August 23, 2024 •
News You Can Use Digest – August 23, 2024
National/Federal Are Voters Ready to Elect a Woman? Democrats Say They Have No Doubt. DNyuz – Jennifer Medina (New York Times) | Published: 8/22/2024 The first time Kamala Harris ran for president, in 2019, one question dogged her and the handful of […]
National/Federal
Are Voters Ready to Elect a Woman? Democrats Say They Have No Doubt.
DNyuz – Jennifer Medina (New York Times) | Published: 8/22/2024
The first time Kamala Harris ran for president, in 2019, one question dogged her and the handful of others running to be the first female president: can a woman win? Three years earlier, Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump after a campaign she and her defenders believed was rife with misogyny and sexism. The question of whether Democrats wanted to try to break the gender barrier again was a running and fraught debate for months. Those doubts have mostly been banished this time.
He Regulated Medical Devices. His Wife Represented Their Makers.
DNyuz – Christina Jewett (New York Times) | Published: 8/20/2024
For 15 years, Dr. Jeffrey Shuren was the Food and Drug Administration official charged with ensuring the safety of a vast array of medical devices. Consumer advocates see his tenure as marred by the approval of too many devices that harmed patients and by his own close ties to the $500 billion global device industry. While Dr. Shuren regulated the booming medical device industry, his wife, Allison Shuren, represented the interests of device makers as the co-leader of a team of lawyers at Arnold & Porter, one of Washington’s most powerful law firms.
The Year of the A.I. Election That Wasn’t
DNyuz – Sheera Frenkel (New York Times) | Published: 8/21/2024
This was supposed to be the year of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) election. Moe than 30 tech companies have offered AI products to national, state, and local campaigns in recent months. The companies make products that reorganize voter rolls and campaign emails, expand robocalls, and create AI-generated likenesses of candidates. But campaigns are largely not biting, and when they have, the technology has fallen flat. Much of the hesitation stems from internal campaign polls that found voters were nervous about AI and distrusted the technology.
SEC Fines Texas Investment Adviser $95k for ‘Pay to Play’ Rule Breach
Investment News – Leo Almazora | Published: 8/20/2024
A Texas-based investment adviser was fined $95,000 by the Securities and Exchange Commission after an investigation found the firm in violation of the “pay-to-play” rule under the Advisers Act. The violations stem from improper campaign contributions made by a newly hired associate, which ultimately led to Obra Capital Management illegally providing advisory services to a government client.
Justice Department Signals Plan to Salvage Obstruction Charges in Some Jan. 6 Cases
MSN – Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 8/21/2024
The Justice Department said it plans to press ahead with obstruction charges against two January 6 defendants despite the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that limited the scope of a federal statute making it a felony to obstruct many government proceedings. Prosecutors contended they can still prove the two defendants are guilty of obstructing Congress even under the high court’s narrow interpretation of the law. The defendants, Don and Shawndale Chilcoat, are accused of surging with the mob onto the Senate floor during the riot at the Capitol.
Democrats Signal Voting Rights Bills Will Top the Agenda If Harris Wins
MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 8/22/2024
Democratic leaders say passing sweeping legislation to expand voting rights and curb gerrymandering will be at or near the top of their governing agenda should Vice President Kamala Harris win the presidency this fall in a blue wave that also ushers in unified control of Capitol Hill. To do so, they are willing to bypass the filibuster, a staple of the Senate the party increasingly sees as one among a litany of tools that Republicans have used to thwart the popular will.
Fake Accounts on Meta Pushed Conservatives to Run for Office as Independents
MSN – Naomi Nix (Washington Post) | Published: 8/15/2024
A network of social media accounts used Meta to promote a fictitious political advocacy group that attempted to recruit conservative candidates to run as independents, part of a rush of campaigns infiltrating the platform. Meta removed dozens of social media accounts and pages amplifying Patriots Run Project. The social media influence operation, one of six Meta reported taking down, illustrates the looming threats facing online platforms as they prepare for the 2024 election. Along with domestic actors, foreign actors including Russia are renewing efforts to influence political discourse in the United States, according to Meta.
House GOP Accuses Biden of Impeachable Conduct with No Direct Evidence
MSN – Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) | Published: 8/19/2024
House Republicans released a long-awaited report from their impeachment probe into President Biden’s activities as vice president, accusing him of obstructing federal and congressional investigations and improperly leveraging his power to benefit his family. Despite a trio of House committees finding Biden engaged in “impeachable offenses,” Republicans did not recommend further action just three months away from an election in which Biden is no longer running. The report failed to unearth any new evidence the president, during his time as vice president, directly acted to benefit his family’s business dealings.
Former US Rep George Santos Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Identity Theft in His Federal Case
MSN – Philip Marcello (Associated Press) | Published: 8/19/2024
Former U.S. Rep. George Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, short-circuiting the federal fraud case that led to his expulsion from Congress just weeks before it was set to go to trial. He faces more than six years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines and owes at least $370,000 in restitution. Santos was indicted on felony charges that he stole from campaign donors, used political contributions to pay for personal expenses, lied to Congress about his wealth, and collected unemployment benefits while working.
FBI Concludes Iran Tried to Hack Campaigns of Trump, Biden-Harris
MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 8/19/2024
The FBI and U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed Iran was responsible for recent attempted hacks into the Trump and Biden-Harris presidential campaigns. Campaign staffers received phishing emails that were designed to appear legitimate but could give an intruder access to the recipients’ communications.
Women Running for Office Are Talking About Their Reproductive History, Once Seen as a Liability
MSN – Dylan Wells and Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) | Published: 8/20/2024
Up and down the ballot, women running for office this year are talking about their own reproductive health, sharing their experiences with IVF, miscarriage, and abortion – topics that for years on the campaign trail were considered, at best, uncouth and, at worst, potentially damaging. But after the Supreme Court reversed abortion protections two years ago, that calculus has changed. Democrats in particular hope candidates speaking about their personal experiences will help them connect with voters.
Sen. Ted Cruz’s Campaign Says It Will Return Tens of Thousands in Illegal Donations
San Antonio Current – Sanford Nowlin | Published: 8/14/2024
The treasurer of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s reelection campaign confirmed in a letter to the FEC that it took 43 illegal donations during the second quarter and is now taking steps to refund them. In the letter, Ted Cruz for Senate Treasurer Cabell Hobbs also promised the campaign would look into contributions made by a pair of unregistered organizations and also refund them in 30 days if they were “not made with federally permissible funds.”
Harris and Trump Shield Their Big Campaign Fund-Raisers from the Public
Seattle Times – Theodore Schleifer (New York Times) | Published: 8/20/2024
American voters have less knowledge about the people helping the 2024 presidential candidates raise money than they have had in any election in 20 years. That is because, for the first time in modern presidential fundraising, neither the Democratic nor the Republican nominee has disclosed the names of so-called bundlers, the people who amass large financial contributions for presidential campaigns and, in the eyes of transparency advocates, wield significant power in campaigns and presidential administrations.
