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

Lobbying

“Sacramento Report: Five questions for a lobbyist” by Brian Joseph for Voice of San Diego

“Lobbying Fee Increase Drawing Criticism in Harrisburg” by John Kennedy for Legal Intelligencer

“Schilling a No-Show at Lobbying Hearing on 38 Studios, Declared in Default” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

“New Jersey’s Most Generous Donors to Political Causes and Super PACs” by Collen O’Dea for NJ Spotlight

Ethics

“Arkansas Voters Approve Extended Term Limits” by J.B. Wogan for Governing

“City Ethics Amendment Passes by Wide Margin” by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat

Elections

“Republicans Gain Big in State Legislative Elections” by Karen Pierog for Reuters

“Republicans Hold the Top 2 Prizes in Governor Races” by Trip Gabriel for New York Times

“As New Rules Take Effect, Voters Report Problems in Some States” by Erik Eckholm and Richard Fausset for New York Times

“Republicans Extend House Control as Democratic Holdouts Fall” by Jeremy Peters for New York Times

“Republicans First Step was to Handle Extremists in Party” by Jeremy Peters and Thomas Hulse for New York Times

“Ted Kennedy Jr. Wins State Senate Race in Connecticut” by Alison Leigh Cowen for New York Times

Lobbying:

“Capitol Book Club, with a Bonus” by Ben Protess and Eric Lipton for New York Times

“Harrisburg Lobbying Costs on the Rise” by Robert Swift for Citizens Voice

“Ex-Lawmakers Predict Post-Election Return of Earmarks” by Katelyn Plantz for National Journal

“Complaint: D.C. law firm illegally lobbied Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi” by Michael Van Sickler for Tampa Bay Times

Ethics:

“California Lawmakers’ Campaign Credit-Card Spending Often Lacks Disclosure, Sacramento Bee Review Finds” by Jim Miller for Sacramento Bee

“How Political Donors Are Changing Statehouse News Reporting” by Daniel Vock for Governing

“Ex-Homestead Mayor Now a Convicted Felon” by David Ovalle for Miami Herald

Elections:

“Rogue Pastors Endorse Candidates, but IRS Looks Away” by Rachael Bade for Politico

“Cell Phones, Social Media and Campaign 2014” by Aaron Smith for Pew Research Center

Campaign Finance:

“Election 2014: A new level of collaboration between candidates and big-money allies” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

“Surplussing: How donors, parties legally circumvent campaign contribution caps” by Austin Jenkins for KPLU

Lobbying

“Hard-Nosed Advice from Veteran Lobbyist: ‘Win Ugly or Lose Pretty’” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

“At Fast-Growing Brookings, Donors May Have an Impact on Research Agenda” by Tom Hamburger and Alexander Becker for Washington Post

“After Probe, Ferguson Seeks Limits on Former AG Staff Lobbying” by Jim Brunner for Seattle Times

Campaign Finance

“A Flood of Late Spending on Midterm Elections, from Murky Sources” by Nicholas Confessore and Derek Willis for New York Times

“Straw into Gold: Candidates Trading Leadership PAC Dollars for Campaign Cash” by Viveca Novak and John Sugden for The Center for Public Integrity

“Judge Refuses to Toss Campaign-Finance Allegations against AG” by Howard Fischer (Capitol News Service) for East Valley Tribune

“Judge Hears Arguments in Campaign Coordination Case” by Bruce Vielmetti for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ethics

“Firebrand Alabama Republican Collides With Ethics Law He Espoused” by Campbell Robertson and Alan Blinder for New York Times

“Staff Lawyer Sues Georgia Ethics Commission” by Lisa Coston for Courthouse News

“SC House Moves to Limit Speaker’s Terms, Ban Some PACs” by Cassie Cope for The State

Elections

“Cancel the Midterms” by David Schanzer and Jay Sullivan for New York Times

“Senate Control May Be Decided by Runoff Votes in Louisiana and Georgia” by Campbell Robertson and Sheryl Gay Stolberg for New York Times

“K Street Descends on Kentucky” by Anna Palmer for Politico

“State Supreme Court Orders Election for Harrell’s Seat to Continue Tuesday Pending Review” by Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Lobbying

“Advice on How to Stay Out of Jail – From a Lobbyist Who Didn’t” by Kevin Ring for Washington Post

Missouri: “Missouri Attorney General May Face Inquiry over Money from Lobbyists” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

