Jim Sedor, Author at State and Federal Communications

November 1, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Lobbying “Grassley Introduces Bill to Toughen Foreign Lobbying Oversight after Manafort Indictment” by Kyle Cheney for Politico “Under Mueller Scrutiny, Democratic Donor Tony Podesta Resigns from Lobbying Firm” by Kenneth Vogel for New York Times Campaign Finance “Scofflaw Political Groups […]

October 31, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Ethics Trump Campaign Adviser Admitted to Lying about Russian Contacts by Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post Manafort Indicted on 12 Counts, Surrenders to FBI by Katie Bo Williams for The Hill How Congress Plays by Different Rules on Sexual Harassment and Misconduct by Michelle […]

October 30, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Ethics Justice Department Agrees to Settle Lawsuits Over IRS Scrutiny of Tea Party Groups by Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post California: Sexual Harassment Complaints Topic of California Assembly Public Hearings by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee Florida: City Commissioners Nix Key Wording in Ethics Ordinance by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee […]

October 27, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – October 27, 2017

National: Black Executives Join Forces, Forming a PAC to Back Them Up New York Times – Kate Kelly | Published: 10/24/2017 Dozens of black executives and their spouses joined U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, as well as Eric […]

National:

Black Executives Join Forces, Forming a PAC to Back Them Up
New York Times – Kate Kelly | Published: 10/24/2017

Dozens of black executives and their spouses joined U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, as well as Eric Holder Jr., the former attorney general, for a private dinner in July in Bridgehampton, New York. Many attendees had long been part of an informal group of friends and associates who raised money for philanthropies or policy issues on an ad hoc basis. At the dinner, they decided it was time to use their wealth and stature in a more formal way. By early 2018, the group hopes to start a political action committee, creating a new fundraising model for corporate executives of color. The group would support candidates of any political party who fit the PAC’s agenda.

Russia’s Favored Outlet Is an Online News Giant. YouTube Helped.
New York Times – Daisuke Wakabayashi and Nicholas Confessore | Published: 10/23/2017

As investigators examine the scope and reach of Russian interference in American politics, the once-cozy relationship between RT and YouTube is drawing closer scrutiny. YouTube played a crucial role in helping build and expand RT, an organization the U.S. intelligence community has described as the Kremlin’s “principal international propaganda outlet” and a key player in Russia’s information warfare operations around the world. While Kremlin-aligned agents secretly built fake Facebook groups to foment political division and deployed hordes of Twitter bots to stoke criticism of Hillary Clinton, RT worked out in the open, bolstered by one of the largest online audiences of any news organization in the world and a prominent presence on YouTube’s search results.

Study: Despite changing demographics, the political playing field still tilts toward white men
Washington Post – Vanessa Williams | Published: 10/24/2017

Women are running for office in larger numbers in the run-up to the 2018 midterm elections, but most of them face formidable odds because of long-standing practices and attitudes that are more favorable to men. The Reflective Democracy Campaign study finds that despite the growing diversity within the U.S. population, 90 percent of elected officials, from the local to the national level, are white, and most are male. Even in some jurisdictions in which the majority of the residents are people of color, the elected leadership is dominated by whites. The report’s authors point to gatekeepers such as political parties and outside groups that provide financial and logistical support to candidates as more often working to maintain the status quo than helping to elect candidates more reflective of their communities.

Federal:

As G.O.P. Bends Toward Trump, Critics Either Give in or Give Up
New York Times – Jonathan Martin and Jeremy Peters | Published: 10/25/2017

Some observers see an existential threat to traditional Republicans as the Grand Old Party risks a longer-term transformation into the Party of Trump. President Trump’s brand of hard-edge nationalism is taking root within his adopted party, and those uneasy with grievance politics are either giving in or giving up the fight. Many of those who remain will have to accommodate the president to survive primaries from the pro-Trump right. The party establishment, Trump backers say, wants to govern as if the election never happened. “They still think the election was about Trump’s personality. It wasn’t. It was his ideas,” said Laura Ingraham, a pro-Trump talk show host.