From the States and Municipalities
Anchorage Daily News – Iris Samuels | Published: 8/19/2024
Alaska’s legislative ethics committee will consider new state laws after an individual who filed a complaint against a lawmaker said his identity was revealed online, leading to derogatory comments from one of the lawmaker’s supporters. Ivan Hodes said he filed a complaint against Rep. David Eastman alleging Eastman had violated laws prohibiting legislators from accepting campaign contributions during the legislative session. Hodes said that one of Eastman’s supporters posted a screenshot of the complaint form, including Hodes’ name.
Arizona – A Desperate Kennedy Campaign, and the Mystery of 110,000 Signatures
DNyuz – Rebecca Davis O’Brien (New York Times) | Published: 8/20/2024
A longtime friend of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent candidate for president, delivered boxes carrying 110,000 signatures to election officials in Arizona, to secure ballot access in a critical battleground state. A vast majority of those signatures were not gathered by local volunteers, or by paid canvassers working for the campaign. Instead, they came from a super PAC backing Kennedy that gathered signatures in Arizona months ago but set them aside after their efforts prompted legal challenges. Coordination between super PACs and campaign committees is banned under federal law.
Arizona – Kari Lake Promising Donors Extravagant Matches for Campaign Contributions. Does It Happen?
MSN – Laura Gersony (Arizona Republic) | Published: 8/19/2024
U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake is part of a group of candidates who this year are making promises of donation-matching that are even more sensational than the industry norm, and likely are not materializing, according to people who work in the fundraising industry and a review of records. Lake is one of several candidates tied to a fundraising firm whose campaigns have leaned on digitally delivered claims hey will boost a donation’s “impact” by massive multipliers.
Arizona – Apache County Attorney, School Superintendent Indicted on Corruption Charges
MSN – Robert Anglen and Elena Santa Cruz (Arizona Republic) | Published: 8/20/2024
The Apache County attorney and the school superintendent were indicted on public corruption charges, including misuse of public money and conflicts-of-interest. Michael Whiting and his wife, Joyclynn Whiting, are accused of improperly using their offices for political and personal gain. An investigation by the Arizona Republic found Michael Whiting took anti-bullying campaign materials paid for by taxpayers on overseas trips to further his relationship with a Norwegian popstar named Dagny. The indictment accuses Michael Whiting of tapping county attorney funds to purchase campaign material for his wife.
California – Campaign Contribution Limits for West Covina City Council Candidates Upheld
Courthouse News Service – Michael Gennaro | Published: 8/16/2024
A federal judge upheld an ordinance in the Southern California city of West Covina that limits contributions to city council candidates to $500 per year. The plaintiff, council candidate Rambod Sotoodeh, said the ordinance “significantly limited” his ability to run an effective campaign. U.S. District Judge Michael Fitzgerald ruled the city satisfied its burden in showing a “sufficiently important governmental interest” in the contribution limit.
California – Do Outgoing Legislators ‘Shop’ for Lobbying Jobs in Final Weeks of the Session?
MSN – Ryan Sabalow (CalMatters) | Published: 8/15/2024
A review of the 180 California lawmakers who left office since 2012 reveals around 40 of them registered as lobbyists, worked as political consultants, or took executive-level jobs with companies or organizations actively lobbying at the Capitol. Experts say the prospect of current lawmakers’ job hunting as they are voting on bills raises concerns their future employers could influence their votes in the final weeks of the session. There are no requirements for legislators to disclose if they are negotiating or have a new employment agreement with an outside organization trying to influence state polic
California – Local News Is Dying, but Not in San Francisco
Spokane Spokesman-Review – Eli Tan (New York Times) | Published: 8/16/2024
News deserts are growing across the country, and over half of counties in the United States now have just one or no remaining news outlet. But in San Francisco, local news is seeing a resurgence thanks to a willingness to experiment. Half-century-old neighborhood news organizations are becoming nonprofits. Others are banking on the help of wealthy supporters. As local news driven by advertising revenue declines, news sites are relying on subscriptions to fill in the gaps.
District of Columbia – D.C. Council to Investigate White Amid Bribery Allegations, Consider Expulsion
MSN – Meagan Flynn and Michael Brice-Saddler (Washington Post) | Published: 8/19/2024
District of Columbia Council member Trayon White Sr. is accused by federal prosecutors of agreeing to accept a total of $156,000 in cash and kickbacks this summer in exchange for using his influence and position on the council to try to help a pair of companies lock down lucrative city contracts involving violence prevention. The allegations threaten White’s political future months before he was expected to coast to a third term, while adding another chapter to the District of Columbia’s annals of alleged corruption or misdeeds.
Florida – Florida Supreme Court Allows for Ballot Language Abortion-Rights Activists Fought
MSN – Arek Sarkissian (Politico) | Published: 8/21/2024
The Florida Supreme Court rejected a request to strike a financial statement tied to a ballot initiative seeking to expand abortion access after that statement was revised with the help of anti-abortion advocates. Financial impact statements rarely see much attention as a ballot initiative moves toward Election Day. But the stakes around Amendment 4 are higher than other measures. It seeks to abolish a ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy that Republicans approved last year.
Florida – A Lobbyist Paid for City’s $594 Supper. Then Came the Warning about Broward’s Gift Prohibitions.
NewsBreak – Lisa Huriash (South Florida Sun-Sentinel) | Published: 8/16/2024
A paid lobbyist paid for a $594 meal for Tamarac city leaders during an excursion to Washington, D.C., a reminder of how elected officials must stay vigilant about the limits on accepting gifts, according to the Broward Office of the Inspector General. The findings were outlined in a report that shows the city’s lobbyist, Valerie Gelnovatch-Massolo of The Ferguson Group, arranged a nine-person dinner on March 29, 2023. The inspector general noted how Broward’s elected officials should be mindful of the ethics code, which prohibits accepting any gift with a value that exceeds five dollars from a lobbyist, vendor, or contractor.
Florida – Sarasota City Commission Votes Down Ordinance for Formal Lobbying Rules
Yahoo News – Christian Casale (Sarasota Herald-Tribune) | Published: 8/19/2024
A proposed ordinance to establish formal lobbying rules in Sarasota failed a city commission vote. A majority of commissioners argued the proposal entailed too much regulation for an issue they did not consider to be a big problem. Regulation of lobbying by corporate interests has been pushed by Commissioner Erik Arroyo. He said while many people who present their views to the commission are citizens genuinely concerned about their community, there remains uncertainty about those who might represent “interests beyond the common welfare.”
Georgia – This Georgia Republican Defied Trump. Now He’s Fighting a Defamation Suit.
DNyuz – Nick Corasaniti (New York Times) | Published: 8/16/2024
Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, has been forced to spend $500,000 defending himself in court for having stood up to Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The only way to spare himself from the defamation lawsuit he has been fighting, he and his lawyer say, would be to lie. The lawsuit centers on a video that purported to show election fraud in Georgia. Multiple news media outlets and the secretary of state’s office have debunked the claims of election fraud made in the presentation to legislators.