Campaign Finance

“Donors Get Special Access to GOP Governors as Potential 2016 Contenders” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

California: “Once a Crusader against Big Money, Gov. Brown is Collecting Millions” by Michael Finnegan and Ben Welsh for Los Angeles Times

New Mexico: “PRC Member Told He Can’t Pay Himself to Campaign” by Thomas Cole for Albuquerque Journal

Texas: “Ethics Commission Approves Dark Money Regulation” by David Saleh Rauf (San Antonio Express-News) for Austin American-Statesman

Ethics

Alabama: “Jury Finds Alabama Lawmaker Not Guilty of Perjury” by Kim Chandler (Associated Press) for Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Ohio: “State Rep. Sandra Williams Found Guilty of Profiting from Ohio State Football Tickets” by Jim Siegel for Columbus Dispatch

South Carolina: “Bobby Harrell: A quick rise to power, and a quicker fall” by Jeremy Borden and Schuyler Knopf for Charleston Post & Courier

Texas: “Houston Drops Subpoenas to Get Speeches from Pastors Opposed to Anti-Discrimination Ordinance” by The Associated Press for Fox News

Elections

“Election Could Tip Historic Number of Legislatures into Republican Hands” by Reid Wilson for Washington Post

California: “L.A. Officials to Consider Ballot Measures to Change Election Years” by David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times

Louisiana: “Louisiana’s Rogues Yield to National Issues” by Campbell Robertson and Jonathan Martin for New York Times

Minnesota: “Campaigning to Extend, or End, One-Party Rule” by Monica Davey for New York Times

Montana: “Stanford Research Gaffe: School apologizes to Montana voters for ‘election guide’” by Katy Murphy for San Jose Mercury News

South Carolina: “State Election Officials Opt to Delay Election in Bobby Harrell’s Old House Seat” by Jeremy Borden for Charleston Post & Courier

Political Advertising

“In Democratic Election Ads in South, a Focus on Racial Scars” by Jeremy Peters for New York Times

Lobbying

“Lobbyists, Bearing Gifts, Pursue Attorneys General” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

“K Street Files: Is that a lobbyist knocking on your door?” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

“K Street’s Republicans Hope for Uptick in Business” by Anna Palmer for Politico

“State Rep. Mallory Pleads Guilty to Improperly Accepting, Disclosing Gifts from Lobbyists” by Jim Siegel for Columbus Dispatch

Campaign Finance

“House Dems Shame Stingy Members” by Mike Lillis for The Hill

“Super PACs Keep Candidates Afloat with a Little Help from Their Friends” by Paul Blumenthal for Huffington Post

“Finance Laws Aim to Be Clear” by Joy Hampton for Moore American

Ethics

“Ethics Reforms Shepherded by Bowser Look Better in Hindsight, Some Say” by Mike DeBonis for Washington Post

Elections

“Nothing in Moderation” by Thomas Edsall for New York Times

“Iowan’s Playbook, for Women to Win Men’s Vote” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg for New York Times

Lobbying

“Former Senator Tom Daschle Forms New Lobbying Group” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

“Would Stronger Parties Mean Less Polarization?” by Thomas Edsall for New York Times

“Michigan’s New Campaign Contribution Limits Benefiting Republicans More Than Democrats” by Jonathan Oosting for MLive.com

“W.Va. Delegate’s Campaign Expenses Include Steer Bought at County Fair” by The Associated Press for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Ethics

“Politics of Ebola Tricky for Christie, Cuomo” by Jonathan Lemire and Jill Colvin (Associated Press) for ABC News

“Finding: Farmer girlfriend violated ethics code” by Tom Loftus for Louisville Courier-Journal

“William Lantigua, Mired in Political Controversy from the Start” by Bruce Wright for Boston Globe

“Coakley Denies Allegation She Had No-Interest in DiMasi Case” by Gintautas Dumcius and Matt Murphy (State House News Service) for Lowell Sun

“Pennsylvania Justice in Porn Email Scandal Retires” by Mark Scolforo and Marc Levy (Associated Press) for Greenfield Reporter

“McAuliffe’s New Virginia Ethics Panel Meets for First Time” by Laura Vozzella for Washington Post

Political Advertising

“Pants on Fire? Ohio Campaign Ads Take Liberties, Both Parties Say” by Darrell Rowland for Columbus Dispatch