Lobbying

“A Lobbying Roadmap to Influencing Trump” by Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico

“Nuclear Weapon Firms Pay to Settle Illegal Lobbying Cases” by Patrick Malone (Center for Public Integrity) for USA Today

“Trump’s Ex-Campaign Manager Starts Lobbying Firm” by Shane Goldmacher, Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dawsey, and Kenneth Vogel for Politico

Campaign Finance

“The Future of Campaign Finance Reform Is at The State and Local Level” by Paul Blumenthal for Huffington Post

California: “State Investigation Clears Coastal Commissioner of Improperly Voting for a Pismo Beach Housing Project” by Dan Weikel for Los Angeles Times

Ethics

“Trump Team Discussing ‘Half-Blind’ Trust for Conflicts of Interest” by Josh Gerstein for Politico

“Access to Donald Trump, for $500,000: Pitfalls for Presidents’ Families” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

Colorado: “Denver Officials Move Closer to Listing Their Gifts Online and Tightening Ethics Rules” by Jon Murray for Denver Post

New York: “N.Y. Pay-to-Play Plot Fueled by Bribes, U.S. Says” by Bob Van Voris and Chris Dolmetsch for Bloomberg.com

North Carolina: “NC Senator Seeking Money from Program He Created” by Mark Binker for WRAL

South Carolina: “Smarter Corruption: How Lost Trust evolved into ‘Capitol Gains’” by Tony Bartelme and Doug Pardue for Charleston Post & Courier

Lobbying

Louisiana: “Lobbyists Spent Nearly Half a Million Dollars to Woo Louisiana Legislators in 2016” by Elizabeth Crisp for New Orleans Advocate

Campaign Finance

“Offer of Access to Trump and Family at Fundraiser Is Pulled Back, But Ties Remain” by Matea Gold and David Fahrenthold for The Washington Post

“DeVos Heads into Confirmation with a Megadonor’s Advantage” by Michael Stratford for Politico

Ethics

“Suspected of Corruption at Home, Powerful Foreigners Find Refuge in U.S.” by Kyra Gurney, Anjali Tsui, David Iaconangelo, and Selina Cheng for Miami Herald

“There’s Already a Big Problem with Trump’s ‘No New Deals’ Pledge” by Drew Harwell for The Washington Post

Massachusetts: “Appeals Court Overturns Convictions in Probation Department Scandal” by Milton Valencia for Boston Globe

New Jersey: “Lawmakers’ Revolt Sinks Book Deal, Newspaper Bill” by Salvador Rizzo for Bergen Record

New York: “Grand Juries Said to Hear Testimony on Inquiries into de Blasio Fund-Raising” by William Rashbaum for The New York Times

South Carolina: “Rep. Jim Merrill Indicted in S.C. Statehouse Probe; Suspended from Office” by Schuyler Kropf and Glenn Smith for Charleston Post & Courier

Virginia: “Residents Push to Change Law That Lets Norfolk Treasurer Anthony Burfoot Stay in Office” by Eric Hartley for The Virginian-Pilot

Elections

“Electoral College Settles Donald Trump’s Victory, but Little Else” by Jonathan Martin and Michael Wines for The New York Times

Campaign Finance

“Activists Brace for Fight Over Campaign Finance Law” by Alex Roarty for Roll Call

Arkansas: “Old Advice on State Judicial Donors Cut, Not Revised” by Lisa Hammersly for Northwest Arkansas News

Oregon: “Portland to Revive Public Campaign Financing in 2019” by Jessica Floum for Portland Oregonian

Ethics

Pennsylvania: “Former Philadelphia Congressman Chaka Fattah Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

Illinois: “Ald. Willie Cochran Indicted on Thefts from Ward Charity” by Jason Meisner, Jeremy Gorner, and Hal Dardick for Chicago Tribune

Indiana: “Former Lawmaker Lands Job with Vaping Group That Benefited from His Vote” by Tony Cook for Indianapolis Star

Kentucky: “Tim Longmeyer Pleads Guilty to State Felony” by Tom Loftus for Louisville Courier-Journal

