Jim Sedor, Author at State and Federal Communications

September 8, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance New Mexico: “Gonzales Denied Public Campaign Funding for the Second Time” by Jessica Dyer for Albuquerque Journal Elections National: “New Texas Voting Bill Deepens Growing Disparities in How Americans Can Cast Their Ballots” by Elise Viebeck (Washington Post) […]

September 7, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Alaska: “Alaska Supreme Court Confirms an End to 2 Limits on Cash in Political Campaigns” by James Brooks (Anchorage Daily News) for Yahoo News Arizona: “Trump Helped Bankroll Senate Audit, Texts Suggest” by Dillon Rosenblatt and Kyra Haas […]

September 3, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – September 3, 2021

National/Federal Are Censures of Politicians a Form of Free Speech or a Threat to It? New York Times – Adam Liptak | Published: 8/30/2021 Censures, which are formal reprimands and a kind of punishment, seem to be on the rise in […]

National/Federal

Are Censures of Politicians a Form of Free Speech or a Threat to It?
New York Times – Adam Liptak | Published: 8/30/2021

Censures, which are formal reprimands and a kind of punishment, seem to be on the rise in these divisive times. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments this fall on whether the First Amendment has anything to say about when elected bodies can impose them on their members. The justices will have to decide whether censures condemning politicians’ statements are a threat to free speech that chills expression or a form of free speech responding to one set of views with another.

As Washington Stews, State Legislatures Increasingly Shape American Politics
New York Times – Michael Wines | Published: 8/29/2021

With the release of the 2020 census, the drawing of legislative districts that could in large part determine control of Congress for the next decade heads to the nation’s state Legislatures, the heart of Republican political power. Increasingly, state Legislatures, especially in 30 GOP-controlled states, have seized an outsize role for themselves, pressing conservative agendas on voting, Covid-19, and the culture wars that are amplifying partisan splits and shaping policy well beyond their own borders.

Capitol Riot Defendants’ Lawyer Apparently Hospitalized with Covid Leaves Clients Without Counsel, Prosecutors Say
MSN – Spencer Hsu and Rachel Weiner (Washington Post) | Published: 8/30/2021

An attorney who represents the largest number of defendants charged in the January 6 Capitol riots has dropped out of sight amid conflicting statements by associates over whether he has been hospitalized with covid-19, U.S. prosecutors told judges. Prosecutors said John Pierce has been incommunicado for the past seven days, leaving 17 clients effectively without defense counsel. The filings put a spotlight on Pierce, whose rhetoric has attracted Trump supporters facing criminal charges and whose business and legal tactics have drawn questions over whether his political or financial interests are affecting his representation of clients.

Corporate America Launches Massive Lobbying Blitz to Kill Key Parts of Democrats’ $3.5 Trillion Economic Plan
MSN – Tony Romm (Washington Post) | Published: 8/31/2021

A torrent of political groups representing some of the country’s most influential corporations is laying the groundwork for a massive lobbying campaign to stop Congress from enacting significant swaths of President Biden’s $3.5 trillion economic agenda. The emerging opposition appears to be vast, spanning drug manufacturers, big banks, tech titans, major retailers, and oil-and-gas giants. In recent weeks, top Washington organizations representing these and other industries have started strategizing behind the scenes, seeking to battle back key elements in Democrats proposed overhaul to federal health care, education, and safety net programs.

DOJ Issues Warning to States Ahead of Redistricting
MSN – Rebecca Beitsch (Roll Call) | Published: 9/1/2021

The Department of Justice issued a warning to states ahead of a year of congressional mapmaking that it will pursue cases against jurisdictions seeking to dilute the voting power of various minorities. The latest guidance signals an administration prepared to take a more aggressive approach in battling gerrymandering. The department said it would be ready to go after any jurisdiction that does not meet the “one person, one vote” principle.

Ex-UK Chancellor Philip Hammond Rapped by Lobbying Watchdog
Politico.eu – Matei Rosca and Matt Honeycombe-Foster | Published: 9/1/2021

Former British Chancellor Philip Hammond was scolded by Westminster’s lobbying watchdog for contacting high-ranking Treasury civil servants on behalf of his new employer, OakNorth, a London-based lender. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) said Hammond’s attempt to pitch OakNorth services to officials, even on a non-profit basis as far as the bank was concerned, was inappropriate. Hammond accused ACOBA of trying to prove its own relevance and challenged it to point to a specific breach of the rules governing jobs for ex-ministers.

G.O.P. Election Reviews Create a New Kind of Security Threat
New York Times – Nick Corasaniti | Published: 9/1/2021

As Republican state and county officials and their allies mount efforts to discredit the result of the 2020 contest, there has been a wave of GOP-driven reviews of the vote count conducted by uncredentialed and partisan companies or people. These reviews have given rise to their own new set of threats to the integrity of the voting machines, software, and other equipment that make up the nation’s election infrastructure. Election officials and security experts say previously unknown technical vulnerabilities could be discovered by partisan malefactors and exploited in future elections.

Jan. 6 Investigators Demand Records from Social Media Companies
Yahoo News – Nicholas Wu (Politico) | Published: 8/27/2021

The select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection is seeking records from social media companies, on whose platforms many defendants charged in the Capitol attack planned and coordinated their actions. The panel is asking all the companies to explain whether their algorithms helped spread misinformation and account for what they did to address or remove content or posts that might have spread falsehoods about the riot. It also requests information on the companies’ communications with law enforcement regarding January 6 and the election, as well as on their reporting practices.

January 6 Committee to Ask Telecommunications Companies to Preserve Phone Records of Members of Congress Who Participated in ‘Stop the Steal’ Rally
CNN – Ryan Nobles, Zachary Cohen, Annie Grayer, and Whitney Wild | Published: 8/30/2021

The House select committee investigating the January 6 riot is set to request that a group of telecommunications companies preserve the phone records of a group of Republican members of Congress and former President Trump, as well as members of the Trump family, who played some role in the “Stop the Steal” rally that served as the prelude to the insurrection at the Capitol. According to the sources, this group was targeted because the committee concluded each of these lawmakers played some role in the rally. They either attended, spoke, actively planned, or encouraged people to attend.

Lauren Boebert Removes Name from Business Filings Tied to Oil and Gas Consulting Firm Run by Her Husband
Colorado Sun – Thy Vo | Published: 9/1/2021

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert removed her name from business paperwork linked to the oil and gas consulting firm run by her husband after drawing scrutiny for nearly $1 million in payments it received from Terra Energy, a drilling company operating in her district. The changes, made after media reports of her ties to Boebert Consulting, distance Rep. Boebert from the two companies, which are registered to the couple’s home. But it is not clear what ownership or stake, if any, Lauren Boebert has in either company.

Seven Capitol Police Officers Sue Trump, Right-Wing Groups Over Injuries from Jan. 6 Riot
MSN – Paul Duggan and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 8/26/2021

Seven U.S. Capitol Police officers sued former President Trump and more than a dozen alleged participants in the January 6 riot at the Capitol, saying the defendants are responsible for the officers being “violently assaulted, spat on, tear-gassed, bear-sprayed, subjected to racial slurs and epithets, and put in fear for their lives.” The lawsuit alleges Trump, by falsely claiming the presidential election was rigged, incited a mob of his supporters to storm the Capitol to stop Congress from confirming President Biden’s victory.

Tommy Tuberville’s Stock Trades During Infrastructure Talks Raise Questions About Conflicts of Interest
Center for Responsive Politics – Isaiah Poritz | Published: 9/1/2021

In July, while the Senate was in the final weeks of negotiating the bipartisan infrastructure bill, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville bought and sold between $170,000 and $475,000 in stock and options of a mining and steel manufacturing company that said it could benefit greatly from the infrastructure plan. While Tuberville ultimately voted against the bill and his spokesperson said he was not involved in negotiations, the optics of trading stock in a company that could benefit from pending legislation can be harmful, ethics experts say.

Canada

Canada – How Interested Outsiders Use ‘Third Party’ Status to Promote Causes, Influence Election
CBC – Christian Pass-Lang | Published: 8/30/2021

With an election underway, parties are officially on the hunt for the votes of Canadians, crisscrossing the country and campaigning right up to the September 20 election. To fund all that travel, advertising, and election gear, parties will be spending a lot of money. But political parties and candidates will not be the only groups spending big in the election campaign. “Third parties: are also in the mix and will be hoping to shape the political conversation and get their issue prioritized.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – ASU and UA Offer Lawmakers Free Tickets to Football Games; the Public Can’t Know Who Accepts Them
Infoshri.com – Alison Steinbach (Arizona Republic) | Published: 8/27/2021

The return of college football carries a perk for all members of the Legislature: free admission to every game at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. It is part of the universities’ efforts to engage with lawmakers, build relationships, and set issues for the upcoming legislative session, university officials say. But those who monitor money and politics say the public deserves more information about the practice. Under state lobbying laws, the free tickets qualify as “special events,” not gifts. That means as long as all 90 members of the Legislature are invited, the schools do not have to report who accepted their offer.

