Jim Sedor, Author at State and Federal Communications

July 27, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s State Government and Ethics News

Lobbying Maryland: “Petroleum Industry Leads Maryland Lobbying Spenders – But Lost” by Michael Dresser for Baltimore Sun Campaign Finance Canada: “Ban on Big Money in Politics Could Be Delayed by Lobby Reform: BC NDP” by Mike Hager for Globe and […]

July 26, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s State Government and Ethics News

Lobbying New York: “De Blasio Ally Didn’t Register as Lobbyist Despite Big Push for a Donor” by William Neuman for New York Times Ethics “Manafort Agrees to Turn Over Notes That Could Provide New Details on Trump Tower Meeting with […]

July 25, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s State Government and Ethics News

Lobbying “Cash Surges to Lobby Firms in Trump Era” by Megan Wilson for The Hill Arizona: “Arizona Legislators Attend Conference with Help from Corporations That Lobby Them at Home” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez for Arizona Republic Campaign Finance Michigan: “GOP […]

July 24, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s State Government and Ethics News

Ethics “Trump Fills Top Job at Government Ethics Office with a Temporary Appointment” by Eric Lipton for New York Times “‘I Did Not Collude,’ Kushner Says in Prepared Remarks to Senators” by Matt Apuzzo and Maggie Haberman for New York […]

July 21, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – July 21, 2017

Federal: Citing Recusal, Trump Says He Wouldn’t Have Hired Sessions New York Times – Peter Baker, Michael Schmidt, and Maggie Haberman | Published: 7/19/2017 President Trump said the never would have appointed Attorney General Jeff Sessions had he known Sessions […]

Federal:

Citing Recusal, Trump Says He Wouldn’t Have Hired Sessions
New York Times – Peter Baker, Michael Schmidt, and Maggie Haberman | Published: 7/19/2017

President Trump said the never would have appointed Attorney General Jeff Sessions had he known Sessions would recuse himself from overseeing the Russia investigation that has dogged his presidency, calling the decision “very unfair to the president.” Trump complained that Sessions’ decision ultimately led to the appointment of a special counsel that should not have happened. In an interview with The New York Times, the president accused former FBI Director James Comey of trying to leverage a dossier of compromising material to keep his job. Trump also took on Robert Mueller, the special counsel now leading the investigation into Russian meddling in last year’s election.

Couple Wants to Make Lobbying Accessible and ‘Good’
Roll Call – Alex Gangitano | Published: 7/13/2017

Less than a year after their wedding, Billy and Callie DeLancey started Lobbyists 4 Good to give the public access to K Street lobbyists. The group uses a crowdfunding platform, which allows anyone to create advocacy campaigns around social issues they care about and start raising money. Anybody who creates a campaign and raises $31,000 within a year gets access to either a lobbyist or a lobbying firm on retainer for six months to work on the issue, or a partnership with other nonprofits in the field. “Long-term, we hope to see as many lobbyists working for the people as there are lobbyists working on behalf of the business community,” Billy DeLancey said.

FEC Contacts with IRS Broke No Rules, Report Says
Bloomberg BNA – Kenneth Doyle | Published: 7/19/2017

The FEC’s inspector general found that agency staffers contacted former IRS official Lois Lerner about tax-exempt groups involved in politics, but the contacts did not violate any rules and were not intended to target conservative groups. The conclusion contradicted suggestions by congressional Republicans and others that FEC and IRS staff deliberately targeted Tea Party and other conservative nonprofit groups. The controversy followed the release of a report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, which said certain political organizations, primarily conservative groups, received more scrutiny than others when applying for tax-exempt status.

Health Care Has G.O.P. Down. Tax Cuts May Be the Cure.
New York Times – Jeremy Peters | Published: 7/19/2017

With the collapse of the effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, the Republican vision of enacting significant conservative reform fell victim to the intraparty division, dysfunction, and gridlock that one-party control had been expected to eliminate. Now, some of the conservative groups that helped the GOP win control of Washington are increasingly worried their party’s inability to pass ambitious legislation will imperil its chances in next year’s elections. Republicans fear they could be looking at a worst-of-two-worlds scenario in which they have a historically unpopular president dogged by persistent legal and ethical questions, at the same time they remain unable to restore a semblance of functionality to Capitol Hill.

