Campaign Finance

“GOP 2016 Hopefuls Race to Cash In on Small Online Donors” by Scott Bland for National Journal

“Grand Jury Investigates Loans to the Re-Election Campaign of Gov. Sam Brownback” by Roxana Hegeman (Associated Press) for Kansas City Star

“House Panel Recommends Texas Legislature Take Action on Dark Money” by David Saleh Rauf for Houston Chronicle

Ethics

“Deal Reconsiders Campaign Pledge to Overhaul Ethics Commission” by Jonathan Shapiro for WACB

Lobbying

“LD 1750: A study in how special interests get their way in the Maine Legislature” by Naomi Schalit (Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting) for St. John Valley Times

Campaign Finance

“Governors’ Inaugural Celebration Plans, by State” by The Associated Press  for New York Times

“FEC Alleges Personal Use of Campaign Funds by Former Senate Candidate O’Donnell” by Randall Chase (Associated Press) for Daily Journal

“Parties Poised to Exploit Broad New Rules” by Eliza Newlin Carney for Roll Call

Ethics

“Jeb Bush Education Foundation Played Leading Role in Mixing Politics, Policy” by Lindsey Layton for Washington Post

“House Edits Rules to Help Members Facing Ethics Probes” by Paul Singer for USA Today

“Former Alabama Education Official Gets 2-Year Sentence” by Philip Rawls (Associated Press) for Tuscaloosa News

“In Stamford, Donation to City Raises Ethics Questions” by Elizabeth Kim for Stamford Advocate

Legislative Issues

“Peoria Lawmaker Proposes More Difficult Route to Amend State Constitution” by Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) for East Valley Tribune

Lobbying

“All Cooled Off: As Congress convenes, former colleagues will soon be calling from K Street” in the Center for Responsive Politics

Vermont: “Lobbyists Can Now Register Online in Vermont, Condos Says System Gives Public Immediate Access” by The Associated Press for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Campaign Finance

“For the Wealthiest Political Donors, It Was a Very Good Year” by Annie Linskey and Julie Bykowitz for Bloomberg News

Pennsylvania: “City Council Candidate’s Use of Personal Funds Triggers Key Ruling from Philadelphia Ethics Board” by Mike Dunn for KYW

South Carolina: “McMaster Facing State Ethics Charges” by Andrew Shain for The State

Ethics

California: “State Ethics Agency Has Record Number of Enforcement Actions in 2014” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

California: “Ex-Water District Manager Agrees to Pay Fine over Accepting Gifts” by Ruben Vives for Los Angeles Times

Missouri: “Ethics Bills Proposed for 2015 Session” by Rudi Keller for Columbia Daily Tribune

Virginia: “Bob McDonnell, Ex-Governor of Virginia, Sentenced to 2 Years for Corruption” by Jennifer Steinhauer for New York Times

Legislative Issues

“Boehner Reelected as Speaker, but Control over GOP Majority Precarious” by Lisa Mascaro and Michael Memoli for Los Angeles Times

Lobbying

Arizona: “Lobbyist Tied to Phoenix VA Executive Fired over Gifts” by Dennis Wagner (Arizona Republic) for USA Today

California: “Foes and Fans of L.A. Economic-Justice Group Agree It Gets Things Done” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times

Maryland: “Hogan’s Pick for Health Chief Says He’ll Avoid Conflicts” by Michael Dresser and Meredith Cohn for Baltimore Sun

Maryland: “Maryland Gov.-Elect Hogan Tries to Navigate Gifts Minefield” by Jenna Johnson for Washington Post

Missouri: “Publisher’s Parties Highlight Reporting Issues in Missouri Ethics Laws” by Rudi Keller for Columbia Daily Tribune

Rhode Island: “R.I. Secretary of State Mollis Ends Probe, Says Stokes Didn’t Have to Register as a Lobbyist for 38 Studios Meetings” by Kate Bramson for Providence Journal

Rhode Island: “Mollis’ Decision on Lynch Sets Bad Precedent, Says Leader of Common Cause” by Jennifer Bogdon for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

“Judge Candidates’ Free-Speech Rights at Issue before the Supreme Court” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Ethics

New Jersey: “Dallas Owner Jerry Jones Paid for Chris Christie’s Trip to Root for Cowboys, Including Private Jet” by Matt Arco (NJ Advanced Media) for Newark Star Ledger

Procurement

Texas: “Audit: Texas Health Agency Mishandled AT&T Contract” by Aman Batheja for Texas Tribune

Lobbying

Missouri: “With Lobbyists, Missouri Lawmakers Golf and Dine Far from Jefferson City” by Eli Yokely for PoliticMo.com

Campaign Finance

“Jackson: Senate’s strict rule on donors used once” by Herb Jackson for Bergen Record

California: “Politicians Use ‘Ghost’ Campaigns to Fight Specter of Lost Funds” by John Wildermuth for San Francisco Chronicle

