Meet Our Expert – Ken Kelewae

Ken Kelewae was introduced to State and Federal Communications via the Akron Beacon Journal. At that time, David Giffels authored an article about Ken’s background in computers and how much he did at the companies where he worked. However, Ken was older and he found it difficult to find a fit.

Enter State and Federal Communications. The day after the article appeared Ren Koozer looked him up and brought him in for an interview. It was a win/win on both sides, and he has been here for 17 years.

We can count on Ken to fix, update, repair, and install software in the office along with having the only green thumb on staff. He is the one guy who will do anything, including standing on windowsills to straighten the window blinds. (We suggest he not do that anymore.)

Ken is one of those “always learning” people and is still taking courses on Microsoft Security and anything network related—devices, troubleshooting, and administration.

In 2026, Ken is going to retire effective March 31st. We are not filling this position as we have developed a staff of folks who can help with our IT issues. We look forward to the grand retirement party we will hold in his honor on March 12th. He is the company’s first retiree, and we will commemorate his tenure with a plaque in our office.

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Learn more about how Ken and his team at State and Federal Communications help organizations with their lobbying, campaign finance, and procurement lobbying compliance needs – https://stateandfed.com/about-us/

Gregory Bennett, Compliance Assistant II, has been a critical member of the State and Federal Communications, Inc. compliance department since 2019. During his time, Greg has gone above and beyond, significantly contributing to the compliance department’s growth and success.

Born and raised in the Akron area, Greg graduated from the University of Akron in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in mass media communications and a minor in political science. His first foray into the legal world was at a local law firm specializing in foreclosure law.

“It was a good crossover for working here with similar office work experiences and working with legal documentation,” he explained.

In 2018, Greg came to State and Federal Communications, Inc. by way of a staffing agency. He had the chance to prove himself to the leaders of the compliance department when working on a special project while he was a temporary employee. In 2019, State and Federal Communications, Inc. he joined the company as a full-time, permanent employee.

“They had me assisting on a special project we did for a client, and it was a massive project with a lot of moving parts. I was able to look through data and collate it so we were able to determine what we needed to do for our client. That gave me a lot of experience, and I’ve been working on additional special projects since,” he explained.

While special projects are a huge part of the job, as a compliance assistant, Greg also supports the compliance department with administrative tasks, like filing, organization, and sending reminders and requests for information to clients.

In addition to all that, Greg and his colleagues in the compliance department have helped develop and structure and standard procedures for compliance assistants.

“When I started, there was not a compliance assistant structure. There was just one flat level of compliance assistant. With Ellen Murray and I working on special projects and being able to assist in ways beyond the initial scope, that is what really helped us talk about creating a second level,” Greg recalled.

By going above and beyond, our compliance assistants, like Greg, help our compliance managers focus on our clients and meet compliance needs.

“The leaders of the compliance department have given us the opportunity to rise above and not just be content with doing the base work that needs to get done to keep the department flowing. I’ve been grateful for that opportunity. It feels like the work has been getting done, and we’ve been seeing that bear out with how much our clients have been satisfied, how we have been getting more clients, and how the compliance department has been growing.”

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Learn more about how Greg and his team at State and Federal Communications help organizations with their lobbying, campaign finance, and procurement lobbying compliance needs – https://stateandfed.com/about-us/

As a seasoned government relations professional, State and Federal Communications, Inc., was thrilled to bring on Jean Cantrell as the company’s first senior advisor in January, 2022, with a particular focus on stakeholder management

It was her vast experience in the industry, which President and CEO Elizbeth Bartz felt Jean’s insights and expertise would be valuable to stakeholder outreach and management.

“I like to think I provide a bit of a fresh perspective. As a former State and Federal client, I had the opportunity to walk in our clients’ shoes,” Jean explained.

Jean was a former client when she worked at Dun & Bradstreet, a commercial data and analytics business. This was Jean’s first job in the government relations industry, where she began as the Administrator of the company’s political action committee. Twenty years later, Jean assumed the role as leader/head of government relations at Dun & Bradstreet.

“The bottom line is I had a spectacular mentor. I started in the proverbial mail room at the lowest rung of the ladder and worked my way up,” she said.

She leveraged her experience and moved to other government relations positions for companies, Circuit City, EDS (now HP), and Philips, where she started its first state government relations program.

