Lobbying

California: “California Senate OKs Scaled-Down Travel Disclosure Bill” by Judy Lin (Associated Press) for Santa Cruz Sentinel

California: “Law Students Propose Bill to Close Lucrative Capitol Lobbying Loophole” by Melanie Mason for Los Angeles Times

Hawaii: “Antiquated Law Spares Lobbyists in Honolulu Ethics Scandal” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat

New Jersey: “ELEC Report Reveals Healthcare Most Heavily Lobbied Sector in New Jersey” by Andrew Kitchenman for NJ Spotlight

New York: “How Lobbying in Albany Works” by Chris Smith for New Yorker

Campaign Finance

Colorado: “High-Powered Attorneys, Lobbyists Give Big to Denver Candidates” by Jon Murray for Denver Post

Connecticut: “Senate Democrats Reject Campaign Finance Overhaul” by Jenny Wilson for Hartford Courant

Ethics

Alaska: “Juneau APOC Office Skeletal after Cuts” by Katie Moritz (Morris News Service) for Peninsula Chronicle

Oregon: “House Unanimously Passes Kate Brown’s Plan to Remake Oregon Ethics Panel” by Denis Theriault for Portland Oregonian

South Carolina: “Former State Senator Robert Ford Gets No Jail Times” by John Monk for The State

Texas: “Abbott Gets Bill Limiting Ethics Disclosures” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

Vermont: “Condos Pitches Ethics Commission in Wake of Impropriety Allegations” by Anne Galloway for VTDigger.org

Procurement

Texas: “Overhaul of Scandal-Torn State-Contracting System Wins Final Approval” by Dave Montgomery for Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Lobbying

“JCOPE’s New Guidance, or: You might be a lobbyist if …” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “House Passes Significant Campaign Reforms; Will the Senate Take Up the Bill?” by Christine Stuart for CTNewsJunkie.com

Louisiana: “Report Urges Louisiana to Ban ‘Troublesome’ Utility Campaign Contributions” by Jennifer Larino for New Orleans Times-Picayune

Minnesota: “After Criticism, Sen. Alberta Darling Cancels Fundraiser” by Scott Bauer (Associated Press) for Minneapolis Star Tribune

Pennsylvania: “City Council Gives Initial Thumbs Up To New Rules on Independent PACs” by Mike Dunn for KYW

Ethics

“Should We Pay Politicians More?” by Kevin Hartnett for Politico

“Clinton Foundation Paid Blumenthal $10K per Month While He Advised on Libya” by Kenneth Vogel for Politico

“How Dennis Hastert Made His Millions” by Tarini Parti for Politico

“Payments by Hastert Linked to Report of Sexual Abuse” by Michael Shear and Michael Schmidt for New York Times

Hawaii: “Under Fire: Hawaii ethics director defends his strict ethical views” by Ian Lind for Honolulu Civil Beat

New York: “Schneiderman Vows ‘Reform for All New Yorkers’ With Anti-Corruption Bill” by Will Bredderman for New York Observer

Oregon: “High-Ranking State Official Leaked Thousands of John Kitzhaber’s Personal Emails” by Laura Gunderson and Jeff Manning for Portland Oregonian

New York: “Grand Jury Indicts Dean Skelos, Ex-New York Senate Leader, and Son in Corruption Case” by William Rashbaum for New York Times

Elections

“George Pataki Announces Presidential Campaign” by David Fahrenthold for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

Arkansas: “Arkansas Primary Change Would Be Temporary under Compromise” by Andrew DeMillo and Claudia Lauer (Associated Press) for Washington Times

Lobbying

“K Street’s Gains Felt at Boutique Firms, Too” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Campaign Finance

“Campaign Finance Watchdogs Push Justice Dept. to Investigate Jeb Bush’s PAC” by Ed O’Keefe for Washington Post

“Arkansas AG Rejects Language for Campaign Finance Issue” by The Associated Press for Washington Times

Virginia: “Conservative Group Paying Ken Cuccinelli’s Campaign” by Rachel Weiner for Washington Post

Wisconsin: “Sen. Alberta Darling Fundraiser Called ‘Shakedown’ for Lobbyist Cash” by Mike Ivey for Capital Times

