January 25, 2018 •
Thursday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Campaign Finance Canada: “Coalition of Unions Challenging Ontario’s Campaign Finance Law as Unconstitutional” by Robert Benzie for Toronto Star Utah: “Special Interests Gave Utah Lawmakers $9 of Every $10 in Campaign Funds They Raised” by Lee Davidson for Salt Lake […]
Campaign Finance
Canada: “Coalition of Unions Challenging Ontario’s Campaign Finance Law as Unconstitutional” by Robert Benzie for Toronto Star
Utah: “Special Interests Gave Utah Lawmakers $9 of Every $10 in Campaign Funds They Raised” by Lee Davidson for Salt Lake Tribune
Elections
National: “Inside Facebook’s Year of Reckoning” by Elizabeth Dwoskin for Washington Post
Ethics
Idaho: “High School Page Says 2 Idaho Lawmakers, Lobbyist Harassed Her Last Year” by Ruth Brown for Idaho Statesman
Maine: “A ‘Pro-White’ Town Manager Who Wants Races to Separate Refused to Quit. So Town Officials Fired Him.” by Marwa Eltagouri and Kristine Phillips for Washington Post
Maryland: “Former Baltimore County Schools Superintendent Dallas Dance Indicted on 4 Counts of Perjury” by Liz Bowie and Doug Donovan for Baltimore Sun
Nevada: “Barlow to Plead Guilty to Fraud, Resigns from Las Vegas City Council” by Jamie Munks for Las Vegas Review-Journal
Legislative Issues
Kansas: “No More Secret Votes, ‘Gut-and-Go’ Maneuvers in Kansas Legislature, Democrats Propose” by Judy Thomas, Hunter Woodall, and Laura Bauer for Kansas City Star
Lobbying
National: “Tax Law Showers Cash on Lobby Firms” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
Texas: “Austin Lobbyists Agree to Disclose How Much They’re Paid” by Elizabeth Findell for Austin American-Statesman
January 24, 2018 •
Wednesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Alleged Payment to Porn Star Was Illegal Donation to Trump Campaign, Watchdog Says” by Josh Gerstein for Politico New York: “Vance Bans Donations from Lawyers with Pending Cases” by James McKinley Jr. for New York Times Ethics […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Alleged Payment to Porn Star Was Illegal Donation to Trump Campaign, Watchdog Says” by Josh Gerstein for Politico
New York: “Vance Bans Donations from Lawyers with Pending Cases” by James McKinley Jr. for New York Times
Ethics
National: “Trump Business Ethics Pledges Left Plenty of Room for Profiting” by The Associated Press for Tampa Bay Times
Federal: “Justice Department Says It Will Retry Sen. Robert Menendez Following Mistrial on Bribery Charges” by Devlin Barrett and Ed O’Keefe for Washington Post
California: “Group That First Raised Sexual Harassment Issues in Sacramento Now Has an App to Report Misconduct” by Jazmine Ulloa for Los Angeles Times
Wyoming: “As Reports of Sexual Harassment Spike, Wyoming’s Legislature Looks to Rewrite Policy” by Arno Rosenfeld for Casper Star-Tribune
Legislative Issues
Wisconsin: “Senate Votes to Force Out State Ethics and Elections Leaders” by Mark Sommerhauser for Wisconsin State Journal
Lobbying
Canada: “Six-Fold Increase in Senate Lobbying Under Trudeau, with Independents Taking Most Meetings” by Marie-Danielle Smith for National Post
Redistricting
Pennsylvania: “Pa. Supreme Court Strikes Down Congressional Map as Unconstitutional, Orders Change Before May Primary” by Jonathan Lai, Liz Navratil, and Angela Couloumbis for Philadelphia Inquirer
January 23, 2018 •
Tuesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Campaign Finance Federal: “Fewer Than 16,000 Donors Accounted for Half the Federal Campaign Contributions in 2016” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee for Washington Post Missouri: “Greitens Campaign Operation Is Sharing Space with Dark Money Group” by Kurt Erickson for St. […]
Campaign Finance
