May 18, 2017 •
Thursday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Trump’s Pick for a Top Interior Post Has Sued the Agency on Behalf of Powerful California Water Interests” by Bettina Boxall for Los Angeles Times Campaign Finance Colorado: “Another Colorado ‘Social Welfare’ Nonprofit Just Got Fined for Improperly Playing […]
Lobbying
“Trump’s Pick for a Top Interior Post Has Sued the Agency on Behalf of Powerful California Water Interests” by Bettina Boxall for Los Angeles Times
Campaign Finance
Colorado: “Another Colorado ‘Social Welfare’ Nonprofit Just Got Fined for Improperly Playing in Elections” by Corey Hutchins for Colorado Independent
North Carolina: “Former Lawmaker Who Misspent Campaign Funds Gets 8 Months in Prison” by Anne Blythe for Raleigh News & Observer
Texas: “Pool Proposes Campaign Finance Rule Changes” by Jo Clifton for Austin Monitor
Ethics
“Deputy Attorney General Appoints Special Counsel to Oversee Probe of Russian Interference in Election” by Devlin Barrett, Sari Horwitz, and Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post
“The Right Builds an Alternative Narrative About the Crises Around Trump” by Jeremy Peters for New York Times
“What Is Obstruction of Justice? An Often-Murky Crime, Explained” by Charlie Savage for New York Times
Canada: “Trudeau Recuses Himself from Appointing New Federal Ethics Watchdog” by The Canadian Press for Toronto Star
Washington: “Seattle Ethics Panel Says No to Legal Fund for Ed Murray” by Daniel Beekman for Seattle Times
Elections
New York: “Winner of Vote for ‘I Voted’ Stickers Is Underground Art” by Andy Newman for New York Times
May 17, 2017 •
Wednesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying Massachusetts: “City Council Debates Level of Transparency in Lobbying Act” by Beth Treffeisen for Spare Change News Campaign Finance California: “California Ethics Watchdog Nabs Its Former Leader” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee Ethics “Comey Memo Says Trump Asked […]
Lobbying
Massachusetts: “City Council Debates Level of Transparency in Lobbying Act” by Beth Treffeisen for Spare Change News
Campaign Finance
California: “California Ethics Watchdog Nabs Its Former Leader” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee
Ethics
“Comey Memo Says Trump Asked Him to End Flynn Investigation” by Michael Schmidt for New York Times
“At Mar-a-Lago, the Star Power of the Presidency Helps Charities – and Trump – Make More Money” by Drew Harwell and David Fahrenthold for Washington Post
Montana: “New Commissioner Takes Over at Political Practices Office” by Matt Volz (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report
New Hampshire: “N.H. Ethics Committee Has Fielded Dozens of Complaints, But Issued No Violations” by Casey McDermott for New Hampshire Public Radio
New Jersey: “‘P.S.: One of the ring leaders works in your bank!’: Is this congressman’s fundraising letter a threat?” by Amber Phillips for Washington Post
West Virginia: “State Rep. Rick Quinn Indicted by State Grand Jury” by Glenn Smith for Charleston Post & Courier
Vermont: “Vt. Political Ethics Bill Moves to Governor’s Desk” by April McCullum for Burlington Free Press
Elections
North Carolina: “Strict North Carolina Voter ID Law Thwarted After Supreme Court Rejects Case” by Adam Liptak and Michael Wines for New York Times
May 16, 2017 •
Tuesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Elections “Young Black Democrats, Eager to Lead from the Left, Eye Runs in 2018” by Alexander Burns for New York Times Ethics “Trump Revealed Highly Classified Information to Russian Foreign Minister and Ambassador” by Greg Miller and Greg Jaffe for […]
Elections
“Young Black Democrats, Eager to Lead from the Left, Eye Runs in 2018” by Alexander Burns for New York Times
Ethics
“Trump Revealed Highly Classified Information to Russian Foreign Minister and Ambassador” by Greg Miller and Greg Jaffe for Washington Post
“How Trump Gets His Fake News” by Shane Goldmacher for Politico
“Under Trump, Inconvenient Data Is Being Sidelined” by Juliet Eilperin for Washington Post
“Reckless Stock Trading Leaves Congress Rife with Conflicts” by Maggie Severns for Politico
