RECENT UPDATES ON LOBBYING, ETHICS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCING
We read the news, cut the noise and get the notes to you.
welcome to Compliance Notes from Nossaman Government Relations and Regulatory Group – a periodic summary of headlines, statutory and regulatory changes, and court cases relating to campaign finance, lobbying compliance, election law, and government ethics issues at federal, state and local levels.
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Campaign finance and lobbying compliance
This year, the number of state-owned companies that disclosed or prohibited political spending reached an all-time high. According to a report from the Center for Political Accountability and the Wharton School’s Carol and Lawrence Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research, companies are on average more transparent about their political activities than last year. Additionally, an annual ranking report found that companies that prohibit or disclose political spending fell from 332 to 370 companies. (Lorraine Woellert, Politics)
Florida: Lawmakers at the House’s Public Integrity and Ethics Committee have approved two bills aimed at restricting lobbying by public officials after leaving office. The first measure would extend the waiting period for lawmakers and heads of state agencies after leaving office before lobbying lawmakers and other elected officials, and would prohibit public officials from lobbying government agencies or the legislature. during their tenure. The second measure imposes similar prohibitions on former judges and magistrates. (Renzo Downey, Florida Politics)
Caroline from the south: South Carolina Ethics Commission findings revealed that gubernatorial candidate Phil Noble broke state law by spending thousands of campaign dollars on personal expenses, including subscriptions to streaming platforms, clothing and gourmet snacks. In addition, the Commission also discovered that Noble had failed to file three campaign disclosure reports. (Caitlin Byrd, State (Colombia, SC))
Elections, legislation and government ethics
Minnesota: The Minnesota Supreme Court heard a challenge to state proceedings to restore the franchise to those on parole or probation. The case could determine whether continuing to deny these voters the right to vote violates Minnesota’s constitution. The court ruling would impact 50,000 Minnesotans with active criminal records. (Brian Bakst, MPR News)
Philadelphia cream: Philadelphia City Council Chairman Darrell L. Clarke has proposed changes to the city’s ethics rule to impose new reporting requirements when council members abstain from voting. The proposed rule would require board members to provide written notice, within five days of the introduction of the legislation, of the challenge to votes and conflicts of interest related to financial interests. (Laura McCrystal, The Philadelphia Investigator)
Wisconsin: Madison’s Ethics Board unanimously agreed to dismiss a complaint filed by developer Terrence Wall against city appraiser Michelle Drea, accusing her of trying to influence the review board by handing out candy to members ahead of a hearing over Wall’s objections to the appraisals of his two properties. Wall argued that the state’s ethics law and related city ordinances prohibit providing “anything of value” to members; however, the ethics committee decided that a candy, or a bowl of candy, would not exert such influence to change the minds of members. (Logan Wroge, Wisconsin State Journal)
