Lobbying

Florida: “Lobbyists Often Skirt the Rules but Are Rarely Punished in Hillsborough County” by Steve Contorno for Tampa Bay Times

Missouri: “Lobbyist Gift Ban Heads to Full House for Vote” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Campaign Finance

“Case Could Widen Free-Speech Gap between Unions and Corporations” by Adam Liptak for New York Times

“Rep. Jolly Pitches Curb on Federal Lawmakers’ Fundraising” by Mike Salinero for Tampa Tribune

“The GOP Debates Have Become Like Super Bowl Parties for Top Donors” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

Pennsylvania: “Loopholes Exposed in Allentown’s New Anti-Pay-to-Play Law” by Emily Opilo for Allentown Morning Call

Virginia: “Lawmakers Go on Fundraising Frenzy before Session” by Alan Suderman (Associated Press) for Deseret News

Ethics

New Mexico: “Scandals Raise Profile of an Unpopular Idea among Lawmakers: An ethics commission” by Marjorie Childress for New Mexico In Depth

New York: “In Albany, Those Who Might Address Ethics Meet Rarely and Offer Less” by Vivian Yee for New York Times

Vermont: “Lawmakers Divided on Proposed Ethics Commission” by Bob Kinzel (Vermont Public Radio) for Rutland Herald

Lobbying

“East Side of California Capitol Will Become Staff, Lobbyist Entrance” by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee

Campaign Finance

“Super PACs Get Free Pass to Hide Donors” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity

Florida: “Special Interests Flood Florida Legislative Campaigns with $28 Million in 6 Months” by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald

New Jersey: “Critics Allege Pay-to-Play Violation after Fulop Donor’s Firm Gets Contract” by Terrence McDonald (Jersey Journal) for Newark Star-Ledger

New York: “State Street Settles Pay-to-Play Charges for $12 Million” by Liz Moyer for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “Lawyer: Former Allentown official lied to FBI out of panic and loyalty, but soon returned to confess” by Peter Hall and Emily Opilo for Allentown Morning Call

Ethics

Arizona: “State Drops Criminal Probe of Ex-Utility Regulator” by Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) for Arizona Daily Star

California: “Informant in FBI Bribery Case was Huntington Park Councilman” by Ruben Vives and Joel Rubin for Los Angeles Times

Massachusetts: “Governor Baker Calls for an Ethics Investigation of Milton Sen. Brian Joyce” by Michael Norton and Matt Murphy (State House News Service) for Quincy Patriot-Ledger

South Carolina: “Appeals Court Upholds Jury Award in The Sun News Defamation Case” by Chrarles Perry for Myrtle Beach Sun News

Lobbying

Missouri: “Senate Panel Eyes Lobbyist Gift Ban in Missouri” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Campaign Finance

“Ted Cruz Didn’t Disclose Loan from Goldman Sachs for His First Senate Campaign” by Mike McIntire for New York Times

California: “San Jose Ethics Commission Drops Charges against 20 Candidates” by Ramona Giwargis for San Jose Mercury News

Ethics

Illinois: “Central Figure in Chicago’s Red-Light Camera Bribery Scandal Goes on Trial” by David Kidwell for Chicago Tribune

New York: “Buffeted by Lawmaker Scandals, Cuomo Unveils latest Ethics Reforms” by Ashley Hupfl and John Lentz for City & State

Elections

“The Republican Party’s 50-State Solution” by Thomas Edsall for New York Times

“An Election with the Shape of American Democracy in the Balance” by Lawrence Norden for The Atlantic

Lobbying

California: “Bill That Aimed to Shed Light on Specialty Prescription Drug Pricing Is Shelved” by Melanie Mason for Los Angeles Times

Florida: “Stricter Lobbying, Employment, Ethics Rules Advance in Senate” by Steve Bousquet for Tampa Bay Times