Mueller Now Investigating Democratic Lobbyist Tony Podesta
NBC News – Tom Winter and Julia Ainsley | Published: 10/23/2017

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating lobbyist Tony Podesta and the Podesta Group. Mueller, who is leading the investigation into Russia’s attempts to meddle in the U.S. election, is reportedly probing the firm to determine whether it violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in its work for the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine (ECMU). The non-profit ECMU was part of a public relations campaign run by former President Trump’s campaign chairperson, Paul Manafort, to support Ukraine’s reputation. Sources said the investigation into Podesta and his company began as more of a fact-finding mission about the ECMU and Manafort’s role in the campaign, but has now morphed into a criminal inquiry.

From the States and Municipalities:

Colorado: Cub Scout Is Exiled After Pressing Legislator on Guns and Race
New York Times – Christine Hauser | Published: 10/22/2017

A Cub Scout was forced out of his den after he strongly questioned a state lawmaker about her stance on gun control. Ames Mayfield, 11, was asked to leave the den, the groups Cub Scouts are organized in, after he pushed Colorado Sen. Vicki Marble about her stance on gun legislation and past comments she made about health issues among black people. Soon after the event, Marble met with the leader of the Cub Scout pack that includes Mayfield’s den. Afterward, the leader told Mayfield’s mother that he was upset over the questions on guns and Mayfield would have to leave that den.

Florida: City Manager Asked Lobbyist for Football Tickets
Tallahassee Democrat – Jeff Burlew | Published: 10/24/2017

Tallahassee City Manager Rick Fernandez asked a local lobbyist for four tickets to a Florida State University football game last year. The text exchange was delivered to the state ethics commission, which is investigating a complaint involving Fernandez. Florida’s ethics laws prohibit public officials from knowingly accepting, a gift from someone who lobbies the public official’s agency if he or she reasonably believes that the gift has a value over $100. The box seat football tickets, which had an estimated total value of about $2,000, were not included in Fernandez’s public gift disclosures. There is no indication in the texts that the city manager paid for the tickets.

Missouri: New Limits to Campaign Financing Confuse Missouri’s Political Candidates
St. Louis Public Radio – Jo Mannies | Published: 10/24/2017

Missouri candidates are grappling with the new restrictions to campaign donations mandated by Amendment 2. Voters approved the constitutional amendment in 2016, putting an end to the Missouri’s status as one of only a handful of states without donation limits. But flaws in the new system are prompting the General Assembly and political activists to seek more changes. The Missouri Ethics Commission, charged with enforcing the new law, has had its hands full. The panel has issued at least 15 different opinions addressing various provisions of Amendment 2. It is also in the middle of several lawsuits.

Montana: Donors Once Again Much More Limited in Contributions to Montana Candidates
Helena Independent Record – Amy Beth Hanson (Associated Press) | Published: 10/23/2017

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated Montana’s previous limits on the amount of money candidates can receive. In May 2016, a federal judge declared that Montana’s contribution limits were unconstitutional and voided those caps. That kicked the state back to amounts set before a 1994 initiative where voters lowered how much candidates could collect. The Ninth Circuit’s actions bring Montana back to the voter-approved limits. A summary of the court’s opinion said the panel found the limits “both justified by and adequately tailored to the state’s interest in combating quid pro quo corruption or its appearance.”

New York: Former Top Assembly Ethics Official: Position a ‘waste of money’
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 10/22/2017

In the wake of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s indictment on fraud and extortion charges, his successor embarked on what seemed like a major reform. Speaker Carl Heastie was praised for conducting a nationwide search for the leader of the newly created Assembly Office of Ethics and Compliance. In September 2015, Heastie announced that Jane Feldman, a respected former top ethics official in Colorado, would lead the office. But only a few months after taking the position, Feldman began to doubt that Heastie was serious about reform. Looking back, Feldman regards her hiring in large part as a public relations move by the legislative chamber’s leadership.

New York: Reform Group Criticizes JCOPE’s Online Lobbying Filing System
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 10/24/2017

Reinvent Albany released a report calling the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics’ (JCOPE) online lobbying filing system “antiquated and outdated.” The group says certain filings raise questions about whether information is accurately and completely reported. Former top state lobbying official David Grandeau, now a private attorney, also submitted comments on JCOPE’s proposed comprehensive lobbying regulations alleging that a number go beyond what is allowed in state law.

