Essential Ethics

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Circuit Court of Appeals determined that it will not rehear Thompson v. Hebdon, after the request for a new hearing was withdrawn.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…

Latest Developments: The Illinois Legislature, after rebuffing the Governor’s request to amend SB 539 earlier, passed the requested amendments to the ethics bill at the beginning of a one-day session called to “consider a comprehensive energy package.” The Mattoon Journal-Gazette & Times-Courier explains…

Latest Developments: The Alaska Supreme Court sided with the Alaska Public Offices Commission in determining that limits on contributions to independent expenditure committees are unconstitutional. In APOC v. Patrick, the court found that existing limits are unconstitutional as applied…

Latest Developments: Multnomah County, Oregon (County Seat: Portland) announced that it will implement campaign contribution limits. According to the release, a “Circuit Court judge has ruled that Multnomah County’s campaign contribution limits are constitutional and do not violate free…