Jean’s expertise extends beyond the workplace, too. She has been a volunteer with the Commission on Presidential Debates since 1988 and worked with the Commission to set up presidential debate watches on more than 500 college campuses. She has served in a number of leadership positions:  President of both the Washington Area State Relations Group and the State Government Affairs Council, was Vice President of the NCSL Foundation, and co-chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Business Council.

Jean has two guiding philosophies when it comes to work and life: meet people “where they live” and leverage your knowledge and experience.

“If you’re working with a potential client, you want to understand what their pain points are, and avoid assuming they’re at Point A when they may be at Point B,” she explains.

She also suggests, “The other thing is using every resource at your disposal to be the best you can be in your job.”

Mentorship is also incredibly important to Jean. Because her mentor had so much to do with her success, Jean strives to intentionally pay it forward and enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with others.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has called a special election in state Senate District 14 to replace Sen. Jay Collins and House District 87 to replace Rep. Mike Caruso. The special primary date has been set for January 13, 2026, with the special general election date set on March 24, 2026.

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Monitor your registration thresholds by state, by referring to our easy to navigate online guidebooks. Request a web tour to learn more.

Gov. Kim Reynolds called a special election for December 9 to fill the Iowa House District 9 vacancy caused by the resignation of Rep. Mike Sexton, who took a federal position. The announcement marks the fifth special election for state legislative seats in 2025. House Republicans still have a 66-33 supermajority after Sexton’s resignation.

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Stay up to date with all state and federal lobbying law. Sign up for our online guidebooks and never miss a compliance law change.

The Rhode Island General Assembly adjourned on June 20. Lawmakers passed House Bill 5872 and Senate Bill 816, which regulate the distribution of deceptive synthetic media within 90 days of an election. If approved by Gov. Daniel McKee, the bills will be effective immediately.

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Are you able to track all legislative sessions in the states you do business? Our online guidebooks make it easy, request a demo today!

Campaign Finance

North Dakota: “North Dakota House Passes Campaign Finance Bill Changing Deadlines, Donor Disclosures” by Grant Coursey (Bismarck Tribune) for Fargo Forum

Ethics

California: “Another Top Staffer Quits Oakland Public Ethics Commission” by Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) for MSN

Hawaii: “Hawai’i County Moves to Adopt Nepotism Rules for Government Employees” by Chad Blair for Honolulu Civil Beat

Nevada: “Nevada Lawmakers Often Fail to Disclose Rental Property Income, Point to Confusing Forms” by Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren for Nevada Independent

Ohio: “Ethics Probe Set Stage for Kenni Burns’ Firing as Kent State Football Coach, with Independent Firm uncovering $100K Loan from Booster” by Tyler Carey (WKYC) for MSN

Oregon: “Former OLCC Execs Agree to Ethics Fines for Diverting Pappy Van Winkle” by Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Tennessee: “Corruption Trial of Ex-House Speaker Casada, Aide Cothren Starts This Week. What to Know” by Evan Mealins (Nashville Tennessean) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

Washington: “As in D.C., a Fight Breaks Out in Washington State Over Who Gets Access to Lawmakers” by Daniel Walters (InvestigateWest) for Spokane Public Radio

Ethics California: “Former L.A. Councilmember Kevin de León Faces Ethics Fine for Voting on Issues in Which He Had a Financial Stake” by Ben Poston (Los Angeles Times) for MSN National: “After Harvard, Liberal Donors and Groups Fear New Scrutiny from Trump” by Theodore Schleifer and Lisa Friedman (New York Times) for DNyuz National: “Appeals Court Panel Hears Arguments on AP’s Access to White House” by Hassan Ali Kanu (Politico) for MSN National: “DOJ Questions Science Journal About Bias, Triggering Free Speech Concerns” by Mark Johnson (Washington Post) for MSN Florida: “Man Detained in Florida on Immigration Hold Despite Being Citizen, Lawyer Says” by Vivian Ho (Washington Post) for MSN North Dakota: “Ethics Commissioners Say Bill Would Impose an Arbitrary Cutoff for Investigations” by Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News Legislative Issues Maine: “Judge Denies Laurel Libby’s Request to Immediately Restore Her Right to Vote in Maine House” by Rachel Ohm (Portland Press Herald) for Yahoo News Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Governor Can Lock in 400-Year School Funding Increase Using a Veto, Court Says” by Scott Bauer (Associated Press) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Florida: “State Workers Who Solicit Campaign Cash Could Face Criminal Charges Under Florida Bill” by Ana Ceballos and Romy Ellenboge (Miami Herald) for MSN

