First quarter lobbying disclosure reports are due on Monday, April 20. This report, the LD-2, is where organizations report their expenses for federal lobbying efforts. The first quarter of a year is often a good time to evaluate your organization’s recordkeeping and processes for filling out the report and to determine what changes may need to be made. Keep in mind these key aspects of preparing the report:
Continue Reading First Quarter LD-2 Reports Deadline Approaching
The Big No: Reimbursing Contributions
Over the last few years, the courts have loosened campaign finance laws and the agency charged with enforcing them is frequently gridlocked. However, one campaign finance violation that can still get you in big trouble is reimbursing contributions, particularly when the reimbursing is done by a corporation.
In settling a recent enforcement matter involving the Fiesta Bowl, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) obtained fines of nearly $100,000 from the corporation and the CEO and restitution by the CEO of over $60,000. A parallel criminal case resulted in guilty pleas that landed the former CEO in jail for eight months, community service for one executive, and two years of probation for another (who would have also faced a $15,000 penalty from the FEC, but she was able to demonstrate an inability to pay).
The case is not really new – the settlements occurred in 2012 and 2013 – and the FEC has yet to release the documents on its website, but the organization that filed the complaint with the FEC made them available to the public. The documents show a scheme that the FEC says included:Continue Reading The Big No: Reimbursing Contributions
Virginia Enacts Statutory Gift Restrictions
As we described in a January 16 post, moments after being sworn in as Virginia’s 72nd governor on January 11, Governor McAuliffe signed an executive order imposing new gift restrictions on Executive Branch employees and officers and their immediate family members. The Executive Order applies only to individuals that work in Virginia’s Executive Branch.
You Can Still Tune-Up on Government Affairs Compliance
In case you missed our webinar last week on government affairs compliance, you can click here for the recording and here for the presentation materials. We covered topics including:
- Creative ways to be involved in the political process;
- Operating a compliant PAC;
- Federal and state lobbying compliance;
- Pay-to-play laws that affect
First Order of Business for Governor McAuliffe: Limits on Gifts to Public Officials
Virginia was one of the few states with no limits on gifts to public officials. However, in the wake of well-publicized gift scandals from the prior administration, just moments after being sworn in as Virginia’s 72nd governor on January 11, Governor McAuliffe signed an executive order imposing new gift restrictions on Executive Branch employees and
Venable Hosts Webinar on Political Law Basics – February 27
We hope you will join us for a webinar on February 27 at 1:00, called Political Law 101. We will cover all the major topics you need to be thinking about as you ramp up for lobbying the new Congress and state legislatures, host site visits and other events, and prepare for the next election
What Did You Intend by Paying for Dinner?
The D.C. Circuit issued its decision in United States v. Ring today, a case stemming from the Abramoff scandals. Kevin Ring, one of Jack Abramoff’s top lobbyists, was convicted of three counts of honest services fraud, one count of paying an illegal gratuity, and one conspiracy count.
Honest Services Fraud: What Was in
Government Contractors Face Growing Risks from Laws Regulating Political Contributions
The landmark Supreme Court ruling in the Citizens United case paved the way for explosive growth in political spending during the 2012 election cycle. However, for government contractors and their principals, a growing number of “pay-to-play” laws restrict political contributions and fundraising, and can result in severe penalties, including the loss of contracts. Venable has