Missouri: “Greitens Fails to Meet Promises on Ethics Laws” by Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) for Southeast Missourian
New York: “Joseph Ponte to Resign as New York City Jails Chief” by Michael Schwirtz and William Rashbaum for New York Times
South Carolina: “South Carolina Consulting Firm’s ‘Tentacles’ Have Created an ‘Unprecedented’ Political Power Structure” by Andy Shain, Glenn Smith, and Andrew Brown for Charleston Post and Courier
Lobbying
California: “Mayor’s Top Aide Got Married at Bayfront Estate of Developer and SoccerCity Supporter” by Kevin McDonald for San Diego Union-Tribune
Texas: “State Fraud Investigator Forced to Resign Over Ties to Iraqi Government Lobbying” by Edgar Walters for Texas Tribune
May 14, 2017 •
Monday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “DOJ Deflects Calls for More Foreign Agents Act Transparency” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA Kansas: “Who Are Kansas Lobbyists Taking to Dinner?” by Bryan Lowry and Kelsey Ryan for Kansas City Star Texas: “Powerful Abbott Appointee’s Lobbying Sparks […]
Lobbying
“DOJ Deflects Calls for More Foreign Agents Act Transparency” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA
Kansas: “Who Are Kansas Lobbyists Taking to Dinner?” by Bryan Lowry and Kelsey Ryan for Kansas City Star
Texas: “Powerful Abbott Appointee’s Lobbying Sparks Blowback in Legislature” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune
Campaign Finance
Maryland: “FBI Searches Republican Political Consulting Firm in Annapolis” by Fenit Nirappil, Josh Hicks, and Matea Gold for Washington Post
Ethics
“Trump Warning to Comey Prompts Questions on ‘Tapes’” by Peter Baker and Michael Shear for New York Times
District of Columbia: “Bowser Cabinet Official Probed Over Child’s School Placement” by Peter Jamison for Washington Post
Florida: “Ex-Florida Congresswoman Convicted of Taking Money Meant for Charity” by Matt Stevens for New York Times
Rhode Island: “Providence Council President Charged with Embezzlement” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal
Elections
“Trump Picks Voter ID Advocate for Election Fraud Panel” by Julie Hirschfeld Davis for New York Times
Procurement
New York: “Government Watchdogs Push ‘Clean Contracting’ Reform in Albany” by Rachel Silberstein for Gotham Gazzette
May 12, 2017 •
NYCU Video Digest – May 12, 2017
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
May 12, 2017 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 12, 2017
National: Silicon Valley Tech Lobbyists Swarm Brussels Politico.eu – Harry Cooper and Nicholas Hirst | Published: 5/4/2017 A new report shows spending on European Union lobbying by Google, Facebook, Apple, and other technology companies has increased by up […]
National:
Silicon Valley Tech Lobbyists Swarm Brussels
Politico.eu – Harry Cooper and Nicholas Hirst | Published: 5/4/2017
A new report shows spending on European Union lobbying by Google, Facebook, Apple, and other technology companies has increased by up to 278 percent between 2014 and 2017, and four out of seven lobbyists currently accredited with the European Parliament have been hired directly from the Parliament to lobby their former colleagues. Transparency International says that major Silicon Valley companies have been lobbying in Brussels for years, but the budget for lobbying has increased in recent years, as Brussels tries to tackle tax avoidance schemes, data protection, and privacy issues.
Federal:
Inside Trump’s Anger and Impatience – and His Sudden Decision to Fire Comey
Washington Post – Philip Rucker, Ashley Parker, Sari Horwitz, and Robert Costa | Published: 5/10/2017
The stated rationale for President Trump’s firing FBI Director James Comey’s delivered by White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders was that Comey had committed “atrocities” in overseeing the agency’s probe into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server as secretary of state, hurting morale in the bureau and compromising public trust. But the private accounts of more than 30 officials at the White House, the Justice Department, the FBI, and on Capitol Hill, as well as Trump confidants and other senior Republicans, paint a conflicting narrative centered on the president’s brewing personal animus toward Comey.
