Corporations, trade associations, non-profits, other organizations, and individuals face significant penalties and reputational harm if they violate state laws governing corporate and personal political activities, the registration of lobbyists, lobbying reporting, or the giving of gifts or items of value to government officials or employees. To help organizations and individuals
Massachusetts
Covington Releases 400-Page, 50-State Survey of Pay-to-Play Rules (2022 Edition)
Companies doing business with state and local governments or operating in regulated industries are subject to a dizzying array of “pay-to-play” rules. These rules effectively prohibit company executives and employees (and in some cases, their family members) from making certain personal political contributions. Even inadvertent violations can be dangerous: a…
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Survey of the Pay-to-Play Laws of the United States
By Zachary G. Parks & Kevin Glandon on
Companies doing business with state and local governments or operating in regulated industries are subject to a dizzying array of “pay-to-play” rules. These rules effectively prohibit company executives and employees (and in some cases, their family members) from making certain personal political contributions. Even inadvertent violations can be dangerous: a …
Continue Reading Survey of the Pay-to-Play Laws of the United States
“When One Door Closes . . .”: McCain-Feingold Opens “Soft Money” Loophole In the States
By Matthew Shapanka on
A recent settlement between the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) and Massachusetts Republican Party may highlight an emerging trend: state parties using federal preemption to avoid strict state campaign finance laws. At issue was whether the Massachusetts Republican Party could use funds from its federal campaign account…
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New Campaign Finance, Lobbying, and Ethics Laws Take Effect
By Andrew Garrahan on
The New Year brings with it new laws governing campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics. Below we highlight some of the major state and federal laws that took effect on or around January 1. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, but highlights some of the most significant changes…
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Massachusetts Embraces McCutcheon
By Angelle Smith Baugh on
Posted in Campaign Finance, State Law
Less than twenty-four hours after the McCutcheon decision was issued, the Massachusetts Office of Campaign & Political Finance (OCPF) announced that it will no longer enforce the state’s $12,500 aggregate limit on the amount that an individual may contribute to all candidates. But, no decision has been made about the…
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Allegations of Illegal Coordination: Not Only Do Elections Have Consequences, Tactics May Also
By Kevin Glandon on
Several recent news reports are a reminder of the importance of the coordination rules. The relaxed rules on raising and spending money on “independent expenditures,” either through a Super PAC or some other entity, are premised on that spending being “independent” of the candidate or political party the independent spender…
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