Georgia – State Supreme Court Rules Open Records Act Applies to Private Contractors Working for Governments
Georgia Recorder – Jill Nolin | Published: 8/14/2024
A Georgia Supreme Court’s decision reversing a lower court’s ruling that a private contractor was exempt from the state Open Records Act is being hailed as a win for open government. The court ruled unanimously that a private contractor working for a public entity is still subject to the law and can be sent requests for public records they may possess.
Hawaii – A Maui County Appointee Oversaw Grants to Nonprofits Tied to Her Family Members
Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 8/15/2024
Two nonprofits with family ties to Luana Mahi, an economic development director for Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, won more than $1 million in county grants overseen by Mahi since she was appointed in 2023. Mahi’s husband was paid directly under a county grant for a watershed project. A company owned by her son was hired to manage that grant. Another one of her son’s nonprofits got a $44,000 grant from the county to build a “Maui Wall of Fame” now in the Kahului Airport.
Kentucky – ‘Deeply Uncomfortable & Increasingly Unsafe:’ Women allege harassment by KY lawmaker
Yahoo News – Austin Horn and Alex Acquisto (Lexington Herald-Leader) | Published: 9/20/2024
Three more women have come forward to detail specific instances of alleged sexual harassment by state Rep. Daniel Grossberg, even as Kentucky officials continue to investigate previous allegations of improper interactions. The three women, all involved in the political scene in Frankfort, contacted the Lexington Herald-Leader after its initial story where other women said Grossberg sent them unwanted “creepy” and “weird” text messages they said crossed ethical lines.
New Jersey – After Ex-N.J. Mayor’s Indictment, City Revising Rules That Could Help Pay for Her Defense
MSN – Matthew Enuco (New Jersey Advance Media) | Published: 8/16/2024
Two months after the former mayor of Camden was indicted in a sweeping corruption case, the city is revising rules that could help pay for her legal expenses. The city council gave initial approval to changes that lifts a fixed cap on legal expenses and offers legal defenses to former employees and officials. The change also specifically notes criminal matters. Former Mayor Dana Redd was indicted on racketeering charges along with George Norcross III, a Democratic powerbroker, his brother, and two others.
New Jersey – Feds Investigate Property Flip Involving Two New Jersey State Senators
Yahoo News – Matt Friedman (Politico) | Published: 8/15/2024
Federal authorities are investigating a real estate deal involving two state senators in New Jersey who bought public land and then flipped it for seven times the original price. One of the companies that flipped the property, Nova Investments, is listed as a major source of income by state Sen. Michael Testa on his financial disclosure forms. Another company, Dotia Investments, was registered by state Sen. Doug Steinhardt, and is listed on his financial disclosure form. He was not a senator at the time of the purchase but was when the property was sold.
New York – Eric Adams and His Campaign Receive Subpoenas in Federal Investigation
DNyuz – William Rashbaum and Dana Rubinstein (New York Times) | Published: 8/15/2024
Federal prosecutors investigating New York City Mayor Eric Adams and his 2021 campaign have served a new round of grand jury subpoenas in their long-running corruption inquiry, issuing them to Adams himself, to City Hall, and to his election committee. The subpoenas contain similar language and seek information in a number of areas, including travel by the mayor, his aides and others, as well as campaign fundraising.
New York – Letitia James Fights to Preserve Trump’s Penalty of Over $450 Million
DNyuz – Kate Christobek and Ben Protess (New York Times) | Published: 8/21/2024
The New York attorney general’s office urged a state appellate court to uphold a more than $450 million civil fraud judgement against Donald Trump, arguing the punishment was needed to protect “the integrity of the marketplace.” Attorney General Letitia James defended a judge’s February ruling that Trump conspired to inflate the value of his properties to receive favorable loans and other financial benefits. Trump, the attorney general’s office has argued, exaggerated his net worth by as much as $2.2 billion in any given year.
North Carolina – More Questions for Robinson. Store Says Reported Campaign Purchases Never Happened.
Carolina Public Press – Sarah Michels | Published: 8/21/2024
During North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s 2020 campaign, he claimed to spend $2,374 at Lake Outfitters for “campaign clothes and accessories.” The five transactions, recorded on his expenditure reports with the State Board of Elections, spanned eight months. The owners of Lake Gaston Outfitters, located at the recorded address, say those purchases never happened. “… We sell kayaks. We wouldn’t have anything here in our store that he would want,” said the owner, Dave Blodgett. The transactions are part of a larger investigation into Robinson’s 2020 campaign for lieutenant governor.
North Dakota – Holmberg Case Causes North Dakota Lawmakers to Review Travel Policies
North Dakota Monitor – Mary Steurer | Published: 8/12/2024
Former North Dakota Sen. Ray Holmberg’s guilty plea on a charge related to child sex tourism may prompt a review of rules governing lawmaker travel, House Majority Leader Rep. Mike Lefor said. Holmberg confessed in federal court to taking several trips to Prague with the intent to pay for sexual contact with children. Some of those visits line up with cultural exchange trips funded by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and organized by the North Dakota School Boards Association. Travel records even suggest some of his flight tickets to Prague were paid for with state money.
Ohio – Ohio Ballot Board OKs Language for Redistricting Issue; Backers Say It Will Deceive Voters
Yahoo News – Jessie Balmert (Cincinnati Enquirer) | Published: 8/16/2024
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office proposed loaded ballot language for the redistricting reform measure, including references to manipulating the boundaries of legislative districts and repealing constitutional protections against gerrymandering. The proposed ballot language for state Issue 1 paints a picture of a measure that encourages rather than curbs gerrymandering, defined as drawing lines to unfairly favor one political party over another.
Oregon – Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez Spent Thousands in City Funds to Polish Wikipedia Page
MSN – Shane Dixon Kavanaugh (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 8/9/2024
Rene Gonzalez, the Portland city commissioner and mayoral candidate, recently paid $6,400 to spruce up his profile on Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia maintained by volunteer editors. He did so using taxpayer dollars. Gonzalez’s office at City Hall hired a New York-based company to develop a handful of requested edits to the Wikipedia page and train a “designee” on the submission process.
Rhode Island – RI Prisons Director Agrees to Pay Penalty After Failing to Disclose Out-of-State Travel
MSN – Eli Sherman (WPRI) | Published: 8/20/2024
Rhode Island Department of Corrections Director Wayne Salisbury agreed to pay a $200 penalty after failing to disclose out-of-state travel paid for by third parties as required by law. The ethics investigation was launched after Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers President Richard Ferruccio filed a complaint in June. The investigation found Salisbury omitted the out-of-state travel and did not amend the filings until after the media reached out with questions.