Federal: “Fewer Than 16,000 Donors Accounted for Half the Federal Campaign Contributions in 2016” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee for Washington Post
Missouri: “Greitens Campaign Operation Is Sharing Space with Dark Money Group” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Elections
National: “Government Says It Is Dropping Most Remaining Inaugural Day Rioting Cases” by Keith Alexander for Washington Post
Ethics
National: “In the Crowd at Trump’s Inauguration, Members of Russia’s Elite Anticipated a Thaw Between Moscow and Washington” by Craig Timberg, Rosalind Helderman, Andrew Roth, and Carol Leonnig for Washington Post
Federal: “Congressman Combating Harassment Settled His Own Misconduct Case” by Katie Rogers and Kenneth Vogel for New York Times
Federal: “Supreme Court Opens Door to Sheldon Silver Corruption Retrial” by John Reilly for Newsday
Federal: “Watchdog Petitions Federal Court to Kill New Appointments for Lobbying, Ethics Commissioners” by Marco Vigliotti for Hill Times
Lobbying
Kansas: “Kansas Bill Aims at Anyone Trying to Sway Executive Branch Register ‘Like a Lobbyist’” by Hunter Woodall and Jonathan Shorman for Kansas City Star
Procurement
Georgia: “Former Atlanta City Official Gets 2 Years in Bribery Probe” by Kate Brumback (Associated Press) for Los Angeles Times
January 22, 2018 •
Monday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “FBI Investigating Whether Russian Money Went to NRA to Help Trump” by Peter Stone and Greg Gordon for McClatchy DC Ethics Colorado: “Denver Is Challenging Its Own Ethics Board Over ‘All in The Family’ Gift Disclosures” by […]
Campaign Finance
National: “FBI Investigating Whether Russian Money Went to NRA to Help Trump” by Peter Stone and Greg Gordon for McClatchy DC
Ethics
Colorado: “Denver Is Challenging Its Own Ethics Board Over ‘All in The Family’ Gift Disclosures” by Ben Markus for Colorado Public Radio
New Jersey: “Phil Murphy Executive Order Tightens Gift Rules for Governor” by Dustin Racioppi for Bergen Record
Lobbying
Federal: “The Mueller Effect: FARA filings soar in shadow of Manafort, Flynn probes” by Julia Ainsley, Andrew Lehren, and Anna Schecter for NBC News
Florida: “Andrew Gillum Opens Up About Cutting Ties with Lobbyist Friend Adam Corey and Mike Miller” by Jeffrey Schweers for Tallahasse Democrat
Georgia: “Lobbyists Beware: Georgia campaign finance commission levies largest ever fine for lobbying noncompliance in advance of 2018 legislative session” by Staff for Dentons
Wisconsin: “Should a former dairy lobbyist oversee dairy farms for Wisconsin Department of Justice’s environmental protection unit?” by Lee Bergquist for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Redistricting
Federal: “Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks North Carolina Gerrymandering Ruling” by Adam Liptak and Alan Blinder for New York Times
January 18, 2018 •
Thursday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Campaign Finance Virginia: “Senate Committee Kills Bill to Ban Campaign Donations from Public-Service Corporations” by Patrick Wilson for Richmond Times-Dispatch Elections National: “A Case for Math, Not ‘Gobbledygook,’ in Judging Partisan Voting Maps” by Adam Liptak for New York Times […]
Campaign Finance
Virginia: “Senate Committee Kills Bill to Ban Campaign Donations from Public-Service Corporations” by Patrick Wilson for Richmond Times-Dispatch
Elections
National: “A Case for Math, Not ‘Gobbledygook,’ in Judging Partisan Voting Maps” by Adam Liptak for New York Times
Michigan: “County Board Chair Uses Unlicensed Security at Public Meetings” by Malachi Barrett for MLive.com
Ethics
National: “Bannon Agrees to Cooperate with Mueller Inquiry” by Michael Schmidt for New York Times
New York: “Cuomo to Give New York’s Ethics Watchdog More Money to Probe Sexual Harassment Claims” by Madina Toure for The Observer