Pennsylvania: Irate Judge Gives Ex-Philly DA Seth Williams 5-Year Sentence in Bribery, Corruption Case
Philadelphia Inquirer – Jeremy Roebuck | Published: 10/24/2017

Former Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, a career prosecutor who chased down municipal corruption but whose tenure was mired in a corruption scandal, was sentenced to five years in prison for accepting a bribe. “Your profound dishonesty has to be deterred,” U.S. District Court Judge Paul Diamond said before ordering that Williams be imprisoned immediately. An investigation into Williams’ financial affairs resulted in a wide-ranging indictment in which he was charged with accepting cash and gifts, fraudulently using thousands of dollars from his campaign fund for personal expenses, misusing city vehicles, and misappropriating money intended to fund his mother’s nursing home care.

South Carolina: Quinn’s State House ‘Tentacles’ Included Paying Lawmakers $1.3 Million, Judge Told
The State – John Monk | Published: 10/24/2017

For the first time, Solicitor David Pascoe laid out details of a much-rumored behind-the-scenes payoff scheme to buy influence at the South Carolina Legislature. Richard Quinn literally put lawmakers on the payroll of his consulting firm, working with now-former state Reps. Tracy Edge and Jim Harrison to peddle influence on certain legislation that would benefit his private industry clients. “[Quinn] used legislators, groomed legislators, and inspired legislators and others to violate multiple provisions of the state ethics act so they could all make money,” Pascoe told a judge.

Texas: Lawmakers Accept $1.5 Million While Passing Governor’s Agenda
Texas Monitor – Andrew McLemore | Published: 10/19/2017

During this summer’s special session of the Texas Legislature, the state’s top elected officials collected more than $1.5 million in campaign contributions. The lion’s share of those dollars went to Gov. Greg Abbott, who accepted nearly $900,000 during the two-month special session. State law prohibits campaign contributions during regular sessions but say nothing about accepting money during the special session. Some legislators see a conflict-of-interest in this practice and abstain. Most do not. Of the 183 officials involved in the legislative process, 103 reported campaign contributions during the special session.

Virginia: Ed Gillespie’s Lobbying Career Included Work for Firms with Vast Interests in Virginia
Washington Post – Beth Reinhardt | Published: 10/19/2017

If he is elected governor of Virginia, Ed Gillespie would face decisions in which the public’s interests may conflict with the interests of companies that have paid his firms millions of dollars collectively for lobbying and consulting services, and that could hire him again. Gillespie closed his consulting firm, Ed Gillespie Strategies, shortly before launching his campaign in January. The Republican nominee has no current financial interests in the companies, such as stock holdings, and he and his wife would put their personal investments in a blind trust if elected.

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

October 26, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Lobbying Florida: “City Manager Asked Lobbyist for Football Tickets” by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat New York: “Reform Group Criticizes JCOPE’s Online Lobbying Filing System” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union Campaign Finance Arizona: “Tempe Considers Ballot Measure to […]

October 25, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Lobbying Washington: “Seattle Mayoral Aide Sees Conflict of Interest in Lobbying by Political Consultants” by Jim Brunner for Seattle Times Campaign Finance “Black Executives Join Forces, Forming a PAC to Back Them Up” by Kate Kelly for New York Times […]

October 24, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Lobbying “Mueller Now Investigating Democratic Lobbyist Tony Podesta” by Tom Winter and Julia Ainsley for NBC News Campaign Finance “Democrats Ban Some Corporate Donations While Approving Controversial New Member List” by David Weigel for Washington Post California: “Feds Toss Jury […]

October 23, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Lobbying “RT Bucks DOJ Request to Register as a Foreign Agent” by Hadas Gold for CNN Money Virginia: “Ed Gillespie’s Lobbying Career Included Work for Firms with Vast Interests in Virginia” by Beth Reinhardt for Washington Post Campaign Finance “Lawmakers […]

October 20, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – October 20, 2017

National: Wary of Hackers, States Move to Upgrade Voting Systems New York Times – Michael Wines | Published: 10/14/2017 State election officials, worried about the integrity of their voting systems, are pressing to make them more secure ahead of next […]

National:

Wary of Hackers, States Move to Upgrade Voting Systems
New York Times – Michael Wines | Published: 10/14/2017

State election officials, worried about the integrity of their voting systems, are pressing to make them more secure ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Reacting in large part to Russian efforts to hack the presidential election last year, a growing number of states are upgrading electoral databases and voting machines, and even adding cybersecurity experts to their election teams. The efforts amount to the largest overhaul of the nation’s voting infrastructure since the contested presidential election in 2000 spelled an end to punch-card ballots and voting machines with mechanical levers.