Kushner Family Stands to Gain from Visa Rules in Trump’s First Major Law
New York Times – Eric Lipton and Jesse Drucker | Published: 5/8/2017
A bill President Trump signed into law renews a program offering permanent residence in the U.S. to affluent foreigners investing money in real estate projects in the country. Just hours after the measure was signed, the company run until January by Trump’s son-in-law and top adviser, Jared Kushner, was urging wealthy Chinese in Beijing to consider investing $500,000 each in a pair of Jersey City luxury apartment towers the family-owned Kushner Companies plans to build. Kushner was even cited at a marketing presentation by his sister Nicole Meyer. The sequence of events offers one of the most explicit examples of the peril of the Trump and Kushner families maintaining close ties to their business interests and creates an impression they stand to profit off Trump’s presence in the White House.
Why the IRS Puts White-Nationalist Groups in the Same Category as Orchestras, Planetariums and Zoos
Washington Post – Max Ehrenfreund | Published: 5/10/2017
Four organizations associated with white nationalism – the National Policy Institute, the New Century Foundation, the Charles Martel Society and VDare Foundation – have raised $7.8 million in tax-free donations over the last decade. White nationalist groups qualify for tax-exempt status because they have successfully argued they have an “educational” mission. A proposal would force them to start paying taxes by removing the provision they rely on for their tax exemption, a broad rule that benefits organizations that sponsor lectures, conferences, and public discussions. But even groups that condemn white nationalists’ messages are hesitant about plans to take away their tax-exempt status.
From the States and Municipalities:
Arizona – Months After It Was Exposed, Phoenix Hasn’t Fixed Toothless Lobbying Law
Arizona Republic – Dustin Gardiner and Rob O’Dell | Published: 5/8/2017
More than three months after Phoenix realized it could not enforce its regulations for lobbyists seeking to influence decisions at City Hall, the problem has yet to be fixed. The rules could get some bite under a set of proposals the city council will debate, but one option under consideration would weaken them even further. Lobbyists who do not register or report meals, gifts, or other expenses made on behalf of elected officials currently face no penalties for breaking the lobbying law by not disclosing their activity. Some city leaders and a watchdog say the delay in making the rules enforceable erodes public confidence.
California – California Politicians Stole Their Money. Will That Make Them Care About Democracy?
Sacramento Bee – Alex Koseff | Published: 5/7/2017
Political scandals are almost dishearteningly pervasive in southeast Los Angeles County. Too many officials have violated the public trust in the area’s small- and medium-sized cities, which are working class and heavily immigrant. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, whose district is at the heart of the most recent troubles, dubs it the “corridor of corruption,” as five cities have sent more than a dozen city officials to jail or prison in the last 11 years. Tired of a reputation shaped by shortcomings, Rendon is one of a new group of representatives forged by the scandals who hope to shed the negative image that has plagued the area.
California – Foes into Friends: Lobbyists make amends to lawmakers with ‘make-up money’
CALmatters.org – Laurel Rosenhall | Published: 5/10/2017
In California, “make-up money” refers to the contributions that flow to newly-elected officials from interest groups that backed a losing candidate during the campaign. There is nothing illegal about giving these donations to a politician, said Jessica Levinson, president of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission. Political contributions break the law only when they involve a direct exchange of money for governmental action. But giving money to the winner of an election after backing an opponent shows that donors are looking to curry favor with whomever has the power to make decisions, Levinson said.
Florida – When That Feisty Neighbor Becomes the President
New York Times – Michael LaForgia and Steve Eder | Published: 5/6/2017
For local officials in Palm Beach County, it was one thing to spar with Donald Trump, the developer, over issues with his private club, Mar-a-Lago. But dealing with President Trump is another matter entirely. Since he was elected, local officials have quickly granted Trump’s club permission to build a concrete helipad, allowed it to host a charity event for the Navy SEAL Foundation featuring a staged shootout between some commandos and pretend terrorists, and agreed to assume the costs, for now at least, of closing roads and providing additional security. Behind every decision was a balancing act between a desire to best serve constituents and a political instinct not to anger the nation’s chief executive.