Outgoing Ethics Chief: U.S. Is ‘Close to a Laughingstock’
New York Times – Eric Lipton and Nicholas Fandos | Published: 7/17/2017

The outgoing leader of the federal government’s ethics office warns in a new interview of the ethics crisis created by President Trump, saying he thinks the country is “pretty close to a laughingstock.” Walter Shaub Jr. said the Trump administration had flouted or directly challenged long-accepted norms in a way that threatened to undermine the United States’ ethical standards, which have been admired around the world. Shaub called for nearly a dozen legal changes to strengthen the federal ethics system – changes that, in many cases, he had not considered necessary before Trump’s election.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama: Gov. Kay Ivey Bans Lobbyists from Executive Branch Appointments
AL.com – Mike Cason | Published: 7/13/2017

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey banned officials in the executive branch from appointing registered lobbyists to serve on state boards and commissions. In an executive order, Ivey said more than 100 registered lobbyists now serve on boards or commissions. The order says lobbyists represent the interests of their clients and employers, rather than the public. Ivey said that creates conflicts-of-interest and undermines the public’s confidence in the government.

California: What Happens to Local News When There Is No Local Media to Cover It?
Washington Post – Paul Farhi | Published: 7/17/2017

In many respects, East Palo Alto, California, is a “news desert,” a community overlooked, if not entirely ignored, by the media. It is one of thousands of towns across America in which community reporting is shrinking and sometimes disappearing. The biggest factor, according to study of the phenomenon, are cutbacks, consolidation, and closures of daily and weekly newspapers, the traditional lifeblood of local reporting in the U.S. The pressures on local news outlets have been building for years, driven by the recession and the disruption caused by the shift to digital media.

Colorado: What Does $80 Million Buy Oil and Gas Interests? Voter Profiles, Door Knocking and Influence at Local and Statewide Levels
Denver Post – Christopher Osher | Published: 7/16/2017

The oil and gas industry has spent more than $80 million in Colorado over the past four years to shape public opinion and influence campaigns and ballot initiatives. That political muscle came into play recently when the industry successfully lobbied to defeat legislation tightening regulations in the wake of a fatal home explosion investigators have blamed on a severed gas pipeline. The new approach has been broad, sustained, and effective in its reach, according to interviews and a review of industry documents, campaign finance records, and public remarks by an industry consultant who helped develop the strategy.

Florida: Corey’s Ties to Others in FBI Probe Run Deep
Tallahassee Democrat – Jeffrey Schweers | Published: 7/14/2017

Lobbyist and restaurateur Adam Corey has built a business and political portfolio that has seen its share of success and failure, even as it has drawn him deep into the circle of Tallahassee’s new generation of power elite. Those twin rails of ambition have also drawn Corey into the midst of an FBI probe of the city’s redevelopment agency and several other high-profile entrepreneurs it has done business with in the last five years. Front and center are Corey and former lobbying partner at Unconventional Strategies, Nick Lowe, who arranged meetings between city and county officials and three mysterious developers whom sources say are FBI undercover agents.

Illinois: Emanuel Email Case Nets Five More Lobbying Violations
Better Government Association – Jared Rutecki | Published: 7/19/2017

The Chicago Board of Ethics found that five more people who sought to influence City Hall by contacting Mayor Rahm Emanuel on his personal email broke the city’s lobbying laws. The board also leveled fines of $2,500 against an Emanuel campaign donor and the husband of a city council member that it had found illegally lobbied the mayor without being registered lobbyists. In addition, the board released a list of more than two-dozen lobbyists it said had failed to undergo required lobbyist training and could be subject to fines of up to $750 for every day they are in non-compliance.

