Federal:

Jesse Jackson Jr. Resigns from Congress, Acknowledges Federal Probe

The Un-Super PACs

From the States and Municipalities:

California

Ex-Treasurer to Democrats Receives 8-Year Sentence

California

State Lawmaker Brothers Accused of Money Laundering

District of Columbia

Crafting D.C. Ethics Bill Proving Difficult

Florida

State Ethics Commission Says Jacksonville Council Member’s Poker Party is OK

Georgia

Legislators Ask Governor to Let Indicted Victor Hill Take Office of Sheriff on January 1

Indiana

Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma Criticized for Hiring Lobbyist

Maine

Anti-Gay Marriage Group Fined by Maine Ethics Commission

Missouri

Freebies from Lobbyists Becoming Harder to Track in Missouri

North Carolina

Appeals Court Throws Out Suit Testing ‘Stand by Your Ad’

Pennsylvania

Former Pennsylvania Democratic Leader Mellow Would Set ‘Record’ by Going to Jail

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.

Lobbying

“K Street Lobbyists Ready for Post-Sandy Disaster Aid Requests” by Kate Ackley and Janie Lorber in Roll Call.

“The Hill’s 2012 Top Lobbyists” in The Hill.

“5 Wisconsin lawmakers settle suit with groups seeking ALEC emails” by Jason Stein in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Campaign Finance

“Outside cash trumps candidates’ in half a dozen tight races” by Kevin Bogardus and Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

California: “Judge backs Jerry Brown, FPPC on Arizona campaign donations” by Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee.

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma candidates accept corporate contributions, afoul of state law” by Megan Rolland in The Oklahoman.

Oklahoma: “Chickasaw Nation leads state superPAC donors” by Randy Kehbiel in the Tulsa World.

Campaigns and Elections

“Where’s Your Polling Location? On IOS 6, There’s Now An App To Help You Find Out” by Sarah Lai Stirland in TechPresident.

Don’t miss Ted Koppel’s in-depth look at Super PACs tonight at 10 PM ET on Rock Center with Brian Williams on NBC.

Read more about the segment in “Unlimited contributions give ‘Super PACs’ power to change presidential race” by Jessica Hopper of Rock Center.

Federal:

Democratic National Convention Rules Set off K St. Scramble

GOP Uses Citizens United to Challenge Corporate Donation Ban

What Donors? Super PACs Buy Time to Keep Secret the Names of Donors Ahead of GOP Primaries

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona

State Sen. Scott Bundgaard Resigns from Legislature

California

Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi’s Shoplifting Incident Raises Medical Questions

Georgia

Wild Hog: Lobbyists’ trough?

Idaho

Idaho Leaders Ready to Strengthen Ethics Laws

Illinois

Lobbying Disclosure Rules Spotty

Massachusetts

Ex-Avon Worker’s Revenge Attempt Brings $5,000 Fine

Mississippi

Mississippi Court Halts Quick Release of Some Pardoned

Montana

SCOTUS Expected to Weigh Montana Campaign Finance Appeal

New Jersey

Bill to Prohibit Political Fundraising at Government Facilities Wins Legislature’s Approval

New Mexico

Judge Puts Parts of Contribution-Limits Law on Hold

North Carolina

Judge Clears Former Lobbyist

Oregon

Campaign Finance Regulations Go Before High Court

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.

In response to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, there are states and cities taking action to deny personhood to corporations. The Montana Supreme Court upheld a ban on corporate spending in local elections and a measure was introduced in the Vermont Legislature calling for a constitutional amendment distinguishing the rights of individuals from those of corporations.

The city councils of Los Angeles, Oakland, Albany, Boulder, and New York City are listed in the article as having passed resolutions – some calling for a constitutional amendment –  eliminating corporate personhood, which could affect SuperPAC spending in their jurisdictions.

For the full story, read “Cities, states pass resolutions against corporate personhood” by Bailey McCann on CivSourceonline.com.

You can find Politico’s coverage in “Super PACs go stealth through first contests” by Dave Levinthal and Kenneth P. Vogel.

According to the article, some in the Federal Election Commission are calling for a change of the rules to allow for greater disclosure:

The disclosure rules may need to be updated to reflect the rise of super PACs as driving forces in presidential politics, two Democratic FEC commissioners suggested in interviews with POLITICO. “Super PACs are functioning as the alter egos of the campaigns, and their activity was clearly not anticipated when the statutes were put in place,” said Ellen Weintraub, a Democratic FEC appointee. The commission, she said, “should reconsider the regulations about caucuses and disclosure or at least take a hard look at them.”