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© 2013 State and Federal Communications, Inc.
Here are highlights from the latest edition of News You Can Use:
National:
NRA Tactics: Take no prisoners
Federal:
IRS Mess Adds to Campaign Finance Free-for-All
IRS Official Lois Lerner Placed on Leave amid Scandal
From the States and Municipalities:
Arkansas – Arkansas Treasurer Steps Down amid Calls to Resign after Charges She Took Payments from Broker
California – California to Post Raw Campaign Filings Online Daily
Connecticut – Jury Convicts Aide to Former Connecticut House Speaker
Kansas – Kansas Lawmakers Pass Bill on Gun Lobbying
Kentucky – Richie Farmer’s Sister Resigns Post at Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
Montana – Bullock Picks New Political Practices Chief
North Carolina – Shanahan to Stop Practicing Law While He’s in Office
North Dakota – Feds Argue Coal Industry Can Legally Give to ND Regulators’ Campaigns
Texas – An Expensive Celebration, Courtesy of the Lobby
Texas – Texas House Adds Some Teeth to Political Disclosure Law
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.
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Late June date expected
Governor Dennis Daugaard is preparing to call a special session of the Legislature. The Governor gave notice to state lawmakers of his plans citing developments with the construction of a new State Veterans Home in Hot Springs. Lawmakers approved funding for the project during the regular session, but the lowest bid is over $10 million more than the appropriated amount.
The special session is expected to be called for late June and last no longer than a day.
Photo of Gov. Dennis Daugaard by Otis 1000 on Wikipedia.
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Summit County Executive Russ Pry is such a good friend that I will even endure a little bit of his good-natured ribbing as he congratulates State and Federal Communications.
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Here are some great articles for today’s government relations news summary:
Lobbying
“K Street looking forward to BRAC fights” by Byron Tau in Politico.
“When Can Federal Employees Legally Lobby Congress?” by John Mahoney on GovLoop.
North Carolina: “Democrats try to send message about moonlighting, lobbying” by Craig Jarvis in the News Observer.
Texas: “An Expensive Celebration, Courtesy of the Lobby” by Ross Ramsey in the Texas Tribune.
Vermont: “Vermont Senate May Probe Publicly Funded Lobbying Organizations” by Anne Galloway in the Valley News.
Campaign Finance
New York: “Donors Urge Cuomo to Press for Public Financing of State Campaigns” by Thomas Kaplan in The New York Times.
Ethics
“Congressional Campaign Finance Director Guilty of Role in Illegal Contribution Scheme” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political Moneyline.
“Senate Personal Wealth Reports Disclosed to Public” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political Moneyline.
Government Tech and Social Media
“There’s an App for That State Service” by Melissa Maynard in Stateline.
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Here is our roundup of the latest articles on lobbying, campaign finance, ethics, and more!
Lobbying
“K Street lobbyists say their near-term priorities are scandal-proof” by Erik Wasson and Russell Berman in The Hill.
“Immigration push is bonanza for lobbyists” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.
“There is a lobbying organization for Superyachts” by Timothy P. Carney in the Washington Examiner.
Missouri: “Missouri’s lobbying system isn’t as open as you’d think” by Chris McDaniel in KBIA.org.
Texas: “House OKs disclosure, lobbying rules for lawmakers” by The Associated Press in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Campaign Finance
Alabama: “State debuts new electronic, searchable campaign finance filing system” by Kim Chandler in the Birmingham News.
“Calif. to post raw campaign filings online daily” by Judy Lin (Associated Press) in the San Jose Mercury News.
“Common Cause decries ‘soft money’ housekeeping ‘slush funds’” by Jimmy Vielkind in Capitol Confidential.
New Hampshire: “State’s political-spending rules fail to make the grade — again” by Brian Wallstin in NPR’s State Impact.
Ethics
“IRS hearing: Lois Lerner pleads the Fifth” by Lauren French and Kelsey Snell in Politico.
“Alaska: Lawmaker plans bill on conflict of interest rules” by The Associated Press in the Anchorage Daily News.
South Carolina: “Haley urges SC Senate to pass ethics reform” by Adam Beam in the Rock Hill Herald.
From the State Legislatures
“Minnesota Capitol scorecard — what did lawmakers do and leave undone in the 2013 session?” in the Star Tribune.
