July 27, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 27, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
IRS Says It Will Examine Rules for Nonprofit Political Activity
Lawyers Raking in Cash as Campaign Spending Hits Records
Millionaire Political Donors Club: Where are the women?
From the States and Municipalities:
California
San Bernardino County: Campaign finance reform boosted by bill
Connecticut
Campaign Money Scandal Rattles Congressional Race
Georgia
Governor Admits to Ethics Violations
Nevada
Americans for Prosperity May Have Opened Donors to Public Scrutiny by Entering State Race
Pennsylvania
Pa.’s Tough, New Voter ID Law Lands in Court
Pennsylvania
SEPTA Says It Didn’t Think It Had to Report Lobbyist Spending
Utah
ALEC Conservatives Reject Charges of Corporate Cronyism
Vermont
Vermont AG: No limits for independent expenditure PACs
Wisconsin
Prosser Converts Campaign Account to Legal Defense Fund
State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.
News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.
July 26, 2012 •
Hollywood, Fla. Lobbying Ordinance Takes Effect August 1
Current registered lobbyists must file new registration statement
Hollywood’s new lobbyist ordinance takes effect August 1, 2012. Lobbyist registrations now expire yearly, and will be effective from August 1 to July 31 of the following year. All current lobbyist registrations will expire July 31, 2012, and a new registration statement must be filed.
There will also be an annual registration fee of $50 for each principal or client identified on the registration statement, except for those principals or clients that do not compensate the lobbyist for lobbying. Lobbyists who do not receive compensation are now required to register.
The city clerk will also offer electronic filing of lobbyist registrations beginning August 1.
July 19, 2012 •
Connecticut Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board Plans Random Audits of Client Lobbyists
Audits expected to be completed by the end of the fiscal year
The Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board announced its plans to audit 10 randomly selected client lobbyists. All communicator lobbyists associated with the selected client lobbyists will also be audited. Client lobbyists are those who pay for lobbying services on their behalf, and communicator lobbyists are those who receive payment from a client lobbyist for lobbying services.
As part of its press release, the board noted that between January 1 and July 1, 2012, lobbying expenditures exceeded $31 million.
The selection will be made at the board’s meeting on July 19, 2012, and all audits are expected to be completed by the end of the fiscal year. The list of lobbyists to be audited will be available on the Office of State Ethics website after the random drawing.
July 16, 2012 •
Monday Lobbying News Roundup
Keep up with the latest lobbying news with these articles:
“50 politicos to watch: Lobbyists” by Abby Phillip in Politico.
California: “Calif. lobbyist believes his attempt to buy sports team sparked identity theft scheme” by Dale Kasler in the Boston Herald.
Connecticut: “Connecticut businesses, lawmakers, keep ties to controversial group” by Ana Radelat by the CT Mirror.
Kansas: “Lobbyist spending in Topeka grows 14 percent” by Brad Cooper in the Kansas City Star.
North Carolina: “Brubaker’s resignation last week allows him to begin lobbying sooner, Fitzsimon notes” by Rob Christensen in the News Observer.
Pennsylvania: “New website tracks lobbying money in Philly politics” by Zack Seward in WHYY Newsworks.
July 12, 2012 •
Thursday News Roundup
Jack Abramoff gets a radio show and more lobbying and campaign finance news.
Lobbying
“Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who spent years in prison, gets radio show for Clear Channel” by The Associated Press in The Washington Post.
Campaign Finance
“Senate Dems offer new version of DISCLOSE Act to fight Citizens United ruling” by Pete Kasperowicz in The Hill.
“Democrats push for campaign finance disclosure, again” by Tomer Ovadia in Politico.
“FEC Gridlock No Help to Obama Campaign” by Justin Worland in Roll Call.
Connecticut: “Feds indict Braddock, claim conspiracy began last year” by Mark Pazniokas in the CT Mirror.
District of Columbia: “Mayor Vincent C. Gray knew of campaign finance violations in January, sources say” by Mike DeBonis and Nikita Stewart in The Washington Post.
