Essential Ethics

Latest Developments: The Federal Election Commission met this week.  The agenda included a discussion of pending opinions and an interpretive rule.  The Commission issued a final opinion to Defending Digital Campaigns, AO 2018-12, which allows cybersecurity services to be provided…

Latest Developments: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in United States v. Singh, upheld the power of congress to prohibit campaign contributions from foreign nationals to state and local candidates.  In addition, the court found that the…

Latest Developments: The United States District Court in South Dakota struck down a 2018 state constitutional amendment that prohibited contributions to ballot question committees from nonresidents, including businesses.  In SD Voice v. Noem, the court found that…

Latest Developments: The Governor of Maine approved B. 29, which bars legislators from registering as compensated lobbyists for one year after their term of office ends.  The measure applies beginning with the next legislature. Maryland has followed a trend of…

Latest Developments: The Governor of Maryland approved B. 79, which requires that lobbyist registrations and reports be filed electronically. The Governor of Alabama signed B. 289, which creates an exception from the requirement that a person register as a lobbyist if the…

Latest Developments: The Federal Election Commission staff has issued a draft opinion regarding the circumstances under which a political committee can receive contributions that consist of cryptocurrency mining operations.  The opinion is subject to public comment and review by…

Latest Developments: The Governor of New Mexico signed B. 3, a campaign finance measure.  Among other things, the measure revises campaign finance reporting deadlines and reporting thresholds, and revises the dates when an election cycle begins and…

Latest Developments:  The Governor of New Mexico signed the State Ethics Commission Act, S.B. 668.  The measure gives the new commission authority over the regulation of campaign finance and lobbyists, among other things.  The bill takes effect on…

Latest Developments: The Federal Election Commission met this week and considered an agenda laden with draft advisory opinions.  The Commission approved three opinions, including Opinion 2019-01 for It Starts Now, which permits a new form of funds that consist of earmarked funds solicited…

Latest Developments: S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals – update:  We previously reported that the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals decided that Missouri’s requirement that all lobbyists register and report their activity even if not receiving compensation is…