campaign Finance Regulators Prepared to Lower Unions’ Donation Limit
MassLive.com – Shira Schoenberg | Published: 2/4/2019
The Office of Campaign and Political Finance released draft regulations that would decrease the amount of money a union can contribute to a candidate in Massachusetts from $15,000 a year to $1,000 a year. Under state law until now, unions and trade associations could donate up to $15,000 to a candidate. Individuals can contribute up to $1,000 and businesses cannot give anything. Two business owners challenged the ban in court. They argued that businesses and unions should be subject to the same campaign finance restrictions. The Supreme Judicial Court upheld the ban on corporate contributions but noted state law is unclear regarding the different treatment of unions.
Missouri: Barred from Lobbying for Six Months, Ex-Missouri Rep Returns Anyway to Sway Lawmakers
Kansas City Star – Hunter Woodall | Published: 1/31/2019
Less than two months after resigning from office, former state Rep. Kevin Corlew returned to the Missouri Capitol to testify for a national organization in what one watchdog said is an act of stealth lobbying. Some experts question whether his appearance goes against the state’s “revolving door” law prohibiting former lawmakers from quickly returning to lobby their former colleagues in the Legislature. Corlew lost his re-election bid last fall. He then resigned in December, before his term was up, specifically to avoid a new law banning lawmakers from returning to the Capitol as lobbyists for two years after leaving office.
New Mexico: Bill Would Reveal the Cost of a Free Lunch for Lawmakers
Albuquerque Journal – Dan McKay | Published: 1/31/2019
Three proposals this year in the New Mexico Legislature would require more thorough reporting of how lobbyists are spending to influence lawmakers and the executive branch. House Bill 133 would require lobbyists to disclose the specific bills they lobbied for or against. House Bill 140 would require principles to file reports at the beginning of the session estimating how much they expect to spend on lobbying, including the compensation to the lobbyists themselves. Senate Bill 191, which was sent to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, would fix a loophole that allows lobbyists to spend $100 or less on, for example, buying lunch for a lawmaker without ever having to report such costs.
North Dakota: Legislative Lobbyists Feel Their Purpose Is Misunderstood
Inforum.com – Diane Newsberry (North Dakota Newspaper Association) | Published: 2/3/2019
North Dakota Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner said he had concerns about legislation that aims to limit the influence of lobbyists. The legislation comes as a result of last year’s ballot Measure 1, which amended the state constitution to set more guidelines about legislative ethics. Wardner cited wording in Measure 1 which may mean that if a citizen who comes to the Capitol to testify on behalf of themselves spends more than $201 in the process, that person would be classified as a lobbyist. Lobbyists feel they are often misrepresented, especially in public talks about ethics. Scott Meske, a lobbyist with public affairs firm Laventure, said his profession’s primary goal is to be a translator between his clients and lawmakers.
Virginia: Crisis Escalates in Virginia; Top 3 Democrats Under Fire
Associated Press – MSN | Published: 2/6/2019
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring acknowledged he put on dark makeup and wore a wig while an undergraduate of the University of Virginia in 1980, becoming the second statewide official to admit imitating an African-American. Within hours, Vanessa Tyson put out a detailed statement describing how Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax sexually assaulted her in 2004. Fairfax denies the allegations. The revelations came less than one week after the disclosure of a racist photograph on the yearbook page of Gov. Ralph Northam led to demands for his resignation. The string of scandals could have a domino effect on state government: If Northam and Fairfax fall, Herring would be next in line to become governor. After Herring comes House Speaker Kirk Cox.
