The D.C. Council introduced a procurement bill designed to improve compliance with a district law that requires companies with large public contracts to subcontract some work to small local businesses.

B23-0545 is aimed at closing loopholes to prevent program abuse and manipulation.

The bill would prohibit contractors from subcontracting work to companies in which they have an ownership stake to fulfill the law’s requirements.

Businesses applying to be considered local would be required to certify under penalty of perjury that the information they provide is correct.

The bill would also require more evidence from businesses that they are local, create a tip line for reporting violations, and increase the frequency of site inspections.

At any given time, more than 1,000 legislative bills, which can affect how you do business as a government affairs professional, are being discussed in federal, state, and local jurisdictions. These bills are summarized in State and Federal Communications’ digital encyclopedias for lobbying laws, political contributions, and procurement lobbying and can be found in the client portion of our website.

Summaries of major bills are also included in monthly email updates sent to all clients. The chart below shows the number of bills we are tracking in regard to lobbying laws, political contributions, and procurement lobbying.

National:

Gay Couples Could Face Different Campaign Money Rules across States

Rothberg Political Report – Nathan Gonzalez | Published: 7/11/2013

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee asked the FEC to grant same-sex couples and candidates the same rights as married opposite-sex couples in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down the Defense of Marriage Act. One expert said the agency is not likely to pass its own regulation on spouses. “The FEC is likely to conclude that it’s governed by state law, [and] then you will have different fundraising rules for different states,” said former FEC Chairperson Michael Toner.

Majority of Americans Say Corruption Has Increased

U.S. News & World Report – Allie Bidwell | Published: 7/10/2013

According to a new survey by corruption watchdog Transparency International, more than a quarter of people worldwide paid a bribe when dealing with public services in the past 12 months. In the U.S., 60 percent of people said corruption has increased over the last two years, while only 10 percent said it has decreased by any amount. Overall, many countries found people do not trust the institutions they typically rely on to combat crime and corruption.

Federal:

Contractor Lobby Info: Virtually private

Politico – Byron Tau | Published: 7/7/2013

Disclosure on federal intelligence and procurement matters is opaque and confusing, stemming from loopholes in the nation’s lobbying transparency laws. Critics say the current rules are outdated and riddled with exemptions, and in need of revision.

Critics Question the IRS’ New ‘Fast-Track’ Path to Tax-Exempt Status

Lancaster Eagle-Gazette – Deidre Shesgren | Published: 7/10/2013

The IRS’s acting chief, Danny Werfel, unveiled a new process as one part of the agency’s effort to address the scandal in which agents used inappropriate criteria to flag some tax-exempt applications for extra scrutiny. Werfel said any group that has been waiting for tax-exempt status for more than 120 days will be able to self-certify. Those who are eligible will have to swear at least 60 percent of their organization’s resources will be devoted to a “social welfare” purpose and they will not spend more than 40 percent of their time or money on political activities.

Deadlock by Design Hobbles Election Agency

Boston Globe – Christoher Rowland | Published: 7/7/2013

The impression of weakness at the FEC has escalated in recent years as Republicans commissioners united in the belief that the agency had been guilty of overreach and have moved to soften enforcement, block new rules, and limit oversight. According to critics, the FEC has been rendered toothless.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – Brown’s Ethics Aide Erin Peth to Become Executive Director of FPPC

Los Angeles Times – Patrick McGreevy | Published: 7/5/2013

Erin Peth was selected to be the new executive director of the California Fair Political Practices Commission. Peth will step down from her post as deputy legal affairs secretary in Gov. Jerry Brown’s office, which she has held since 2011. Before that, she served as deputy attorney general while Brown was the state attorney general.

Georgia – Georgia Insurance Regulators Accept Meals, Golf from Industry

AccessNorthGa.com – Ray Henry (Associated Press) | Published: 7/10/2013

State Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens and two of his staff members accepted meals and a round of golf from Gould Hagler, executive director of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia. After being questioned about the spending, Hudgens said his staff will pay for their own entertainment at future events and begin following a new law limiting lobbyist spending before it legally takes effect in January.

Maine – State’s ‘F’ Spurs New Ethics Laws for Maine Officials

Morning Sentinel – Naomi Schalit and John Christie (Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting) | Published: 7/9/2013

A grade of “F” in a national report that measured the states’ levels of accountability and transparency in government spurred Maine lawmakers to enact reforms. The bills signed by Gov. Paul LePage include stricter reporting requirements for statements of economic interests filed by legislators and slowing the “revolving door” at the Capitol.

