Lobbying

Arkansas: “Schools Rethinking Gifts to Arkansas Lawmakers Following Passage of Constitutional Amendment” by the Associated Press for Greenfield Reporter

Florida: “Homestead’s Former Mayor Sentenced to 22 Months in Corruption Case” by David Ovalle and Melhor Marie Leonor for Miami Herald

Maine: “Maine Public in the Dark on Local-Issue Lobbying” by Steve Mistler for Portland Press Herald

West Virginia: “Statehouse Beat: Lobbyists change with new Legislature” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette

Campaign Finance

“Here’s Where Campaign Finance Reform May Move Ahead As Congress Dithers” by Paul Blumenthal for Huffington Post

Ethics

Pennsylvania: “Kane’s Account of Sting Draws Increasing Fire” by Craig McCoy and Angela Couloumbis for Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania: “Who’s Minding the Store for Legislative Ethics?” by Joe Smydo for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Wisconsin: “GAB Declined to Reauthorize Walker Campaign Probe” by Patrick Marley and Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Elections Board Director Defends Work, Structure, Amid Calls for Overhaul” by Scott Bauer (Associated Press) for Minneapolis Star Tribune

Elections

“Tea Partier Braces for Primary Challenge from the Establishment” by Manu Raju for Politico

Redistricting

North Carolina: “NC Supreme Court Upholds GOP-Drawn Legislative and Congressional Districts” by Ann Blythe for Raleigh News & Observer

Lobbying

California: “Santa Monica Could Require Lobbyists to Register” by Nikki Cervantes for Santa Monica Lookout

Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Lawmakers Will Be Challenged to Ban Themselves from Taking Lobbyists’ Gifts” by Marc Levy (Associated Press) for Columbus Republic

Rhode Island: “Mollis Concludes Former R.I. Attorney General Lynch Did Not Violate Lobbying Rules” by Katie Mulvaney for Providence Journal

Rhode Island: “Ruling Says Zaccagnino Lobbied for 38 Studios without Registering” by Katie Mulvaney for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

“New Software Helps Connect the Money Dots in Politics” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

New York: “Hotelier Avoids Prison for Violating Campaign Finance Laws” by Stephanie Clifford for New York Times

Ethics

“Lawyers Create Big Paydays by Coaxing Attorneys General to Sue” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

New Jersey: “New Jersey Paying Fees to a Financial Firm That Employs Christie’s Wife” by Kate Zernike for New York Times

Virginia: “Va. Del. Joseph Morrissey to Resign in Wake of Conviction but Run Again for His Seat” by Rachel Weiner for Washington Post

South Carolina: “S.C. House, Senate Clash over Ethics Reform” by Jeremy Borden for Charleston Post and Courier

Pennsylvania: “Ex-Traffic Court Judge Sentenced to Prison in Bracelet Case” by Julie Shaw for Philadelphia Daily News

Redistricting

Ohio: “Redistricting Reform Plan Passes House, Needs Voter Approval” by Jackie Borchardt (Northeast Ohio Media Group) for Cleveland Plain Dealer

Lobbying

“Republican Congress Lures Lobbyists Back to Capitol Hill” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

“Mollis Adopts Hearing Officer’s Decision that Corso Engaged in Unregistered Lobbying Related to 38 Studios” by Jennifer Bogdon for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

“Secretive Nonprofits Flourished – and Succeeded – in 2014 State Elections” by Reity O’Brien for The Center for Public Integrity

“Who Wants to Buy a Politician?” by Binyamin Appelbaum for New York Times

“New FEC Chief on ‘Dark Money’ Mission” by Dave Levinthal for The Center for Public Integrity

“Ethics Commission Hits Former Candidate, Treasurer with $43,000 Fine” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times

“PA Supreme Court: Law firm can forgive U.S. Rep. Bob Brady’s 2007 debt” by Chris Brennan for Philadelphia Daily News

“State High Court to Take up Doe Cases Centered on Walker’s Campaign” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ethics

“Payouts to McCrory, Sanford from Mortgage Broker Raise Ethical Questions” by Michael Biesecker and Mitch Weiss (Associated Press) for Charlotte Observer

Elections

“Jeb Bush’s Decision to Explore Presidential Bid Scrambles the 2016 GOP Field” by Matea Gold and Philip Rucker for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

“Message to Lawmakers: Say what you really think” by Alan Greenblatt for Governing

Lobbying

“Foreign Lobbying Enforcement ʹLaxʹ” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Campaign Finance

“Why Big Spending on Political Campaigns Makes Racial Inequality Worse” by Emily Badger for Washington Post

“Charities Risked Tax-Exempt Status with Political Ads” by Rachel Baye  for Center for Public Integrity

