Latest Developments:
- The United States Department of State issued a release requesting that U.S. “think tanks and other foreign policy organizations that wish to engage with the Department disclose prominently on their websites funding they receive from foreign governments, including state-owned or state-operated subsidiary entities.” The statement notes that disclosure is not a “requirement,” but whether disclosure is made will be considered. It also makes clear that the “policy is distinct from disclosure requirements under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).”
- The Washington State Attorney General announced an agreement that Twitter will pay a $100,000 stipulated judgment to settle charges that it “failed to maintain and make available for public inspection documents and books of account specifying statutorily required information concerning political advertising sponsored through Twitter’s online platform.” The Attorney General’s announcement states that “at least 38 Washington candidates and committees reported paying $194,550 for political advertising on Twitter’s platform since 2012, and Twitter unlawfully failed to maintain the required records.”
- The North Dakota Ethics Commission adopted gift rules for lobbyists. The state’s constitutional ban on gifts from lobbyists (Section 2) takes effect on January 1, 2021, but excludes gifts “given under conditions that do not raise ethical concerns, as determined by rules adopted by the ethics commission.” The new Commission rules provide exceptions that include campaign contributions; transportation, lodging, and meals for a speaker, panelist, or presenter, or a participant at a ceremonial event; gifts shared as a cultural or social norm at a public or private social and educational event; and food and beverage for immediate consumption.
In Case You Missed It:
- California Major Donors Listed: The San Jose Mercury-News reveals the list of the top Democrat and Republican donors in the state, along with a rundown of the major contributors to California ballot measures. The article points out that “(c)ampaign finance records fall quickly these days, as big money gets bigger and new records are set each election cycle. Still, what’s happening in 2020 is staggering.”
- Watchdog Invites Other Watchdogs: According to CalMatters, concern for the misuse of taxpayer money to campaign remains high. With nearly $1.5 billion annually in new taxes and nearly $15 billion in bonds on the ballot, local officials “are tempted, in their zeal to persuade voters to vote for new taxes and bonds, to violate a state law prohibiting them from using taxpayer funds for campaign purposes.” Following success in fining Los Angeles County $1.35 million for violating that prohibition, the California “FPPC invited the public to use its ‘AdWATCH’ program to monitor the materials local officials are using to promote their tax and bond measures and upload questionable items to the agency for examination and perhaps investigation.” At this week’s FPPC meeting, staff advised the Commissioners that investigations of misuse in the current election have been opened.
- Watchdog Needs a Watchdog: Fox 5 Atlanta reports that following a vote in which the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission reached agreement with a judicial candidate for a $120 fine for accepting a contribution in excess of the legal limit, it became apparent that the candidate previously paid one of the members of the commission as a political strategist. Further investigation revealed multiple clients of that commissioner have appeared before the commission. In one instance a candidate “paid Commissioner Thompson’s company $8000 one month before his case came before the commission.”
- Plea Deal for Financial Conflict: CBS SF Bay Area reports that the “former executive director of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority has reportedly accepted a plea deal on charges he violated conflict-of-interest laws by seeking a fee while negotiating the naming rights of the stadium.” The former ED will plead guilty to a misdemeanor, “serve three years probation under the deal, take an ethics course, and pay a fine to the stadium authority.” Court records indicate he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of influencing a government decision in which he had a financial interest. A felony count of financial interest in a contract made in his official capacity was dismissed.