Lobbying

“Bill Shuster Muscled Through Transportation Bill Pushed by Lobbyist Girlfriend” by Anna Palmer, Jake Sherman, and John Bresnahan for Politico

“Taco Bell Lobbyists Thank Congressional Staff with 6,000 Tacos” by Lee Fang for The Intercept

California: “For Statewide Change, Advocates Are Making Their Battles Local” by Melanie Mason for Los Angeles Times

Indiana: “Trinkets, Website Part of Gov. Pence’s Unique Lobbying Effort” by Ryan Cook for Indianapolis Star

New York: “Skelos Probe Sparks Competing Calls for Change in Nassau County” by James Galloway for Island Now

Campaign Finance

Pennsylvania: “Council Moves to Illuminate Super PAC Money” by Tricia Nadolny for Philadelphia Inquirer

Rhode Island: “Raimondo Signs into Law New Campaign Finance Measures” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal

Ethics

Illinois: “Ex-State Rep. Smith, Who Pocketed $7,000 Bribe, Gets 5 Months in Prison” by Jason Meisner for Chicago Tribune

Elections

Missouri: “Resignations after Election of Black Mayor Put Missouri Hamlet in Spotlight” by John Eligon for New York Times

Procurement

Florida: “Inspector General Questions County Contractor Deals” by Andy Reid for South Florida Sun Sentinel

Lobbying

“The Very Simple Reason More Money Is Spent on Lobbyists than on Congress” by Philip Bump for Washington Post

“Drinks, Dinners, Favors Helped PG&E Lobbyist Build PUC Ties, Emails Show” by Marc Lifsher for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

“Jeb Bush Prepares to Give Traditional Campaign a Makeover” by Thomas Beaumont for AP.org

“Feds Face New Pressure on Corporate Giving” by Lydia Wheeler for The Hill

“Ariz. Court: Groups can’t conceal attack-ad funding sources” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for East Valley Tribune

“Kansas to New Political Group: Fix your ‘stupid’ name” by Dion Lefler for Wichita Eagle

“Gov. Signs Campaign Finance Bill into Law” by Lisa Baumann (Associated Press) for Flathead Beacon

“Campaign Finance Reform: Kate Brown urges lawmakers to pass donation limits” by Denis Theriault for Portland Oregonian

“Ethics Board Looks to Strengthen City Campaign Finance Laws” by Claudia Vargas for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

“Free Golf Tickets OK’d by Legislative Ethics Board” by Chad Sokol (Murrow News Service) for Spokane Spokesman-Review

Lobbying

“What We Get Wrong about Lobbying and Corruption” by Lee Drutman for Washington Post

“Lobbyists Slow to Cash in on Republican-Led Congress” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Campaign Finance

“Campaign Finance System Is Broken Says GOP Super-Lawyer Jim Bopp” by Michael Beckel for Center for Public Integrity

Kansas: “Ex-Lawmaker Sentenced to 18 Months in Jail for Bank Fraud” by Nicholas Clayton (Associated Press) for Kansas City Star

Ethics

“Storm Gathers around Clinton Finances” by Niall Stanage for The Hill

Illinois: “Judge Says Berrios Doesn’t Have to Pay $10,000 Ethics Fine” by Hal Dardick for Chicago Tribune

Montana: “Montana Senate Committee Tables Confirmation of Political Practices Commissioner” by Charles Johnson for The Missoulian

Texas: “Texas House OKs Change in Investigating Public Corruption” by Eva Ruth Moravec (Associated Press) for Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Virginia: “Ex-Virginia First Lady McDonnell Tries to Get Corruption Convictions Tossed” by Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post

Procurement

Texas: “House Launches Contracting Inquiry at 11 State Agencies” by Aman Batheja for Texas Tribune

Lobbying

Arkansas: “30-Day Grace Vexes State’s Ethics Panel” by Michael Wickline for Arkansas Online

Campaign Finance

“House Quietly Passes Tax Exemption for Megadonors” by Kenneth Vogel and Hillary Flynn for Politico

“Big Money in Politics Emerges as a Rising Issue in 2016 Campaign” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

Ethics

Florida: “Florida Ethics Panel Recommends Fining Former Lawmaker David Rivera $58K” by Kathleen McGrory for Miami Herald

Florida: “Even after the Gift Ban and Reform, Freebies Flow to Florida Lawmakers” by Michael Van Sickler for Tampa Bay Times

Kentucky: “Head of State Ethics Agency to Take Top Post at Kentucky Registry of Election Finance” by Jack Brammer for Lexington Herald-Leader

New Jersey: “Ferriero Convicted on Racketeering Count; Ex-Democratic Chief Used Political Clout for Profit” by Peter Sampson for Bergen Record

