8.13 political law links

LOBBYIST BAN UPDATE Politico. “The Office of Management and Budget will release a new rule on Wednesday expected to allow registered lobbyists to participate in policymaking deliberations in an advisory role after a judge ruled against the administration earlier this year.”

CONVICTION UPHELD. WHBL. “The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected the claims raised on appeal by Fraser Verrusio, who was convicted in 2011 of conspiring and accepting an illegal gratuity and making false statements.” The opinion is online here.

TOMORROW AT THE FEC. The agenda for tomorrow’s meeting is online here.

CA: NEW INDICTMENT. 10news.com. “The 26-count indictment details about $600,000 in allegedly illegal donations. According to federal law, it is illegal for a foreign national to donate to political campaigns in the United States.”

LA: SUPER PAC ACCEPTS. Theind.com. “Even though the state Ethics Board could still technically appeal the federal ruling that allows the Fund for Louisiana’s Future to accept unlimited donations above the state’s $100,000 threshold, the super PAC’s architect isn’t waiting around.”

ME: CASE ARGUED. Portland Press Herald. “The lawsuit, filed in early July, challenges a state law that allows major party candidates to accept $1,500 contributions from individuals for both the June primary and for the general election, but doesn’t restrict when that money must be spent.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

8.12 political law links

WH REVOLVING DOOR. Politico. “But the reality is that Obama, like his predecessors, has found it difficult to run the government without turning to lobbyists.”

AZ:  OPINION ISSUED.  Prescott News.  “However, the court ruled that while Horne was not identified as a candidate by the ad, nor did the ad state ‘do not elect Tom Horne;’ the timing and tone of the ad occurred at a time when people were well aware of Horne’s candidacy in the attorney general race. Therefore, according to the Court, the ad could have no other reasonable interpretation and was found to be express advocacy.”  The opinion is here.

CA: MEASURE OFF BALLOT. Fresno Bee. “The California Supreme Court on Monday effectively blocked a November advisory ballot measure on the merits of unlimited independent campaign spending, dashing some Democrats’ hopes that the measure would boost voter turnout in what could be an otherwise staid election.”

GA:  HELP LOCAL PARTIES.  Peach Pundit.  “There are fears that local parties could become irrelevant in the future because of the hindrance and the lack of regulation for outside groups.”

MT:  COMPLAINT SPREADS.  KPAX.  “A complaint by Montana Republicans to the Commissioner of Political Practices may have uncovered more than the Republicans bargained for.”

NY:  MIXED VERDICT.   Law360.  “A New York federal jury on Monday convicted former Queens district leader Albert Baldeo of obstructing a campaign finance investigation, but acquitted him of fraud charges stemming from a failed run for city council in 2010.”

PA:  ETHICS ALLEGATIONS.  Times Leader.  “Rice Township Supervisor Chairwoman Marcia Thomas violated the state Ethics Act when she served as the township secretary/treasurer, the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission has found.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

8.11 political law links

PAY TO PLAY SUIT.  CNBC.  “The Republican state committees from New York and Tennessee said the federal securities regulator had flouted due procedure when adopting its Political Contribution Rule, which they said also violated the constitutional right to freedom of speech.”

CHAPMAN ON CFR.  Chicago Tribune.  “What it boils down to is that both sides find some types of political communication offensive to them and, therefore, undeserving of protection. Censorship is a bipartisan affair.”

E-FILING FOR THE SENATE?  Dispatch.com.  “The U.S. Senate is wasting taxpayer money and keeping the public in the dark about its donors by letting the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act languish.”

DE:  DONATION DISCLOSURE.  Philly.com.  “Under the DRPA’s current rules, adopted in November 2012, contractors doing or seeking business with DRPA must disclose to the agency any political contributions made in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The DRPA, however, withholds those reports from the public.”

MA:  WYNN DONATIONS.  Boston Globe.  “The state’s gambling law prohibits applicants for casino licenses from donating, directly or indirectly, money or in-kind contributions to ‘any group, political party, committee, or association organized in support’ of a Massachusetts candidate. The association is a major funder of a television ad that is currently airing in the Boston market supporting Baker’s candidacy.”

MT:  LATE REPORTS.  Great Falls Tribune.  “Two dozen candidates for state and local offices face removal from the general election ballot if they don’t file campaign finance reports by next week, the commissioner of political practices said Friday.”

UT:  BADGES NEEDED.  ABC.  “The Utah lieutenant governor’s office, where lobbyists must register, expects to hand out about 100 badges during the next few months to be worn at a handful of meetings before the next legislative session in January.”

VA:  CASE WEAK ON QUO.  WP.  “The ‘quo,’ however, consists mainly of increased access for Williams and a product launch at the governor’s mansion. No state contracts, or even the government-funded research that Williams sought.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.