SEC AND DISCLOSURE. Politico. “Coming off the most expensive election in the country’s history, the Securities and Exchange Commission is weighing a move to force public companies to stop hiding their political spending of shareholders’ dollars.”
PRIZE TACTICS. The Hill. “The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is reusing a fundraising ploy that worked well for President Obama, offering donors added entries into a sweepstakes to win a free trip to inauguration if they donate to the committee.”
FEDERAL CONTRACTORS AND THE INAUGURAL. USAT. “A long-standing U.S. law bars federal contractors from spending to influence presidential and congressional elections, but few limits are imposed on post-election fundraising to pay for swearing-in festivities.”
LDA FILING REMINDER. Here. “The fourth quarter report is due Tuesday, January 22, 2013, covering October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.”
PIC SOLICITATIONS. Story here. “Planners of President Barack Obama’s second inauguration are soliciting high-dollar contributions up to $1 million to help pay for the celebration in exchange for special access.”
LATOURETTE UPDATE. Story here. “Former congressman Steven LaTourette of Ohio will run a law firm’s new lobbying subsidiary in the nation’s capital along with his wife.”
MEAL RULES IN THE NEWS. The Post. “Members of Congress frequently eat meals there that they list in federal filings as “campaign” or “political” expenses, apparently counter to House rules barring them from conducting their campaign business on House property, according to an upcoming report. That rule — the same one that sends lawmakers scurrying from their offices to nearby rental spaces to make fundraising calls — is designed to keep taxpayer-funded official business separate from the dirtier matter of pursuing reelection.”
KS: ETHICS ENFORCEMENT. Story here. “Some conservative Republicans’ long-standing frustrations with the Kansas ethics commission are likely to prompt legislators to consider overhauling the watchdog agency this year or even stripping it of its enforcement duties.”
MN: MORE DISCLOSURE? Story here. “A Minnesota ethics board is crafting recommendations for expanded economic disclosure requirements for lawmakers amid concern that the current reporting system is too weak to catch conflicts of interest.”
NC: LOBBYING CASE IN THE NEWS. Story here. “The question of whether Don Beason and his son Mark should pay fines for lobbying violations made its way to the N.C. Court of Appeals on Tuesday, where judges will decide the bounds of Secretary of State Elaine Marshall’s ability to levy fines under state lobbying law.”
VA: LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS. Here. “The General Assembly meets annually, beginning on the second Wednesday in January, for 60 days in even-numbered years and for 30 days in odd-numbered years, with an option to extend annual sessions for a maximum of 30 days.” Virginia is one of a number of states with legislative session fundraising restrictions. NCSL (2011).
HAVE A GREAT DAY.