New York: “Carl Heastie, New York Assembly Speaker, Benefited from Mother’s Embezzling” by Russ Buettner and David Chen for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “Montco Businessman Charged in PennDot Graft Probe” by Ben Finley for Philadelphia Inquirer

Redistricting

North Carolina: “US Supreme Court Tosses NC High Court Decision on State’s GOP-Drawn Electoral Maps” by Ann Blythe for Raleigh News & Observer

Lobbying

“Bill Shuster Admits ‘Private and Personal Relationship’ with Airline Lobbyist” by John Bresnahan, Anna Palmer, and Jake Sherman for Politico

Campaign Finance

“Clinton Campaign Will Accept Donations from Lobbyists and PACs” by Sam Stein and Paul Blumenthal for Huffington Post

New York: “New York State Elections Board Retains a Corporate Donation Loophole” by Jesse McKinley for New York Times

Rhode Island: “Campaign Finance Measures Sent to Governor” by Jennifer Bogdon for Providence Journal

Ethics

“Clinton Foundation to Restrict Foreign Donations” by Tom Hamburger and Rosalind Helderman for Washington Post

Alabama: “Hubbard Defense Claims Prosecutorial Misconduct in Ethics Case” by Kim Chandler (Associated Press) for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Georgia: “Ga. Ethics Commission Search for Leader Down to 4 Finalists” by Kathleen Foody (Associated Press) for Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Indiana: “Ethics Legislation Gets Closer to Becoming Law” by Alec Gray for Indianapolis Business Journal

Virginia: “Legislature Approves Ethics Bill with $100 Aggregate Gift Cap” by Jim Nolan and Markus Schmidt for Richmond Times-Dispatch

Washington: “Washington Auditor Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Indictment” by Gene Johnson and Derrick Nunnally (Associated Press) for The Sun Herald

Lobbying

“Europe at Risk of Corruption from Lobbying – Report” by Damian Grammaticas for BBC

“Lawmakers in No Rush to Disclose Wining and Dining” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

Campaign Finance

“REBNY Members Gave a Tenth of all N.Y. Campaign Money” by Bill Mahoney for Capital New York

Ethics

“Postal Worker Lands Helicopter on U.S. Capitol Grounds to Make Special Mail Delivery” by Eric Katz for GovExec.com

“Kate Brown Takes Questions as Lawmakers Air Ethics Proposal” by Denis Theriault for Portland Oregonian

“Senate Urged to Restore Ethics Powers” by Jennifer Bogdon and Katherine Gregg for Providence Journal

“John Doe Reform Bill Stalls in Legislature” by M.D. Kittle for Watchdog.org

Elections

“In Perception Primary, It’s Folksy Hillary Clinton vs. Statesmen-Looking Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio” by Patrick Healy for New York Times

“Chelsea’s Invisible Hand” by Kenneth Vogel for Politico

Legislative Issues

“Tennessee House Votes Bible as Official State Book” by Dave Boucher for The Tennessean

“Lack of Virginia’s General Assembly Openness Is Criticized” by Dave Ress for The Daily Press

Lobbying

“Pillow Talk Tests Ethics When K Street Marries Capitol Hill” by Eliza Newlin Carney for Roll Call

“Ex-Lawmakers Swing through the Revolving Door” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

Rhode Island: “Lawmaker McKiernan Allowed to Work with Lobbyists under R.I. Ethics Code, Commission Says” by Katherine Gregg for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Gov. Doug Ducey Signs Elections-Related Measures” by Bob Christie (Associated Press) for Arizona Capitol Times

District of Columbia:”Treasurer of Former D.C. Council Campaign Is Sentenced to Prison” by Julie Zauzmer for Washington Post

Maine: “Bill Seeks to Tax PAC-to-PAC Transfers in Maine” by Scott Thistle for Maine Sun Journal

Maryland: “Senate Passes Disclosure Bill for Inauguration Donors” by The Associated Press for WMDT

Ethics

New York: “Fervent Preet Bharara Gets a Judicial Scolding” by Peter Henning for New York Times

Elections

“Hillary Clinton’s Goal: Keep Bill Clinton happy, involved” by Annie Karni for Politico

Legislative Issues

Utah: “Gay Rights, Religious Rights and a Compromise in an Unlikely Place: Utah” by Niraj Chokshi for Washington Post

Lobbying

“Suddenly, ‘Schumerland’ Is the Place to Be” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Hawaii: “Tobacco-Free Coalition Cleared on Lobbying Charges” by Nancy Cook Lauer for West Hawaii Today

Texas: “Local Government, School Lobbying in Ethics Crosshairs” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