February 7, 2019 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Colorado: “Democrats Want More Disclosure of Campaign Advertising, But Dark Money Remains an Issue” by Sandra Fish for Colorado Sun Ethics National: “‘It’s the Human Way’: Corruption scandals play out in big cities across U.S.” by Richard Fausset, […]
Campaign Finance
Colorado: “Democrats Want More Disclosure of Campaign Advertising, But Dark Money Remains an Issue” by Sandra Fish for Colorado Sun
Ethics
National: “‘It’s the Human Way’: Corruption scandals play out in big cities across U.S.” by Richard Fausset, Monica Davey, and Tim Arango for New York Times
National: “Case Closed Against Sen. Bob Menendez After Committee Finds That He Paid Back All Gifts” by Rodrigo Torrejon for Bergen Record
National: “Elizabeth Warren Apologizes for Calling Herself Native American” by Annie Linskey and Amy Gardner (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Anti-Corruption, Campaign Finance Reform Bills Preview Likely 2020 Campaign Theme” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call
Virginia: “Democrats Grapple with Fairfax Assault Accusation in #MeToo Era” by Jenna Portnoy, Laura Vozzella, and Antonio Olivo for Washington Post
Virginia: “Virginia Attorney General Herring Says He Wore Blackface in College” by Gregory Schneider and Laura Vozzella for Washington Post
Wyoming: “As Lawmakers File Financial Disclosures, House Wants More” by Angus Theumer Jr. for WyoFile.com
Lobbying
Kentucky: “After Democratic Kickback Scheme, State Lawmaker Pushes for Ethics Bill” by Tom Loftus for Louisville Courier-Journal
Oklahoma: “Senate Leader Puts Brakes on Lobbyist Parking at Capitol” by Barbara Hoberock for Tulsa World
February 6, 2019 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Trump Inaugural Committee Ordered to Hand Over Documents to Federal Investigators” by Maggie Haberman and Ben Protess (New York Times) for MSN Massachusetts: “Massachusetts Campaign Finance Regulators Prepared to Lower Unions’ Donation Limit” by Shira Schoenberg for […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Trump Inaugural Committee Ordered to Hand Over Documents to Federal Investigators” by Maggie Haberman and Ben Protess (New York Times) for MSN
Massachusetts: “Massachusetts Campaign Finance Regulators Prepared to Lower Unions’ Donation Limit” by Shira Schoenberg for MassLive.com
Ethics
National: A Lobbyist at the Trump Tower Meeting Received Half a Million Dollars in Suspicious Payments” by Emma Loop, Tanya Kozyreva, Anthony Cormier, John Templon, and Jason Leopold for BuzzFeed News
Kentucky: “The Curious Case of a Kentucky Cybersecurity Contract” by Daniel Desrochers (Lexington Herald-Leader) and Jessica Huseman for ProPublica
Maryland: “Olszewski Proposes Public Financing for Baltimore County Executive, Council Elections” by Alison Knezevich for Baltimore Sun
New York: “Former Assemblyman Joseph Errigo and Lobbyist Robert Scott Gaddy Indicted in Bribery Plot” by Gary Craig and David Andreatta for Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Lobbying
National: “Lean Job Market for Dems on K Street” by Alex Gangitano for The Hill
National: “Firms Recruited by Paul Manafort Investigated Over Foreign Payments” by Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) for MSN
New Mexico: “Governor Signs Lobbyist Disclosure Bill, Others Martinez Had Vetoed” by Andrew Oxford (Santa Fe New Mexican) for NMPolitics.net
February 5, 2019 •
Several Ethics Bills Introduced in Arkansas
Arkansas State Senators introduced several ethics bills on February 4, 2019. If passed, Senate Bill 260 prohibits direct contributions between PACs and Senate Bill 259 prevents a person elected or appointed to a constitutional office from forming more than one […]
Arkansas State Senators introduced several ethics bills on February 4, 2019.
If passed, Senate Bill 260 prohibits direct contributions between PACs and Senate Bill 259 prevents a person elected or appointed to a constitutional office from forming more than one PAC.
Senate Bill 256 prohibits an elected state official from registering as a lobbyist in any jurisdiction while serving as an elected state official.
Senate Bill 249 increases the fines for violating ethics laws the Arkansas Ethics Commission may levy at violators from $2,000 to $3,500.
Additionally, the State Representatives introduced House Bill 1374.
House Bill 1374 prohibits a former Legislator from registering as a lobbyist or entering into employment as the director of an educational cooperative or area agency on aging for two years after the expiration of his or her term of office.
February 5, 2019 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Illinois: “Aldermen Named in Secretly Recorded Chat Admit Sending Business to Reyes’ Firm” by Fran Spielman for Chicago Sun-Times Mississippi: “Lt. Governor Candidate Hughes Sidesteps Campaign Finance Reform Law He Pushed for in 2017” by Luke Ramseth for […]
Campaign Finance
Illinois: “Aldermen Named in Secretly Recorded Chat Admit Sending Business to Reyes’ Firm” by Fran Spielman for Chicago Sun-Times
Mississippi: “Lt. Governor Candidate Hughes Sidesteps Campaign Finance Reform Law He Pushed for in 2017” by Luke Ramseth for Jackson Clarion-Ledger
Ethics
Arkansas: “State Lawmakers Roll Out Ethics Reform Package to Address Capitol Corruption” by Wesley Brown for talkbusiness.net
Louisiana: “Politics and the Suite Life for Saints Playoffs? Insiders Got Wish Granted by Gov. Edwards” by Tyler Bridges for New Orleans Advocate
Lobbying
Alabama: “Economic Developers Seek Extension, Expansion of Lobbying Exemption” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser
California: “Sebastian Ridley-Thomas’ Work as a Lobbyist Sparks Criticism in California Capitol” by Melody Gutierrez for Los Angeles Times
Connecticut: “When the Governor’s Adviser Is Married to a Lobbyist” by Mark Pazniokas for Connecticut Mirror
New Mexico: “Bill Would Reveal the Cost of a Free Lunch for Lawmakers” by Dan McKay for Albuquerque Journal
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.