“G.O.P. Angst Over 2016 Led to Provision on Funding” by Nicholas Confessore for New York Times

“Every Election Is the Most Expensive Election. Or Not.” by Derek Willis for New York Times

New Mexico: “SIC Settles with Consultant in Pay-to-Play Case” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Ohio: “Akron City Council Raises Contribution Limits for Council, Mayoral Candidates by $100” by Stephanie Warsmith for the Akron Beacon Journal

Ethics

Missouri: “Ethics Bills Filed to Open Debate on Lobbying and Campaign Finance Rules” by Rudi Keller for Columbia Tribune

Pennsylvania: “Two Philadelphia Lawmakers Charged in Sting Probe” by Craig McCoy and Angela Couloumbis  for Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania: “Former PHA Chief Greene Fined $75,000” by Mark Fazlollah for Philadelphia Inquirer

Lobbying

“Uber Pressures Regulators by Mobilizing Riders and Hiring Vast Lobbying Network” by Rosalind Helderman for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

“A Crowded GOP Field for 2016 Encounters Donors Reluctant to Commit Early” by Matea Gold and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

“CO High Court Denies Gessler Appeal, Ending Campaign Finance Disclosure Case” by Tessa Cheek for Colorado Independent

“New York Panel Approves Fine for Group against Carriage Horses” by Nikita Stewart for New York Times

Ethics

“A State Guide to Political Corruption, According to the Reporters Who Cover It” by Niraj Chokshi for Washington Post

“Questions Surround Constitutional Amendment on Ethics, Term Limits” by John Lyon (Arkansas News Bureau) for Arkansas News

“State Ethics Commission Belatedly Completes Review of NC Fracking Board” by John Murawski for Raleigh News & Observer

“Work of FBI Squad Evident in Columbus Payday Probe” by The Associated Press for Marietta Times

“John Kitzhaber Stalls on Cylvia Hayes Records; the Few Documents Released Raise Questions” by Laura Gunderson for Portland Oregonian

“Republicans Seize on Audit Critical of State Elections Board” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Lobbying

“Dale Mallory Sentenced: ‘Nobody could ever buy my vote’” by Chrissie Thompson for Cincinnati Enquier

Campaign Finance

“The Special Powers of Super PACS, and Not Just for Federal Elections” by Derek Willis for New York Times

“Registration Rule for Political Groups Ruled Too Vague” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Sun

“Koch-Backed Group Sues Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris Over Donor List” by Melanie Mason for Los Angeles Times

Ethics

“Energy Firms in Secretive Alliance with Attorneys General” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

“State Ethics Agency Faces More Changes” by Christina Cassidy (Associated Press) for Gainesville Sun

“Conviction of Kilpatrick Pal Beasley Likely End of an Era” by Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press

“Port Authority Board Debates Ethics Rules as Ex-Chairman David Samson Sues” by Shawn Boburg for Bergen Record

“After Ethics Panel’s Shutdown, Loopholes Live On in Albany” by Thomas Kaplan, William Rashbaum, and Susanne Craig for New York Times

“Rep. Sandra Williams Gets Suspended Jail Time, Fine for Misusing Campaign Funds” by Jeremy Pelzer (Northeast Ohio Media Group) for Cleveland Plain Dealer

“McAuliffe: No fundraising in special sessions” by Travis Fain for The Daily Press

Procurement

“Ex-Mayoral Aide Accused of Trying to Help Firm Get Camera Contract” by Luke Broadwater for Baltimore Sun

Lobbying

“Ethics Panel Eyes Lawmakers’ Meals” in The Columbian

Campaign Finance

“New Study Finds Companies’ Campaign Donations Linked to Lower Tax Rates” by Debbie Freeman for Arizona State University

“Ethics Panel Seeks Change in Law to Stop Candidates from Paying Self from PAC” by Naomi Schalit (Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting) for Lewiston Sun Journal

“Election Ads Were About Issues, Says ‘Carolina Rising’ Chief” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity

Ethics

“Alcorn County Pays Ex-Lawmaker Thousands for Jail Work” by Emily Wagster Pettus for Hattiesburg Daily American

“Report Suggests Davis Conflict in Nursing Home Case” by Kate White for Charleston Gazette

Elections

“How to Handle a Broken Campaign Promise” by Nathan Gonzales for Roll Call

“L.A. Voters Won’t Be Offered Cash Prizes in March City Election” by David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times

Legislative Issues

“New Leader, New Rules for SC House” by Cassie Cope for The State

“State Lawmakers Poised for Pay Bump” by David Saleh-Rauf for San Antonio Express-News

Lobbying

“Know Before You Go: An ethics overview for Capitol Hill holiday parties” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Campaign Finance

