Essential Ethics

Latest Developments: California Governor Jerry Brown appointed a new Chair of the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission last Friday.  According to the Sacramento Bee, Alice T. Germond joins the Commission after a lengthy political career that includes serving as…

Latest Developments: The Oklahoma Ethics Commission raised lobby registration fees by $100 to $250, beginning July 1.  According to The Oklahoman, the increase follows a dispute with the state’s legislature which gave the commission no general fund monies for support for…

Latest Developments: The United States Supreme Court says it’s “OK” to wear your “political” T Shirt to the Polls.  In Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, the court (in a 7 to 2 decision) struck down Minnesota’s ban on…

Latest Developments: Montana Governor Steve Bullock signed an executive order today (6/8/18) that requires anyone who seeks to do business with the state’s executive branch (contracts for goods of more than $50,000 or services of more than $25,000) disclose any expenditures…

Latest Developments: The Oklahoma Ethics Commission meets Friday, June 8.  A discussion of the fee schedule, effective July 1, 2018 is on the agenda.  Among the fees that are the subject of review, are registration fees for…

Latest Developments: The New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics met Tuesday, May 22, 2018.  Among the agenda items discussed: The Executive Director reported on three legislative proposals, including one to require lobbyist disclosure of campaign fundraising activity, one…

Latest Developments: The New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics meets next Tuesday, May 22, 2018.  Among the agenda items: A staff report about three legislative proposals, including one to require lobbyist disclosure of campaign contributions and another that would permit…

The California Fair Political Practices Commission meets next Thursday, May 17 to take up its regular agenda.  Among the interesting bits before the Commission: Staff has written a memo explaining that Commissioners are not entitled to minimum wage for their Commission…

Latest Developments: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in a three-paragraph Order on May 2, 2018, denied a petition for rehearing en banc in a case arising from a case that challenged Montana’s campaign contribution limits.  That case, Lair v….

Latest Developments: The New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics met on Tuesday, April 24, 2018.  Among the items on the agenda was the Comprehensive Lobbying Regulations.  Following two years of drafts, discussion, debate, and interested persons meetings, the commission…