Compliance Notes - Vol. 2, Issue 10
RECENT LOBBYING, ETHICS & CAMPAIGN FINANCE UPDATES
We read the news, cut through the noise and provide you the notes.
Welcome to Compliance Notes from Nossaman’s Government Relations & Regulation Group – a periodic digest of the headlines, statutory and regulatory changes and court cases involving campaign finance, lobbying compliance, election law and government ethics issues at the federal, state and local level.
Our attorneys, policy advisors and compliance consultants are available to discuss any questions or how specific issues may impact your business.
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Campaign Finance & Lobbying Compliance
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 1, For the People Act of 2021. It includes changes to voting rights and election laws, the composition and powers of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), amendments to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), as well changes to disclaimer and reporting rules for digital advertising. (JulieGrace Brufke, The Hill) For more analysis from Nossaman on H.R. 1 and its interplay with the Biden Ethics Pledge, please see our recent Law360 article.
The campaign committee of U.S. Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) received requests for additional information from the FEC regarding nearly $3 million in unreported contributions. (Roger Sollenberger, Yahoo!News)
Entities regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) take note - at his confirmation hearing, nominee for SEC chair, Gary Gensler, indicated that the agency would seek more political spending disclosure by corporations. (Zachary Warmbrodt, Politico)
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is reportedly investigating whether the campaign of U.S. Representative Jim Hagedorn (R-MN) paid a radio host or radio station for an interview and failed to disclose the relationship. (Daniel Newhauser, Minnesota Reformer)
Michigan: The Secretary of State recently ruled that a public official who wears or displays campaign materials at a meeting violates the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. In this case, the Secretary ruled that a county commissioner who wore a Trump campaign hat potentially committed a violation and issued a formal warning in order to put others on notice. (Lynn Moore, MLive)
New Jersey: A law firm alleged to have violated New Jersey pay-to-play laws resigned from serving as counsel to Washington Township. (Bill Duhart, NJ.com)
Ohio: The Secretary of State referred an additional five campaign finance allegations against former House Speaker Larry Householder for prosecution, bringing the total number of allegations referred to more than 180. (Julie Carr Smyth, 10 WBNS/Associated Press)
Government Ethics & Transparency
Connecticut: A former state official who ran several private businesses while working for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection paid a $5,000 fine to settle charges that he illegally used state resources for private gain. (Vincent Salzo, Patch.com)
Oregon: The Legislature is considering loosening limits on lobbyists buying legislators food and beverage. (Hillary Borrud, The Oregonian)