RECENT LOBBYING, ETHICS & CAMPAIGN FINANCE UPDATES
We read the news, cut through the noise and provide you the notes.
Welcome to Compliance Notes from Nossaman’s Government Relations & Regulation Group – a periodic digest of the headlines, statutory and regulatory changes and court cases involving campaign finance, lobbying compliance, election law and government ethics issues at the federal, state and local level.
Our attorneys, policy advisors and compliance consultants are available to discuss any questions or how specific issues may impact your business.
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Campaign Finance & Lobbying Compliance
The Federal Election Commission recently notified Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar that her campaign committee might have taken in $147,000 in potentially excessive primary contributions. These contributions may need to be refunded or redesignated to an election other than her primary. (Francisco Alvarado, Florida Bulldog)
Florida: Court records revealed that three state Republican operatives received a cut of $550,000 spent on mailers during the 2020 election that were aimed to confuse voters about who was on the ballot and, in some cases, promoted “sham” candidates. (Samantha Gross & Ana Ceballos, Tampa Bay Times)
Montana: Helena’s mayor, Wilmot Collins, paid a $100 fine as part of a settlement for his campaign’s acceptance of a contribution that was $70 over the $180 limit. (Phil Drake, Independent Record)
Government Ethics & Transparency
Illinois: An ethics and lobbying reform bill passed by the Illinois legislature this summer is in jeopardy. After the governor issued an amendatory veto that resulted in a minor technical change to the bill, the Senate approved the change but the General Assembly did not. If the legislature does not revisit the bill in two weeks, it will not become law. (Joe Tabor, Illinois Policy)
Indiana: A former deputy general counsel in the state Treasurer’s office has filed a lawsuit alleging that current State Treasurer Kelly Mitchell steered lobbying and financial services contracts to political supporters of her campaign. (Marilyn Odendahl, The Indiana Lawyer)
New York: Two of former-Governor Cuomo’s appointees to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) have stepped down, leaving the Commission potentially short-handed until Governor Hochul makes appointments. (Carl Campanile, New York Post)
Ballot Measures
Colorado: Unite for Colorado, a nonprofit that supported several ballot measures over the past two years, is challenging a fine of $40,000 and a finding by an administrative law judge that it must reveal its donors and register as an issue committee. (Sandra Fish, Colorado Sun)
Massachusetts: The state attorney general certified that a proposed ballot measure, which would classify “gig economy” workers as independent contractors rather than employees, met the constitutional requirements to start the process of signature gathering for the November 2022 ballot. (Nate Raymond, Reuters)