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July 23 primary set for Assembly District 52
Gov. Jerry Brown
Governor Jerry Brown has called a special election for Assembly District 52 to fill a vacancy following the resignation of Assembly Member Norma Torres.
The primary will be held July 23, 2013. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, a special general election will be held on September 24, 2013.
Torres vacated the Assembly seat following her successful election to Senate District 32 on May 14, 2013. Assembly District 52 covers parts of San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties.
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New York County Supreme Court to hear case involving CBS’ show Brooklyn D.A.
First there was Arthur Branch. Then came Jack McCoy. Now it’s Charles Hynes’ turn to star as a New York City district attorney on the small screen. Only Hynes is not an actor or a character, he is an actual district attorney who is in the middle of a fierce campaign to keep his job. And his main opponent for the Democratic nomination is crying foul.
Abe George is suing Hynes, his committee, and CBS in New York over what he calls illegal campaign contributions. CBS is producing and has aired the first episode in a six-part reality series titled Brooklyn D.A. This reality series will follow Hynes and the rest of the Kings County District Attorney’s Office as they do their job for the cameras.
George is not pleased with the free publicity Hynes will be receiving since they are in a heated campaign to garner the Democratic nomination for the position. He believes the air time should be considered a campaign contribution, and with the series’ value over the $5,000 limit, he believes it is an illegal contribution.
Hynes has been the district attorney in the county since 1989, and George believes he is willing to do anything to stay in power. “[He] has been the Brooklyn district attorney since 1989 and has operated under a mounting public perception that he will do anything, including misusing his broad prosecutorial powers, to achieve political gain for himself.”
CBS disagrees with George’s assertion and refuses to stop airing the show.
Sonya McNair, spokeswoman for CBS News, said, “We are surprised that this candidate would not know about the First Amendment. This is obviously a publicity push by a politician.”
For what it’s worth, Hynes believes this show will guarantee a victory for his campaign. He said, “If they couldn’t take me out then, boy, you’ll never be able to take me out now.”
The next episode of Brooklyn D.A. airs Tuesday, May 28, at 10:00 p.m. on CBS.
Photo of Charles Hynes courtesy of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York on Wikipedia.
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Candidates can no longer accept unlimited contributions from individuals
Gov. Jay Inslee
Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill Monday further extending the state’s contribution limits to other elected offices. Senate Bill 5748 now sets contribution limits on candidates running for a seat on a public hospital district board of commissioners in a district with a population over 150,000.
No person, other than a bona fide political party or a caucus political committee, will be allowed to contribute more than $900 per election for those candidates. Each primary, general, and special election are considered a separate election for purposes of the contribution limits, so a person would be allowed to contribute $900 during the primary and another $900 during the general election.
Senator Pam Roach was the bill’s main sponsor and she said, “This is a victory for citizens who reside in public hospital districts…Recent commission races have seen large contributions from single sources that have over powered the campaigns. All elected positions in state, county, and local government have campaign finance limitations except for public hospital commissioners. There is no reason that candidates for public hospital district board of commissioners should not live under the same rules as other elected officials. This bill corrects that problem.”
The bill will take effect on July 28, 2013.
Photo of Gov. Jay Inslee courtesy of Thomas Sørenes on Wikipedia.
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Passes major campaign finance changes on final day
The Alabama Legislature adjourned just before midnight on Monday, May 20, 2013, but not before passing major changes to the state’s Fair Campaign Practices Act.
The most significant change is the elimination of limits on corporate contributions to candidates and political action committees. Under the new law, corporations will be permitted to contribute in the same manner as individuals, who are not subject to any contribution limits, with the exception of retaining the state’s pay-to-play prohibition on contributions to the Public Service Commission by utilities the commission regulates. The bill also makes 527 organizations subject to the ban on PAC-to-PAC transfers and adds enforcement and penalty provisions.
The Secretary of State’s Office will release information regarding the effective date of these provisions since the law must first receive Department of Justice preclearance before it becomes enforceable.
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Jonathan Motl
Montana Governor Steve Bullock has named a new commissioner of political practices, according to the Independent Record.
Jonathan Motl will begin service as the commissioner by June 10 to complete the final three years of a six-year term left vacant by prior unconfirmed appointees. A Senate confirmation hearing for the position will not be held until early 2015.
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