Ethics

New York: “Fired Aide Pays $4,000 in Sandy Scandal” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union

New York: “Judge Rules Larry Seabrook, Ex-New York Councilman, Must Forfeit His Pension” by Benjamin Weiser for New York Times

Texas: “House Passes Ethics Bill, Senate Showdown Likely” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

Elections

“Rick Santorum Is Entering Republican 2016 Presidential Race” by Trip Gabriel for New York Times

Legislative Issues

“Members Living in Their Offices Rent-Free Adds Up” by David Hawkings for Roll Call

Lobbying

Georgia: “Legislators and Corporate Lobbyists Meet in Secret at Georgia Resort” by Brendan Keefe and Michael King for WXIA

Vermont: “Legislative Wrap: Lobbyist disclosure tops transparency effort” by Erin Mansfield for VTDigger.org

Campaign Finance

“Meet the ‘Dark Money’ Phantom” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity

“Push to Name Donors in Political Ads Hits FCC Roadblock” by Mario Trujillo for The Hill

Montana: “MT’s Campaign-Donor Limits Still Up in the Air” by Katherine Proctor for Courthouse News Service

Ethics

“Clinton Foundation Reveals Up to $26 Million in Additional Payments” by Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

California: “California Fund Has Little Oversight” by The Associated Press for Contra Costa Times

Missouri: “Lawmakers Fail to Ramp up Ethics Laws for Missouri Officials” by Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) for Columbia Missourian

Oklahoma; “Former Oklahoma Legislators’ Bribery Convictions Upheld” by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman

Oregon: “Forget Fines – Oregon Prefers Warnings for Public Officials Guilty of Ethics Violations” by Nick Budnick and Laura Gunderson for Portland Oregonian

Tennessee: “Ethics Panel Fading to Obscurity 10 Years after Tenn. Waltz” by Erik Schelzig (Associated Press) for Albany Times Union

Elections

“Republicans Seek to Bridge Gap with Latinos in Colorado and Beyond” by Jack Healy for New York Times

Redistricting

“Supreme Court to Weigh Meaning of ‘One Person One Vote’” by Adam Liptak for New York Times

Lobbying

“At K Street’s No. 1 Lobby Shop, Ties to Clinton Run Deep” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

California: “‘Stalking’ of Pro-Vaccine Lobbyists Prompts Warning from Doctors’ Group” by Jeremy White for Fresno Bee

Kansas: “Records: Gov. Sam Brownback, aides still consult with ex-chief of staff, now a lobbyist” by Bryan Lowry for Wichita Eagle

Nevada: “Legislative ‘Cooling Off’ Lobbying Law Passes Nevada Senate” by Sandra Chereb for Las Vegas Review-Journal

Campaign Finance

“FEC Deadlocks on Wealthy Donor Giving Limits” by Tom Howell, Jr. for Washington Times

“Gyrocopter Pilot Indicted on Six Charges” by Jesse Byrnes for The Hill

“Rove’s Crossroads PAC Is No Longer G.O.P.’s ‘Big Dog;” by Eric Lichtblau and Maggie Haberman for New York Times

Arizona: “Phone Records Show Close Contact between Regulator, APS and ‘Dark Money’” by Ryan Randazzo for Arizona Republic

Ethics

New Jersey: “Christie Leaves Cowboys Tickets off His Disclosure Form” by Maddie Hanna and Andrew Seidman for Philadelphia Inquirer

South Carolina: “Pinson Given 5 Years in Prison” by John Monk for The State

Lobbying

EU: “A Test of the EU’s Revolving Door” by James Panichi for Politico

“Critics Hear E.P.A.’s Voice in ‘Public Comments’” by Eric Lipton and Coral Davenport for New York Times

Louisiana: “Lobbyists Pay for Louisiana Officials’ Trip, Recipients Don’t Disclose It” by Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Ben Myers for New Orleans Times-Picayune

Maryland: “Maryland Changes Rules Again on Political Contribution Disclosure by Government Contractors; Lobbyist-Employers Also Affected” by Lawrence Norton, Ronald Jacobs, and Julie McConnell for Lexology

