Lobbying

California: “Legislature Passes Bill to Disclose Lobbying on State Contracts” by Guy Marzorati for KQED

Campaign Finance

New Jersey: “Ex-Birdsall Exec Admits Role in $1M Pay-to-Play Scheme” by S.P. Sullivan (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger

New York: “Hearing Advances Reforms to City Campaign Finance System” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Ethics

“What is Corruption?” by Robert Gebelhoff for Washington Post

Alabama: “Zeigler Says He’ll File Court Motion Seeking Bentley Testimony” by Mike Cason for AL.com

New York: “Sheldon Silver, Ex-New York Assembly Speaker, Gets 12-Year Prison Sentence” by Benjamin Weiser and Vivian Yee for New York Times

Virginia: “Fla. Businessman Paid $10K for Va. Senator’s Trip to Meet Syrian President Assad” by Laura Vozzella for Washington Post

Elections

“Ted Cruz Drops Out of the Republican Presidential Race” by Sean Sullivan and Katie Zezima for Washington Post

“Sanders Wins Indiana, but Clinton Looks to November” by Heidi Przybyla for USA Today

Legislative Issues

“Now, Dennis Hastert Seems an Architect of Dysfunction as Speaker” by Carl Hulse for New York Times

Campaign Finance

“Clinton Fundraising Leaves Little for State Parties” by Kenneth Vogel and Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico

“Cruz’s Faltering Campaign Shows the Risks of Depending on a Few Wealthy Donors” by Joseph Tanfani and Noah Bierman for Los Angeles Times

Massachusetts: “Top Donors Could Gain More Access to Baker, Officials” by Jim O’Sullivan for Boston Globe

Washington: “Sen. Roach Wants AG to Decide If Campaign Donors Should Be Named on Petitions” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times

Ethics

Florida: “Nonprofit Contributions from Developers Get Scrutiny in Miami Beach” by James Teeple for The Real Deal

New York: “Executive Chamber Receives Subpoena; Percoco Said to Be Under Federal Gaze” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union

Pennsylvania: “Guilty: Aide to former PA Gov. Rendell pleas to wire fraud” by Marc Levy (Associated Press) for Binghamton Press & Bulletin

South Carolina: “Watchdogs Say Ethics Bills Could Instill Confidence” by Tim Smith for Greenville News

Elections

“Stricter Rules for Voter IDs Reshape Races” by Michael Wines and Manuel Fernandez for New York Times

Virginia: “Va. Republicans Hire Lawyer in Bid to Stop Restoration of Felons’ Voting Rights” by Laura Vozzella for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

“Sanders Is Biggest Spender of 2016 So Far – Generating Millions for Consultants” by Matea Gold and Anu Narayanswamy for Washington Post

Colorado: “House Votes for Disclosure of Independent Spending on Ads Touting Political Parties” by Jeff Roberts (Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition) for Colorado Independent

Colorado: “Groups May Take Aim at Denver Campaign Finance, Ethics Rules” by Jon Murray for Denver Post

New York: “De Blasio’s Office Gets Subpoenas as Inquiries into Fund-Raising Continue” by J. David Goodman for New York Times

North Carolina: “FEC Resets Campaign Donation Limits for NC Congressional Races” by Colin Campbell for Raleigh News & Observer

Ethics

Alabama: “Henry to File New Impeachment Articles against Bentley” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser

Connecticut: “Questions Raised About Sale of Famous Political Collection” by Edmund Mahony for Hartford Courant

South Carolina: “Senate Passes Bills Aimed at Reforming State Ethics Laws” by Maya Prabhu for Charleston Post & Courier

Utah: “Donor Speed-Dating with Guv Doesn’t Sit Well with Some” by Robert Gehrke for Salt Lake Tribune

Elections

“Voters in Eastern Seaboard Primaries Embrace Trump” by Philip Rucker and Jose DelReal for Washington Post

“Clinton Decisively Wins Democratic Primaries in 4 States” by Abby Phillip, John Wagner, and Anne Gearan for Washington Post

“How the Other Fifth Lives” by Thomas Edsall for New York Times

Texas: “Justices Leave Texas Voter ID Law Intact, with a Warning” by Adam Liptak for New York Times

Lobbying

California: “Here Are All the Sports Events California State Lawmakers Attended for Free” by Javier Panzar for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

Maine: “LePage Vetoes Proposed Fix to Maine Clean Election Fund” by A.J. Higgins for Maine Public Broadcasting

Ethics

“Dennis Hastert Sentenced to 15 Months, and Apologizes for Sex Abuse” by Monica Davey, Julie Bosman, and Mitch Smith for New York Times

Arkansas: “Leslie Rutledge Rejects Wording of Campaign Finance Measure” by Associated Press for Arkansas Business Journal

Rhode Island: “R.I.’s Sen. Sheehan Buys Ads to Promote His Ethics Bill” by Katherine Gregg for Providence Journal

Virgina: “McDonnell Trial: Supreme Court justices express skepticism of former Virginia governor’s conviction” by Robert Barnes and Laura Vozzella for Washington Post

Elections

“Is the U.S. Ready for Post-Middle-Class Politics?” by Charles Homans for New York Times

“Ted Cruz Names Carly Fiorina as His Running Mate, Seeking a Jolt” by Jonathan Martin, Matt Flegenheimer, and Alexander Burns for New York Times

“Rep. Fattah Becomes First Lawmaker to Lose Primary” by Cristina Marcos for The Hill

Elections

“Clinton Decisively Wins Democratic Primaries in 4 States” by Abby Phillip, John Wagner, and Anne Gearan for Washington Post

“Voters in Eastern Seaboard Primaries Embrace Trump” by Philip Rucker and Jose DelReal for Washington Post

North Carolina: “Federal Judge Upholds North Carolina Voter Rules” by Alan Blinder and Richard Fausett for New York Times

Ethics

Colorado: “Court: Ethics Commission’s Frivolous Complaint Rulings are Final” by Marianne Goodland for Colorado Independent

Kentucky: “AG Asks for Ethics Probe of Bevin Allegations” by Deborah Yetter for Louisville Courier-Journal

Missouri: “Some Progress on Missouri Ethics Reform, But Does It Go Far Enough?” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

New Jersey: “Questions Raised on New N.J. Supreme Court Justice’s Role in Campaign Case” by Salvador Rizzo for Bergen Record

Virginia: “Ethics Lawyer: ‘Common Interest’ in Sports Clears Va. Officials to Accept Free Tickets” by Graham Moomaw for Richmond Times-Dispatch

Lobbying

New Hampshire: “Ethics Panel Calls for Broader Conflict Disclosure for State Lawmakers” by Dave Solomon for Manchester Union-Leader

Campaign Finance

“Checks: Political Money and Democracy” by Justin Miller for American Prospect

Lobbying

California: “The Most Influential Person on the Coastal Commission May Be This Lobbyist” by Kim Christensen for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

“Congressmen Challenge ‘Bipartisan Shakedown’ Pressuring Members to Raise $18,000 Every Day” by Chance Seales for WCMH

Alaska: “Parade of Politicians Expected to Appear at Trial over Alaska Campaign Donation Limits” by Alex DeMarban for Alaska Dispatch News

Michigan: “Labor Unions Sue State of Michigan over Election Law” by Kathleen Gray for Detroit Free Press

New York: “De Blasio Team Violated Campaign Finance Laws, Report Says” by William Neuman and Jesse McKinley for New York Times

Ethics

Alabama: “Jon Mason Should Be Concerned about Ethical Conflicts, Former Ethics Officials Say” by Connor Sheets for AL.com

Hawaii “Les Kondo Confirmed As State Auditor” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat

Idaho: “Initiative Proposes Sweeping Changes to Idaho’s Campaign Finance Laws” by Betsy Russell for Spokane Spokesman-Review

Elections

“Ted Cruz and John Kasich to Coordinate Against Donald Trump” by Matt Flegenheimer and Jonathan Martin for New York Times

Virginia: “Virginia Governor Restores Voting Rights to Felons” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Erik Eckholm for New York Times

Lobbying

“Lobbyists Capitalize on Election Scramble” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Alabama: “Muslim Activists from Alabama See the Capitol’s Sights, but Not Their Delegation” by Abigail Hauslohner for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

“Gyrocopter Pilot Who Landed at U.S. Capitol Sentenced to Four Months in Prison” by Spencer Hsu for Washington Post

Florida: “With Uncertainty at Top of Ticket, Republicans Back Off in Some States” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times

Maryland: “Fundraising Ban Loophole Allows Some Maryland Lawmakers to Take Lobbyist Cash” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post

New Jersey: “Birdsall CEO Gets 4 Years in Huge N.J. Pay-to-Play Scheme” by S.P. Sullivan (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger

Ethics

“Senate Backs Ethics Panel Plan That’s Seen as Too Little, Too Late” by Mark Johnson for VTDigger.org

Missouri: “State Lawmakers Send Ethics Bills to Governor” by Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) for Springfield News-Leader

Pennsylvania:”Mike Fleck, Allentown Mayor’s Adviser, Friend Charged in FBI Probe” by Emily Opilo and Peter Hall for Allentown Morning Call

Indiana: “Indiana Lawmaker Defends Taking Family on California Trip” by Brian Slodysko (Associated Press) for Sacramento Bee

