Campaign Finance

“Big Labor Targets Steyer, Soros in Massive 2016 Fundraising Effort” by Kenneth Vogel and Brian Mahoney for Politico

“Gridlocked Elections Watchdog Goes Two Years without Top Lawyer” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity

“What You Need to Know about Super PAC Compliance” by Brad Crate for Campaign & Elections

Ethics

“Supreme Court Won’t Hear Jailed Congressman’s Appeal” by Mike DeBonis for Washington Post

“Alan Grayson Hedge Funds Skirt Ethics Rule” by Matt Dixon for Politico

Hawaii: “Honolulu Ethics Commission Needs to Scrap Its New Anti-Media Policy” by the Editorial Board for Honolulu Civil Beat

Missouri: “FBI Asking Officials Whether Diehl Helped Consultant Get Contract” by Virginia Young for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Elections

“Why Television Is Still King for Campaign Spending” by Derek Willis for New York Times

“Chris Christie Enters Presidential Race” by Michael Barbaro for New York Times

Lobbying

“Lobbying Typos and Misdemeanors” by James Panichi for Politico

“How Marco Rubio Turned Political Star Power into a Soaring Personal Income” by Tom Hamburger and Sean Sullivan for Washington Post

Ohio: “Lobbyist a Constant in Columbus’ Politics” by Mark Ferenchik and Lucas Sullivan for Columbus Dispatch

Virginia: “With McAuliffe in Office, Old Friends Find New Opportunities” by Alan Suderman (Associated Press) for Lexington Herald-Leader

Campaign Finance

“Bernie Sanders Doesn’t Follow the Money” by Tarini Parti and Jonathan Topaz for Politico

“Money Talks, Especially during Legislative Sessions” by Madison Russ for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

Maine: “Combative Maine Governor Becomes a Party of One” by Katherine Seelye for New York Times

New Jersey: “Backlog of Local N.J. Ethics Cases Fosters Frustration” by Nicholas Pugliese for Bergen Record

Pennsylvania: “Lack of Funding for State Ethics Commission Invites Corruption, Experts Worry” by Kari Andren for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Redistricting

“Justices Rule 5-4 That Independent Panels Can Draw Election District Lines” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Lobbying

New York: “IG: State vendor lavished OMIG director with gifts, booze” by Brendan Lyons for Albany Times Union

Wisconsin: “Madison City Council Member Will Seek to Ban Registered Lobbyists from Serving on City Committees” by Dean Mosiman for Wisconsin State Journal

Campaign Finance

“W.H., Watchdogs Rail against ‘Dark Money’ Provision Tucked into House Bill” by Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

Connecticut: “Election Panel Will Take Democrats to Court over Malloy Campaign” by Ken Dixon for Connecticut Post

Montana: “Montana Moves to Reveal Corporate Campaign Spending” by Alison Noon and Matt Volz (Associated Press) for New York Times

Ethics

Hawaii: “Honolulu Ethics Commission to Director Chuck Totto: Shut up” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat

New York: “Former Friend Testifies as Obstruction Trial Begins for Brooklyn State Senator” by Stephanie Clifford for New York Times

Texas: “Abbott Emails Predicted Ethics Reform Failure” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

Utah: “Audit: Utah A.G.’s office needs clearer whistleblower protection, ethics guides” by Robert Gehrke for Salt Lake Tribune

Elections

“Why Is The GOP Presidential Field So Large in 2016?” by James Pindell for Boston Globe

Lobbying

Hawaii: “Former Lobbyist Who Wined and Dined Council Members Now Vice Chair of Key Panel” by Keoki Kerr for Hawaii News Now

Nebraska: “Common Cause Complaint against Former Senator Dismissed” by Joanne Young for Lincoln Journal Star

Campaign Finance

“This Chart Seemingly Proves How Wrong I Am about Money in Politics” by Chris Cillizza for Washington Post

“Cannabis Industry Flexes Its New Political Muscle” by Conrad Wilson for Oregon Public Broadcasting

Ethics

“Calls to Drop Confederate Emblems Spread Nationwide” by Campbell Robertson, Monica Davey, and Julie Bosman for New York Times

California: “Lawmakers’ Calendars List Meetings with Undercover Agents” by Judy Lin (Associated Press) for San Diego Union Tribune

Kentucky: “Kentucky Legislature Resolves Sexual Harassment Lawsuit” by Adam Beam (Associated Press) for Lexington Herald-Leader

Elections

“Bobby Jindal Announces Entry into 2016 Presidential Race” by David Fahrenthold and James Hohmann for Washington Post