New York: “NY Corruption Trial of Ex-Cuomo Aide, Cor Execs: A preview from A to Ziti” by the Staff for Syracuse Post-Standard
Lobbying
Federal: “House Panel to Consider Stronger Foreign Lobbying Rules” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call
Mississippi: “Lobbyist Who Asked Harrison County Supervisor for Oral Sex Resigns from Gulfport, Airport” by Anita Lee for The Sun Herald
Missouri: “Lobbyist Gift Restriction Launched from Missouri House to Senate” by Jack Suntrup for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
January 17, 2018 •
Wednesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Elections “Sharper State Divide in Congress Seen as ‘New Civil War’” by Carl Hulse for New York Times “Bannon Is Subpoenaed in Mueller’s Russia Investigation” by Michael Schmidt for New York Times Maine: “Maine Republican Party Promoting ‘Fake News’ Sites […]
Elections
“Sharper State Divide in Congress Seen as ‘New Civil War’” by Carl Hulse for New York Times
“Bannon Is Subpoenaed in Mueller’s Russia Investigation” by Michael Schmidt for New York Times
Maine: “Maine Republican Party Promoting ‘Fake News’ Sites That Target Democrats” by Brian MacQuarrie (Boston Globe) for Portland Press Herald
Ethics
“One Year After Women’s March, More Activism but Less Unity” by Farah Stockman for New York Times
Florida: “‘He Unbuttoned My Jacket and He Felt Me Up.’ Lobbyist Details Senator’s Harassment.” by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald
New Mexico: “Lawmakers OK Updated Sexual Harassment Policy” by Andrew Oxford (Santa Fe New Mexican) for NMPolitics.net
Legislative Issues
Alaska: “Gridlock in Juneau? Not If Alaska Legislators and Lobbyists Can’t Get Their Cars There” by Nathaniel Herz for Anchorage Daily News
Lobbying
Hawaii: “Mayor’s Lobbyist Will Not Need to Register with the State” by Nancy Cook-Lauer for Hawaii Tribune Herald
January 16, 2018 •
Tuesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Elections “The Next GOP Panic: Governors races” by Gabriel Debenedetti and Daniel Strauss for Politico Ethics “Trump’s ‘Fake News Awards’ Could Violate Ethics Rules” by Jason Schwartz for Politico “How a Congressional Harassment Claim Led to a Secret $220,000 Payment” […]
Elections
“The Next GOP Panic: Governors races” by Gabriel Debenedetti and Daniel Strauss for Politico
Ethics
“Trump’s ‘Fake News Awards’ Could Violate Ethics Rules” by Jason Schwartz for Politico
“How a Congressional Harassment Claim Led to a Secret $220,000 Payment” by Kimberly Kindy and Michelle Yee Hee Lee for Washington Post
Maryland: “As Calls Grow for Oaks to Resign, Senate President Refers case to Ethics Committee” by Luke Broadwater for Baltimore Sun
Wisconsin: “Amid John Doe Fallout, Heads of Wisconsin Ethics and Elections Commissions Fight for Their Jobs” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Canada: “Independent Senators Seek Investigation of Beyak’s Ethics, Use of Public Funds” by The Canadian Press for Times Colonist
Legislative Issues
“To Grease Wheels of Congress, Trump Suggests Bringing Back Pork” by Alan Rappeport for New York Times
Tennessee: “Tennessee Legislature’s New Home Is Less ‘Middle School,’ More ‘Corporate’” by Andy Sher for Chattanooga Times Free Press
Lobbying
New Mexico: “Lobbyist Transparency Takes a Nosedive” by Marjorie Childress and Melorie Bagey for New Mexico In Depth
January 15, 2018 •
Monday’s Government and Ethics News
Lobbying Delaware: “Lobbyists Given a Space of Their Own in Legislative Hall” by Scott Gross for Wilmington News Journal South Carolina: “South Carolina Lawmakers Overseeing Regulators Were Also Wined and Dined by Utility Companies” by Andrew Brown for Charleston Post […]
Lobbying
Delaware: “Lobbyists Given a Space of Their Own in Legislative Hall” by Scott Gross for Wilmington News Journal