New Jersey: “Gottheimer Funnels $10 Million from Congressional Campaign into Group Supporting Bid for Gov” by Madison Fernandez (Politico) for MSN

Elections

National: “DNC Leader Announces Plans to Primary Members of His Own Party” by Dylan Wells (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “SF Will Let Nonprofits Report Less About Themselves Due to Fears of Political Attacks” by Katie DeBenedetti for KQED

California: “Anaheim Chamber of Commerce to Close in Aftermath of Corruption Probes” by Hosam Elattar for Voice of OC

National: “Justice Department Must Provide Details of Attempts to Return Illegally Deported Man, Judge Says” by Steve Thompson and Katie Mettler (Washington Post) for MSN

Georgia: “2 Protesters at Marjorie Taylor Greene Town Hall Are Subdued with Stun Guns” by Maya Miller (New York Times) for DNyuz

Hawaii: “Honolulu Director’s Free Trip to Poland Raises Ethics Questions” by Christina Jedra for Honolulu Civil Beat

New York: “NYCHA Paid Out Millions to Bribe-Paying Contractors Implicated in Corruption Takedown” by Greg Smith for The City

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “Ex-Bridgeport BOE Member’s Lie to Grand Jury Involved 2018 Campaign Event at Dolphin’s Cove: Records” by Jarrod Wardwell for Middletown Press

New York: “NYC Mayoral Front-Runner Andrew Cuomo Denied $2.5 Million in Public Matching Funds Over Missing Information” by Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “‘Nothing But a Pattern’: Ethics advocates alarmed by delay for House watchdog” by Justin Papp (Roll Call) for MSN

National: “Harvard Hit with $2.2 Billion Funding Freeze After Rejecting Trump’s Demands” by Susan Svrluga (Washington Post) for MSN

Maine: “Trump Administration to Pull Maine K-12 Funding Over Trans Athletes Dispute” by Brianna Tucker (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Greene Bought Market Dip Before Trump Paused Tariffs, Profiting from the Rally” by Annie Karni (New York Times) for DNyuz

North Dakota: “North Dakota House Removes New Ethics Commission Position from Budget, Adds 6-Month Deadline” by Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News

Pennsylvania: “Man Charged with Arson at Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion Denied Bail” by Justine McDaniel, Amber Ferguson, and Annabelle Timsit (Washington Post) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Florida: “Here’s Where $10 Million Donation to DeSantis’ Hope Florida Effort Went” by Lawrence Mower and Alexandra Glorioso (Tampa Bay Times) for MSN

Texas: “A Texas Republican Benefited from Out-of-State Donors. Now He Wants to Limit Their Impact” by Nolan McCaskill (Dallas Morning News) for MSN

Elections

North Carolina: “North Carolina Supreme Court Rules Most Challenged Ballots Must Stay in Election Count” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “Amid Trump’s Pause on Foreign Bribery Cases, One Involving a Company His Allies Targeted Will Proceed” by Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Some DOGE Staffers Hold High-Powered Jobs at Multiple Federal Agencies” by Faiz Siddiqui and Jacob Bogage (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Resistance to Ethics Reforms Draws Criticism” by Jake Sheridan (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

National: “Sarah Palin, New York Times to Face Off in Defamation Retrial” by Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

Montana: “Bill to Streamline Legislator-to-Lobbyist ‘Revolving Door’ Voted Down in Montana House” by Seaborn Larson (Montana State News Bureau) for Longview News-Journal

Campaign Finance

Hawaii: “Hawai’I Lawmakers Appear Poised to Crack Down on Pay-To-Play Politics” by Blaze Lovell for Honolulu Civil Beat

Nevada: “Secretary of State’s Bill Would Allow Some Personal Use of Campaign Funds” by Dana Gentry (Nevada Current) for Yahoo News

Elections

National: “House Passes Voter Registration Bill That Would Require Proof of Citizenship” by Justin Papp (Roll Call) for MSN

Ethics

California: “California’s Lieutenant Governor Leases Offices to the State. What If She’s Elected Governor?” by Alexei Koseff (CalMatters) for MSN

National: “At the Supreme Court, the Trump Agenda Is Always an ‘Emergency'” by Abbie VanSickle (New York Times) for DNyuz

Massachusetts: “Cape Cod State Rep. Accused of Stealing from Former Employer to Fund Campaign Expenses, Psychic Services” by Abby Patkin (Boston.com) for MSN

Minnesota: “Champion Directed Public Funds to Another Nonprofit He Later Did Legal Work For, Records Show” by Christopher Ingraham (Minnesota Reformer) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

New Mexico: “NM Governor Nixes New License Plates, State Bread, Lobbying Disclosure” by Julia Goldberg and Danielle Prokop (Source New Mexico) for Yahoo News

National/Federal

Trump Sidelines Justice Dept. Legal Office, Eroding Another Check on His Power

DNyuz – Charlie Savage (New York Times) | Published: 4/4/2025

The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel has traditionally been a powerful guardrail in government. It has issued interpretations of the law that bind agencies across the executive branch, decided which proposed policies were legally permissible, and approved draft executive orders before they went to presidents to be signed. But in President Trump’s second term, the office has largely been sidelined. As Trump issues policies that push legal limits and asserts an expansive view of his power, the White House has undercut its role, delaying giving it senior leadership and weakening its ability to impose quality control over executive orders.

Democratic Attorneys General Sue to Block Trump’s Voting Restrictions

MSN – Maeve Reston (Washington Post) | Published: 4/3/2025

A coalition of 19 Democratic state attorneys general sued the Trump administration seeking to block President Trump’s effort to impose new voting restrictions across the country, calling his recent executive order unconstitutional, antidemocratic, and un-American. Though the constitution grants most power over elections to the states, Trump signed an executive order last week demanding changes including a new requirement for voters to produce documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

Justice Department Lawyers Struggle to Defend a Mountain of Trump Executive Orders

MSN – Carrie Johnson (NPR) | Published: 4/3/2025

In courtrooms all over the country, the Justice Department has been busy defending President Trump’s executive actions. But in many of those cases, the government’s own lawyers have been struggling to answer questions and having to correct the record. It is a function of how aggressively Trump has moved so far and how the attorneys have been having a hard time keeping up.

Judge Orders White House Ban on AP Lifted

MSN – Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 4/8/2025

A judge ordered the White House to lift a nearly two-month-long set of access restrictions it placed on the Associated Press (AP) while the news organization’s lawsuit against three Trump administration officials plays out. Since February 11, AP reporters have been prevented from being at Oval Office events, on Air Force One flights. and at other official presidential events because the news organization refused to primarily use the name Gulf of America when referring to the body of water, instead of the Gulf of Mexico.

As Tariffs Set to Take Effect, Confusion Reigns on K Street

MSN – Caitlin Oprysko and Gabby Miller (Politico) | Published: 4/8/2025

As the White House rolls out its tariff plan, lobbyists across Washington are working to decipher the administration’s muddled messaging and translate it into a strategy for relief for their clients. In some cases, lobbyists are still puzzling out who they should contact at the White House to ensure their concerns are heard, or how the new duties will be implemented.

House Rejects Proxy Voting for New Parents, Chooses ‘Pairing’ Instead

MSN – Justin Papp (Roll Call) | Published: 4/8/2025

A weeks-long dustup over proxy voting for new parents in the U.S. House came to an end despite a last-ditch effort from one of its chief proponents. “Congress is stuck doing things the way that we did hundreds of years ago, and it’s time that we move it to the 21st century,” said Rep. Brittany Pettersen. She has led the charge to allow proxy voting for up to 12 weeks after birth.

Trump Directs Justice Dept. to Probe Officials Who Opposed Him in First Term

MSN – Kelly Kasulis Cho (Washington Post) | Published: 4/10/2025

President Trump signed sweeping presidential memorandums targeting two former government officials who opposed his actions in his first term, his latest effort to use the powers of the presidency to punish people and institutions who have challenged him. Trump directed the Justice Department to investigate former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency director Chris Krebs and former homeland security official Miles Taylor, who penned an anonymous 2018 New York Times op-ed titled “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration.”

U.S. Will Monitor Immigrants’ Social Media for ‘Antisemitic Activity’

MSN – Anumita Kaur and María Luisa Paúl (Washington Post) | Published: 4/9/2025

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin screening immigrants’ social media accounts for antisemitic content as grounds to deny visa and green-card applications, a move immigration law and free-speech experts condemn as an alarming federal overstep. The announcement raised concern among experts that the policy is too vague and would rely heavily on the personal opinions of officials.