Campaign Finance

“Wealthy Donors on Left Launch New Plan to Wrest Back Control in the States” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

Kentucky: “Former Kentucky Lawmaker Pleads Guilty to Campaign Finance Violations” by John Cheves for Lexington Herald-Leader

Ethics

Georgia: “Common Cause Takes Advocacy Efforts to Georgia Voters” by Carlton Fletcher for Albany Herald

Missouri: “Though Petition Seeks His Ouster, Ferguson Mayor Says He Is Best Leader for City” by John Eligon for New York Times

Washington: “Residents Fight to Save Bothell Golf Course from Developers, Mayor” by Lynn Thompson for Seattle Times

Elections

“Marco Rubio Announces 2016 Presidential Bid” by Ashley Parker and Alan Rappeport for New York Times

“Hillary Clinton Starts to Detail Rationale for Run as Campaign Begins” by Amy Chozick for New York Times

Lobbying

Nevada: “Bill to Toughen Nevada Campaign Finance Rules Clears Senate” by Sandra Chereb for Las Vegas Review-Journal

New York: “Avella Proposes Lobbying Ban for Political Consultants” by Josefa Velasquez for Capital New York

Campaign Finance

“In Accepting Bitcoin, Rand Paul Raises Money and Questions” by Eric Lichtblau for New York Times

Ethics

New Mexico: “Equity Firm to Pay $3 Million to SIC to Avert Legal Fight” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Texas: “Senate Votes to Let Home-County Prosecutors, Not Austin, Handle Elected-Official Ethics Cases” by Will Weissert (Associated Press) for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Washington: “State Public Disclosure Commission Director Resigns” by Jim Brunner for Seattle Times

West Virginia: “Ethics Commission Grapples with Trinkets Ban” by Eric Eyre for Charleston Gazette

Elections

“The G.O.P. Presidential Field Looks Chaotic. It’s Not.” by Nate Cohn for New York Times

Lobbying

“K St. Firms on Edge about Hacking Threat” by Elise Viebeck for The Hill

“Lobbyist Spending Is Concentrated at the Top” by Ian Lind for Honolulu Civil Beat

“CSKT Accused of Unethical Lobbying” by Tristan Scott for Flathead Beacon

“Governor Signs Measure on Lobbyist Records” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Campaign Finance

“California Teachers Unions Face New Legal Challenge over Dues” by Emma Brown for Washington Post

“Legislative Committees Approve Bills to Close Campaign Finance Loopholes” by Katherine Gregg for Providence Journal

Ethics

“Raucous Akron City Council Meeting Rallies behind Councilman Bob Hoch” by John Harper (Northeast Ohio Media Group) for Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Kate Brown’s Ethics Reforms Begin March through Oregon Legislature” by Dennis Theriault for Portland Oregonian

“Activists Push to Restore Oversight of Legislators” by Jennifer Bogdon for Providence Journal

Elections

“Chicago Waiting to See if Runoff Truly Has Humbled Rahm Emanuel” by Monica Davey for New York Times

Lobbying

“Comcast Recruits Its Beneficiaries to Lobby for Time Warner Deal” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

Florida: “Senate Push to Expand Lobbyist Registration to Special Districts like Broward Health” by Dan Christensen for FloridaBulldog.org

Florida: “Citizen Lobbyists Endure Bureaucracy at Florida’s Capitol as They Promote Their Causes” by Steve Bousquet (Tampa Bay Times) for Miami Herald

Oklahoma: “Stillwater Councilors Say Energy Lobbyists Gave Ultimatum on Drilling-Ordinance Vote” by Ziva Branstetter for Tulsa World

Virginia: “Norment Won’t Discuss Lobbyist Relationship” by Travis Fain for The Daily Press

Campaign Finance

“The Secret Lives of Hillary and Bill in the White House” by Kate Anderson-Brower for Politico

“This Conservative Group is Tired of Being Accused of Climate Denial – and Is Fighting Back” by Tom Hamburger, Joby Warrick, and Chris Mooney for Washington Post

Arizona: “Arizona Clean Elections Law Lives On” by The Associated Press for Arizona Republic

California: “California Lawmakers’ Campaign Debt Piled High in 2014” by Jim Miller for Sacramento Bee

California: “Former South Bay Supervisor George Shirakawa Avoids Jail Time” by Henry Lee for San Francisco Chronicle

New York: “Ethics Laws Take Aim at Club Dues” by Matthew Hamilton for Albany Times Union

Elections

“Rand Paul Says ‘I Am Running for President’” by Jeremy Peters and Alan Rappeport for New York Times

Lobbying

“Trucking and Rail Industries Turn State Troopers into Unwitting Lobbyists” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

