01.16.2018 political law links

ETHICS AND AWARDS.   POL.  “The president is not subject to the executive branch ethical standards, but all other White House staffers are. Ethics experts say that if the undertaking were carried out exclusively by political staff from the Trump campaign or the Republican National Committee — and not government employees in the White House — there would be no problem.”

CA:  LIFTING LID.   EBT.  “Taken off guard by the financial muscle of a political action committee that reshaped the City Council in the last election, Livermore is set to abolish any limit on how much money candidates can collect.”

KS:  TARDY REPORT.   HN.   “Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach filed his gubernatorial campaign finance report slightly late, the only prominent candidate for governor to miss the midnight Wednesday deadline.”

PA:  NINE SCHEMES.  MCC.  “When Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s trial gets underway, federal prosecutors will try to prove that the mayor and others participated in nine schemes to demand or accept campaign contributions or other things of value in exchange for city contracts, legal work or other official favors.”

TX:  CHANGE IN RULES DEBATED.   TM. “In the wake of a bribery scandal, Houston Community College trustees discussed last week the possibility of tightening their campaign finance rules, but it’s murky if there will be any changes.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

Thursday’s political law links are –>

SUBPOENA ISSUED.   NBC.   “A grand jury subpoena has been issued in the ongoing investigation into campaign finance spending by U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-50th District), the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Wednesday.”

VENDOR PAYS.   PRI. “A telemarketing company that fundraises for politicians, charities and major corporations has settled a complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission over allegedly ‘false and misleading’ tactics.”

HILLARY ALLEGATIONS.  WE.  “Can you imagine the media outrage if Republicans oversaw an $84 million money laundering scheme?”

CA:  KEEPING FAIR.  SFW.  “Called a Fair Campaign Promise, it also blocks funding from super PACs, independent committees with a vested interest in one player who may raise money from corporations, unions or individuals to advocate for or against candidates.”

IL:  LIMITS ISSUE.   CT.  “Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios is facing $41,000 in fines for failing to return campaign contributions from property tax appeals lawyers whose donations exceeded legal limits, according to a pair of new rulings by the county ethics board.”

KS:  MONEY RACE.   WS.  “Although he hasn’t formally announced he’s running for governor, independent Greg Orman raised almost $453,000 in campaign contributions, according to state reports.”

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1.10.18 political law links

DC: REFORM BILL PASSES. WT. “The D.C. Council on Tuesday unanimously passed a campaign finance reform bill that still faces opposition from Mayor Muriel Bowser.”

ME: ETHICS ENTANGLEMENTS. BDN. “The Bangor City Council member who now is the target of an ethics investigation has a history of failing to disclose his financial entanglements, the Bangor Daily News has found.”

MA: EMAIL VIOLATION. LS. “The School Department violated state law by using public resources on a field maintenance ballot question last month, according to the Office of Campaign & Political Finance.”

MO: THE YEAR? KCS. “A potential initiative petition could place a much more sweeping gift ban before voters later this year.”

VA: REFORM (AGAIN). NV. “Virginia is one of only a few states that permit unlimited donations to political candidates for state office, and the commonwealth is ripe for a discussion of that policy. Let’s just make sure the conversation is a little less one-sided than it has been to date.”

WA: VETO OVERRIDE. SR. “The calendar turned and a new face joined the Spokane City Council on Monday, but the panel held firm against arguments of overreach from the mayor and others that local campaign finance laws went too far.”

WI: OPPOSITION REMAINS. WPR. “Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald is rejecting calls to hold a public hearing on the confirmation of Ethics and Elections commission leaders.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.