Trump Told People to Buy. Hours Later, His Tariff Pause Sent Markets Soaring.

MSN – Rachel Lerman and Douglas MacMillan (Washington Post) | Published: 4/9/2025

Less than four hours before President Trump’s announcement that he was pausing tariffs sent markets soaring, he posted online telling his millions of social media followers it was a good time to buy. Democrats are now accusing Trump of “market manipulation.” The president holds much of his net worth in his stake in Truth Social’s parent company, Trump Media & Technology Group. The company’s stock rallied with the broader markets after the tariff announcement, closing the day up more than 21 percent.

White House Says It Ignores Journalists Who Use Pronouns in Email Bios

MSN – Gaya Gupta (Washington Post) | Published: 4/9/2025

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she will not engage with reporters who list their pronouns in their email signatures, the Trump administration’s latest move to target expressions of gender identity in the workplace. Including one’s pronouns in introductions, over email and in-person, has become normalized across many industries in recent years as a way to show support with the transgender or nonbinary community and prevent misgendering. But the practice has since been fiercely rejected by Republican politicians.

US Appeals Court Blocks Trump from Removing Democrats from Labor Boards

Reuters – David Wiessner and Jonathan Stempel | Published: 4/7/2025

A federal appeals court blocked President Trump from removing Democratic members from two federal labor boards, setting aside its earlier ruling. The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit further complicates a pair of cases that are emerging as key tests of Trump’s efforts to bring federal agencies meant to be independent from the White House under his control.

He Said He Would Ban Congressional Stock Trading. Now in Office, He Trades Freely.

Scranton Times-Tribune – Annie Karni (New York Times) | Published: 4/6/2025

When Rob Bresnahan, Jr., a wealthy Republican business executive, was running to represent a competitive U.S. House district in Pennsylvania, he published a letter to the editor in a local newspaper demanding an end to stock trading by members of Congress. If elected, Bresnahan told voters, he would co-sponsor legislation to ban stock trading by members of Congress. More than two months after being sworn in, Bresnahan has not introduced or co-sponsored such a bill. He has emerged as one of the most active stock traders in the freshman class.

Musk’s DOGE Using AI to Snoop on U.S. Federal Workers, Sources Say

Yahoo News – Alexandra Ulmer, Marisa Taylor, Jeffrey Dastin, and Alexandra Alper (Reuters) | Published: 4/8/2025

Trump administration officials have told some U.S. government employees that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team of technologists is using artificial intelligence to surveil at least one federal agency’s communications for hostility to President Trump and his agenda. While much of DOGE remains shrouded in secrecy, the surveillance would mark an extraordinary use of technology to identify expressions of perceived disloyalty in a workforce already upended by widespread firings and cost cutting.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Pro-Car Great Highway Group Faces Ethics Fine for Skirting S.F. Campaign Laws

Mission Local – Eleni Balakrishnan | Published: 4/9/2025

Open the Great Highway faces a fine from the San Francisco Ethics Commission for violating campaign finance law. It has been reported that Open the Great Highway was campaigning against Proposition K and soliciting donations without registering as a PAC with the California Secretary of State, a requirement for any group soliciting political donations above a certain threshold.

Florida – Florida Teacher Loses Job for Calling Student by Preferred Name

MSN – Laura Meckler and Lori Rozsa (Washington Post) | Published: 4/10/2025

A Florida high school teacher lost her job after calling a student by an alternative name without parental permission, sparking community backlash in the conservative area as school officials sought to comply with state law. It is the first known dismissal resulting from the campaign to shut down recognition of alternative gender identities, a policy piloted by Florida that spread to other Republican states and now has been taken up by the Trump administration.

Florida – Transgender Student’s Arrest for Violating Florida Bathroom Law Is Thought to Be a First

MSN – Hannah Schoenbaum (Associated Press) | Published: 4/3/2025

A transgender college student declared “I am here to break the law” before entering a women’s restroom at the Florida Capitol and being led out in handcuffs by police. Civil rights attorneys say the arrest of Marcy Rheintgen is the first they know of for violating transgender bathroom restrictions passed by numerous state Legislatures across the country.

Florida – State Officials Steered $10 Million Settlement to Casey DeSantis’ Hope Florida Charity

MSN – Lawrence Mower and Alexandra Glorioso (Miami Herald) | Published: 4/8/2025

Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration diverted $10 million in state settlement money last year to the charity arm of a welfare initiative led by his wife. The unusual injection of cash was part of an undisclosed settlement agreement involving Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration. The money went to the Hope Florida Foundation, a nonprofit that was established by the state to help realize Casey DeSantis’s vision to reshape welfare.