South Carolina: “South Carolina Lawmakers Overseeing Regulators Were Also Wined and Dined by Utility Companies” by Andrew Brown for Charleston Post and Courier
Wisconsin: “State Report: Nearly 15 percent of Wisconsin lobbyists lobbied without authorization” by Mark Sommerhauser for Wisconsin State Journal
Ethics
“Schiff Lays Out Republican Efforts to Block Access in Russia Probe” by Karoun Demirjian for Washington Post
Alaska: “Legislators Who Skip Training Could Face Ethics Complaint” by Becky Bohrer (Associated Press) for The Sun Herald
Missouri: “Greitens Faces Criminal Investigation Over Allegations Stemming from His Affair” by Jack Suntrup and Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
New York: “Investigate an Accused Ally? New York Senate’s Republican Leader Says No” by Jesse McKinley and Vivian Wang for New York Times
Canada: “New Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion Promises to Be ‘Fearless’” by Laura Stone for The Globe and Mail
January 11, 2018 •
Thursday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Lobbying “Lobbyists Have a New Secret Weapon” by Alexandra Stratton for Bloomberg.com Campaign Finance “FEC’s New Facebook Ruling Requires Ad Sharing Info Yet Gives Reformers Little to Like” by Margaret Sessa-Hawkins for MapLight.org California: “Big Donors Can Dominate City Election […]
Lobbying
“Lobbyists Have a New Secret Weapon” by Alexandra Stratton for Bloomberg.com
Campaign Finance
“FEC’s New Facebook Ruling Requires Ad Sharing Info Yet Gives Reformers Little to Like” by Margaret Sessa-Hawkins for MapLight.org
California: “Big Donors Can Dominate City Election Spending – Whether or Not There Are Contribution Limits” by Thy Vo for Voice of OC
District of Columbia: “D.C. Council Unanimously Votes to Create Public Campaign Finance Program” by Rachel Chason for Washington Post
Ethics
“Football Team’s Stay at Doral Resort Could Bolster Lawsuit Targeting Trump” by Jonathan O’Connell for Washington Post
Florida: “South Florida State Senators Acknowledge Extramarital Affair” by Dan Sweeny for South Florida Sentinel
Idaho: “Idaho Lawmakers Undergo Anti-Sexual Harassment Training” by Betsy Russell for Spokane Spokesman-Review
New York: “Brooklyn Assemblywoman Indicted on Fraud Charges” by Jesse McKinley for New York Times
Canada: “Morneau Cleared by Ethics Watchdog on Two Complaints” by Tonda MacCharles for Toronto Star
Redistricting
North Carolina: “NC Congressional Districts Struck Down as Unconstitutional Partisan Gerrymanders” by Anne Blythe for Raleigh News and Observer
January 10, 2018 •
Wednesday’s Government and Ethics News
Lobbying Missouri: “House Prepares to Fast Track Lobbyist Gift Limit Yet Again” by Tyler Wornell for The Missourian Campaign Finance Pennsylvania: “When Does a Campaign Contribution Become a Bribe?” by Peter Hall for Allentown Morning Call Washington: “Spokane City Council […]
Lobbying
Missouri: “House Prepares to Fast Track Lobbyist Gift Limit Yet Again” by Tyler Wornell for The Missourian
Campaign Finance
Pennsylvania: “When Does a Campaign Contribution Become a Bribe?” by Peter Hall for Allentown Morning Call
Washington: “Spokane City Council Overrides Condon Veto of Campaign Finance Reporting Law” by Kip Hill for Spokane Spokesman-Review
Ethics
“Fusion GPS Founder Hauled from the Shadows for the Russia Election Investigation” by Matt Flegenheimer for New York Times
Canada: “Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson Says She ‘Went Out with a Bang’” by Laura Stone for The Globe and Mail
Florida: “Broward Legislators Take Action to Deal with Sexual Harassment in the State Capital” by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald
Maryland: “Feds: Indicted Baltimore state senator confessed to taking cash payments” by Justin Fenton for Baltimore Sun
