contractors

Those active in Virginia politics should note that portions of Virginia’s new ethics law take effect tomorrow, July 1, 2014, including the new $250 annual limit on “tangible” gifts from lobbyists and government contractors.

Governor Terry McAuliffe has said that this is not the end of ethics reform in Virginia. …
Continue Reading New Virginia Ethics Laws Take Effect Tomorrow; More Changes May Come in 2015

The rules on corporate contributions to Super PACs were made clearer today when the Federal Election Commission (FEC) released its finding that Chevron Corporation’s $2.5 million contribution in 2012 to the Congressional Leadership Fund (a Super PAC) had not violated the bar on government contractors making contributions in federal elections.
Continue Reading In Chevron Case, FEC Brings Clarity to the Federal Contractor Ban and Super PACs

Medford, New Jersey recently disqualified five would-be city contractors from receiving municipal contracts until 2017 for allegedly making political contributions in violation of the Township’s pay-to-play ordinance.

The ordinance, adopted in 2012, imposes an automatic four-year bar on contracting with a company that contributes to candidates or committees in…
Continue Reading Contractors Handed 4-Year Ban Under New Jersey Township’s Pay-to-Play Law

Earlier today a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued its opinion in Wagner v. FEC, sending the legal challenge brought by three federal contractors back to the start.

The contractors had sued the Federal Election Commission back in October 2011, arguing that…
Continue Reading D.C. Circuit Vacates Federal Contractor Ban Decision on Way to En Banc Review

On Thursday,  the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit wrapped up its 2012–2013 Term by hearing argument in Wagner v. FEC, a case that challenges the Federal Election Campaign Act provision prohibiting federal contractors from making political contributions in connection with federal elections.  The court typically issues…
Continue Reading Challenge to Federal Contractor Contribution Ban Awaits D.C. Circuit Decision

We can learn two important lessons from the recent Pennsylvania Turnpike pay to play scandal.  The first of these lessons is straightforward, but important:  beware of providing benefits to public officials who can influence contracting or regulatory decisions impacting your company.  The second—and less intuitive—lesson, which has been lost amidst…
Continue Reading Lessons from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Pay to Play Scandal

Last Friday, a district court upheld a long-standing ban on federal political contributions made by federal contractors.  In practice, the universe of those directly affected by this ban, and the opinion upholding it, is relatively small.  Corporations are already prohibited from contributing to candidates and parties.  The prohibition therefore generally…
Continue Reading Federal Court Upholds Ban On Federal Political Contributions By Government Contractors