Texas – Ken Paxton Sues to Shut Down Houston Immigration Nonprofit for Posts Criticizing Trump, Abbott
MSN – Benjamin Wermund (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 8/15/2024
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is trying to shut down an immigrants rights group in Houston, alleging it is “systematically” flouting nonprofit rules. It is the latest attempt by the attorney general to shutter groups aiding immigrants in Texas. But the drive against FIEL Houston takes a new tact, arguing the group has run afoul of federal rules governing how far nonprofits can go in seeking to influence legislation, and barring certain nonprofits from backing political candidates.
Utah – Utah Senate, House Approve Proposal to Put Question to Voters on Ballot-Initiative Process
KSL – Tim Vandenack | Published: 8/21/2024
The Utah Senate and House passed a measure to put a constitutional amendment proposal to voters that, if passed, would give lawmakers leeway to revise and change citizen-led ballot initiatives. Republican leaders say the change is key in checking the ability of special interest groups to insert language in ballot questions meant to benefit them. Critics see the move as an attempted power grab by Republican lawmakers and a blow to the authority of citizens to pursue ballot initiatives.
Virginia – Chesapeake Mayor Asked City Attorney to ‘Look Into’ Stepbrother’s Personal Legal Issue
WHRO – Ryan Murphy | Published: 8/15/2024
In 2022, Chesapeake Mayor Rick West got an email from his stepbrother asking for a favor. He wondered if the mayor could have city attorneys look into a legal issue he ran into while building on a property in Georgia. “I have wasted a pile of money already … and do not want to waste another [$3,000 to $10,000] dollars to find out there is nothing we can do legally,” Jonathan West wrote. Rick West took his stepbrother’s request to then-City Attorney Jay Stroman. Ethics experts say what West did likely was not illegal under Virginia’s lax ethics laws for public officials, but it does raise red flags.
July 26, 2024 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 26, 2024
National/Federal Can Robert Menendez’s Bribery Conviction Survive an Appeal? DNyuz – Benjamin Weiser (New York Times) | Published: 7/22/2024 With U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, found guilty of corruption charges, his lawyers say they will appeal his conviction aggressively and believe he will […]
National/Federal
Can Robert Menendez’s Bribery Conviction Survive an Appeal?
DNyuz – Benjamin Weiser (New York Times) | Published: 7/22/2024
With U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, found guilty of corruption charges, his lawyers say they will appeal his conviction aggressively and believe he will be vindicated. Defense lawyers make such claims routinely, but in the realm of federal corruption cases, they may have reason to be optimistic. The U.S. Supreme Court, in rulings since 2010, has narrowed the legal definition of corruption, resulting in a number of convictions of political figures being overturned.
The Secret Battle for the Future of the Murdoch Empire
DNyuz – Jim Rutenberg and Jonathan Mahler (New York Tims) | Published: 7/24/2024
Rupert Murdoch is locked in a legal battle against three of his children over the future of the family’s media empire, as he moves to preserve it as a conservative political force after his death. Murdoch made a surprise move to change the terms of the irrevocable family trust to ensure his eldest son and chosen successor, Lachlan, would remain in charge of his collection of television networks and newspapers. He is arguing in court that only by empowering Lachlan to run the company without interference from his more politically moderate siblings can he preserve its conservative editorial bent, and thus protect its commercial value for all his heirs.
Corporate Donors Swarm GOP Convention: ‘It’s like a cocktail party’
MSN – Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 7/18/2024
Many corporate donors treated Trump as a pariah after attack on the Capitol and decried his efforts to overturn the election. But now that Trump is the Republican standard-bearer, more than 300 executives and lobbyists attended the convention as guests of his campaign. Lobbyists from more than a dozen prominent firms attended the convention as guests of the Trump campaign’s host committee. To get in the boxes, donors must have written large checks or have promised big donations.
Election Officials Frustrated Trump Allies Suddenly Care About Rhetoric
MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 7/19/2024
Soon after Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt, many of his prominent supporters placed blame not on the gunman who pulled the trigger but on President Biden, other Democrats. or journalists who have described the former president as a threat to democracy. But for years, election workers felt ignored as they described how Trump’s verbal attacks on the nation’s election systems resulted in threats of violence and terrorizing harassment. Now, Trump’s prominent supporters were paying attention to the potential ramifications of rhetoric but without acknowledging how their words had contributed to the nation’s toxic divisions.
Democrats Coalesce Around Harris, as She Kicks Off Bid with Attacks on Trump
MSN – Toluse Olorunnipa (Washington Post) | Published: 7/22/2024
The Democratic Party largely coalesced around Vice President Kamala Harris as its likely new presidential nominee as she kicked off her campaign by promising to prosecute a forceful case against Donald Trump and defend the legacy of President Biden. Harris secured pledges of support from a majority of Democratic National Convention delegates, a strong show of unity behind her presidential campaign that signals she is likely to officially become the party’s nominee in August.
FCC Commissioner Wrote a Project 2025 Chapter – Democrats Want Him Investigated Over It
MSN – Alison Durkee (Forbes) | Published: 7/17/2024
House Democrats called for an ethics investigation into Federal Communications Commission leader Brendan Carr, arguing he improperly used his office after he authored a chapter in the controversial Project 2025 policy agenda that lays out a blueprint for former Donald Trump to overhaul the executive branch. Carr’s actions may have violated ethics laws for federal employees and the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from using their office for political activities, the lawmakers argued.
Secret Service Director Cheatle Resigns with ‘Heavy Heart’ After Trump Rally Shooting
MSN – Maria Sacchetti, Carol Leonnig, Nick Miroff, and Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 7/23/2024
U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. The attack was the first against a U.S. leader on the elite protective agency’s watch in more than 40 years. Cheatle, a veteran Secret Service agent, had called the security failure involving a gunman shooting from an apparently unsecured roof at a Trump campaign rally on July 13 unacceptable and acknowledged “the buck stops with me.”
$30 Million Gift Will Fund Center to Push for Supreme Court Overhaul
MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 7/23/2024
A business executive and philanthropist pledged $30 million to launch a first-of-its-kind center pushing to overhaul the Supreme Court, after a series of ethics controversies and conservative rulings prompted rising scrutiny of the justices. The major gift from Jim Kohlberg, chairperson of a private equity firm, will fund research, public outreach, and policy advocacy over a decade at the Brennan Center for Justice. The announcement comes amid a flurry of Democratic activity related to reshaping the court.
Bob Menendez to Resign Senate Seat Following Federal Bribery Conviction
MSN – Abbie Cheeseman and Nicole Markus (Washington Post) | Published: 7/23/2024
Sen. Bob Menendez plans to resign effective August 20. He was convicted of taking bribes from three businesspeople who showered him and his wife with cash, gold bars, and a Mercedes-Benz, an extravagant bounty for his help securing deals with foreign officials and trying to derail several criminal investigations in New Jersey. A jury found Menendez guilty on 16 felony counts, including bribery, extortion, and working as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt.