Arizona – FBI Examining $100M Tax Refund Push by Gov. Ducey Staffers after Arizona Republic Investigation
MSN – Craig Harris (Arizona Republic) | Published: 9/1/2021

An investigation by the Arizona Republic uncovered how Gov. Doug Ducey’s administration pushed the Department of Revenue to agree to refund sales taxes on fuel for mining companies, even though that tax had been in place for decades. The companies that stood to benefit were represented by the tax firm Ryan LLC, founded by Ducey supporter G. Brint Ryan. The top three deputies in Ducey’s administration left their government jobs to work for Ryan to push for the tax refund. The FBI’s Public Corruption unit is now investigating the matter.

Colorado – Conservative Dark-Money Group Battles to Keep Its Donors Secret
Durango Herald – Sandra Fish (Colorado Sun) | Published: 8/25/2021

An administrative law judge recommended a $40,000 fine for Unite for Colorado after it spent $4 million to support or oppose three 2020 ballot initiatives, finding the group should have revealed its donors. The ruling also requires the nonprofit to file as an issue committee and reveal its donors from August 2020 through January. Unite for Colorado plans to appeal the decision. Meanwhile, progressive activists filed a new complaint against Unite for Colorado centered on the $3.7 million it has donated to two ballot initiatives likely to be considered by voters in November.

Colorado – Redistricting Lobbying Laws Violated, New Complaint Alleges
Colorado Springs Gazette – Evan Wyloge | Published: 8/24/2021

A complaint filed with the Colorado secretary of state accuses a group of secretly funded political operatives of illegally lobbying the state’s redistricting commissioners. The complaint accuses former House Speaker Frank McNulty and former lawmaker Greg Brophy of lobbying the state’s independent redistricting commissioners without formally registering as lobbyists. It also accuses political consultant Alan Philp, along with McNulty and Brophy, of failing to report payments for lobbying activity.

Florida – FEC Slaps U.S. Rep. Salazar’s Campaign for Accepting Tens of Thousands of Dollars in Illegal Contributions
Florida Bulldog – Francisco Alvarado | Published: 9/2/2021

U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar’s re-election committee has amassed $147,400 in excessive campaign contributions for her primary, according to warning letters from the FEC. The over-the-legal-limit donations include $5,700 from Abelardo de la Espriella, a Colombian lawyer and U.S. permanent resident who up until two years ago was the criminal defense attorney for a fellow countryman targeted in a Colombian money-laundering probe involving ill-gotten government contracts in Venezuela.

Florida – VancoreJones, Paid to ‘Influence Local Government,’ Failed to Register as Lobbyists
Tallahassee Reports – Steve Stewart | Published: 8/30/2021

An exhibit in the recently concluded public corruption trial in Tallahassee indicates J.T. Burnette executed a contract on November 12, 2013, with VancoreJones Communications to “influence local government agencies” related to real estate projects on behalf of TM Street, LLC. But records show no one from VancoreJones has ever registered to lobby for TM Street with the Leon County Commission, or the city of Tallahassee.

Georgia – New Georgia Campaign Finance Law Is ‘Carving a Loophole’ for Unlimited Fundraising
MSN – Elliot Davis (U.S. News and World Report) | Published: 9/1/2021

Eleven states allow candidates to raise unlimited contributions. States with unlimited financing often cite strict laws mandating disclosure and transparency to defend the embrace of money in politics. They also note their systems ensure a level playing field. But that is not the case in Georgia, critics note. Not only could the new law, described by analysts as an “incumbent protection scheme,” offer the current governor a massive advantage in a crucial race next year, but it has the possibility of being exported to other states where it could reshape the way elections are run.

Illinois – Illinois Legislators Pass Redrawn Legislative Map, Kill Ethics Bill; Energy Policy Overhaul Clears Senate
MSN – Rick Pearson and Dan Petrella (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 8/31/2021

Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly used their supermajority to push through revised boundaries for the state’s legislative districts aimed at ensuring their control in Springfield through the end of the decade. The House voted down proposed change made by Gov. JB Pritzker to an ethics package, killing the legislation. Pritzker and sponsoring lawmakers have hailed the package as an important step toward addressing pervasive public corruption in Illinois, but good-government groups and even some supporters have argued that does not go far enough.

Indiana – Lawsuit Claims Indiana Treasurer Granted Illegal Contracts
MSN – Tom Davies (Associated Press) | Published: 8/31/2021

A whistleblower is suing Indiana Treasurer Kelly Mitchell, alleging her office failed to get required approvals on contracts and made improper payments totaling more than $6.5 million, often to top contributors to her campaigns. The lawsuit filed by a former top Treasury Department staffer claims Mitchell bypassed required approvals from other state agencies in giving the contracts for lobbying and financial services without seeking competitive bids.

Michigan – Michigan GOP Cannot Use Party Fund to Back Petition Drive to Overhaul Voting
MSN – Clara Hendrickson (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 8/31/2021

The Michigan Republican Party cannot use its administrative fund to back a petition proposing major changes to voting in the state, according to a preliminary review by the Bureau of Elections. Former general counsel for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Bob LaBrant, raised concerns about the possibility the GOP might use its administrative fund to funnel undisclosed contributions to a petition drive that would circumvent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s expected veto of election bills.

Michigan – Michigan Utilities Spent Millions Electing Lawmakers Who Could Probe Outages
Energy Central – Craig Mauer (Detroit News) | Published: 8/30/2021

Michigan officeholders who are poised to investigate a wave of recent outages that spurred 1 million customers to lose power have benefited from $55 million in “political” and “civic” spending over the last five years by the state’s top utilities. Critics said the close financial connections between CMS Energy and DTE Energy and lawmakers raise doubts about state government’s ability to prevent future outages, prepare the electric system for weather that is becoming increasingly severe, and advocate on behalf of residents.

Minnesota – MN Lawmaker Cuts Off 3 Fingers in Saw Mishap; Lobbyists’ Donations Create Awkwardness
Yahoo News – Dave Orrick (St. Paul Pioneer Press) | Published: 8/31/2021

In August, Minnesota Rep. Erin Koegel lost control of a power saw and cut off three fingers on her left hand. A GoFundMe page was established to help her with child-care and other expenses while she recovers. A number of lobbyists’ names were on the donor list. That would appear to violate a state law that prohibits lawmakers from accepting most gifts worth more than five dollars from lobbyists. There are exceptions, but none appear to apply for Koegel’s situation. Speaker Melissa Hortman asked a House staffer to seek a formal opinion from the Campaign Finance and Disclosure Board.

New Mexico – Judge Reverses Decision to Deny Gonzales Funds
Albuquerque Journal – Jessica Dyer | Published: 8/27/2021

A state District Court judge reversed the Albuquerque city clerk’s decision to deny Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales over $600,000 in public financing for his mayoral campaign, citing a lack of due process. Judge Bryan Biedscheid said Watson could still ultimately deny Gonzales the money. To do so, however, he would need to either determine that Gonzales has been found to have violated regulations or make the finding himself after a new process he must establish that grants Gonzales due process.

New York – At JCOPE, Two More Cuomo Appointees Resign
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 9/1/2021

The number of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s appointees on the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) are dwindling. In the short term, that could render JCOPE unable to take action against Cuomo; in the longer term, the departures could provide the ex-governor far less protection from possible sanction. Since Cuomo announced his own resignation on August 10, three of his six appointees to the panel have resigned or stated the intention to exit the commission.

New York – Cuomo’s Legal Woes Continue, Could Cost Public at Least $9.5M
NBC News – Associated Press | Published: 8/31/2021

Resigning from office probably did not end former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s legal problems, and no matter what happens next, taxpayers are likely to wind up with a hefty bill. The state has agreed to pay up to $9.5 million to lawyers representing and investigating Cuomo and his administration over sexual harassment allegations and other matters. That figure does not include the legal fees of Cuomo’s private attorney, whose bills are being paid by his campaign committee. Gov. Kathy Hochul can decide whether the state will continue to pay lawyers to defend the former governor and his administration going forward.

New York – Hochul’s First Bill Suspends State’s Open Meetings Law
Politico – Bill Mahoney | Published: 9/1/2021

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s bill extending New York’s eviction moratorium includes language that suspends the state’s Open Meetings Law. The legislation, the first of Hochul’s tenure, was due to pass a week after the governor pledged that “transparency will be the hallmark of [her] administration.” But the measure, and the rushed way in which it was logrolled through the Legislature, did not win over many transparency advocates.

New York – JCOPE Votes to Ask AG to Conduct Criminal Probe of Alleged Leak to Cuomo
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 8/26/2021

In a startling reversal, the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) passed a motion asking state Attorney General Letitia James to investigate whether confidential information was illegally leaked to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2019. JCOPE also authorized James to conduct a criminal probe into whether the state inspector general’s office, which investigated the alleged leak to Cuomo, intentionally failed to find out the identity of the leaker and instead “covered up” the matter.

New York – NY Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Top Aide Is Married to a Lobbyist for Verizon, Google and Airbnb
CNBC – Brian Schwartz | Published: 8/26/2021

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s top aide is married to a lobbyist who represent clients such as Verizon, Google, and Airbnb. Hochul named Karen Persichilli Keogh, a veteran of Hillary Clinton’s U.S. Senate office and the wife of longtime lobbyist Mike Keogh, as secretary to the governor. Prior to taking her new job with Hochul, Karen Keogh was an executive at J.P. Morgan Chase, where she once held a state lobbying position. Mike Keogh has several marquee clients that have recently been trying to influence New York lawmakers and officials.

North Carolina – North Carolina General Assembly Passes Bill Limiting Nonprofit Donor Disclosure
Ballotpedia – Jerrick Adams | Published: 9/1/2021

The North Carolina Senate gave final approval to a bill that would make donations to nonprofit corporations confidential. The bill now heads to Gov. Roy Cooper. The bill’s supporters say it will protect donors from harassment or discrimination based on the organizations they choose to support. Opponents say it would decrease transparency around campaign contributions and allow politically active nonprofits to hide their donors.

North Carolina – Trump’s Pick in a Key Senate Race Touts His Agriculture Ties. He Doesn’t Mention His Role in a Bankruptcy That Cost Farmers Millions.
MSN – Michael Kranish (Washington Post) | Published: 8/31/2021

As U.S. Rep. Ted Budd launched his campaign for a pivotal U.S. Senate seat earlier this year, the North Carolina Republican pitched himself as a staunch ally of farmers. Budd’s story helped him win the support of former President Trump and the Club for Growth, a conservative political committee, has vowed to spend a record $10 million on his campaign. But as Budd has told his narrative in a state where agriculture is the largest business, he made no mention of his role in his family’s calamitous involvement in a company called AgriBioTech, which ended in a bankruptcy case that cost farmers millions of dollars in losses.

Ohio – John Raphael Avoids Prison in Greater Columbus Convention Center Bribery Scheme Sentence
MSN – Bill Bush (Columbus Dispatch) | Published: 8/26/2021

Deviating from federal sentencing guidelines, a judge gave two-time convicted public corruption figure John Raphael, once an influential Columbus City Hall lobbyist, no prison time in a bribery case. Raphael could have faced up to 20 years in prison for taking bribes to help a national food services company win a public food-service contract from the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, on whose board he served at the time. But U.S. District Court Judge Michael Watson, who acknowledged he grew up in the same neighborhood as the defendant and knew members of his family, sentenced Raphael to one day of prison, waived in advance, and placed him on three years of probation.

Oregon – Multnomah County Judge Rules Campaign Contribution Limits Constitutional
Oregon Public Broadcasting – Sam Stites | Published: 8/26/2021

Campaign contribution limits passed by Multnomah County voters are now able to be enforced in local elections. Circuit Court Judge Eric Bloch County ruled political donations caps do not violate free speech protected by the First Amendment. The ruling is sure to put Multnomah County back in the spotlight in terms of discussions around statewide limits on campaign donations. Oregon is one of only five states with no limits at all on contributions, despite decades of effort by campaign finance activists.

Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Ordered to Pay More Than $7,000, Forfeit Vacation Days for Ethics Violations
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Andrew Goldstein | Published: 8/26/2021

The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission found Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Hamlet violated the law by improperly receiving travel reimbursements, getting payments for appearances related to his job, and incorrectly filing financial documents. The commission ordered Hamlet to pay close to $8,000 and forfeit 14 vacation days, valued at more than $12,000. At least some of the violations occurred during a trip Hamlet and several other district administrators took to Cuba in April 2019.

Rhode Island – Anthony Silva, McKee’s Chief of Staff, Resigns Amid Wetlands Controversy
MSN – Antonia Noori Farzan (Providence Journal) | Published: 8/30/2021

Anthony Silva, the embattled chief of staff to Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, resigned from his position amid an investigation into whether he used his political influence to get permission to develop a controversial wetlands property. Silva had been facing both a state Ethics Commission complaint brought forward by Republicans and an independent investigation by the attorney general’s office that was initiated at McKee’s request, amid mounting political pressure.

Rhode Island – Former RI Lottery Director Changes Mind After Registering as IGT Lobbyist
WPRI – Eli Sherman | Published: 9/1/2021

Days after former Rhode Island Lottery Director Gerald Aubin registered as a lobbyist for IGT, the state’s longtime gambling said he will not be working for the company after all. Aubin, who served as director of the state Lottery beginning in 1996, retired in 2020. He formed a new company called GSA and was listed on the secretary of state’s website as a lobbyist for IGT, a company he regulated for two decades. “… As a former gaming regulator and law enforcement official, I couldn’t get comfortable with it,” Aubin said.

Texas – GOP Legislators in Texas Give Final Approval to New Voting Restrictions, Overcoming Democratic Opposition
MSN – Eva Ruth Moravec and Elise Viebeck (Washington Post) | Published: 8/31/2021

The Texas Legislature passed the final version of a Republican bill that will implement strict new voting rules, sending it to the governor’s desk after months of intense partisan battling over how elections should be conducted in the state. The votes were a win for Gov. Greg Abbott. He had called two special legislative sessions as part of a long-running effort to pass the elections measure, which will take effect in three months. After the Senate voted, Abbott said he looks forward to signing the bill into law.

Wisconsin – Emails Show Prehn Coordinated with Republican Officials, Lobbyists as He Clings to Expired Seat
Wisconsin Examiner – Henry Redmon | Published: 8/26/2021

Fred Prehn, the chairperson of the Natural Resources Board who has generated controversy and complaints for refusing to vacate his seat after his term expired in May, coordinated and communicated with high-profile Republican officials and lobbyists as he planned to maintain the GOP’s grip on Wisconsin’s conservation policy, emails show. State Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit against Prehn seeking to boot him from the post. Legislative leaders hired taxpayer-funded attorneys to defend Prehn.

September 2, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Georgia: “New Georgia Campaign Finance Law Is ‘Carving a Loophole’ for Unlimited Fundraising” by Elliot Davis (U.S. News and World Report) for MSN Michigan: “Michigan GOP Cannot Use Party Fund to Back Petition Drive to Overhaul Voting” by […]

September 1, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Colorado: “Conservative Dark-Money Group Battles to Keep Its Donors Secret” by Sandra Fish (Colorado Sun) for Durango Herald Michigan: “Michigan Utilities Spent Millions Electing Lawmakers Who Could Probe Outages” by Craig Mauger (Detroit News) for Energy Central Ethics […]

August 31, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Canada: “How Interested Outsiders Use ‘Third Party’ Status to Promote Causes, Influence Election” by Christian Pass-Lang for CBC New Mexico: “Judge Reverses Decision to Deny Gonzales Funds” by Jessica Dyer for Albuquerque Journal Elections Texas: “Texas House Passes […]

August 27, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – August 27, 2021

National/Federal A Capitol Riot Suspect Was Hours Away from Sentencing. Then Prosecutors Received Video of an Assault on Police. MSN – Katie Shepherd (Washington Post) | Published: 8/19/2021 Even after Robert Reeder pleaded guilty to illegally picketing inside the U.S. Capitol […]

National/Federal

A Capitol Riot Suspect Was Hours Away from Sentencing. Then Prosecutors Received Video of an Assault on Police.
MSN – Katie Shepherd (Washington Post) | Published: 8/19/2021

Even after Robert Reeder pleaded guilty to illegally picketing inside the U.S. Capitol on January 6, he remained adamant he was innocent of the worst allegations leveled against him. Prosecutors argued Reeder actively participated in chants with rioters and egged on the aggressive crowd, though they could not show he participated in any violence. They asked a federal judge to sentence him with a fine and prison time. But new video from the riot that surfaced just before his sentencing hearing appeared to show Reeder allegedly physically grappling with a police officer.

California Republican Is Debt Free for First Time in Office. What Happened to His Creditors?
Fresno Bee – Gillian Brassil (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 8/23/2021

U.S. Rep. David Valadao claimed no liabilities for 2020 – a far cry from 2019, when he said he owed at least $16 million to various creditors, some of whom he did not disclose the identities of, in connection to one of his family’s dairy farms. The farm declared bankruptcy after Valadao and his family’s farms were sued by Rabobank, a financial services company, over unpaid loans. Maria Martinez who lives in Valadao’s district, filed an ethics complaint seeking more information about the unidentified creditors from Valadao’s previous disclosure forms. The complaint says it is unlikely the unnamed creditors were each owed less than $10,000 given the limited number of people listed in the farm’s bankruptcy filings.

DOJ Investigating One-Time Trump Campaign Adviser Over Alleged Ties to Qatar: Report
MSN – Karl Evers-Hillstrom (The Hill) | Published: 8/24/2021

Federal prosecutors are investigating whether one-time Trump campaign adviser and lobbyist Barry Bennett set up an advocacy group without disclosing its ties to Qatar. Bennett reportedly launched a group called Yemen Crisis to embarrass Qatar’s rivals – Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – amid their military campaign in Yemen. Bennett did not disclose his ties to Yemen Crisis Watch, or register the group under lobbying laws, despite receiving $250,000 from the Embassy of Qatar “for use in supporting the relief of humanitarian suffering in Yemen,” according to a Justice Department filing.

Ethics Office: Rep. Mooney tapped campaign funds for family vacations, fast food
Roll Call – Chris Marquette | Published: 8/25/2021

U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney spent thousands of campaign dollars on personal expenses, including numerous fast-food meals and family excursions to West Virginia resorts, while failing to properly report more than $40,000 in expenditures, the Office of Congressional Ethics found. Mooney’s deficient reporting to the FEC concealed additional instances of converting campaign funds for personal use, according to an OCE report. After the OCE launched the inquiry, Mooney paid his campaign back more than $12,000.