Elections

“Special Election Results Buoy Hope for Reform” by David Howard King for Gotham Gazette

“Pro-Hillary Super PAC to ‘Correct’ Reddit and Facebook” by Steven Klett for Epoch Times

Lobbying

“Trade Group for Lobbyists Closing Down” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

“Va. Lawmakers Sustain Series of McAuliffe Vetoes” by Jim Nolan for Richmond Times Dispatch

Campaign Finance

“Inquiry of Mayor de Blasio Fund-Raising Extends to ’14 State Senate Races” by William Rashbaum for New York Times

Ethics

“Beshear Aide Tim Longmeyer Pleads Guilty to Bribery; Investigation Continues” by John Cheves and Bill Estep for Lexington Herald-Leader

“‘More to Come,’ Attorney General Vows, as Officials Criminally Charged in Flint Water Crisis” by Brady Dennis and Mark Berman for Washington Post

“Tough Job, Tough Questions for Campaign Watchdog Hopefuls” by Rachel Stassen-Berger for St. Paul Pioneer Press

Elections

“Why Ohio’s Bribery Law Isn’t Going to Upend the GOP Race” by Philip Elliott for Time

Legislative Issues

“Court Rules Indiana Lawmakers Can Keep Emails Private” by Tom Davies (Associated Press) for Indianapolis Business Journal

Redistricting

“Supreme Court Upholds Arizona Redistricting Plan” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Lobbying

“Lobbyists and Corporations, Arm-in-Arm” by Rani Molla for Bloomberg.com

“What is Shadow Lobbying? How Influence Peddlers Shape Policy in the Dark” by Libby Watson for Sunlight Foundation

Campaign Finance

“PAC Donations from Elderly Donors Draw Scrutiny” by Fredreka Schouten and Christopher Schnaars for USA Today

“George Clooney Certainly Has Raised Some ‘Obscene’ Amounts of Campaign Money” by Justin Moyer for Washington Post

Mississippi: “No Restrictions on Legislators as Mississippi House Turns Back Campaign Cash Rules” by The Associated Press for Mississippi Business Journal

Montana: “Judge Weighs Whether Low Contribution Limits Are Justified” by Matt Volz (Associated Press) for The Missoulian

Ethics

District of Columbia: “DC Schools Chief Asked Contractor for $100K” by Ben Nuckols (Associated Press) for Idaho Statesman

Elections

“New York Blowout Gives Donald Trump Big Boost in GOP Race” by Jenna Johnson and Philip Rucker for Washington Post

“Strong Showing by Clinton in Defeat of Sanders in New York Primary” by Abby Phillip, John Wagner, and Anne Gearan for Washington Post

Procurement

“Governments Struggle to Root Out Fake Minority Contractors” by Mattie Quinn for Governing

Lobbying

Colorado: “Lobbyist Ben Walters May Be in Hot Water for Lying to Lawmakers” by Marianne Goodland for Colorado Independent

Louisiana: “Who’s Really Being Wined and Dined? Louisiana Legislators Trying to Clear up Vague Lobbyist Disclosure Laws” by Elizabeth Crisp for New Orleans Advocate

Campaign Finance

“Voters Angry About Big Money in Politics Take Their Complaints to City Hall” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

“FEC’s Petersen Hints Interest in Foreign-Money Rules” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA

“Inside a Contest Winner’s Starry Night at George and Amal Clooney’s Fundraiser for Hillary Clinton: ‘They made us feel at home’” by Rennie Dyball for People.com

“Court Unseals Investigative File from Ex-D.C. Mayor Gray Campaign Probe” by Mike DeBonis, Anne Marimow, and Spencer Hsu for Washington Post

Florida: “Jacksonville Rep. Reggie Fullwood Indicted on Federal Charges, Accused of Embezzling Campaign Money” by Kristen Clark for Miami Herald

Ethics

“Elizabeth Warren, Comic Book Hero? Senator Is Latest to Star” by Steve LeBlanc (Associated Press) for Albuquerque Journal

Indiana: “Do City’s New Ethics Rules Go Far Enough?” by Haleigh Colombo for Indianapolis Business Journal

Elections

California: “Are You an Independent Voter? You Aren’t If You Checked This Box” by John Myers, Christine Mai-Duc, and Ben Welsh for Los Angeles Times

Lobbying

Ohio: “Many GOP Lobbyists Will Go to Cleveland but the Thrill Is Gone” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

“The New Gilded Age: Close to half of all super PAC money comes from 50 donors” by Matea Gold and Anu Narayanswamy for Washington Post

California: “Political Fine from 2012 Mayor’s Race Sets Record” by Greg Moran for San Diego Union-Tribune