Trump Allies Crush Misinformation Research Despite Supreme Court Loss
MSN – Cat Zakrzewski and Naomi Nix (Washington Post) | Published: 7/24/2024
A legal campaign led by allies of Donald Trump is attempting to cast the study of misinformation as part of a broader conspiracy to censor conservative voices online. It has transformed the daily life and work of those who worked at tracking election misinformation online, a field now reeling as the 2024 presidential race enters its final months. False rumors and disinformation have proliferated online as the nation reels from the assassination attempt on Trump and President Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
GOP Eyes Legal Challenges as Harris Assumes Control of Biden’s War Chest
MSN – Maeve Reston (Washington Post) | Published: 7/21/2024
Within hours of President Biden announcing his decision to leave the race, his reelection committee submitting an amended filing to the FEC changing its name to “Harris for President” so Vice President Harris would have access to the millions of dollars in the fund. Several campaign finance lawyers aligned with Republicans argue the campaign does not have legal authority to do that and the maneuver is all but certain to be challenged before the FEC or in court.
Biden’s 50 Years in Politics Defined by Triumph, Tragedy and a Reluctant Exit
MSN – Toluse Olorunnipa (Washington Post) | Published: 7/21/2024
President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race marks the sunset of a consequential career in public service that spanned more than 50 years. The move caps a turbulent journey in Washington for a self-described “great respecter of fate” who acquiesced to the conclusion drawn by many Democratic leaders and allies that, at 81 and showing increasing signs of aging, he did not have a viable path to defeating Donald Trump.
DOJ Review Blames Stone Sentencing Flip on Poor Leadership, Not Politics
MSN – Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 7/24/2024
The Justice Department’s inspector general blamed “ineffectual leadership” and not political interference for the softening of Roger Stone’s sentencing recommendation in February 2020 after his conviction for lying to Congress. The report upheld an account by then-Attorney General William Barr but also found that line prosecutors’ suspicions of political meddling by Donald Trump’s administration were not unreasonable.
Ex-Mass. Congressional Candidate Sentenced for Using Campaign Donations to Pay Debts
MSN – Susannah Sudborough (MassLive) | Published: 7/23/2024
Abhijit Das, a former Massachusetts congressional candidate, was sentenced to 21 months in prison with a fine of $25,000 for breaking federal campaign finance law, including by using political donations to pay back money he owed from running his hotel business. While running for office in December 2017, he devised a scheme to inflate his fundraising numbers that involved asking for personal loans from friends over the $2,700 limit set by federal law.
Ethics Commissions: Obliging government to control itself
National Conference of State Legislatures – Helen Brewer and Adam Kuckuk | Published: 7/23/2024
Government makes rules for the people, but who makes the rules for the government? In the Federalist Papers, James Madison saw this issue as one of the greatest challenges in creating a republic: “You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.” One of the many ways state governments are obliged to control themselves is through ethics commissions. How these commissions are structured, the jurisdiction they have, how they operate, and what they cover varies greatly by state.
Campaign Finance Watchdog Raises Alarm About Recent FEC Super PAC Decisions
Ohio Capital Journal – Nick Evans | Published: 7/24/2024
Some campaign finance experts argue the FEC is fundamentally broken and is taking a wrecking ball to campaign spending rules. For years, the agency moved at a glacial pace and often deadlocked when it came to enforcement decisions. But more recently, a majority of commissioners have begun issuing decisions that consistently roll back political spending restrictions.
Activist Group Files Ethics Complaint After Member Accused of Accosting GOP Lawmaker
Yahoo News – Yash Roy (The Hill) | Published: 7/18/2024
Activist group Code Pink submitted a complaint against U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden to the House ethics committee over now-dismissed battery charges. The Milwaukee County district attorney’s office dismissed the misdemeanor battery charge against Code Pink activist Nour Jaghama after Van Orden accused her in a social media post of assaulting him outside the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
From the States and Municipalities
Canada – Influencers Put on Notice, Guelph Lobbyist Registry Moves Forward
Guelph Today – Richard Vivian | Published: 7/24/2024
The Guelph City Council voted to establish a municipal lobbyist registry. The registry, which will come into being on October 1 but not be enforced until January 1, requires lobbyists with a financial interest to publicly report each time they attempt to influence a council member, along with identifying their employer and details about the subject at hand.
California – Democrats Run the California Capitol. When the Party Backs a Bill, Lawmakers Pay Attention
CalMatters – Ryan Sabalow | Published: 7/22/2024
The California Democratic Party is a multimillion-dollar powerhouse whose endorsements and campaign money can make or break a politician’s aspirations for state or federal office. The party also regularly throws its weight around on individual pieces of legislation in the state Capitol, where Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers. Few other organizations have weighed in on more legislation, making the party, whose primary function is electing Democrats, one of the most prolific, and successful, lobbying organizations at the statehouse.
California – Mark Farrell Doubles Down on Practice of Commingling Campaign Funds
Mission Local – Kelly Waldron | Published: 7/24/2024
San Francisco mayoral candidate Mark Farrell has continued a practice his opponents say amounts to skirting campaign finance limits. He pooled $160,895 in expenses between his mayoral race and a ballot measure he is backing. Rival campaigns allege this effectively allows Farrell to access larger sums from big-money donors, who are not hamstrung by the city’s contribution limits on giving to candidates directly.
California – Stockton Drafting Possible Transparency Rules for Political Consultants After Grand Jury Report
MSN – Aaron Leathley (Stockton Record) | Published: 7/18/2024
The Stockton City Council members took a first step toward creating new transparency rules for political consultants and possibly establishing a city ethics commission. The council’s legislative committee told interim City Clerk Katherine Roland to draft policies that would require consultants working with local candidates and politicians to reveal basic information about their businesses and clients.
California – LA County Supervisors Back a Ballot Measure to Add 4 Seats, Elect a County CEO
MSN – Steve Scauzillo (Los Angeles Daily News) | Published: 7/23/2024
Despite mounting opposition, a ballot measure that would increase the number of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from five to nine members, create an elected, not appointed, county executive officer, and establish an ethics commission received its first vote of approval. It needs a second and final vote that is set for July 30 and the sweeping governance reform, the first multi-pronged charter reform package in more than 100 years that will change the face of county government, will go before voters on November 5.
California – Rep. Ken Calvert Has Secured Millions for His Riverside County District. Do His Own Properties Benefit?
Yahoo News – Laura Nelson (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 7/22/2024
Since Congress brought back the legislative process known as earmarking in 2022, few lawmakers have been as successful at securing funds for their district as Rep. Ken Calvert, who has been in Congress longer than any other California Republican. He has funneled more than $100 million since then into projects in his Riverside County district. The earmarks include $16 million in planned transportation improvements that fall within several miles of rental properties Calvert owns, raising questions about the extent to which he personally benefits from the earmarks he has secured.