FCC Proposes Record $5 Million Fine Against Jacob Wohl, Jack Burkman for Election Robocalls
MSN – Rachel Lerman (Washington Post) | Published: 8/24/2021

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed a $5.1 million fine against two right-wing operatives known for perpetuating conspiracy theories, in one of its largest penalties to date. Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman improperly made 1,141 election-related robocalls to cellphones without getting people’s consent first, which the law requires. The pair were charged with four felonies in Michigan last year for allegedly intimidating voters with robocalls that spread inaccurate messages about voting by mail.

Foreign Lobbyists Gave Millions to Influence 2020 Elections Amid Foreign Influence Concerns
Center for Responsive Politics – Anna Massoglia | Published: 8/19/2021

Individuals registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act made at least $8.5 million in political contributions during the 2020 election cycle. Another $25 million came from lobbyists representing foreign clients registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act. Foreign nationals are prohibited from contributing to political groups or campaigns to influence U.S. elections. But they can hire foreign agents or lobbyists to advocate for their interests and lobbyists who are American citizens are able to donate, even to the same lawmakers they may be lobbying on behalf of foreign clients.

House Passes Bill to Strengthen Voting Rights Act in Face of New Restrictions in GOP-Led States
MSN – Eugene Scott (Washington Post) | Published: 8/24/2021

The U.S. House passed legislation that supporters said would restore key parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act the Supreme Court struck down in 2013. In Shelby County v. Holder, the high court’s conservative majority ruled the law’s provision for determining voter discrimination was outdated, a decision that greatly curtailed the ability of the federal government to monitor the election processes of states with a history of racism.

Internal Probe Clears Capitol Police Officer in Shooting of Ashli Babbitt
MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 8/23/2021

An internal investigation has cleared a U.S. Capitol Police officer of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt during the siege of the Capitol on January 6. The Justice Department previously announced the officer would not face criminal charges in the killing of the 35-year-old California woman, who was shot as she tried to force her way through a set of doors deep inside the Capitol.

Jan. 6 Select Committee Probe Expands to Trump and Top Officials in a Wave of Demands
National Public Radio – Claudia Grisales | Published: 8/25/2021

The House select committee charged with investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has issued a wave of record requests targeting communications by former President Trump and his top officials in the lead-up to the riot. It marks the most widespread list of demands since the siege, directing letters to eight federal entities, including the National Archives and Records Administration, which is charged with maintaining records for past White House administrations. The demands could be followed by subpoenas.

From the States and Municipalities

Colorado – Ethics Commission Dismissed Complaint Against Delta County Official but Decision Is on Appeal
Denver Gazette – Marianne Goodland | Published: 8/23/2021

The Colorado Independent Ethics commission, on a tie vote, dismissed a complaint against Delta County Administrator Robbie LeValley. The complaint alleged LeValley violated the public trust by using her position to benefit her family’s business, a beef ranch. LeValley charged several purchases from Homestead Meats in 2019, which she co-owns with several other partners, for county events on her county credit card. The events in question, both tied to the county fair, required the beef being served to come from a Delta County ranch, and for that, Homestead was the only supplier.

Colorado – Incumbent Colorado Lawmaker Coached Public Testimony for Redistricting Hearings
Colorado Springs Gazette – Evan Wyloge | Published: 8/19/2021

A state lawmaker looking to protect the fortunes of his Republican caucus as Colorado’s political maps are redrawn this year held a video training earlier this summer to coach people on how to provide testimony intended to keep the incumbent legislators in power after the redistricting cycle. On the video training, Rep. Matt Soper lamented that the independent redistricting commission system is designed to elicit input from non-political, everyday people talking about their communities, and not from incumbent lawmakers who want to keep a safe seat for themselves.

Florida – Florida Elections Commission Gearing Up for Looming Challenges
Yahoo News – John Haughey (The Center Square) | Published: 8/24/2021

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed three members to the Florida Elections Commission (FEC), including a chairperson, meaning the watchdog now has the required quorum and can meet for the first time since May. The FEC is managing the defense of state election laws, including Florida’s decision not to appeal an injunction preventing Senate Bill 1890 from being enacted. It is also dealing with the challenge to Florida’s 2019 felon voting law now before the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Florida – No-Party Candidate in Miami Election Fraud Case Takes Plea Deal, Apologizes to Voters
MSN – Samantha Gross (Miami Herald) | Published: 8/24/2021

An auto parts salesperson and acquaintance of a former state lawmaker accused of running a vote-siphoning scheme in a 2020 Florida Senate race pleaded guilty to charges he accepted illegal donations and lied on sworn campaign documents, among other things. Alexis Rodriguez was recruited to run as a no-party candidate in the key Senate race by former state Sen. Frank Artiles. The point of Rodriguez’s candidacy, investigators said, was to “confuse voters and siphon votes from the incumbent.” Sen. Ileana Garcia won the election by 32 votes. Rodriguez, who shares a surname with the incumbent Democrat, received more than 6,000 votes.

Georgia – Former NFL Player Herschel Walker, Supported by Trump, Jumps into the Georgia Senate Race
Santa Fe New Mexican – Maryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 8/24/2021

Former football star Herschel Walker filed paperwork to run for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia, challenging Raphael Warnock with the backing of former President Trump. After former U.S. Sen. David Perdue said he would not run again, Walker would be the most recognized candidate in the Republican field.

Georgia – How the Apple Lobbying Machine Took on Georgia, and Won
MSN – Emily Birnbaum (Politico) | Published: 8/20/2021

Apple’s aggressive lobbying efforts in Georgia highlight a pattern that has played out with little national attention across the country this year: state lawmakers introduce bills that would force Apple and Google to give up some control over their mobile phone app stores. Then Apple exerts pressure on lawmakers with promises of economic investment or threats to pull its money, and the legislation stalls. Local lawmakers have struggled to brush aside Apple’s lobbying firepower as the company hires key state lobbyists and focuses on defeating legislation that threatens the company’s bottom line.

Idaho – Idaho Supreme Court Overturns Tougher Ballot Initiative Law
MSN – Rebecca Boone (Associated Press) | Published: 8/23/2021

The Idaho Supreme Court struck down a new law designed to make it harder for voters to get initiatives on the ballot, saying the legislation was so restrictive it violated a fundamental right under the state’s constitution. Opponents of the law said it made Idaho’s initiative process the toughest in the nation, rendering such efforts virtually impossible to achieve. But supporters said the law would protect people with less popular political opinions from being overrun by the majority.

Illinois – ComEd Scheme to Influence Madigan Was Not Legal Lobbying – It Was Bribery, Prosecutors Say
MSN – Jason Meisner and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 8/24/2021

An alleged scheme to lavish benefits on longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for his influence on Commonwealth Edison legislation in Springfield clearly meets the criteria of the bribery statute even if there was no explicit agreement between the parties, federal prosecutors argued in a motion. Lawyers for Michael McClain, Anne Pramaggiore, John Hooker, and Jay Doherty asked a District Court judge to dismiss several of the key elements of the case against them, arguing there was no quid pro quo agreement and jobs, contracts, and other payments to chosen Madigan political operatives constituted legal lobbying.

Illinois – Cryptocurrency Expands into Illinois Politics as Candidate Accepts Bitcoin Donations
Bloomington Pantagraph – John Kielman (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 8/25/2021

Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim, who is running for reelection next year, became the first candidate in Illinois to accept digital currency when a supporter gave her a three-dollar donation in Litecoin, with the promise of more to come later. It is a new and potentially lucrative fundraising technique – Dogecoin, one form of crypto Kim accepts, has seen its value increase 100-fold over the past year – and Kim said it is a way to connect with tech-savvy people who might be new to political donations.

Maine – PAC Opposing Powerline Corridor is Fined $2,500 for Late Filing
Portland Press Herald – Scott Thistle | Published: 8/23/2021

A PAC bankrolled by two Texas energy companies was fined $2,500 by the Maine ethics commission for violating state campaign finance law. The commission voted unanimously to impose the penalty against Mainers for Local Power after it failed to notify one of its major contributors, the energy company Calpine, that it had donated more than $100,000 to the PAC and was required to file a major donor report with the ethics panel.

Maryland – Error-Riddled Ethics Reports on School Board Create Political Firestorm in Prince George’s County
MSN – Rachel Chason and Donna St. George (Washington Post) | Published: 8/24/2021

Ethics reports accuse a majority of the elected school board members in Prince George’s County of a variety of offenses, including steering contracts, doing political favors, and engaging in a quid pro quo with a labor union. The allegations are being levied against a more progressive bloc that has frequently clashed with the county’s political establishment, setting off a political battle in the suburb of Washington, D.C. The back-and-forth is the latest, and most contentious, episode in months of chaos that began in February.

Michigan – FBI Raids Detroit’s City Hall, Council Members’ Homes as It Focuses on Towing Operations
Detroit News – Robert Snell, Sarah Rahal, and George Hunter | Published: 8/25/2021

A widening public corruption investigation emerged as FBI agents raided Detroit City Hall and the homes of city council members Janeé Ayers and Scott Benson, the latest development in a scandal that has led to charges against Councilperson André Spivey. The full scope of the investigation was unclear, but FBI agents were focused on municipal towing operations and accusations city officials received bribes, according to sources. Agents also searched the homes of several council employees, including Ricardo Silva and Carol Banks, chiefs of staff for Ayers and Benson, respectively.