Idaho – Idaho Republican’s Bill Would Have Let Her Husband Sue Boise. Rules Say It’s OK

MSN – Sarah Cutler (Idaho Statesman) | Published: 4/7/2025

State Sen. Codi Galloway sponsored a bill to ban homeless encampments in large Idaho cities, including Boise, which she represents. In its initial form, the bill would have allowed business owners to sue cities that failed to enforce the ban. Galloway did not disclose that her husband could be one of the people filing such a lawsuit.

Illinois – Illinois Senate President Don Harmon Improperly Accepted $4 Million in Campaign Cash, Election Authorities Say

MSN – Addison Wright and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 4/9/2025

The Illinois State Board of Elections said Senate President Don Harmon’s campaign committee has accepted $4 million in prohibited donations. At issue is whether a loophole that allows politicians to remove campaign contribution limits was in effect when he collected what is deemed extra cash. Harmon has repeatedly given or loaned his campaign fund more than $100,000 over the years, opening the loophole and allowing him to collect unlimited sums of money. It is a maneuver political insiders call “the money bomb.”

Illinois – Anointed by Powerful Father, State Sen. Emil Jones III Heads to Trial on Bribery Charges

Yahoo News – Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 4/6/2025

Illinois Sen. Emil Jones III, whose father led the state Senate for years, is on trial for allegedly agreeing to help a red-light camera company alter legislation in exchange for $5,000 and a job for his legislative intern. It is the first case from a sprawling red-light camera probe to go before a jury, and will feature testimony from FBI mole Omar Maani, a founder and executive at SafeSpeed.

Indiana – Diego Morales’ $90K SUV Came from Dealership That Gave Him $65K in Campaign Donations

Indianapolis Star – Hayleigh Columbo | Published: 4/4/2025

Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith are under scrutiny after using state funds to buy premium SUVs costing the state around $90,000 each. In Morales’ case, his 2024 GMC Yukon Denali comes from Kelley Automotive Group in Fort Wayne, owned by Thomas Kelley, who has given Morales’s campaign $65,000 since 2022. Kelley sits on the state’s Motor Vehicle Advisory Board with Morales, which advises the secretary of state’s office on matters related to the regulation of automobile dealers in Indiana.

Kansas – Kansas Governor Signs Bill Doubling Campaign Finance Limits on Legislative Candidates

Yahoo News – Tim Carpenter (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 4/9/2025

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill into law that doubles campaign contribution limits to statewide and legislative candidates. The governor also signed legislation that creates a new definition for “cooperation or consent” in relation to express advocacy expenditures. For example, it would exclude a candidate’s or political party’s expenditures in response to inquiries about positions on legislative issues or the endorsement of a candidate.

Maine – Censured Lawmaker Seeks Immediate Restoration of Voting Rights in House

Yahoo News – Emily Allen (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 4/4/2025

A Maine lawmaker is asking a federal judge to immediately restore her ability to vote in the Legislature despite being over social media posts she made that identified a transgender student-athlete. Rep. Laurel Libby has argued the censure violates her First and 14th Amendment rights by punishing her for “protected speech outside the walls of the State House.”

Massachusetts – Canadian Utility Company Paid for Parts of Mass. Lawmakers’ Trip to Hydroelectric Facility

MSN – Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) | Published: 4/9/2025

A group of Massachusetts lawmakers who visited Canadian hydroelectric facilities in March were ferried there at the expense of a public utility company that runs a power line between Quebec and Ayer. The cadre of elected officials, which was made up of three senators and eight representatives, touted the three-day trip as an “alternative energy fact finding” mission.

Massachusetts – Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson to Plead Guilty in Federal Corruption Case, and Will Resign

MSN – Gayla Cawley (Boston Herald) | Published: 4/8/2025

Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson plans to plead guilty in a federal public corruption case tied to allegations she stole thousands of dollars from taxpayers in a kickback scheme that took place in City Hall and intends to resign. Prosecutors recommend that Fernandes Anderson be sentenced to prison for a year and a day, and that she pay $13,000 in restitution.