“Democratic Super PAC to Take on Koch Brothers” by Maggie Haberman for New York Times

Lobbying

Rhode Island: “Edward Fitzpatrick: A final test for R.I. General Assembly on lobbying law” by Edward Fitzpatrick for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

“Can Unlimited Contributions to Political Parties Really Reduce Polarization?” by Lee Drutman for Washington Post

“Will Doug Hughes Do Hard Time for Embarrassing Congress?” by Hannah Hess for Roll Call

Ethics

“Council of Conservative Citizens Promotes White Primacy, and G.O.P. Ties” by Michael Wines and Lizette Alvarez for New York Times

“House Ethics Panel Extends Review of Azerbaijan Trip, Slams Leaks” by Rachel Roubein for National Review

Kentucky: “Former Pike Lawmaker Had Mine Inspector in ‘His Back Pocket,’ Prosecutor Says as Bribery Trial Begins” by John Cheves for Lexington Herald-Leader

Oregon: “Kate Brown Gets Her Wish: Last of her ethics reforms win approval” by Denis Theriault for Portland Oregonian

Pennsylvania: “Philly Elections Chief Clark Agrees to Pay $4G Ethics Fine” by Chris Hepp for Philadelphia Inquirer

Virginia: “Marsh Returns Money from Golf Outing” by Jim Nolan for Richmond Times-Dispatch

Lobbying

“Lobbyists: Easy target, easy touch” by Tarini Parti for Politico

Florida: “How Some of Florida’s Top Lobbyists Produce Blockbuster Budget Results” by Peter Schorsch for SaintPetersBlog

Idaho: “Lobbying at the Capitol: Should Idaho state employees have to register under the law?” by Bill Dentzer for Idaho Statesman

New Mexico: “Transparency-Pushing Nonprofit Discloses Donors” by Heath Haussamen for NMPolitics

Campaign Finance

“Don Young Raises Money in Puerto Rico, Then Holds Hearing” by Anna Palmer, John Bresnahan, and Jake Sherman for Politico

Utah: “Feds: Jeremy Johnson skirted campaign finance laws in contributions to Shurtleff, Lee, Reid” by Ben Lockhart for Deseret News

Ethics

Missouri: “Police Report Reveals Past Diehl Affair with Nixon Staffer” by Virginia Young for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Ohio: “Former Traffic Camera Exec Admits to Bribing Officials in Columbus, Cincinnati” by Jeremy Pelzer (Northeast Ohio Media Group) for Cleveland Plain Dealer

South Carolina: “Nikki Haley, South Carolina Governor, Calls for Removal of Confederate Battle Flag” by Frances Robles, Richard Fausset, and Michael Barbaro for New York Times

Lobbying

Arkansas: “Ethics Panel Issues Opinion on Lobbyist Gifts” by John Lyon for Arkansas News

Campaign Finance

“White Supremacist Leader Was a Political Donor” by Nick Gass for Politico

Kansas: “No Charges Filed after Federal Probe into Election Loans to Brownback’s Campaign” by Peter Hancock for Lawrence Journal World

Massachusetts: “Invitation to Political Fundraiser Might Skirt Ethics Laws” by Frank Phillips for Boston Globe

North Carolina: “NC Sen. Hartsell’s Campaign Finance Case Referred to Prosecutors” by Lynn Bonner for Raleigh News & Observer

Ethics

New York: “In Corruption Cases, Speculation Undermines Justice” by Richard Lipsky for Albany Times Union

Oregon: “Oregon Impeachment Resolution Expected to Die in Senate” by Dennis Theriault for Portland Oregonian

Tennessee: “State Rep. Joe Armstrong Indicted” by Richard Locker for Memphis Commercial Appeal

Texas: “Abbott Vetoes Spousal Loophole” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

Washington: “Rachel Dolezal Told to Quit 2nd Post” by Kirk Johnson for New York Times

Lobbying

“Where the Billions Spent on Lobbying Come From, in Maps” by Philip Bump for Washington Post

Texas: “Ethics Commission Seeks to Force Empower Texans to Turn over Records” by Tim Eaton for Austin American-Statesman

Campaign Finance

“State and Local Bills Try to Rein in Political Spending” by Tarini Parti for Politico

“Jeb Bush’s Smooth Money Machine” by Anna Palmer and Tarini Parti for Politico

California: “Tow Company Campaign Trickery Alleged” by Jeff McDonald for San Diego Union-Tribune

Ethics

Kentucky: “John Schaaf to Head Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission” by The Associated Press for Connecticut Post