Michigan – Federal Judge in Michigan Orders Pro-Trump Lawyers Disciplined Over Lawsuit Seeking to Overturn 2020 Election
MSN – Rosalind Helderman (Washington Post) | Published: 8/25/2021

A judge sanctioned Sidney Powell and other lawyers who sued in Michigan to overturn President Biden’s election victory. U.S. District Court Judge Parker said the lawyers made assertions in court that were not backed by evidence and failed to perform the due diligence required by legal rules before alleging mass fraud in the state’s vote. She referred the group to the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission, as well as disciplinary committees in the states where each attorney is licensed, which could initiate proceedings that could result in the lawyers being disbarred.

Michigan – Michigan Attorney General Nessel Won’t Charge State GOP Chair Ron Weiser
Detroit News – Craig Mauger | Published: 8/23/2021

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel declined to pursue criminal action against state Republican Party Chairperson Ron Weiser related to payments Weiser allegedly made to a former GOP secretary of state candidate to drop out of the race in 2018. Nessel said a conciliation agreement between the secretary of state’s office and the Michigan GOP barred further criminal litigation under the state’s campaign finance law and Weiser, as chairperson, is not a public officer as defined by the law, so other criminal statutes “simply do not apply.”

Minnesota – Minnesota GOP ‘in Ruins’ After Shocking Scandal
Yahoo News – David Siders and Paul Zemko (Politico) | Published: 8/21/2021

The resignation of the Minnesota Republican Party’s embattled chairperson, Jennifer Carnahan, marked a new low for a state party in decline. The proximate cause of Carnahan’s departure was a firestorm that engulfed the party in recent days, after a GOP donor she was close to was indicted on federal sex-trafficking charges. Carnahan, the wife of U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn, was accused by party officials and former staffers of running a toxic, retaliatory workplace, mismanaging party finances, and, through the use of non-disclosure agreements, squashing transparency.

New York – As JCOPE Eyes Cuomo, Will His Appointees Remain?
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 8/30/2021

Though Andrew Cuomo has left the governor’s office, his legal troubles are far from over. He faces criminal investigations into possible inappropriate touching of women, a state attorney general probe into his $5.1 million book deal, a federal probe into the suppression of nursing home death data, and a forthcoming Assembly report on those matters and more. An entity that has been generally pliant to Cuomo since its creation in 2011, the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics, may be more prone to taking action now, especially since the commission itself now faces greater threat of being eliminated by critics, who say it has been ineffectual.

New York – Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Daughter-in-Law Is Top Lobbyist at Pharma Firm That Has Sought to Influence NY Lawmakers
CNBC – Brian Schwartz | Published: 8/24/2021

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s daughter-in-law is a top lobbyist at a pharmaceutical firm that has been trying to influence state and federal lawmakers. Christina Hochul is director of federal policy at Biogen. A Biogen spokesperson said Christina Hochul does not lobby at the New York state level and will not do so. Biogen did not rule out the company itself engaging with New York lawmakers while Kathy Hochul is governor.

New York – JCOPE’s Opaque New Transparency Policy
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 8/24/2021

Gov. Kathy Hochul has called for a complete overhaul of New York’s ethics oversight system. And as the state’s much-maligned current ethics watchdog faces the possibility of dissolution, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) recently announced a reform: a new policy that in principle could make its work less secretive. But in practice, the policy so far has been aimed at bolstering the reputation of the JCOPE itself, with information released or withheld based on that as opposed to overall transparency.

New York – Leaders of the ‘Time’s Up’ Anti-Harassment Group Worked Closely with Cuomo Aide After First Accusation Against Him Surfaced
MSN – Michael Scherer and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 8/25/2021

The leaders of Time’s Up, the advocacy group founded by political insiders in Washington and Hollywood to fight workplace sexual misconduct, decided against issuing a statement in support of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s first harassment accuser in December after consulting with the governor’s top aide, according to interviews and records. Text messages between five senior Time’s Up advisers revealed a far more extensive behind-the-scenes effort to work with Cuomo’s office amid the sexual harassment charges than the group has previously acknowledged.

North Carolina – Cooper Signs Bill Allowing Officials to Benefit More from Public Contracts
Yahoo News – Nyamekye Daniel (The Center Square) | Published: 8/24/2021

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed a bill that allows public officials to benefit more from public contracts. House Bill 366 raises the limit on the conflict-of-interest exemption for government officials and government employees in certain instances and changes regulations related to agriculture, energy, environment, natural resources, construction, and insurance.

North Carolina – Court Rules North Carolina Must Allow Former Felons to Vote
MSN – Paulina Villegas (Washington Post) | Published: 8/24/2021

A panel of the state Superior Court ordered the restoration of voting rights for thousands of people with a felony conviction in what advocates call the largest expansion of voting rights in decades in North Carolina. The ruling could make North Carolina the only state in the South to automatically restore voting rights to people after they leave prison. Last year, the same judges had ruled the law’s requirement that felons must first pay monetary obligation such as fines was unenforceable because voting would be bound to financial ability.

North Carolina – Restrictions on NC Nonprofit Donor Disclosures OK’d by House
WRAL – Associated Press | Published: 8/19/2021

A bill described by supporters as one that prevents snooping into citizens’ contributions to North Carolina charities neared final legislative approval following an affirmative state House vote. A version cleared the Senate three months ago. The bill says the names of donors to North Carolina-based nonprofits cannot be disclosed publicly by the group without a donor’s written permission. It also states a donor’s identifying information is not a public record when held by a state or local government agency. A government worker who uses or discloses it could be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Ohio – FirstEnergy Discloses 2021 Dark Money Spending; Deal Doesn’t Require Posting Past Donations
MSN – Jessie Balmert (Cincinnati Enquirer) | Published: 8/20/2021

The utility at the center of a $60 million bribery scheme in Ohio dramatically decreased the funds it provides to “dark money” groups to influence public policy, according to a filing required by a deal with federal prosecutors that allowed FirstEnergy to avoid a criminal case. FirstEnergy paid $2.2 million to nonprofits and groups benefitting public officials during the first half of 2021. That is considerably below the approximately $60 million the company paid between 2017 and 2020 to “dark money” groups to fund a bailout of two nuclear power plants.

Oregon – Portland Police Stand by as Proud Boys and Far-Right Militias Flash Guns and Brawl with Antifa Counterprotesters
MSN – Katie Shepherd (Washington Post) | Published: 8/23/2021

A large crowd of more than 100 far-right activists, including Proud Boys and armed militia members, descended on Portland, Oregon, staging a “Back the Blue” rally in front of the Justice Center that houses the downtown police precinct. Hundreds of Antifa and Black Lives Matter protesters gathered to oppose the far-right crowd. The two groups sparred for more than two hours, as people exchanged blows, fired paintballs at each other, and blasted chemicals indiscriminately into the crowd. People lobbed fireworks back and forth.

Pennsylvania – In Latest Bow to Trump, GOP Lawmakers in Pennsylvania Plan to Launch Hearings on 2020 Vote
MSN – Elise Viebeck (Washington Post) | Published: 8/24/2021

Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania plan to formally launch hearings as part of an investigation into the 2020 vote in the state, the latest GOP-backed effort to revisit an election that former President Trump has falsely claimed was fraudulent. State Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman said lawmakers are pursuing a “full forensic investigation” of the election that will aim to examine ballots and voter rolls. It is the latest sign of how Republican leaders in key battleground states are bowing to pressure from Trump and his acolytes to investigate baseless allegations that voting irregularities tainted the November election.

Texas – Dallas Council Member Violated Ethics Code for Saying Woman Sounded ‘Foolish’ on Facebook
Dallas Morning News – Lauren Girgis | Published: 8/20/2021

The Ethics Advisory Commission found Dallas City Councilperson Adam Bazaldua in violation of the ethics code for Facebook comments where he wrote that a constituent sounded “foolish.” The commission found Bazaldua violated a section of the code stating that city officials shall not make comments or take actions that are “abusive,” “derogatory,” “rude,” or make “personal attacks upon the character, integrity, or motives of others.”

Texas – Texas Republicans Renew Effort to Advance Voting Bill as Democrats Regroup
MSN – Jane Timm (NBC News) | Published: 8/23/2021

The Texas House could pass voting restrictions soon after Democrats’ efforts to stave off the Republican-backed changes were stymied by three Democrats who broke ranks with much of the rest of their caucus and returned to work at the Capitol. Their return restored a quorum for the first time since more than 50 House Democrats fled to Washington, D.C. The coordinated escape from Austin left Texas Republicans furious, creating wanted posters and threatening to have missing members arrested.

Virginia – Ex-Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe Found Guilty on All Public Corruption Charges
WAVY – Brian Reese, Jason Marks, and Sarah Fearing | Published: 8/24/2021

Former Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe was found guilty on all 11 counts in a federal bribery trial. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each count. McCabe was accused of taking bribes from two Norfolk jail vendors and the companies’ chief executive officers. McCabe had argued the gifts and campaign donations, which happened from 1994 to 2016, were just gestures between good friends.

Virginia – Virginia, an ‘Outlier’ on Campaign Finance Reform, Considers New Restrictions
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Andrew Cain (Richmond Times-Dispatch) | Published: 8/24/2021

The Virginia Legislature has tasked the Joint Subcommittee to Study Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform with examining the costs of campaigning in the state, the effectiveness of the present disclosure laws and their enforcement, the constitutional options available to regulate campaign finances, and “the desirability” of revisions such as implementing contribution limits. In submitting a report by November 1, the panel could recommend proposed changes for the new governor and Legislature to review during the 60-day session that begins in January.

