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Blog
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Welcome to the Holtzman Vogel Law Blog. We aim to keep you
up to date on important legal developments and other items of interest. On this
blog, we'll track developments in the news and changes to the rules and regulations
affecting political committees, corporate PACs, trade associations, non-profit groups
and advocacy organizations. We'll also keep you updated on the lobbying and ethics
arena. The Law Blog is designed to supplement our regular newsletter.
On behalf of the Holtzman Vogel team, I hope you find this site helpful and interesting.
And we hope you'll become a regular visitor. (If you'd like to receive our newsletter,
please click here to sign up.)
Jill Holtzman Vogel
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Thursday, June 25, 2009
Boston Globe: Leaders approve ethics revamp; House, Senate to vote today; Bill would bar most gifts
From the Boston Globe: "Legislative leaders unveiled the most sweeping ethics overhaul in decades yesterday, as they attempted to move past a series of high-profile scandals on Beacon Hill . . . . The ethics bill - which strengthens enforcement, levies higher penalties for violations, and bans nearly all gifts to public officials - is the final piece of legislation requested by the governor before he said he would consider asking Massachusetts residents to pay more at the register. . . . The ethics legislation, which the House and Senate are likely to approve today, would give the State Ethics Commission enhanced subpoena power and tougher fines for violations; require mayors to file campaign finance reports with the state; and increase penalties for crimes such as bribery, conflict of interest, and campaign finance violations. . . . But there are several provisions that were left out, including one that would have banned lobbyists from making or soliciting campaign donations. The legislation also does not give the attorney general’s office wiretapping authority, as proposed by Patrick in his ethics bill."
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Washington Times: Conyers' wife focus of bribery probe
From the Washington Times: "Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers, the wife of House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr., has been ensnared in a federal bribery investigation and is discussing a possible plea deal, The Washington Times has learned. . . . Court papers say the council member accepted bribes from a consultant in connection with a City Council vote to approve a $1.2 billion sludge hauling contract. The consultant, Rayford W. Jackson, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe a city official in connection with the contract to Houston-based Synagro Technologies Inc."
Click here to read the entire post.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Terry McAuliffe Proposes Lobbyist Gift Ban For Virginia
The Washington Post reports that "Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe proposed today a complete ban on gifts from lobbyists to Virginia lawmakers and members of the executive branch. He also said he would create a state-run Website that would detail lawmakers' campaign contributions, bills and the state budget."
Click here to read the entire post.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Seattle Times: Labor bill killed after e-mail links its fate to campaign cash
The Seattle Times reports that "An e-mail from a state labor group linking campaign donations to contentious worker-rights legislation has prompted legislative leaders to kill the bill and request an investigation by law enforcement. . . . A spokesman for Senate Democrats said the case raised the question of interest groups providing contributions in exchange for specific legislation, and that by killing the bill, legislative leaders are sending a message that the Legislature is not for sale."
Click here to read the entire post.
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