What are today’s Political Law Links?

BREAK THE FEC.  WE.  “A dozen House members from both parties have introduced legislation to restructure the Federal Election Commission to help break deadlocks over campaign finance law enforcement.”

TRANSITION REVIEW.   GovExec.  “The federal government’s internal auditor is commencing a review of President Trump’s transition into office, examining potential conflicts of interest, contacts with foreign government and funding sources.”

AL:  REFERRAL TO ETHICS.   DD.  “Secretary of State John Merrill said this morning his office has sent more possible campaign finance violations to the Alabama Ethics Commission.”

CA:  JUDGE ADMONISHED.   SFG.  “The state’s Commission on Judicial Performance on Tuesday publicly admonished Alameda County Superior Court Judge Tara Flanagan for campaign finance violations that occurred during during her successful judgeship bid in 2012.”

MS:  IT’S LAW.   CL.  “Gov. Phil Bryant signed into law a campaign-finance reform measure that would restrict politicians using campaign money for personal expenses.”

MO:  CHECK TIMING.   KCS.  “Six days after Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard filed legislation seeking to make big changes to Missouri’s consumer protection law, he got a $100,000 check from Joplin businessman David Humphreys.”

NH:  CASE CLOSED.  UL.  “The Attorney General’s Office has concluded Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas violated campaign finance law when he ran for governor last year by accepting and spending contributions beyond set limits for the primary cycle.”

NY:  ETHICS STATUS.  NYT. “Despite the recent convictions of the leaders of both the Assembly and the Senate and indictments against some of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s own associates, lawmakers failed to take up a raft of ethics proposals included in the governor’s executive budget.”

TN:  MOVE TO DOUBLE AUDITS.   TN.  “A state Senate committee voted unanimously Tuesday to approve legislation that would increase the number of random campaign finance audits from 2 percent to 4 percent.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

Rules, pleas, fines, and more political law links

RULE MAKES NO SENSE.   WE.  “Republicans and Democrats tend to disagree about how much regulation of campaign finance is desirable, but we all ought to want laws that make sense.”

FIGHTING CHARGES AT TRIAL.   CNS.  “Former Texas Congressman Steve Stockman pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges he defrauded charities to fund his campaigns, and his attorney said he’s looking forward to being vindicated at trial.”

AL:  GUILTY PLEA.   WP.  “Bentley also pleaded guilty on Monday to two misdemeanor charges related to covering up the alleged affair, one for failing to file a major contribution report and another for knowingly using campaign contributions for personal use, according to the state’s attorney general office.”

CA:  GROUP FACES FINE.   LAT.  “A national anti-marijuana coalition is facing $6,000 in fines for campaign finance violations in its opposition to Proposition, 64, a November ballot measure that legalized recreational use of cannabis in California.”

IA:  CONVICTIONS APPEALED.    IPR.   “Three staffers from Rep. Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign were at the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis last week. They’re appealing criminal convictions related to a conspiracy to hide payments to former Iowa State Senator Kent Sorenson, who resigned endorsed Paul days before the Iowa Caucuses.”

MO:  LOBBYIST LIMIT MOVES.   KCS.  “The bill approved unanimously Monday would cap how much a lobbyist could spend on a gift to a lawmaker at $10 a day. That cap also would apply to the lawmaker’s staff, spouse or children. Gifts could still be given to groups, such as the entire Senate, as long as every member of the General Assembly is invited at least 72 hours beforehand.”

PA:  BURDEN ON BUSINESS.   MCC.  “Passed after the FBI raided Allentown City Hall, the law not only requires a contractor to report contributions, but also to report any requests made by a county employee — whether a contribution was made or not.”

WA:  COMPLAINTS FILED.   WAAG.  “A review by AGO staff determined that Peterson failed to provide a detailed description of $3,255.97 in expenses (including the vendors used by his campaign consultant), failed to disclose over $2,048 in campaign debt, and failed to timely disclose at least $13,522 in expenditures and in-kind contributions. The late disclosures were between six and 31 days late, and primarily related to post-election surplus fund transfers.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

Spring Break political law links

SEC TARGETS CONTRIBUTIONS BY ADVISERS.   TA.  “The new rules and amped-up enforcement (the only other case under the Rule was in 2014) reflect regulators’ focus on the interaction between money managers and public officials. While it remains unclear both when the regulators will invoke their authority to enforce the nearly limitless strict liability provision of the rules and how they will determine the appropriate remedy, the recent settlements and the SEC’s handling of exemptive relief petitions may provide some clues.”

END OCE.   WE.  “Republicans were right to try and deal with the OCE. It desperately needs reform, and should indeed be eliminated, not as an effort to shield lawmakers from responsibility for any wrongdoing they commit, but, rather, the opposite. Getting rid of the ethics office would restore accountability to Congress and to voters, which is where it is placed, properly, by the Constitution.”

MO:  DEFINING TERMS.   Lex.  “The Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC) recently issued several advisory opinions regarding the state’s newly adopted campaign finance regulations. These opinions provide clarification for businesses and individuals wishing to participate in campaign-related activities.”

MT:  WEIGHING INCREASE.  DP.  “Montana lawmakers are considering raising campaign contribution limits for state candidates and allowing decisions on campaign finance violations to go to mediation, over the objections of the outgoing regulator who says the measure could affect a pending case and diminish his office’s independence.”

NM: PLANNING TO FILE.   SFNM.  “The head of a group opposed to the city of Santa Fe’s proposed sugary-drink tax said Sunday that he will file a campaign finance report with the city on Monday — a day past the deadline for such actions.”

NM:  CAMPAIGN FINANCE VETO.   NM.  “Gov. Susana Martinez, who has touted herself as a champion of transparency, on Friday vetoed a piece of legislation that would have required greater public disclosure by those who spend big money in New Mexico political races.”

VA:  GILLESPIE PLAN.   DC.  “Virginia Republican candidate for governor Ed Gillespie announced a new plan for a series of executive orders Thursday that will target campaign finance in the state, according to a press release.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.