Colorado – Colorado Campaign Donation Limits Case to Be Decided Later This Year
Colorado Sun – Sandra Fish | Published: 7/24/2024
A federal judge will decide after the November 5 general election whether Colorado’s political donation limits for candidates are legal. Three Republicans are challenging the limits enacted by voters in 2002 claiming they violate the First Amendment by limiting donors’ freedom of speech. Senior U.S. District Court Judge John Kane rejected their attempt to suspend the limits immediately.
District of Columbia – D.C. Prosecutor Accused of Misconduct at Trials of Anti-Trump Protesters
MSN – Peter Herman (Washington Post) | Published: 7/24/2024
A federal prosecutor who oversaw sweeping arrests of anti-Trump demonstrators in the nation’s capital manipulated evidence alongside a District of Columbia police detective in an apparent attempt to strengthen the case, according to an office that investigates misconduct complaints against attorneys in the city. Jennifer Kerkhoff Muyskens worked with a detective, Greggory Pemberton, to edit video of people planning protests of the president’s 2017 inauguration, and later falsely told the court about it, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel alleges.
Georgia – Georgia Democrats Sue to Overturn Law Allowing Unlimited Campaign Cash, Saying GOP Unfairly Benefits
MSN – Jeff Amy (Associated Press) | Published: 7/19/2024
Georgia Democrats are suing to overturn the ability of Gov. Brian Kemp and others to raise unlimited political contributions and spend them on behalf of any political cause. The Democratic Party of Georgia filed a federal lawsuit that asks a judge to declare a 2021 law that created leadership committees is unconstitutional because it unfairly gives unlimited fundraising powers to some people but not others.
Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 7/24/2024
Hawaii banned contributions from contractors in 2005, but the Legislature wrote a loophole into the law that allowed officers, owners, employees, and family members to continue donating. A media investigation this year found nearly one-fifth of all campaign donations made since 2006 came from people tied to contractors. Efforts to close the loophole failed in the last two legislative sessions. Citing the New York Times and Honolulu Civil Beat investigation, lawmakers and government watchdog groups have said they will take up the issue again next year.
MSN – Jason Meisner, Ray Long, and Megan Crepeau (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 7/22/2024
Attorneys for Michael McClain asked that he be severed in his upcoming racketeering trial with former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, revealing for the first time that Madigan’s legal team may be planning to throw McClain under the bus. The motion said McClain’s right to a fair trial was in peril due to a theory of Madigan’s defense that would essentially make them “second prosecutors,” putting McClain in the position of having to defend himself not only from government accusations but his co-defendant too.
Maine – Republican Lawmaker Escapes Penalty for Repeatedly Missing Campaign Finance Deadlines
Yahoo News – Randy Billings (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 7/24/2024
A state lawmaker will not face any penalties for routinely failing to file timely campaign finance reports for his PAC. The Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices ruled Rep. Richard Campbell violated state law. But commissioners were not able to assess a financial penalty because Campbell’s Building the Maine House PAC has not actively raised or spent money for the last four years.
Maine – Maine Lawmakers Want to Rein in Vague ‘Concept Bills,’ Late-Night Votes
Yahoo News – Randy Billings (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 7/19/2024
A group of Maine lawmakers is considering a list of proposals to improve transparency and efficiency in the Legislature following the chaotic conclusion of this year’s session. The potential rule changes include capping the number of bills that can be submitted, limiting the use of placeholder bills that lack policy specifics, and putting an end to late-night votes, especially on the state budget.
Maryland – Baltimore County Spending $550K to Shield 2020 Settlement to Brother of County Executive’s Friend
MSN – Cassidy Jensen and Lia Russell (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 7/17/2024
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr.’s administration secretly paid his friend’s brother an $83,675 settlement after backing out of an agreement to increase the retired firefighter’s pension, which county lawyers said would have violated state law. Now, the administration could pay more than $500,000 in a court fight to keep secret details about the settlement. Former County Administrative Officer Fred Homan sued the county, alleging officials violated the Maryland Public Information Act by withholding documents he requested related to the settlement.
Mississippi – Mississippi Ordered to Create More Black Districts, Hold Special Elections Next Year
MSN – Taylor Vance (Biloxi Sun Herald) | Published: 7/19/2024
The Mississippi Legislature must adopt new state Senate and House maps with Black-majority districts during its 2025 session and conduct elections to fill those new seats, a federal three-judge panel ruled. The judges previously ruled the districts drawn in 2022 by the Legislature diluted Black voting strength. The State Board of Election Commissioners argued the elections should take place next year because it would be nearly impossible to redraw the districts in time for November elections.
Missouri – Kehoe Campaign for Missouri Governor Riding on Bus Owned by Lobbyist for Chinese Pork Producer
Yahoo News – Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) | Published: 7/21/2024
In his campaign for governor, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe has promised voters he will stop China “from buying up our farmland.” He is doing so while traveling the state in a bus owned by Jewell Patek, a former legislator who is the only Missouri lobbyist employed by the Chinese business that owns a significant chunk of agricultural land in the state. The cost of using Patek’s bus is not listed among the expenses reported in Kehoe’s latest campaign finance report.
Montana – Montana Attorney General Didn’t Violate Campaign Finance Rules, Elections Enforcer Says
MSN – Amy Beth Hanson (Associated Press) | Published: 7/19/2024
Commissioner of Political Practice Chris Gallus said Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen did not violate any laws after he was reported to have recruited Logan Olson to run against him for campaign finance purposes. The contribution limit for the attorney general’s race is $790, but candidates can receive twice that from individuals if they have a primary opponent. Gallus said did not have evidence to show Olson was not a “bona fide” candidate or that he was offered any “payment or promise” for running.
New York – Elected Official Charged with Biting NYPD Officer
MSN – Jeff Coltin (Politico) | Published: 7/17/2024
New York City Council member Susan Zhuang was arrested on charges she bit a deputy police chief while protesting a planned homeless shelter in her Brooklyn district. Zhuang’s communications director, Felix Tager, said “Zhuang was arrested after trying to protect an 80-year-old woman” who was being pushed up against the barricades. NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell disagreed, saying the woman had laid herself under the barricade.
New York – Contributions That Exceed Legal Limits Poured into Eric Adams’ Campaign
The City – Greg Smith | Published: 7/19/2024
Individuals on New York City’s official “doing business” list donated more than the limit to Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign and now his 2025 bid for re-election. Donors who exceeded the $400 cap have had the excess money refunded following review by the Campaign Finance Board well after the campaign has touted its fundraising hauls in competitive races. In addition to banning corporate contributions, amendments to the city charter gave the board the power to regulate donations from individuals involved in city business.
Ohio – Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens Scores Temporary Legal Win in Fight Over Campaign Account
MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 7/23/2024
Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens scored an unexpected legal win as a state appeals court temporarily held up a lower-court injunction stripping him of control over the chamber’s campaign arm. It throws an unexpected hurdle in the way of attempts by a majority of Republicans to wrest control of the Ohio House Republican Alliance’s from Stephens, who was elected speaker last year with the support of only about one-third of his caucus as well as every Democrat.