Campaign Finance

New Jersey: “N.J. Election Watchdog Gets New Member, but Remains Short-Staffed” by Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger

Wisconsin: “Records Indicate Scott Walker Was Copied on Letter Promising Loan to Donor” by Jason Stein and Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ethics

“Clinton Friend’s Libya Role Blurs Lines of Politics and Business” by Nicholas Confessore and Michael Schmidt for New York Times

Arkansas: “Fiscal 2016 Budget Cut Vexes Ethics Panel Chief” by Spencer Willems for Arkansas Online

Kansas: “Gov. Sam Brownback Also Used Private E-Mail Address to Communicate with Staff” by Bryan Lowry for Wichita Eagle

New York: “Albany Corruption Inquiry Hurts Arizona Company That Hired Dean Skelos’s Son” by Susanne Craig for New York Times

Lobbying

“American Chemistry Council Lied about Lobbying Role on Flame Retardants, Consultant Says” by David Heath for Center for Public Integrity

Louisiana: “Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association Shells Out for Officials’ Stay at Resort” by Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Ben Myers for New Orleans Times-Picayune

Campaign Finance

“Guinta Apologizes, Maintains Innocence about Campaign Cash” by Holly Ramer (Associated Press) for Miami Herald

“‘Campaigns’ Aren’t Necessarily Campaigns in the Age of ‘Super PACs’” by Nicholas Confessore and Eric Lichtblau for New York Times

West Virginia: “W.Va. Election Commission Approves Changes for Nonpartisan Judicial Elections” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette

Wisconsin: “Supreme Court Declines to Hear Lawsuit Seeking to Block John Doe Probe” by Patrick Marley and Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ethics

Georgia: “Deal Bends Rules for Ga. Chamber’s Gala at the Capitol” by Walter Jones for Savannah Morning News

New York: “Capitol Scandals Raise Tough Questions for New York Governor” by David Klepper (Associated Press) for WRAL

Texas: “Analysis: Ethics at center stage, hurting for attention” by Ross Ramsey for Texas Tribune

Elections

“Clinton Is Banking on the Obama Coalition to Win” by Anne Gearan for Washington Post

Lobbying

Louisiana: “Lobbyists Spent $3 Million on Louisiana Officials, but Seldom Named Them” by Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Ben Myers for New Orleans Times-Picayune

Louisiana: “Lobbyist Largess Extends to Officials’ Spouses, Children” by Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Ben Myers for New Orleans Times-Picayune

Rhode Island: “State of R.I. Drops 38 Studios Lobbying Cases” by Jennifer Bogdon for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

“Avalanche of Big Money Headed Feingold’s Way in Senate Rematch” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

Arizona: “State Agencies Spar over Political Contribution Reports Rules” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star

Arizona: “Clean Elections Panel Advances New Dark-Money Spending Rules” by Bob Christie (Associated Press) for Arizona Daily Sun

California: “San Diego Council Committee Gives Tentative OK To Revise Referendum Process” by City News Service for KPBS

Indiana: “Lawmakers Flock to Downtown Gambling Parlor for Fundraisers” by Tony Cook for Indianapolis Star

Wisconsin: “Special Prosecutor Intent on Pursuing Investigation in Possible Illegal Coordination by Scott Walker Campaign, but Major Legal Hurdles Remain” by Matea Gold and Jenna Johnson for Washington Post

Ethics

“George Stephanopoulos Discloses Gifts to Clinton Foundation” by Jeremy Peters and John Koblin for New York Times

California: “Kevin de León Called about Job for Daughter at Nonprofit He Helped with Bill” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

Missouri: “Missouri House Speaker John Diehl Admits Sexually Charged Relationship with Intern” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Missouri: “Missouri House Speaker Resigns; Intern Breaks Silence” by Virginia Young for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

New York: “NY Assembly Requiring Proof for Albany Travel Expenses” by Michael Virtanen (Associated Press) for Albany Times Union

Lobbying

Missouri: “Free Food Fills Missouri Capitol’s Hallways as Ethics Bill Dies” by Virginia Young for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Missouri: “Republican Legislator Faces Ethics Complaint over Comments to Reporter about Gifts” by Eli Yokley for PoliticMo