Illinois – Ethics Board Rejects Watchdog Recommendation That City Officials Report Lobbying
Chicago Tribune – Hal Dardick | Published: 5/9/2017
Chicago’s reinvigorated Board of Ethics has been flexing its muscle against lobbyists who emailed Mayor Rahm Emanuel on the mayor’s private accounts and failed either to register or report their lobbying activities. But the hefty fines are apparently not enough to satisfy city Inspector General Joe Ferguson. The law puts the onus on lobbyists, not city officials, to report contact. Last year, the inspector general’s office recommended making changes to improve compliance with the law, including the possibility of having city officials report lobbying interactions. The inspector general’s office released a follow-up report recently in which it said the ethics board rejected that recommendation.
Missouri – Judge Strikes Parts of Missouri Campaign Finance Law
Courthouse News Service – Dionne Cordell-Whitney | Published: 5/10/2017
Parts of Missouri’s new campaign finance law are unconstitutional, but the $2,600 individual donor limit will stay, U.S. District Court Judge Ortrie Smith ruled. But in striking down a provision in the law that banned committee-to-committee transfers, it has opened up the ability to raise an unlimited amount of money through a local PAC and transfer that cash to a different PAC. Critics say that will make campaign money harder to track and makes it easier for candidates to get around the individual donor limit.
New Hampshire – Lawmaker Behind Misogynistic Forum: ‘I’ve never hated women’
U.S. News & World Report – Kathleen Ronayne (Associated Press) | Published: 5/9/2017
About a dozen state representatives and voters urged lawmakers to take action against New Hampshire Rep. Robert Fisher, warning that his involvement in a misogynistic online forum feeds into a derogatory culture toward women and may promote abuse. Fisher has been under fire since it was reported he was behind a men’s rights forum known for its comments degrading women, questioning female intelligence, and denying rape. Fisher said he does not “hate women” and denied a new report that he still oversees the Reddit forum, known as “The Red Pill.”
New York – Murky Definitions for Government Entities Undermines Transparency
Gotham Gazette – Rachel Silberstein | Published: 5/3/2017
There is a multitude of quasi-governmental entities that exist in grey area of New York law, and how to classify these entities has been the subject of some debate. A rudimentary search pulled up at least a dozen different definitions for “state agency” and “local agency” in state law. While some rely to some degree on government funding, have board members appointed by city or state officials, and may serve a public function, as independent 501(c)(3) nonprofits, one could argue these entities do not qualify as a public authority or public benefit corporation. But like more typical government agencies, they are subject to Freedom of Information Laws. Government reformers say this ever-morphing patchwork of definitions only serves to confuse the public and obscure conflicts of interests, rather than increase transparency.
Ohio – Nelson Mullins Partner Settles with SEC in Pay-to-Play Suit
American Lawyer – Scott Flaherty | Published: 5/3/2017
Robert Crowe agreed to settle civil allegations brought by federal regulators in a “pay-to-play” scheme involving State Street Bank. Crowe was a lobbyist for Boston-based State Street when he became embroiled in the scheme of a former State Street employee to raise campaign contributions for a deputy treasurer in Ohio. The former employee had made a deal to provide campaign funding in exchange for business contracts for State Street, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleged. Crowe allegedly filtered $16,000 through his personal bank account to reimburse others for making contributions to the deputy treasurer. Without admitting or denying the allegations, Crowe agreed to a federal judge’s order to pay nearly $95,000 in penalties.
Washington – Seattle Mayor Ed Murray Won’t Seek Second Term: ‘It tears me to pieces to step away’
Seattle Times – Daniel Beekman | Published: 5/9/2017
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said he will not run for re-election, as he fights claims he sexually abused teenage boys in the 1980s. Murray, who was expected to win the upcoming mayoral race, dropped out days before the official filing deadline. In April, a man filed a lawsuit accusing Murray of sexually abusing him in 1986, when he was a homeless 15-year-old boy. Three other men have since come forward to accuse Murray of abuse, including paying for sex with them while they were minors. Murray said the allegations against him “are not true. The scandal surrounding them hurts me and this city.”
