Weekly Lobbying Articles
November 14, 2014
Omaha.com
November 7, 2014
Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh ends term early to be lobbyist
LINCOLN — State Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, the Omaha Republican who enjoys a fine cigar almost as
much as baiting Democrats, stepped down Thursday from the Nebraska Legislature.
Lautenbaugh, 49, who works as a trial attorney, resigned with less than two months remaining in his
second term. He said lobbying opportunities had recently emerged, which compelled him to hasten his
departure.
“I just needed to make a clean break before I could have any discussions about that,” he said, declining
to reveal potential clients or whether he might join an established firm.
Nebraska does not require a cooling-off period for outgoing legislators before they can lobby former
colleagues. A total of 32 states regulate the so-called revolving door of lawmakers into lobbyists, and
federal law requires former members of Congress to wait one to two years, depending upon the office.
Lautenbaugh, who represented northwest Omaha, said he was most proud of blocking spending
legislation and introducing the bill that shrank the Omaha Public Schools board from 12 to nine
members.
He twice gathered sufficient votes to allow video betting terminals at horse tracks, but was thwarted the
first time by a veto and the second time by a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling.
The high court also struck down Lautenbaugh’s 2009 law that carved out an exemption to the statewide
smoking ban for cigar bars. It was an issue close to his heart, as he could frequently be seen puffing a
cigar outside the Capitol building on temperate days.
A former Douglas County election commissioner, Lautenbaugh served on a 2011 committee that
mapped out legislative redistricting, provoking criticism by some Democrats. And he was known for his
witty, and sometimes sarcastic, banter with fellow lawmakers during floor debates.
In an email to colleagues Thursday, Lautenbaugh said demands on his time from his law practice and
ailing parents made his final session “joyless” at times.
“We did important work — and I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to have served and to
have worked with all of you,” he wrote. “When I saw again this week how hard some worked to get
where I was, I felt like an ingrate at best, so I wanted to say this.”
Jen Rae Wang, spokeswoman for Gov. Dave Heineman, said Thursday a decision had not been made on
whether to make an appointment to complete the final weeks of Lautenbaugh’s term.
Republican Brett Lindstrom, an Omaha financial adviser, won Tuesday’s election to represent District 18.
Lautenbaugh said he had no plans to seek elective office “at this time.”
“But I have to be back in 2021 to do the redistricting,” he said with a laugh.
KSPR (Missouri)
November 8, 2014
Proposed amendment takes aim on lobbyists, campaign finance
The Office of the Missouri Secretary of State received an imitative petition this week which aims to
amend Article III of the Missouri Constitution, and the imitative petition is now open for public
comment.
The proposed amendment would forbid state lawmakers or their staffs from serving as lobbyists for two
years after leaving office. It would also cap contributions to state legislative candidates to $2,000 for
state senators and $1,000 for state house members.
The petition was submitted by St. Louis attorney Bradley Ketcher. “The imitative is an importance
reform measure that will bring campaign finance reform to legislative races, ban fundraising in the
Capitol, help stop the revolving door of legislator becoming lobbyist and make clear that legislative
business is subject to the open records law,” Ketcher said.
The petition aims to place the proposal before voters in 2016.
The New York Times
November 9, 2014
Link Shows How Lobby Firm Cultivates Influence
Attorney General Pam Bondi of Florida, after taking a free ride on a chartered jet last year to a resort
island far from her home state, made an unusual offer to one of the corporate lawyers from Washington
who helped foot the bill: an invitation to stay at her Tampa home while recuperating from surgery.
The hospitality was extended to Lori Kalani, a lobbyist and lawyer from Dickstein Shapiro, the
Washington-based firm that specializes in building personal relationships with state attorneys general to
help corporate clients avoid becoming targets of investigation.
The circumstances of the trip to Mackinac Island, Mich., and the subsequent offer to host Ms. Kalani in
convalescence were uncovered as part of a continuing investigation by The New York Times into the
relationship between private lawyers and state attorneys general. They make vivid how aggressively
Dickstein and firms like it have worked in recent years to try to influence top state law enforcement
officials
Representatives from Dickstein Shapiro did not respond to requests for comment. A spokeswoman for
Ms. Bondi declined to comment for this article.
The Florida Commission on Ethics is reviewing a sworn complaint filed by a Florida resident asking it to
investigate whether Dickstein violated state law by not registering as a lobbying firm in the state.
The complaint was filed after an earlier article in The Times reported that Ms. Bondi and other attorneys
general had taken actions favorable to Dickstein’s clients after intervention by its lawyers. Ms. Kalani
and two other partners at her firm were among the lobbyists and lawyers who flew on a chartered
Boeing 737 to upstate Michigan from Washington, a ride that cost the Dickstein partners $4,500 each. In
return for the payment, they secured the right to join a half-dozen Republican attorneys general for the
round-trip flight to the weekend retreat.
Dickstein Shapiro separately donated $35,000 last year for membership to the Republican Attorneys
General Association, campaign finance reports show. Money was then passed on from the association to
Republican candidates like Ms. Bondi to help with their election campaigns.
The donations also helped cover the $2,394 cost of Ms. Bondi’s flight, hotels, meals and beverages
during the weekend at the Grand Hotel, a landmark Michigan resort, according to a gift report filed by
Ms. Bondi with the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Lawyers and lobbyists at Dickstein contacted Ms. Bondi’s office last year on behalf of nearly a dozen
clients, including Pfizer, the pharmaceutical giant; Travelocity, the online reservation company;
Bridgepoint Education, the for-profit college chain; and Herbalife, the nutritional shake company;
according to emails sent to Ms. Bondi’s office last year by Ms. Kalani and others at Dickstein Shapiro.
The emails were obtained through an open records request by The Times.
One particular focus for Dickstein during the Mackinac Island event was to urge Republican attorneys
general like Ms. Bondi not to join an investigation into marketing claims used by 5-Hour Energy,
according to several people who attended the event but asked not to be named because the
conversations were supposed to be confidential. The inquiry was initiated in early 2013 by more than 20
states.
Ms. Kalani, other partners at Dickstein and their clients also donated money directly last year to a
Florida campaign group run by Ms. Bondi. It included a $10,000 payment from ETC Capital, an
investment fund controlled by the owner of the 5-Hour Energy brand, as Dickstein Shapiro sought to
ensure that Florida did not join the investigation into the company.
The invitation to stay at Ms. Bondi’ s home in Tampa came after Ms. Kalani showed up at the Michigan
resort with a foot injury, according to two people who attended the event. Ms. Bondi urged Ms. Kalani
to consult with her own physician in Florida. After Ms. Kalani did so, Ms. Bondi invited her to stay as she
recovered from surgery.
Dickstein Shapiro may be violating Florida law by failing to register as a lobbying firm, given the nature
of the appeals it has made to Ms. Bondi and her office, which include advocating policy on issues that
are important to its clients, instead of just legal matters, said Charles H. Rose III, a professor at Stetson
University College of Law in Gulfport, Fla. At the request of The Times, Mr. Rose reviewed copies of
emails that firm executives had sent to Ms. Bondi’s office.
“Law firms engaging the attorney general on general policy matters, as opposed to a specific client issue,
should register as lobbyists,” Mr. Rose said. He pointed in particular to the unusual dual role of attorney
general as both a law enforcement official and a member of the so-called Florida Cabinet, making
decisions regarding the operation of Florida state government.
Neither Ms. Kalani nor Bernard Nash, a lawyer who leads the Dickstein Shapiro practice that focuses on
state attorneys general, is licensed to practice law in Florida, according to the Florida Bar. As such, Mr.
Rose said, it would be hard to see how they could argue that they were working solely on legal matters
when communicating with Ms. Bondi and her staff.
Even so, Mr. Rose added, lawyers and government officials often do become friends. For that reason, he
said, he did not see an ethical issue for Ms. Bondi to invite Ms. Kalani to stay at her home.
But Lisa G. Lerman, a law professor at Catholic University and a co-author of the widely used
casebook Ethical Problems in the Practice of Law, said that a law enforcement official like Ms. Bondi
should maintain some personal distance from lawyers or lobbyists representing private parties. Her
office has an enormous amount of discretion when it comes to deciding whether to initiate
investigations into companies represented by Dickstein, or how to settle cases that have already been
started.
