6.22 political law links

LOBBYISTS FILL VOID.   RC.  “The shift on Capitol Hill to centralize much of the major policymaking in leadership offices, as opposed to committees, along with a reduction in legislative staff and their salaries has helped propel the revolving door in recent years, says Timothy LaPira, a James Madison University professor.”

CT:  LEGAL ACTION CONSIDERED.  WTNH.  ” Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, who is currently exploring a run for Governor, issued a statement Wednesday afternoon in reaction to the State Election Enforcement Commission‘s ruling that he is disqualified from receiving a public campaign grant from the Citizens’ Election Fund.”

HI:  CALL FOR TOUGHER RULES.  HCB.  “The city doesn’t require lobbyists to provide any details about how they spend money, and so most of them don’t bother. Many lobbyist reports are dated, even though there are mandatory reporting deadlines.”

IL:  LOBBYIST OVER-REGULATION.   CT.  “A South Side alderman on Wednesday defended her husband against the Chicago Board of Ethics’ determination that he illegally lobbied Mayor Rahm Emanuel to make sure an annual house music picnic he and his business partners stage each year went on as planned.”

KY:  PANEL APPEALS RULING.   KY.  “The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission unanimously voted Wednesday to appeal a recent federal court ruling that allows lobbyists to give gifts and campaign donations to state lawmakers.”

NY:  ETHICS COMMITTEE HIT WITH COMPLAINT.   TU.  “A former financial auditor at New York’s lobbying and ethics watchdog agency alleges that she was fired after reporting sexual discrimination by one of her supervisors to the agency’s leadership.”

NY:  ACTION DELAYED.   DF.  “The Laws and Rules Committee of the Ulster County Legislature has postponed a vote on scheduling a public hearing regarding proposed campaign finance regulations for the county’s elected officials.”

TN:  STRAW DONOR ALLEGATION.  TN.  “Federal authorities are poised to probe a series of potentially illegal donations and contributions involving state Sen. Brian Kelsey, five other state lawmakers — including House Majority Leader Glen Casada — and four political action committees.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

6.21 political law links

TOMORROW AT THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION.  The agenda for the meeting is here.

FL:  LEAVE REFORM TO CONGRESS.   TB.  “Comprehensive campaign finance reform should come from Washington or Tallahassee, and the city should focus on other priorities.”

NY:  RULES DELAY.   DF.  “The Laws and Rules Committee of the Ulster County Legislature has postponed a vote on scheduling a public hearing regarding proposed campaign finance regulations for the county’s elected officials.”

OR:  RESUMED PROBE.   RG.  “The Oregon Government Ethics Commission will resume its inquiry into former Gov. John Kitzhaber and his fiancée Cylvia Hayes, now that the federal government has ended its criminal investigation, the agency said Tuesday.”

SD:  CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM FOCUS.  WNAX.  “A South Dakota legislative task force will focus on campaign finance reform, and not expand its scope to include ethics.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

Big 1A Day & more political law links

JUSTICES AFFIRM 1A PRINCIPLES.    NYT.  “The Supreme Court reaffirmed core free-speech principles in two cases on Monday, both decided without dissent.”

GRAYSON FUNDRAISING.   WE.  “Former Rep. Alan Grayson is running a fundraising campaign supporting Jon Ossoff, the Democrat in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District that’s set to be decided in Tuesday’s special election.”

HI:  LOBBYIST REPORTING.   CB.  “Companies spent more than $200,000 to sway Honolulu’s elected officials last year, according to lobbying reports filed with the city Ethics Commission in January.”

ID:  ADDRESSING CAMPAIGN FINANCE.   KLIX.  “Idaho’s top legislative leaders have formed a working group to study possible changes to the state’s campaign finance laws.”

MO:  COMPLAINT DISMISSED.  NL.  “In its written decision, the ethics commission said it did not find that Stephens used public money to support or oppose any candidate for office and that Stephens did not violate conflict of interest laws.”

PA:  LOAN REPORTING.   ABC.  “Newswatch 16 has learned the state attorney general’s office has been asked to review State Representative Kevin Haggerty’s campaign finance reports.”

USVI:   CONTRIBUTIONS RETURNED.   DN.  “A third senator has submitted documents showing that he has returned a campaign contribution from a company with close ties to a V.I. casino operator.”

WA:  COMPLAINT FILED.   AG.  “The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced that it filed a complaint in King County Superior Court today alleging campaign finance violations by the Eastside Democratic Dinner Committee. Specifically, the committee failed to timely file seven financial disclosure reports accounting for more than $16,000 in contributions and expenditures.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.