News You Can Use Digest – April 17, 2026

National/Federal

Donald Trump Ballroom Donations Under Scrutiny for Potentially Breaking Law

MSN – Kate Plummer (Newsweek) | Published: 4/7/2026

Donations made to President Trump’s White House ballroom are under scrutiny for potentially breaking the law. The Campaign Legal Center wrote to Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, urging her office to investigate whether lobbyists violated federal lobbying law by not disclosing donations to this and other projects overseen by the president.

Reps. Swalwell, Gonzales Say They’ll Leave Congress Ahead of Possible Expulsion Votes

MSN – Mariana Alfaro and Amy Wang (Washington Post) | Published: 4/13/2026

Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales separately announced plans to depart from Congress ahead of possible expulsion votes related to allegations of sexual misconduct. The departures of Swalwell and Gonzales, one Democrat and one Republican, would mean the Republicans’ narrow majority in the House remains unchanged if they leave the chamber at the same time

From the States and Municipalities

Colorado – Colorado Justices Weigh Constitutionality of Unique Disclosure Requirement for Ballot Measures

Colorado Politics – Michael Karlik | Published: 4/13/2026

Members of the Colorado Supreme Court considered whether a provision of the state’s campaign finance law violates the First Amendment by requiring the disclosure of a ballot measure committee’s legal representative on advertisements. Initially, No on EE – A Bad Deal for Colorado spent more than $3 million on communications opposing a ballot measure without listing its registered agent, who is the person designated to receive mailings and file campaign finance reports. After a complaint, the group revised its advertisements to correct the omission.

Illinois – Appeals Court Says It Will Reverse Convictions, Orders Two ‘ComEd Four’ Defendants Released from Prison

Yahoo News – Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 4/14/2026

A federal appeals court announced it will grant new trials to former Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) Chief Executive Officer Anne Pramaggiore and lobbyist Michael McClain and ordered them released from prison on bond. The extraordinary development comes nearly three years after Pramaggiore and McClain were convicted as part of the landmark “ComEd Four” case alleging a conspiracy to bribe then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Indiana – State Ethics Commission Rules Against Former IEDC Official, Grants Waiver to Governor’s Aide

Yahoo News – Leslie Bonilla Muñiz (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 4/10/2026

The Indiana State Ethics Commission unanimously found thata statutory one-year waiting period applies to a former state official hoping to accept a job offer at a company whose contracts he previously oversaw. The commission also approved a waiver of other state ethics laws for Jason Johnson, currently the deputy chief of staff of legislative affairs for Gov. Mike Braun’s office. Johnson requested a waiver of the one-year waiting requirement before former state employees can work as lobbyists.

Louisiana – Louisiana Political Donors Would Have Addresses Redacted from Public Reports Under Bill

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 4/14/2026

The Louisiana Legislature might block the public from seeing the addresses of political donors who give money to campaigns starting August 1. Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter sponsored a sprawling bill meant to continue the rewrite of state campaign finance laws that were drastically overhauled last year. The legislation also raises the threshold at which political contributions have to be reported.

New York – NY Elections Officials Have Sued Nearly 300 Campaigns as Enforcement Increases

MSN – Emilie Munson (Albany Times Union) | Published: 4/9/2026

Four years ago, New York’s election enforcement division had filed no cases against campaigns alleged to have broken the law by failing to file official reports. That is despite the fact that thousands of candidates and political committees had missing reports in violation of the law. But since then, election officials have started to more aggressively crack down on violations. Since October 2023, the state Division of Election Law Enforcement filed court cases against at least 261 candidates and committees that have failed to file their campaign information or were delinquent.

Oregon – Kotek Quietly Signs Bill Weakening, Delaying Parts of Oregon’s Campaign Finance Law

MSN – Hillary Borrud and Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 4/11/2026

Campaign donors will be allowed to spend more money on Oregon elections, with less transparency, under a bill that Gov. Tina Kotek signed into law. Good government groups called on the governor to veto the legislation, citing a variety of ways House Bill 4018 would let interest groups and wealthy individuals spend more than allowed under the state’s 2024 campaign finance law. Contribution limits in that two-year-old law do not take effect until next year, and Oregon currently allows unlimited political spending.

Pennsylvania – Did Pa. Governor Candidate Stacy Garrity Need to Register as a Lobbyist? Her Work for a Defense Contractor Raises Questions

WHYY – Carmen Russell-Sluchansky | Published: 4/14/2026

Before taking office as Pennsylvania treasurer in January 2021, Stacy Garrity served in senior positions at a defense contractor, where a significant part of her last role focused heavily on influencing public policy tied to military manufacturing and global trade. She has publicly taken credit for successfully moving legislation forward and has met with legislators and otherwise pushed her company’s interests with government officials. And yet, she never registered as a lobbyist.

Vermont – Ethics Panel Dismisses Complaints Over Lawmakers’ Trip to Israel

Seven Days Vermont – Hannah Bassett | Published: 4/14/2026

The House Ethics Panel dismissed complaints against five Vermont representatives who visited Israel last September on a trip sponsored by the Israeli government. The panel concluded that the lawmakers did not violate the state ethics code by participating in the overseas visit. Jewish Voice for Peace Vermont-New Hampshire alleged the legislators violated the gifts provision in the law by improperly accepting free airfare, lodging, and meals from the Israeli government for an event whose “chief purpose” was lobbying.