Texas: “Amid Sexual Harassment Concerns, Lawmakers Consider How to Check Their Own Power” by Jolie McCullough and Alexa Ura for Texas Tribune
Elections
Kansas: “Awkward: Brownback said he was leaving as Kansas governor. He hasn’t” by Julie Bosman for New York Times
Legislative Issues
Kentucky: “Kentucky House Speaker Lashes Out in Resignation Speech after Sexual Harassment Settlement” by Derek Hawkins for Washington Post
January 9, 2018 •
Tuesday’s Government and Ethics News
Lobbying Arizona: “A Sexist Culture Endures at Arizona Capitol, Insiders Say” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Dustin Gardiner for Arizona Republic Ethics “These Are the Only Two States That Don’t Require Lawmakers to Disclose Finances” by Kristian Hernandez for Center […]
Lobbying
Arizona: “A Sexist Culture Endures at Arizona Capitol, Insiders Say” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Dustin Gardiner for Arizona Republic
Ethics
“These Are the Only Two States That Don’t Require Lawmakers to Disclose Finances” by Kristian Hernandez for Center for Public Integrity
“Kushner’s Financial Ties to Israel Deepen Even with Mideast Diplomatic Role” by Jesse Drucker for New York Times
Colorado: “Change to Colorado Conflict-of-Interest Rule Limits Information Elected Officials Must Share with Voters” by John Frank for Denver Post
Maryland: “Maryland’s Female Lawmakers Push Back – Quietly – on Sexual Harassment” by Ovetta Wiggins for Washington Post
Oregon: “Oregon Ethics Commission Rebukes Cylvia Hayes for ‘Blatant Disregard of Ethics Laws” by Hillary Borrud for Portland Oregonian
South Carolina: “As Corruption Probe Continues, Some Lawmakers Want South Carolina Politics to Be More Transparent” by Andrew Brown for Charleston Post and Courier
Virginia: “Growing Pains: How the departure of a longtime town manager spawned political scandal” by Antonio Olivo for Washington Post
Tech and Social Media
“Without Naming Trump, Twitter Says It Won’t Block World Leaders” by Mike Isaac for New York Times
January 8, 2018 •
Monday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Lobbying Illinois: “Investigation Details Secretive Contacts with Lobbyist on $2 Billion Illinois Lottery Contract” by Joe Mahr and Matthew Walberg for Chicago Tribune Wisconsin: “State Ethics Commission Finalizing Audit of Possible Lobbying Violations” by Mark Sommerhauser for Wisconsin State Journal […]
Lobbying
Illinois: “Investigation Details Secretive Contacts with Lobbyist on $2 Billion Illinois Lottery Contract” by Joe Mahr and Matthew Walberg for Chicago Tribune
Wisconsin: “State Ethics Commission Finalizing Audit of Possible Lobbying Violations” by Mark Sommerhauser for Wisconsin State Journal
Ethics
“Obstruction Inquiry Shows Trump’s Struggle to Keep Grip on Russia Investigation” by Michael Schmidt (New York Times) for MSN
Kentucky: “Panel Appointed to Investigate Kentucky House Speaker” by Adam Beam (Associated Press) for Albany Times Union
Michigan: “Michigan Senator Says His Hands Are Clean in Towing Bribery Scandal” by Paul Egan and Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press
Missouri: “Missouri Lawmaker Not Punished Over Remark About Hanging” by Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) for Fort Worth Star-Telegram
New York: “Reform Groups Launch ‘Restore Public Trust’ Campaign” by Rachel Silberstein for Gotham Gazette
Elections
Connecticut: “Is It Possible to Balance Statewide Tickets in Age of Primaries?” by Mark Pazniokas for Conneticut Mirror
Legislative Issues
Iowa: “A Lobbyist Got Married in the Iowa House, and a Portrait of Donald Trump Was Removed Before the Ceremony” by Jason Noble for Des Moines Register
January 4, 2018 •