Campaign Finance

“Upset GOP Donors: Have we wasted our money?” by Jonathan Swan for The Hill

Oregon: “Constitutional Amendment on Campaign Finance Reform Goes to Legislature” by Gordon Friedman for Salem Statesman-Journal

Ethics

“Obama’s Plea to ‘Fix Our Politics’ Leaves Both Sides Looking Inward” by Carl Hulse and Julia Hirschfeld Davis for New York Times

New Mexico: “Papen’s Former Aide Accused of Embezzlement” by Lauren Villagran for Albuquerque Journal

New York: “Assembly Democrats Reject Republican Rules Changes, Promise Own Proposals Soon” by David Howard King for Gotham Gazette

New York: “How Sheldon Silver Became a Convicted Felon Thanks to Shady Real Estate Relationships” by Jillian Jorgensen for Commercial Observer

Legislative Issues

Ohio: “Meet the People Who Actually Write Ohio’s Laws (And They’re Not Lawmakers)” by Jeremy Pelzer for Cleveland Plain Dealer

Lobbying

California: “Police Union Consultant May Still Be Lobbying for POA” by Jonah Owen Lamb for San Francisco Examiner

West Virginia: “Proposed Changes to State Ethics Act Divide Lawmakers” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette

Campaign Finance

“Undisclosed Dollars Dominate Campaign Spending” by Kenneth Vogel for Politico

New Mexico: “Winter Plans New Office Unit on Campaign Finance” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Wisconsin: “Elections Board Says Parties Must Report Corporate Donations” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Ethics

Florida: “Public Corruption Bill Hits Snag amid Senators’ Furor” by Ryan Ray for SaintPetersBlog.com

Massachusetts: “Dispute Over State Senator’s Dirty Laundry Raises Questions” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe

New York: “Cuomo Won’t Face Federal Charges Over Moreland Ethics Panel” by Benjamin Weiser for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “Former Allentown Finance Director Gary Strathearn Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge of Mail and Wire Fraud” by Emily Opilo and Peter Hall for Allentown Morning Call

Pennsylvania: “Struggling Philadelphia Inquirer Is Donated to Nonprofit in Groundbreaking Deal” by Fred Barbash for Washington Post

Lobbying

“State Legislatures Tweak Lobbying Rules as Influence Industry Targets Their Capitols” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post

California: “A Lobbying Rule to Catch Up with the Times” by Laurel Rosenhall for CALmatters

Florida: “Hillsborough Commissioners Must Now Carry 2 Cell Phones” by Mike Salinero for Tampa Tribune

Massachusetts: “Walsh Reverses Course, to Back Lobbying Rules” by Andrew Ryan and Mark Arsenault for Boston Globe

New Mexico: “New Mexico Election Officials Unveil Lobbyist Training Guide” by Susan Montoya Bryan (Associated Press) for Fresno Bee

Ohio: “Ginther Proposes New Ethics Regulations” by Lucas Sullivan for Columbus Dispatch

Campaign Finance

“Federal Election Commission May Vacate Headquarters” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity

“You Want to Give to Ted Cruz’s Super PAC? First Figure Out Which One.” by Matea Gold and Katie Zezima for Washington Post

Montana: “New Campaign Finance Rules Take Effect in Montana” by The Associated Press for Billings Gazette

Pennsylvania: “City Campaign Finance Limits Increased” by Claudia Vargas for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

Florida: “Gainesville Mayor Files Ethics Complaint against Himself after Daytona Strip Club Trip” by GateHouse Media Services for Daytona Beach News-Journal

Maine: “Maine Governor Blames Media for Racially Charged Language Dust-Up” by Gregory Krieg for CNN

Minnesota: “Minnesota Lawmaker Tried to Personally Sway Judge to Rethink $240,000 Judgment against Firm” by Brian Bakst (Associated Press) for Minneapolis Star Tribune

Montana: “Montana Campaign Contribution Limits to Rise for Some Candidates” by Troy Carter for Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Ohio: “City Hall Hit with another Ethics Investigation” by Lucas Sullivan for Columbus Dispatch