Minnesota – DFL Senate President Steered Millions in Public Funds to a Legal Client

Yahoo News – Christopher Ingraham (Minnesota Reformer) | Published: 4/4/2025

Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion faces questions about a possible conflict-of-interest related to his legal work and funding bills he sponsored. It was reported that Champion worked with a client, the Rev. Jerry McAfee, on a pro bono basis. McAfee’s nonprofit group 21 Days of Peace later received state grant funds from an account that Champion worked to authorize.

Mississippi – Judge Tosses Former Miss. Governor’s Suit Against Pulitzer-Winning Reporter

MSN – Samantha Cherry and Avi Selk (Washington Post) | Published: 4/5/2025

A judge dismissed former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant’s defamation lawsuit against a news nonprofit that investigated his connections to a $77 million public welfare scandal, sparing the newsroom from being forced to reveal internal documents and confidential sources it used for the Pulitzer-winning series. The dismissal was applauded by press freedom groups that viewed the suit as an effort to punish Mississippi Today and its journalists for scrutinizing government officials.

New Jersey – A Teachers’ Union Is Spending Millions to Elect Its Boss Governor

DNyuz – Tracey Tully (New York Times) | Published: 4/9/2025

Sean Spiller failed to qualify for matching state campaign funds and fell short of the threshold to participate in two upcoming debates as he runs for governor of New Jersey. His spokesperson works for a consulting firm in Washington, and he has no paid campaign manager. But Spiller has something the other five Democrats running for governor do not: a $35 million blank check from a group with close ties to the labor union he leads, the New Jersey Education Association.

New Mexico – NM Ethics Commission Has Authority Over Lobbying Advertising Campaigns, Court of Appeals Rules

Yahoo News – Austin Fisher (Source New Mexico) | Published: 4/7/2025

The New Mexico Court of Appeals ruled that when lawmakers passed the State Ethics Commission Act, they intended to give the panel power to handle complaints not only about individual lobbyists and their employers, but also to organizations that run lobbying advertising campaigns. The ruling stems from a complaint filed against New Mexico Families Forward. Former Rep. Ambrose Castellano alleged the group violated the law by failing to disclose the identity of its donors, and how much they had given.

New York – This Agency Fights Corruption. New York City Leaders Have Weakened It.

DNyuz – Jan Ransom (New York Times) | Published: 4/6/2025

In recent months, New York City’s government has been rocked by corruption scandals at a pace not seen in nearly a century. Yet over the past few years, New York’s leaders have presided over a gradual weakening of the city’s leading corruption-fighting agency, the Department of Investigation. In recent months, the agency has been so strapped for funds that it has tapped millions of dollars forfeited by people convicted of crimes to cover basic operating costs.

North Carolina – Court Directive to Notify Voters in Close North Carolina Election Blocked for Now

MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 4/7/2025

The North Carolina Supreme Court temporarily halted enforcement of an appeals court decision that favored a Republican candidate in a close and unresolved November election for a seat on the state’s highest court. The Supreme Court issued a temporary stay of an order by a Court of Appeals panel that in part directed election workers to identify and contact potentially tens of thousands of voters whose ballots were challenged by Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin.

North Dakota – House Committee Recommends Removing New Ethics Commission Position, Adding Deadline

Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 4/8/2025

A House committee recommended several sweeping changes to the North Dakota Ethics Commission’s budget, including cutting a new full-time staff member and adding a new six-month deadline for processing ethics complaints. The commission called the changes “a roadblock intended to hamper the commission’s work.”

Ohio – House Republicans Propose Eliminating the State’s Campaign Finance Enforcer

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 4/4/2025

Ohio House Republicans want to eliminate a regulatory body that enforces deadlines and accuracy of candidates’ campaign finance spending and fundraising reports. While their proposed state budget does not repeal the section of state law that created the Ohio Elections Commission 30 years ago, it reduces its budget from about $432,000 this year to zero in the next two fiscal years.

Ohio – Ex-Cleveland City Councilman Basheer Jones Sentenced to 2 Years, 4 Months in Prison for Corruption Schemes

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 4/2/2025

Former Cleveland City Councilperson Basheer Jones was sentenced to two years and four months in prison for using his influence to benefit him and a romantic partner. The judge also ordered the one-time mayoral candidate to pay back $143,000 that he and others made off three schemes in which they swindled nonprofits. Jones is the sixth council member in the last two decades to be convicted of corruption-related charges.