Thursday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Lobbying South Carolina: “Golf, Beaches and Power: How utilities wine and dine the public officials that set your rates” by Andrew Brown for Charleston Post and Courier Campaign Finance Maryland: “Democrats Slam Hogan Over RGA Donation from Poultry Company” […]
Lobbying
South Carolina: “Golf, Beaches and Power: How utilities wine and dine the public officials that set your rates” by Andrew Brown for Charleston Post and Courier
Campaign Finance
Maryland: “Democrats Slam Hogan Over RGA Donation from Poultry Company” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post
Massachusetts: “Pro-Charter School Group Fined for Hiding 2016 Campaign Donors including Mitt Romney’s Campaign” by Shira Schoenberg for MassLive
Virginia: “Several New Delegates Form Caucus to Reduce Corporate Money in Virginia Politics” by Patrick Wilson for Richmond Times-Dispatch
Ethics
“Partisans, Wielding Money, Begin Seeking to Exploit Harassment Claims” by Kenneth Vogel for New York Times
“Paul Manafort Sues Mueller and Asks a Judge to Narrow the Russia Investigation” by Matt Apuzzo for New York Times
“How the Federal Government Hides Sexual Harassment Payouts” by Andrew Restuccia, Emily Goldberg, and Rebecca Morin for Politico
Illinois: “CPS Employees Stole Gift Cards Meant for Students, Watchdog Says” by Juan Perez Jr. for Chicago Tribune
Michigan: “Ex-Detroit Police Official Waffles, Pleads Guilty” by Robert Snell for Detroit News
Missouri: “Missouri Democrats Place Target on Greitens Through Pre-Filed Legislation” by Rudi Keller for Columbia Daily Tribune
New York: “Corruption Trials Loom over Albany as New Year Begins” by Joe Mahoney for Oneonta Daily Star
Legislative Issues
Kentucky: “House Speaker Who Resigned Over Harassment Claim Reconsiders” by Adam Beam (Associated Press) for Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
January 3, 2018 •
Wednesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Lobbying “Roger Stone Retroactively Registers Lobbying Contract” by Megan Wilson for The Hill California: “L.A. Could Exempt Many Nonprofits from Revealing Lobbying” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times Missouri: “Ethics Complaint Against Big Missouri Campaign Donor is Dismissed” […]
Lobbying
“Roger Stone Retroactively Registers Lobbying Contract” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
California: “L.A. Could Exempt Many Nonprofits from Revealing Lobbying” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times
Missouri: “Ethics Complaint Against Big Missouri Campaign Donor is Dismissed” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star
New York: “Howe Emailed Cuomo Officials on Private Accounts” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
Campaign Finance
“The Modern Campaign-Finance Loophole: Governors Associations” by Susan Pulliam and Brody Mullins (Wall Street Journal) for MSN
Washington: “With Veto of City Council Ordinance, Condon Says Campaign Finance Better Left to the State” by Chad Sokol for Spokane Spokesman-Review
Ethics
Michigan: “FBI Wiretaps Reveal How Towing Titan Fiore Built His Empire” by Tresa Baldas and Keith Matheny for Detroit Free Press
South Dakota: “Ethics Measure Approved to Be on South Dakota’s 2018 Ballot” by James Nord (Associated Press) for PBS
Elections
“‘If We Don’t Run, Then We Won’t Achieve.’ Why a Record Number of Women Are Eyeing a Run for Governor.” by Karen Tumulty for Washington Post
“‘Fake News’: Wide reach but little impact, study suggests” by Benedict Carey for New York Times
“How the Russia Inquiry Began: A campaign aide, drinks and talk of political dirt” by Sharon LaFraniere, Mark Mazzetti, and Mat Apuzzo for New York Times
“Orin Hatch, Utah Senator, to Retire, Opening Path for Mitt Romney” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times
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