South Dakota: “Voters to Decide on Campaign Finance Overhaul” by Dana Ferguson for Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Utah: “Ken Ivory Was Cleared in Fraud Probe Because Utah AG Found No Victims, Records Say” by Robert Gehrke for Salt Lake Tribune

Elections

“Political GIFs Are the New Sound Bites This Campaign Season” by Nick Bilton for New York Times

Lobbying

“State Focus and Infusion of Funding Buoy Gun Control Advocates” by Eric Lichtblau for New York Times

Michigan: “Top Snyder Aide to Register as Lobbyist” by Paul Egan for Detroit Free Press

Oregon: “Uber Fined $2,000 for Violating Portland Lobbying Rules” by Brad Schmidt for Portland Oregonian

Campaign Finance

California: “California Supreme Court Allows Campaign Finance Measure on Ballot” by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee

New Mexico: “New Test for Campaign Financing” by T.S. Last for Albuquerque Journal

Elections

“How the Koch Network Rivals the GOP” by Kenneth Vogel for Politico

“The Political Consultant Racket” by Adam Sheingate for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Florida: “Painful Lessons for a Troubled Florida Legislature” by Steve Bousquet for Tampa Bay Times

New York: “Albany’s Businessman-Legislators Scoff at a Call to Make Lawmaking Full-Time” by Vivian Yee for New York Times

Lobbying

“How Obama Failed to Shut Washington’s Revolving Door” by Josh Gerstein for Politico

Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Legislature Aims at Lobbying Overhaul; Reaction Mixed” by Kate Giammarise and Chris Potter for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “APS Refuses Request to Disclose Political Contributions” by Ryan Randazzo for Arizona Republic

California: “Super Bowl Committee Raising Millions, with Little Transparency” by Joe Garofoli for San Francisco Chronicle

Illinois: “Madigan Uses Quirk in Law to Stockpile 2016 Campaign Cash against Rauner” by Rick Pearson for Chicago Tribune

Ethics

California: “Farmers Try Political Force to Twist Open California’s Taps” by Michael Wines and Jennifer Medina for New York Times

Colorado: “Colorado Ethics Commission Has No Investigators, Little Authority” by Joey Bunch for Denver Post

Missouri: “Missouri Lawmakers Vow Once Again to Tackle Ethics Reform” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

New York: “JCOPE Finds Gabryszak Violated State Law, Faces Fines” by Jimmy Vielkind for Capital New York

Redistricting

Florida: “Judge Sides with Voters Groups in Senate Redistricting Case” by Gray Rohrer for Orlando Sentinel

Campaign Finance

“Now it’s Even Easier for Candidates and Their Aides to Help Super PACs” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

“The 10 Best 2015 Investigative Reports on Political Money” by Robert Faturechi for ProPublica

“Campaign Cash in State Judicial Elections Grows” by Christina Cassidy (Associated Press) for Philadelphia Inquirer

New Mexico: “Campaign Finance Scandal Leads to Calls for Closing Loopholes in New Mexico’s System” by Susan Montoya Bryan (Associated Press) for Minneapolis Star Tribune

New York: “Legislature Passes Law Requiring Donation Disclosures from Contractors” by Joe Nikic for The Island Now

Wisconsin: “DAs Tap In for Wisconsin Campaign-Finance Probe” by Molly Willms for Courthouse News Service

Ethics

Alabama: “Ethics Commission Vice Chair Resigns after Late Filing of Disclosure Statement” by Mike Cason for AL.com

Arizona: “Regulators Hire Lawyer to Serve as ‘Ethics Officer’” by Ryan Randazzo for Arizona Republic

Colorado: “CU Nutrition Expert Accepts $550,000 from Coca-Cola for Obesity Campaign” by David Olinger for Denver Post

Missouri: “Missouri State Lawmakers to Take another Swing at Ethics Reform” by Alex Stuckey for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

