May 4, 2018 •
NYCU Video Digest – May 4, 2018
We know you don’t always have time to read news from all around the country, so here it is in this week’s 2 minute News You Can Use Video Digest!
We know you don’t always have time to read news from all around the country, so here it is in this week’s 2 minute News You Can Use Video Digest!
May 4, 2018 •
Pennsylvania Governor Announces Special Election
Gov. Tom Wolf announced a special election on the same day as the general election, November 6. The special election will fill the seats left open with the resignations of U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan and U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent. The […]
Gov. Tom Wolf announced a special election on the same day as the general election, November 6. The special election will fill the seats left open with the resignations of U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan and U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent.
The winners of the special election would complete the terms of the departing representatives for November and December of this year. The representatives elected during the general election will start their two-year term in 2019.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent decided to not seek re-election last year to spend more time with family and is expected to leave office this month.
U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan retired last Friday, after the U.S. House Ethics Committee opened an investigation earlier this year regarding the use of official congressional funds to pay a former staffer’s sexual harassment settlement.
March 29, 2018 •
Pennsylvania Voting Reform Plan Announced
This week, Gov. Tom Wolf announced what he called a 21st century voting reform plan. This announcement follows an ethics reform plan announced by Gov. Wolf earlier this month. The voting reform plan includes creating an independent commission to draw […]
This week, Gov. Tom Wolf announced what he called a 21st century voting reform plan. This announcement follows an ethics reform plan announced by Gov. Wolf earlier this month.
The voting reform plan includes creating an independent commission to draw electoral maps, expanded voting rights through simpler voter registration, and campaign finance reform.
The proposed campaign finance reform could include restrictions on contributions from political action committees and contribution limits.
Both Democratic and Republican legislators will be working to introduce bills towards the Governor’s efforts.
March 13, 2018 •
Pennsylvania Governor Introduces Ethics Reform Plan
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced his Citizen First ethics reform plan this week. Gov. Wolf, who took office in 2015, has been a proponent of broad ethics and government reform. The Citizens First ethics reform plan includes a gift ban […]
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced his Citizen First ethics reform plan this week. Gov. Wolf, who took office in 2015, has been a proponent of broad ethics and government reform.
The Citizens First ethics reform plan includes a gift ban for all public officials. Gov. Wolf already banned members of his administration from accepting gifts but is seeking a broader permanent ban to stop politicians from accepting unlimited gifts.
Along with a gift ban, the plan includes campaign finance reform creating contribution limits, restriction on political action committees, and heightened reporting requirements.
The proposed campaign finance reform would also include pay-to-play provisions requiring the disclosure of campaign contributions made by entities seeking contracts with the state.
February 14, 2018 •
Pennsylvania Governor Signs Lobbying Bill
Gov. Tom Wolf signed House Bill 1175 into law, amending filing requirements and penalties for lobbyists. The new law requires electronic filing of lobbying disclosures and increases the monetary penalties assessed for late reports. Fines between $50 and $200 per […]
Gov. Tom Wolf signed House Bill 1175 into law, amending filing requirements and penalties for lobbyists.
The new law requires electronic filing of lobbying disclosures and increases the monetary penalties assessed for late reports.
Fines between $50 and $200 per day, depending on the number of days late, can now be levied and the maximum penalty increases from $2,000 to $4,000.
These new penalties take effect immediately and the electronic filing requirement takes effect in 60 days.
January 23, 2018 •
Pennsylvania Congressional Districts Ruled Unconstitutional
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled yesterday the state’s congressional map was gerrymandered to favor one party over the other. Currently, five of the state’s 18 seats are held by Democrats, 12 by Republicans, and there is one vacancy where there […]
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled yesterday the state’s congressional map was gerrymandered to favor one party over the other.
Currently, five of the state’s 18 seats are held by Democrats, 12 by Republicans, and there is one vacancy where there is a special election on March 13.
The court ordered a new map be submitted by February 15, but the state Legislature plans to challenge the decision in federal court.
January 9, 2018 •
Pennsylvania Speaker Calls Special Elections
House Speaker Mike Turzai announced special elections to fill two vacant seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Special elections for the 48th and 178th districts will be held on May 15, which is the same day as the primary […]
House Speaker Mike Turzai announced special elections to fill two vacant seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Special elections for the 48th and 178th districts will be held on May 15, which is the same day as the primary election.
The winner of the special election will serve until November 30. The winner of the general election will be sworn into a two-year term in December.