Ethics

“Unsealed Document Alleges Silver Had Two Extramarital Affairs” by Coby Hamilton and Josefa Velasquez for Capital New York

“Inquiries Cloud de Blasio’s Bid to Come Off as Strong Manager Before ’17 Race” by J. David Goodman and William Neuman for New York Times

South Carolina: “SLED Report Names 2 with Ties to SC Attorney General Wilson” by John Monk for The State

Alabama: “Alabama Governor Had His Wallet Delivered to Him by Law Enforcement Helicopter” by Travis Andrews for Washington Post

Missouri: “Missouri’s Nixon Signs Bill Tightening Loose Ethics Laws” by Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) for ABC News

Elections

“Prosecutor Says He Won’t Pursue Case against Trump Campaign Manager” by Terrence Dopp for Bloomberg.com

Michigan: “Gov. Snyder Sets Elections to Fill Virgil Smith’s Senate Seat” by Kathleen Gray for Detroit Free Press

Legislative Issues

Tennessee: “Gov. Bill Haslam Vetoes Bible Bill” by Dave Boucher, Holly Meyer, and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Lobbying

Kentucky: “Bevin’s Five Veto Actions Most in 16 Years” by Joseph Gerth for Louisville Courier-Journal

Campaign Finance

“Why Thousands of Americans Are Lining Up to Get Arrested in D.C. This Week” by Ben Wofford for Rolling Stone

Alabama: “Bentley Scandal: Influence of ‘dark money’ a key issue as governor’s funding is scrutinized” by Connor Sheets for AL.com

Ethics

“Puerto Rico’s Prosperous D.C. Power Couple” by Eric Lipton and Michael Corkery for New York Times

“Inside a Consulting Giant’s Deep Roots in Clinton Land” by Rachel Bade for Politico

Arizona: “Advocacy Group Files Ballot Measure to Combat Dark Money” by Ryan Van Velzer (Associated Press) for Hastings Tribune

Elections

“Donald Trump, American Preacher” by Jeff Sharlet for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Tennesse: “Jeremy Durham’s Office Moved Across Street after AG Probe” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Washington: “Legislature Gets a C- Grade from Lobbyists. That’s Actually an Improvement.” by Melissa Santos for Tacoma News-Tribune

Lobbying

“Curbing Corporate Lobbyists: Easier than you think” by Lee Drutman and Christine Mahoney for American Prospect

Virginia: “Jobs and Ethics: two areas where McAuliffe and GOP lawmakers disagree” by Jenna Portnoy for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

“Barrage of Attack Ads Threatens to Undermine Donald Trump” by Nick Corasiniti and Maggie Haberman for New York Times

Alaska: “Judge Hears Arguments as GOP Supporters Try to Loosen Campaign Donation Limits” by Alex DeMarban for Alaska Dispatch News

California: “Judge Recommends $160,000 Tow Company Fine” by Greg Moran for San Diego Union-Tribune

Georgia: “Lawmakers Support Replenishment of Maine’s Public Campaign Finance Fund” by Steve Mistler for mainecentral.com

Ethics

North Carolina: “When Musicians Boycott to Protest Politics” by David Graham for The Atlantic

Indiana: “Indy Council Approves Ethics Reforms” by Brian Eason for Indianapolis Star

Elections

New York: “Donald Trump and New York Tabloids Resume Their Elaborate Dance” by Michael Grynbaum for New York Times

Lobbying

Tennessee: “Lobbying Expenditures on Tenn. Lawmakers Increases in 2015” by Tom Humphrey (Knoxville News Sentinel) for Memphis Commercial Appeal

Campaign Finance

“FEC Deadlocks over Allegations Gingrich Used 2012 Campaign to Sell Books” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

Massachusetts: “State Panel OK’s GOP’s Use of Federal Funds for Baker War Chest” by Frank Phillips for Boston Globe

Montana: “Montana Campaign Finance Ruling Could Have ‘Ramifications Nationwide’” by James DeHaven for Billings Gazette

New York: “Federal Prosecutors Cast a Wider Net in New York City Hall Inquiry” by William Rashbaum and Al Baker for New York Times

Ethics

“Hastert Paid to Hide Sex Abuse, Then Lied about It, Federal Filing Alleges” by Jason Meisner, Jeff Coen, and Christy Gutowski for Los Angeles Times

“Washington Watchdog Adjusts to Life with Partisan Roommates” by Bill Allison for Bloomberg.com

Elections

“As Campaigns Seek Delegates, Ordinary Voters Feel Sidelined” by Jeremy Peters for New York Times

“A Portrait of Trump the Donor: Free rounds of golf, but no personal cash” by David Fahrenthold and Rosalind Helderman for Washington Post