Nebraska – In the World of Lawmakers and Lobbyists, Who Has the Power?

Lincoln Journal-Star – JoAnne Young | Published: 7/7/2013

Some in Nebraska are asking if lobbyists exert too much influence on the legislative process. They contend that outside of committee hearing – where the public can see what is happening – lobbyists are able to advance their clients’ interests behind closed doors.

New York – NY Corruption Panel Has More Teeth, Will it Bite?

Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Michael Virtanen (Associated Press) | Published: 7/8/2013

Some have questioned whether the commission appointed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will meet its mandate to root out corruption in the state. David Grandeau, the former director of New York’s defunct lobbying commission, does not believe this new temporary group will be any more effective than the Commission on Public Integrity and its successor, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics. Grandeau compared the panels to the Peanuts character Charlie Brown – always having the football pulled away at the last minute.

New York – Spitzer Rejoins Politics, Asking for Forgiveness

New York Times – Michael Barbarao and David Chen | Published: 7/7/2013

Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who stepped down in 2008 over a prostitution scandal, will enter the race for run for New York City comptroller. He said he believed New Yorkers would be open to his candidacy. “I’m hopeful there will be forgiveness, I am asking for it,” said Spitzer.

North Carolina – Arrests Mount as NC Legislative Session Nears End

Charlotte Observer – Michael Biesecker (Associated Press) | Published: 7/7/2013

Observers say some of the 700 people charged with the misdemeanors while protesting at the North Carolina General Assembly were exercising their First Amendment rights, behaving no differently than protesters from past years who were not arrested. That has raised concerns about whether Republican leaders who took control of the Legislature in 2010 are directing more aggressive enforcement against citizens who disagree with their agenda.

Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh Mayor’s Profile Wanes with Feds’ Probe

Minneapolis Star Tribune – Joe Mandak (Associated Press) | Published: 7/7/2013

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has gone from appearing on “Late Night with David Letterman” to facing a grand jury investigation. His staff members have testified about whether Ravenstahl sanctioned a slush fund that led to the police chief’s resignation and indictment, and whether the mayor instructed bodyguards to alter their time cards.

Tennessee – Gov. Haslam Struggles to Meet Pilot Recusal Pledge

San Francisco Chronicle – Erik Schelzig (Associated Press) | Published: 7/7/2013

An FBI investigation of alleged fraud by the sales staff at Pilot Flying J, the truck stop chain owned by the family of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, has shined a spotlight on the governor’s pledge to keep his distance from company business. Opponents attacked Haslam for refusing to disclose his personal ownership stake, among other criticisms, in the 2010 Republican primary and general election.

Virginia – McDonnell’s Corporation, Wife Allegedly Benefited from $120,000 More from Donor

Washington Post – Rosalind Helderman | Published: 7/10/2013

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is facing new allegations he failed to report donations made to him and other family members. Jonnie Williams, Sr., a businessperson and prominent political donor, gave $70,000 to a corporation owned by McDonnell and his sister last year. The payments to the corporation offer the first public example of money provided by Williams that would directly benefit McDonnell and not just his family.

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.

There are a number of terrific LinkedIn groups devoted to government relations professionals and to the industry in general. What we found was that there was no group specifically for the discussion of compliance.

We are excited to announce that we are meeting that need by forming the Government Relations Compliance group.

Government relations professionals can discover what colleagues are saying about complying with government rules and regulations for lobbying, grassroots lobbying, political contributions, and procurement.

Join the conversation!

At any given time, more than 1,000 legislative bills, which can affect how you do business as a government affairs professional, are being discussed in federal, state, and local jurisdictions. These bills are summarized in the State and Federal Communications’ digital encyclopedias for lobbying laws, political contributions, and procurement lobbying, and can be found in the client portion of the State and Federal Communications’ website.

Summaries of major bills are also included in monthly e-mail updates sent to all clients. The chart below shows the number of bills we are tracking in regards to lobbying laws, political contributions, and procurement lobbying.

Sarah Kovit is a Compliance Associate at State and Federal Communications who is a fluent Spanish speaker and who has experience working with Puerto Rican officials and tracking newly enacted legislation. She is here to assist you with your Puerto Rican compliance needs.

According to Kovit: “Navigating the lobbying, political contribution, and procurement lobbying laws in Puerto Rico can be tricky. English copies of newly enacted legislation are rarely available and English language assistance with your questions is not always available. In the last year alone, Puerto Rico has passed a new election code, updated the PAC reporting structure, and created a pay to play law which affects organizations conducting business in Puerto Rico.”