Oregon – The Feds Warned Oregon Officials That a Report on Alcohol Taxes Was Fundamentally Flawed
Willamette Week – Lucas Manfield | Published: 7/24/2024
The director of the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Dr. Sejal Hathi, told lawmakers, advocates, and business leaders on a state Liquor and Cannabis Commission task force that her agency was wrong to bury a report that showed increasing taxes on beer and wine would do little to curb excessive drinking. The shelving of that report left the impression the OHA withheld it because it clashed with the agency’s desire to hike taxes to reduce excessive drinking. The report was not just politically inconvenient. According to some scientists, it was also flawed because it was based on research funded by the alcohol industry.
Tennessee – Tennessee Election Finance Board to Subpoena Members of Constitutional Republicans
Tennessee Lookout – Sam Stockard | Published: 7/24/2024
Dissatisfied with a state attorney general’s investigation, the Registry of Election Finance is set to subpoena members of the Tennessee and Sumner County Constitutional Republicans to have them explain how they operate without registering as a PAC. A complaint accuses the groups of acting like a PAC by making expenditures for candidates or issues but refusing to register with the state. Five people spoke to a state investigator, but three others declined.
MSN – Zach Despart (Texas Tribune) | Published: 7/23/2024
Three decades following its inception, the Texas Ethics Commission is toothless. Compliance with ethics laws is largely voluntary. That is because the agency relies on the Texas attorney general to enforce payment of fines for violations. Under Ken Paxton, who himself owes $11,000 in ethics fines, that has rarely happened. A review by The Texas Tribune found the number of politicians, lobbyists, and PACs that owe fines for breaking state campaign finance laws has exploded in recent years.
April 17, 2023 •
Minnesota Considers Bills to Overhaul Lobbyist Reporting
The Minnesota Legislature is considering two bills proposing an overhaul to the lobbyist reporting requirements. Senate File 1636 requires lobbyist principals to report the total amount, spent by the principal during the preceding calendar year on each of four types […]
The Minnesota Legislature is considering two bills proposing an overhaul to the lobbyist reporting requirements.
Senate File 1636 requires lobbyist principals to report the total amount, spent by the principal during the preceding calendar year on each of four types of lobbying:
- Lobbying to influence legislative action
- Lobbying to influence administrative action
- Lobbying to influence official action of political subdivisions
- Lobbying to influence administrative action in cases of rate setting, power plant and powerline siting, with no rounding of the amounts, so lobbyist principals will be reporting actual amount spent for each category of lobbying.
House File 1723 requires lobbyist principals to report the total amount, rounded to the nearest $10,000 spent by the principal during the preceding calendar year on each of four types of lobbying:
- Lobbying to influence legislative action
- Lobbying to influence administrative action
- Lobbying to influence official action of political subdivisions
- Lobbying to influence administrative action in cases of rate setting, power plant and powerline siting, and granting of certificates of need for a large energy facility.
Currently principals are only required to report the total amount, rounded to the nearest $20,000, for all categories.
August 15, 2022 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Florida: “This Florida Utility’s Secret Cash Helped GOP Win Gainesville State Senate Seat” by Mary Ellen Klaus, Nicholas Nehama, and Ana Claudia Chacin for Miami Herald Elections Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Assembly Leader Axes 2020 Election Investigation After Beating Trump-Backed […]
Campaign Finance
Florida: “This Florida Utility’s Secret Cash Helped GOP Win Gainesville State Senate Seat” by Mary Ellen Klaus, Nicholas Nehama, and Ana Claudia Chacin for Miami Herald
Elections
Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Assembly Leader Axes 2020 Election Investigation After Beating Trump-Backed Primary Challenger” by Zach Montellaro (Politico) for Yahoo News
Ethics
National: “Under Fire, Homeland Security Watchdog Delays Probe – with GOP Help” by Lisa Rein (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Trump’s Secrets: How a records dispute led the FBI to search Mar-a-Lago” by Josh Dawsey, Rosalind Helderman, Jacqueline Alemany, and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) for MSN
California: “A Bay Area Councilman Had a 14-Year-Old as His Campaign Treasurer. Regulators Want to Put a Kibosh on That.” by Gabriel Greschler (Bay Area News Group) for MSN
New York: “Jury Selection Will Start in October for Trump Organization Criminal Trial” by Ilya Marritz for NPR
Ohio: “Unfilled Records Requests Hide the Full Story Behind Ohio’s Utility Corruption Scandal” by Kathiann Kowalski (Energy News Network) for WVIZ
Lobbying
Indiana: “Rokita Consultant Hired, But Facing $18,000 in Lobbyist Registration Fines” by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz for Indiana Capital Chronicle
September 7, 2021 •
Update to BC ORL Registry for Certain Coalition Reporting
On September 9, the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists for British Columbia (ORL) will implement a change to its online registry that will allow for streamlining the process for declaring certain coalition activities. The change involves answering additional questions […]
On September 9, the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists for British Columbia (ORL) will implement a change to its online registry that will allow for streamlining the process for declaring certain coalition activities.
The change involves answering additional questions regarding whether a lobbying activity being reported was a jointly signed or endorsed letter sent on behalf of one or more of the organizations listed in the associated registration return as members of a coalition to which the organization or client belongs. Rather than being reported by each of the coalition member of a joint letter, the letter will only need to be declared once as a coalition activity and only reported once by the organization or consultant lobbyist that communicated the joint letter to senior public office holders.
According to the ORL, a change in the online lobbying activity report forms will be visible to organizations that have declared in their registration returns that the organization is a member of a coalition. The change will also be visible to consultant lobbyists when they prepare lobbying activity reports for clients, if they have declared in the associated registration return that the client belongs to a coalition.
If an organization has not declared membership in a coalition, this change does not affect them. This change also does not affect consultant lobbyists whose clients are not members of coalitions.
April 12, 2021 •
Philadelphia Board of Ethics Releases 2021 Lobbying Training Schedule
On April 9, the Philadelphia Board of Ethics announced the 2021 lobbying training schedule. The virtual lobbyist training covers the basic requirements of the city’s lobbying law for lobbyists, lobbying firms, and principals. The training will also cover the process […]
On April 9, the Philadelphia Board of Ethics announced the 2021 lobbying training schedule.
The virtual lobbyist training covers the basic requirements of the city’s lobbying law for lobbyists, lobbying firms, and principals.
The training will also cover the process of registering and filing expense reports with the Board of Ethics through the Philadelphia Lobbying Information System (PLIS).
Currently, it is not mandatory to attend one of the 2021 lobbying trainings.
Registration for the lobbying training may be accomplished at http://bit.ly/BOELobbyTraining.
All trainings will be held from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. via Zoom on April 20, July 9, and October 14.
More dates may be added at a later time and dates are subject to change.