New York: “Reform Group Sues Over New Disclosure Law” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Ethics Commissioner Resigns in Disgust” by Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Elections

“Electoral College Settles Donald Trump’s Victory, but Little Else” by Jonathan Martin and Michael Wines for New York Times

“All This Talk of Voter Fraud? Across U.S., Officials Found Next to None” by Michael Wines for New York Times

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “What Ever Happened to The Investigations into Tom Horne?” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez for Arizona Republic

California: “Contra Costa: Turmoil in DA’s office after agency head admits to violating California law” by Nate Gartrell by East Bay Times

Maine: “Ethics Commission Favors Shedding Light on ‘Dark Money’ in Maine Campaigns” by Kevin Miller for Portland Press Herald

Oregon: “Portland City Council Set to Revive Publicly Funded Campaigns – in 2019” by Jessica Floum for The Oregonian

Ethics

“Trump Could Keep D.C. Hotel Despite Conflict of Interest” by Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico

“Suspected of Corruption at Home, Powerful Foreigners Find Refuge in U.S.” by Kyra Gurney, Anjali Tsui, David Iaconangelo, and Selena Cheng for Miami Herald

Kentucky: “Tim Longmeyer Pleads Guilty to State Felony” by Tom Loftus for Louisville Courier-Journal

Massachusetts: “Antiboycott Groups Pay for State Officials’ Israel Trips” by Frank Phillips for Boston Globe

South Dakota: “South Dakota Judge Puts Government Ethics Overhaul on Hold” by James Nord (Associated Press) for Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Lobbying

“Trump Victory Sets Off a Tsunami of Lobbying Activity by Companies” by Steven Mufson and Ylan Mui for The Washington Post

Florida: “PBC School Board Imposes New Rules for Lobbyists” by Andrew Marra for Palm Beach Post

Elections

“Obama Orders Intelligence Report on Russian Election Hacking” by David Sanger and Scott Shane for The New York Times

National:

Gun Control Advocates Find a Deep-Pocketed Ally in Big Law
New York Times – Jessica Silver-Greenberg and Ben Protess | Published: 12/7/2016

On the defensive, gun control advocates are now quietly developing a plan to chip away at the gun lobby’s growing clout: team up with corporate law firms. Together, the firms are committing tens of millions of dollars in free legal services from top corporate lawyers who typically bill clients $1,000 an hour or more. Although law firms often donate time to individual causes, and some firms have worked on gun control on a piecemeal basis, the number and the prominence of the firms involved in the new coalition are unheard-of for modern-day big law. Rather than fighting the political headwinds, the coalition is focusing on courts and state regulatory agencies, among the few places where they might still gain some traction.

Ontario Overhauls Campaign Finance Rules with Sweeping Reforms
Toronto Globe and Mail – Adrian Morrow | Published: 12/1/2016

Legislation that alters the political fundraising landscape in Ontario was approved recently. The new law takes effect on January 1, 2017. It will prohibit all provincial politicians, candidates, and senior political staff from attending fundraising events, ban corporations and unions from giving, and cap donations from individuals at $3,600 per political party annually, among other provisions. The reforms were introduced following revelations that corporate leaders and lobbyists seeking government contracts or favorable policy decisions had spent up to $10,000 to buy exclusive face-time with Premier Kathleen Wynne and members of her cabinet over cocktails and dinner.

Federal:

Business Since Birth: Trump’s children and the tangle that awaits
New York Times – Matt Flegenheimer, Rachel Abrams, Barry Meier, and Hiroko Tabuchi | Published: 12/4/2016

Since his election, Donald Trump has chafed at the suggestion that keeping his business in the family could create problems, despite several episodes during his transition that seemed to mix business and diplomacy. While he has insisted he faces no legal requirement to turn over the company, the Trump Organization said it is preparing an “immediate transfer of management” to Trump’s three eldest children, along with a team of executives. An examination of the professional histories of the three children shows how deeply the family, business, and politics are interwoven, raising doubts about how a meaningful wall can ever be erected between the president-elect and his heirs.

Justices Wrestle with Role of Race in Redistricting
New York Times – Adam Liptak | Published: 12/5/2016

Race and politics divided the U.S. Supreme Court along ideological lines in two cases that could affect the way state Legislatures draw election districts in the future. The court’s more liberal justices criticized maps drawn after the 2010 Census by Republican Legislatures in North Carolina and Virginia for focusing predominantly on the percentage of African Americans in various districts. The more conservative justices mostly defended the maps, either because race did not dictate the contours of the districts or because the motivator was political advantage, something the high court has not ruled against. Several justices expressed frustration that unless they define clearly what is allowed and what is not, they could be left with what Justice Stephen Breyer called “a set of standards that district courts can’t apply, which will try to separate sheep from goats.”

Trump Adviser Has Pushed Clinton Conspiracy Theories
Politico – Bryan Bender and Andrew Hanna | Published: 12/5/2016

Before the election, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who is Donald Trump’s choice for national security adviser, tweeted a fake news story that claimed police and prosecutors had found evidence linking Hillary Clinton and much of her senior campaign staff to money laundering, perjury, and other felonies. Flynn’s tweet is attracting renewed attention after a man fired a rifle inside a Washington, D.C. restaurant that was the subject of false stories tying it and the Clinton campaign to a child sex trafficking ring. Some say Flynn’s fondness for spreading fake news casts doubt on his fitness to serve as national security adviser, suggesting he either cannot spot a blatant falsehood or is just ideologically bent to believe the worst of his perceived enemies.

Trump Sold All Shares in Companies in June, Spokesman Says
Washington Post – Drew Harwell and Rodsalind Helderman | Published: 12/6/2016

Donald Trump sold all his stock back in June, a transition team spokesperson said, showing the president-elect has begun to address concerns about complicated entanglements between his business and new government life. Questions about Trump’s stock holdings came back into view after he criticized the costs of Boeing to build a new Air Force One. Trump’s portfolio included shares in a number of banks, oil giants, and other companies with business pending before the U.S. government and whose value could rise due to Trump’s decisions in office. Those stock holdings, ethics advisers said, offered a potentially troublesome facet of Trump’s private finances that could entangle his public decision-making.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama
Ethics Commission Pulls Opinion Over Nonprofit Concerns
Montgomery Advertiser – Brian Lyman | Published: 12/7/2016

The Alabama Ethics Commission withdrew an opinion that said the state ethics law’s definition of a principal – an individual or organization that hires a lobbyist – included not only a firm that hired the lobbyist but anyone in the organization with authority, including executives, officers, and members of boards of directors. Lobbyists and principals cannot provide legislators with things of value. The jury that convicted former House Speaker Mike Hubbard on corruption charges accepted a broad definition of principal favored by prosecutors. That stirred unease in the business community and among nonprofits. Representatives of nonprofits who spoke at a recent commission hearing said many of their chief donors had cut off funds over concerns about the principal definition.

California
EBay Faces Fines from State Ethics Watchdog after Failing to Disclose Sacramento Lobbying on Time
Los Angeles Times – Patrick McGreevy | Published: 12/6/2016

The California Fair Political Practices Commission proposed a $6,500 fine for eBay after the company missed deadlines for filing lobbying spending reports and failed to properly disclose campaign contributions. The commission will vote on December 15 whether to approve the deal. EBay representatives told investigators the failure to file the reports on time was “inadvertent” and caused by a transfer of responsibility for filing during a “corporate transition.” The firm also was late in filing statements required of major donors that disclose their contributions.

Colorado
Amendment 71 Made It Harder to Get Initiatives on the Ballot – What Happens Now?
Denver Post – Brian Eason | Published: 12/5/2016

Anyone able to raise enough money and signatures can propose an amendment to the Colorado Constitution through a ballot initiative, sidestepping the legislative process. But Amendment 71, approved by voters November 8, made that harder to do, so much harder, critics say, that amending the constitution is no longer an option for all but the most well-funded organizations. Statutory ballot measures that fall short of amending the constitution are still on the table, but there are downsides to that approach too.