Florida: “In Sunshine State, Big Energy Blocks Solar Power” by Eric Barton for Florida Center for Investigative Reporting

Missouri: “Missouri House Passes Lobbyist Gift Cap, Cooling Off Period” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

New York “Cuomo Expands Lobbying Oversight to Localities” by Jimmy Vielkind for Capital New York

Tennessee: “Ethics Body Undecided on NRA Giving Lawmakers Free Tickets” by Dave Boucher for The Tennessean

Texas: “Questions about Aide to Texas Ag Commissioner Miller” by Eric Dexheimer (Austin American-Statesman) for Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Campaign Finance

“Campaign Finance Complaints Filed Against 4 Presidential Hopefuls” by Eric Lichtblau for New York Times

“Menendez Indictment Marks First Big Corruption Case Involving a Super PAC” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

Maine: “Lawmakers Consider Clean Election Changes after PAC Drama” by Scott Thistle (The Sun Journal) for Bangor Daily News

Vermont: “Court Hands RGA $40,000 in Fines for 2010 Campaign Finance Violations” by Morgan True for VTDigger.org

Ethics

“Tribe’s Infighting Offers Glimpse into Redskins Foundation’s Tactics” by John Woodrow Cox for Washington Post

“Watchdog for Federal Secrecy Has Yet to Bite” by Julian Hattem and Megan Wilson for The Hill

Arkansas: “Panel Backs Window for Gift Return” by Michael Wickline for Arkansas Online

Elections

“The Mobile Election: How smartphones will change the 2016 presidential race” by Dylan Byers for Politico

Lobbying

“Lobbyists-Turned-Staffers Disclose Salaries, Clients” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Massachusetts: “State Data: Top 7 Massachusetts lobbying firms earned over $3 million each during 2013-2014 session” by Andy Metzger (State House News Service) for MassLive.com

Utah: “Mormon Church Lobbying in Utah’s Capitol – Hardball or Light Touch?” by Lee Davidson for Salt Lake Tribune

Campaign Finance

“The Political Kingmaker Nobody Knows” by Ben Wieder for Center for Public Integrity

Arkansas: “Bill Mandating Financial Filings Digitally Crashes” by Claudia Lauer for Arkansas Online

North Dakota: “Dems Want Review of Foreign Campaign Contribution Law: Lawmaker reported $2,000 from Canadian” by John Hageman for Dickinson Press

Texas: “Ethics Bills Draw Ire of Conservative Activists’ Lawyers” by Patrick Svitek for Texas Tribune

Ethics

Connecticut: “Lawmakers to Consider Preventing Convicted Politicians from Running Again” by Jordan Fenster for CTNewsJunkie.com

Virginia: “McAuliffe Vows to Amend Ethics Bills to Close Loopholes” by Laura Vozzella and Tom Jackman for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

“Sen. Harry Reid’s Retirement Poses Challenge for Democratic Unity” by Lisa Mascaro, Michael Memoli, and Mark Barabak for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

“How to Decide When to Announce You’re Running for President” by Rebecca Kaplan and Jake Miller for CBS News

“Hillary Turns Down Invite to Secretive Donor Meeting” by Kenneth Vogel and Tarini Parti for Politico

“‘Dark Money’ Bill Fails in Voice Vote” by Lisa Hammersly and Claudia Lauer for Arkansas Online

Connecticut: “Five-Month Prison Sentence for Lisa Wilson-Foley” by Dave Collins (Associated Press) for CBS Connecticut

Virginia: “Deep Feud Splitting Virginia’s GOP Evident in Party’s Fundraising Woes” by Jenna Portnoy and Paul Schwartzman for Washington Post

Wisconsin”Wisconsin Lawmakers Hear Advice for Changing Complex Campaign Spending, Fundraising Law” by Scott Bauer (Associated Press) for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Wisconsin: “Secret $1.5 Million Donation from Wisconsin Billionaire Uncovered in Scott Walker Dark-Money Probe” by Michael Isikoff for Yahoo! Politics

Ethics

Indiana: “Another Loophole for Ex-INDOT Official?” by Ryan Sabalow and Tony Cook for Indianapolis Star

New Jersey: “Chris Christie Gets Corvette for NJ Radio News Director Who Interviews Him” by Christopher Zara and David Sirota for International Business Times

New York: “Cuomo Focuses on Ethics Reform, Not on Funding” by Jesse McKinley for New York Times

Washington: “Washington Auditor Says He’s Cooperating with Investigation” by Rachel La Corte (Associated Press) for Raleigh News & Observer

Elections

Wisconsin: “U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Take Up Challenge to Wisconsin Voter ID Law” by Jason Stein and Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel