As federal and state governments grapple with the health and economic implications of the coronavirus pandemic, business leaders are at the center of the discussion. The White House holds frequent roundtables with CEOs and business owners. State governors have formed task forces comprised of business leaders to advise on strategies for reopening businesses in their
LD-203 Compliance Tips
The LD-203 obviously includes a number of different disclosures. In practice, many reports show very little activity because the categories to be disclosed are fairly narrow. However, the report is filed under penalties of making false statements, so organizations have to know that they did not make any covered payments.
The Whole Company
As our previous posts have explained, many of the contributions that must be disclosed are not necessarily in the purview of the government affairs department. For example, a corporate philanthropy department might make a contribution to a charity that focuses on hunger relief. But, if a Member of Congress established that charity, it has to be disclosed on the LD-203. Similarly, an executive might ask the company to contribute to a charity active in a community where the company is located. But, again, if the executive were responding to a request from the Congressman’s district director, and that DD serves on the board of the charity, it is a contribution “designated” by a covered official.
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To be a Lobbyist or not to be a Lobbyist
The end of the second quarter is a good time to terminate individuals who will no longer serve as lobbyists because they can end their LD-203 obligations with this mid-year report. If the individuals do not have a reasonable expectation of being a lobbyist in the current or next quarter, then the Guidance says that the individual may be terminated. A lobbyist is someone who has made more than one lobbying contact (ever) and spends more than 20 percent of his or her time on lobbying activity in a three-month period. Thus, if an individual is changing roles, or the organization has determined that the person does not (and will not in the next quarter) spend 20 percent of his or her time on lobbying activity, then termination is appropriate. Remember, an organization can always re-list the person if things change.
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Lobbying Disclosure Reporting Deadline Approaches: Which Method do you Use: A, B, or C?
In case it has slipped your mind, the first quarter LD-2 reports are due on Monday, April 22, 2013; hopefully you are just about finished with your report. If you haven’t, remember the first quarter report offers an opportunity to consider which method your organization uses to report lobbying expenses: A, B, or C.
A Look Into the 2012 Proxy Season: Lobbying Disclosure Shareholder Resolutions
As a result of Citizens United and other cases decided in its wake, corporations and unions are now permitted to spend their own funds on ads advocating or opposing candidates, and other types of electoral communications. These court decisions, however, have not deterred critics from seeking ways of discouraging corporate political spending, primarily by compelling