Recent Articles

In the Wake of Recent Scandals and Brewing Federal Investigations, The D.C. City Council Appears To Be Taking Another Look at Pay-To-Play Reform

March 12, 2012 14:59

With all apologies to 1980s rockers Great White, it would have been quite easy for D.C.Councilman Tommy Wells (D – Ward 6) to take a “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” approach to pay-to-play reform in the District of Columbia. After all, two of his 2011 proposals on the subject were...

In the Wake of Recent Scandals and Brewing Federal Investigations, The D.C. Council Appears To Be Taking Another Look at Pay-To-Play Reform

March 12, 2012 14:59

With all apologies to 1980s rockers Great White, it would have been quite easy for D.C.Councilman Tommy Wells (D – Ward 6) to take a “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” approach to pay-to-play reform in the District of Columbia. After all, two of his 2011 proposals on the subject were...

Tremors in the Bay Area: Berkeley Looks at Significant Pay-to-Play Reform Tomorrow Night

March 05, 2012 21:09

  If you heard talk of tremors in the Bay Area recently, that wasn't the relatively benign 2.9 and 4.0’s that struck this morning (causing no reported injury). San Franciscans use 4.0 earthquakes to stir their coffee in the morning. No, the tremors you felt this morning are from the...

The White House is Not Giving Up on Federal Contractor Pay-to-Play

February 29, 2012 21:27

By Stefan C. Passantino The White House is very serious about mandating contribution and issue advocacy disclosure obligations on federal contractors. We have reported several times (most recently here) on the various tell-tale signs, tea leaves and trial balloons that would lead one to believe...

The STOCK Act Explained (video interview)

February 15, 2012 14:45

Still have questions about what the STOCK Act really means? In this interview with LexBlog Network Television, I explain the legislation, what drove it, and where it could be headed.

Taking Stock of The STOCK Act. . . . Wither "Political Intelligence"?

February 10, 2012 19:29

by Stefan C. Passantino and Benjamin P. Keane Proponents of ethics reform and increased political transparency in Washington don’t often see reform proposals pass through Congress by overwhelming margins, and rarely does anyone bemoan an excess of “political intelligence” in...

McKenna Long & Aldridge Launches "Politics, Law & Policy" Blog

January 09, 2012 17:01

The team here at Pay to Play Law Blog wants to welcome a phenomenal group of commentators to the McKenna Long & Aldridge blogosphere.  Last week, MLA launched its newest blog, “Politics, Law and Policy,” authored by a bipartisan group of attorneys and...

Federal Appeals Court Upholds New York City Pay-to-Play Rules

January 04, 2012 21:36

Through its recent decision in Ognibene v. Parkes, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a constitutional challenge of New York City’s political contribution limits on “lobbyists” and others having business dealings with the City (a/k/a the “pay-to-play”...

Philadelphia Gets Into the Ring on January 3, 2012

December 19, 2011 18:26

Cue the obligatory training montage and iconic theme music…Like its best known fictional sports hero, the City of Philadelphia is looking to pick itself up off the ethical mat and take a first step toward regaining the public trust when it comes to political decision making and government...

Advice for General Counsel and Boards of Directors on Pay-to-Play Compliance

November 29, 2011 15:24

The Conference Board was kind enough to share the following link to portions of a webinar they hosted a few weeks back on best practices for corporate political spending. It is about 20 minutes long and focused on some of the issues those tasked with pay-to-play compliance lay awake worrying...