Federal:

Republican Lawmakers’ Posh Hideaway Bankrolled by Secret Corporate Cash
Center for Public Integrity – Carrie Levine | Published: 10/18/2017

Behind the scenes at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, several major corporations and trade groups secretly bankrolled a plush hideaway for lawmakers. The companies funded Friends of the House 2016 LLC, which in turn paid for the design and outfitting of an exclusive office, lounge, and gathering space for legislators, and controlled access to the so-called cloakroom. That effectively hid the corporations’ donations from public view. National political conventions are legendary opportunities for access to lawmakers, despite ethics reforms passed in the wake of influence peddling scandals. Complex rules govern even the details of events, such as food menus, but often turn on technical points, forcing lawyers to double-check legal advice every four years.

From the States and Municipalities:

California: Female Lawmakers, Staffers and Lobbyists Speak Out on ‘Pervasive’ Harassment in California’s Capitol
Los Angeles Times – Melanie Mason | Published: 10/17/2017

More than 140 women – including state legislators, staff, political consultants, and lobbyists – are signing a letter calling out the “pervasive” culture of sexual harassment and mistreatment that plagues California politics. Their goal is to prompt changes in how harassment is handled and to force some soul-searching among those at the Capitol. Sexism is not exclusive to politics, but it can be particularly potent, many of the letter’s participants said, because of an imbalanced dynamic in which lawmakers and top lobbyists – predominantly men – hold much of the decision-making power.

Idaho: Idaho Lawmakers Reject Removal of Campaign Donation Limits; Call for More Reporting, Disclosure
Spokane Spokesman-Review – Betsy Russell | Published: 10/18/2017

A bipartisan working group of Idaho lawmakers rejected a proposal to eliminate all the state’s limits on campaign contributions, and instead endorsed changes to require more frequent and more detailed disclosures, including adding new reporting in local races and requiring information about who is behind shadowy outside groups that run independent expenditure campaigns. The panel also received a draft bill to give Idaho its first-ever financial disclosure requirements for officeholders and candidates; Idaho is one of just two states with no such requirements.

Kansas: Olathe GOP Lawmaker Takes on Additional Job: Senior government strategist with Cerner
Kansas City Star – Hunter Woodall | Published: 10/18/2017

Kansas Rep. Erin Davis has taken a job with the Cerner Corp. as a senior government strategist while still holding elected office. She said she did not see her Cerner job as a conflict-of-interest. “My territory is [the] Northwest United States. … Kansas is not part of my territory,” Davis said. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment currently has a contract with Cerner that runs through the end of 2019 to administer the state employee health plan wellness program.

Louisiana: As Quatrevaux Leaves New Orleans IG’s Office, Turmoil and Infighting Abound: ‘It’s vindictive’
New Orleans Advocate – Jessica Williams | Published: 10/17/2017

New Orleans; inspector general for the past eight years, Ed Quatrevaux, is retiring under duress after the board that oversees his work announced a national search for a replacement and after a report written by Howard Schwartz, a top deputy, alleged mismanagement and even corruption within the office. A second top deputy who was targeted in the report, Nadiene Van Dyke, is also expected to retire. On his way out, Quatrevaux fired Schwartz, accusing him of bias and a conflict-of-interest, essentially saying Schwartz had written the report to line up the top job for himself. Given the bitterness of the infighting, there is a range of opinions about how to restore the luster to an office whose efficacy largely depends on its reputation for integrity.

Maine: Lawmakers Call York County Casino Campaign a ‘Case Study’ in Abuse of Initiative Process
Portland Press Herald – Scott Thistle | Published: 10/18/2017

The ballot question that asks Maine voters to allow a developer to build a casino in the state is the “poster child” for a citizen’s referendum process run amok, members of the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee said. Sen. Roger Katz said the casino campaign violates the intent of the referendum process, a part of the Maine Constitution meant to give citizens a way to enact laws through a statewide vote if their elected representatives fail to respond to public concerns. He said the committee would explore ideas at its next meeting for reforming the initiative process.

