Latest Developments:
- The Governor of Maine signed HB 497, which increases lobbyist registration fees from $200 to $250 and from $100 to $125 for reach lobbyist associate. The legislation notes that the increased fees are intended to “provide ongoing allocations for expenditures related to administering and enforcing lobbyist disclosure requirements including the costs of…technology.”
- The New Hampshire Legislature has sent HB 263 to the governor for approval. As reported by local media, the bill would “end the voluntary campaign spending program that allowed candidates who abided by the limits to receive higher maximum contributions from individuals.”It also would increase the primary and the general elections per donor limit to $5,000 each, “allowing any donor to give as much as $10,000 to a candidate during an election cycle.”
- The Portland, Oregon Auditor’s Office adopted amended campaign finance Administrative Rules. Among the revisions are adjusted contribution limits and revised disclosure requirements. According to the Auditor’s summary, the revised disclosure requirement include identifying who is making the communication and requiring a website link in social media communications.
In Case You Missed It:
- Corporate Two-Edged Sword: The New York Times describes the problems corporations encounter if they “take one position and make donations that support another.” In the context of current battles over voting rights, the article points out that “Investors are battling with corporate boards, filing shareholder resolutions that demand more transparency and accountability about political donations. Increasingly, they’re winning.”
- PAC Money Flowing Again: Roll Call reports that although PAC contributions are down, PACs “have begun to send more money to lawmakers.” The article quotes the Executive Director of the National Association of Business PACs, who opined that “Employees continue to believe their company and trade association PACs are important ways for them to exercise their civic duty and provide support to lawmakers who will advocate for their jobs, industries, and communities.”
- Seeing Green in The Land of Enchantment: The New Mexico Political Report outlines emerging ethics issues as compliance infrastructure develops in the face of the recently passed Cannabis Regulation Act. As they note, the Act has given rise to a niche market for cannabis adjacent businesses, particularly those aimed at guiding business owners through the process.” Not surprisingly, those offering this specialized knowledge are those closely associated with the Act’s passage, which “raises questions about the ethics of state and local lawmakers selling their services in an industry they sometimes have a hand at creating.”