Washington – Mayor’s Office Knew for Months Durkan’s Phone Setting Caused Texts to Vanish, Emails Show
Seattle Times – Lewis Kamb, Daniel Beekman, and Jim Brunner | Published: 8/20/2021

When the public learned in May that 10 months of Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s text messages were missing, her office initially attributed the loss to an “unknown technology issue” with one of three phones she used during the period in question. But officials already had known for months why the texts were gone and when they disappeared, internal emails appear to show. City Attorney Pete Holmes says the initial explanation from Durkan’s office was misleading.

Wisconsin – Two More Redistricting Lawsuits Have Been Filed in Wisconsin as Conservatives and Liberals Mount a Legal Battle Over Election Maps
MSN – Patrick Marley (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) | Published: 8/23/2021

Voters filed two redistricting lawsuits as conservatives and liberals fight over whether state or federal judges should be the ones to decide how to draw Wisconsin’s congressional and legislative districts. Voters represented by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty filed one of the lawsuits before the state Supreme Court. Hours later, three voting rights groups brought their own case in federal court in Madison. Republicans who control the Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers are not expected to reach a deal on the maps, which will leave it to the courts to decide where to put the lines.

August 26, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Illinois: “Cryptocurrency Expands into Illinois Politics as Candidate Accepts Bitcoin Donations” by John Kielman (Chicago Tribune) for Bloomington Pantagraph Virginia: “Virginia, an ‘Outlier’ on Campaign Finance Reform, Considers New Restrictions” by Andrew Cain (Richmond Times-Dispatch) for St. Louis […]

August 25, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Elections Florida: “No-Party Candidate in Miami Election Fraud Case Takes Plea Deal, Apologizes to Voters” by Samantha Gross (Miami Herald) for MSN Idaho: “Idaho Supreme Court Overturns Tougher Ballot Initiative Law” by Rebecca Boone (Associated Press) for MSN Minnesota: “Minnesota […]

August 24, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Maine: “PAC Opposing Powerline Corridor is Fined $2,500 for Late Filing” by Scott Thistle for Portland Press Herald Michigan: “Michigan Attorney General Nessel Won’t Charge State GOP Chair Ron Weiser” by Craig Mauger for Detroit News Ohio: “FirstEnergy […]

August 23, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “Foreign Lobbyists Gave Millions to Influence 2020 Elections Amid Foreign Influence Concerns” by Anna Massoglia for Center for Responsive Politics North Carolina: “Restrictions on NC Nonprofit Donor Disclosures OK’d by House” by Associated Press for WRAL Elections […]

August 20, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – August 20, 2021

National/Federal As Population Grows, So Does Debate on How to Reach Latino Voters in ’22 Midterms MSN – Stephanie Akin and Suzanne Monyak (Roll Call) | Published: 8/18/2021 Democrats know that, overall, the party does better with Latino voters than Republicans, […]

National/Federal

As Population Grows, So Does Debate on How to Reach Latino Voters in ’22 Midterms
MSN – Stephanie Akin and Suzanne Monyak (Roll Call) | Published: 8/18/2021

Democrats know that, overall, the party does better with Latino voters than Republicans, but there is more recognition that the Hispanic electorate is far from monolithic, and outreach needs to start much earlier. Republicans, meanwhile, saw candidates do better with Latinos – even flipping two South Florida congressional seats – and want to build on that success. While a majority of Americans eligible to vote said they were contacted by a campaign or a group supporting a campaign in the month before the November election, fewer Latino and Asian American citizens reported such contacts.

Colorado’s Boebert Discloses Husband’s Work for Energy Firm
Federal News Network – Nicholas Riccardi (Associated Press) | Published: 8/18/2021

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s husband made $478,000 last year working as a consultant for an energy firm, information that was not disclosed during Boebert’s congressional campaign and only reported in her financial disclosure forms filed recently. Rep. Boebert reported her husband, Jayson Boebert, received the money as a consultant to Terra Energy Productions in 2020, and earned $460,000 as a consultant for the firm in 2019. Ethics and campaign finance laws require candidates and members of Congress to disclose sources of their immediate family’s income, along with major investments and assets.

DeJoy Bought Up to $305,000 in Bonds from USPS Board Chair’s Investment Firm
MSN – Jacob Bogage and Douglas MacMillan (Washington Post) | Published: 8/14/2021

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy purchased up to $305,000 in bonds from an investment firm whose managing partner, Ron Bloom, also chairs the U.S. Postal Service’s governing board, the independent body responsible for evaluating DeJoy’s performance. DeJoy’s financial adviser purchased the bonds on the open market, Postal Service spokesperson Jeffrey Adams said, and Bloom manages a division separate from the one that sells public securities. Two ethics experts disagreed over whether the bond purchases could cause conflict-of-interest issues in the agency’s top ranks.

Election Officials Call for Audit Guidelines After Trump-Fueled Surge
Yahoo News – Zach Montellaro (Politico) | Published: 8/17/2021

The nation’s top election officials are calling for more stringent guidelines for post-election audits, as supporters of former President Trump continue to relitigate his defeat in 2020. At the summer meeting of the National Association of Secretaries of State, members approved a series of recommendations for post-election audits on everything from a timeline to chain of custody of election materials. Trump has pushed his supporters to export the audit in Maricopa County, Arizona, to other states. Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have tried to launch their own, but so far neither have made similar sort of progress as in Arizona.

House Revises Voting Rights Bill to Boost Justice Department Powers to Challenge States
MSN – Michael Macagnone (Roll Call) | Published: 8/17/2021

House Democrats introduced the latest version of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, intent on beefing up a civil rights-era law cut back by a series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions. The effort still faces significant Republican opposition and the prospects of a filibuster in the Senate. The bill comes after a series of House committee hearings over the past several months to establish a legislative record for modern efforts to suppress minority groups’ voting power.

Inspector General Urges Ethics Review at Federal Election Commission Following ProPublica Report
MSN – Jake Pearson (ProPublica) | Published: 8/12/2021

The FEC’s inspector general called on the agency to review its ethics policies and internal controls after a media investigation last year revealed a senior manager openly supported Donald Trump and maintained a close relationship with a Republican attorney who went on to serve as the 2016 Trump campaign’s top lawyer. It raised questions about the impartiality of the official, Debbie Chacona, who oversees the unit responsible for keeping unlawful contributions out of political campaigns. The division’s staffers are supposed to adhere to an ethics code and forgo any public partisan activities because such actions could imply preferential treatment for a candidate or party.

Pelosi Announces House Staffers Can Now Earn Higher Salaries Than Lawmakers
MSN – Cristina Marcos (The Hill) | Published: 8/13/2021

Some U.S. House staff will now be able to earn higher salaries than the members of Congress for whom they work under a new order announced by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to help retain top talent on Capitol Hill. Staff salaries have remained stagnant for more than a decade thanks to the lawmaker pay freeze that has been in place since 2009, leading many people to leave Capitol Hill for higher-paying jobs at lobbying groups or in the executive branch. But under the new policy unveiled by Pelosi, the salary cap for House staffers will be $199,300, up from the maximum salary of $173,900 in 2020 for both the House and Senate.

State Redistricting Can Start with New Census Data, but Litigation Looms
MSN – Michael Macagnone (Roll Call) | Published: 8/12/2021

The Census Bureau kicked off a shortened redistricting season with the release of detailed mapmaking data from last year’s count, as most states across the country scramble to finish their maps in time for next year’s midterm elections. A handful of states, including Ohio and Colorado, face redistricting deadlines before the end of September. Others, like Texas, will have to draw their maps in a special legislative session. Democratic-aligned groups in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Louisiana have sued over the process. The parties have split control over state government in each of those states, making a deadlock over new maps likely.

Canada

Canada – Canada’s Trudeau Calls Snap Election in Bid to Regain Parliamentary Majority
MSN – Amanda Coletta (Washington Post) | Published: 8/15/2021

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, betting his standing has been improved by his government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic while his main opponent has failed to gain traction with voters, called a snap federal election for September 20 in a bid to regain a majority in the House of Commons. Opposition party leaders decried the decision to hold an election at a time when public health officials have said the country is in a delta variant-fueled fourth coronavirus wave. Most cases are among those who are unvaccinated.

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – Alaska Lawmaker Critical of State Move in Campaign Caps Case
MSN – Becky Bohrer (Associated Press) | Published: 8/18/2021

The decision to not seek further legal review of a split court ruling that struck down several campaign contribution caps in Alaska was criticized by a state lawmaker who said the state should have pressed forward with a legal fight. The dissent in the case was strong, said Sen. Bill Wielechowski. He said Gov. Mike Dunleavy has an obligation to defend the laws of the state. A divided federal appeals court panel struck down a $500-a-year limit on what an individual can give a candidate, a $500-a-year cap on individual contributions to non-party groups and a $3,000-a-year limit on total nonresident donations a candidate for office like state House can raise.

Alaska – Mayor Bronson Replaces Head of Solid Waste Services with Father of Former Campaign Manager
Yahoo News – Emily GoodyKoontz (Anchorage Daily News) | Published: 8/18/2021

Dan Zipay, a longtime player in Anchorage’s trash-hauling industry and the father of Mayor Dave Bronson’s former campaign manager, will be the new head of the city’s garbage collection agency. Zipay is a part-owner of Denali Disposal, a private trash collection company, which is run by his daughter, Bernadette Wilson, who was also Bronson’s campaign chairperson. Anchorage Assemblyperson Chris Constant said he has a “a lot of questions” about Dan Zipay’s appointment and potential conflicts-of-interest, including if the city were to privatize Solid Waste Services.