“You want these relationships with the law enforcement official to be arm’s length to help ensure the
decisions would be dispassionate,” Ms. Lerman said. “This seems like the opposite of that. I think it is
unseemly.”
An ethics complaint has already been filed by a retired carpenter, Charles P. Swofford, asserting that
staff members from Dickstein Shapiro have been “calling, emailing and meeting with members of the
executive branch of Florida state government,” yet are not registered as lobbyists.
“It seems reasonably clear what these people are doing is lobbying,” said Mr. Swofford, a registered
Democrat and a former Connecticut resident who has a history of filing complaints against government
officials who he believes are involved in misdeeds.
Kerrie J. Stillman, a spokeswoman for the Florida Commission on Ethics, said complaints filed with the
commission are considered confidential until they have been investigated. If Dickstein is found to have
violated the state law, it could be fined up to $5,000 and barred from lobbying in Florida for two years.
The Washington Post
November 10, 2014
Capital Business has partnered with the nonprofit Sunlight Foundation to bring you a snapshot of the
new clients signed by lobbying firms, based on federal registration data.
Lobbyist
Akin, Gump et al.
Akin, Gump et al.
Albertine Enterprises
American Continental
Group
American Continental
Group
American Defense
International
Client
Caesars Entertainment
Operating Co.
Ad hoc committee of
holders of units in the
Motors Liquidation Co.
GUC Trust
Judge Group
Imprivata
National Football
Foundation
Kerecis
Issues
Reauthorization of the Pension Protection Act.
Vehicle safety, product recalls, victim compensation
and bankruptcy court proceedings involving General
Motors.
Information services, technology and health-care
services.
Health information technology.
General amateur football issues.
Wound-care products.
American Defense
International
American Defense
International
American Forest
Foundation
Vitel Net
Telemedicine.
Studer Group
American Tower
American Tower
Veterans Access Choice and Accountability Act of
2014 and Veterans Affairs contracting.
Estate tax; Family Farm Preservation and
Conservation Estate Tax Act; conservation easement
tax incentives; and other issues.
Tax reform, including tax policy affecting REITs;
telecommunications reforms affecting wireless and
broadcast communications; and international trade
policy affecting wireless and broadcast
communications.
General health care and exercise.
American Forest
Foundation
Applied Measurement
Professionals/NBRC
Coalition for the
Registration of Exercise
Professionals
Association of Assistive Association of Assistive
Technology Act
Technology Act Program
Programs
AUX Initiatives
Hard Rock Directional
Drilling
Barnes & Thornburg
U.S. Fashion Industry
Association
Barnes & Thornburg
Tile Council of North
America
Beacon Consulting
Mid-Atlantic Network of
Group
Youth and Family Services
Becker & Poliakoff
City of Hialeah Gardens,
Fla.
BGR Holding
National Mining
Association
BGR Holding
Embassy of Bangladesh
BGR Holding
Claremont Group
BGR Holding
Bluewater Strategies
Advanced Search
Laboratories
Reauthorization of the Workforce Investment and
Opportunity Act.
Transportation Department compliance.
Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks, U.S.-EU trade
negotiations and labor issues.
Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations, U.S.-EU
trade negotiations and air quality.
Appropriations and grants support.
Federal grant funding.
Environmental regulations impacting the mining
industry.
Bilateral U.S.-Bangladesh relations.
Real estate development and investment
opportunities.
Provide guidance and strategic counsel on potential
regulations, legislation or other government
activities.
Forest Service.
Timber Products
Manufacturers'
Association
Brownstein, Hyatt et al. Emaar USA
International trade and investment.
Bryan Cave
American Association for Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act reauthorization.
Clinical Chemistry
Cassidy & Associates
Permuta Technologies
Contracting with Defense Department IT acquisition.
Center for Prison
Reform
Children's Hospital and
Health System
Center for Prison Reform Prison-sentencing reform.
Clark Hill
Employee Real Estate
Construction Trust Fund,
AmeriServ as trustee
Futures Industry
Association
American Automotive
Policy Council
CompTIA Member
Services
Cleary, Gottlieb et al.
Cloakroom Advisors
CompTIA Member
Services
Cornerstone
Government Affairs
CVS Health
Dentons
Dickstein Shapiro
Children's Hospital and
Health System
National Association of
Development
Organizations
CVS Health
Zimek
Dilworth Paxson
DLA Piper
Tauzin Consultants for
James R. Woodhill
Morris Brown College
Booz Allen Hamilton
DLA Piper
Westcor
Doyce Boesch
Doyce Boesch
Eckert Seamans Cherin
& Mellott
Eckert Seamans Cherin
& Mellott
Edolphus Towns
LoanDepot
USA Funds
Real-Time Technology
Group
Swiss International Air
Lines
Comcast for Gray Global
Advisors
Comcast
Deloitte Consulting
Tracy Hills Project Owner
Bryant & Associates
Maricopa County
Edolphus Towns
Edolphus Towns
Ferguson Group
Ferguson Group
FirstStrategic
Children's Health Insurance Program, pediatric issues
in health-care reform implementation and other
health-care issues.
Lobbing on government contracts for Veterans
Affairs health-care center leaser and mortgages.
Implementation of Title VII of Dodd-Frank Wall
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
Federal trade policy and currency manipulation.
Government agency IT security; workforce
standards; cybersecurity and mobile security; smallbusiness expensing; and other issues.
Regional planning projects and transportation
funding for rural communities.
Prescription drug abuse and other health-care issues.
Discussions regarding preventing the spread of Ebola
and other infectious diseases using Zimek's infection
control and biohazard remediation misting
technology.
Banking account takeover.
Resolution of claims involving school's bankruptcy.
Implementation of the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act.
Financial insurance policy and title insurance
matters.
Home loans.
Education.
Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization and
pilot records database.
Aero/political issues arising from international
operation of aircraft.
Telecommunication and cable television.
Telecommunication and cable television.
Financial services and employment.
Endangered Species Act.
Appropriations for energy and water development.
Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and
Franklin Partnership
Freemyer, Allen D.
Goddard Gunster
Goddard Gunster
Goddard Gunster
Goddard Gunster
Goodstein, Richard
Hannegan Landau
Advocacy
Hart Health Strategies
Hart Health Strategies
Health Policy Source
Hennessey, Heather
McNatt
Hoffman, Silver et al.
Hogan Lovells
Innovative Federal
Strategies
International
Government Relations
Group
JM Burkman &
Associates
Jones, Walker et al.
Jones, Walker et al.
Community College
District
Allies for Cherry Point's
Tomorrow
Alton Coal Development
accreditation issues.
Southeastern Fisheries
Association
ITG Voma
Rejjee
Environmental Protection Agency vessel permit
exemption for commercial fishing vessels.
Trade regulatory proceedings.
Raising awareness about Rejjee and its product.
Genalyte
Health care.
Bnatrl
Seeking federal contracts with the Centers for
Disease Control, Defense Department and Health
and Human Services.
Federal government services and support.
Maritime facility development.
Defense issues and base closure and realignment.
Endangered Species Act and securing a permit for
the Coal Hollow project.
McCann Capitol Advocates Transportation funding and homeland security.
for the Oregon
Department of
Transportation
Brazos Higher Education Student lending and higher education
Service Corp.
reauthorization.
ECMC Group
Higher education, student lending and funding.
Texas Guaranteed Student Higher education, student lending and funding.
Loan Corp.
Aluminum Association
Clean Air Act standards and energy efficiency.
Missouri Department of Funding for transportation.
Transportation
Tobii-DynaVox
Medicare reimbursement.
Oncology Nursing Society Implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Mercy Health
Medicare activities impacting payments to hospitals.
GPS Innovation Alliance GPS spectrum policy and GPS infrastructure.
KBK Consulting Group
Keese, James P.
Curtin Maritime
Hood Canal Sand and
Gravel
Partner Funding
Helios
Keightley & Ashner
Quad/Graphics
Consumer and small-business finance.
Worker compensation pharmacy benefits,
prescription drug abuse, Medicare secondary payer
program and postal reform.
S. 2511, provisions relating to ERISA Section 4062(e).
Keightley & Ashner
Keightley & Ashner
Keightley & Ashner
Keller McIntyre &
Associates
Keller McIntyre &
Associates
Keller McIntyre &
Associates
Keller McIntyre &
Associates
Ryman Hospitality
Properties
New York Times Co.
Navistar International
Legacy Redevelopment
Corp.