New York: Airbnb Fights Back Against Lobby Groups, Demands Info on Their Funding Sources
New York Daily News – Kenneth Lovett | Published: 7/17/2017

The battle between Airbnb and its hotel industry-backed nemesis ShareBetter is intensifying. The hotel listing site plans to file a complaint with the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics alleging the advocacy group failed to register as a lobbyist. The move comes after it was reported that ShareBetter pays for spies who pose as Airbnb customers to expose illegal listings. Airbnb claims that the group failed to register as a lobbyist and disclose its funding and expenses, even though it is legally required to do so.

South Dakota: Revolving Door Rarely Swings for Lawmakers Returning as Lobbyists
Sioux Falls Argus Leader – Dana Ferguson | Published: 7/17/2017

A review identified 14 former South Dakota legislators who made the jump to lobbyist since 2012 after serving in office between 2006 and 2017. Only four registered less than two years after vacating their legislative seats. Under a state law that took effect recently, the required waiting period was extended from one year to two. Supporters said the added buffer time was needed to prevent undue influence of lawmakers returning to lobby their peers. Meanwhile, lawmakers who transitioned to lobbyists more quickly said 12 months is enough of a time cushion.

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.

July 20, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s State Government and Ethics News

Lobbying “Couple Wants to Make Lobbying Accessible and ‘Good’” by Alex Gangitano for Roll Call Florida: “Lobbyist Give $2,000 to Miami Politician After He Appointed Him to Powerful Board” by Jerry Iannelli for Miami New Times Illinois: “Emanuel Email Case […]

July 19, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s State Government and Ethics News

Lobbying South Dakota: “Revolving Door Rarely Swings for Lawmakers Returning as Lobbyists” by Dana Ferguson for Sioux Falls Argus Leader Campaign Finance Florida: “Federal Election Commission Sues David Rivera Over Secret 2012 Campaign Cash” by Patricia Mazzei and David Smiley […]

July 18, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s State Government and Ethics News

Lobbying Colorado: “What Does $80 Million Buy Oil and Gas Interests? Voter Profiles, Door Knocking and Influence at Local and Statewide Levels” by Christopher Osher for Denver Post Florida: “Corey’s Ties to Others in FBI Probe Run Deep” by Jeffrey […]

July 17, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s State Government and Ethics News

Campaign Finance Lawmakers Can Use Campaign Funds for Home Security, F.E.C. Says by Nicholas Fandos for New York Times Maine: Disputes Over Documents Threaten to Slow Casino Campaign Probe by Steve Mistler for Maine Public Radio South Carolina: No Race? […]

July 13, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – July 14, 2017

National: Blue Cities Want to Make Their Own Rules. Red States Won’t Let Them. New York Times – Emily Badger | Published: 7/6/2017 In the last few years, Republican-controlled state Legislatures have intensified the use of what are known as […]

National:

Blue Cities Want to Make Their Own Rules. Red States Won’t Let Them.
New York Times – Emily Badger | Published: 7/6/2017

In the last few years, Republican-controlled state Legislatures have intensified the use of what are known as pre-emption laws, to block towns and cities from adopting measures favored by the left. The states are not merely overruling local laws; they have walled off whole new realms where local governments are not allowed to govern at all. Several states are now threatening to withhold resources from communities that defy them and to hold their elected officials legally and financially liable. There is disagreement on who started the fight: states in stripping municipal power, or cities in seizing new roles that were not theirs to begin with.

Federal:

Is Donald Trump Jr.’s ‘I Love It’ Email a Smoking Gun or a Distraction?
Washington Post – Marc Fisher and David Nakamura | Published: 7/12/2017

When Donald Trump Jr. said “I love it” to the prospect of obtaining damaging information from friendly Russians about Hillary Clinton in June of last year, did that constitute a smoking gun? In one America, the answer was a pretty solid yes. Many media outlets and some Democrats straight-out declared the email the “smoking gun” in the investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to take down the Clinton candidacy. Many other news organizations hedged a bit, attaching a question mark to the term. But to supporters of President Trump, the gun was not smoking, it was just more of the same noise that has been cluttering up this presidency since its inception.

The Deep Industry Ties of Trump’s Deregulation Teams
New York Times – Danielle Ivory and Robert Faturechi | Published: 7/11/2017

President Trump entered office pledging to cut red tape, and within weeks he ordered his administration to assemble teams to aggressively scale back government regulations. But the effort is being conducted in large part out of public view and often by political appointees with deep industry ties and potential conflicts-of-interest. Most government agencies have declined to disclose information about their deregulation teams. But The New York Times and ProPublica identified 71 appointees, including 28 with potential conflicts. Some appointees are reviewing rules their previous employers sought to weaken or end, and at least two may be positioned to profit if certain regulations are undone.

Washington Firm Discloses Lobbying Senior Trump Officials on Macedonia
BuzzFeed News – John Hudson | Published: 7/6/2017

Mercury Public Affairs is providing new details about a mysterious U.S. Justice Department filing it made in February for lobbying work related to Macedonia. The firm says it contacted aides to senior Trump administration officials on issues related to Macedonia during a 12-day period in February. Mercury never received payment for the work, according to the document. The Foreign Agents Registration Act form is a retroactive update to a February filing that gained attention after two reports pointed out Mercury did not disclose a foreign agent in the filing. The new form still does not list a foreign agent – it simply lists the Libertas Foundation of which little is known, as the entity the firm is working on behalf of.

From the States and Municipalities:

California: California Lawmakers Want Data on Lobbyists’ Race, Sexual Orientation
Sacramento Bee – Taryn Luna | Published: 7/10/2017

Leaders of the Legislative Asian Pacific Islander, Black, Jewish, Latino, LGBT, and Women’s caucuses in the California Legislature asked 400 lobbying firms, associations, and principals to provide them with the race, ethnicity, gender, and openly gay or lesbian orientation of their employees. Lawmakers said the request is intended to expand the conversation about cultural diversity in the Capitol workforce. Some lobbyists applauded the move for forcing a male-dominated industry to think about its hiring practices. Others expressed concern about how the data could be used against them if their employees are not diverse enough for the lawmakers.

Delaware: Wilmington Ethics Commission Quietly Disbanded under Mayor Williams
Wilmington News Journal – Christina Jedra | Published: 7/12/2017

The Wilmington Ethics Commission quietly dissolved after former Mayor Dennis Williams’ administration allowed members’ terms to expire. City officials have “no idea” how this happened, said Gary Fullman, who was Williams’ chief of staff. It appears sometime after Mayor Mike Purzycki took office in January, his administration became aware of the situation. After being told a story would be published by The Wilmington News Journal on the matter, the city issued a press release saying the board had reformed, announcing five new members and two returning. The members will need to be confirmed by the city council.

District of Columbia: D.C. Business Groups Fight Proposed Pay-to-Play Regulations
Washington Post – Peter Jamison | Published: 7/10/2017

Representatives of District of Columbia business organizations argued against proposed limits on political donations by companies that do business with the city, saying widespread suspicions that contractors have undue influence are unwarranted. Opponents of the “pay-to-play” regulations being mulled by council members relied on an argument long favored by critics of campaign finance laws: that proven instances of elected officials making decisions based on campaign donations are rare, if not nonexistent.

Hawaii: Can Revamped Honolulu Ethics Commission Rebuild Its Credibility?
Honolulu Civil Beat – Anita Hofschneider | Published: 7/13/2017

Honolulu Ethics Commission Executive Director Jan Yamane must work to rebuild an agency that lost its bite in recent years due to internal strife and outside interference from Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration. The commission has been relatively quiet since Yamane was hired in August to replace Chuck Totto, who had been the agency’s executive director for nearly 16 years. Yamane said the commission now has a backlog of 40 to 50 complaints, on top of about 60 pending investigations. Yamane has been busy trying to get a handle on the hefty workload and figure out how the commission can be more efficient and effective. There are about 10,000 city employees and only five ethics commission staffers, only three of which can perform investigations.

Iowa: Trial Begins in Lawsuit Alleging Toxic ‘Boys’ Club’ at Iowa Statehouse
Des Moines Register – Grant Rodgers | Published: 7/9/2017

A jury will hear testimony in a lawsuit that claims the Iowa Capitol sheltered a toxic “boys’ club” where some male senators and their staffers spoke freely about sex and women’s bodies with few or no consequences. Kirsten Anderson, a former communications director for the Senate Republican caucus, brought the lawsuit after being fired in May 2013, just seven hours after giving her boss a memorandum asking for an investigation into workplace culture at the Capitol and for stronger policies against harassment. Republican leaders have said Anderson was fired because the quality of her work was deteriorating. But court documents filed by Anderson portray scenes where she and other female staffers were forced to listen to comments about the size of women’s breasts and gossip about colleagues’ sex lives.

Montana: Legislators Face No Punishment for Ignoring Financial Disclosure Forms
The Missoulian – Jayme Fraser | Published: 7/3/2017

Montana’s system to monitor conflicts-of-interest among legislators received a failing grade in an analysis by the Center for Public Integrity. Some lawmakers ignore or flout the rules that do exist and no one has been sanctioned for breaking them in decades. Although legislators cannot take their seat without filing a financial disclosure form, no one ensures state officials fill them out completely. The two-page document was intended to be the baseline by which the public can gauge if elected officials and state employees misuse public posts. It is a key component of the law designed to fulfill a requirement in the Montana Constitution that they must work for the public and not themselves.

New York: Appeals Court Overturns Conviction of Sheldon Silver
Albany Times Union – Matthew Hamilton | Published: 7/13/2017

An appeals court overturned the conviction of former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of accepting nearly $4 million in bribes and kickbacks disguised as legal payments from a pair of law firms that had business before the state. The appeals court cited a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, made after Silver’s conviction, which narrowed the definition of the kind of official conduct that can serve as the basis of a corruption prosecution. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit agreed with Silver’s contention that jury instructions in his trial were erroneous in light of the decision handed down in McDonnell v. United States.

North Carolina: Lobbyist Fundraiser Invite Raises Questions
WRAL – Laura Leslie | Published: 7/10/2017

Current lobbyist and former state Rep. Mike Hager is co-hosting a fundraiser for North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, but says he has not broken the state law against political contributions by lobbyists. Watchdogs say it is confusing and gives the appearance of impropriety. “I’ve never worried a whole lot about what people think,” Hager said. “It’s the actuality of the law that we’re complying with. That’s the only issue I have.”

Pennsylvania: Convicted Ex-Lawmakers Enjoy Access as Lobbyists
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – Debra Erdley and Kevin Zwick | Published: 7/9/2017

Numerous former lawmakers, legislative staff, and cabinet officials in Washington, D.C., as well as state capitals across the country, have turned to lobbying. Pennsylvania requires a one-year waiting period before lawmakers and agency officials can begin lobbying former colleagues. A group of Pennsylvania lawmakers-turned-lobbyists spent the waiting period behind bars. They include former House Speakers John Perzel and Bill DeWeese, and Senate Majority Leader Joe Loeper – all of whom left office for prison after being convicted of abuses of power.

Texas: Dallas Wants $8,000 Back from Philip Kingston for Missing Too Many Council Meetings
Dallas News – Tristan Hallman | Published: 7/8/2017

Officials say city council member Philip Kingston owes Dallas taxpayers thousands of dollars. Chief Financial Officer Elizabeth Reich told Kingston in a memorandum that he missed too many meetings in the past 12 months and needs to pay the city back $8,160 of his $60,000 salary. But Kingston said he is disputing the city’s calculations and does not plan to return any money. The unusual quarrel and financial penalty stem from a city charter provision. If council members miss more than 10 percent of the total “regular meetings” in a compensation year, their pay is to be docked by the same percentage of meetings they missed.

Virginia: How a Shadowy Nonprofit Spent $184K in Virginia’s Governor’s Race with Almost Total Anonymity
Richmond Times-Dispatch – Graham Moomaw | Published: 7/7/2017

Virginians for a Better Future incorporated in Delaware as a social welfare organization two weeks before Virginia’s gubernatorial primaries, and then spent $184,000 on an advertising campaign to support Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam’s bid for the Democratic nomination and attack his opponent, Tom Perriello. The identity of the donor or donors behind the ad campaign might never be disclosed. Other states have taken steps to close reporting loopholes for 501(c)(4)s, but a bill to force social welfare groups to disclose their donors failed this year in the Virginia General Assembly.

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.

July 13, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s State Government and Ethics News

Lobbying Canada: “Lobby Group Asked to Stop Offering Access to Ottawa in Exchange for $10,000” by Bill Curry for Globe and Mail Campaign Finance New Mexico: “Supporters, Opponents Weigh in on Campaign Finance Rule Change” by Hannah Grover for Farmington […]

July 6, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – July 7, 2017

National: CNN Story About Source of Trump Wrestling Video Draws Backlash New York Times – Daniel Victor | Published: 7/5/2017 A CNN story about an anonymous Reddit user who created a widely circulated video of President Trump wrestling the network’s […]

National:

CNN Story About Source of Trump Wrestling Video Draws Backlash
New York Times – Daniel Victor | Published: 7/5/2017

A CNN story about an anonymous Reddit user who created a widely circulated video of President Trump wrestling the network’s logo to the ground has inspired multiple backlashes. Some criticized it as a form of blackmail. Others raised issues of journalism ethics over the network granting conditional anonymity to the user. The 28-second video and its source have been the subject of questions since Trump tweeted it as he continued his attacks on the news media. The tweet, which was retweeted by the official presidential account, has become Trump’s most-shared post on Twitter.

The New York Times Will Fly You Around the World for $135,000. Is That a Problem?
Washington Post – Paul Farhi | Published: 7/5/2017

The New York Times is organizing and promoting a 26-day tour of nine countries, which it calls “Around the World by Private Jet: Cultures in Transformation.” The price is $135,000 per person, and the traveling party will be joined by the newspaper’s Washington bureau chief Elisabeth Bumiller, columnist Nicholas Kristoff, and publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. The trip and other Times-sponsored travel packages are a lucrative source of income at a time when news organizations are under increasing financial pressure. But the newspaper’s trips raise a question among journalism ethics experts about ethics and access: Is The Times effectively selling its journalists to private interests? Could, for example, corporate lobbyists or political operatives sign on and seek to influence coverage?

Federal:

Federal Ethics Chief Who Clashed with White House Announces He Will Step Down
Washington Post – Rosalind Helderman and Matea Gold | Published: 7/6/2017

Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Director Walter Shaub announced he is resigning. He will leave nearly six months before the end of his term to take a position with the Campaign Legal Center. Shaub repeatedly challenged the Trump administration on ethics issues. His outspokenness drew the ire of administration officials and earned him near-cult status among Trump’s opponents. Shaub said no one in the White House or the administration pushed him to leave, but he felt he had reached the limit of what he could achieve in this administration within the current ethics framework. The OGE’s chief of staff, Shelley Finlayson, is expected to assume the role of acting director, although Trump could appoint another senior OGE official to serve temporarily until he chooses a permanent replacement.

Florida Lobbyist Turning Trump Ties into Mega-Millions
Center for Public Integrity – Rachel Wilson | Published: 7/5/2017

Brian Ballard has long been a major lobbyist in Florida. Now, Ballard – a major Donald Trump fundraiser who also worked on the president’s transition – is out to prove he can translate his state-level lobbying success into policy victories for a slew of new clients in Washington, D.C. And he must ply his trade in the nation’s capital without looking as if he is selling access to a president who has promised to stand up to special interests. In just five months, Ballard Partners’ federal lobbying operation has generated nearly $4 million in current and contracted business from foreign and domestic lobbying clients. That is as much lobbying money as some established firms make in a year.

Justice Dept. Compliance Expert Whose Contract Ended Early Says Trump Conflicts Made Work Feel Hypocritical
Washington Post – Matt Zapotosky | Published: 7/3/2017

As a contractor for the U.S. Justice Department, Hui Chen would ask questions about companies’ inner workings to help determine whether they should be prosecuted for wrongdoing. But working in the Trump administration, Chen began to feel like a hypocrite. How could she ask companies about their conflicts-of-interest when the president was being sued over his? Though her contract was not up until September, Chen left the department in late June, then laid bare her reasons in a post on LinkedIn. The post drew attention because of Chen’s position and how blunt she was on the circumstances of her departure.

From the States and Municipalities:

Florida: Florida’s Departing Fiscal Watchdog Used Public Scrutiny as a Weapon
Bradenton Herald – Mary Ellen Klas (Miami Herald) | Published: 7/5/2017

Jeff Atwater, who resigned recently as Florida’s chief financial officer, knows where every penny of the state’s $83 billion budget goes. He also knows where to find the waste, and he has tried to expose it. expose it. Florida will spend more than $60 billion this year hiring outside contractors to do state work. But, as Atwater found when he took the job in 2011, state agencies often do not hold vendors accountable for the services they agreed to provide. Agencies allow them to charge for things not included in the bids, fail to recover damages when the vendor will not complete a task correctly or on time, and renew contracts when a vendor fails. “You don’t have to go far to track that back to a lobbyist who had a client,” Atwater explained.

Kansas: Kobach: Kansas won’t give Social Security info to Kobach-led voter commission at this time
Kansas City Star – Bryan Lowry | Published: 7/1/2017

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach co-chairs President Trump’s voter fraud commission, which is tasked with finding evidence to support the president’s unsubstantiated claim that there was widespread voter fraud in the 2016 election. Kobach recently sent letters to all 50 states asking them to provide the commission with their entire voter files. The request specifically spelled out sensitive pieces of information the commission wants to obtain. As secretary of state, Kobach is tasked with supplying Kansas’s data to the Trump commission. There is just one problem: he will not be able to fully comply with his own request.

Massachusetts: Lawmakers Asked to Hit Up Lobbyists, Companies to Fund National Confab
Boston Globe – Jim O’Sullivan | Published: 6/29/2017

Massachusetts Senate Majority Leader Harriette Chandler sent an email identifying the special interests, lobbyists, and corporations that can be targeted for a solicitation appeal to help fund this summer’s National Conference of State Legislatures annual meeting in Boston. They include companies that have business before the state Legislature: retailers, banks, telecommunications firms, insurers, utilities, and a wide range of health-care providers. Organizers hope to raise roughly $2.2 million for the meeting. The document advertises special access to the week’s events for donors, and perhaps more importantly, a chance to stay on the radar of local decision-makers.

Montana: Legislature Is Rife with Conflicts of Interest – and They’re Legal
Helena Independent Record – Jayme Fraser | Published: 7/2/2017

More than a dozen state leaders said it is not unethical to bring bills that would advantage their professions or properties so long as others received the same gain and the link is openly shared. Most lauded the fact that Montana has a part-time, citizen Legislature where farmers sit on agricultural committees, lawyers craft state criminal laws, teachers tweak education policy, and business owners set industry regulations. Experience makes them experts, they say. But the Center for Public Integrity gives Montana an “F” grade for its conflict disclosure laws, which make it difficult for the public to spot self-serving votes or sanction those who enrich themselves in public office.

New Jersey: Hudson Attorney Files Ethics Complaint Against Christie Over ‘Beachgate’
Newark Star-Ledger – Michaelangelo Conte (Jersey Journal) | Published: 7/6/2017

A complaint was filed against New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, saying he used his position unethically when he and family members basked in the sun at Island Beach State Park while the public was turned away because of a state shutdown. In accordance with the Plain Language Guide to New Jersey’s Executive Branch Ethics Standards, no person of the executive branch may obtain a “special benefit” as a result of their position …,” according to the complaint filed with the State Ethics Commission by attorney Mario Blanch.

New York: A Constitutional Convention for New York? This May Be the Year
New York Times – Lisa Foderaro | Published: 7/5/2017

Every 20 years, New Yorkers have the chance to vote whether they want to hold a constitutional convention to amend, tweak, or otherwise improve the founding document of the state. For the past half-century, voters have demurred. This year, however, academics, good-government groups and others believe the outcome of the ballot question in November may be different. And it has something to do with the current occupant of the White House. “Trump’s election emphasizes how valuable it is for states to chart their own course,” said Peter Galie, a political science professor at Canisius College.