You can contact Sarah Kovit at skovit@stateandfed.com.

This quick desk reference combines information from our online resources and lists the information by state:

– The Executive Source Guide on Lobbying Laws™;
– The Executive Source Guide on Political Contributions™; and
– The Executive Source Guide on Procurement Lobbying™.

This guidebook is filled with valuable information. However, we also caution it has two limitations:

The online resources, which you receive either through your subscription or as part of your lobbying compliance service, are comprehensive. This guidebook summarizes information in the online resources, and is meant only as a quick-reference guide.

While this guidebook is accurate and timely when we print it, please understand our online resources are updated continually. We provide this guidebook to you as a convenience, but your ultimate source of information should always be the online resource(s) to which you subscribe.

We consider this guidebook another value-added benefit of your partnership with State and Federal Communications. You also receive, via e-mail, monthly updates of important compliance legislation on the federal and state levels; News You Can Use™, our weekly summary of current news and events regarding compliance; and the Compliance Now newsletter with even more information.

Please call us at (330)761-9960 or email marketing@stateandfed.com if you would like to learn more about State and Federal Communications’ compliance services. Be sure to contact us if you are already a client and need to have your subscription username or password forwarded.

We are privileged to have you as clients, and are pleased to be your trusted adviser for government affairs compliance.

Executive Sourcebook on Lobbying Laws:

1. We are separating the penalties so you will see what they are for registration, reporting, and gift violations.

2. Does the jurisdiction have a document retention policy?

3. Is gift splitting allowed?

4. We are also separating the gift restrictions for lobbyists and non-lobbyists.

Executive’s Sourcebook on Political Contributions:

1. What is the jurisdiction’s document retention policy?

2. What restrictions are there on fundraising, as applied both to corporations attending a political event and as applied to corporations holding its own fundraiser?

Executive’s Sourcebook on Procurement Lobbying:

1. Restrictions on pre-RFP communications between a bidder and the procurement department?

2. Are there any post-RFP “cone of silence” restrictions?

3. Difference between “bidder” and “contractor.”

It continues to be our goal to be your #1 online resource for lobbying, political contributions, and procurement lobbying.

Until next month, let your fingers do the walking at www.stateandfed.com and see the amount of information available to you and your organization.

Elizabeth Z. Bartz
President and CEO

We now provide information on lobbying, political contributions, and procurement lobbying for:

Tempe, Arizona

Evansville, Indiana

South Bend, Indiana

Flint, Michigan

North Las Vegas, Nevada

Reno, Nevada

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee

National:

National Organization for Marriage Repeatedly Rebuked For Disclosure Violations

Federal:

Super Committee and K St. Creativity

From the States and Municipalities:

California

California Lawmakers-Turned-Lobbyists Cultivate Relationships under the Dome

Florida

Firefighters’ Fundraiser Gets Ethics OK, with Difficult Restrictions

Georgia

State Utility Commissioner’s Pursuit of Masters Tickets Improper, Critics Say

Nebraska

In-Session Fundraisers Questioned

Nevada

Fake Twitter Accounts Force Their Way onto Political Landscape

New Jersey

How an Irate Response to a Carl Lewis E-Mail Cost an N.J. Assemblyman His Job

New Jersey

Union Sidestep Donation Limits

Pennsylvania

Experts Question Use of $400,000 in Private, Anonymous Funds to Buy out Philadelphia Superintendent

Texas

Perry’s Fundraising for Governors Group Draws Scrutiny

Washington

Longtime Government Worker Now PDC Director

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.

Jim Sedor is editor of News You Can Use.

State and Federal Communications  is the most trusted source in the nation for comprehensive, accurate, and timely compliance information lobbying laws, political contributions, procurement lobbying, and Canadian Compliance for U.S. Companies.

Our Executive Source Guides cover every important jurisdiction – federal, all 50 states, and more than 200 municipalities. We cover Canada too!

We now provide information on lobbying, political contributions, and procurement lobbying for:

Elizabeth, New Jersey

Eugene, Oregon

Lakewood, Colorado

We now provide information on lobbying, political contributions, and procurement lobbying for Miami, Florida; Pembroke Pines, Florida; and Vancouver, Washington on our website.

The image of North America by Bosonic dressing on Wikipedia.

By Labor Day, our clients will find 36 additional municipalities included on our website. As they are completed, we will update our postings so you can check out the additional resources.

Right now, we have provided information on lobbying, political contributions, and procurement lobbying for Alexandria, Virginia (my former home) and Tacoma, Washington.

In the future look for additional cities in New York, Arizona, and Michigan.