Kansas: “Judicial Retention Elections Becoming More High Profile in Kansas” by Brad Cooper (Kansas City Star) for Wichita Eagle

North Carolina: “Opinion Says Lawmakers Can Raise Money for Political Nonprofits” by Mark Binker for WRAL

Ethics

“GSA Loses Appeal in Firings of Top Officials; Appeals Board Orders Them Reinstated” by Lisa Rein for Washington Post

“Michael Grimm, in a Reversal, Will Resign From Congress” by Jason Horowitz for New York Times

“Republicans Try to Fix Damage Scalise’s 2002 Speech Could Do in 2016” by Jonathan Martin and Jackie Calmes  for New York Times

“U.S. Said to Investigate Sheldon Silver, New York Assembly Speaker, Over Payments” by William Rashbaum, Thomas, Kaplan, and Susanne Craig for New York Times

Procurement

Mississippi: “Task Force: Ban no-bid contracts in Mississippi prison system” by The Associated Press for Gulflive.com

Lobbying

“A Bipartisan Push to Limit Lobbyists’ Sway over Attorneys General” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

Arizona: “Firing of VA Clinic Chief Upheld over Gifts, Not Wait Times” by John Wagner (Arizona Republic) for USA Today

Florida: “London’s Dual Role as Commissioner, Lobbyist Has Mayor Demanding Client List” by Susannah Bryan for Orlando Sentinel

Georgia: “University System of Georgia Spent More Than $48,000 on Perks for State Lawmakers” by The Associated Press for Columbus Republic

Campaign Finance

“Big Money Breaks Out” by Kenneth Vogel for Politico

Massachusetts: “State Campaign Contributions Set to Double” by Joshua Miller for Boston Globe

Missouri: “Diehl Endorses Bill Requiring Political Not-for-Profits to Reveal Donors” by Rudi Keller for Columbia Daily Tribune

Ethics

California: “New FPPC Chair Takes Low-Profile Approach” by Laurel Rosenhall for Sacramento Bee

New Jersey: “North Haledon Mayor Fined $100 for Post-Sandy Generator Use” by Minjae Park for Bergen Record

Oklahoma: “State Ethics Agency Fails to Collect Most Fees” by M. Scott Carter (Oklahoma Watch)
for the Enid News & Eagle

South Carolina: “SC Ethics Attorney to Join Spearman’s Education Team” by Jamie Self for The State

Washington: “PDC Finding It Hard to Get Money to Make Upgrades to Its Campaign-Finance Web Site” by Brad Shannon (The Olympian) for Tacoma News Tribune

Lobbying

National: “A Bipartisan Push to Limit Lobbyists’ Sway over Attorneys General” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

Campaign Finance

“New DGA Chairman Promises Greater Disclosure” by James Hohmann for Politico

Missouri: “Diehl Endorses Bill Requiring Political Not-for-Profits to Reveal Donors” by Rudi Keller for Columbia Tribune

New Mexico: “State Senator Pre-Files Campaign Finance Reform Bill” by Andy Beale for Albuquerque Business First

Ethics

“Rep. Michael Grimm Pleads Guilty in Tax Case, Refuses to Resign” by Christine Mai-Duc for Los Angeles Times

National: “Cuomo and Christie, Defying Legislatures, Reject Bill to Overhaul Port Authority” by Jesse McKinley for New York Times

California: “PG&E Discloses More Emails with State Regulators” by Ellen Knickmeyer (Associated Press) for San Jose Mercury News

Oklahoma: “State Ethics Agency Fails to Collect Most Fees” by M. Scott Carter for Oklahoma Watch

Lobbying

“Waning Influence? Part 3: Ups and Downs, by Industry” by Dan Auble for Center for Responsive Politics

“PSC Rejects FPL’s Lobbying Fee Request” by Susan Salisbury for Palm Beach Post

“Boston-to-D.C. Flights Showcase Region’s Power Players” by Matt Viser for Boston Globe

Campaign Finance

“Wall Street Money Can Predict How Democrats Vote. Here’s How” by Chris Wilson and Pratheek Rebala for Time

“National Parties, Donors Embrace Higher Campaign Limits” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

“Ethics Panel Wants State Agencies, Employees to Disclosure Campaign Activity” by Mario Moretto (Bangor Daily News) for Lewiston Sun Journal

Ethics

“Languid, Lax Congressional Ethics Disciplinary System May Pick Up Pace in 2015” by David Hawkins for Roll Call

“‘Boss’ Gifts to Pittsburgh Employees from Peduto Raise Questions” by Bob Bauder for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Elections

“The Tortoise and the Hare” by Maggie Haberman for Politico

Redistricting

“Panel Adopts Ideas for Changing Virginia’s Redistricting Process” by Jenna Portnoy for Washington Post

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