November 27, 2017 •
Special Election Announced for Open Pennsylvania House Seat
House Speaker Mike Turzai announced a special election will be held for Pennsylvania’s 35th House District on January 23, 2018. Rep. Marc Gergely resigned the seat on November 6 after pleading guilty to corruption charges for his role in an […]
House Speaker Mike Turzai announced a special election will be held for Pennsylvania’s 35th House District on January 23, 2018.
Rep. Marc Gergely resigned the seat on November 6 after pleading guilty to corruption charges for his role in an illegal gambling machine ring.
Democrats and Republicans will each select a nominee to appear on the ballot.
November 27, 2017 •
Special Election Announced for Open Pennsylvania House Seat
House Speaker Mike Turzai announced a special election will be held for Pennsylvania’s 35th House District on January 23, 2018. Rep. Marc Gergely resigned the seat on November 6 after pleading guilty to corruption charges for his role in an […]
House Speaker Mike Turzai announced a special election will be held for Pennsylvania’s 35th House District on January 23, 2018.
Rep. Marc Gergely resigned the seat on November 6 after pleading guilty to corruption charges for his role in an illegal gambling machine ring.
Democrats and Republicans will each select a nominee to appear on the ballot.
October 24, 2017 •
Pennsylvania Governor Announces Special Election for Congressional Seat
Gov. Tom Wolf announced a special election for the 18th U.S. House District will be held on March 13, 2018, in order to fill the remainder of Rep. Tim Murphy’s term. There is no special primary election, so each party […]
Gov. Tom Wolf announced a special election for the 18th U.S. House District will be held on March 13, 2018, in order to fill the remainder of Rep. Tim Murphy’s term.
There is no special primary election, so each party will select a candidate to run in the special election.
Rep. Murphy resigned last week after it was revealed he had an affair with a married woman and urged her to get an abortion.
September 19, 2017 •
Special Election Announced for Open Pennsylvania House Seat
House Speaker Mike Turzai announced a special election will be held for House District 133 on December 5, 2017. Rep. Dan McNeill, who was in his third term, passed away on September 8, creating the vacancy. Each political party will […]
House Speaker Mike Turzai announced a special election will be held for House District 133 on December 5, 2017.
Rep. Dan McNeill, who was in his third term, passed away on September 8, creating the vacancy.
Each political party will designate their respective candidate to appear on the ballot.
District 133 includes parts of Allentown and Bethlehem, as well as several townships.
May 11, 2017 •
Pennsylvania House Committee Approves Stiffer Penalties for Lobbying Violations
A measure to increase penalties for violations of Pennsylvania lobbying laws made it out of committee this week. House Bill 1175 increases the amount a lobbyist may be fined from $2,000 to $4,000, and establishes a graduating scale of daily […]
A measure to increase penalties for violations of Pennsylvania lobbying laws made it out of committee this week.
House Bill 1175 increases the amount a lobbyist may be fined from $2,000 to $4,000, and establishes a graduating scale of daily fines for failure to register or report.
If passed, the per day fine will be $50 for the first 10 days, $100 for days 11 through 20, and $200 for each day thereafter.
The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.
January 27, 2017 •
New Pennsylvania Treasurer Bans the Use of Placement Agents for Public Contracts
The Commonwealth’s new treasurer, Joseph Torsella, banned the use middlemen to assist in connecting investment houses with public agencies. Torsella, in his first act after being sworn in, issued a policy directive banning the continued or future use of placement […]
The Commonwealth’s new treasurer, Joseph Torsella, banned the use middlemen to assist in connecting investment houses with public agencies.
Torsella, in his first act after being sworn in, issued a policy directive banning the continued or future use of placement agent agreements for contractors entrusted with the investment of public funds.
These placement agents are typically paid a finder’s fee for obtaining business for the investment house. Placement agents are also used to circumvent a federal pay-to-play law prohibiting investment houses from giving campaign donations.
Last year, former treasurer Pat McCord was embroiled in a bribery scandal with one such placement agent. Richard Ireland, a wealthy Chester County resident, is accused of offering McCord $500,000 in campaign donations in exchange for using his clients for investing.
January 24, 2017 •
Special Election Announced for Pennsylvania House District
Speaker of the House Mike Turzai announced a special election will be held March 21, 2017, to fill a vacancy in House District 197. The vacancy was created on January 3 when Rep. Leslie Acosta resigned after pleading guilty to […]
Speaker of the House Mike Turzai announced a special election will be held March 21, 2017, to fill a vacancy in House District 197.
The vacancy was created on January 3 when Rep. Leslie Acosta resigned after pleading guilty to federal money laundering charges. Party nominees to run in the special election will be selected according to each party’s respective process.
District 197 consists of part of North Philadelphia.
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.