Montana: “Mont. ballot initiative advocates ban on corporate money in elections” by Jessica M. Karmasek in LegalNewsline.
July 10, 2012 •
Hawaii Passes Law to Increase Government Participation
Revolving door provisions relaxed
Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie signed House Bill 2175 into law, exempting certain people from the state’s revolving door provisions.
In an effort to increase participation amongst the state’s experts and those with special knowledge, the law exempts members of a state task force from the revolving door provisions. A task force is a group which is created to study a specific problem for a specified period of time.
The law will take effect immediately.
Photo of Governor Abercrombie courtesy of Wikipedia.
July 5, 2012 •
Jack Abramoff Gives Advice
and other lobbying news today
“Jack Abramoff: Healthy ruling for lobbyists” by MJ Lee in Politico.
“Maryland lobbying totals led by gambling interests” by Annie Linskey in the Baltimore Sun.
“Groups Admit to Lobbying Illegally to Aid Mayor’s Plans” by Ray Rivera in The New York Times.
Take a look at The Hill’s “Lobbying World” news summary.
“Common Cause files complaint against Minnesota Majority” by Jennifer Brooks in the Star Tribune.
Video courtesy of Politico.
June 29, 2012 •
News You Can Use Digest – June 29, 2012
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
Federal:
After Winning Right to Spend, Political Groups Fight for Secrecy
Court Upholds Ban on Corporate Political Contributions
GOP Lawsuit Challenges Campaign Contribution Caps
From the States and Municipalities:
California: Cudahy Arrests Add Salt to L.A. County Area’s Civic Wounds
Connecticut: Malloy, Legislature Make Last Stab at Campaign Reform
Florida: Tom Lee Wants Back in the Senate, to the Chagrin of Some Lobbyists
Illinois: U of I Professor Relents, Will Take Ethics Training Developed by ‘Unwise Rulers to Annoy Us’
Montana: Supreme Court Reaffirms Citizens United, Tosses Montana Corporate Spending Ban
Nebraska: Special Interests Spent $14 Million to Influence State Government
New York: Supreme Court Declines to Hear NY Campaign Finance Case
South Carolina: State Ethics Law Has Disclosure Gaps
Vermont: Federal Judge Dismisses Vermont Campaign Finance Challenge
State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.
News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.
June 28, 2012 •
Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission Recommends Changes in Ethics Law
Recommendations submitted to legislative research commission
The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission has submitted a recommendation to the legislative research commission for several changes to the code of legislative ethics.
The recommended changes include:
- requiring employers of lobbyists to report the cost of advertising supporting or opposing legislation that appears during a session of the general assembly, if the cost is paid by an employer of lobbyists or a person affiliated with an employer;
- prohibiting employers of lobbyists and PACs from making campaign contributions to legislative candidates or legislators during a regular session of the general assembly, and prohibiting lobbyists from directly soliciting contributions for an election campaign of a legislator or legislative candidate;
- repeal the provision allowing each lobbyist and employer to spend up to $100 annually on food and beverages for each legislator and his or her immediate family, and prohibit lobbyists and employers from paying for out-of-state travel, food, or lodging expenses for legislators or candidates; and
- limiting the interaction between lobbyists and candidates who have filed to run for election to the general assembly, who are currently not subject to the $100 limit on food and beverage or prohibition on receiving anything of value from a lobbyist or employer.
June 18, 2012 •
Monday Campaign Finance and Lobbying News Summary
Start the week off right with these latest news items:
Campaign Finance
“‘Citizens United’ Case Gets Renewed Scrutiny” by David Welna on NPR.org.
“Post-Watergate campaign finance limits undercut by changes” by Dan Eggen in the Washington Post.
“Will Text-Message Fundraising Revolutionize the Political Cash Game?” by Alex Roarty in the Atlantic.
Connecticut: “Common Cause slams Malloy veto of campaign finance bill” by Mark Pazniokas in CTMirror.org.