Oklahoma: “State Ethics Commission to Investigate Sen. Rick Brinkley” by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman

Oregon: “Kate Brown Signs First of Her Ethics Bills, Calling for Public Records Audit” by Denis Theriault for Portland Oregonian

Pennsylvania: “Some Critical That Officials Caught in Sting Keep State Pensions” by Craig McCoy and Angela Couloumbis for Philadelphia Inquirer

Utah: “Ex-A.G. Mark Shurtleff Defers Evidence Hearing; Prosecutors Amend Charges” by Dennis Romboy for Deseret News

Elections

“Donald Trump Runs for President (This Time for Real, He Says)” by Alexander Burns for New York Times

Lobbying

“Lobbyists Were Quick to Donate to Both Baker, Coakley” by The Associated Press for WCVB

“Lobbyists Spend $5.8 Million at 2015 Montana Legislature” by Alison Noon (Associated Press) for Montana Standard

“Education Reforms Spur N.Y. Lobbying ‘Arms Race’” by Jon Campbell (Gannett Newspapers) for USA Today

Campaign Finance

“Republican Operative Sentenced to 2 Years in Landmark Election Case” by Matt Zapotosky and Matea Gold for Washington Post

“This Web Site Allows Political Donors to Give Money Based on How Lawmakers Vote. Just Don’t Call It Bribery.” by Steven Overly for Washington Post

“$2M Rauner Donor’s Company Does Business with State, Has Exceeded $50K Limit Past 4 Years” by Bernard Schoenburg for State Journal-Register

“Christie’s PAC Picks Up His NBA Finals Ticket” by Maddie Hanna for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

“Oklahoma Ethics Commission Considers Changes to Financial Disclosure Rule” by Barbara Hoberock for Tulsa World

“Fifth Former LCB Official Accused of Violating State Ethics Laws” by Kari Andren for Pittsbugh Tribune-Review

“Ethics Commissioners: Lawmakers went backward in 2015” by Jim Malewitz for Texas Tribune

“Lawmakers’ Watchdog Asks for Money” by Jerry Cornfield for Tacoma News Tribune

Elections

“Jeb Bush Announces Presidential Bid: ‘We will take command of our future once again’” by Ed O’Keefe for Washington Post

Lobbying

“Robert Reich: Lobbyists are snuffing our democracy, one legal bribe at a time” by Robert Reich for Salon

Campaign Finance

“Corporations Open Up About Political Spending” by Eduardo Porter for New York Times

“Legislation Puts More Enforcement in Campaign Finance Reporting Laws” by Mary Snell for Decatur Daily

California: “Ethics Troubles Could Mount for Ex-Candidate Who Missed Fine Payment” by David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times

Hawaii: “Contractor Campaign Contributions Raise Concerns of Corruption” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat

Ethics

California: “FPPC Names New Enforcement Chief, General Counsel” by Christopher Cadelago for Sacramento Bee

Massachusetts: “Gambling Panel Chairman Facing Ethics Investigation” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe

New York: “Court Orders Disgraced Lopez to Pay $330,000 Fine” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union

Pennsylvania: “Elections Chief Sues to Stop Ethics Probe” by Chris Brennan for Philadelphia Inquirer

Rhode Island: “Ex-RI House Speaker Fox Gets 3 Years in Prison” by Katie Mulvaney for Providence Journal

Elections

“In 2008, Clinton Couldn’t Buy Iowans’ Love. So She Bought Them Snow Shovels” by David Fahrenthold for Washington Post

Lobbying

Rhode Island: “RI’s Biggest Spending Special Interest Groups at the Statehouse” by Stephen Beale for GoLocalProv.com

Campaign Finance

“The IRS Chief’s Mistake about ‘Dark Money’” by Miriam Galston for Washington Post

Ethics

Florida: “Ethics Panel: Carroll misreported income” by Brandon Larrabee (News Service of Florida) for Tallahassee Democrat

Florida: “Ex-Congressman’s Top Aide to plead Guilty to Breaking Election Law” by Jay Weaver for Miami Herald

Hawaii: “Ethics Director Survives Political Challenge” by Ian Lind for Honolulu Civil Beat

Elections

“Eyeing 2016, G.O.P Embraces Digital Strategies, but Doubts Persist” by Ashley Parker for New York Times

“How Jeb Bush’s Campaign Ran off Course before It Even Began” by Ed O’Keefe and Robert Costa for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

“Sen. Johnny Isakson Discloses He Has Parkinson’s Disease” by Mike DeBonis for Washington Post