Arkansas – Hung Jury on All but One Count in Gilbert Baker Corruption Trial
KUAR – Debra Hale-Shelton (Arkansas Nonprofit News Network) | Published: 8/12/2021

A federal jury acquitted former lobbyist and political fundraiser Gilbert Baker of conspiracy but failed to reach a verdict on eight other charges, including one count of bribery and seven of wire fraud. In the indictment and trial, prosecutors argued Baker was the middleman in an alleged plot in 2013 to bribe former Faulkner County Circuit Court Judge Mike Maggio on behalf of Michael Morton, a wealthy nursing home owner and campaign financier. Maggio, who testified for the prosecution, pleaded guilty to bribery in 2015 and is serving a 10-year prison sentence. Morton has not been charged and denies wrongdoing.

California – El Monte Council Removes Colleague’s Title, Extra Duties Following Lobbyist Gift Scandal
San Gabriel Valley Tribune – Jason Henry | Published: 8/13/2021

The El Monte City Council removed Vicky Martinez Muela from her position as mayor pro tem and revoked her membership in outside commissions in response to allegations she accepted thousands of dollars in gifts from a lobbyist, including a partial payment for a breast augmentation surgery. Under state law, local government officials are prohibited from receiving gifts over $520 as of January 2021. Martinez Muela did not report any of the gifts from Lopez on her annual economic disclosures, though she had previously reported meals as low as $15 in the past.

California – Federal Lawsuit Challenges California Recall as Unconstitutional
Politico – Jeremy White and Debra Kahn | Published: 8/12/2021

Two California voters are challenging the legality of the state’s recall system less than a month before Election Day, echoing concerns from constitutional scholars as Gov. Gavin Newsom fights for his political life. A complaint argues the state’s recall provision violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution by allowing sitting governors to be replaced by candidates who have received fewer votes. The plaintiffs want a court order either prohibiting the recall election or adding Newsom’s name to the replacement candidate list.

Colorado – Colorado Republican Official Accused After Voting System Passwords Are Leaked to Right-Wing Site
MSN – Kim Bellware (Washington Post) | Published: 8/13/2021

A bizarre security breach of a rural Colorado county’s voting system has escalated into a criminal probe of the clerk’s office, a ban on the county’s existing election equipment, and heightened partisan divides over election-fraud claims. Footage that showed passwords related to the county’s voting systems was surreptitiously recorded during a May security update and published recently on a far-right blog. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold determined Mesa County cannot use its existing equipment for its November election.

Florida – Donations to Fried, Crist Campaigns Linked to Dark Money Group in Election Fraud Case
Florida Daily Tribune – Samantha Gross and Bianca Padró Ocasio (Miami Herald) | Published: 8/18/2021

A “dark-money” donor at the center of a public corruption investigation into the 2020 election cycle helped back three groups that recently contributed to 2022 Democratic candidates for governor, including Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist. Urban Action Fund and Democratic Action Network PC, and Democratic Services Network received a total of $85,500 from Grow United Inc. last October. Grow United, which does not disclose its money sources, paid for more than $500,000 in misleading mailers targeting Democrats in three key state Senate races in 2020.

Florida – Florida Gov. DeSantis Promotes Regeneron, a COVID-19 Treatment Connected to One of His Largest Donors
MSN – Zac Anderson, Michael Kennedy, and Jeffrey Schweers (Sarasota Herald Tribune) | Published: 8/18/2021

Gov. Ron DeSantis has zeroed in on monoclonal antibody therapy as a lifeline for COVID-19 patients, holding press conferences around the state where he name-checks a specific drugmaker, Regeneron, which is a major investment for one of his largest campaign contributors. As DeSantis ramps up his reelection bid, the largest donation to his political committee this cycle is a $5 million contribution from Kenneth Griffin, the chief executive of hedge fund Citadel, which owns $15.9 million shares in Regeneron. Griffin also gave DeSantis $5.75 million in 2018, during his run for governor.

Florida – How Florida Condo Associations Wielded Political Power Before the Surfside Collapse
MSN – Jon Schuppe (NBC News) | Published: 8/12/2021

Florida, where millions of homes are vulnerable to hurricanes, rising seas, and saltwater corrosion, has some of the country’s strictest regulations for high-rise condominiums. But the collapse of a 12-story condo tower in Surfside has drawn fresh attention to loopholes that allow condo associations to delay inspections, renovations, and compliance with directives they say are too expensive or burdensome. Veteran lobbyists hold outsize sway over part-time lawmakers constrained by term limits and a 60-day window each year to decide which among hundreds of bills should become law.

Florida – Jurors Convict Prominent Tallahassee Businessman J.T. Burnette on Public Corruption Charges
Tallahassee Democrat – Jeff Burlew | Published: 8/12/2021

J.T. Burnette, one of Tallahassee’s leading businesspeople whose formula for success included dangling money in front of local politicians and officials, was convicted on a host of public corruption charges. Burnette is the third major player to go down as part of the FBI’s “Operation Capital Currency,” a two-year undercover investigation into “pay-to-play” in Tallahassee. Former mayor and city commissioner Scott Maddox, along with his girlfriend and longtime business partner, Paige Carter-Smith, pleaded guilty in 2019.

Georgia – Potential G.O.P. Takeover of Atlanta-Area Election Board Inches Forward
New York Times – Nick Corasaniti | Published: 8/18/2021

The Georgia State Election Board appointed a majority-Republican panel to review the performance of the Fulton County board of elections, another step toward a potential Republican takeover of the election system in the biggest Democratic county in the state. The moves surrounding the Fulton County board have come as Republican-controlled Legislatures across the country angle for greater power over election administration, often seeking to strip it from election officials and give it to partisan lawmakers.

Illinois – Ontario PC Fundraising Letters Labelled ‘Invoice’ Blasted as a ‘Scam’ as Calls Mount for Investigation
CBC – John Rieti and Karina Zapata | Published: 8/18/2021

An Ontario woman says she was incensed after receiving a fundraising letter from the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario that looks like an invoice, something opposition parties are already criticizing as a “scam.” Part of the letter is labelled “invoice” and looks like a bill to be sent to the Ontario PCs in Toronto. The only line item says, “Election Readiness Fund” and lists a total of $300, then lower down the page states there is a “balance due.” The word donation does appear, but only at the bottom of the page. The Ontario Liberal party called for an investigation by Elections Ontario and the anti-fraud branch of the Ontario Provincial Police.

Iowa – Gov. Kim Reynolds Didn’t Violate Iowa’s Self-Promotion Law with COVID Mask Ads, Board Finds
MSN – Stephen Gruber-Miller (Des Moines Register) | Published: 8/13/2021

The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board found Gov. Kim Reynolds did not violate the state’s ban on using taxpayer funds for self-promotion when she appeared in advertisements last year encouraging Iowans to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The “Step Up, Stop the Spread” advertisements, which featured Reynolds sitting in her formal office with her name and title onscreen, used about $150,000 of federal stimulus funds. State Auditor Rob Sand’s complaint said using those funds violate the law, which prohibits using taxpayer money for self-promotion.

Iowa – No Evidence That National Conservative Group Heritage Action Lobbied for Iowa Election Law, Ethics Board Says
MSN – Stephen Gruber-Miller (Des Moines Register) | Published: 8/13/2021

The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board said it found no evidence a national conservative organization illegally lobbied the state Legislature for a law that cut the amount of time residents have to vote. The board opened an investigation into Heritage Action after video surfaced of the group’s executive director, Jessica Anderson, claiming credit for writing parts of the bill. Lobbyists in Iowa must register with the House and Senate and list specific bills they intend to influence.

Kansas – After Resignation, Michael O’Donnell Asked Sedgwick County for Money for New Employer
MSN – Chance Swaim (Wichita Eagle) | Published: 8/17/2021

The Sedgwick County Commission delayed a $36,000 payment to Mayflower Clinic after the nonprofit’s founder failed to disclose the involvement of former county Commissioner Michael O’Donnell, who resigned amid scandal and is now the clinic’s executive director. In 2018, O’Donnell was indicted and later acquitted on federal charges of money laundering for paying friends out of his campaign account. He admitted the payments violated state law and agreed to pay a $12,500 fine to the state ethics commission.

New Mexico – City Investigation Supports Allegations Against Gonzales’ Campaign
Albuquerque Journal – Olivier Uyttebrouck | Published: 8/16/2021

An investigation by Albuquerque’s inspector general has found Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales’ mayoral campaign cut corners in its quest for more than $600,000 in public financing. The report substantiated allegations made against Gonzales’ campaign, including that it submitted a substantial number of qualifying contributions for which voters neither signed the receipt nor paid the required five-dollar contribution. In so doing, the campaign violated city laws that spell out what candidates must do to tap into public financing.

New York – #MeToo Take 2? Movement’s Strength Hailed Amid Cuomo Fallout
MSN – Jocelyn Noveck (Associated Press) | Published: 8/12/2021

A number of leading figures connected with #MeToo say the movement, launched in 2017 with revelations about Harvey Weinstein, reached a significant milestone with the resignation of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, regardless of fits and starts along the way. To attorney Debra Katz, who has represented women accusing powerful men of sexual misconduct for four decades, said the Cuomo resignation would never have happened before #MeToo. She noted the domino effect of one accuser coming out and then others emerging, inspired by the courage of fellow accusers and enraged by attempts to discredit them.