New Mexico: “Police Sgt. Says Governor Was ‘Inebriated’” by Edmundo Carrillo for Albuquerque Journal

New York: “Preet Bharara: The man behind NY corruption busting” by Joseph Spector for Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

New York: “Dean Skelos Files Pension Papers” by Jimmy Vielkind for Capital New York

Pennsylvania: “Colwyn, Pennsylvania: The town that can’t seem to govern itself” by Daniel Vock for Governing

South Carolina: “Clock Ticking for Ethics Reform in South Carolina” by Maya Prabhu for Charleston Post and Courier

Tennessee: “TN House Ethics Committee Hasn’t Met in at Least 5 Years” by Dave Boucher for The Tennessean

Elections

“An Effort to Give Women a Voice in the Republican Party” by Carl Hulse for New York Times

“Kids and Candidates a Potent Combination” by Ben Schreckinger for Politico

“Carson’s Many Faces: Doctor, author, speaker – and candidate” by Eileen Sullivan (Associated Press) for Philadelphia Inquirer

Legislative Issues

North Carolina: “Questions Raised about Rules Chairman David Lewis’ Actions Related to Printing Contract” by Patrick Gannon for Charlotte Observer

Lobbying

Arizona: “Embattled Arizona Utility Regulator Decides to Quit” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star

Missouri: “Andrew Blunt’s Lobbying Work Faces Scrutiny as He Manages Father’s Re-Election Bid” by Deirdre Shesgreen (USA Today) for Springfield News-Leader

Pennsylvania: “Lobbyist Reform Bills in Pa. Senate” by Greg Gross for York Dispatch

Texas: “Austin Officials to Create New Lobbying Registration, Reporting Rules” by Lilly Rockwell for Austin American-Statesman

Campaign Finance

“‘Dark Money’ Biggest Campaign Finance Challenge Facing States” by Geoff Mullvihill (Associated Press) for Denver Post

“New FEC Chairman Aims to Calm Agency at War with Itself” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity

California: “Critics Decry Contributions to Councilman Englander from Taser Execs Seeking LAPD Camera Contract” by David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times

New York: “Albany Trials Exposed the Power of a Real Estate Firm” by William Rashbaum for New York Times

Ethics

Missouri: “Missouri Legislative Staffers Earn Big Money as Political Consultants” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

New Mexico: “Can New Mexico Break Its Cycle of Corruption?” by Alan Greenblatt for Governing

Pennsylvania: “Scandal’s Web Trips Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane” by Michael Wines for New York Times

Elections

“Sanders Data Controversy Spotlights Powerful Gatekeeper” by Nancy Scola for Politico

“Lindsey Graham Suspends His Presidential Campaign” by David Weigel and Robert Costa for Washington Post

California: “When Legislator Resigns, Costs Can Be High to Voters, Party” by Laurel Rosenhall (CALmatters) for San Francisco Chronicle

Lobbying

“Ethics Commission Supports New, Stricter Policy for Officials Receiving Jaguars Tickets” by Sebastian Kitchen for Florida Times-Union

Campaign Finance

“Political Groups Spend a Lot, See Scant Results in U.S. Race” by Grant Smith and Emily Flitter for Reuters

New York: “Court Hears Arguments in High-Stakes ‘LLC Loophole’ Case” by Bill Mahoney for Capital New York

New York: “Reforms to City Campaign Finance System Advance Ahead of 2017 Election Cycle” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Ethics

“Defense Secretary Conducted Some Official Business on a Personal Email Account” by Michael Schmidt for New York Times

Alabama: “Alabama Mayor, Councilman Fight at City Hall” by Phillip Lucas (Associated Press) for ABC News

Legislative Issues

Vermont: “Senate Panel Votes to Seek Suspension of McAllister” by Neal Goswami for Rutland Herald

Lobbying

California: “San Jose Council Votes to Tighten Lobbying Rules” by Ramona Giwargis for San Jose Mercury News