New York: “Group Supporting de Blasio’s Agenda Is Said to Draw Interest of Ethics Panel” by Michael Grynbaum and William Rashbaum for New York Times

Campaign Finance

“Obama Foundation Walks Fine Line in Efforts to Raise $500 Million” by Josh Gerstein for Politico

New York: “NY Assembly Votes for Closing Campaign Finance Loophole” by Michael Virtanen (Associated Press) for Bradenton Herald

Rhode Island: “Providence Rep. Almeida Admits to Personal Use of Campaign Funds” by Katie Mulvaney for Providence Journal

Ethics

“Former Energy Department Official Wins Huge Pay Raise after Moving to Firm with Deep Ties to DOE” by Douglas Birch and Alexander Cohen for Center for Public Integrity

“10 Members of Congress Took Trip Secretly Funded by Foreign Government” by Scott Higham, Steven Rich, and Alice Crites for Washington Post

South Carolina: “South Carolina May Get Small Ethics Reform Package This Year” by Jeffrey Collins (Associated Press) for Washington Times

Texas: “Powerful Republican Slams ‘Superficial’ Ethics Reform” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

Lobbying

Illinois: “In Illinois Capitol, Lobbying Is a Growing Business” by Kurt Erickson for Quad City Times

Nevada: “Bill Imposes Cooling-Off Period for Ex-Lawmakers” by Sandra Chereb for Las Vegas Review-Journal

Vermont: “House Oks Bill Limiting Lobbyist Contributions during Session” by Erin Mansfield for VTDigger.org

Campaign Finance

“Hillary Clinton Embraces a ‘Super PAC,’ Trying to Erode a Republican Edge” by Maggie Haberman and Nicholas Confessore for New York Times

“The FEC’s ‘Non-Partisan’ Whistleblower” by Tarini Parti for Politico

Ethics

Florida: “Politicians Send Millions to Charity of Lobbyist’s Daughter” by Francisco Alvarado (BrowardBulldog.org) for Miami Herald

Indiana: “Expanded Disclosure, Ethics Rules Now Law” by Olivia Covington for WFYI

Massachusetts: “Brian Joyce Thrives at the Edge of a Fuzzy Boundary” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe

New York: “Scarborough Pleads Guilty Twice” by Brendan Lyons for Albany Times Union

Texas: “Government Contract Disclosure Bill Advances” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

West Virginia: “‘Trinkets’ Defined as Ethics Commission Prepares for New WV Law” by Joel Ebert for Charleston Daily Mail

Legislative Issues

Hawaii: “Hawaii Lawmakers Quietly Dole Out Millions of Dollars in Grants” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat

Campaign Finance

“Cash Flows in Year of SuperPAC 2.0” by Tarini Parti for Politico

“F.E.C. Data Shows Campaign Fines Hit Record Low in 2014” by Eric Lichtblau for New York Times

“Hillary Clinton’s Big-Money Dilemma” by Glenn Thrush and Anna Palmer for Politico

Ethics

California: “Transparency Gets Win as Funds OK’d to Digitize Financial Disclosure by Public Officials” by Alexandra Bjerg for California Forward Reporting

Florida: “Broward Politicians Want Looser Ethics Code” by Brittany Wallman for South Florida Sun Sentinel

Georgia: “For Ga. Board, Common Cause’s ‘Different Path’ Leads to Protest” by Jonathan Shapiro for WABE

Hawaii: “Still No Love for Public Interest Bills at Hawaii Legislature” by Ian Lind for Honolulu Civil Beat

New York: “Congratulations, New York, You’re #1 in Corruption” by Alan Greenblatt for Politico

New York: “Effort to Strip Pensions from Corrupt New York Officials Stalls” by Thomas Kaplan for New York Times

Washington: “Bothell Mayor Exonerated in Ethics Investigation” by Lynn Thompson for Seattle Times

Legislative Issues

Minnesota: “Minnesota House Floor Can Be a Theater of The Absurd” by Patrick Coolican for Minneapolis Star Tribune

Lobbying

Connecticut: “Malloy Urged Protection for Pharmaceutical Firms in Trade Pact” by Ana Radelat for CT Mirror

Tennessee: “ALEC’s Influence in the Tennessee Legislature” by Richard Locker for Knoxville News Sentinel

Texas: “Senate Tightens Up Reporting Requirements for Lobbyists” by Terrence Stutz for Dallas Morning News

Campaign Finance

Minnesota: “Gov. Mark Dayton Vows to Veto GOP Campaign Cash Changes” by Rachel Stassen-Berger for St. Paul Pioneer Press

New York: “Albany Shivers after Bharara Flips a Major Donor” by Jimmy Vielkind for Capital New York

Ethics

New Jersey: “With Bridge Case Charges, a Cloud Descends on Christie’s White House Hopes” by Michael Barbaro for New York Times

New Jersey: “Forget Bridgegate. New Jersey’s Actually the Most Ethical State.” by Nicholas Kusnetz for Washington Post

Pennsylvania: “Loopholes in Pennsylvania’s Ethics Act Allow Family Hires” by Andrew Staub (PA Independent) for Watchdog.org

Elections

“Mike Huckabee Joins Republican Presidential Race” by Trip Gabriel for New York Times

“Campaign Coverage via Snapchat Could Shake Up the 2016 Elections” by Jonathan Mahler for New York Times

Lobbying

Tennessee: “Out-of-State Groups Seek Influence in Tennessee” by Tom Humphrey (Knoxville News Sentinel) for The Tennessean

Campaign Finance

“Hollywood Bundlers Are Losing the Spotlight” by Todd Purdum for Politico

“F.E.C. Can’t Curb 2016 Election Abuse, Commission Chief Says” by Eric Lichtblau for New York Times

California: “L.A. Port Police Chief Indicted in Alleged Fraud Scheme” by Matt Hamilton for Los Angeles Times

Connecticut: “Wolcott Man Gets Prison in Chris Donovan Campaign Case” by Nicholas Rondinone for Hartford Courant

New Jersey: “Chris Christie Vetoes Anti-Corruption Law to Limit Wall Street Campaign Cash” by David Sirota and Andrew Perez for International Business Times

New Jersey: “State of Corruption: N.J.’s most infamous political scandals” by Jonathan Salant (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger

New Jersey: “Key Christie Ally Pleads Guilty to Role in Bridgegate, Two Others Indicted” by Rosalind Helderman and Robert Costa for Washington Post

New York: “Dean Skelos, New York Senate Leader, and Son Are Arrested on Corruption Charges” by William Rashbaum, Thomas Kaplan, and Susanne Craig for New York Times

Elections

“Ben Carson Says He’ll Seek 2016 G.O.P. Nomination” by Trip Gabriel for New York Times

“Carly Fiorina Announces 2016 Presidential Bid” by Amy Chozik for New York Times

Legislative Issues

“Antagonist-in-Chief Stickland Faces His Foes” by Morgan Smith for Texas Tribune

Lobbying

New York: “Education Groups Were Top Lobbyists of 2014” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union

Campaign Finance

“FEC Decision May Allow More Foreign Money in U.S. Votes, Critics Say” by Michelle Conlin and Lucas Iberico Lozada for Reuters

“Scott Walker’s Strength in Donors” by Derek Willis for New York Times

Missouri: “A Mega Donor’s Influence in Missouri Politics” by Steven Anthony for KBIA

New Jersey: “N.J. Supreme Court Won’t Hear Sharpe James’s Bridgegate Argument, Campaign Cash Appeal” by Bill Wichert for Newark Star-Ledger

Ethics

“FDA Could Approve Drugs for New Uses on Less Data: Draft law” by Toni Clarke for Reuters

New York: “JCOPE Watchdog Denies Conflict as Attorney” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Washington: “WaLeg: Rep. Fagan faces ethics charges, will resign” by Jim Camden for Spokane Spokesman-Review

Elections

“Bernie Sanders Brings Liberal Zeal in Challenge to Hillary Clinton” by Jonathan Topaz for Politico

Procurement

New Mexico: “Review: Former Albuquerque police chief may have violated ethics rules with no-bid Taser deal” by Ryan Foley and Vik Jolly (Associated Press) for Minneapolis Star Tribune