City Ethics | Breaking the oxymoron: "City Ethics"

Local Government Practice July 29, 2014

What Is the Role of a Definition of "Lobbying"?

An interesting debate about lobbying and advisory groups can be found on the Austin Bulldog website.

July 28, 2014

A Complex Procurement Conspiracy in Dallas County

When city and county contractors and their lobbyists don't follow the rules, it's difficult to catch them, because few cities have an oversight office that investigates on its own initiative. Without such a program, communities depend on federal and state criminal enforcers who focus on bribery and kickbacks.

Transparency & Disclosure July 25, 2014

Lobbying Subject Disclosure

When a lobbying code requires that lobbyists report "specific lobbying issues" or "the subjects on which they have lobbied," what exactly is required? The best approach is to include more specific language in the disclosure section, such as "information sufficient for an ordinary member of the public to identify the law or resolution, contract, grant, regulation, real property or project, rule, proceeding, board or commission determination, or other matter."

July 24, 2014

Unacceptable Mischaracterization of an Ethics Settlement in D.C.

The District of Columbia's former chief administrative law judge settled with the D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA) this week (the settlement agreement is attached; see below). The misconduct she admitted to included her hiring of a business partner without going through the standard hiring procedures, and contracting with a company owned by the business partner's boyfriend (see my detailed discussion of the charges against her).

Ethics Commissions & Administration July 23, 2014

The Problems with an Executive's Ethics Commission

The big news in the government ethics world today is the investigative piece in the New York Times about New York governor Andrew Cuomo's interference in the work of the Moreland Commission he created to investigate corruption in the state government and to recommend reforms to prevent such corruption (see my blo

July 22, 2014

Oakland Council Proposes Ethics Reform Charter Amendment

According to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle last week, Oakland's council approved an amendment to the city charter, to go before voters in November, that would increase the authority of the city's ethics commission and provide it with the funds it needs to do its job. Congratulations to the council for what is, in some ways,

July 21, 2014

American Government Ethics Enforcement by . . . Russia

According to an Associated Press article this weekend, Jim Moran, a congressman from Virginia, was banned from entering Russia supposedly for a series of financial misdeeds.

July 18, 2014

A Lobbying Firm Wears Two Hats in Its Relationship with NYC Council Speaker

A New York Daily News article yesterday describes an interesting conflict situation. At least one lobbying firm has worn two hats in its relationship with the speaker of the New York City council. One hat was that of a campaign and appointments consultant, the other was that of a contract lobbyist for multiple clients.

Campaign Finance & Pay-to-Play July 17, 2014

Differing Views on Corruption and Campaign Finance

I keep thinking about the recent line of U.S. Supreme Court campaign finance cases that limit corruption to "quid pro quo" situations. A few months ago, I wrote a blog post explaining that the Court's picture of campaign finance as about political beliefs is not how things work at the local level, where politics is more about power and spoils than about beliefs. But the "quid pro quo" view of corruption is problematic in other ways.

Local Government Practice July 16, 2014

The Problems with a Mayoral Booster Organization

Is it appropriate for a mayor — especially a mayor in a city with strict gift rules and a public campaign financing program that has strict campaign contribution limits — to work with an organization that lobbies the state on behalf of his policies and sponsors ads and materials that support his views and, especially, celebrate his successes?

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