Compliance Notes - Vol. 2, Issue 40
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.
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Campaign Finance & Lobbying Compliance
The Supreme Court of the United States decided to hear Senator Ted Cruz’s challenge to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) rule that candidates who make loans to their campaigns may only repay themselves with up to $250,000 in funds raised after Election Day. (Melissa Quinn, CBS News)
A federal court ordered the FEC to take action on a complaint against the National Rifle Association that alleged illegal coordination between the group and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. (Soo Rin Kim, ABC News)
Colorado: Boulder citizens filed a campaign finance complaint against City Council candidate Steven Rosenblum alleging that he received an excessive in-kind campaign contribution in the form of legal research and other assistance related to filing a lawsuit against Boulder Progressives. (Deborah Swearingen, Boulder Daily Camera)
Georgia: Contribution limits to candidates for statewide office were raised from $7,000 to $7,600 for primary and general elections, and contribution limits for runoff elections are now $4,500, up from $4,100. (US News & World Report)
Government Ethics & Transparency
Following questions about stock holdings and transactions revealed in their financial disclosures, heads of the Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and Boston announced they would leave their positions. (Jeanna Smialek, The New York Times)
Lawyers Defending American Democracy filed a complaint with the D.C. Court of Appeals disciplinary panel requesting an investigation into former DOJ Official Jeffrey Clark. The ethics complaint alleged Clark impermissibly used his official government position by attempting to interfere with Congress’s election certification process. (John Kruzel, The Hill)
New York: Governor Hochul named two new members to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), including Jose Nieves as Chair, days before a special meeting was called by the commission to review guidance provided to former-Governor Cuomo about ethics rules related to his book about the pandemic response. (Bernadette Hogan, New York Post)
Texas: A Dallas city task force released its recommendations for ethics reform in the city, with the main suggestion being the creation of an independent inspector general who oversees ethics complaints and enforcement. (Ken Kalthoff, NBC DFW)