Florida
Corcoran Offers Lobbyist ‘Training’ to Adjust to New Legislative Limitations
Sunshine State News – Allison Nielson | Published: 12/1/2016

The Florida House passed a sweeping set of rule changes during its organization session, with several of those changes directly affecting lobbyists. To help lobbyists transition to the new guidelines, the House will be holding training sessions on December 13 and December 14 in Tallahassee. The lobbyist training will cover disclosure requirements for lobbyists, as well as other rules.

Massachusetts
Businesses Seek to Overturn Massachusetts Ban on Political Contributions
MassLive.com – Shira Schoenberg | Published: 12/7/2016

Under Massachusetts campaign finance law, businesses are not allowed to contribute to candidates. Individuals can donate up to $1,000 per year and unions can give up to $15,000. Republican lawmakers have tried, unsuccessfully, to bring the amount unions can donate down to $1,000. The law has typically benefited Democrats, who get the bulk of union campaign contributions. Attorneys for two businesses recently tried to convince a Superior Court judge to allow businesses to make the same political donations as labor unions.

Missouri
Lawsuit Seeks to Stop Campaign Contribution Limits Approved by Missouri Voters Last Month
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Kurt Erickson | Published: 12/7/2016

A lawsuit filed in federal court challenges the voter-approved referendum that reinstated campaign contribution limits in Missouri. The same group that unsuccessfully sought to block the ballot measure before the November election argues the change in the state constitution unfairly limits some businesses and associations from giving money to campaigns. In particular, the change would stop the Association of Missouri Electrical Cooperatives from donating to campaigns and PACs, violating the free speech rights of its members, the lawsuit notes. The legal action comes one day before the new limits are set to take effect.

New York
Anthony Weiner Fined $65,000 for Campaign Finance Violations
New York Times – J. David Goodman | Published: 12/1/2016

The New York City Campaign Finance Board ordered Anthony Weiner’s campaign to repay more than $195,000 in public matching funds he received as part of his failed 2013 mayoral bid.  The board also ordered the campaign to pay a $64,956 fine for spending irregularities, including personal expenses not allowed under the current law.  The campaign committed multiple infractions, the board found, including accepting 21 contributions that exceeded the legal limit, accepting contributions in excess of the limit for donors who have business with the city, and failing to demonstrate how some expenses were made in furtherance of the campaign. New revelations of sexually explicit text messages and photographs, sent to women after he had left Congress, came to light and derailed Weiner’s bid for mayor.

North Carolina
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) Concedes Closely Contested Governor’s Race
Washington Post – Amber Phillips | Published: 12/5/2016

Ending an acrimonious stalemate that dragged on for nearly a month, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory conceded in his bid for re-election, clearing the way for the ascension of his challenger, Roy Cooper, and giving the national Democratic Party a rare cause for celebration. Cooper, the current state attorney general, declared victory on election night, but McCrory’s allies lodged election challenges in dozens of counties. Most of the challenges proved to be of little consequence, however. As partial results of a recount of more than 90,000 votes that Republicans had demanded in Durham County showed no significant change in the results, McCrory had little choice but to admit defeat.

Washington
EPA, Tribe: State commission not venue for complaint
The Olympian – Don Jenkins (Capital Press) | Published: 12/7/2016

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a Puget Sound tribe say the Washington Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) should step away from an investigation into whether the What’s Upstream advocacy campaign violated state law. The EPA said a federal audit will answer whether What’s Upstream organizers misspent public funds. The tribe said the PDC has no jurisdiction over how a tribe spends money. Save Family Farming alleges What’s Upstream lead organizer Larry Wasserman, the tribe’s environmental policy director, failed to register his group as a political committee or grassroots lobbying organization. The complaint also named EPA Northwest Administrator Dennis McLerran and Seattle lobbying firm Strategies 360.

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.

