Essential Ethics

Latest Developments: The Center for Political Accountability released the 2021 CPA- Zicklin Index of Corporate Political Disclosure and Accountability. Roll Call quotes the Center’s President as saying that “‘companies are moving in a turbulent political climate to better manage…

Latest Developments: The Governor of New Jersey approved A 227, which requires members of the Drug Utilization Review Board to disclose gifts from the pharmaceutical industry as well as other financial interests members have in that industry. The measure…

Latest Developments: Federal Contractor Relieved: A company accused of violating the prohibition against federal contractor contributions can rest more easily. Bloomberg Government reports that, after months of investigation, the Commission essentially came to the same conclusion as in…

Latest Developments: The Federal Election Commission determined, in MUR 7523, that foreign corporations may contribute to ballot measure campaigns if not otherwise prohibited by state or local law. The facts presented to the Commission indicate that a Canadian subsidiary of…

Latest Developments: The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals determined that it will not rehear Thompson v. Hebdon, after the request for a new hearing was withdrawn. The action leaves in place the court’s decision this summer overturning certain Alaska…

Latest Developments: The FBI announced this week the indictment of US Rep. Jeff Fortenberry “on federal charges that he lied to the FBI and concealed information about illegal campaign contributions that he accepted from foreign sources.” Fortenberry denies…

Latest Developments: The Governor of Illinois signed SB 539. The comprehensive ethics reform bill expands lobbyist registration and reporting to include lobbying local government, and revises provisions relating to procurement, revolving door restrictions, and campaign contributions. The measure takes effect on…

Latest Developments: The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission approved an increase in contribution limits. The new limits are: $7,600 for each primary and general election for statewide offices, $4,500 for each runoff election for statewide…

Latest Developments: The United States Supreme Court agreed to hear Federal Election Commission v. Cruz, a case that challenges the limit on the amount of personal loans that can be repaid to a candidate. Current law limits loan repayments…

Latest Developments: The United States First Circuit Court of Appeals, in Gaspee Project v. Mederos, upheld Rhode Island’s “limited disclosure of funding sources responsible for certain independent expenditures and electioneering communications.” The court found that the laws…