Overview: Investment advisers that seek to manage public money need to consider the SEC’s “pay to play” rule, which restricts election-related contributions by the firms or their “covered associates” to elected state...more
On August 6, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for president and announced Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. This marked the end of the primary election period for the Harris/Walz...more
Employees of investment advisers must consider whether their employer is managing or seeking to manage public funds in Minnesota before donating to the Harris-Walz campaign this election season. Vice President Harris’...more
Vice President Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the upcoming Presidential election. Because Governor Walz is an “official” for purposes of the SEC’s pay-to-play rule under the...more
Vice President Kamala Harris announced today that she has selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate in her bid for president. Contributions to the Harris/Walz campaign are now subject to the...more
On August 6, Vice President Kamala Harris selected Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota as her Vice-Presidential running mate for the 2024 general election. Since Governor Walz is a state official, his selection for the ticket...more
On July 21, 2024, President Joseph Biden announced that he was ending his bid for reelection and instead endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president. A presumptive nominee withdrawing so close to the party convention...more
If there are two political law compliance issues that perennially bedog federal, state, and local government contractors, it is the myriad of state and local pay-to-play laws and procurement lobbying laws. In the FAQs below,...more
The 2023 elections are a little over a month away, and hopefully, if your corporation holds or seeks state and local government business, you have been regularly reminding your directors, officers, and other employees about...more
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announced his candidacy for the 2024 GOP Presidential nomination on June 7, 2023. His announcement, on the heels of Florida Governor DeSantis’ May 24 announcement, highlights the urgent need...more
After recently signing legislation allowing state officeholders to run for president without resigning from office, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has officially entered the 2024 presidential race. As a sitting governor, DeSantis...more
On January 13, 2020, the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari to an appeal of a June 2019 order from the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that dismissed an action seeking to invalidate certain...more
Is your political compliance program ready for the 2020 election season? With the 2020 election season underway, now is a good time to make certain your internal policies and procedures address applicable campaign...more
Financial institutions and their employees may be subject to the following federal pay-to-play rules: SEC Rule 206(4)-5 for investment advisers; CFTC Rule 23.451 for commodities-backed swap dealers; FINRA Rule 2030 for...more
With heightened attention to investment and depository rules as well as increased enforcement of federal and state pay-to-play rules, registered investment advisers (RIAs) and broker-dealers should address the unique legal...more
Now that the 2018 midterm elections are over, we must contend with legal issues that arise from activities related to federal, state and local inaugural and transition committees, as well as recounts and runoff elections. As...more
Recently, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) noted in its quarterly compliance newsletter dated June 8, 2018 that it has “compliance concerns” regarding issuer-solicited charitable donations. The MSRB’s...more
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a suit by the Tennessee, Georgia and New York Republican parties challenging the constitutionality of an MSRB extending pay-to-play prohibition to municipal advisors. The Court...more
Recent actions by financial industry regulators, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”),...more
For financial institutions subject to federal pay-to-play rules (SEC Rule 206(4)-5 for investment advisers, MSRB Rule G-37 for municipal bond underwriters and municipal advisors, and CFTC Rule 23.451 for swap dealers),...more
The Sixth Circuit this week declined the SEC’s request to dismiss a Constitutional challenge to the new MSRB pay-to-play rules. Instead, the Court ordered the case to a merits panel for consideration. The Republican parties...more
Now that the 2016 elections are over, we must contend with special legal issues that arise from contributions made to, and expenses incurred for, federal, state or local inaugural or transition committees, as well as recounts...more
On October 24, 2016, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced in Regulatory Notice 16-40 that its pay-to-play and related recordkeeping rules, FINRA Rules 2030 and 4580, will take effect on August 20,...more
On September 19, 2016, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board ("MSRB") advised Congress that it had "just concluded development of a core regulatory framework for municipal advisors." This by no means signals a significant...more