New York – Cuomo Fallout? Two Ex-Governor’s Aides Leave Kivvit Consulting
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 8/16/2021

The apparent fallout is continuing for former aides to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo who became involved in the controversies that enveloped the governor. Former Cuomo chief of staff Joshua Vlasto and ex-communications director Richard Bamberger abruptly left the consulting firm Kivvit, whose managing partner is another high-ranking Cuomo aide, Maggie Moran. While Moran was not mentioned in a scathing report issued by the state attorney general’s office that detailed Cuomo’s alleged harassment of multiple women as well his office’s response to the allegations, Vlasto and Bamberger were both discussed.

New York – Cuomo-Appointed Ethics Chair Resigns
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 8/13/2021

The chairperson of the New York the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), Camille Joseph Varlack, submitted her resignation. While the timing might suggest Varlack’s departure is tied to Gov. Andrew Cuomo stepping down – Varlack was appointed as chair by Cuomo in February – the resignation had apparently been in the works for some time. The resignation comes at a time of tumult for JCOPE and state government generally, and with one commissioner trying to void the prior approval of Cuomo’s $5.1 million book deal last year.

New York – Firm Denies Lobbying Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul for Husband’s Company
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 8/12/2021

Kathy Hochul, scheduled to become governor of New York on August 24, is already facing questions about whether her position running the state, and her husband’s job, present a conflict-of-interest. Disclosure filings from last year that say Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul was lobbied at least twice by a firm representing Delaware North Companies contained incorrect information, the firm maintained. Delaware North Companies is a major food, hospitality, and gaming company where Hochul’s husband, William Hochul, has been a high-ranking official since 2016.

New York – Kushner Friend Ken Kurson Charged in N.Y. Eavesdropping Case After Trump Pardon
MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 8/18/2021

Ken Kurson, a close friend of former President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, was charged in a state eavesdropping and computer-trespass case in New York months after receiving a federal pardon while facing similar harassment allegations. The former New York Observer editor’s arrest marks what is likely the first instance of a local prosecutor pursuing state-level charges against a person after that individual was given a pass by Trump for the same alleged conduct that federal authorities had pursued. A president’s clemency grants apply only in federal cases.

North Carolina – Got $10,000? You Can Watch a Football Game with NC Lawmakers.
WRAL – Travis Fain | Published: 8/16/2021

A group with ties to Republican lawmakers sent out fundraiser invitations, asking for donations up to $10,000 to mingle with half a dozen North Carolina. lawmakers at college football game. Greater Carolina is a 501(c)(4), one of several “dark money” groups that can raise unlimited cash without identifying donors. It sent invites to lobbyists and others in the General Assembly orbit, inviting them to the September 2 game between East Carolina University and Appalachian State, which will be played in Charlotte.

North Carolina – No Prison Time for NC Politician Who Took Almost $400,000 from Donors for Personal Use
MSN – Will Doran (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 8/17/2021

After admitting to financial crimes like not paying taxes, as part of a scheme to take hundreds of thousands of dollars from his political supporters for his own personal use, a powerful North Carolina politician will avoid prison. Prosecutors say former state Rep. David Lewis will have to pay a $1,000 fine and avoid getting in trouble again for the next two years. He could have faced up to 30 years in prison if he had gone to trial and lost. Federal prosecutors had agreed not to seek any prison time against Lewis in exchange for his guilty plea and repayment of the $365,000 he took.

North Carolina – Two Coronavirus Cases Known at NC Legislature as Rumors Stir Worry
WRAL – Travis Fain | Published: 8/16/2021

There were two confirmed cases of coronavirus at the North Carolina Legislature in the past week and an additional negative test. Some Democratic House members expressed concern, as did some lobbyists who heard about a Senate staff case through the grapevine. One House Democrat said they were worried about coming to the Legislative Building. Most state lawmakers, and particularly Republicans, did not when asked recently whether they were vaccinated. Some Republican members traveled to Utah for the annual American Legislative Exchange Council meeting, a gathering of conservative lawmakers from around the country.

North Carolina – Utilities Commission Makes It Tougher for Companies to Charge Political Expenditures to Ratepayers
NC Policy Watch – Lisa Sorg | Published: 8/16/2021

A ruling by the North Carolina Utilities Commission will hinder public utilities from passing along lobbying and advertising expenses to ratepayers. This “discretionary spending” includes advertising that appears on social media, as well as promotional materials that serve only to burnish a utility’s image, compete with other utilities for customers, and are unrelated to providing service to the public. Utilities must also keep detailed lobbying records involving conversations with the executive branch of state government. Other expenses, such as political advertising and lobbying, must be covered by company shareholders.

Ohio – County Coroners’ Multiple Side Jobs Raise Concerns
MSN – Josh Swigert (Dayton Daily News) | Published: 8/15/2021

The elected coroners of Montgomery, Warren, and Clark counties in Ohio all had side jobs last year for other counties their offices also do business with, raising concerns about potential conflicts-of-interest. Payroll data and financial disclosure forms coroners file with the Ohio Ethics Commission show some elected coroners also do private work in addition to their multiple government jobs. The coroners said these arrangements happen because of a lack of forensic pathologists and places that can do autopsies. Warren County Coroner Russell Uptegrove’s multiple publicly funded jobs paid him more than $600,000 last year.

Rhode Island – Ethics Commission Finds Probable Cause of Violation by Former Warwick Official
MSN – Edward Fitzpatrick (Boston Globe) | Published: 8/17/2021

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission found probable cause to believe former Warwick City Council President Steven Merolla violated the ethics code by approving $195,000 in payments to an accounting firm whose partners included his campaign treasurer and personal accountant. Merolla not only voted for the increases of $30,000 and $165,000 in a city contract with the accounting firm YKSM, he also signed five invoices for the firm and hounded administration officials when they balked at making the payments, according to a commission report.

South Carolina – South Carolina Politicians Blow Off Their Ethics Fines with Few Consequences
Charleston Post and Courier – Avery Wilks and Joseph Cranney | Published: 8/14/2021

Dozens of public officials across South Carolina disregard fines they owe to the state Ethics Commission, allowing their debts to accrue with little or no consequences. Nearly $2.9 million is owed by 370 politicians, local officials, and others. A media investigation identified at least 50 individuals with more than $250,000 in outstanding debts who currently hold office. Nothing in South Carolina law prevents these debtors from continuing to hold or seek office. Scores of them have won re-election while stiff-arming the state’s ethics watchdog, a strapped agency with little authority to collect on its fines.

Texas – ‘It’s the Height of Hypocrisy’: After Texas Gov. Greg Abbott contracts covid-19, Democrats ramp up calls for mask mandates
MSN – Shayna Jacobs and Eva Ruth Moravec (Washington Post) | Published: 8/18/2021

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has been vaccinated, tested positive for the coronavirus recently. Abbott is among the Republican governors who have resisted public health mandates aimed at stemming the tide of the virus’s delta variant. Videos and photos posted by Abbott’s gubernatorial campaign show him delivering remarks and mingling with a mask-less crowd of more than 100 people indoors at an event when he may have been contagious. Abbott’s escalating efforts to stop mask mandates have ended up in the Texas courts.

Texas – Texas Supreme Court Says House Democrats Can Be Arrested and Brought to the Capitol, Siding with Republicans Trying to Secure a Quorum
Texas Tribune – Joshua Fechner | Published: 8/17/2021

Texas House Democrats who refuse to show up to the state Capitol in their bid to prevent Republican lawmakers from passing a voting restrictions bill can be arrested and brought to the lower chamber, the state Supreme Court ruled. The all-Republican court sided with Gov. Greg Abbott and ordered a Travis County District Court judge to revoke his temporary restraining order blocking the civil arrest of Democratic lawmakers whose absences have denied the chamber the number of present members needed to move any legislation.

Virginia – Citizens Who Want Money Out of Va. Politics Release New Report Urging Changes
The Daily Progress – Patrick Wilson (Richmond Times-Dispatch) | Published: 8/18/2021

After listening to lawmakers and studying other states, a citizen group that wants money out of Virginia politics issued a report it says can be a blueprint for the General Assembly to improve the state’s permissive campaign finance structure. Virginia is one of few states without a limit on campaign donations. Among the recommendations by MoneyOutVA are enhanced disclosures, regular auditing of campaign funding, and creating guidelines for complaints. The report endorses public financing of elections.

August 19, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Florida: “Donations to Fried, Crist Campaigns Linked to Dark Money Group in Election Fraud Case” by Samantha Gross and Bianca Padró Ocasio (Miami Herald) for Florida Daily Tribune North Carolina: “No Prison Time for NC Politician Who Took […]

August 18, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance New Mexico: “City Investigation Supports Allegations Against Gonzales’ Campaign” by Olivier Uyttebrouck for Albuquerque Journal Elections National: “House Revises Voting Rights Bill to Boost Justice Department Powers to Challenge States” by Michael Macagnone for Roll Call California: “Federal […]

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News You Can Use Digest – September 3, 2021

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News You Can Use Digest – August 27, 2021

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News You Can Use Digest – August 20, 2021

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