Questions regarding the schedule or training may be directed to the Board of Ethics at Lobbying@phila.gov or BOE.Training@phila.gov.
March 9, 2021 •
Federal In-House Lobbyists Registration Threshold Increased
One of the federal lobbying registration thresholds for organizations employing in-house lobbyists has been increased. Now, an organization employing in-house lobbyists whose total expenses in connection with lobbying activities do not exceed and are not expected to exceed $14,000 in […]
One of the federal lobbying registration thresholds for organizations employing in-house lobbyists has been increased. Now, an organization employing in-house lobbyists whose total expenses in connection with lobbying activities do not exceed and are not expected to exceed $14,000 in the quarterly period is not required to be registered. The previous level was $13,000. This threshold amount is adjusted every four years based on the Consumer Price Index.
The threshold amount for lobbying firms remains the same. A lobbying firm or individual lobbyist whose total income for matters relating to lobbying activities on behalf of a particular client does not exceed or is not expected to exceed $3,000 in the quarterly period is exempt from registration with respect to such client.
Other determinations for registration include whether a lobbyist is an individual who, with respect to a particular client, makes more than one lobbying contact and whose lobbying activities constitute at least 20% of the individual’s time in services for that client over any three-month period.
February 16, 2021 •
New York JCOPE Updates Online Filing System
On February 24, the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics plans to open the online Lobbying Application. Additionally, the commission will post updated paper forms for the submission of bimonthly reports. The writable PDF forms will be available to […]
On February 24, the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics plans to open the online Lobbying Application.
Additionally, the commission will post updated paper forms for the submission of bimonthly reports.
The writable PDF forms will be available to paper filers on the JCOPE website.
Due to changes in the lobbying regulations and to the online filing system, JCOPE is also allowing additional time to file bimonthly reports due in March.
Bimonthly reports covering the January 1 to February 28 reporting period will be considered timely if submitted by March 22.
The online system was also updated to improve functionality, transparency, and the filing process.
Changes made include removing the auto-population of lobbying activities reported on a registration to the filer’s bimonthly report; allowing filers to add additional information to an existing party name; adding a comprehensive drop-down menu of itemized expenses; an updated parties lobbied database; and also adding an expense chart for reporting coalition contributions by members of unstructured coalitions.
February 11, 2021 •
Nevada Legislature Introduces Bill to Revise Lobbyist Definition
The Nevada Assembly has introduced a bill to revise the definition of a lobbyist by removing the requirement to appear in person at the Capitol building or any other building the Legislature or their committees hold meetings. Assembly Bill 110 […]
The Nevada Assembly has introduced a bill to revise the definition of a lobbyist by removing the requirement to appear in person at the Capitol building or any other building the Legislature or their committees hold meetings.
Assembly Bill 110 will define a lobbyist as a person who communicates directly with a member of the Legislature on behalf of someone other than themselves to influence legislative action, whether or not any compensation is received.
Currently, lobbying is taking place virtually because the legislative session is closed to all but lawmakers, essential staff, and some members of the media.
However, lobbyist registration has not taken place because the definition required in person communication.
Assembly Bill 110 will revise the definition and allow the Legislative Counsel Bureau to open lobbyist registration and begin to regulate lobbying again.
February 5, 2021 •
Chicago Board of Ethics Extends Lobbyist Training Deadline
The Chicago Board of Ethics is further extending the deadline for completion of annual mandatory ethics training by registered lobbyists for the 2019-2020 training period to May 1, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The training is completed online using […]
The Chicago Board of Ethics is further extending the deadline for completion of annual mandatory ethics training by registered lobbyists for the 2019-2020 training period to May 1, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The training is completed online using a link available on the Board of Ethics website.
If a lobbyist terminates registration prior to the May 1 training deadline, training is not required, provided all reporting requirements have also been satisfied, including the final activity report.
February 2, 2021 •
FEC Updates Lobbyist Bundling Disclosure Threshold
Today, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) published its price index adjustments for expenditure limitations and the federal lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold. The lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold has increased for 2021 from $19,000 to $19,300. This threshold amount is adjusted annually. […]
Today, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) published its price index adjustments for expenditure limitations and the federal lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold.
The lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold has increased for 2021 from $19,000 to $19,300. This threshold amount is adjusted annually. Federal law requires authorized committees of federal candidates, leadership political action committees (PACs), and political party committees to disclose contributions bundled by lobbyists and lobbyists’ PACs.
Additionally, the FEC published its adjusted Coordinated Party Expenditure Limits for political parties for 2021.
January 28, 2021 •
South Dakota Annual Gift Limit for Lobbyists Increased
South Dakota Secretary of State Steve Barnett published the 2021 annual limit for lobbyist gifts to public officials. Each year, the annual cumulative value is adjusted. It is based on the change in the consumer price index for urban wage […]
South Dakota Secretary of State Steve Barnett published the 2021 annual limit for lobbyist gifts to public officials.
Each year, the annual cumulative value is adjusted.
It is based on the change in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for the year before the immediately preceding year.
The change for 2019 was 2.3%, making the newly adjusted cumulative gift limit $106.43 for 2021.
Public officials and members of their immediate families may not accept gifts with a cumulative value greater than $106.43 from any lobbyist or principal during the 2021 calendar year.
January 26, 2021 •
North Dakota Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Add Meal Reimbursement to Compensation
North Dakota Rep. Keith Kempenich is sponsoring a bill to add reimbursement for meals to the compensation received by lawmakers who live outside Bismarck. The bill is being proposed just as the lobbyist gift ban approved by voters in 2018 […]
North Dakota Rep. Keith Kempenich is sponsoring a bill to add reimbursement for meals to the compensation received by lawmakers who live outside Bismarck.
The bill is being proposed just as the lobbyist gift ban approved by voters in 2018 is taking effect.
Lawmakers are currently paid $518 a month and receive $186 per day they attend sessions or committee meetings, plus reimbursement for lodging during the session.
They are also included on the state-funded employee health plan.
If passed, the bill would become effective August 1, 2021.
January 4, 2021 •
North Dakota Attorney General Opinion Confirms Ethics Commission Authority
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem issued an opinion confirming the Ethics Commission is constitutionally authorized to create a rule expanding the definitions for “lobby” and “lobbyist” for purposes of the new gift rules. The opinion was issued in response to a […]
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem issued an opinion confirming the Ethics Commission is constitutionally authorized to create a rule expanding the definitions for “lobby” and “lobbyist” for purposes of the new gift rules.
The opinion was issued in response to a request for clarification from Ethics Commission Chairman Ron Goodman.
The definitions used by the commission in the new gift rules in the Administrative Code adopted in October are broader than those passed by the Legislature in House Bill 1521.
The Ethics Commission expanded the definition of lobby and lobbyist to include attempts to influence any public official, administrative rule, or regulation rather than just the Legislature and legislation.
The new rules are not intended to expand the definition of who should be required to be registered as a lobbyist.
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.