Maine: “Closed Door: Legislators conducting public business in private despite state’s open meeting law” by John Christie (Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting) for Pine Tree Watchdog

Lobbying

“Did Obama’s Pick to Head Navy Break Lobbying Law?” by Austin Wright and Philip Ewing for Politico

Louisiana: “What Good Do Lobbyist Reporting Laws Do without Enforcement” by the Editorial Board for New Orleans Times-Picayune

Pennsylvania: “Bill to Ban Contingent-Fee Lobbying Advances” by Staff for Chadds Ford Live

Campaign Finance

“How Democratic or Republican Is Your Job? This Tool Tells You.” by Philip Bump for Washington Post

“Shaun McCutcheon Blew Up Campaign-Finance Law and Became a GOP Hero. Then He Set His Sights on Paris Hilton.” by Luke Mullins for Washingtonian Magazine

Alaska: “Alaska Campaign Finance Watchdog Drops Charlo Greene Investigation” by Suzanna Caldwell for Alaska Dispatch News

California: “Ethics Panel Orders S.F. Supervisor to Pay $181,000 Fine” by John Wildermuth for San Francisco Chronicle

California: “Azano Says Finance Law Unconstitutional” by Kristina Davis for San Diego Union Tribune

Ethics

“Hastert Allegations Cast New Light on His Speakership” by Todd Purdum for Politico

“Dennis Hastert Pleads Not Guilty in Chicago Court” by Monica Davey for New York Times

New York: “Schneiderman’s Evolution on Ethics” by David King for Gotham Gazette

Elections

“Pollsters Fret Looming Robocall Restrictions” by Mario Trujillo for The Hill

Lobbying

California: “Businesses with Stake in California Politics Utilize Capitol Grounds” by Jeremy White for Sacramento Bee

Campaign Finance

“Two FEC Officials Implore Agency to Curb 2016 Election Abuse” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

“Why So Many Women Are Raising Money for Hillary Clinton” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

Delaware: “Bill Would Increase Campaign Donation Limits” by Jonathan Starkey for Wilmington News Journal

Massachusetts: “Baker, State GOP’s Use of Federal Funds Questioned” by Frank Phillips for Boston Globe

New York: “Carl Heastie’s Campaign Spending Blurs Line between Political and Personal” by Russ Buettner for New York Times

Ethics

“Dennis Hastert Rushed to Make Money as Payouts Grew” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

New Jersey: “Ex-Official Says Chris Christie Broke Grand Jury Law” by Kate Zernike for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “Fourth Defendant in Sting Case Pleads Guilty” by Angela Couloumbis and Craig McCoy for Philadelphia Inquirer

Legislative Issues

“Divided Legislatures Produce Gridlock, Not Compromise” by Alan Greenblatt for Governing

Indiana: “House Lawmakers Move to Shield Communications from Public” by The Associated Press for Indianapolis Business Journal

Lobbying

“Senator Would Limit Lobbyist Money That Fueled Liberal Allies” by Carrie Levine and Michael Beckel for Center for Public Integrity

Illinois: “Rauner Tells Agency Heads to Give Lobbyists the Boot” by Rich Miller for Reboot Illinois

Campaign Finance

“Kevin McCarthy’s Flair for Fundraising Fuels His Swift Rise to Power in House” by Noah Bierman and Evan Halper for Los Angeles Times

Arizona: “Secretary of State to Fight Clean Elections over Fine” by Bob Christie (Associated Press) for Arizona Daily Star

California: “Ex-L.A. Council Candidate Fined for Fraudulent Bid for Matching Funds” by Jean Merl for Los Angeles Times

Ethics

California: “Industry Sues Former Mayor, Alleging ‘Extensive Public Corruption’” by Frank Shyong for Los Angeles Times

New York: “A Political Survivor under Investigation” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Oregon: “Ethics Reform: House OKs bill declaring governor’s partner a public official” by Denis Theriault for Portland Oregonian

Texas: “Abbott Wants Lawmakers Willing to ‘Fight for Ethics’” by Dave Montgomery for Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Virginia: “Lawmakers Need a Raise, Governor’s Ethics Panel Says” by Alan Suderman (Associated Press) for Washington Times

Elections

“O’Malley Attacks Big Banks, Political Dynasties in Launching Uphill 2016 Bid” by John Wagner for Washington Post

“Rick Perry, Shrugging Off 2012, Announces He Will Run Again for President” by Manny Fernandez for New York Times

“Lincoln Chafee to Run for President” by David Jackson for USA Today