Pennsylvania: Contractor’s Criminal Record Didn’t Discourage Business with Allentown or Reading
Allentown Morning Call – Emily Opilo | Published: 6/30/2017

Mark Neisser, then president of JCA Associates, and two other employees of the engineering firm pleaded guilty in 2004 to tax offenses for failing to report about $100,000 in printing work done for New Jersey Democrats. Along with fines and probation, Neisser was barred from working at JCA. Within a year, however, he resurfaced at T&M Associates, a New Jersey engineering firm that bought out JCA. Neisser’s record apparently did not alarm Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, who accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from T&M’s PAC, and raised no red flag for city officials, which awarded more than $380,000 in contracts to the firm. Neisser pleaded guilty in April to a federal corruption charge for his role in “pay-to-play” schemes in Allentown and Reading.

Texas: City OK’s Park Swings Thanks to Pint Sized Lobbyist
Fort Worth Telegram – Ann Beck | Published: 7/6/2017

When she saw that her local park did not have swings, six-year-old Maggie Fortner took matters into her own hands. She wrote a letter – in pencil and folded a half-dozen times – requesting the addition of a swing set at Donald R. Barg Park. It was mailed by Maggie’s grandmother and made its way to Matt Young, the director of parks and recreation for the city of Mansfield, who not only took notice, but action. The swings were approved and Maggie, now seven, was the guest of honor at the recent ceremony where they were opened to the public. “I’m just really excited for my swing to come, so I can swing on it every day,” Maggie said. “But I’m going to share, even with my sisters. It’s for everyone.”

Texas: Texas Supreme Court Rejects Tea Party Challenge to Campaign Finance Laws
Texas Tribune – Jim Malewitz | Published: 6/30/2017

The Texas Supreme Court upheld the state’s ban on direct corporate political donations. The Texas Democratic Party sued the King Street Patriots for violating the ban on corporate contributions by making in-kind donations to Republicans groups or causes. Democrats argued that if the group wanted to contribute to political campaigns, it should abide by disclosure rules. The justices also upheld state requirements that campaigns report contributions and expenditures, and ruled private groups can sue over alleged violations.

Vermont: Dollars Tell Only Part of Story of Pot Legalization Advocacy
VTDigger.org – Elizabeth Hewitt | Published: 7/4/2017

Despite a constant drum of advocacy on both sides of marijuana legalization in Vermont this year, lobbying reports show the sums spent were relatively modest. But the finance disclosures tell just part of the story of advocacy on the issue. The numbers on both sides added up to far less than has been spent on hot button issues in Montpelier in the past. The 2015 push to impose a sales tax on soft drinks drew more than $500,000 in spending by the American Beverage Association alone in the first quarter of the year, for instance. On the issue of marijuana, both sides claim grassroots support drives their agenda.

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.

July 5, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News

Campaign Finance Use of Campaign Money for Lawmakers’ Security Requested by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA Alabama: Civil Penalties Now in Place for Late or Inaccurate Campaign Reports by Mike Cason for AL.com California: California Democrats Out to Reverse Another […]

April 27, 2017 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s Government Relations and Ethics News

Lobbying “Spending on Lobbying Approached $1 Billion in First Quarter, Highest in 5 Years” by Kimberly Kindy for Washington Post New York: “NYCLU’s Request for Donor Exemption Is Denied” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union Oregon: “Ethics Commission: Gov. […]

Thursday’s State Government and Ethics News

Wednesday’s State Government and Ethics News

Tuesday’s State Government and Ethics News

Monday’s State Government and Ethics News

News You Can Use Digest – July 21, 2017

Thursday’s State Government and Ethics News

Wednesday’s State Government and Ethics News

Tuesday’s State Government and Ethics News

Monday’s State Government and Ethics News

News You Can Use Digest – July 14, 2017

Thursday’s State Government and Ethics News

News You Can Use Digest – July 7, 2017

Wednesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News

Thursday’s Government Relations and Ethics News

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