With a growing chorus of support across the progressive landscape, the For the People Act of 2021 has emerged as a key legislative priority for congressional Democrats in the 117th Congress. Envisioned as a “transformational anti-corruption and clean elections reform package,” the bill would enact sweeping changes to federal election laws along with important changes
Revolving Door
Covington Publishes Comprehensive Advisory Comparing Biden and Trump Executive Orders on Ethics
The ethics rules that apply to Presidential appointees shifted Wednesday, in some ways significantly, as President Biden, just hours after being sworn in, signed an “Executive Order on Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel” and President Trump, just hours before his term expired, revoked his Executive Order on Ethics.
While the Biden…
Revisions to the Department of Defense “Revolving Door” Rules
Buried in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an obscure, and quite significant, change to the post-employment restriction on U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) civilian and uniformed personnel. This new provision could have a substantial impact on defense contractors and others who recruit DoD personnel to work on policy and procurement matters before…
New Executive Order on Ethics in Missouri Includes Lobbyist Gift Ban, Revolving-Door Provision; Legislature Considering Additional Restrictions
Earlier this month, newly-installed Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens issued Executive Order 2, applying strict ethics rules to executive branch employees in that state. The order includes a ban on gifts from lobbyists, conflicts of interest rules, and a “revolving door” provision that prohibits employees who leave Greitens’ office from later lobbying his administration. The…
OGE Updates Rules Governing Recruiting of Federal Employees to Private Sector Jobs
Companies are increasingly hiring out of the federal workforce, only to find that their new hires are restricted by “revolving door” rules that prohibit their participation in certain matters – sometimes for a limited time, sometimes permanently. New rules issued recently by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (“OGE”) serve as a reminder that, even…
New, Strict “Reverse” Revolving Door Restrictions in Pennsylvania?
On October 15, Pennsylvania’s legislature sent House Bill 201 to Governor Tom Corbett for signature. The legislation would prohibit a government employee from evaluating bids for state contracts submitted by his or her former employer for two years.
This legislation is interesting for a few reasons. First, it is a twist on what are commonly…
Is Alabama’s Revolving Door Closing?
The Alabama Senate unanimously passed a bill to close Alabama’s revolving door last week. The legislation bars a legislator from lobbying either chamber of the Alabama legislature for two years. This bill closes a loophole in Alabama’s current statute, which only prohibits a former legislator from lobbying the chamber he served in.
The…