Maine: “Maine Ethics Commission Fines Lobbyist Joel Allumbaugh” by Michael Shepherd (Bangor Daily News) for Maine Sun Journal

Campaign Finance

“Inside the 2016 Black Market for Donor Emails” by Shane Goldmacher for Politico

“Spending Bill Bars IRS and Others from Forcing Political Disclosure” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

“How This Missouri Mega-Donor Is Making His Pet Projects Part of the 2016 Elections” by Paul Blumenthal for Huffington Post

New York: “Cash Flows Freely in Albany: Laws lax on political fundraising” by Jon Campbell for Poughkeepsie Journal

Ethics

“State Integrity Investigation Brings Calls for Reform as Legislative Sessions Approach” by Nicholas Kusnetz for Center for Public Integrity

Florida: “Broward’s First Corruption Watchdog Helps Keep Elected Officials Honest, Onlookers Say” by Brittany Wallman for South Florida Sun Sentinel

Pennsylvania: “State Rep. Louise Bishop Resigns, Pleads No Contest in Sting Case” by Angela Couloumbis and Craig McCoy for Philadelphia Inquirer

Washington: “Following the Money: Ethics concerns muddy state’s clean-energy grant program” by Jim Brunner for Seattle Times

Wisconsin: “Scott Walker Signs Bills on Splitting GAB, Campaign Finance” by Patrick Marley and Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Lobbying

“E.P.A. Broke Law with Social Media Push for Water Rule, Auditor Finds” by Eric Lipton and Michael Shear for New York Times

“A Revolving Door Helps Big Banks’ Quiet Campaign to Muscle out Fannie and Freddie” by Gretchen Morgenson for New York Times

California: “As Hospital Lobbyist, Ex-County Employee Pushes Limits of Ethics Policy” by Tracy Wood for Voice of OC

Florida: “Broward Commission Rewrites its Ethics Code, Allows $5 Gifts” by Brittany Wallman for South Florida Sun Sentinel

Washington: “Ethics Board Looks at Lawmakers’ Meal Limit” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times

Campaign Finance

“Stumbo Proposes Doubling Campaign Contribution Limit” by Ryland Barton for WFPL

Ethics

EU: “Commission Agrees to Boost Revolving-Door” by James Panichi for Politico

“Sen. Bob Corker Earned Millions More Than First Reported” by Mary Troyan for USA Today

New York: “Dean Skelos, Ex-New York Senate Leader, and His Son Are Convicted of Corruption” by William Rashbaum and Susanne Craig for New York Times

New York: “To Judge, Lawyer’s Cooperation Doesn’t Offset Corruption” by Benjamin Weiser for New York Times

Elections

“Cruz Campaign Credits Psychological Data and Analytics for Its Rising Success” by Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

Lobbying

Missouri: “Lawmakers Pre-File Lobbying, Abortion Bills for Missouri’s 2016 Session” by Alex Stuckey for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

New York: “Corruption Trial: Adam Skelos laid out lobbyists’ views of upstate, downstate” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Campaign Finance

“GOP Rider Would Boost Party Spending” by Kenneth Vogel and Seung Min Kim for Politico

“Millions at Stake, the ‘Adelson Primary’ is Neck and Neck” by Michael Isikoff for Yahoo

“Next Chance to Gut Campaign Finance Law Heads for Supreme Court” by Paul Blumenthal for Huffington Post

California: “PAC Shielded $2.3 Million in Donations by LA Charter School Backers” by Howard Blume for Los Angeles Times

New York: “Cuomo Tempers Hopes for Tougher Ethics Laws” by Vivian Yee for New York Times

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Supreme Court Won’t Reopen John Doe Probe, Rules against Special Prosecutor” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ethics

California: “Fast Times at Rancho Santiago: Official’s passion for golf pays dividends for contractors” by Adam Elmahrek for Voice of OC

Pennsylvania: “Reading Mayor’s Assistant Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Charges” by Don Spatz for Reading Eagle