Tiffin University
S. 2511, provisions relating to ERISA Section 4062(e).
S. 2511, provisions relating to ERISA Section 4062(e).
S. 2511, provisions relating to ERISA Section 4062(e).
Design, implementation and support of innovative
financing programs in the city of Milwaukee.
Education Department grants.
Town of Summerville, S.C. Berlin Myers Phase 3, Bear Island Parkway and North
Maple Street improvement projects.
Sherman Oaks Hospital
Geriatric/psychiatric programs, physician training,
and Encino Hospital
wellness programs and other funding priorities.
Medical Center
Keller McIntyre &
Greene County, Pa.
Road and transportation projects to improve
Associates
Waynesburg streetscape, and water/wastewater
infrastructure improvement projects.
King & Spalding
LaFarge North America
Foreign subsidies.
Legi\X
Tule River Indian Housing Native American Housing Assistance and SelfAuthority
Determination Act of 1996.
Legi\X
Northern Pueblos Housing Native American Housing Assistance and SelfAuthority
Determination Act of 1996.
Lewis-Burke Associates University of Iowa
Research.
Lockridge, Grindal et al. City of Bensenville, Ill.
Federal aviation regulations.
Lockridge, Grindal et al. HealthWorks
Health insurance and health care.
Mainstay Strategies
Innovative Federal
Unmanned vehicle technology, shipbuilding,
Strategies
telecommunications software and defense
technology.
Mcallister & Quinn
Akonia Holographics
Federal funding opportunities.
McBee Strategic
Texas General Counsel
Improve federal judicial administration in Texas.
Consulting
Coalition
McGuire, Woods et al. Genworth Financials
Tax policy matters in the areas of insurance,
retirement and international taxes.
McGuire, Woods et al. TIAA-CREF
Taxation of insurance companies, insurance products
and retirement accounts.
McGuire, Woods et al. Association of Institutional Tax policy advice.
Investors
Meyers & Associates
Greater Houston
Reauthorization of Moving Ahead for Progress in the
Partnership
21st Century Act, transportation authorization and
military downsizing.
Meyers & Associates
Trinity River Authority of Appropriations
Texas
Nueva Vista Group
Merck & Co.
Access to immunization services for adults through
federal programs.
Parsons Strategies
Patton Boggs
Pike Associates
Pitney Bowes
Podesta Group
Powers, Pyles et al.
LedgerX
Hemispherx Biopharma
Alaska Marine
Conservation Council
Pitney Bowes
First Focus
American Osteopathic
Association
Derivatives legislation and regulation.
Investigational new drug designation.
Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act.
Postal issues.
Children's Health Insurance Program and youth
development.
Osteopathic physicians and health care.
Sacramento Bee
November 10, 2014
Sacramento political consultant Richie Ross agrees to pay lobbying fines
Richie Ross, a longtime Democratic campaign consultant and lobbyist, has agreed to pay a $5,000 fine
and write off $160,000 he’s owed for violating California’s lobbying laws, according to a proposed
settlement he reached with the staff of the Fair Political Practices Commission.
The violation stems from Ross’ dual roles as both a campaign consultant who helps legislative
candidates get elected and as a lobbyist who is paid by outside interests to sway legislators’ votes. While
state law allows a person to hold both positions, Ross ran into trouble because of his practice of carrying
debt for successful candidates who agreed to pay him a “win bonus.”
California’s Political Reform Act forbids lobbyists from placing public officials under personal obligation,
including financial debt. The FPPC’s action against Ross marks the first time the state’s political
watchdog has enforced the rule. The settlement says Ross’ “violations are potentially very serious
because of the opportunity for improper influence inherent in the situation where a state legislator
owes a large debt to a lobbyist.”
In the two cases cited in the settlement, Ross agreed that he did not make sufficient efforts to collect
the money legislators owed him for his work on their campaigns. Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Cupertino,
has owed Ross $100,000 since February 2009, the settlement says. Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens,
has owed Ross $60,000 since 2011, the agreement says. That means Lara and Fong have been indebted
to a lobbyist nearly the entire time they’ve been in office. Neither of the legislators is charged with any
wrongdoing in this case, and Ross agreed to waive the debts they owe him as part of the settlement
with the FPPC.
The law’s “provisions prohibiting certain activities by lobbyists are aimed at preventing lobbyists from
influencing state officials through means other than legitimate advocacy,” says the settlement. “A
situation where a lobbyist holds the legal right to collect a significant debt from a legislator, or take no
action on the debt, creates an obvious opportunity for improper influence by the lobbyist over the
legislator, although there is no evidence before us that such improper influence occurred here.”
The settlement says Ross believed he was acting legally based on FPPC opinions from 1977 and 2006.
But in the 2006 case, the settlement says, Ross was actively seeking repayment of the debt, while in the
cases of Fong and Lara he was not.
Ross and Lara did not return calls from The Sacramento Bee on Monday, and Fong declined to comment.
Ross’ lobbying clients include the United Farm Workers, the AFSCME labor union and an association for
attorneys who file workers’ compensation cases. A decade ago, Ross caused a dust-up in the Capitol
when he cursed at two staff members whose bosses had not voted for bills supported by one of his
lobbying clients. The incident led to bills being introduced to prohibit political consultants from lobbying
the officials they help elect, but those measures were never signed into law.
The FPPC meets Nov. 20 to consider the settlement with Ross.
Austin Business Journal
November 11, 2014
Bond: Why lobbying should be part of your corporate strategy
When the Texas Legislature convenes on Jan. 13, there will be many newly elected legislators, newly
appointed staff, and a constantly shifting framework of political alliances and structures that will
determine the legislative outcomes when the session ends 140 days later on June 1.
It's a very short period of time, and the legislature only meets every other year in regular session.
Among those present for the session will be several thousand registered lobbyists representing an array
of clients with specific interest in Texas' economy and culture.
There is a popular perception of a lobbyist, made famous by movies and television, as the paunchy,
cigar-smoking, whiskey-drinking influence peddler. But while there certainly will be some cigars smoked
next session — not actually in the smoke-free Capitol of course — the modern lobbyist is much more apt
to be found sitting in a legislator's office. Sitting next to that lobbyist will be another lobbyist
representing the opposition going over bullet points and policy briefs and statutory language with staff
members and answering questions about how to forge a compromise that has any chance at all of
becoming law.
In today's world, lobbying has come to mean legislative advocacy. It is practiced primarily by very skilled
professionals from many walks of life. Some are lawyers, but many come to the work because of lives in
and around the legislature, politics, business, trade associations, nonprofit work, or social service
organizations.
Lobbyists all share key common traits: the ability to develop relationships, a knack for succinct
explanations of complex issues, and a keen energy for working under pressure.
In the current epoch of partisan gridlock within the federal government, many businesses — and
nonprofit and issues advocates as well — have turned to the Texas Legislature to improve their market
or legal position or their likelihood of success in whatever endeavor they pursue.
Many businesses recognize the value of financial and marketing strategy and the need for community
outreach and legal support around the enterprise. Many are also adding a lobbying component to their
overall business strategy. At the outset there may not be a need for a business to pass or defeat any
legislation, but it may be important for it to become known in the legislative marketplace as well as the
competitive marketplace.
One can imagine the difficulty even an experienced legislator may have discerning the impact of
hundreds of proposed bills on businesses in his or her district. The lobbyist's role is to be a resource not
only for the client, but also for the legislator to assist in answering questions, gathering research, and
understanding those impacts.
In fact, much of modern lobbying is being an on-the-ground, on-call intermediary between the legislator
and the client. Then, when an issue arises that benefits or concerns the client, the relationships are
already established and the messages and solutions are much more readily received and understood.
Legislative advocacy is rarely successful after the legislator's mind is made up.
The lobby cadre today is as diverse as the culture of the state. The political winds certainly change from
year to year, but the lobbyist's role remains: to inform, advocate, and persuade.
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review
November 12, 2014
Wolf plans to impose gift ban
HARRISBURG "” A code of ethical conduct for Gov.-elect Tom Wolf's transition team foreshadows
something Wolf plans to impose on his first day as governor: a gift ban on his appointees and executive
branch employees.
It's called the "No, thank you" rule, said Wolf spokesman Jeffrey Sheridan. "Anyone who works for him
in the executive branch will not be able to accept a gift."
Wolf plans to sign an executive order to prohibit gifts, even though state law allows officials to accept
gifts worth up to $250 without reporting them, or gifts worth more than that amount if disclosed. The
law sets a $650 threshold for travel, hospitality and lodging.
Critics during Republican Gov. Tom Corbett's campaign pointed to his acceptance of legally allowed gifts,
totaling more than $28,000 during his tenure, from tickets to sporting events and Broadway shows to a
free yacht vacation.
Wolf, a Democrat, will be inaugurated as Corbett's successor on Jan. 20.
In his Campaign for a Fresh Start, Wolf spelled out his rule on gifts "” for himself, his Governor's Office
staff and his appointees to state agencies and boards:
"The rule will be easy to apply and easy to report "” no free lunches, no free tickets to ball games, and
no free trips to conferences or vacation resorts. If you come and work for Tom Wolf in Harrisburg, there
will be no "˜gifts' as part of your job."
Barry Kauffman, lobbyist for Common Cause of Pennsylvania, said the rule is "strong incentive to do the
right thing. It means you'll be beholden to no one."
Common Cause long has sought a gift ban in state law, without success.
A scandal that unfolded this year revealed an undercover lobbyist working for the Attorney General's
office had recorded four Philadelphia legislators taking thousands of dollars in cash. A former
Philadelphia Traffic Court judge is accused of accepting a $2,000 bracelet. She has been charged with
bribery by the Philadelphia district attorney, whose office continues to investigate the legislators.
An executive order won't keep employees from taking gifts, Kauffman said "” "if they want to put their
jobs on the line."
The ban would not apply to the Legislature. That's why Common Cause wants an across-the-board law.
The late Gov. Robert P. Casey, a Democrat, imposed a similar gift ban and, said Kauffman, "he enforced
it, too."
Katie McGinty, Wolf's chief of staff, on Monday became the first to sign the code of conduct. Broader
than just gifts, it requires disclosure of potential conflicts of interest and includes a pledge not to use a
government position for personal gain. The statement says the signatory will be "impartial and beholden
to the people."
Incoming members of Wolf's administration will sign the ethics form, Sheridan said. The executive order
banning gifts will solidify that provision for people he brings in and executive branch employees.
The Tennessean
November 12, 2014
Whitfield lobbying contacts criticized
WASHINGTON - An independent ethics investigation concluded that there is "substantial reason to
believe" that Kentucky Rep. Ed Whitfield, the lead sponsor of anti-soring legislation opposed by a
Tennessee Walking Horse group, had improper lobbying contacts with his wife in connection with
legislation he sponsored and co-sponsored in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Acting on the recommendations of the investigative unit, the House Ethics Committee said Monday that
it would extend its review of the lobbying connections between Whitfield and his wife, Connie
Harriman-Whitfield.
"The committee notes that the mere fact of conducting further review of a referral, and any mandatory
disclosure of such further review, does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred, or reflect any
judgment on behalf of the committee," the ethics panel said in a statement.
Whitfield, who was re-elected to the House on Nov. 4, declined to comment. A Republican, he has
represented Kentucky's 1st District since 1995. His wife has been a registered lobbyist since 2011 with
the Humane Society Legislative Fund, part of the Humane Society of the United States.
The report of the Board of the Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent, nonpartisan unit made up
of private citizens, detailed multiple instances between 2001 and 2014 in which the congressman's wife
was involved in as many as 100 meetings with other lawmakers and staffers, sessions set up by
Whitfield's office to discuss various bills that the Kentuckian was either sponsoring or co-sponsoring.
"There is a substantial reason to believe that Representative Whitfield had lobbying contacts with his
wife and permitted his wife to have lobbying contacts with his staff in violation of House rules and
standards of conduct," the report said.
"The Board recommends that the Committee on Ethics further review the allegations concerning the
granting of special favors or privileges because there is substantial reason to believe that Representative
Whitfield permitted his wife to use his congressional office to advance and facilitate
her lobbying activities and the lobbying activities of her employer in violation of House rules and
standards of conduct."
In some instances, according to emails the report quoted, Harriman-Whitfield and her husband met
jointly with other lawmakers to discuss legislation she was lobbying on.
Whitfield's office said in a statement July 28 that the ethics complaint originated with opponents of
legislation he was sponsoring to tighten regulations against "soring," which changes the gait of walking
horses.
