Lobbying

“Flynn’s Turkish Lobbying Linked to Russia” by Issac Arnsdorf for Politico

“‘What’s Upstream?’ Ad Campaign Funded by EPA Did Not Break Federal Lobbying Rules, Investigation Finds” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times

Campaign Finance

“Bill Would Force Maine-Based PACs to Shed Light on Secretive Contributors” by Steve Mistler for Maine Public Radio

Ethics

“Flynn Probably Broke the Law by Failing to Disclose Foreign Payments, House Oversight Leaders Say” by Karoun Demirjian for Washington Post

“State Department Website Removes Article Touting History of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Estate” by Anne Gearan for Washington Post

“Sessions Vows to Enforce an Anti-Bribery Law Trump Ridiculed” by Charlie Savage for New York Times

“Greitens Says He Isn’t Responsible for Attack Ads Against Sen. Rob Schaaf” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Legislative Issues

“Tar Heel Republicans Override Gov. Cooper Veto in Latest Partisan Clash” by The Associated Press for Raleigh News & Observer

Procurement

“Contract with Company Connected to Epps Bribery Case Questioned” by Geoff Pender for Jackson Clarion-Ledger

Lobbying

“Trump, Pence Allies Rake in Millions as New Washington Lobbyists” by Fredreka Schouten and Maureen Groppe for USA Today

Missouri: “Lawmakers Say Lobbyist Gift Ban Will Likely Fail Again This Year” by Austin Huguelet for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Missouri: “Fewer Missouri Lawmakers Are Bunking with Lobbyists” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Pennsylvania: “Phila. Board of Ethics Fines Teamsters Local 830” by Layla Jones for Philadelphia Tribune

Texas: “Ethics Reform Now Includes Keeping Revolving Door to Lobby Wide Open” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

Campaign Finance

Alabama: “Justices Decline to Hear Alabama Campaign Finance Case” by Dan McCue for Courthouse News Service

New York: “City Council Members Opt Out of Campaign Finance Program” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Ethics

“‘Everyone Tunes In’: Inside Trump’s obsession with cable TV” by Ashley Parker and Robert Costa for Washington Post

Rhode Island: “Council President Aponte Sues to Freeze Ethics Probe” by Dan McGowan for WPRI

Campaign Finance

Wisconsin: Wisconsin Supreme Court Rejects Recusal Changes When Campaign Donors Are Litigants by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Elections

Trump Adviser’s Visit to Moscow Got the F.B.I.’s Attention by Scott Shane, Mark Mazzetti, and Adam Goldman for New York Times

Can Elections Like Georgia’s Help Predict Future Races? By Jonah Engel Bromwich for New York Times

Ethics

Alabama: Drug Store Owner Pushes Legislation Helping Out Drug Stores, and That’s OK in Alabama by John Sharp for AL.com

Florida: Ethics Panel Pushes Back Against Legislative Oversight by Jim Turner (News Service of Florida) for Lakeland Ledger

Montana: MT Ethics Chief Ducks Bulk of Lawmaker’s Suit by Eve Byron for Courthouse News Service

Washington: 1995 Tweak to Law Exempts State Lawmakers from Disclosure by Rachel LaCorte (Associated Press) for The Columbian

Lobbying

Tennessee: Tennessee Legislators Vote to Require Disclosure of Trips Funded by Lobbyists by Andy Sher for Chattanooga Times Free Press

Lobbying

Maine: “Maine Ethics Watchdog: Tighten lobbying limits for ex-legislators” by Michael Shepherd for Bangor Daily News

Campaign Finance

“It Was Huge: Trump inaugural drew slew of top-dollar checks” by Julie Bykowicz and Nancy Benac (Associated Press) for ABC News

“Ivanka Trump’s Global Reach, Undeterred by a White House Job” by Danny Hakim and Rachel Abrams for New York Times

California: “Real Estate Investor Fined $17,000 Over Excess L.A. City Council Campaign Donations” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times

Montana: “Montana House Rejects Bill to Raise Campaign Contributions” by Associated Press for U.S. News & World Report

Ethics

Illinois: “Independent Contractor Exemption Suffers Surprise Council Defeat” by Fran Spielman for Chicago Sun-Times

New Jersey: “Ex-Passaic Mayor Alex Blanco Gets 27 Months in Prison” by Richard Cowan and Kaitlin Kanzler for Bergen Record

Texas: “TABC Chief Will Resign after Agency Used Your Tax Dollars to Travel to Booze Industry Conferences” by Dagney Pruner for Dallas News