West Virginia – W. Va. Reporter Arrested for ‘Yelling Questions’ at HHS Secretary
USA Today – Doug Stanglin | Published: 5/9/2017
Tom Price during his visit to West Virginia. The exchange came as Price and senior white House aide KellyAnne Conway visited the Capitol to learn about efforts to fight opioid addiction in a state that has the nation’s highest overdose death rate. A criminal complaint says Daniel Heyman was yelling questions at the two. It says he tried to breach Secret Service security and had to be removed from a hallway at the Capitol. He was charged with willful disruption of governmental processes. Heyman, who works for Public News Service, said he was arrested after asking repeatedly whether domestic violence would be considered a pre-existing condition under the proposed health care overhaul. He said he believed he was doing nothing wrong.
State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.
May 10, 2017 •
Wednesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Campaign Finance “Crowdpac Helps Candidates Test the Waters” by Eric Garcia for Roll Call Ethics “F.B.I. Director James Comey Is Fired by Trump” by Michael Shear and Matt Apuzzo for New York Times “Sally Yates Tells Senators She Warned Trump […]
Campaign Finance
“Crowdpac Helps Candidates Test the Waters” by Eric Garcia for Roll Call
Ethics
“F.B.I. Director James Comey Is Fired by Trump” by Michael Shear and Matt Apuzzo for New York Times
“Sally Yates Tells Senators She Warned Trump About Michael Flynn” by Matt Apuzzo and Emmarie Huetteman for New York Times
Michigan: “4th Macomb County Official Cuts Deal in Rizzo Corruption Scandal” by Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press
New York: “Rikers Tumult Rises: Prison official accused of spying on investigator” by William Rashbaum and Michael Schwirtz for New York Times
Pennsylvania: “Court Voids Ex-House Speaker Bill DeWeese’s $116K Restitution for Corruption Convictions” by Matt Miller for PennLive.com
Elections
“Who Has Trump’s Ear? Often Rich, White, Republican Men.” by Andrew Restuccia and Aiden Quigley for Politico
Washington: “Seattle Mayor Ed Murray Won’t Seek Second Term: ‘It tears me to pieces to step away’” by Daniel Beekman for Seattle Times
Lobbying
Arizona: “Months After It Was Exposed, Phoenix Hasn’t Fixed Toothless Lobbying Law” by Dustin Gardiner and Rob O’Dell for Arizona Republic
Maine: “Lobbyist for Proposed Maine Casino Says Client Was Not Who He Thought It Was” by Scott Thistle for Portland Press Herald
Redistricting
Maryland: “Hogan Vetoes Redistricting Bill, Calling Maryland Democrats’ Measure ‘Phony’” by Luke Broadwater for Baltimore Sun
May 8, 2017 •
Monday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Silicon Valley Tech Lobbyists Swarm Brussels” by Harry Cooper and Nicholas Hirst for Politico.eu “Lewandowski Exits Lobby Firm Amid Reports of Foreign Clients” by Jennifer Jacobs and Ben Brody for Bloomberg.com Canada: “Liberals Removed Lobbyists Who Signed Up for […]
Lobbying
“Silicon Valley Tech Lobbyists Swarm Brussels” by Harry Cooper and Nicholas Hirst for Politico.eu
“Lewandowski Exits Lobby Firm Amid Reports of Foreign Clients” by Jennifer Jacobs and Ben Brody for Bloomberg.com
Canada: “Liberals Removed Lobbyists Who Signed Up for Montreal Fundraiser with Justin Trudeau” by Giuseppe Valiante and Joanna Smith (The Canadian Press) for CBC
Campaign Finance
California: “California Attorney General Targets Political Nonprofits” by Don Thompson (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report
Missouri: “Campaign Donation Limits Stay, but Other Parts of Missouri’s New Campaign Finance Law Blocked by Federal Judge” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Nelson Mullins Partner Settles with SEC in Pay-to-Play Suit” by Scott Flaherty for American Lawyer
Ethics
“Trump Eases Ban on Political Activity by Churches” by Jordan Fabian and Naomi Jagoda for The Hill
“The Mystery Behind a Flynn Associate’s Quiet Work for the Trump Campaign” by Matea Gold for Washington Post
Mississippi: “Physician Pleads Guilty to Bribing Mississippi Prison Chief” by Jeff Amy (Assocuated Press) for U.S. News & World Report
Elections
“Ivanka Trump’s West Wing Agenda” by Jodi Kantor, Rachel Abrams, and Maggie Haberman for New York Times
May 5, 2017 •
NYCU Video Digest – May 5, 2017
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
May 4, 2017 •
Thursday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Trump Transition Staffers Head to K Street Despite Lobbying Ban” by Theodoric Meyer and Michael Stratford for Politico “City Pays for Mets Moment, Guided by Firm with Troubled Ties to de Blasio” by J. David Goodman for New York […]
Lobbying
“Trump Transition Staffers Head to K Street Despite Lobbying Ban” by Theodoric Meyer and Michael Stratford for Politico
“City Pays for Mets Moment, Guided by Firm with Troubled Ties to de Blasio” by J. David Goodman for New York Times
Campaign Finance
Colorado: “Colorado Supreme Court Hears Dispute on Whether Legal Fees Count as Political Donations” by Tom McGhee for Denver Post
Minnesota: “Minnesota Republicans Want to Eliminate ‘Welfare for Politicians’” by Rachel Stassen-Berger for St. Paul Pioneer Press
Tennessee: “Jeremy Durham Dismisses Campaign Finance Audit, Points Finger in Fiery Letter” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean
Ethics
“A Code Pink Protester Laughs Over a Trump Nominee and Is Convicted” by Christopher Mele for New York Times
“While in White House, Trumps Remained Selling Points for ‘Very Special’ Philippines Project” by Drew Harwell and Matea Gold for Washington Post
Vermont: “House Passes Ethics Commission Bill with Some Reluctance” by Mark Johnson for VTDigger.org
Elections
“Comey Forcefully Defends ‘Painful’ Decision on Clinton Probe” by Josh Gerstein and Austin Wright for Politico
May 3, 2017 •
Wednesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Campaign Finance “Secret Audit Left D.C. Voters ‘In the Dark.’ Now It Stirs Talk of Election Reform” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post Canada: “PM No Longer Under Investigation for Cash-for-Access Fundraisers, but Ethics Commissioner Won’t Say Why” by Zane […]
Campaign Finance
“Secret Audit Left D.C. Voters ‘In the Dark.’ Now It Stirs Talk of Election Reform” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post
Canada: “PM No Longer Under Investigation for Cash-for-Access Fundraisers, but Ethics Commissioner Won’t Say Why” by Zane Schwartz for National Post
Massachusetts: “Can a Congressman Use Campaign Funds to Give You Free T Rides?” by Nicole Dungca for Boston Globe
Utah: “Utah Attorney General Makes a Trump Shortlist, and Donations Pour In” by Matt Apuzzo for New York Times
Ethics
“Ethics Office Details Conflict of Interest Rules for Ivanka Trump” by Olivia Beavers for The Hill
“Trump Starts Dismantling His Shadow Cabinet” by Michael Grunwald, Andrew Restuccia, and Josh Dawsey for Politico
Minnesota: “BCA to Investigate Bribery Solicitation Allegations Against St. Paul Mayoral Candidate Dai Thao’s Campaign” by Jessie Van Berkel for Minneapolis Star Tribune
New York: “Chaos at Rikers, but City Jails Chief Was Gone for 90 Days” by William Rashbaum and Michael Schwirtz for New York Times
Elections
“Emboldened by Trump but Divided by Generations, Democrats Look to 2020” by Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin for New York Times
May 2, 2017 •
Nova Scotia Provincial General Election to be Held May 30
On April 30, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly was dissolved in order to call a provincial general election. The Chief Electoral Officer, Richard Temporale, issued writs of election for all of Nova Scotia’s 51 electoral districts. The provincial general […]
On April 30, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly was dissolved in order to call a provincial general election.
The Chief Electoral Officer, Richard Temporale, issued writs of election for all of Nova Scotia’s 51 electoral districts.
The provincial general election will be held on Tuesday, May 30.
May 2, 2017 •
Tuesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “New Registration Details Manafort’s Lobbying for Group with Pro-Russia Ties” by Megan Wilson for The Hill Campaign Finance Massachusetts: “Regulator Sees ‘Evidence of Violations’ at Thornton Law Firm” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe Missouri: “Missouri Governor to Pay […]
Lobbying
“New Registration Details Manafort’s Lobbying for Group with Pro-Russia Ties” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
Campaign Finance
Massachusetts: “Regulator Sees ‘Evidence of Violations’ at Thornton Law Firm” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe
Missouri: “Missouri Governor to Pay Fee for Using Nonprofit Donor List” by David Lieb (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report
Washington: “Washington State Senators Tap Surplus Campaign Money for Food, Clothes, Furnishings” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times
Ethics
“Ethics Rules Waivers for Trump’s Team to Get Federal Scrutiny” by Bill Allison for Bloomberg.com
Florida: “Hooters ‘Calendar Girl’ and Playboy ‘Miss Social’ Were Artiles’ Paid Consultants” by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald
Florida: “Miami Firm Involved in Anti-Hazing Program Did Not Detail Use of $1 Million from State” by Arek Sarkissian for Naples Daily News
Illinois: “Byrd-Bennett Sobs While Trying to Explain Corruption, Gets 4 1/2 Years in Prison” by Jason Meisner and Juan Perez Jr. for Chicago Tribune
Elections
“Guns and Religion: How American conservatives grew closer to Putin’s Russia” by Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
North Carolina: “North Carolina Judges Back Governor Over Election Changes” by Emery Dalesio (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report
May 1, 2017 •
Monday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Lewandowski’s Firm Appears to Offer Trump Meetings” by Kenneth Vogel and Josh Dawsey for Politico Campaign Finance California: “Rep. Rohrabacher’s Ex-Campaign Treasurer Sentenced to Year in Jail for Embezzlement” by Hannah Fry for Los Angeles Times Colorado: “Judge Says […]
Lobbying
“Lewandowski’s Firm Appears to Offer Trump Meetings” by Kenneth Vogel and Josh Dawsey for Politico
Campaign Finance
California: “Rep. Rohrabacher’s Ex-Campaign Treasurer Sentenced to Year in Jail for Embezzlement” by Hannah Fry for Los Angeles Times
Colorado: “Judge Says Ex-Congressman Bob Beauprez’s Group Must Pay $17,000 in Campaign Finance Fines” by Corey Hutchins for Colorado Independent
Colorado: “Campaign Finance Reform Measures Die in Colorado Legislature” by Peter Marcus for ColoradoPolitics.com
Maine: “New Info About Maine Casino Campaign’s Financing Triggers Ethics Concerns” by Mitchell Shepherd for Bangor Daily News
New Mexico: “City Contractors Give to ABQ Mayoral Candidates” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth
New York: “Proposal Would Boost Public Campaign Matching Funds” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette
Oklahoma: “Oklahoma State Sen. Kyle Loveless Resigns Amid Criminal Investigation” by Nolan Clay and Dale Denwalt for The Oklahoman
Ethics
“Bribe Cases, a Secret Jared Kushner Partner and Potential Conflicts” by Jesse Drucker for New York Times
“Pentagon Inquiry Seeks to Learn if Flynn Hid Foreign Payment” by Emmarie Huetteman and Matthew Rosenberg for New York Times
Rhode Island: “Restaurant Owner to Serve Year in Prison for Bribing Former R.I. House Speaker” by Katie Mulvaney for Providence Journal
South Dakota: “South Dakota Ethics Bill Lost Teeth on Its Way to Becoming Law” by Dana Ferguson for Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Texas: “How the Federal Case Against John Wiley Price Fell Apart” by Jennifer Emily, Gromer Jeffers Jr., and Kevin Krause for Dallas News
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