Month: February 2010

Next moves for Utah ethics reform

The Deseret News has an update on ethics legislation moving forward. “A few tweaks will be made” on the five bills, said House Minority Leader Kevin Garn, R-Layton, who shepherded them through the House. One substantial change was agreed upon, he added. Garn’s lobbyist gift bill will be amended to allow lawmakers to take a […]

Why transforming K Street won’t happen

Transforming K Street simply won’t happen any time soon.  That’s because a federal transportation selection panel is favoring other transportation projects, according to this Post report. The Washington region was awarded almost $59 million in federal stimulus money to begin building a vast network to speed bus traffic, but a request for $76 million more […]

Court says Illinois lobbyist fee too high

Here’s an ACLU press release about the group’s victory in a lawsuit challenging Illinois’ $1,000 lobbyist registration fee. In her decision, Judge Gottschall found that the State of Illinois simply could not justify the new dramatically increased fees. Currently, nine states and the federal government charge no fee for a lobbyist to register. Fourteen additional […]