E-News from State and Federal Communications, Inc.

August / September 2006

In July, I focused on telling you that change keeps coming in our industry, and State and Federal Communications continually researches developments to help you stay on track with your compliance reporting activity.  I promised to highlight some ongoing changes on a regular basis so you could see how we stay on top of these activities.

In 2006 there are a number of important initiatives and referenda impacting lobbying activity and compliance reporting. Certain states will vote on issues limiting contributions, as well as other ramifications, as 
shown here:

ALASKA – Passed August 22, 2006

Alaskans passed Ballot Measure #1, 74% to 26%. The measure will take effect 90 days after the votes are certified, which is expected to be on December 15.

This initiative will decrease:

1. The maximum amount an individual may give a candidate or group from $1,000 to $500;

2. The amount an individual may give a political party for any purpose from $10,000 to $5,000;

3. The amount a group may give a candidate, or group, from $2,000 to $1,000; and

4. The amount a group may give to a political party from $4,000 to $1,000.

It will require groups to disclose the name, address, occupation, employer, date, and amount given by each contributor for contributions more than $100 during a calendar year.

 

It will reduce from 40 to 10 the hours a person who is not a professional lobbyist could lobby in any 30-day period before having to register as a lobbyist. It will require legislators, public members of the select committee on legislative ethics, and legislative directors to disclose outside income sources greater than $1,000.

 

CALIFORNIA (On the ballot in November)

Proposition 89 decreases limits on donations to candidates who opt-out of public financing. It also prohibits elected state officers, nonparticipating candidates, and independent expenditures committees from accepting contributions from lobbyists or state contractors if the lobbyist or lobbyist employer is registered to lobby, or contractor has potential business, with the governmental agency for which the candidate is seeking election. Further, Proposition 89 limits contributions and independent expenditures by corporations in regard to state candidates and imposes further limitations on corporate contributions and expenditures pertaining to state ballot measures.

 

COLORADO (On the ballot in November)

Amendment #41 prohibits state and local elected officials and employees from soliciting or accepting monetary or in-kind gifts; prohibiting a professional lobbyist from giving anything of value to such person's or their immediate family members; prohibiting state elected officials from representing another person or entity before other state elected officials for a period of two years following departure from office; establishing penalties; creating an independent ethics commission; and specifying that the measure shall not apply to home rule jurisdictions that have adopted laws concerning matters covered by the measure.

 

MONTANA (On the ballot in November)

Initiative 153 prohibits a lobbyist principal from authorizing or permitting lobbying by an individual who has, during the 24 months prior to applying for a license, served as a state legislator, elected state official, department director, appointed state official, or a member of certain staffs.

 

OREGON (On the ballot in November)

Oregon: Issue 46 would amend the constitution to allow campaign contribution limits. Issue 47 would ban corporate and union contributions, limit individual contributions to $500 for statewide office and $100 for non-statewide office.

 

WASHINGTON (On the ballot in November)

Washington: Initiative 360 would allow state law references to "person" to apply only to a human being or community, which would eliminate contribution limits for corporations, unions, and PACs.  If you want to participate either for, or against the initiatives mentioned here that still are to be voted on in November, get involved at the grassroots level!

 

I trust this information is beneficial to you. It is all part of the changing package of information offered to you each day in our online Executive Source Guides on… State Lobbying Laws^TM, Political Contributions^TM and Procurement Lobbying^TM that are on our website www.stateandfed.com

Elizabeth Z. Bartz
President and CEO
State and Federal Communications, Inc.

NCSL Recap 

This article is provided by staffer Nola Werren, Esq. who attended the August 
annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in Nashville, 
with others from the State and Federal Communications team.

NCSL's tagline “The Forum for America's Ideas” has never been more apparent than in this year's exhibit hall at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. With more than 950 exhibitors, state legislators and staff certainly had access to information on a myriad of America's ideas, ranging in scope from VeriSol Software in Booth 101 to the American Health Information Management Association in Booth 962.

But sandwiched somewhere in between, at Booth 612, the real excitement took place. For the eighth consecutive year, State and Federal Communications, Inc. was on hand to greet old friends, meet new prospects, and take part in the revelry that is the NCSL annual meeting. "It's so nice to finally put a face with the voice," is the sentiment that echoed again and again as many of our clients visited the State and Federal Communications booth, flanked on either side by its trademark Greek columns.

We have such a longstanding and ongoing telephone and e-mail relationship with so many of our clients, we truly enjoy the opportunity to personally meet as many of you as we can. It's also nice to socialize and interact with all of you when deadlines are not looming. Finally, we relish the opportunity to provide answers to the campaign finance, lobbying, ethics, and gift questions that you encounter as you interact with the legislators and staff from your various jurisdictions.

Thanks to all of you who took the time to stop by and get "pinned." Visitors also became the unwitting beneficiaries of the most fashionable lanyard this side of the Grand Ole Opry! Just wait until next year, as we look forward to meeting many more of you in Boston.

So is it too early to put next year’s NCSL dates on your calendar? No way. It’s August 5-9 in Boston. Future venues include New Orleans in 2008, Philadelphia in 2009 , and Louisville in 2010.  Hope to see you there!

(l. to r.) Chris Badgley (PhRMA) and Katrina Iserman (Wyeth),  enjoy a talk with Scott Stetson and Elizabeth Bartz.	(left) Elizabeth Bartz meets with Laurie Smalling (Wal-Mart).
(l. to r.) Nola Werren and Scott Stetson with Tara Stewart  (Wal-Mart) and Elizabeth Bartz.	(l. to r.) Nola Werren, Mark Cloer (Colorado State  Representative), Lisa Billy (Oklahoma State Representative),  and Brian S. Rosen (Purdue Pharma).
(Right) Sandie Thomas (Wyeth) discusses compliance issues  with Elizabeth Bartz.	(r. to l) Front row at country superstar LeAnn Rimes’ concert…  Ann Simons (Wyeth), Nola Werren, Tommy Suter (Wyeth), and Rich Winget (Wyeth).