Lobbying

“Gun Control Advocates Find a Deep-Pocketed Ally in Big Law” by Jessica Silver-Greenberg and Ben Protess for The New York Times

“Bob Dole Worked Behind the Scenes on Trump-Taiwan Call” by Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Eric Lipton for The New York Times

Alabama: “Ethics Commission Pulls Opinion Over Nonprofit Concerns” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser

Florida: “Hillsborough County to Copy Richard Corcoran’s Proposal to Ban Texting by Lobbyists?” by Mitch Perry for Florida Politics

Campaign Finance

Missouri: “Lawsuit Seeks to Stop Campaign Contribution Limits Approved by Missouri Voters Last Month” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Ethics

“Trump Adviser’s Son Removed from Transition after Spreading Conspiracy Theory” by Greg Miller for The Washington Post

“Trump’s Top Conflict Critics Take Over Watchdog Group” by Darren Samuelsohn for Politico

California: “Ex-LAPD Sergeant Broke City Rules by Leaking Recording of ‘Django Unchained’ Actress, Ethics Group Says” by Kate Mather for Los Angeles Times

Missouri: “Nine Face Corruption Charges, Including ESL Councilwoman, Board of Review Member” by George Pawlacyzk and Beth Hundsdorfer for Belleville News Democrat

Legislative Issues

South Carolina: “South Carolina Lawmakers Change Rules to Limit Obstructions” by Robert Kittle and John Hart for WJBF

Lobbying

California: “EBay Faces Fines from State Ethics Watchdog after Failing to Disclose Sacramento Lobbying on Time” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

Maine: “Proposal Would Require PACs to Disclose Major Donors” by Steve Mistler for Maine Public Radio

Wisconsin: “After Conviction, Schmitt May Not Seek Re-election” by Adam Rodewall for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ethics

“Trump Sold All Shares in Companies in June, Spokesman Says” by Drew Harwell and Rosalind Helderman for The Washington Post

California: “L.A. Ethics Commission Investigating LAPD’s Watchdog Over Handling of Special Inmate’s Jail Log” by Kate Mather for Los Angeles Times

Florida: “Broward Corruption Cop Sets Up Fight with Cities Over Ethics Reforms” by Brittany Wallman for South Florida Sun Sentinel

Minnesota: “10 U Officials Had Free Access to MSFA Suites at Vikings Stadium” by Rochelle Olson for Minneapolis Star Tribune

Elections

Colorado: “Amendment 71 Made It Harder to Get Initiatives on the Ballot – What Happens Now?” by Brian Eason for The Denver Post

Redistricting

“Justices Wrestle with Role of Race in Redistricting” by Adam Liptak for The New York Times

Campaign Finance

“FEC Asks Congress for Authority to Battle Shady PACs” by Kenneth P. Doyle for Bloomberg.com

New York: “Council Bill Could Make Campaign Fraud Easier in New York, Critics Say” by William Neuman for The New York Times

Wyoming: “Wyo. Campaign Finance Law Often Goes Unenforced” by Matt Murphy (Wyoming Tribune Eagle) for Wyoming Business Report

Ethics

“Business Since Birth: Trump’s children and the tangle that awaits” by Matt Flegenheimer, Rachel Abrams, Barry Meier, and Hiroko Tabuchi for The New York Times

“Trump Adviser Has Pushed Clinton Conspiracy Theories” by Mattew Rosenberg for The New York Times

Florida: “Turning Code Violations into Payoffs, the Opa-locka Way” by Michael Sallah and Jay Weaver for Miami Herald

Michigan: “Politician Can Evade Questions, But Not Indictment in Rizzo Scandal” by Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press

New Mexico: “Ethics-Related Legislation Heads to Session” by Deborah Baker for Albuquerque Journal

Elections

North Carolina: “North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) Concedes Closely Contested Governor’s Race” by Amber Phillips for The Washington Post

Lobbying

Florida: “Corcoran Offers Lobbyist ‘Training’ to Adjust to New Legislative Limitations” by Allison Nielson for Sunshine State News

West Virginia: “Ethics Panel Puts Question about WV House Speaker’s Job on Hold” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette

Campaign Finance

Canada: “Ontario Overhauls Campaign Finance Rules with Sweeping Reforms” by Adrian Morrow for Toronto Globe and Mail

Arizona: “Burns Responds to APS Settlement Offer: No thanks” by Rachel Leingang for Arizona Capitol Times

Missouri: “Politicians Fatten Coffers before Missouri’s New Campaign-Donation Limits Kick In” by Jo Mannies for St. Louis Public Radio

New York: “Anthony Weiner Fined $65,000 for Campaign Finance Violations” by J. David Goodman for The New York Times

Ethics

“Trump’s Complex Stock Portfolio Could Create Yet More Conflicts” by Rosalind Helderman and Drew Harwell for The Washington Post

South Dakota: “Hearing Set on Move to Repeal New Anti-Corruption Measure” by Bob Mercer for Rapid City Journal

Elections

“‘Rigged’ or Not, Election Positions Trump to Shape Rules on How You Vote” by Michael Wines for The New York Times

Lobbying

“Wave of Lobbyist Deregistrations in Trump Orbit After Announcement of New Policy” by Catherine Ho for The Washington Post

Campaign Finance

“Ackman’s Fund Asks SEC for Exemption After Campaign Donation” by Svea Herbst-Bayliss for Reuters

“Trump to Accept Inauguration Funds from Corporations and Big Donors” by Nicholas Fandos for The New York Times

Michigan: “Rizzo Expands Empire After Pumping Cash into Campaigns” by Robert Snell and Michael Gerstein for Detroit News

Minnesota: “Obscure Party Funds Become Minnesota Campaign Cash Magnets” by Brian Bakst for Minnesota Public Radio

Ethics

“Trump’s Twitter Addiction Could Reshape the Presidency” by Eli Stokols for Politico

“Trump Announces He Will Leave Business ‘in Total’ – Leaving Open How He Will Avoid Conflicts of Interest” by Drew Harwell for The Washington Post

Elections

“Anti-Trump Forces Launch Attack on Electoral College” by Kyle Cheney for Politico

North Carolina: “In North Carolina, No End in Sight to Governor’s Race” by Richard Fausset for The New York Times

Legislative Issues

“Nancy Pelosi Chosen Again as House Democratic Leader – But Tally Suggests Deep Division” by Paul Kane and Ed O’Keefe for The Washington Post

Lobbying

“How Exactly Do You ‘Drain the Swamp’? Here Are 4 Ways It Could Be Done.” by Catherine Ho for The Washington Post

Campaign Finance

“Justin Trudeau Faces Criticism Over Fund-Raisers in Canada” by Ian Austen for The New York Times

Ethics

“News Outlets Rethink Usage of the Term ‘Alt-Right’” by Sydney Ember for The New York Times

“The Controversial Legal Theory That Could Get Trump Sued” by Josh Gerstein for Politico

“Trump Names White House Counsel as Potential Conflicts Loom” by Jennifer Jacobs and Toluse Olorunippa for Bloomberg.com

Alabama: “Bodyguard: Alabama governor spent anti-terror funds on staff” by Tim Lockette for The Anniston Star

Missouri: “Could 2017 Be The Year That Ethics Reform Takes Hold in Missouri?” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Elections

“How Stable Are Democracies? ‘Warning Signs Are Flashing Red’” by Amanda Taub for The New York Times

“Trump’s Baseless Assertions of Voter Fraud Called ‘Stunning’” by Andrew Restuccia for Politico

“For Trump Son-in-Law and Confidant Jared Kushner, a Long History of Fierce Loyalty” by Shawn Boberg for The Washington Post

Lobbying

“Trump’s Lobbying Ban Might Actually Make Corruption Worse” by Tim LaPira and Herschel Thomas for Washington Post

Florida: “A Liberal Leader from Tallahassee’s Past Praises GOP Speaker’s Call for Change” by Steve Bousquet for Tampa Bay Times

New York: “Emails Released by Mayor de Blasio’s Office Detail Reliance on Outside ‘Agents’” by J. David Goodman for New York Times

Oklahoma: “Gov. Mary Fallin Used Private Email to Set Up Meeting with Lobbyist” by Phil Cross for KOKH

