Lobbying

“Republican Congress Lures Lobbyists Back to Capitol Hill” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

“Mollis Adopts Hearing Officer’s Decision that Corso Engaged in Unregistered Lobbying Related to 38 Studios” by Jennifer Bogdon for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

“Secretive Nonprofits Flourished – and Succeeded – in 2014 State Elections” by Reity O’Brien for The Center for Public Integrity

“Who Wants to Buy a Politician?” by Binyamin Appelbaum for New York Times

“New FEC Chief on ‘Dark Money’ Mission” by Dave Levinthal for The Center for Public Integrity

“Ethics Commission Hits Former Candidate, Treasurer with $43,000 Fine” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times

“PA Supreme Court: Law firm can forgive U.S. Rep. Bob Brady’s 2007 debt” by Chris Brennan for Philadelphia Daily News

“State High Court to Take up Doe Cases Centered on Walker’s Campaign” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ethics

“Payouts to McCrory, Sanford from Mortgage Broker Raise Ethical Questions” by Michael Biesecker and Mitch Weiss (Associated Press) for Charlotte Observer

Elections

“Jeb Bush’s Decision to Explore Presidential Bid Scrambles the 2016 GOP Field” by Matea Gold and Philip Rucker for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

“Message to Lawmakers: Say what you really think” by Alan Greenblatt for Governing

A special election has been scheduled for April 28, 2015, to fill vacant council seats in Wards 4 and 8. Several prospective candidates for the Ward 8 seat have already obtained nominating petitions, and several other candidates are expected to enter the race before the petition filing deadline on January 28, 2015.

The Ward 8 seat was held by long-time District politician Marion Barry, who recently passed away. The Ward 4 seat was held by Muriel Bowser, who is the mayor-elect.

Gov. Terry Branstad has called a special election on January 6, 2015 to fill the state House District 4 seat formerly held by Dwayne Alons.

Alons passed away recently after serving in the Iowa Legislature since 1999.

The timing of the special election will allow the newly elected lawmaker to be present for 2015 legislative session, which convenes January 12, 2015.

Lobbying

“Ethics Panel Eyes Lawmakers’ Meals” in The Columbian

Campaign Finance

“New Study Finds Companies’ Campaign Donations Linked to Lower Tax Rates” by Debbie Freeman for Arizona State University

“Ethics Panel Seeks Change in Law to Stop Candidates from Paying Self from PAC” by Naomi Schalit (Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting) for Lewiston Sun Journal

“Election Ads Were About Issues, Says ‘Carolina Rising’ Chief” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity

Ethics

“Alcorn County Pays Ex-Lawmaker Thousands for Jail Work” by Emily Wagster Pettus for Hattiesburg Daily American

“Report Suggests Davis Conflict in Nursing Home Case” by Kate White for Charleston Gazette

Elections

“How to Handle a Broken Campaign Promise” by Nathan Gonzales for Roll Call

“L.A. Voters Won’t Be Offered Cash Prizes in March City Election” by David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times

Legislative Issues

“New Leader, New Rules for SC House” by Cassie Cope for The State

“State Lawmakers Poised for Pay Bump” by David Saleh-Rauf for San Antonio Express-News

Secretary of State Brian Kemp has called a special election to fill the seat in House District 120. The special election is set for January 6, 2015, and a runoff will be held on February 3, if necessary.

The newly re-elected Rep. Mickey Channell announced he will not fill the seat when the new term begins on January 12, 2015.

Virginia House Speaker William Howell announced a special election will be held on January 6 to fill the open seat for District 34. Barbara Comstock is vacating the seat following her victorious campaign for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District.

The Democratic candidate is likely to be Kathleen Murphy while the Republicans will select a candidate this weekend.

The 34th District covers parts of Fairfax and Loudoun counties.

Gov. Terry Branstad has called a special election for state Senate District 12. The special election is scheduled for December 30, 2014.

The election will fill the vacancy left by Joni Ernst, who resigned from the state senate after being elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2014. Ernst’s former senate district includes Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, and Taylor counties.

Lobbying

“Bottom Line” in The Hill.

“Job market cools for former lawmakers” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“Photojournalists hire lobbyists to work on drone rules” by Julian Hattem in The Hill.

Maryland: “With Hogan coming, Annapolis lobbying firms beef up their Republican credentials” by John Wagner in The Washington Post.

Campaign Finance

“Mitch McConnell Rider Could Roll Back Campaign Finance Laws” by Paul Blumenthal in The Huffington Post.

Arkansas: “2016 Campaign Finance Ballot Proposal Submitted To Arkansas Attorney General” by Jacob Kauffman on UALR Public Radio.

Ethics

Maine: “New Maine lawmakers learning about ethics, open records” by The Associated Press in Seacoast Online.

Virginia: “Ethics Commission Recommends New Gift-Giving Rules for Va. Lawmakers” by The Associated Press in The Charlottesville Newsplex.

Elections

New Jersey: “New Jersey Senate votes to expand early voting” by Dustin Racioppi in NorthJersey.com.

Vermont: “The Governor’s Race That Still Isn’t Over: Vermont” by Alan Greenblatt in Governing.

Congress

“Spending, Immigration, and Tax Fights Will Dominate Final Days of 113th Congress” by Billy Housew and Sarah Mimms in Government Executive.

“Congress on the brink” by Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan in Politico.

“Harry Reid threatens recess, Christmas” by Burgess Everett in Politico.

Tech and Social Media

“4 Trends to Watch in 2015” by Stephen Goldsmith in Government Technology.

Gov. Mike Beebe has scheduled a special election on April 14, 2015, to fill the state Senate seat vacated by Michael Lamoureux. The primary will be January 13 and a primary runoff, if necessary, on February 10. Lamoureux vacated the seat in Senate District 16 to take a position as Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson’s chief of staff.

The 2015 legislative session will be conducted by a 34-seat Senate unless the session runs for more than three months.

Lobbying

“Turkey with a side of lobbying” by Chase Purdy and Helena Bottemiller Evich in Politico.

“Celebrity chefs cook up lobbying agenda” by Helena Bottemiller Evich in Politico.

“15 places in DC where lobbyists talk turkey” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“Russian Firms Hire Lobbyists to Fight Senate Sanctions” by Philip Shishkin in The Wall Street Journal.

Canada: “Lobbyists zone in on zoning” by Jon Willing in the Ottawa Sun.

Florida: “Former attorney general’s contact with Pam Bondi’s office raises questions” by Michael Van Sickler in the Miami Herald.

New Jersey: “See how much those behind N.J.’s Thanksgiving fixings spend in D.C.” on NJ.com.

Rhode Island: “Sanctions sought over Mollis’ role in 38 Studios hearings” by Jennifer Bogdan in the Providence Journal.

Campaign Finance

“Groups funded by secret donors buffeted two dozen House races in 2014” by Matea Gold in the Washington Post.

“The sons (and daughters) of donors also rise” by Kenneth P. Vogel in Politico.

Alaska: “Alaska pot backer ordered to comply with subpoena” by The Associated Press in the Statesmen Journal.

Illinois: “With contribution limits off, Emanuel reels in more cash” by Bill Ruthhart in the Chicago Tribune.

Maryland: “New Maryland rules would curb some uses of campaign funds” by Michael Dresser in the Baltimore Sun.

New York: “House ethics panel defers campaign finance investigation of New York Rep. Grimm” by The Associated Press in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Utah: “Will Utah Lawmakers Ever Pass Campaign Finance Reform? (Video)” by Bryan Schott in Utah Policy.

Wyoming: “Out-of-state PACs will continue to file paperwork” by Laura Hancock in the Star-Tribune.

Ethics

Massachusetts: “Gov. Deval Patrick Appoints Danvers Selectman to the State Ethics Commission” by Linda Bock in the Danvers Patch.

Elections

Wyoming: “Wyoming tied for third-lowest percent of contested races for state legislature” by Laura Hancock in the Star-Tribune.

Tech and Social Media

“Future of Facebook: Will You Use It in the Office?” by Andrej Sokolow in Government Technology.

Canada: “Canada, welcome to Twitter, eh” by Lori Grisham on USA Today.

Virginia: “City of Williamsburg Honored for Technology Use” by Ian Brickey in the Williamsburg Yorktown Daily.

Councilman Marion Barry passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2014, at the age of 78. Barry served four terms as mayor before becoming a councilman.

With his death leaving a vacancy on the council, the D.C. Board of Elections must schedule a special election between 70 and 174 days after the vacancy has been declared.

A special election to fill the vacancy is expected between early February and mid-May. The winner of the special election would serve the remainder of Barry’s term, which is approximately two years.

Photo of Marion Barry courtesy of dbking on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Rick Scott has announced the special election dates to fill the Florida House District 64 seat. The special primary will be on February 10, 2015 with the special general set for April 21.

The seat remains vacant following the House’s rejection of the results from November’s election. An appeals court ruled a write-in candidate, Daniel John Matthews, was wrongfully removed from the November ballot.

The non-binding election results showed incumbent Republican Jamie Grant with 59.5 percent of the vote.

Sen. Bernie Sanders has introduced a bill creating a federal Election Day. The Democracy Day Act of 2014 designates “the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year” as a public holiday.

Senate Bill 2918, introduced on November 12, has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Lobbying

“Governors and Oil Industry Work Hand in Hand in Offshore Drilling Group” by Nicholas Kusnitz for Center for Public Integrity

“Lobbyists Fund Hill Portraits as Lawmakers Target Paintings of Cabinet Members” by Robin Bravender for Environment & Energy Publishing

“Lobby and Consulting Shop McBee Strategic To Be Acquired by Law Firm Wiley Rein” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post

“Lobbyist Fined but Sen. Lara Denies He Was Influenced by Debt” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

“Rhode Island Investigating Former State Attorney General” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

Campaign Finance

“Meet the New Super Donors” by Kevin Bogardus for Campaigns & Elections

“Gov. Brown’s Unnecessary Fundraising Is Certainly Legal – but a Turnoff” by George Skelton for Los Angeles Times

“Lawmakers Look to Close ‘Kennedy Loophole’” by Neil Vigdor for Danbury News-Times

“Donors Build for Future” by Matthew Hamilton for Albany Times Union

“John Doe Froze Conservative Speech, Targets Say” by M.D. Kittle for Wisconsin Reporter

Ethics

“Marion Barry, Washington’s ‘Mayor for Life,’ Even After Prison, Dies at 78” by David Stout for New York Times

Elections

“Some in G.O.P. Fear That Their Hard-Liners Will Alienate Latino Voters” by Jackie Calmes for New York Times

Legislative Issues

“Debbie Dingell Ready for Spotlight as Her Husband, the ‘Dean’ of Congress, Steps Aside” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg for New York Times