“Supervisors Will Give Controversial FPPC Monitoring Plan another Try” by Norberto Santana, Jr. for Kitsap Sun

“Federal Appeals Court Upholds Braddock’s Sentence” by Hugh McQuaid for CTNewsJunkie.com

“Hogan Won with Public Money, but Replenishing the Fund is Uncertain” by John Wagner for Washington Post

“Federal Judge Tosses out FEC Donor Disclosure Rule, Calling it Too Narrow” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

Ethics

Florida: “Broward’s Sharief to Admit Guilt, Accept $3,000 Fine in Ethics Case” by Brittany Wallman for South Florida Sun Sentinel

Indiana: “Legislative Ethics Reformers Walk Fine Line” by Dan Carden for Northwest Indiana Times

Missouri: “Missouri Lawmakers Face Renewed Calls to Change Loose Ethics Laws” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

New Jersey: “Port Authority Employees with Political Ties Still on Job” by Martin Braun for Bloomberg News

Ohio: “Amer Ahmad Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Corruption Plot” by Jeremy Pelzer for Cleveland Plain Dealer

Lobbying

“Governors and Oil Industry Work Hand in Hand in Offshore Drilling Group” by Nicholas Kusnitz for Center for Public Integrity

“Lobbyists Fund Hill Portraits as Lawmakers Target Paintings of Cabinet Members” by Robin Bravender for Environment & Energy Publishing

“Lobby and Consulting Shop McBee Strategic To Be Acquired by Law Firm Wiley Rein” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post

“Lobbyist Fined but Sen. Lara Denies He Was Influenced by Debt” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

“Rhode Island Investigating Former State Attorney General” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

Campaign Finance

“Meet the New Super Donors” by Kevin Bogardus for Campaigns & Elections

“Gov. Brown’s Unnecessary Fundraising Is Certainly Legal – but a Turnoff” by George Skelton for Los Angeles Times

“Lawmakers Look to Close ‘Kennedy Loophole’” by Neil Vigdor for Danbury News-Times

“Donors Build for Future” by Matthew Hamilton for Albany Times Union

“John Doe Froze Conservative Speech, Targets Say” by M.D. Kittle for Wisconsin Reporter

Ethics

“Marion Barry, Washington’s ‘Mayor for Life,’ Even After Prison, Dies at 78” by David Stout for New York Times

Elections

“Some in G.O.P. Fear That Their Hard-Liners Will Alienate Latino Voters” by Jackie Calmes for New York Times

Legislative Issues

“Debbie Dingell Ready for Spotlight as Her Husband, the ‘Dean’ of Congress, Steps Aside” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg for New York Times

Ethics

Hawaii: “Hawaii Attorney General to Appeal Financial Disclosure Ruling” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat

Indiana: “Indiana Ethics Chief Seeks Changes after Scandals” by The Associated Press for Indianapolis Business Journal

Michigan: “State Employees Fired, Disciplined after Accepting Gifts from Grandville Contractor” by Emily Lawler for MLive.com

Pennsylvania: “Final 2 Pa. Turnpike Public Corruption Defendants Plead Guilty, Receive 5 Years of Probation” by Mark Scolforo (Associated Press) for Columbus Republic

Lobbying

“Washington’s Lobbying Corps Populated By Former Lawmakers, Staffers” by Austin Jenkins for KUOW

Campaign Finance

“Senate Pockets More than $4 Million of Campaign Cash” by Kellan Howell

for Washington Times

Arizona: “Horne Pays $10,000 Settlement in Campaign-Violations Case” by Julia Shumway for Arizona Republic

Ohio: “Ex-Suarez Corp. CFO Michael Giorgio Sentenced to More Than 2 Years in Prison – Nearly Double Ben Suarez’s Time” by James McCarty for Cleveland Plain Dealer

Lobbying

“K Street Files: Democratic Lobbyists Still Have Value” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

“Gov. Brown Holds a Private Reception with Campaign Donors” by Chris Megerian for Los Angeles Times

“Lawyer-Lobbyists Influence Idaho Law” by Audrey Dutton for Idaho Statesman

Campaign Finance

“A Citizen’s Guide to Buying Political Access” by Tara Siegel Bernard for New York Times

“Baker Limits Corporate, Lobbyist Gifts to Inauguration Committee” by David Scharfenberg for Boston Globe

“Pa. Teacher Files Labor Relations Complaint against Union over Political Mailing” by Megan Harris for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Ethics

“Bosma: Close cooling-off period loophole” by Tony Cook and Ryan Sabalow for Indianapolis Star

“GOP-Led Committee Rejects KanCare Ethics Probe” by Tim Carpenter for Topeka Capital-Journal

“Texas Governor Perry Loses Bid to Disqualify Prosecutor” by Laurel Brubaker Calkins for Bloomberg News

