Lobbying

California: “EBay Faces Fines from State Ethics Watchdog after Failing to Disclose Sacramento Lobbying on Time” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

Maine: “Proposal Would Require PACs to Disclose Major Donors” by Steve Mistler for Maine Public Radio

Wisconsin: “After Conviction, Schmitt May Not Seek Re-election” by Adam Rodewall for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ethics

“Trump Sold All Shares in Companies in June, Spokesman Says” by Drew Harwell and Rosalind Helderman for The Washington Post

California: “L.A. Ethics Commission Investigating LAPD’s Watchdog Over Handling of Special Inmate’s Jail Log” by Kate Mather for Los Angeles Times

Florida: “Broward Corruption Cop Sets Up Fight with Cities Over Ethics Reforms” by Brittany Wallman for South Florida Sun Sentinel

Minnesota: “10 U Officials Had Free Access to MSFA Suites at Vikings Stadium” by Rochelle Olson for Minneapolis Star Tribune

Elections

Colorado: “Amendment 71 Made It Harder to Get Initiatives on the Ballot – What Happens Now?” by Brian Eason for The Denver Post

Redistricting

“Justices Wrestle with Role of Race in Redistricting” by Adam Liptak for The New York Times

After months of taunting the public, a special session may happen in late December.

Recently, four Minnesota legislative caucus leaders met with Gov. Mark Dayton and tentatively agreed to a special session. The primary purpose of the session will address Minnesota’s 59 percent increase on its individual health insurance market premiums.

Along with insurance premiums, the special session will address both a vetoed tax bill and a failed bonding bill from the 2016 regular session. While the official date has yet to be announced, the special session will likely occur around December 20, 2016.

A special election for House District 32B will be held on Feb. 14, 2017.

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Republican Robert Barrett was ineligible to run for the office because he did not reside in District 32B for six months immediately preceding the Nov. 8, 2016, general election.

Fellow Republican Anne E. Neu will replace Barrett to run against Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidate Laurie J. Warner.

After negotiations on Thursday broke down, Gov. Mark Dayton announced no special session will take place.

Republican leaders would not agree to a special session to fund a light rail project, while Democrats would not agree to holding the session without approval for the project.

The result is a tax bill that would have provided $260 million in tax breaks for certain groups will not be passed this year.

Photo of the Minnesota State Capitol dome by Mulad on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Mark Dayton previously hoped to call a special session of the Legislature during the third week of August.

Lawmakers have been unable to agree on key issues, including a controversial light rail bill, so no special session is currently scheduled for this week.

Dayton will meet again with leadership from the Legislature on Thursday, in what he has said may be the last meeting to discuss a special session.

The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board has named Jeffrey Sigurdson as its new executive director.

He currently serves as a member of the Campaign Finance Board and has previously worked in the election division of the Secretary of State’s Office.

Sigurdson will replace current Executive Director Gary Goldsmith, who is retiring from the position.

Gov. Mark Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, and House Speaker Kurt Daudt have tentatively agreed to call a special legislative session during the third week of August.

The governor and lawmakers have met several times since the Legislature adjourned in late May to work through details of approving a tax bill and bonding bill.

While the three men were able to reach an agreement regarding the tax bill during a meeting last week, negotiations on the bonding bill must continue before the governor will announce a definitive date for the special session.

Photo of the Minnesota State Capitol by Jonathunder on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Mark Dayton has reappointed Emma Greenman and Peggy Leppik to the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.

Both women have previously served as members of the board, but due to the appointment and confirmation process in Minnesota, both were required to step down from their positions when they were not confirmed by the Senate before the end of the 2016 legislative session.

After the governor’s appointment, board members are allowed to serve pending confirmation by the Legislature, so Dayton has effectively restored both to their positions, and the confirmation process will begin again during the next regular session of the Legislature.

A special session is now unlikely until after the primary elections, due to lawmakers’ increasingly busy schedules.

Lawmakers have sought a special session to pass tax and bonding bills since adjourning the regular session in May, but Gov. Mark Dayton required agreement on several issues before he was willing to call the session.

To date, Dayton and lawmakers have been unable to reach an agreement on those issues.

Gov. Mark Dayton has outlined several conditions legislators must meet before he will call a special legislative session.

In a letter sent to House and Senate leaders, Dayton indicates they must agree on several points in the priority subjects of transportation, taxes, and numerous omissions in supplemental budget and bonding bills before he will call the session.

Several lawmakers have requested a special session after the Legislature recessed last month without passing an important bonding bill, but only Dayton has the authority to call the session.

The Legislature adjourned sine die at midnight after a long day on Sunday, May 23.

Prior to adjournment, $260 million of a $900 million budget surplus was allotted to tax credits and cuts for parents, farmers, businesses, and college students. Lawmakers also passed extra spending measures for broadband internet infrastructure development and a statewide voluntary preschool program. Despite several last minute efforts, the Legislature could not come to agreement on a bonding bill to fund construction and transportation projects prior to the end of the session.

A special session could be called soon to address the bonding bill.

In an effort to repair and modernize Minnesota’s campaign finance system, House Democrats have announced their intention to introduce a state constitutional amendment requiring disclosure of all election-related spending. The bill would require disclosure for contributions and expenditures made for communications clearly identifying a candidate, as well as the use of words or phrases of express advocacy.

Mailings, ads, or anything a reasonable person would interpret to be advocating for or against a candidate will also be required in the disclosure.

Similar bills have been previously introduced, but have defeated. If the proposal is passed it will then be added to the upcoming November ballot for voter approval.

Photo of the Minnesota Capitol Building by Jonathunder on Wikimedia Commons.

A special election has been set on February 9, 2016, to replace Representative Ann Lenczewski. Lenczewski, who represented District 50B, is leaving at the end of the year to take a government relations job.

If a special primary election is necessary, it will be held on January 12. The special election to replace Lenczewski will fall on the same day as a special election for Senate District 35, filling the vacant seat after the resignation of state Senator Branden Petersen.

Gov. Mark Dayton has requested state lawmakers to return to work in a special legislative session.

Dayton penned a letter to members of the Minnesota Legislature asking them to address the need to help out-of-work miners in the state.

In Minnesota, special sessions can be called by the governor.