As another New York state legislative session ticks down to the inevitable deal-making climax, campaign finance reform advocates may once again begin to echo that old Brooklyn Dodgers refrain: “wait until next year!” Despite earlier high hopes, inaction seems likely … Continue reading →

Last week Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel signed three Executive Orders creating new ethics restrictions applicable to Chicago City employees.  The Mayor also signed three Executive Orders originally issued by former Mayor Daley. Executive Order 2011-1 prohibits new appointees from lobbying … Continue reading →

The City of Newark has had a contractor pay-to-play executive order in effect since 2007, which specifically excludes redevelopment contracts.  All that is about to change.  In one week, a new redeveloper pay-to-play ordinance will take effect in Newark.  The … Continue reading →

In today’s world, many not-for-profits work together in a web of different connected organizations to help achieve overarching objectives. Typically, these efforts may be serviced by a 501(c)(3) organization for education and training, a 501(c)(4) organization for social welfare/issue advocacy … Continue reading →

In the U.S. Supreme Court, the last oral argument of the term was in Nevada Ethics Commission v. Carrigan, concerning whether a Sparks, Nevada, city councilmember may be censured by the Nevada Ethics Commission for casting a legislative vote on … Continue reading →

New York’s Governor has directed the State Insurance Department to draft permanent regulations to ban “pay-to-play” in the State pension fund. The new regulations would include: • A permanent ban on the prospective investment manager’s use of elected officials, lobbyists … Continue reading →