Essential Ethics

Latest Developments: The Chicago Board of Ethics released three new advisory opinions regarding activities that do not constitute lobbying.  The three related opinions are primarily targeted to activities by nonprofit organizations.  In its press release about the opinions, the board recited…

Latest Developments: The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Services analyzed the requirement that certain nonprofits register with the IRS within 60 days of formation.  The Inspector’s report is critical of the Internal Revenue Service’s failure to take “sufficient…

Latest Developments: The New Mexico Ethics Commission is open for business.  The Commission issued an announcement that, effective January 1, 2020, it “commences jurisdiction for administrative complaints alleging violations of New Mexico’s governmental conduct and disclosure laws.”  The Commission’s administrative…

Latest Developments: The San Francisco Ethics Commission, at its recent meeting, adopted revised regulations with an additional 6 amendments. The regulations take into account changes made by Proposition F, approved by the voters at the November election, which bans contributions…

Latest Developments: The New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) met this week.  On the agenda was a discussion of lobbying regulation.  Staff indicated that revisions to clarify the comprehensive lobby regulations adopted last year will be proposed…

Latest Developments: The Tennessee Court of Appeals at Nashville issued its decision in Tennesseans for Sensible Elections Laws v. Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance in which the court struck down a state statute that barred nonpartisan PACs…

Latest Developments: The United States Department of Justice announced indictments against eight people for “conspiring to make and conceal conduit and excessive campaign contributions.”  Politico reports that, among those indicted is George Nader, a “(l)obbyist known for Trump ties (who…

Latest Developments: The United State Supreme Court vacated the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Thompson v. Hebdon and sent the case back to the Ninth Circuit for reconsideration.  The Court’s per curium decision expressed concern that Alaska’s contribution limit…

Latest Developments: The Oregon Supreme Court heard arguments this week on whether to overturn a 1997 ruling that prohibits campaign contribution limits in the state.  Oregon Public Broadcasting reports that the case arises as a result of a $500…

Latest Developments: The House Ethics Committee announced Thursday that it is suspending its investigation of Rep. Ross Spano (FL) at the Justice Department’s request. The Committee announced in September that it was “investigating the circumstances of loans to Spano’s…