Pennsylvania – Emails Between Pa. Lawmakers and Lobbyists Will Remain Hidden from the Public After Court Ruling

Yahoo News – Angela Couloumbis (Spotlight PA) | Published: 4/8/2025

A panel of Commonwealth Court judges ruled the state Legislature can continue to shield from public view written interactions lawmakers have with lobbyists. Good-government advocates called the ruling a missed opportunity to create more transparency around the inner workings of the Legislature, which has exempted itself from having to disclose many records – including emails – the executive branch routinely makes public.

Tennessee – Pardoned Ex-Sen. Kelsey Wrangles for Amendment to Campaign Finance Bill

Yahoo News – Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) | Published: 4/9/2025

Straight off a prison stint cut short by a presidential pardon, former Tennessee Sen. Brian Kelsey is maneuvering for legislation to pay his legal expenses. Kelsey, who served two weeks in prison for directing an illicit campaign finance scheme, is lobbying lawmakers to pass legislation that would enable him to use his state campaign account to pay legal fees after three years of court battles.

Texas – Gov. Greg Abbott Sets Nov. 4 Special Election to Fill U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s Seat

MSN – Jasper Scherer, Kayla Guo (Texas Tribune), and Natalia Contreras (Votebeat) | Published: 4/7/2025

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott set November 4 as the special election date to fill the congressional seat left vacant by former U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s death, a timeline that leaves the solidly Democratic seat vacant for at least seven months as Republicans look to drive President Trump’s agenda through a narrowly divided Congress. Turner died March 5, two months into his first ter. State law does not specify a deadline for the governor to order a special election.

Texas – Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Former Aides Win $6.6 Million in Whistleblower Case

MSN – Ayden Runnels and Jasper Scherer (Texas Tribune) | Published: 4/4/2025

A judge awarded $6.6 million to four former senior aides to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who said they were improperly fired after reporting Paxton to the FBI. The case was sparked when eight former aides, including the four plaintiffs, reported Paxton to federal authorities in over his relations with Nate Paul, a friend and real estate investor. The whistleblowers accused Paxton of abusing his office to do favors for Paul, including by hiring an outside lawyer to investigate claims made by Paul and providing him confidential law enforcement documents.

Vermont – Final Reading: House advances changes to its ethics panel’s procedures spurred by bag-soaking scandal

VTDigger – Shaun Robinson | Published: 4/8/2025

The bag-soaking scandal that catapulted the Vermont House into national headlines last year and focused attention on the chamber’s internal committee that investigated the incident has prompted lawmakers to tweak the rules guiding inquiries into their colleagues allegedly bad behavior. The House gave preliminary approval to a set of rule changes that would give the secretive House Ethics Panel more leeway to describe its work to the public and the press. It would also require the panel to issue public reports on each of its investigations.

Wisconsin – Former Wisconsin Justice to Give Up Law License Over 2020 Election Review

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 4/7/2025

Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman agreed to give up his law license for three years after facing a string of ethics allegations stemming from his error-riddled review of the 2020 election for Republican lawmakers. Gableman conceded that legal regulators had produced enough evidence to find he had violated state ethics rules for lawyers. He gave up his legal fight over the matter a week after a candidate backed by Democrats won a seat on the state’s high court and locked in a likely liberal majority for years.

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “Illinois Senate President Don Harmon Improperly Accepted $4 Million in Campaign Cash, Election Authorities Say” by Addison Wright and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) for MSN

Kansas: “Kansas Governor Signs Bill Doubling Campaign Finance Limits on Legislative Candidates” by Tim Carpenter (Kansas Reflector) for Yahoo News

New Jersey: “A Teachers’ Union Is Spending Millions to Elect Its Boss Governor” by Tracey Tully (New York Times) for DNyuz

Elections

North Carolina: “Court Directive to Notify Voters in Close North Carolina Election Blocked for Now” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Judge Orders White House Ban on AP Lifted” by Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “Transgender Student’s Arrest for Violating Florida Bathroom Law Is Thought to Be a First” by Hannah Schoenbaum (Associated Press) for MSN

North Dakota: “House Committee Recommends Removing New Ethics Commission Position, Adding Deadline” by Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

National: “House Rejects Proxy Voting for New Parents, Chooses ‘Pairing’ Instead” by Justin Papp (Roll Call) for MSN

Lobbying

Massachusetts: “Canadian Utility Company Paid for Parts of Mass. Lawmakers’ Trip to Hydroelectric Facility” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) for MSN