Maryland: Ex-Liquor Board Director Admits Tipping Off Those in Bribery Scheme to FBI Probe
Washington Post – Lynh Bui | Published: 10/18/2017

A former Prince George’s County liquor board official pleaded guilty to conspiracy, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors say David Dae Sok Son acted as a middle man between liquor store owners and elected officials to influence state legislation related to Sunday liquor sales. When the FBI questioned Son in December, he then tried to tip off people being investigated about the probe, prosecutors said. Son also told a restaurant manager in Beltsville who had agreed to pay a $50,000 bribe for a liquor license that the authorities were investigating the manager. That manager subsequently left the country.

Massachusetts: Massachusetts’ Top Court to Rule on Union Campaign Donation Loophole
New Boston Post – Evan Lips | Published: 10/12/2017

A conservative fiscal watchdog that has spent the last several years trying to overturn Massachusetts’ ban on campaign donations from business owners announced its case will be decided by the state’s top court. The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance began challenging the state’s union donation loophole in court in 2015. State campaign finance law allows labor groups, even those based out of state, to flood Massachusetts political campaigns with donations of up to $15,000. In-state businesses, however, are barred from paying anything to prop up candidates. Donations from individuals, meanwhile, are capped at $1,000.

New Jersey: N.J. Elections: Political fundraising laws must be updated, watchdog commission says
Bergen Record – Catherine Carrera | Published: 10/18/2017

In what the state Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) says is an indication that campaign donors are sidestepping New Jersey’s “pay-to-play” laws, fundraising by party-based committees is down for the 2017 election cycle when compared with 2013, the last time the governor’s seat and full Legislature were up for grabs. That has led to calls from the ELEC to update the laws regarding political donations, particularly those that apply to special-interest groups that are loosely affiliated with a party. Those PACs are not subject to current laws that require full disclosure.

New York: Vance Controversy Spotlights Lax Campaign Finance Rules for District Attorneys
Gotham Gazette – Rachel Silberstein | Published: 10/16/2017

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. was recently dragged into an unflattering spotlight over his decision not to prosecute disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein for a forcible touching incident in 2015 and for dropping a fraud investigation into members of the Trump family, while apparently receiving campaign contributions from lawyers associated with both parties. While it is not illegal, or uncommon, for district attorneys to accept contributions from lawyers in any type of practice, the details of the two cases, including the relevant campaign donations, are drawing newfound scrutiny to New York’s loose campaign finance rules for prosecutors and invite a new strain of questions about whether legal immunity can be bought by the rich and powerful.

Ohio: All State Senators Will Undergo Sexual Harassment Training, Senate President Says
Cleveland Plain Dealer – Laura Hancock | Published: 10/18/2017

Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof said all senators will be required undergo sexual harassment training in the wake of Sen. Cliff Hite’s resignation for inappropriate behavior toward a woman. Hite said he talked to a female state employee in a way that was inappropriate for a married man and asked her for hugs. He said there was no physical contact beyond that. Obhof also said he does not think the Senate has a widespread problem with sexual harassment. He said the training, for both Republicans and Democrats and their staffs in the Senate, is intended to eliminate any ambiguity over what is and is not appropriate.

Pennsylvania: Philly PAC Hit with Record Fine for Failing to Report $160,000 in Campaign Spending
WHYY – Dana DiFilippo | Published: 10/16/2017

A PAC faces a $60,000 fine for failing to file required campaign finance reports for money it spent to sway voters in Philadelphia’s May 2015 primary. Three city council members paid thousands of dollars to Citizens Organizing for Pennsylvania’s Security to help influence voters. So did developer Ori Feibush, who sent the PAC more than $65,000 during his failed bid to for the council. Those payments were legal and the campaigns filed the necessary reports. But how the PAC spent the money has remained a mystery, since it did not file campaign finance reports, as city law requires.