Elections

Georgia: “Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, Narrowly Misses Outright Win in Georgia House Race” by Jonathan Martin and Richard Fausset for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Florida: “Miami Lawmaker Apologizes on Senate Floor for Using Racial Slur” by Patricia Mazzei, Steve Bousquet, and Kristin Clark for Miami Herald

Lobbying

“Corporate Lobbyists Funnel Cash to House Democrats Amid Push to Pass Trump’s Business Initiatives” by Andrew Perez (MapLight) and David Sirota for International Business Times

Campaign Finance

“The $1 Million Upside for an RNC Digital Guru” by Shane Goldmacher for Politico

Alabama: “Donors to Former Gov. Bentley’s ‘Dark Money’ Group Still a Mystery” by Kent Faulk for AL.com

Ethics

“Watchdog Group Expands Lawsuit Against Trump” by Sharon LaFraniere for New York Times

Florida: “Florida House Speaker: Push for tougher ethics laws dead” by Gary Fineout (Associated Press) for San Louis Obispo Tribune

Michigan: “Macomb Co. Clerk Has Aide Call 911: Reporters harassing me” by Christina Hall for Detroit Free Press

New York: “Cuomo Promotes Chief of Staff, Melissa DeRosa, to Be His Secretary” by Lisa Foderaro for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Alaska: “Here’s Why Alaska Legislators, Staffers and Lobbyists Are Listening to Wu-Tang Clan” by Nathaniel Herz for Alaska Dispatch News

Procurement

California: “Costs Soar After Huntington Park Picks Politically Connected Firm to Provide Bus Service” by Adam Elmahrek for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

“Bipartisan Bill Would Restructure FEC to End Gridlock” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA

District of Columbia: “More Contributions to D.C. Council Member Cannot Be Tracked to Source” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post

Ethics

“With Trump Appointees, a Raft of Potential Conflicts and ‘No Transparency’” by Eric Lipton, Ben Protess, and Andrew Lehren for New York Times

Alabama: “Judicial Ethics Complaint Filed Against Judge Who Ordered Halt to Bentley Impeachment Hearing” by Kent Faulk for AL.com

California: “Oakland Ethics Panel Slams Lax Oversight of Free Warriors, Raiders and A’s Tickets” by Mark Hedin for East Bay Times

Legislative Issues

Nevada: “Republican Lawmaker Spent Two Weeks as ‘Legislative Advocate’ for Business Group” by Riley Snyder for Nevada Independent

Lobbying

Illinois: “Emanuel Still Fielding Emails on City Matters Via Private Account” by Fran Spielman for Chicago Sun-Times

Missouri: “Decrease in Lobbyists’ Gifts Hasn’t Limited Influence at the Missouri Capitol” by Sky Chadd for Columbia Missourian

Tech and Social Media

“Social Media Is Not Contributing Significantly to Political Polarization, Paper Says” by Jonah Engel Bromwich for New York Times

Lobbying

“Former Trump Campaign Chairman to Register as Foreign Agent” by Jeff Horwitz, Chad Day, and Julie Pace (Associated Press) for ABC News

“United Airlines Spent Millions Fighting Proposals to Protect Passenger Rights” by Frank Bass (MapLight) and David Sirota for International Business Times

Missouri: “Ethics 101: What defines a lobbyist in Missouri?” by Jennifer Moore for KSMU

Pennsylvania: “Environmental Group Fined by State Ethics Commission” by Marie Cusik for StateImpact Pennsylvania

Campaign Finance

Colorado: “In Colorado, Lawmakers Clash Over a Dark Money Loophole” by Corey Hutchins for Colorado Independent

New Jersey: “2 Birdsall Execs Admit Roles in $1M Pay-to-Play Scheme” by S.J. Sullivan (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger

Ethics

“Trump Administration Won’t Release White House Visitor Logs” by Jordan Fabian for Roll Call

“Trump Organization Drops Plans for Dallas Hotel with ‘Turkish Trump’” by Ben Protess and Steve Eder for New York Times

Alabama: “For Alabama Christians, Governor Bentley’s Downfall Is a Bitter Blow” by Alan Blinder for New York Times

Minnesota: “Minnesota Ballpark Authority Limits Use of Publicly Owned Target Field Suite to Charities” by Rochelle Olson for Minneapolis Star Tribune

North Carolina: “Veto Fight Ahead Over Elections Board Rewrite” by Laura Leslie and Michael Burns for WRAL

Pennsylvania: “Former Top Aide to Rendell Gets Probation in Pay-to-Play Probe” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