“Vos’ Attacks on Elections and Ethics Watchdog Draw Return Fire” by Bill Lueders for WisconsinWatch.org

Elections

“New Senators Tilt G.O.P. Back toward Insiders” by Jeremy Peters for New York Times

Lobbying

“Top Spenders on Capitol Hill Pay Billions, Receive Trillions” by Bill Allison and Sarah Harkins for Sunlight Foundation

“Gift Ban Legislation to Get Second Chance as Wolf Pushes Own Ethics Reform” by Andrew Staub for Pennsylvania Independent

Campaign Finance

“Pay-to-Play Restrictions on Government Contracting Under Assault” by Craig Holman for Huffington Post

“FINRA Proposes Pay-to-Play Rules” in ThinkAdvisor

“APOC, Marijuana Activist Charlo Greene Clash over Campaign Disclosure Questions” by Suzanna Caldwell for Anchorage Daily News

“Vincent Gray Rejects Plea Offer; Federal Prosecutors Moving Closer to Indictment” by Mike DeBonis for Washington Post

“Colleagues Defend Councilwoman Debi Rose against ‘Witch Hunt’” by Anna Sanders for Staten Island Advocate

Ethics

“Ethics Changes, Court Rules among First Bills Arkansas Lawmakers File for 2015 Session” by Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) for The Daily Journal

“Florida Attorney General to Head Group That Financed Her Campaign” by Bill Cotterell for Reuters

“SC House Panel OKs ‘Sunshine’ Proposals” by Jamie Self for The State

Legislative Issues

“Senate Officials Ponder Definition of Journalist for Pressroom Access” by Tim Lockette for Anniston Star

Lobbying

“Lobbyist Group to Elect New Leaders” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

“Which Lobbyists Interact with Your Lawmakers?” by Justin Hinkley for Lansing State Journal

“Patrick Lynch Lobbied Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office for Years but Never Registered” by Michelle Smith (Associated Press) for The Daily Journal

“Lobbyist – a Dirty Word or How Things Get Done?” by Cathy McKitrick for The Standard-Examiner

Campaign Finance

“How the GOP Used Twitter to Stretch Election Laws” by Chris Moody for CNN

“Federal Panel Upholds Mississippi Campaign Finance Law” by The Associated Press for Biloxi Sun Herald

“National Education Group Agrees to Pay $10,000 Fine for Oklahoma Election Ethics Violations” by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman

“Lawmakers Punt on Campaign Disclosure Bill” by Trvor Brown for Wyoming Tribune-Eagle

Ethics

“Former SC State Senator Indicted on Public Corruption Charges” by Jamie Self for The State

“McAuliffe’s Ethics Panel Recommends Changes on Gift, Disclosure, Conflict Rules” by Jim Nolan for Richmond Times-Dispatch

Legislative Issues

“How McConnell World Works” by Anna Palmer for Politico

Lobbying

“Report: Energy contractor and former lawmaker lobbied officials for no-bid contract worth $2.4 billion per year” by Josh Hicks for Washington Post

Arizona: “Ducey Seeking Donations to Gubernatorial Transition Effort” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star

California: “California Legislators Flying to Maui to Meet with Special Interests” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

“Hate Political Ads? Skip Morning Shows” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity

Massachusetts: “Election Was Awash in Cash, but Effect is Unclear” by David Scharfenberg for Boston Globe

San Diego, CA: “Fines Levied for Illegal Donations” by David Garrick for San Diego Union-Tribune

Ethics

Arkansas: “Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe to Pardon Son on Drug Charge” by Sam Levine for Huffington Post

Hawaii: “Court: State must release financial disclosures for boards” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat

North Carolina: “Ex-Duke Energy Lawyer Now Advising NC Regulators” by Michael Biesecker and Mitch Weiss (Associated Press) for Raleigh News and Observer

Ohio: “Canton Financial Advisor Sentenced to 45 Months in Ohio Treasurer’s Office Kickback Scheme” by Theodore Decker and Kathy Lynn Gray for Columbus Dispatch

Pennsylvania: “Ex-Official Pleads Guilty in Turnpike Scandal” by Angela Couloumbis for Philadelphia Inquirer

Washington: “Lt. Governor Defends Work Ethic, Outside Business” by Susannah Frame for KING

West Virginia: “Ethics Commission Hires Stepto as Director” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette

Procurement

Idaho: “Court Says State Broke Law with Broadband Contract Law” by Nathan Brown for Twin Falls Times-News

Elections

“Spurred by Midterm Losses, Liberal and Moderate Democrats Square off Over Strategy” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times

Redistricting

Alabama: “Justices Hear Black Lawmakers’ Challenge to Alabama Redistricting” by Adam Liptak for New York Times