South Carolina: Criminal Conspiracy Charges Lodged against Richard Quinn, 4 Others in S.C. Statehouse Corruption Case
Charleston Post and Courier – Glenn Smith and Andy Shain | Published: 10/18/2017

Political consultant Richard Quinn, along with former state Reps. Jim Harrison and Tracy Edge, were indicted in a corruption scheme that has now ensnared half a dozen South Carolina lawmakers. In addition, Rep. Rick Quinn, the elder Quinn’s son, was charged with criminal conspiracy. Sen. John Courson was charged with statutory misconduct in office. Both Rep. Quinn and Courson already faced other misconduct charges. Richard Quinn has been a clear target of the probe for months but the consultant had largely remained on the sidelines as others around him were indicted. The newest developments bring him front and center in the criminal case while looping in present and former lawmakers with ties to a firm with tentacles throughout state government.

Tennessee: Michael Flynn, Nicki Minaj Shared Content from This Tennessee GOP Account. But It Wasn’t Real. It Was Russian.
Washington Post – Craig Timberg, Elizabeth Dwoskin, and Adam Entous | Published: 10/18/2017

Russian internet trolls ran a popular Twitter account that claimed to belong to the Tennessee Republican Party. Twitter took nearly a year to shut down the account, @TEN_GOP, despite repeated notifications from the state’s real Republican Party pointing out the account was fake. The account had a knack for pushing incendiary content across the social media platform. The list of prominent people who tweeted out links from the account includes political figures such as Michael Flynn and Roger Stone, celebrities like Nicki Minaj and James Woods, and media personalities such as Ann Coulter and Chris Hayes. There is no evidence any of them knew the account was run by Russians.

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

October 19, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Campaign Finance “Republican Lawmakers’ Posh Hideaway Bankrolled by Secret Corporate Cash” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity “US Judge Hears Fight over New Mexico Campaign Contributions” by Susan Montoya Bryan (Associated Press) for St. Louis Post-Dispatch Ethics California: […]

October 18, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Campaign Finance “Google, Facebook Putting an Early Mark on Political Advertising Bills” by Steven Overly and Ashley Gold for Politico Arizona: “Tom Horne Not Fined After Probe Finds He Used AG’s Office for Campaign” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez for Arizona […]

October 17, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Lobbying California: “California Legislators Who Resign Face a Longer Wait Before They Can Lobby” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times Campaign Finance California: “San Francisco Looks to Restrict Fundraising Practice Favored by Los Angeles Mayor” by Aaron Mendelson for […]

October 13, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – October 13, 2017

National: How Russia Harvested American Rage to Reshape U.S. Politics New York Times – Nicholas Confessore and Daisuke Wakabayashi | Published: 10/9/2017 A New York Times examination of hundreds of Facebook posts shows one of the most powerful weapons that Russian agents […]

National:

How Russia Harvested American Rage to Reshape U.S. Politics
New York Times – Nicholas Confessore and Daisuke Wakabayashi | Published: 10/9/2017

A New York Times examination of hundreds of Facebook posts shows one of the most powerful weapons that Russian agents used to reshape American politics was the anger, passion, and misinformation that real Americans were broadcasting across social media platforms. Some posts on the Russian pages used stilted language or phrases rarely found in American English. Yet their use of borrowed ideas and arguments from Americans, which were already resonating among conservatives and liberals, demonstrated a deft understanding of the political terrain.

Why Some Campaign Contributions Get Returned
Center for Responsive Politics – Andrew Mayersohn | Published: 10/10/2017

Refunds of campaign contributions are not rare, and most are not particularly scandalous. Losing campaigns often give back their leftover funds, although they are not legally obligated to. The issue came to the fore recently when Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. returned a $32,000 contribution from Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Marc Kasowitz, who made the donation after Vance decided not to pursue a fraud investigation against Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. At least a dozen Democrats have refunded or donated to charity contributions from media mogul Harvey Weinstein following reports alleging decades of sexual harassment.

Federal:

Trump Supporters Eager to ‘Drain the Swamp’ Help Fill Republican Party Coffers
Washington Post – Matea Gold | Published: 10/6/2017

Prodded by emails from President Trump urging them to fight “a weak and self-serving political class,” and angered by the sense the president is being treated unfairly, thousands of his loyal backers are helping redefine a party that has long cultivated rich donors, one small contribution at a time. In giving to support Trump, his backers are pouring tens of millions of dollars into the coffers of the Republican National Committee (RNC), which has raised more from small-dollar contributions at this point in the election cycle than the national party has collected in more than a decade. The low-dollar donations are helping fuel a massive fundraising advantage for the RNC, which has pulled in nearly twice as much as its Democratic counterpart this year.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama: Undisclosed Deal Guaranteed Roy Moore $180,000 a Year for Part-Time Work at Charity
Washington Post – Shawn Boburg and Robert O’Harrow Jr. | Published: 10/11/2017

Former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, arranged to receive a salary of $180,000 a year for part-time work at the Foundation for Moral Law. A review of documents found errors and gaps in the group’s federal tax filings obscured until now the compensation paid to Moore. The charity helped Moore thrive, financially and otherwise, after his ouster from the court in 2003 for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument from a courthouse. Charity and tax law specialists said the nonprofit’s activities raised questions about compliance with IRS rules, including prohibitions on the use of a charity for the private benefit or enrichment of an individual.

California: Big Oil Pulls Democratic Lawmakers Through the Revolving Door
CALmatters – Lauren Rosenhall | Published: 10/9/2017

Sacramento is full of termed-out or retired lawmakers who make second careers as lobbyists, strolling through a “revolving door” between government and the private sector. After failing last year to prevent a new law requiring massive cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, the oil industry came back this year lobbying hard. The industry’s goal was to shape the next phase of cap and trade through 2030. And it had hired four former lawmakers to advocate on its behalf. Two are from Kern County, the biggest oil producer in California. And three quit their elective office mid-term to work for industry.

California: Who’s Behind That Political Ad? Voters Will Know More in 2018
Sacramento Bee – Taryn Luna | Published: 10/7/2017

An effort to give Californians more information about the biggest donors to ballot measure campaigns was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, a major victory for groups that insist the current system fails to help voters make an informed choice. The law will simplify the wording on political advertisements that discloses the top three donors of $50,000 or more to a campaign. It also changes existing state regulations on when and how to disclose “earmarked” donations in campaign finance reports, donations that are bundled together by a group such as a labor union or other membership organization.

Colorado: A New Colorado School Board Campaign Finance Law Is Having Unintended Impacts on Big-Ticket 2018 Races
Denver Post – Jesse Paul | Published: 10/10/2017

A new campaign finance law for Colorado school board races is causing headaches for candidates in the state’s top-line elections in 2018, from governor to attorney general and beyond, by requiring them to effectively file daily contribution reports more than eight months before their primary contests. State lawmakers last year passed legislation meant to make public last-minute contributions flowing into Colorado’s off-year school board races by requiring candidates to disclose contributions of $1,000 or more within 24 hours starting a month from the election. But House Bill 1282 accidentally applied the requirements to statewide races.

Florida: An Exodus from Puerto Rico Could Remake Florida Politics
New York Times – Michael Tackett | Published: 10/6/2017

Every day, Puerto Ricans flee their homes and lives ravaged by Hurricane Maria and come to Florida. That could remake politics in the state, where the last two presidential and governor’s races were decided by roughly one percentage point or less. There are more than a million Puerto Ricans in Florida, a number that has doubled since 2001, driven largely until now by a faltering economy. But their political powers have evolved slowly in this state, and the wave of potential voters from the island could quickly change that calculus. If the estimates hold, the Puerto Rican vote, which has been strongly Democratic, could have rough parity with the Cuban vote in the state, for years a bulwark for Republicans in both state and national races.

Florida: Governance Was Focus of 2010 Miami-Dade Ethics Probe
Tallahassee Democrat – Jeff Burlew | Published: 10/7/2017

An ethics probe in South Florida involving Tallahassee Commissioner Scott Maddox and his close friend Paige Carter-Smith found insufficient evidence of wrongdoing but unveiled plenty of political drama and some of the inner workings of their government consulting work. Among other things, the investigation, conducted in 2010, revealed that Maddox’s official residence was used for some time as a crash pad for visiting politicians, who called it “Governance House.” It also showed blurry lines between Carter-Smith’s Governance Services firm and Governance, Inc., the firm Maddox sold to her in 2010 in a handwritten note.

Florida: St. Petersburg Council Acts to Limit Big Money in City Elections
Tampa Bay Times – Charlie Frago | Published: 10/5/2017

The St. Petersburg City Council voted to become a pioneer in local campaign finance reform and likely invited a legal challenge that could end up in the U.S. Supreme Court. Council members passed an ordinance that limits contributions to PACs from individuals to $5,000, and bans donations from companies that are more than five percent foreign owned. Violators would be fined $500. City Attorney Joe Patner has warned the council that if they passed the proposal, they would face immediate court action. The ordinance takes effect in January 2018.

Georgia: Atlanta Contractors Get Prison Time in Contract Bribery Case
Bryan-College Station Eagle – Kate Brumback (Associated Press) | Published: 10/10/2017

A federal judge gave prison sentences to two contractors for their role in a bribery scheme at Atlanta City Hall. E.R. Mitchell and Charles Richards both admitted to paying money to win city contracts. Mitchell gave more than $1 million in bribes and was sentenced to five years in prison. He will pay $1.12 million in restitution. Richards received a sentence of 27 months in prison and was ordered to pay $193,000 in restitution. The city’s former chief procurement officer, Adam Smith, pleaded guilty to conspiratorial bribery and is set to be sentenced in January. Prosecutors say Smith accepted bribes to give contracts to an unnamed vendor.

New Mexico: New Rule on Political Spending Takes Effect
Albuquerque Journal – Dan Boyd | Published: 10/10/2017

New disclosure rules for political spending took effect October 10 in New Mexico that require independent groups that spend heavily to influence the outcome of elections to name their contributors, under certain circumstances. The rules were designed by Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver to help voters understand which individuals and special interests are paying for political advertising outside of direct campaigning by candidates. The U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision allows donors to give as much as they would like as long as candidates are not controlling how the money gets spent.

Oklahoma: Speakers Criticize Plan to Put Restrictions on Lawmakers, State Employees Who Want to Go into Lobbying
Tulsa World – Barbara Hoberock | Published: 10/5/2017

A proposed rule that would prohibit state lawmakers and employees from serving as a lobbyist or consultant for two years after they leave any state post was criticized at a recent public hearing before the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. Rep. John Enns said the Capitol has lost institutional knowledge due to term limits. If restrctions are placed on lawmakers who become lobbyists, it could slow down the Legislature’s work due to a shortage of people with experience with the process, Enns said. Commission Executive Director Ashley Kemp said the measure’s language may be modified.

South Carolina: Who Wins When Power Companies Make Political Contributions? The Lawmakers Who Police Utilities
The State – Avery Wilks | Published: 10/7/2017

Power companies have contributed at least $294,000 since 2005 to the campaigns of a handful of South Carolina lawmakers who help choose the watchdogs that oversee those utilities. The volume of the donations flowing to members of the legislatively controlled Public Utilities Review Committee is another sign South Carolina’s regulatory system is broken, critics say, noting the $1.7 billion that one utility was allowed to charge its customers for a failed nuclear construction project in Fairfield County. One House member said he soon will file a proposal to block regulated utilities from donating to campaigns of state-level candidates, including the lawmakers who decide who polices those utilities.

Texas: Texas AG Ken Paxton Faces New Investigation Under Bribery Statute over $100K Gift
Dallas News – Lauren McGaughy | Published: 10/5/2017

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is under investigation for accepting $100,000 from the head of a company that was being investigated for fraud, and a decision on whether to pursue bribery-related charges is expected soon. The money, part of almost $548,000 Paxton has collected to help pay for his legal defense against felony charges that he defrauded investors in private business deals in 2011, came from James Webb, president of Preferred Imaging. Kaufman County District Attorney Erleigh Wiley said she has been investigating whether accepting Webb’s donation violated state bribery laws that limit gifts from people subject to the “jurisdiction” of a public servant.

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

October 12, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Lobbying Missouri: “Body Camera Company Vying for St. Louis Contract Hires Alderman, Former Board Counsel as Lobbyists” by Celeste Bott for St. Louis Post-Dispatch Campaign Finance “Why Some Campaign Contributions Get Returned” by Andrew Mayersohn for Center for Responsive Politics […]

Wednesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Tuesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Monday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

News You Can Use Digest – October 27, 2017

Thursday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Wednesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Tuesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Monday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

News You Can Use Digest – October 20, 2017

Thursday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Wednesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

Tuesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

News You Can Use Digest – October 13, 2017

Thursday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup

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