Politics

LOS ANGELES ADOPTS PAY-TO-PLAY LAW, RESTRICTS CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, FUNDRAISING BY CITY CONTRACTORS

Posted on March 11, 2011
Los Angeles voters approved on March 8 a measure that prohibits political contributions and fundraising by bidders on City contracts. Violators are subject to debarment for a minimum of one year for the first violation and longer periods for subsequent violations...

New Federal Contribution Limits for 2011-2012 (And a Few Traps for the Unwary)

Posted on February 14, 2011
Last week, the Federal Election Commission announced changes in contribution limits for 2010-2011, including a change in the combined amount an individual may give over the next two years to all federal candidates, political parties and PACs. (Click here for a one-page PDF chart with the new contribution limits) The changes suggest that a little planning may be in order...

Webinar: Political Contributions, Lobbying, and Gifts to Public Officials: A New Year?s Compliance Tune-Up

Posted on January 19, 2011
When: Thursday, February 17, 201112:00 p.m. ? 1:00 p.m. (EST)Presentation and Q&A Cost:There is no charge to attend, but space is limited. Click here to register. NOTE: Registrants will receive an email containing all log-in information prior to the program...

PACs, LOBBYING, AND GIFTS TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS: When Is The Last Time You Had A Compliance Audit?

Posted on January 03, 2011
The start of a new year and a new election cycle is the ideal time to review your internal processes for political activity, including PACs and direct corporate contributions, lobbying registration and reporting, board oversight and disclosure of political spending, and policies and practices for giving ?gifts? to public officials...

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Larry Norton Named to Campaign Finance Review Panel in Maryland

Posted on November 22, 2010
BALTIMORE?Womble Carlyle political law attorney Larry Norton has been named to a bipartisan blue ribbon panel charged with examining and recommending changes in Maryland?s campaign finance laws. The 12-member task force was appointed by Maryland Attorney General Douglas F...

Jim Kahl to Speak at ASAE Annual Association Law Symposium - September 24

Posted on August 20, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C.?Womble Carlyle political law attorney, Jim Kahl, is among the speakers at the ASAE 2010 Annual Association Law Symposium in Washington, D.C. The symposium will address pressing issues in association and nonprofit law. Kahl will be speaking on "Political Activity after Citizens United: Understanding the Opportunities and the Risks...

Jim Kahl to Present at ASAE Annual Meeting

Posted on August 19, 2010
LOS ANGELES, CA ? Womble Carlyle Political Law attorney Jim Kahl will speak at the ASAE Annual Meeting at the Los Angeles Convention Center on August 22, 2010, in a session titled, ?Maximize Your Effectiveness and Keep Your Association Safe in an Election Year...

SEC Adopts Pay-To-Play Rule for Investment Advisers

Posted on August 07, 2010
After almost a year of deliberations, on June 30 the SEC approved a "pay-to-play" rule that restricts political contributions by investment advisers that seek business from public pension funds and similar government investment accounts. These pension plans control over $2...

Summer?s Top Stories: SEC Adopts Pay-to-Play Rule, Good/Bad News for CT Contractors & Lobbyists, FEC Reacts to Citizens United, And More

Posted on August 05, 2010
PAY-TO-PLAY UPDATE SEC Adopts Pay-to-Play Rules for Investment Advisers After almost a year of deliberations, on June 30 the SEC approved a tough "pay-to-play" rule for investment advisers that seek business from public pension funds and similar government investment accounts...

Jim Kahl Speaks with Undergraduate Students at 2010 Washington Media Plan Case Competition

Posted on June 12, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. ? Womble Carlyle Political Law attorney, Jim Kahl, spoke with under graduate student-participants at the inaugural Washington Media Plan Case Competition during its ?Media Case Week? sponsored by the Washington Media Scholars Foundation which took place June 6-11...

Citizens United: Federal and State Courts React

Posted on April 10, 2010
Aftershocks from the Supreme Court?s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission continue to be felt in federal and state courts, legislatures and agencies across the country. As we have previously reported, the landmark ruling allows corporations to spend unlimited treasury funds to promote or oppose candidates, so long as that spending is conducted independently of candidates and political parties...

Norton, Kahl to Speak on Corporate Political Activity to Baltimore ACC Members

Posted on March 07, 2010
BALTIMORE?The Supreme Court?s recent ruling in the Citizens United v. FEC has greatly changed the political landscape for corporate political activity. No one has been following these events more closely than Womble Carlyle attorneys Larry Norton and Jim Kahl, and they will share their knowledge with Baltimore-area in-house attorneys on March 31st...

Larry Norton to Speak at Corporate Lobbying and Political Activity Forum

Posted on February 25, 2010
Womble Carlyle attorney Larry Norton will be speaking at the American Conference Institute's National Advanced Forum on Corporate Lobbying and Political Activity. The conference is scheduled for April 29-30 at the Marriott Metro Center in Washington, D...

Citizens United: FAQ on the Impact and Implications of a Landmark Supreme Court Ruling

Posted on February 18, 2010
On January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court handed down a landmark ruling that invalidated restrictions on the content and timing of political ads funded by corporations and labor organizations. (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission). The ruling frees corporations, trade associations, advocacy groups and labor organizations to fund independent ads that support or oppose officeholders and candidates...

Womble Carlyle Presents WMACCA Signature Luncheon: Corporate Political Activity this Election Year

Posted on February 05, 2010
Larry Norton and Jim Kahl of Womble Carlyle?s DC Office and Political Law Team, will present WMACCA?s February Signature Luncheon titled, "Corporate Political Activity this Election Year - Treacherous Waters & Safe Harbors," on Thursday, February 25, 2010, from 12:00 ? 2:00 p...

GPS Special Edition: Corporations Free to Engage In Election Spending, Says U.S. Supreme Court

Posted on January 22, 2010
The Supreme Court yesterday swept aside federal laws that ban political spending by corporations in candidate elections. The ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission struck down a decades-old ban on ads funded by corporations (including incorporated trade associations and non-profits) that expressly advocate the election or defeat of a federal candidate...

Supreme Court Sides with Broadcasters in Landmark Case

Posted on January 22, 2010
Overturns McCain-Feingold?s Electioneering Communication Prohibitions The Supreme Court struck down longstanding federal laws that prohibit corporations from directly financing election ads in a decision released on January 21, 2010. The Court's ruling in Citizens United v...

New Year, New Scrutiny: Act Now To Protect Company From Auditors, The Media, And Others Who Are Reading Your Disclosure Reports

Posted on December 08, 2009
In the rush of year-end deadlines and holiday preparations, it's easy to let next year's lobbying, campaign finance and pay-to-play deadlines wait until ? well, next year. A little advance planning, however, can avoid unpleasant questions later in the year from government auditors, the media, watchdog groups and your competitors ? all of whom may be scrutinizing your disclosure reports...

Rules for Advocacy Groups May Not Be Settled Until Spring 2010

Posted on November 09, 2009
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) announced on October 21 that it will not seek further review of a ruling by a three-judge federal appeals panel that struck down restrictions on fundraising and spending by non-profit advocacy groups. (EMILY?s List v...

D.C. Appeals Court Tosses Out FEC Restrictions on Non-Profits

Posted on October 13, 2009
A three-judge federal appeals panel on September 18 struck down FEC rules that limit fundraising and spending by non-profit advocacy organizations. The court in EMILY?s List v. FEC concluded that such groups have a constitutional right to raise unlimited funds in support of candidates for elected office, and to spend those funds on any independent, election-related activities, including political ads, get-out-the-vote efforts and voter registration drives...

Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Campaign Finance Case: Are Limits on Corporate Funding of Election Ads About to Fall?

Posted on September 15, 2009
The Supreme Court heard arguments last week in Citizens United v. FEC, which began as an unremarkable case about an obscure advocacy group and its movie about Hillary Clinton, and has mushroomed into one of the most important campaign finance cases in history...

SEC Proposes Pay-to-Play Rules for Pension Fund Industry

Posted on August 06, 2009
The SEC voted on July 22 to propose new rules restricting campaign contributions by investment advisors seeking contracts from public pension plans. The proposed rule is similar to draft Rule 206(4)-5 that the SEC considered in 1999, and is based on an existing rule ? MSRB Rule G-37 ? that applies to municipal securities dealers...

Supreme Court Poised to Allow Corporate Funding of Campaign Ads

Posted on July 01, 2009
In a stunning move, the Supreme Court announced on Friday that it is reconsidering the constitutionality of laws that prohibit corporations and unions from funding ads that influence elections. A ruling that such laws are unconstitutional would invalidate a decades-old spending restriction that applies in federal elections and in many states, and would unleash a flood of spending in the 2010 cycle and beyond...

States Launch Review of Disqualification Standards for Elected Judges

Posted on June 19, 2009
Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that elected judges should not hear cases when the support they received from campaign backers creates an appearance of bias. In the wake of this ruling, a number of states have announced plans to review their rules on judicial disqualification...

New Role For Election Lawyers in Litigation: Supreme Court Disqualifies Judge Based On Campaign Support

Posted on June 12, 2009
The Supreme Court ruled on June 8 that an elected judge was constitutionally barred from taking part in a case where one of the parties spent a large sum to get the judge elected. (Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co.). The ruling will bring new scrutiny to cases heard by elected judges and may spawn a wave of efforts to keep elected judges from hearing cases tied to their supporters...

Webinar on Pay-to-Play Updates: Campaign Contributions and Other Political Activities Pose Risks for State and Local Contractors

Posted on June 11, 2009
In the last few years, there has been a proliferation of state and local laws barring or severely limiting campaign contributions by companies doing business with government agencies. Just one prohibited campaign contribution by a contractor, its officers or executives, or other related individuals can lead to the immediate severing of existing contracts, disqualification of bids, fines, and even criminal penalties...

White House Expands Restrictions On Stimulus Lobbying

Posted on June 02, 2009
Late last Friday, through the unusual vehicle of a blog entry, the White House ethics counsel announced that restrictions on oral communications about Recovery Act projects now apply not just to federally-registered lobbyists, but also to unregistered lobbyists, "as well as anyone else exerting influence on the process...

Executive Branch Lobbying Restrictions: A Chance For Common Ground?

Posted on May 29, 2009
The next chapter in the dispute over the President's March 20 memorandum restricting lobbyists' communications with executive branch officials is likely to begin soon when OMB Director Orszag reports to the President after a 60-day study period. The memorandum has received much criticism, and threats of legal action, from both the private sector and public-interest lobbying communities...

3-3 Votes On The FEC: Why So Frequent? What Do They Mean?

Posted on May 21, 2009
The Federal Election Commission has become the place where complaints go to die. In 2006 and 2007, FEC fines were skyrocketing, with several prominent 527 groups paying six-figure penalties and Freddie Mac paying a whopping $3.8 million for deploying corporate resources in support of fundraising activity...

First Lobbyist Bundling Reports DueMay 20

Posted on May 15, 2009
The rubber is about to hit the road for the new FEC lobbyist bundling rules. Leadership PACs, presidential campaigns, and political party committees, which report monthly, have until May 20 to file the new Form 3L. (Congressional committees will not have to report bundled contributions until quarterly reports are due in July...

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