Campaign Finance

District of Columbia: “D.C. Council to Debate Emergency Legislation on Campaign Finance Reform” by Jasper Scherer for Washington Post

Virginia: “Special Interests Spend Millions to Pay Virginia Legislators’ Bills” by Dave Ress for The Daily Press

Ethics

Iowa: “Daugaard Favors Repeal of New Ethics Law” by James Nord (Associated Press) for Rapid City Journal

Elections

“Clinton Campaign Will Participate in Wisconsin Recount, with an Eye on ‘Outside Interference,’ Lawyer Says” by Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post

“Donald Trump’s Early Backers in State Government May See Rewards” by Monica Davey for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Maine: “Maine Lawmakers Say Trips at Taxpayer Expense Are Vital” by Scott Thistle for Portland Press Herald

Lobbying

Indiana: “Holcomb Transition Team Enjoys Pacers Game at Team’s Expense” by Leslie Weidenbener for Indianapolis Business Journal

Oregon: “Governor’s Respected Energy Chief to Step Down, Partly Because of Lobbyist Influence” by Scott Thistle and Tux Turkel for Portland Press Herald

Campaign Finance

“FEC Questions Trump Donations Worth $1.3M” by Mark Hensch for The Hill

New York: “City Council Hears Legislative Package on Conflicts of Interest and Campaign Finance” by Samar Khursid for Gotham Gazette

Washington: “GMO Labeling Supporters Fined $320K Over Campaign Disclosure” by the Associated Press for KOMO

Ethics

“Trump Drops Threat of New Hillary Clinton Investigation” by Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Michael D. Shear for The New York Times

“Trump Foundation Admits to Violating Ban on ‘Self-Dealing’’ New Filing to IRS Shows” by David Fahrenthold for The Washington Post

Missouri: “Columbia Lawmaker Proposes Ethics Bills in Response to Greitens’ Campaign Promises” by Brittany Ruess for Columbia Daily Tribune

New York: “Percoco, Kaloyeros, Six Others Indicted” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union

Pennsylvania: “Pittsburgh’s Revamped Ethics Board Up, Running” by Bob Bauder for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Elections

North Carolina: “North Carolina Governor Alleges Voter Fraud in Bid to Hang On” by Elena Schneider for Politico

Wisconsin: “Many in Milwaukee Neighborhood Didn’t Vote – and Don’t Regret It” by Sabrina Tavernise for The New York Times

Redistricting

Wisconsin: “Judges Find Wisconsin Redistricting Unfairly Favored Republicans” by Michael Wines for The New York Times

Lobbying

“White Nationalists Dress Up and Come to Washington in Hopes of Influencing Trump” by Lisa Mascaro for Los Angeles Times

“Groups Ease Off Events for Lawmakers Under New Lobbying Law” by James Nord (Associated Press) for The Washington Times

Campaign Finance

“FEC Deadlocks, Won’t Investigate Dark Money Group That Spent All Its Funds On an Election” by Robert Maguire for Center for Responsive Politics

California: “Did Money Buy California Ballot Measure Contests?” by Taryn Luna for The Sacramento Bee

Kentucky: “State Agencies Investigate Political Donations Raised by Tim Longmeyer, Others” by John Cheves for Lexington Herald-Leader

Ethics

“Ethics Watchdog Updates Gift Rules for Federal Workers” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

“A Scramble to Assess the Dangers of President-elect Donald Trump’s Global Business Empire” by Drew Harwell and Anu Narayanswamy for The Washington Post

Arkansas: “Lawmakers File Bills on Ethics, Taxes, Sessions” by John Lyon (Arkansas News Bureau) for The Times Record

Florida: “Convicted Opa-locka City Manager Gets 3 Years in Prison for Taking Bribes” by Jay Weaver and Michael Sallah for Miami Herald

Pennsylvania: “Mastery Charter Schools to Pay $2,000 to Settle City Ethics Complaint” by Martha Woodall for Philadelphia Inquirer

Elections

“Underestimating the Unconventional” by Susan Milligan for U.S. News and World Report