OCE UPDATE. USAT. “An independent office that polices congressional ethics would remain on the beat in the new Congress under proposed rules the House will consider this week.”
ETHICS TALLY. Roll Call. “A biennial report on the committee’s activities filed earlier this week shows that the panel fielded at least 40,000 informal requests for guidance, issued more than 900 advisory opinions on House ethics rules, received more than 6,000 financial disclosure filings, interviewed 106 witnesses and reviewed nearly 500,000 pages of documents in its investigatory matters.”
EARMARKS UPDATE. Roll Call. “The House Republican Conference was set to vote on whether to restore earmarks on Thursday as part of considering the House Rules for the 113th Congress, but it was spared from having to do so when the proposal’s champion pulled his plan.”
WYDEN-MURKOWSKI REACTION. A letter to the editor in response to a proposal of Senators Wyden and Murkowski supports higher contribution limits to candidates.
BENNETT REGISTERING. Capital Eye Opener. “Former Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) will officially register as a lobbyist tomorrow and he’s coming out swinging — at limits on former lawmakers becoming lobbyists.”
MO: BOND HIRED. Story here. “During his 24-year career in Congress, Kit Bond helped Kansas City time and again. Now as Kansas City’s new federal lobbyist, it’s Mayor Sly James hope that the retired U.S. senator still has the pull to steer federal money toward projects like the downtown streetcar.”
TX: FINE FOR COMMITTEE. Story here. “State ethics officials fined Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons’ political action committee $6,450 over campaign contributions to Texas lawmakers that were illegal because the prominent Republican donor was the sole donor to the PAC.” The Order and Agreed Resolution is online here via the Texas Ethics Commission.
UT: ALLEGED FAILURE TO DISCLOSE. Story here. “Salt Lake County Councilman Randy Horiuchi lists himself on the state’s website as a lobbyist for R&R Partners, which for years has done work for UTA. The state requires lobbyists to register every two years and disclose their clients.”
CANADA: $100 LIMIT AND PUBLIC FUNDS. Story here. “Bill 2, passed by the National Assembly on Dec. 6, puts a $100 lid on private donations while increasing direct government funding to parties.”
UK: LOBBYISTS’ REGISTER. Story here. “Lobbyists have defended themselves against fresh allegations that MPs and peers received corporate sponsorship worth more than £1m over the past year, accusing ministers of dragging their feet over plans to establish an official lobbyists’ register.”
HAVE A GREAT DAY. Many thanks to Rick Hasen for the mention on the Election Law Listserv yesterday. Not only does Rick run the preeminent and invaluable Election Law Blog, he’s shown great generosity over the years by linking to PoliticalActivityLaw.com. It’s sincerely appreciated.
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