The Tampa Tribune
November 12, 2014
Bondi fires back at allegations of lobbyist influence
TALLAHASSEE — Attorney General Pam Bondi adamantly defended herself Wednesday when
questioned about news reports implying she has cozy relationships with out-of-state lobbyists and
corporate lawyers.
“No lobbyist, no person, no corporation, no individual, will ever compromise what we do in our office
regarding unfair and deceptive trade practices, nor how we protect the consumers in the state of
Florida,” Bondi told reporters after the state Cabinet meeting. “We will continue to protect the
consumers in the state of Florida, and that is not going to change.”
The New York Times, in a number of recent articles, detailed how Washington lobbyists have sought
to influence state attorneys general to the benefit of private corporations.
Bondi was given prominent coverage in the articles. The reports noted she took a free charter flight to
a luxury resort on Mackinac Island, Mich., and while there invited Lori Kalani, a lobbyist and lawyer at
D.C.-based Dickstein Shapiro, to stay at her Tampa home to recuperate from a foot injury. The
Michigan trip was paid for by the Republican Attorneys General Association.
According to The New York Times on Sunday, Dickstein Shapiro “specializes in building personal
relationships with state attorneys general to help corporate clients avoid becoming targets of
investigation.”
The Republican Attorneys General Association receives money from corporations. Dickstein Shapiro
donated $35,000 last year to the association, as it is one of about 280 members of the association.
Bondi deferred comments regarding the trips to the association.
Jessica Medeiros Garrison, executive director for the Republican Attorneys General Association, called
it “absurd” when asked about The New York Times reporting, which made it appear there is a quid pro
quo involving corporations and attorneys general.
“Like all national political organizations, RAGA pays for expenses for its member attorneys general
that attend meetings to help with national fundraising,” Garrison said in an email Wednesday. “RAGA
does this in full compliance with federal and state laws that regulate fundraising and political activity
for RAGA and its member attorneys general.”
Bondi was easily re-elected last week, running a campaign that focused on her efforts to crack down
on pill mills, synthetic drugs and human trafficking.
With more than twice the funding of her two competitors, she was able to withstand repeated
charges that her office was too close to Gov. Rick Scott and corporate lobbyists.
Boston Business Journal
November 13, 2014
Report links State Street investigation to Ohio lobbyist
The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that the ongoing federal investigation into State Street Corp.'s
business with public pension plans has targeted a prominent Ohio lobbyist with close ties to the state's
former deputy treasurer.
On Nov. 10, State Street (NYSE: STT) disclosed that it had retained counsel in response to subpoenas
from the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission seeking information "regarding
our solicitation of asset servicing business of public retirement plans." In a filing with the SEC, the
Boston-based custodial bank disclosed that its use of consultants, lobbyists and, in one particular case,
political contributions during and after the public bidding process are part of the probe.
Today's Wall Street Journal report identified Ohio lobbyist Mohammed Noure Alo and his relationship
with former Ohio deputy treasurer Amer Ahmad as a prime area of interest among investigators.
According to the newspaper, the treasurer's office had primary responsibility for awarding contracts for
State Street to provide administrative services for some $32 billion in state pension funds.
The Journal report also noted that the federal investigation is looking at other State Street pension-fund
arrangements, beyond its relationships in Ohio.
As of Dec. 31, about 20 percent of State Street's $28.5 trillion in assets under custody and administration
were designated as pension products. Around 75 percent of State Street's custody assets are based in
North America.
KBIA
November 13, 2014
Panel to look into lobbyist perk allegations against Koster
A panel of state lawmakers has been formed to look into allegations involving lobbyist perks and
campaign contributions going to Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster.
Republican House Speaker Tim Jones on Wednesday announced the committee will review allegations
reported in a New York Times article against Koster and attorneys general across the country.
The New York Times report addressed claims that Koster, a Democrat, changed policies and negotiated
more favorable settlements after receiving campaign contributions and perks from lobbyists.
Koster has said the New York Times report distorts how his office dealt with the companies and cited
previous legal actions taken against companies.
Republican state Rep. Jay Barnes of Jefferson City will be chairman of the review committee.
Republican Rep. Stanley Cox of Sedalia will serve as vice chairman.