Texas: “Top Liquor Regulator Got ‘Hazardous Duty’ Pay on Hawaii Junket” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

Elections

Arizona: “Senate Republicans Pass Bill Targeting Arizona Initiatives” by Bob Christie (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report

Legislative Issues

Alabama: “Bill: Legislature could compel impeachment testimony” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertisor

Iowa: “Iowa to Become Latest State to Allow Guns in Its Capitol” by Barbara Rodriguez (Associated Press) for Des Moines Register

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, A Felon, Says He Deserves Public Funding for Campaign” by Christopher Keating for Hartford Courant

Mississippi: “Bryant Signs Campaign Finance Reform into Law” by Geoff Pender for Jackson Clarion-Ledger

Missouri: “Pay to Play? Missouri Senate Leader Faces Questions About Consumer Protection Bill” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Elections

“Can Democrats Cuss Their Way Back to the White House?” by Alex Roarty for McClatchy DC

“FBI Obtained FISA Warrant to Monitor Trump Adviser Carter Page” by Ellen Nakashima, Devlin Barrett, and Adam Entous for Washington Post

Ethics

“Trump’s Trademark Continues Its March Across the Globe, Raising Eyebrows” by Sharon LaFraniere and Danny Hakim for New York Times

New York: “On Ethics, Cuomo Budget Entered Like a Lion and Emerged Like a Lamb” by Lisa Foderaro for New York Times

Oklahoma: “State Officials Disclosing Fewer Facts Than Ever About Their Personal Finances” by Mollie Bryant for Oklahoma Watchdog

Lobbying

“Foreign Influence in the U.S. Cloaked in Unnecessary Obscurity, Watchdog Groups Say” by Stephanie Akin for Roll Call

Lobbying

Missouri: “Limit on Lobbyist Gifts Clears Missouri Senate Committee” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Campaign Finance

California: “Anti-Pot Group Faces Campaign Finance Violations from Its Work Opposing Marijuana Legalization in California” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

New York: “Investigations into De Blasio Spurred City Reform, Renewed Calls for State Changes” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Ethics

“Secret A.T.F. Account Paid for $21,000 Nascar Suite and Las Vegas Trip” by Matt Apuzzo for New York Times

Michigan: “Michigan Sen. Bert Johnson Indicted by Grand Jury” by Paul Egan and Kathleen Gray for Detroit Free Press

South Carolina: “New SC Ethics Law Does Not Go Far Enough, Critics Say” by Avery Wilks for The State

Elections

Texas: “Federal Judge Says Texas Voter ID Law Intentionally Discriminates” by Manny Fernandez for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Oklahoma: “LGBTQ Group’s Capitol Visit Prompts Mass Email About ‘Cross-Dressers in the Building’” by Randy Krehbiel for Tulsa World

Procurement

California: “Feds: Well-known Oakland contractors conspired to cheat government” by Malaika Fraley for East Bay Times

Campaign Finance

Montana: “Montana Considers Raising Political Campaign Donation Limits” by Matt Volz (Associated Press) for Washington Times

New Mexico: “Governor Vetoes Campaign Finance Reform” by Trip Jennings  for New Mexico In Depth

Ethics

“Who’s Visiting the White House? Watchdog Groups Are Suing to Find Out” By John Wagner for Washington Post

“How Bannon’s Multimedia Machine Drove a Movement and Paid Him Millions” by Shawn Boburg and Robert O’Hara Jr. for Washington Post

Alabama: “Alabama Governor Resigns, Pleads Guilty to Charges Tied to Allegations He Tried to Cover Up Affair with a Top Aide” by Amber Phillips for Washington Post

California: “Los Angeles County D.A.’s Office Sees a Big Drop in the Number of Public Corruption Prosecutions” by Ben Poston and Kim Christensen for Los Angeles Times

Maryland: “In Session Bookended by Corruption, Maryland Lawmakers Re-Write Ethics Laws” by Erin Cox for Baltimore Sun

Nevada: “What Is a Conflict of Interest? Lawsuit against Reno Lawmaker Might Decide” by Seth Richardson for Reno Gazette-Journal

Lobbying

Oregon: “Aiming for Openness, Oregon House Passes Bill to Make Lobbyists Say What They Influence” by Gordon Friedman for Portland Oregonian

South Carolina: “South Carolina Statehouse Corruption Probe Investigating Whether Richard Quinn & Associates’ Campaign Work ‘Bled into’ Lobbying” by Andrew Brown for Charleston Post and Courier

Campaign Finance

“Those Prized Small Donors? They May Not Be as Small as You Think” by Andrew Mayersohn for Center for Responsive Politics

Canada: “Liberals Promise to Begin Holding Fundraisers in Public, Share Details Online” by Laura Stone for The Globe and Mail

Florida: “State Attorney Clears Donald Trump, Pam Bondi on Campaign Donation” by Arek Sarkissian for Naples Daily News

Massachusetts: “Massachusetts Judge Upholds Ban on Corporate Contributions to Politicians” by Shira Schoenberg for MassLive.com

New Jersey: “N.J. Election Watchdog: State needs pay-to-play reform” by Nicholas Pugliese for Bergen Record

Washington D.C.: “Audit Finds D.C. Council Member Cannot Substantiate $100K in Contributions” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post

Ethics

“The U.S. Government Has Withdrawn Its Request Ordering Twitter to Identify a Trump Critic” by Hayley Tsukayama and Craig Timberg for Washington Post

“Kushner Omitted Meeting with Russians on Security Clearance Forms” by Jo Becker and Matthew Rosenberg for New York Times

Alabama: “Alabama Governor Faces Impeachment Hearing in Scandal of Sex and Power” by Alan Blinder for New York Times

Missouri: “After Repeal, Ethics Law Supporters to Push Ballot Amendment” by James Nord (Associated Press) for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Elections

Missouri: “Ferguson Re-Elects White Mayor 2 Years After Mike Brown Incident” by John Eligon for New York Times

Lobbying

New Mexico: “Martinez Vetoes Bill to Close Lobbyist Loophole” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth

Federal:

DOJ Renews Promise of Action on Lobbying Law Compliance
Bloomberg BNA – Kenneth Doyle | Published: 4/5/2017

The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) annual report on Lobbyist Disclosure Act (LDA) compliance noted the Justice Department expects to take action on four “chronic offenders” of the law. The report said House and Senate officials in charge of administering the LDA have referred thousands of cases of noncompliance, but the U.S. attorney’s office has been able to resolve only about half of these cases through letters and other contacts seeking compliance. The GAO said officials believe many of those who fail to file disclosure reports are no longer lobbying. But more than 1,300 referrals regarding failure to file lobbying reports remained unresolved last year. Meanwhile, another 700 referrals for failing to file required reports on lobbyists’ political contributions also remained unresolved.

Ethics Panel Opens Investigation into Nunes
The Hill – Cristina Marcos and Katie Bo Williams | Published: 4/6/2017

House Intelligence Committee Chairperson Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) temporarily recused himself from all matters related to the panel’s ongoing probe into Russia’s interference in the presidential election. The House ethics committee released a statement saying it would investigate allegations that “Nunes may have made unauthorized disclosures of classified information, in violation of House rules, law, regulations, or other standards of conduct.” Nunes has come under fire for going to the White House grounds to meet with a secret source and view documents he said suggest President Trump and his transition team members’ identities may have been improperly revealed in reports on surveillance of foreign targets.

Former Trump Staffers Hunt for Foreign Lobbying Work
Politico – Theodoric Mayer, Kenneth Vogel, and Josh Dawsey | Published: 4/3/2017

Some of President Donald Trump’s former campaign hands are rushing to sign lucrative deals with foreign clients, shrugging off their own pledges to avoid foreign lobbying and the president’s vow to “drain the swamp.” Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski’s firm is one a handful of upstarts looking to undercut the lobbying giants that for years dominated the market for foreign lobbying work in Washington. They are betting their experience on Trump’s campaign and relationships with former colleagues now in his administration can woo foreign governments away from more established rivals.

Trump Can Quietly Draw Money from Trust Whenever He Wants, New Documents Show
Washington Post – Drew Harwell | Published: 4/3/2017

The trust agreement that Donald Trump used to put his adult sons in charge of his company allows him to draw money from it upon his request, illustrating the thin divide between the president and his private fortune. Trump and his attorneys have pointed to the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust as a response to widespread worries from ethics lawyers, who have said the president’s refusal to divest ownership of his company creates the potential that he can derive personal profit from his public office. Trump’s trust is not “blind” because he knows how his assets are performing, has close relationships with both trustees, can make money off the trust’s financial interests, and can revoke the trust at any time.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama – Ethics Commission Finds Probable Cause Against Gov. Robert Bentley
AL.com – Mike Cason | Published: 4/5/2017

Gov. Robert Bentley could face criminal prosecution after the Alabama Ethics Commission found probable cause he broke ethics and campaign finance laws in a sex-tinged scandal that has engulfed him for over a year. The commission voted to refer four issues to the Montgomery County district attorney’s office, which will decide whether to pursue charges. The commission found probable cause to believe Bentley had misused state resources and campaign funds, improperly accepted a campaign donation outside of an allowed fundraising window, and lent himself campaign money when he was not a candidate. Bentley has been under scrutiny since recordings surfaced last year of him making suggestive remarks to a female aide before his divorce.