Florida: “High school students create a super PAC” by Lane DeGregory in the Miami Herald.
Tennessee: “Many TN lawmakers have deeper pockets than challengers” by Elizabeth Bewly on WBIR.com.
Lobbying
“Does ALEC influence politics, laws?” by Dana Beyerle in the Tuscaloosa News.
Arkansas: “Ethics reform emerging in partisan politics” by Rob Moritz in Arkansas News.
Georgia: “Lobbyist fined for $17,000 European trip with Ralston” by Doug Richards in WXIA News.
Rhode Island: “Lawmakers Pocketed Thousands from Lobbyists in May” by Dan McGowan in GoLocalProv.
June 13, 2012 •
Missouri Has New Online Campaign Finance Search Tool
And more campaign finance, lobbying, and government ethics news today:
“Ethics Commission offers new campaign finance search tool” by Mike Lear in MissouriNet.
“2 Campaigns Chasing Funds at Frantic Pace” by Ashley Parker and Helene Cooper.
“Entrepreneurs, small lobby shops challenging K Street’s old guard” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
Arkansas: “Backers optimistic about ethics measure; GOP lawmaker questions proposal” by Jeff Arnold in the Arkansas News.
Connecticut: “Connecticut lawmakers return for special session” by Susan Haigh (Associated Press) in the Norwich Bulletin.
June 12, 2012 •
Today’s Lobbying News
Keep up with the latest lobbying news articles:
“Washington’s Top Lobbying Groups Hire Mostly Men: BGOV Barometer” by Jonathan D. Salant and Jennifer Prince in Bloomberg News.
“Study: Lobbying bad for business?” by Tim Mak in Politico.
Here is the original study the above article references: “Corporate political giving doesn’t pay” by Amy Hodges in Rice University News & Media.
“K Street: ‘Let’s meet’; Hill staffers: ‘Text me’” by Dave Levinthal in Politico.
“The State of K Street: Work in the Shadows – Lobbying Rules That Were Meant to Regulate the Industry Have Spawned the Emergence of the Unlobbyist” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.
New York: “Lobbyists directed contributions” by Jimmy Vielkind in the Albany Times Union.
New York: “Lobbyists gave state pols $1.8M” by Erik Kriss in the New York Post.
“Are politicians too rich to understand us?” by Timothy Stanley on CNN.
“Hotel industry’s top lobbyist bringing it back to Main Street” by Elise Viebeck in The Hill.
June 11, 2012 •
Monday News Roundup
Start the week off right with the latest government relations news:
“Text Messages as Campaign Finance Reform?” by Quentin Fottrell in the Wall Street Journal.
“The Politics of Social Networking” by Damon Eris on the Independent Voter Network.
“At Meeting of Left’s Online Activists, Weighing Impact of Attack Ads” by Sarah Wheaton in The New York Times.
Alaska: “Will Citizens United result in Big Oil deciding who wins Alaska elections?” in the Alaska Dispatch.
District of Columbia: “Ex-D.C. Council Chairman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud” by Tom Schoenberg in Bloomberg.
Georgia: “Taking the Pledge – Most see need for lobbyist gift cap” in the Marietta Daily Journal.
Kansas: “Voters will see big changes from new redistricting plan” by Scott Rothschild in the Lawrence Journal World.
New York: “Analysis: $2M gambling bet puts focus on lobbyist” by The Associated Press in The Wall Street Journal.
June 11, 2012 •
Virginia Launches New Lobbyist Disclosure System
Replaces previous online system
The secretary of the commonwealth’s office launched a new online lobbyist disclosure system Monday, June 11, 2012. The new system, available here, replaces the previous online filing system.
Lobbyists will use the account they created for the new registration system last month to access the online disclosure system. The new system allows lobbyists to sign their disclosure form electronically, and does not require a hard-copy signature follow-up.
The secretary of the commonwealth’s office strongly encourages lobbyists to file their disclosure statements electronically rather than mailing a hard copy.
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.