Latest Developments:
- The North Dakota Attorney General issued an opinion approving regulations of the state’s Ethics Commission. The regulations expand the definition of who qualifies as a lobbyist for purposes of gift rules to include all public officials. The opinion found “that the Ethics Commission is constitutionally authorized to promulgate a rule defining “lobby” and “lobbyist” … which expands the statutory definition of “lobby” and “lobbyist” in order to fulfill its constitutional mandate…”
- COVID-19 Update: Government officials, agencies, and courts continue to respond to the COVID-19 emergency. Each week we will add the latest information. For more information about filing deadlines, contact our Political Reporting Unit. Among the more notable developments this week:
- The Chicago Board of Ethics announced that it will, due to the pandemic, again delay application of the City’s new lobby registration requirements for nonprofits. The requirements were scheduled to be enforced January 1, 2021, but according to the notice, “the delay in implementation of the City’s non-profit lobbying laws until such time as the City and Board deem appropriate continues until at least April 1.”
- The Federal Election Commission announced that “Shana M. Broussard, Sean J. Cooksey and Allen Dickerson have been sworn in as members of the Federal Election Commission, returning a quorum to the agency charged with administering and enforcing federal campaign finance law.” The Commission also announced that Shana Broussard will serve as Chair for the coming year and Allen Dickerson will be Vice Chair.
- The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission is seeking comment on proposed amendments to the city’s lobbying laws. The proposal would redefine “who qualifies as a ‘lobbyist’ by moving from a time-based standard to a compensation-based standard.” It also includes “faster registration” and “more meaningful and frequent disclosure.” The Commission’s policy portal indicates that the commission will take comments and hold a meeting on the matter in January 2021.
In Case You Missed It:
- Zombies Concern Prairie States: com in Cedar Rapids reports on the existence of zombie campaign funds, specifically citing former Senator Tom Harkin, who last ran for office in 2008, but whose campaign fund “continued to spend over $60,000 during the 2019 and 2020 election cycle.” Meanwhile Colorado Politics reports that U.S. Senator Michael Bennet introduced “the Zeroing Out Money for Buying Influence after Elections (ZOMBIE) Act to address what happens with campaign money for federal candidates when they leave office.”
- The Arizona Attorney General issued an opinion finding that a local “employment policy prohibiting County employees from making political contributions for any candidates for any elected County office violates employees’ constitutional rights guaranteed under the First Amendment.”