Arizona – Arizona Secretary of State’s Website to Track Political Spending Triples in Cost
Arizona Republic – Mary Jo Pitzl | Published: 3/29/2017

It was a key talking point of her 2014 campaign for secretary of state: Michele Reagan would build a website to allow the public to track the money spent in political campaigns, from the governor’s office down to the smallest town-council race. But the much-touted See the Money website has yet to materialize, despite a nearly $500,000 investment, a now-completed contract with an outside firm, and a string of promised due dates. Reagan said she is moving the project in-house and is determined to have it online by January.

Colorado – A Dark Money Lawsuit, a Colorful Cast of Characters, and Colorado’s Citizen Campaign Finance Cop
Colorado Independent – Corey Hutchins | Published: 4/4/2017

The best drama in Colorado politics is not occurring at the Capitol, but in a courtroom.  The characters in the dispute are half the intrigue. At issue is the question of whether it is legal for someone to set up a nonprofit to shield donors from disclosure even when that nonprofit works almost exclusively, through an affiliated entity, on campaigns for or against candidates. In Colorado, anyone who lodges a complaint about a suspected campaign finance violation has to prove his or her own case against an alleged violator in a courtroom setting. It is a system its critics say discourages average citizens from bringing complaints against powerful people or well-funded groups.

Florida – Hillsborough Commissioners Add Themselves to New Lobbying Ordinance
SaintPetersBlog.com – Mitch Perry (Florida Politics) | Published: 4/5/2017

Registered lobbyists can no longer text or email Hillsborough County commissioners during meetings. Lobbyists who violate the new ordinance can be punished with a ban of up to a year, though it would take four violations to reach that. Commissioners that violate the ban and do not report communications sent to them during meeting will be punished with a $250 fine on the first offense and $500 on the second. If a third violation occurs, the Florida Commission on Ethics will be notified.

Kansas – These High School Journalists Investigated a New Principal’s Credentials. Days Later, She Resigned.
Washington Post – Samantha Schmidt | Published: 4/5/2017

A group of reporters and editors from the student newspaper, the Booster Redux at Pittsburg High School in Kansas, had gathered to talk about Amy Robertson, who was hired as the high school’s head principal on March 6. The student journalists had begun researching Robertson, and quickly found some discrepancies in her education credentials. When they researched Corllins University, the private university where Robertson said she got her master’s and doctorate degrees, the website did not work. They found no evidence it was an accredited university. The students began digging into a weeks-long investigation that would result in an article questioning the legitimacy of the principal’s degrees and of her work as an education consultant. Robertson resigned four days later.

Maine – Lying-to-Legislature Bill Narrowed to Apply to Lobbyists Only
Portland Press Herald – Kevin Miller | Published: 4/3/2017

A legislative committee voted in favor of a bill to make it a crime for lobbyists to lie to Maine lawmakers after narrowing a bill to exclude the public, and themselves. Maine is one of nine states that have no laws against providing false information in committee. Fifteen states plus the District of Columbia prohibit lobbyists from providing false testimony, and some states require speakers to take an oath before testifying in committee.

North Carolina – Lawmakers Revive Plan for Combined State Elections, Ethics Board
WRAL – Matthew Burns | Published: 4/4/2017

House Republicans would prefer changing a law struck down by a three-judge panel related to overseeing North Carolina elections instead of extending a court fight with new Gov. Roy Cooper. A new measure approved by the Elections Committee would rework an eight-member state panel overseeing both elections and ethics rules the judges threw out as unconstitutional and give more control over the board to Cooper. The revised bill would still merge the elections and ethics boards, but the governor would be able to appoint all members from nominations made by the state Republican and Democratic parties. The board would be split evenly between the two parties.

Pennsylvania – Have Bribery, Fraud and Abuse of Power Become Synonymous with ‘Pennsylvania’?
PennLive.com – Jan Murphy | Published: 3/30/2017

Pennsylvanians have witnessed scores of corruption cases involving state officials from both sides of the political aisle and all three state governmental branches. Whether it is on a per-capita basis or simply the sheer number of high-profile corruption cases in recent years, Muhlenberg College political scientist Chris Borick said it is obvious that “something is pretty wrong in our political system in terms of corruption.” Some blame it on lax rules that do not hold government officials accountable or lawmakers’ failure to enact reform laws such as a ban on gifts or limits on campaign contributions. Though watchdogs continue to seek such reforms, little progress has been made in the Legislature.

Tennessee – Analysis: Possible double dipping at Tennessee statehouse
The Tennessean – Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert | Published: 3/31/2017

A review of campaign finance reports filed in 2016 by all 131 current Tennessee lawmakers found state representatives and senators spent $189,700 combined in campaign money on expenses that may have been paid for by state funds. But lawmakers are not required to report specific dates and locations of smaller purchases that are typically less than $100. That makes it unclear how many of those expenses also may have been reimbursed by the state, providing the opportunity to obscure double dipping or other financial abuse.

Tennessee – Nashville’s Private Club with a PAC
The Tennessean – Joel Ebert and Dave Boucher | Published: 4/2/2017

Many nights, the most powerful Tennessee lawmakers imbibe and eat at The Standard, a restaurant a few blocks from the Capitol. Often, it is at the expense of their campaign donors. An analysis found 25 Tennessee legislators and one prominent Nashville elected official, or their PACs, combined with seven other state PACs to spend $150,000 from their campaign coffers at the restaurant and club since 2009. More than $50,000 of that money was spent by elected officials to pay for their personal memberships in the club. The Standard also operates its own state PAC, which has donated almost $100,000 to state and local leaders who are members or who frequent the club.

Vermont – Vermont’s Campaign Finance Law Survives Legal Challenge
U.S. News & World Report; Associated Press –   | Published: 4/3/2017

A challenge to Vermont’s campaign finance laws has been struck down in federal court. Dean Corren, an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor, sued the state for violating his First Amendment rights, alleging a restriction on fundraising for publicly financed candidates is unconstitutional.

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.

Campaign Finance

Colorado: “A Dark Money Lawsuit, a Colorful Cast of Characters, and Colorado’s Citizen Campaign Finance Cop” by Corey Hutchins for Colorado Independent

Ethics

“It’s Plausible Trump Incited Violence, Federal Judge Rules in OK’ing Lawsuit” by Eliott McLaughlin for CNN

“How the U.S. Ethics Chief Took on Trump and Became a Reluctant Washington Hero” by David Montgomery for Washington Post

“Russian Spies Tried to Recruit Carter Page Before He Advised Trump” by Adam Goldman for New York Times

Kansas: “These High School Journalists Investigated a New Principal’s Credentials. Days Later, She Resigned.” by Samantha Schmidt for Washington Post

North Carolina: “Lawmakers Revive Plan for Combined State Elections, Ethics Board” by Matthew Burns for WRAL

Legislative Issues

Minnesota: “House DFL Leader Won’t Back Down from ‘White Male Card Game’ Remarks” by Brian Bakst for Minnesota Public Radio

Lobbying

Florida: “Hillsborough Commissioners Add Themselves to New Lobbying Ordinance” by Mitch Perry (Florida Politics) for SaintPetersBlog.com

Texas: “Jet Setting Liquor Regulators Could See Wings Clipped by Lawmakers” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

Lobbying

“Changing of the Guard at DC’s Top Lobby Firm” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Maine: “Lying-to-Legislature Bill Narrowed to Apply to Lobbyists Only” by Kevin Miller for Portland Press Herald

Campaign Finance

Missouri: “Greitens’ Political Nonprofits Take Center Stage in Missouri; Common for Governors Around US” by Jo Mannies for St. Louis Public Radio

Tennessee: “Nashville’s Private Club with a PAC” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Vermont: “Vermont’s Campaign Finance Law Survives Legal Challenge” by the Associated Press for U.S. News & World Report

Ethics

“Blackwater Founder Held Secret Seychelles Meeting to Establish Trump-Putin Back Channel” by Adam Entous, Greg Miller, Kevin Sieff, and Karen DeYoung for Washington Post

“Trump Aides’ Disclosures Reveal Surge in Lucrative Political Work” by Steve Eder, Eric Lipton, and Andrew Lehren for New York Times

“Trump Can Quietly Draw Money from Trust Whenever He Wants, New Documents Show” by Drew Harwell for Washington Post

Tennessee: “Lawmakers Kill Gift Transparency Bill; Senate OKs Higher Campaign Limits” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean