July 8, 2025 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Maryland: “Lobbyists Increase Donations to Maryland Politicians by 75% Since Last Election” by Sam Janesch (Baltimore Sun) for MSN National: “ActBlue Brings in Nearly $400 Million More for Democrats Amid Trump’s Pressure on the Fundraising Platform” by Fredreka […]
Campaign Finance
Maryland: “Lobbyists Increase Donations to Maryland Politicians by 75% Since Last Election” by Sam Janesch (Baltimore Sun) for MSN
National: “ActBlue Brings in Nearly $400 Million More for Democrats Amid Trump’s Pressure on the Fundraising Platform” by Fredreka Schouten (CNN) for MSN
New York: “NY Public Campaign Program Fuels Spending for Political Consultants” by Emilie Munson for Albany Times Union
Ethics
National: “The Supreme Court and Congress Cede Powers to Trump and the Presidency” by Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Trump Administration’s Push to Deport Student Activists Goes on Trial” by Joanna Slater and Justine McDaniel (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Trump Administration Asserted Sweeping Power in Seeking to Bypass TikTok Ban” by Charlie Savage (New York Times) for MSN
Idaho: “Idaho Lawmaker Worked to Legalize This Drug. He Was Among the First to Sell It” by Sarah Cutler (Idaho Statesman) for MSN
Louisiana: “Longest Serving Louisiana Ethics Board Member Says Lawmakers Want the Board Dismantled” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News
July 4, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 4, 2025

National/Federal The First Rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down MSN – Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 6/29/2025 Across the Trump administration, a culture of secrecy is overtaking personnel and budget decisions, casual social interactions, and everything in […]
National/Federal
The First Rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down
MSN – Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 6/29/2025
Across the Trump administration, a culture of secrecy is overtaking personnel and budget decisions, casual social interactions, and everything in between, according to interviews with more than 40 employees across two dozen agencies. No one wants to put anything in writing anymore, federal workers said, and communication among colleagues has increasingly shifted to the encrypted messaging app Signal. This shift is affecting every aspect of external and internal communications. The overall effect has been to impede honest discussion, slow work, stir confusion, and depress morale.
GOP Sen. Thom Tillis Won’t Seek Reelection After Opposing Trump Tax Bill
MSN – Theodoric Meyer, Liz Goodwin, Mariana Alfaro, and Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) | Published: 6/29/2025
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said he will not seek reelection next year, less than 24 hours after President Trump threatened him with a primary challenge for opposing the massive tax and immigration bill. Tillis’s decision not to run for a third term scrambles the Senate race in North Carolina. It injects fresh uncertainty into the GOP’s push to pass the proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Trump’s top legislative priority, by their July 4 deadline. It underscores the perils for Republicans of defying Trump when his grip on the party is stronger than ever.
US Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Campaign Spending Curbs in JD Vance Case
MSN – John Kruzel (Reuters) | Published: 6/30/2025
The Supreme Court announced it will consider a challenge to the limits on how much national political parties can spend in coordination with federal candidates. The justices took up an appeal by two Republican committees and Vice President JD Vance, who was running for the U.S. Senate in Ohio when the litigation began, of a lower court’s ruling that upheld restrictions on the amount of money parties can spend on campaigns with input from candidates they support. The justices are due to hear the case in their next term.
Appeals Court Seems Likely to Back Trump’s Deportations Under Wartime Law
MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 6/30/2025
A federal appellate panel appeared poised to back President Trump’s use of a centuries-old wartime law to fast-track deportations of Venezuelan migrants in a case widely expected to put that debate back before the Supreme Court. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit grilled an attorney for targeted detainees during oral arguments, asking what authority judges had to “second-guess” the president’s decisions in defending the country amid armed conflicts.
DOGE Has the Keys to Sensitive Data That Could Help Elon Musk
MSN – Desmond Butler, Jonathan O’Connell, Hannah Natanson, and Aaron Gregg (Washington Post) | Published: 6/30/2025
For months, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency plumbed the federal government’s information systems, scouring arcane internal records that the billionaire said were guiding his hunt for waste. Now that Musk has stepped away from his government role, some of that data could be valuable in another way – by giving the world’s richest man a competitive advantage over his rivals in the private sector.
Judge Finds Trump Executive Order Punishing Susman Godfrey Unconstitutional
MSN – Melissa Quinn (CBS News) | Published: 6/27/2025
A federal judge struck down President Trump’s executive order that sought to punish the law firm Susman Godfrey, ruling it is unconstitutional and blocking the administration from enforcing it. The decision from U.S. District Court Judge Loren AliKhan caps an unbroken streak of victories for the four major law firms that were targeted by Trump as part of his efforts to go after his perceived enemies and chose to challenge his directives in court, rather than commit millions of dollars in free legal services, as nine other firms have done.
MSN – Eric Bradner, Sarah Ferris, Lauren Fox, and Annie Grayer (CNN) | Published: 7/1/2025
The fate of President Trump’s domestic agenda was in U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s hands, and she used that leverage to force a series of changes that will deliver more federal dollars to Alaska. The Senate passed the bill after a marathon of negotiations and amendments during which Murkowski, as she put it later, “struggled mightily” with the impacts of cutting Medicaid and food stamp benefits in Alaska before voting for the legislation.
How Trump’s Media War Brought Paramount to Its Knees
MSN – Sarah Ellison and Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 7/2/2025
CBS’s parent company agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit over the network’s editing of a campaign interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The deal makes Paramount, which is attempting to complete an $8 billion sale to Skydance Media, the latest company to pay millions of dollars to Donald Trump-aligned entities to avoid punitive government action. The money, minus plaintiffs’ fees and costs, will go to Trump’s presidential library.
MSN – Ross O’Keefe (Washington Examiner) | Published: 7/2/2025
The Department of Justice is considering whether it can charge local or state election officials who do not adhere to Trump administration standards on voting security. The administration is reportedly driving the effort forward based on its skepticism about the security of the nation’s elections. President Trump previously said the 2020 election was “rigged” and called for an investigation into widespread voter fraud.
Trump Says He Will Move Aggressively to Undo Nationwide Blocks on His Agenda
MSN – Justin Jouvenal, Cat Zakrzewski, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 6/28/2025
An emboldened Trump administration plans to aggressively challenge blocks on the president’s top priorities, from immigration to education, following a major Supreme Court ruling that limits the power of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions. Scholars and plaintiffs in the lawsuits over Trump’s executive orders agreed the ruling could profoundly reshape legal battles over executive power even as other legal experts said the effects would be more muted. Some predicted it would embolden Trump to push his expansive view of presidential power.
Bondi Made Changes to DOJ Policy. Her Former Client Pfizer Might Have Benefited
MSN – Ben Wieder (Miami Herald) | Published: 7/3/2025
For the past several years, Pfizer has been under investigation by the Department of Justice for potential foreign corruption violations related to its activities in China and Mexico, according to the company’s financial filings. But that appears to have changed after the Trump administration tapped Pam Bondi, previously an outside legal counsel for Pfizer, to be attorney general.
Dead Members of Congress Can’t Stop Posting
MSN – Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing (Politico) | Published: 6/28/2025
After Zohran Mamdani’s apparent victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary on, former U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee liked an Instagram post congratulating him on his win. But Jackson Lee died last July. From new profile pictures to a posthumous endorsement, accounts for dead lawmakers have seemingly resurrected on social media in an unsettling trend of beyond-the-grave engagement. How to handle the social media presence of politicians when they die is a fairly new phenomenon.
Trump Tried to Fire Them. But These Democratic Appointees Are Still on the Job.
MSN – Hassan Ali Kanu (Politico) | Published: 6/30/2025
President Trump fired a host of Democratic appointees at independent boards and commissions across the government. But some of them are still working. More than a dozen leaders of independent federal agencies received emails from the White House purporting to fire or demote them, even though their roles are governed by laws that bar termination without cause. Those officials’ resistance could end up shaping how courts view pending questions about the hiring-and-firing powers of the presidency, and whether Congress can create federal agencies with some degree of independence from the chief executive.
From the States and Municipalities
California – Irvine City Council Re-Adopts Lobbying Rules to Settle Lawsuit
Voice of OC – Angela Hicks | Published: 6/30/2025
Irvine city leaders are settling a lawsuit with a group of residents who alleged the city council violated the state’s open meeting law when it passed new lobbying regulations last year. In a series of meetings, the council discussed and approved new regulations that require lobbyists to register with the city earlier and disclose their activities more often. Orange County Advocates for Transparency alleged the city violated the Brown Act by improperly agendizing the item and failing to fully alert the public.
California – Ex-Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet Gets Probation, No Jail Time for Taking Bribes
Yahoo News – Christopher Damien (Palm Springs Desert Sun) | Published: 7/2/2025
Former Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet was sentenced to two years’ probation, avoiding jail time despite admitting he took bribes from developers for years. Pougnet pleaded guilty to a scheme in which he conspired with real estate developer Richard Meaney to be paid money in exchange for facilitating the developer’s projects in the city council.
Connecticut – CT Veterans Affairs Director Ousted Over Questionable Ethics Violation
Inside Investigator – Mark Fitch | Published: 7/2/2025
The former director of safety and security for the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs says he was forced to retire from his position under threat of termination and the loss of his medical benefits after the department claimed he violated state ethics laws by asking maintenance personnel to do small contracting jobs at his home, contrary to a determination of the Office of State Ethics (OSE). Stephen Scatena said officials threatened if he did not voluntarily sign a stipulated agreement by April 9, 2025, roughly two months before the OSE issued their finding.
Connecticut – Ted Kennedy Jr., Former CT State Senator, Cleared After 11-Year Election Investigation
Stamford Advocate – Ken Dixon | Published: 7/2/2025
Connecticut election regulators closed the books on one of its longest-lingering investigations, finally dismissing a 2014 case involving former state Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. and nearly $300,000 in campaign support he received from the Democratic State Central Committee. The State Elections Enforcement Commission agreed there was not enough evidence to link the party’s contribution to a direct exchange with Kennedy family members and friends who raised more than $308,000 from 188 people for the state party.
District of Columbia – As Indicted Ex-D.C. Lawmaker Seeks Election, Opponents Urge Voters to Move On
MSN – Meagan Flynn and Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) | Published: 6/27/2025
At a rare appearance at a Ward 8 candidates forum, ex-District of Columbia Council member Trayon White Sr. answered one last question. Why, a voter wanted to know, had White never explained himself to residents after his bribery indictment? It was the unignorable question at the center of the July 15 special election, in which White, who stands accused of pocketing tens of thousands of dollars in bribes, is asking voters to reelect him even with the risk he could be disqualified from office if convicted.
Florida – DeSantis Vetoes Bill Aimed at Limiting Corruption in Office
Yahoo News – Lawrence Mower (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 7/1/2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would, in part, have prohibited state officials from using their position to solicit campaign contributions. The legislation was in part a reaction to NBC News reports since 2023 that officials in his administration were asking lobbyists for political donations, raising ethical concerns.
Hawaii – State Watchdogs Are Keeping the Pressure on for Government Reform
Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 6/29/2025
Fired up by the fate of a major “pay-to-play” bill that died in April at the Legislature, the heads of the Campaign Spending Commission and Hawaii State Ethics Commission are stepping up their efforts to lobby for reform in the 2026 session that beings in January. The cooperation between Kristin Izumi-Nitao, executive director of campaign spending, and Robert Harris, executive director of ethics, entered a new phase when Izumi-Nitao appeared by invitation at the ethics commission’s public meeting. The purpose was to hear insights and explore collaboration between the agencies.
Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ‘Pending’ Springfield Lobbyist Team Draws Ethics Questions
Yahoo News – Alice Yin, Jeremy Gorner, and A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/30/2025
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s inner circle worked with outside lobbyists who were not registered to lobby on behalf of the city in the Illinois General Assembly. Email records and sources indicate three lobbyists coordinated with top Johnson officials during the most recent session. But they did not update their state registration to show the city among their lobbying clients before the Legislature adjourned June 1. If state officials were to find the three did not properly disclose their representation, they could be in violation of the law.
Illinois – Cook County Tax Board Commissioner, Staff Face Multiple Fines from Ethics Board
Yahoo News – A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/27/2025
Cook County’s Board of Ethics fined Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele and her aides for a series of breaches, finding she provided confidential information to the press about the Chicago Bears’ Arlington Heights property and wrongly allowed a staffer to attend a conference on county time. Steele is one of three commissioners on the county’s Board of Review, which hears property tax appeals. She must pay the $3,000 fine in 30 days.
Iowa – Trump Drops Federal Lawsuit Against Iowa Pollster, Refiles in State Court
MSN – Brianna Tucker and Frances Vinall (Washington Post) | Published: 6/30/2025
Lawyers for President Trump filed a motion to drop his federal lawsuit against J. Ann Selzer – a longtime Iowa pollster, and the Des Moines Register – and refiled the suit in a state court in Iowa. Attorneys for Trump sued Selzer and the newspaper in December over a poll that showed him trailing Vice President Kamala Harris in the state just days before the 2024 presidential election. The suit alleged Selzer’s poll amounted to “election interference” and accused the newspaper of violating the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act.
Kansas – Judge Allows Kansas Law Barring Foreign Contributions to Constitutional Amendment Campaigns
Yahoo News – Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 7/1/2025
A federal judge sided with state officials and allowed a Kansas law to go into effect that bans “foreign nationals” from contributing financially to campaigns for or against state constitutional amendments. Kansans for Constitutional Freedom, which has accepted such funds directly and indirectly in the past, said the law was broad, vague, and infringed upon constitutionally protected political speech.
Louisiana – Supreme Court to Rehear Case Over Louisiana’s Second Majority-Black District
MSN – Justin Jouvenal and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 6/27/2025
The Supreme Court put off deciding whether to uphold a Louisiana map that added a second majority-Black congressional district in the state, saying it would rehear the case in its next term. The justices said they would consider whether race was the predominant factor in the drawing of the new Louisiana district.
Maine – Why Maine Lawmakers Pulled Back on Ranked Choice Voting Expansion
Portland Press Herald – Randy Billings | Published: 6/27/2025
Lawmakers recalled a bill from Gov. Janet Mills’ desk that would have allowed ranked choice voting to be used in the 2026 gubernatorial race after Mills signaled she would veto the bill. Advocates say they plan to ask the Maine Law Court to revisit its 2017 advisory opinion, which would not be possible if Gov. Janet Mills vetoed the bill as they expected.
Massachusetts – MCAS Ballot Question Supporters Pay $4K Penalty to Resolve Late Reporting Accusations
MSN – Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) | Published: 7/1/2025
The group that backed a successful ballot question to end the use of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System as a high school graduation requirement paid a $4,000 penalty to resolve accusations that officials did not report $2.3 million in contributions in a timely manner ahead of the November 2024 election. The fight between the Massachusetts Teachers Association and business groups was the most expensive ballot question battle in the state in 2024, with tens of millions flowing between the two sides.
Michigan – New Ballot Committee Aims to Get More Corporate, Utility Money Out of Michigan Politics
Detroit Free Press – Arpan Lobo | Published: 6/30/2025
A new ballot committee hopes to ask Michigan voters next year whether the state should ban large corporations that hold government contracts and utility monopolies from making political donations through affiliated PACs. Backers of the committee say companies like DTE and Consumers have outsized political influence due to their contributions to candidates and campaigns. The companies defended their political spending practices, saying the money does not come from ratepayers and they have an obligation to advocate for their best interests.
New Mexico – Joseph Shepard Sued by the New Mexico State Ethics Commission
Yahoo News – Joshua Bowling (Searchlight New Mexico) | Published: 6/28/2025
In addition to staying at five-star resorts, buying luxury furniture, and traveling the world at taxpayers’ expense, former Western New Mexico University President Joseph Shepard also took money intended for building an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant walkway and ramp and used it to build a patio near his house where he could host a welcome event and dancing for his daughter’s wedding, a new lawsuit by the New Mexico State Ethics Commission alleges.
New York – Ex-Trump Lawyer Chesebro Disbarred Over Fake Elector Scheme
Reuters – Dave Thomas | Published: 6/26/2025
A New York appeals court disbarred Kenneth Chesebro, a former lawyer for Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign, following his 2023 guilty plea to a charge stemming from efforts to overturn Trump’s defeat in Georgia. Chesebro had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit filing of false documents in Fulton County after prosecutors accused him of crafting the legal strategy behind a scheme to use alternate electors to circumvent Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in the state.
North Carolina – NC Republicans Unveil Sweeping Elections Bill. Could It ‘Purge’ Nonpartisan Staff?
Yahoo News – Kyle Ingram (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 6/26/2025
North Carolina House Republicans unveiled a broad elections bill that could convert about a third of the State Board of Elections’ nonpartisan civil service staff into political appointees, alongside a host of other changes to ballot counting, voter ID, and more. It comes a month after Republicans gained a majority on the elections board and ousted Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell, replacing her with a lawyer who has worked for the state’s top GOP legislators.
North Dakota – North Dakota Ethics Commission Makes First Finding of Violations by Public Official
Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 6/30/2025
The North Dakota Ethics Commission found Rep. Jason Dockter committed three ethics violations related to his ownership of a Bismarck building, but the agency did not hand down any penalties for the lawmaker. The Ethics Commission noted Dockter likely leveraged his position and his relationships with state employees to arrange a lease with the attorney general’s office.
Oregon – Lawmakers Nix Proposal to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years After Backlash
MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/27/2025
State lawmakers did not advance a bill this year that would have delayed the imposition of campaign contribution limits in Oregon for four years. The effort died after good government advocates said the proposed delay was an attempt by lawmakers to avoid restricting the massive flow of money into politics. Oregon is one of just five states without such limits. Secretary of State Tobias Read said he was “deeply disappointed” that lawmakers finished this year’s session without making any substantial refinements to last year’s law.
Oregon – Longtime Oregon Legislator Faces Ethics Investigation Over Pay Raise
Portland Oregonian – Les Zaitz (Salem Reporter) | Published: 6/28/2025
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission ordered an investigation into whether state Rep. Greg Smith illegally used his position as a public agency executive to raise his own pay. Investigators also were directed to examine whether Smith failed to disclose a conflict-of-interest in the process, a violation of state ethics laws.
South Dakota – Kristi Noem Secretly Took a Cut of Political Donations
MSN – Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan, and Alex Mierjeski (ProPublica) | Published: 6/30/2025
While Kristi Noem was governor of South Dakota, she accepted a portion of the money she raised for a nonprofit that promotes her political career. In what experts described as a highly unusual arrangement, the nonprofit routed funds to a personal company of Noem’s that had been established in Delaware. Since the group is not required to disclose the names of its donors, the original source of the money remains unknown. She did not include the income on her financial disclosure form, which experts called a likely violation of federal ethics requirements.
Tennessee – Tennessee Campaign Finance Agency Seeks Probe of Secret PAC
Yahoo News – Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) | Published: 6/23/2025
The Registry of Election Finance requested an investigation into a former state staffer’s secret PAC to determine whether it involved criminal activity. The registry formally asked the Williamson County district attorney’s office to reactivate a 2020 request for a probe of Cade Cothren, a former aide to one-time House Speaker Glen Casada, and the Faith Family Freedom Fund PAC. Registry Chairperson Tom Lawless has said the investigation should commence now that a trial of Casada and Cothren is complete.
MSN – Lauren McGaughy (Texas Newsroom) | Published: 7/3/2025
Elon Musk’s team of Texas lobbyists during the 2025 legislative session did not rival those of huge energy and telecommunications companies, which typically employ dozens of people to represent them. But Musk and his companies still hired more lobbyists this year than any other since 2021. His lobbyists spent money on things like gifts and meals for elected officials and others during the session. In most cases, the state’s transparency laws do not require lobbyists to disclose which politicians they entertained or on behalf of which clients. Ethics experts said the responsibility to improve transparency lies with Texas lawmakers.
Vermont – Gov. Phil Scott Signs New Campaign Finance Rules, Other Election Changes into Law
VTDigger.com – Shaun Robinson | Published: 6/27/2025
Gov. Phil Scott signed a package of changes to Vermont’s election procedures into law, among them an expansion of who must file campaign finance disclosure forms and a restriction on candidates running in a general election who have lost a preceding primary election. A provision in the new law is meant to clarify that certain campaign finance rules apply to individuals who raise and spend money on behalf of a candidate, but who are not directly affiliated with that candidate.
Virginia – State’s First-Ever Audit of Campaign Finance Report Leaves Many Questions Unanswered
Cardinal News – David Poole | Published: 7/2/2025
Virginia’s inaugural audit of campaign finance reports raises almost as many questions about state oversight than it does in answering how accurately a group of seven randomly selected candidates listed their contributions and expenses. In a report to the General Assembly, the Department of Elections suggested changes to the audit law, providing more time to complete future reviewing and updating the agency’s computer systems.
Washington – Foes of WA Initiative to Repeal Climate Law Fined $20K for Campaign Finance Violations
Yahoo News – Jerry Cornfield (Washington Standard) | Published: 6/26/2025
A political committee that helped defeat last year’s ballot measure to repeal a Washington climate law was fined $20,000 for not disclosing how it spent $1 million until after the election. The Public Disclosure Commission levied the civil penalty on Green Jobs PAC, which admitted to the violation and two other breaches of state campaign finance laws as part of an agreed upon settlement.
July 3, 2025 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Florida: “DeSantis Vetoes Bill Aimed at Limiting Corruption in Office” by Lawrence Mower (Tampa Bay Times) for Yahoo News Michigan: “New Ballot Committee Aims to Get More Corporate, Utility Money Out of Michigan Politics” by Arpan Lobo for […]
Campaign Finance
Florida: “DeSantis Vetoes Bill Aimed at Limiting Corruption in Office” by Lawrence Mower (Tampa Bay Times) for Yahoo News
Michigan: “New Ballot Committee Aims to Get More Corporate, Utility Money Out of Michigan Politics” by Arpan Lobo for Detroit Free Press
Virginia: “State’s First-Ever Audit of Campaign Finance Report Leaves Many Questions Unanswered” by David Poole for Cardinal News
Elections
North Carolina: “NC Republicans Unveil Sweeping Elections Bill. Could It ‘Purge’ Nonpartisan Staff?” by Kyle Ingram (Raleigh News and Observer) for Yahoo News
Ethics
California: “Ex-Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet Gets Probation, No Jail Time for Taking Bribes” by Christopher Damien (Palm Springs Desert Sun) for Yahoo News
National: “How Trump’s Media War Brought Paramount to Its Knees” by Sarah Ellison and Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) for MSN
North Dakota: “North Dakota Ethics Commission Makes First Finding of Violations by Public Official” by Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News
Legislative Issues
National: “Carveouts for Alaska and Tax Breaks for Whalers: How Lisa Murkowski got to yes on Trump’s agenda bill” by Eric Bradner, Sarah Ferris, Lauren Fox, and Annie Grayer (CNN) for MSN
July 2, 2025 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Kansas: “Judge Allows Kansas Law Barring Foreign Contributions to Constitutional Amendment Campaigns” by Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) for Yahoo News Massachusetts: “MCAS Ballot Question Supporters Pay $4K Penalty to Resolve Late Reporting Accusations” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston […]
Campaign Finance
Kansas: “Judge Allows Kansas Law Barring Foreign Contributions to Constitutional Amendment Campaigns” by Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) for Yahoo News
Massachusetts: “MCAS Ballot Question Supporters Pay $4K Penalty to Resolve Late Reporting Accusations” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) for MSN
Elections
Iowa: “Trump Drops Federal Lawsuit Against Iowa Pollster, Refiles in State Court” by Brianna Tucker and Frances Vinall (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Appeals Court Seems Likely to Back Trump’s Deportations Under Wartime Law” by Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “DOGE Has the Keys to Sensitive Data That Could Help Elon Musk” by Desmond Butler, Jonathan O’Connell, Hannah Natanson, and Aaron Gregg (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Judge Finds Trump Executive Order Punishing Susman Godfrey Unconstitutional” by Melissa Quinn (CBS News) for MSN
Illinois: “Cook County Tax Board Commissioner, Staff Face Multiple Fines from Ethics Board” by A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News
Lobbying
California: “Irvine City Council Re-Adopts Lobbying Rules to Settle Lawsuit” by Angela Hicks for Voice of OC
July 1, 2025 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “US Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Campaign Spending Curbs in JD Vance Case” by John Kruzel (Reuters) for MSN Vermont: “Gov. Phil Scott Signs New Campaign Finance Rules, Other Election Changes into Law” by Shaun Robinson […]
Campaign Finance
National: “US Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Campaign Spending Curbs in JD Vance Case” by John Kruzel (Reuters) for MSN
Vermont: “Gov. Phil Scott Signs New Campaign Finance Rules, Other Election Changes into Law” by Shaun Robinson for VTDigger.com
Elections
National: “GOP Sen. Thom Tillis Won’t Seek Reelection After Opposing Trump Tax Bill” by Theodoric Meyer, Liz Goodwin, Mariana Alfaro, and Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
National: “The First Rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down” by Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) for MSN
New Mexico: “Joseph Shepard Sued by the New Mexico State Ethics Commission” by Joshua Bowling (Searchlight New Mexico) for Yahoo News
Oregon: “Longtime Oregon Legislator Faces Ethics Investigation Over Pay Raise” by Les Zaitz (Salem Reporter) for Portland Oregonian
South Dakota: “Kristi Noem Secretly Took a Cut of Political Donations” by Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan, and Alex Mierjeski (ProPublica) for MSN
Lobbying
Illinois: “Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ‘Pending’ Springfield Lobbyist Team Draws Ethics Questions” by Alice Yin, Jeremy Gorner, and A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News
June 30, 2025 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Oregon: “Lawmakers Nix Proposal to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years After Backlash” by Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) for MSN Washington: “Foes of WA Initiative to Repeal Climate Law Fined $20K for Campaign Finance Violations” by Jerry Cornfield […]
Campaign Finance
Oregon: “Lawmakers Nix Proposal to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years After Backlash” by Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) for MSN
Washington: “Foes of WA Initiative to Repeal Climate Law Fined $20K for Campaign Finance Violations” by Jerry Cornfield (Washington Standard) for Yahoo News
Elections
Washington DC: “As Indicted Ex-D.C. Lawmaker Seeks Election, Opponents Urge Voters to Move On” by Meagan Flynn and Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) for MSN
Maine: “Why Maine Lawmakers Pulled Back on Ranked Choice Voting Expansion” by Randy Billings for Portland Press Herald
Ethics
National: “Pardon Applications Are Being Carefully Crafted with One Man in Mind: Donald Trump” by Jim Mustain (Associated Press) for MSN
National: “Supreme Court Limits Nationwide Injunctions, but Fate of Trump Birthright Citizenship Order Unclear” by Mark Sherman (Associated Press) for MSN
New York: “Ex-Trump Lawyer Chesebro Disbarred Over Fake Elector Scheme” by Dave Thomas for Reuters
Redistricting
Louisiana: “Supreme Court to Rehear Case Over Louisiana’s Second Majority-Black District” by Justin Jouvenal and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN
June 27, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – June 27, 2025

National/Federal The D.N.C. Is in Chaos and Desperate for Cash DNyuz – Shane Goldmacher and Reid Epstein (New York Times) | Published: 6/18/2025 Just months into the tenure of a new party leader, Ken Martin, the Democratic National Committee’s financial […]
National/Federal
The D.N.C. Is in Chaos and Desperate for Cash
DNyuz – Shane Goldmacher and Reid Epstein (New York Times) | Published: 6/18/2025
Just months into the tenure of a new party leader, Ken Martin, the Democratic National Committee’s financial situation has grown so bleak that top officials have discussed whether they might need to borrow money this year to keep paying the bills. Fundraising from major donors has slowed sharply. At the same time, he has expanded the party’s financial commitments to every state, and even to far-flung territories like Guam. Some Democrats say he has been unable to help unite his party against Republicans, who control the federal government.
Little Lobbyists’ Urge Senators to Oppose Trump’s Bill Cutting Medicaid
DNyuz – Megan Mineiro and Margot Sanger-Katz (New York Times) | Published: 6/19/2025
The Little Lobbyists formed in 2017 during Donald Trump’s first term to push back against Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, taking to Capitol Hill to demand that lawmakers oppose the move. Their successful campaign to save the law was part of a broader backlash against the proposal, which was driven in large part by major health care lobbies. This year, the bigger lobbying players have been more muted about the sprawling Republican policy measure, which Democrats decry as an abomination. But the little ones are out in force.
Justice Dept. Leader Suggested Violating Court Orders, Whistle-Blower Says
DNyuz – Devlin Barrett (New York Times) | Published: 6/24/2025
A senior Justice Department official, Emil Bove III, told subordinates he was willing to ignore court orders to fulfill President Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign, according to a whistle-blower complaint by a department lawyer who has since been fired. In Erez Reuveni’s telling, Bove discussed disregarding court orders and other top law enforcement officials showed themselves ready to stonewall judges or lie to them to get their way.
Trump’s Name Could Adorn Tel Aviv Hotel, Becoming a Symbol or a Target
DNyuz – Debra Kamin, Ben Protess, and Steve Eder (New York Times) | Published: 6/25/2025
Iran’s counterstrikes in retaliation for Israel’s assault on its nuclear program, littered Tel Aviv’s Sarona neighborhood with smoke and ballistic debris. Eric Trump, who runs the Trump Organization, has discussed a potential partnership with the owners of the Sarona district hotel now under construction. The possible deal would likely allow the Trumps to manage the hotel once it opens and affix their name to the city’s skyline. If a deal in Israel came to fruition, and a Trump hotel eventually towered above a war zone, the president’s foreign policy could alter not only the fate of the region but also his own finances.
Trump Won by Turning Out Voters and Building a Diverse Coalition, Report Finds
DNyuz – Ruth Igielnik and Shane Goldmacher (New York Times) | Published: 6/26/2025
One of the most robust studies of the 2024 election shows Donald Trump’s return to the White House was powered more heavily by his ability to turn out past supporters than by winning over Democratic voters, even as he built one of the most diverse coalitions in Republican Party history. The new report from Pew Research Center offers some of the most detailed analysis yet of what happened last fall, in particular how infrequent voters broke for Trump over former Vice President Kamala Harris.
DHS Tightens Protocol for Lawmaker Visits to Immigration Facilities
MSN – Chris Johnson (Roll Call) | Published: 6/18/2025
The Department of Homeland Security placed new limits on members of Congress seeking to visit and inspect immigration detention facilities as lawmakers from New York and the Chicago delegations become the latest to encounter resistance from federal officials on an attempted tour. The department issued new guidance that includes several changes to the protocol on facility visits that appears to give Immigration and Customs Enforcement the ability to limit or prevent visits, including the power to end a visit if the protocol is not followed.
Trump Cites Presidential Immunity to Try to Toss Out $83M Judgment He Owes to E. Jean Carroll
MSN – Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 6/24/2025
Donald Trump is waging his latest courtroom bid to avoid paying the $83.3 million judgment he owes the writer E. Jean Carroll for defamatory remarks he made about her after she accused him of rape. A lawyer for the president told a panel of appeals court judges the judgment should be tossed out because Trump should have been deemed immune from Carroll’s lawsuit. His argument hinges on the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision that granted Trump broad immunity in one of his criminal cases.
Jan. 6 Rioter Ordered to Pay $500K to Widow of Officer Who Killed Himself
MSN – Victoria Bisset (Washington Post) | Published: 6/24/2025
A federal jury ordered a January 6 rioter to pay $500,000 in damages for assaulting a police officer who died by suicide nine days later. The jury awarded the damages to Erin Smith, the widow of District of Columbia police officer Jeffrey Smith, in her civil lawsuit against David Walls-Kaufman. The jury also ordered Walls-Kaufman to pay a further $60,000 to Smith’s estate for his pain and suffering.
Trump Administration Is Preparing to Challenge Budget Law, U.S. Officials Say
MSN – Jeff Stein, Hannah Natanson, Carolyn Johnson, and Dan Diamond (Washington Post) | Published: 6/25/2025
The Trump administration is preparing to test a 1974 budget law by refusing to spend congressionally mandated funds, senior federal officials say, an escalation that could change the balance of power between Congress and the White House. Key White House aides have long argued the law is an unconstitutional limit on presidential power and suggested they will seek court rulings to overturn it, which could allow the White House to determine which spending to carry out.
Supreme Court Allows Trump to Remove Migrants to South Sudan and Other Turmoil-Filled Countries
MSN – Angélica Franganillo Díaz and John Fritze (CNN) | Published: 6/23/2025
The Supreme Court granted President Trump’s emergency request to resume deporting migrants to countries other than their homeland, including places like South Sudan, with minimal notice. The Trump administration had argued a lower court usurped its authority by ordering the Department of Homeland Security to provide written notice to the migrants about where they would be sent as well as an opportunity to challenge that deportation on the grounds they feared being tortured.
Trump Undermines Watergate Laws in Massive Shift of Ethics System
MSN – Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) | Published: 6/21/2025
President Trump is taking aim at post-Watergate reforms on transparency, spending, conflicts-of-interest, and more. This broad rejection of the laws underlines the country’s shift from an era focused on clean government and strict ethics to the rise of a president whose appeal stems in part from his willingness to violate such rules and constraints. Many of Trump’s moves face legal challenges, and they may be reversed by the courts, or the U.S. Supreme Court could enshrine them.
Judge Says Government ‘Failed’ to Prove Wrongly Deported Man Poses a Danger
MSN – Maria Sacchetti and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 6/22/2025
A federal judge ruled Kilmar Abrego García, a Maryland resident wrongly deported to El Salvador, is eligible for release from criminal custody, saying the government’s allegations that he is a flight risk or a danger to the community are based on problematic testimony and scenarios that “defy common sense.” Abrego García faces charges that he participated in a migrant smuggling ring for nearly a decade.
From the States and Municipalities
California – Newsom Gave His Political Rival a $380k Job. Special Interests Helped Foot the Bill
CalMatters – Alexei Koseff and Byrhonda Lyons | Published: 6/17/2025
Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to lead a state infrastructure project paid for by an outside nonprofit, California Forward. The group relied on fundraising from special interests to cover the costs, but did not have to disclose the identity of those donors because of how the arrangement was structured. Elected officials in California can solicit contributions to outside entities for a governmental or charitable purpose. Newsom had to disclose he asked California Forward to pay Villaraigosa. But that disclosure requirement did not extend to the nonprofit.
California – How a Billboard Company Melded Its Interests with Oakland’s in the New City Budget
MSN – Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) | Published: 6/24/2025
Ahead of the deadline to pass a new two-year city budget, Oakland leaders were desperate to find sources of revenue to patch the city’s $265 million deficit. The city council’s budget-balancing maneuvers included an unusual tactic. The council assumed a proposed deal between the city and a billboard company would pass, delivering millions of dollars in new revenue. What was unusual about this budget decision was that the billboard deal had yet to be voted on by the full council. By baking it into the budget, the council tied its own hands, virtually forcing itself to sign off on the deal when it came before them a week later.
California – Trump Can Keep National Guard in Los Angeles for Now, Appeals Court Rules
MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 6/20/2025
A federal appeals court panel said President Trump can keep the California National Guard in Los Angeles for now, delivering a win for the president as he aims to use the military to police protests against his deportation efforts. The panel disagreed with the federal government’s stance that Trump’s authority to deploy the National Guard could not be scrutinized by the courts. But the judges rejected California’s legal argument that a federal statute clearly requires a governor to be consulted before the deployment.
District of Columbia – D.C. Elected These Noncitizens to Office. Congress Could Oust Them.
MSN – Olivia George and Meagan Flynn (Washington Post) | Published: 6/24/2025
The U.S. House recently voted to repeal a District of Columbia law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. This, in turn, will prohibit noncitizens from holding local office, like the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, because being registered as a voter is required to run. It marked the third time in as many years that the House has voted to repeal the noncitizens voting law. Dozens of Democrats joined Republicans each time bipartisan interest in the city’s affairs that has become more common in recent years, particularly on hot-button political issues.
Florida – A Judge Sided with Trump. Behind the Scenes, He Was lobbying for a Nomination.
Yahoo News – Hailey Fuchs (Politico) | Published: 6/20/2025
A state judge in Florida, Ed Artau, met with staff in the office of U.S. Sen. Rick Scott to angle for a nomination to the federal bench less than two weeks after Donald Trump’s election last fall. In the midst of his interviews, Artau was part of a panel of judges that ruled in Trump’s favor in the president’s case against members of the Pulitzer Prize Board. About two weeks after the court published his opinion, he interviewed with the White House Counsel’s Office. In May, Trump announced Artau’s nomination to the federal judiciary.
Hawaii – Hawai’i Senator Didn’t Disclose Possible Conflict of Interest Before Voting
Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 6/22/2025
Māmaki tea, made from a plant endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, is so valued by state legislators that they near unanimously passed a bill this past session to ensure its viability as a Hawaii-grown cash crop. But a powerful state senator appears to have violated Senate rules for voting in favor of House Bill 496, which seeks to protect māmaki tea by requiring that only packages containing 100 percent of māmaki grown in Hawaii are allowed to use the word “māmaki.”
Louisiana – Louisiana Files Lawsuits Alleging Pharmaceutical Giant CVS Deceived Customers in Text Messages
MSN – Jack Brook (Associated Press) | Published: 6/25/2025
Louisiana filed several lawsuits accusing CVS of abusing customer information and using its dominant market position to drive up drug costs and unfairly undermine independent pharmacies. Attorney General Liz Murrill began investigating CVS after the company sent out mass text messages to thousands of residents to lobby against legislation that took aim at its business structure. The texts warned that medication costs could go up and all CVS pharmacies in the state would close.
Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Will Broadcast Public Meetings Following Lawmakers’ Complaints
Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 6/24/2025
The Louisiana Board of Ethics will be required to broadcast its monthly public meetings starting in January under a new state law. Recordings of the meetings will be stored for at least two years in an online archive reached through the board’s website. Legislators have been frustrated with the ethics board’s decisions over the past year, and part of the motivation for broadcasting its meetings is to allow more scrutiny over its deliberations.
Maryland – Trump DOJ Sues All Federal Judges in Maryland Over Deportation Order
MSN – Salvador Rizzo and Katie Mettler (Washington Post) | Published: 6/25/2025
The Justice Department sued all 15 federal District Court judges in Maryland over an order that pauses any deportations under legal challenge in the state for 48 hours. Legal experts described the move as an unprecedented attack on judicial independence, while government lawyers said it was necessary to preserve President Trump’s constitutional authority over immigration.
Maryland – Pittman’s Rise to Democratic Party Chair Will Be Delayed by Campaign Finances
Yahoo News – Brian Sears (Maryland Matters) | Published: 6/20/2025
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, who is the new head of the Maryland Democratic Party, cannot immediately assume his full duties, and the possibility of an extended delay leaves open the potential the party might have to elect another leader before the end of summer. A snag involving state campaign finance law, and Pittman’s inability to immediately close the account that funded his county executive races, will bar him from fully assuming the role for now.
Massachusetts – GOP’s Mike Kennealy Has Loaned His Campaign Double the Amount Allowed Under State Law
MSN – Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) | Published: 6/25/2025
Mike Kennealy, who is running for Massachusetts governor, has loaned his campaign double the amount allowed under state law since launching his bid, a move that could set up future legal action if he or his family ever decides to recoup the money. Kennealy’s decision to loan his campaign $400,000 and plan to loan another $1.6 million ahead of the 2026 election comes after campaign finance regulators dismissed his request to reconsider the limit on the amount candidates can loan themselves each election cycle.
Michigan – Michigan Lawmakers’ Personal Disclosures Often Leave Out Key Details
ArcaMax – Craig Mauger (Detroit News) | Published: 6/23/2025
Despite vows of transparency, annual financial disclosures filed recently by Michigan lawmakers provided an incomplete picture of the perks they receive from lobbyists. Officeholders were supposed to list gifts, including tickets and meals, they received from lobbyists in the prior year and trips they went on that were financed by lobbyists. Most lawmakers either reported receiving nothing from lobbyists or merely listed the names of firms or interest groups that provided some benefit, while not revealing the price tag or specifics.
Michigan – Benson: State working around the clock to fix campaign finance reporting system
Yahoo News – Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) | Published: 6/20/2025
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson detailed solutions her department was crafting after a disastrous launch of the $9 million Michigan Information Transparency Network project, which replaced its aging, but heavily used and mostly user-friendly campaign finance reporting system. The rollout of the new system caused delays in reporting, and the overall functionality of the website was bothersome for many users, including reporters, watchdogs, and nonprofit groups who rely on access to campaign finance information to better track how politicians spend campaign money and who gives it to them.
Minnesota – Gun Rights, Anti-Abortion Groups Challenge Minnesota Lobbying Disclosure Rules
MSN – Allison Kite (Minneapolis Star Tribune) | Published: 6/24/2025
Minnesota Right to Life and Minnesota Gun Rights filed a lawsuit challenging state laws that require organizations to disclose spending meant to urge individuals to influence lawmakers, arguing the grassroots lobbying requirements violate the First Amendment. The rules require that when an organization or individual spends more than $2,000 on paid advertising to rally public support and influence lawmakers, it must disclose the spending and any specific subjects addressed by the advertising.
Montana Free Press – Zeke Lloyd | Published: 6/18/2025
A coalition of former public officeholders is pushing to end corporate money in Montana politics via a proposed constitutional initiative they aim to put on the ballot in 2026. The Transparent Election Initiative, a nonprofit founded by Jeff Mangan, a former state commissioner of political practices, is pushing a constitutional initiative that would change new and existing corporate charters in the state to explicitly prevent corporations from donating to campaigns.
Nevada – Ethics Commission Fines State Official for Accepting Golden Knights Tickets, Perks
MSN – Mary Hynes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 6/18/2025
The Nevada ethics commission determined the head of the state’s energy office, Dwayne McClinton, committed a willful violation of ethics statutes by accepting free Vegas Golden Knights tickets and other perks while negotiating a potential sponsorship deal with the National Hockey League franchise. The agreement includes a $1,000 penalty, an admonishment, and a requirement for McClinton and office staff to receive ethics training.
Nevada – Nevada Supreme Court Rules in Lombardo’s Favor Over Ethics Commission Dispute
Nevada Current – Eric Neugeboren | Published: 6/19/2025
The Nevada Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Gov. Joe Lombardo’s effort to dismiss sanctions imposed by the state’s ethics commission, sending the case back to a lower court. It is the latest development in the yearslong saga related to Lombardo’s use of his Clark County sheriff’s uniform and badge while running for governor in 2022. The high court’s ruling does not absolve Lombardo of wrongdoing, but it opens the door for a dismissal of the case down the line.
New Jersey – A Bizarre N.J. Corruption Case Ends with a Plea Over Kickbacks, Fraud and Plagiarism
MSN – Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 6/26/2025
Five years after former New Jersey Assemblyperson Willis Edwards III was indicted in a wide-ranging corruption scheme in 2020, the one-time business administrator of the city of Orange abruptly entered into a plea deal to admit guilt to five of the 31 counts against him. Edwards acknowledged approving a fake “management oversight” contract with a company he helped set up and receiving thousands of dollars in kickbacks from the deal. He also pleaded guilty to charges of mortgage and tax fraud. And, strangely enough, he admitted using public funds to pay a consultant to write his dissertation for a graduate program at Seton Hall University.
New York – A New Political Star Emerges Out of a Fractured Democratic Party
DNyuz – Liam Stack (New York Times) | Published: 6/25/2025
The national Democratic establishment struggled to absorb the startling ascent of a democratic socialist in New York City. Voters turned away from a well-funded familiar face, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and in doing so made a generational and ideological break with the party’s mainstream. They turned to a 33-year-old, three-term state Assembly member, Zohran Mamdani. That Mamdani had such success while running on a far-left agenda, including positions that once were politically risky in New York, may challenge the boundaries of party orthodoxy and unnerve national Democratic leaders.
New York – Former Aide to Hochul and Cuomo Faces Fresh Corruption Charges
DNyuz – Santul Nerkar (New York Times) | Published: 6/26/2025
More legal troubles have been piled on Linda Sun, a former aide to two New York governors who has been accused of using her position to help the Chinese government. Sun and her husband face new charges they helped steer lucrative contracts to Chinese companies to sell masks and ventilators to New York’s government at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. They received millions of dollars from those companies for helping secure the contracts and then failed to report the money as taxable income, according to federal prosecutors.
North Carolina – North Carolina Redistricting Trial Begins, with Racial Gerrymandering Allegations the Focus
MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 6/16/2025
North Carolina congressional and state legislative districts drawn by Republicans that helped them retain majorities in Raleigh and Washington are in court, as federal lawsuits accuse mapmakers of illegally eroding Black voting power in the process. Republican leaders counter that lawfully partisan, and not racial, considerations helped inform their decision-making.
Oregon – Good Government Advocates Blast Lawmakers for Moving to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years
MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/25/2025
Oregon lawmakers proposed delaying the establishment of campaign contribution limits by four years amid concern the state would not be ready to enact them by their planned 2027 start date. At the end of last year’s legislative session, lawmakers promised to return this year and make technical fixes to the law before it was scheduled to take effect. But with only days left until the current session ends, they have yet to follow through with that pledge. Oregon is one of just five states without campaign donation limits.
Pennsylvania – GOP Leaders Accused of Pressuring Lobbyists to Drop Gaming Client in ‘Ugly’ Pa. Budget Fight
Spotlight PA – Amanda Berg | Published: 6/24/2025
An all-out political war is erupting at the Capitol between the most powerful Republican lawmakers and a deep-pocketed company that has reshaped the gaming landscape in Pennsylvania. The conflict escalated suddenly and bitterly over the past week, with skill games developer and distributor Pace-O-Matic now accusing the state Senate’s top two GOP leaders of intimidating its lobbyists at the Legislature.
Rhode Island – R.I. Elections Board OKs $140K Contract for Long-Awaited Campaign Finance Software Upgrade
Yahoo News – Nancy Lavin (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 6/18/2025
Rhode Island’s antiquated campaign finance software system is poised for a refresh under a $140,000, one-year contract approved by the Board of Elections. The unanimous vote sets in motion the long-awaited upgrade to the electronic system used to report and share information about campaign donations and spending. Rhode Island’s campaign finance software has not been updated since its 2002 debut.
Tennessee – Nashville Council Members Sue State Over Law Criminalizing a Vote for Sanctuary Policies
Chattanooga Times Free Press – Connor Daryani (Nashville Banner) | Published: 6/25/2025
Seven Metro Nashville Council members are suing over a Tennessee law that imposes felony charges, including terms of up to six years in prison, on local elected officials who vote in favor of immigration policies deemed to be “sanctuary policies.” No other state has ever passed a law criminalizing elected officials for their vote. The suit argues that due to the vagueness of the law, it could criminalize anyone from council members to office staff to clerks to constituents who lobby their representatives to pass sanctuary policies.
Virginia – Virginia Slashes Voter Data Costs Ahead of 2025 Elections
Virginia Mercury – Markus Schmidt | Published: 6/25/2025
In a sweeping move aimed at promoting transparency and leveling the playing field in election access, the Virginia Department of Elections announced it will reduce the cost of purchasing voter lists by 90 percent starting in July. The change dramatically lowers the price of essential voter data – including lists of registered voters, new registrants, and past voters – for candidates, political parties, and PACs legally entitled to access them under state law.
Wisconsin – Wisconsin Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Challenges to the State’s Congressional District Boundaries
MSN – Scott Bauer (Associated Press) | Published: 6/25/2025
The Wisconsin Supreme Court refused to hear challenges brought by Democrats seeking to throw out the battleground state’s current congressional district boundaries before the 2026 midterms. Democrats asked the court to redraw the maps, which would have put two of the state’s six congressional seats currently held by Republicans into play. It was the second time in as many years that the court had refused to hear the challenges.
Wisconsin – Wisconsin Supreme Court Sides with Republican Legislature in Fight with Governor
MSN – Scott Bauer (Associated Press) | Published: 6/26/2025
A unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court handed a victory to the Republican-controlled Legislature in a power struggle with Gov. Tony Evers, reining in the governor’s expansive veto powers. The court struck down Evers’ partial veto of a bill in a case that tested both the limits of his veto powers and lawmakers’ ability to exert influence by controlling funding. The ruling against Evers comes after the court earlier this year upheld Evers’ partial veto that locked in a school funding increase for 400 years.
June 26, 2025 •
Oklahoma Launch Of Guardian 2.0 Reporting System Delayed

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has delayed the launch of Guardian 2.0, the state’s next-generation online campaign finance and lobbyist reporting system. The original launch date has been pushed from July 1 to early September. The timeline shift allows for final […]
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has delayed the launch of Guardian 2.0, the state’s next-generation online campaign finance and lobbyist reporting system. The original launch date has been pushed from July 1 to early September. The timeline shift allows for final data conversion and system readiness following a six-month development effort. The current Guardian system will remain fully operational through August.
Monitor your registration thresholds by state, by referring to our easy to navigate online guidebooks. Request a web tour to learn more.
June 26, 2025 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Massachusetts: “GOP’s Mike Kennealy Has Loaned His Campaign Double the Amount Allowed Under State Law” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) for MSN Oregon: “Good Government Advocates Blast Lawmakers for Moving to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years” […]
Campaign Finance
Massachusetts: “GOP’s Mike Kennealy Has Loaned His Campaign Double the Amount Allowed Under State Law” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) for MSN
Oregon: “Good Government Advocates Blast Lawmakers for Moving to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years” by Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Trump’s Name Could Adorn Tel Aviv Hotel, Becoming a Symbol or a Target” by Debra Kamin, Ben Protess, and Steve Eder (New York Times) for DNyuz
Louisiana: “Louisiana Ethics Board Will Broadcast Public Meetings Following Lawmakers’ Complaints” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News
Legislative Issues
National: “Trump Administration Is Preparing to Challenge Budget Law, U.S. Officials Say” by Jeff Stein, Hannah Natanson, Carolyn Johnson, and Dan Diamond (Washington Post) for MSN
Tennessee: “Nashville Council Members Sue State Over Law Criminalizing a Vote for Sanctuary Policies” by Connor Daryani (Nashville Banner) for Chattanooga Times Free Press
Lobbying
California: “How a Billboard Company Melded Its Interests with Oakland’s in the New City Budget” by Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) for MSN
Louisiana: “Louisiana Files Lawsuits Alleging Pharmaceutical Giant CVS Deceived Customers in Text Messages” by Jack Brook (Associated Press) for MSN
Minnesota: “Gun Rights, Anti-Abortion Groups Challenge Minnesota Lobbying Disclosure Rules” by Allison Kite (Minneapolis Star Tribune) for MSN
June 25, 2025 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Michigan: “Benson: State working around the clock to fix campaign finance reporting system” by Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) for Yahoo News Elections Washington DC: “D.C. Elected These Noncitizens to Office. Congress Could Oust Them.” by Olivia George and […]
Campaign Finance
Michigan: “Benson: State working around the clock to fix campaign finance reporting system” by Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) for Yahoo News
Elections
Washington DC: “D.C. Elected These Noncitizens to Office. Congress Could Oust Them.” by Olivia George and Meagan Flynn (Washington Post) for MSN
New York: “Mamdani Poised for Major Upset After Cuomo Concedes NYC Mayor Primary. Here’s What’s Next.” by Sarah Ellison and Marie-Rose Sheinerman (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Supreme Court Allows Trump to Remove Migrants to South Sudan and Other Turmoil-Filled Countries” by Angélica Franganillo Díaz and John Fritze (CNN) for MSN
National: “Justice Dept. Leader Suggested Violating Court Orders, Whistle-Blower Says” by Devlin Barrett (New York Times) for DNyuz
National: “Jan. 6 Rioter Ordered to Pay $500K to Widow of Officer Who Killed Himself” by Victoria Bisset (Washington Post) for MSN
Texas: “New Texas Law Mandates Ten Commandments in Public Schools. Next Stop, the Courts.” by Sophie Hills for Christian Science Monitor
Lobbying
Pennsylvania: “GOP Leaders Accused of Pressuring Lobbyists to Drop Gaming Client in ‘Ugly’ Pa. Budget Fight” by Amanda Berg for Spotlight PA
June 24, 2025 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Maryland: “Pittman’s Rise to Democratic Party Chair Will Be Delayed by Campaign Finances” by Brian Sears (Maryland Matters) for Yahoo News Tennessee: “Tennessee Campaign Finance Agency Seeks Probe of Secret PAC” by Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) for Yahoo […]
Campaign Finance
Maryland: “Pittman’s Rise to Democratic Party Chair Will Be Delayed by Campaign Finances” by Brian Sears (Maryland Matters) for Yahoo News
Tennessee: “Tennessee Campaign Finance Agency Seeks Probe of Secret PAC” by Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) for Yahoo News
Ethics
National: “Trump Undermines Watergate Laws in Massive Shift of Ethics System” by Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Judge Says Government ‘Failed’ to Prove Wrongly Deported Man Poses a Danger” by Maria Sacchetti and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN
Hawaii: “Hawai’i Senator Didn’t Disclose Possible Conflict of Interest Before Voting” by Chad Blair for Honolulu Civil Beat
Nevada: “Ethics Commission Fines State Official for Accepting Golden Knights Tickets, Perks” by Mary Hynes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) for MSN
Lobbying
National: “Little Lobbyists’ Urge Senators to Oppose Trump’s Bill Cutting Medicaid” by Megan Mineiro and Margot Sanger-Katz (New York Times) for DNyuz
Michigan: “Michigan Lawmakers’ Personal Disclosures Often Leave Out Key Details” by Craig Mauger (Detroit News) for ArcaMax
June 23, 2025 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Montana: “Former Public Officeholders Propose Constitutional Initiative to Take Corporate Money Out of Politics” by Zeke Lloyd for Montana Free Press Rhode Island: “R.I. Elections Board OKs $140K Contract for Long-Awaited Campaign Finance Software Upgrade” by Nancy Lavin (Rhode Island Current) […]
Campaign Finance
Montana: “Former Public Officeholders Propose Constitutional Initiative to Take Corporate Money Out of Politics” by Zeke Lloyd for Montana Free Press
Rhode Island: “R.I. Elections Board OKs $140K Contract for Long-Awaited Campaign Finance Software Upgrade” by Nancy Lavin (Rhode Island Current) for Yahoo News
Elections
National: “The D.N.C. Is in Chaos and Desperate for Cash” by Shane Goldmacher and Reid Epstein (New York Times) for DNyuz
Ethics
California: “Trump Can Keep National Guard in Los Angeles for Now, Appeals Court Rules” by Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN
Florida: “A Judge Sided with Trump. Behind the Scenes, He Was Lobbying for a Nomination.” by Hailey Fuchs (Politico) for Yahoo News
National: “DHS Tightens Protocol for Lawmaker Visits to Immigration Facilities” by Chris Johnson (Roll Call) for MSN
Nevada: “Nevada Supreme Court Rules in Lombardo’s Favor Over Ethics Commission Dispute” by Eric Neugeboren for Nevada Current
Redistricting
North Carolina: “North Carolina Redistricting Trial Begins, with Racial Gerrymandering Allegations the Focus” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for MSN
June 20, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – June 20, 2025

National/Federal Close Trump Allies Sponsored the Military Parade, Raising Ethical Concerns DNyuz – Minho Kim (New York Times) | Published: 6/15/2025 The military parade in Washington celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army was sponsored by at least four […]
National/Federal
Close Trump Allies Sponsored the Military Parade, Raising Ethical Concerns
DNyuz – Minho Kim (New York Times) | Published: 6/15/2025
The military parade in Washington celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army was sponsored by at least four brands that have strong financial and political ties to President Trump, raising questions about whether the event benefited his allies and supporters. Federal regulations prohibit the use of public office for the private gain of officeholders or their friends, relatives or nongovernmental affiliates, said Richard Painter, who served as the chief ethics lawyer in the White House Counsel’s Office under President George W. Bush.
Watchdog Finds Trump Administration Broke Law by Withholding Library Funds
DNyuz – Tony Romm (New York Times) | Published: 6/16/2025
The Trump administration broke the law when it withheld funding for the nation’s libraries, a nonpartisan government watchdog said, a finding that inches the White House another step closer to a legal showdown over its powers to reconfigure the country’s spending. The decision by the Government Accountability Office was the second time that oversight officials have found fault in the ways President Trump and his top aides have tried to circumvent lawmakers in their quest to reshape the federal budget so that it conforms with their political views.
After Minnesota Shooting, Some States Are More Tightly Guarding Officials’ Personal Information
MSN – Jaimie Ding (Associated Press) | Published: 6/16/2025
Lawmakers in some states are moving to delete their home addresses from online directories and Wisconsin legislators are seeking added security for a session after one Minnesota legislator was killed and another wounded in their homes in what Gov. Tim Walz described as a targeted political attack. Even before the shooting, states in recent years have stepped up efforts to shield the personal information of officials in response to high-profile attacks.
Experts Warn FEC Is a Watchdog Lacking ‘Bark or Bite’ with No Quorum
MSN – Jared Gans (The Hill) | Published: 6/16/2025
Experts are sounding alarms over the status of the FEC, which has not been able to perform much of its work. Former Commissioner Allen Dickerson’s departure from the body at the conclusion of his term gave the normally six-person FEC its third vacancy. A loss of quorum now prevents the FEC from carrying out many of its responsibilities. Dickerson said much of the focus is on the agency’s enforcement docket, but he expressed more concern about its current inability to engage on rulemaking and requests for advisory opinions to assist the public.
‘No Kings’ Rallies Draw Big Crowds to Protest Trump and His Policies
MSN – Annie Gowan (Washington Post) | Published: 6/14/2025
Americans turned out en masse in communities across the country on June 14, raucously pushing back on what they see as President Trump’s widening authoritarianism, attacks on immigrants, and deep cuts to scores of federal programs. The scenes were a stark contrast to the one planned hours later in the nation’s capital, where Trump would preside over a grandiose display of military tanks and soldiers as part of a celebration of the Army’s 250th birthday on a day that also happened to be his 79th birthday. “No Kings” participants compared the parade in Washington to something more commonly seen in autocratic countries.
Senator Confronts Colleague for ‘Terrible’ Post on Minnesota Shooting
MSN – Theodoric Meyer (Washington Post) | Published: 6/16/2025
Less than 72 hours after the killing of a state representative, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota sat in the Senate chamber, waiting for one of her colleagues. In a social media post, Sen. Mike Lee appeared to blame the fatal shooting of Smith’s friend, Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman, on the political left. “It was a terrible thing to do,” Smith said. “And I wanted him to know how I felt about it, how devastating it was to see.”
Federal Employees Celebrate Their Oscar Night Under a Shadow
MSN – Maryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 6/18/2025
The Partnership for Public Service’s annual award ceremony – the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, nicknamed the Sammies – had an air of polite defiance this year, honoring problem-solvers in government at a time when the Trump administration has gone after the bureaucracy and ridiculed federal workers. What in past years has been a cheerful celebration was haunted by fears of job reductions and heightened political influence on the federal workforce.
‘Trump Inc.’: Filings show staff profited from being in the president’s orbit
Seattle Times – Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 6/16/2025
President Trump first came to Washington as an outsider who had campaigned against the entrenched political class. But new financial disclosure filings highlight the expansion of a political cottage industry that revolves around him, one that has been quite lucrative for some of his closest aides. The filings, which are mandatory, detail the finances of dozens of officials in the two years before they joined Trump’s administration.
‘My Duty Is to Call It Out’: Judge accuses Trump administration of discrimination against minorities
Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney and Danny Nguyen (Politico) | Published: 6/16/2025
A federal judge accused the Trump administration of “appalling” and “palpably clear” discrimination against racial minorities and LGBTQ+ Americans. U.S. District Court Judge William Young’s sweeping rebuke during a court hearing was a reference to two executive orders signed by President Trump that led the National Institutes of Health to rescind funding for research related to racial minorities and LGBTQ+ people.
Judge Blocks Trump’s Election Executive Order, Siding with Democrats Who Called It Overreach
Yahoo News – Christina Cassidy (Associated Press) | Published: 6/13/2025
A federal judge blocked President Trump’s attempt to overhaul elections in the U.S., siding with a group of Democratic state attorneys general who challenged the effort as unconstitutional. Trump’s executive order sought to compel officials to require documentary proof of citizenship for everyone registering to vote for federal elections, accept only mailed ballots received by Election Day, and condition federal election grant funding on states adhering to the new ballot deadline.
From the States and Municipalities
Alabama – Bills to Change Alabama’s Campaign Finance Laws Fail in Legislature
Alabama Reflector – Ralph Chapoco | Published: 6/18/2025
Two bills that would have altered the state’s campaign finance laws on political parties and donations died in the Alabama Legislature this year. House Bill 6 would have prohibited political parties from disqualifying candidates who accept campaign contributions from specific organizations. Senate Bill 291 would have allowed a political party to transfer funds to local or other affiliated party organizations currently prohibited by law.
California – Press Club Sues Los Angeles, Police Chief Over Alleged Attacks on Journalists
MSN – Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 6/16/2025
The Los Angeles Press Club sued the city of Los Angeles and its police chief, Jim McDonnell, over alleged police violence toward journalists covering the ongoing protests of immigration raids in the city. Law enforcement officers at the protests have routinely shot less-lethal ammunition at demonstrators, in some cases hitting and injuring members of the press. Adam Rose of the Press Club compiled a spreadsheet of more than 50 alleged incidents of potential police violations of journalists’ rights, covering the protests starting on June 6.
Florida – Miami Doubles Down on Proposal to Delay Election, Teeing Up Battle with the State
MSN – Tess Riski (Miami Herald) | Published: 6/13/2025
Miami officials are moving forward with a controversial proposal that would push the November election back to 2026 and give the city’s current elected officials an extra year in office, defying a written opinion from the state attorney general and a public rebuke from Gov. Ron DeSantis, both of whom say the change requires voter approval. Miami City Attorney George Wysong authored an opinion stating the city commission has the authority to move the election, rather than the change going to voters in a ballot referendum.
WTTW – Matt Masterson | Published: 6/13/2025
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was sentenced to seven-and-one-half years in prison and fined $2.5 million after being convicted on bribery and other corruption charges. U.S. District Court Judge John Blakey found Madigan acted as the “central command post” of a bribery scheme involving Commonwealth Edison and repeatedly perjured himself while testifying at trial. Madigan was also convicted for his efforts to secure a valuable state board position for disgraced former Chicago Ald. Danny Solis.
Illinois – Ald. Jim Gardiner Won’t Have to Pay $20K Fine After He Is Cleared of Violating Ethics Ordinance
WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 6/16/2025
Chicago Ald. Jim Gardiner will not have to pay a $20,000 fine after a hearing officer found he did not violate ethics law by directing a city employee to issue “unfounded citations” that could have forced a political foe to pay more than $600 in fines. Gardiner had been accused of targeting Pete Czosnyka, who has frequently criticized the alderperson, both on social media and by filing complaints with the city’s inspector general and the Board of Ethics.
Louisiana – Louisiana AG Investigating CVS for Sending Mass Text Messages Lobbying Against Legislation
MSN – Sara Cline and Jack Brook (Associated Press) | Published: 6/12/2025
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is investigating whether CVS improperly used customers’ personal information to send out text messages lobbying against a proposed state law that would have prohibited companies from owning both pharmacy benefit managers and drug stores. Murrill also said she plans to issue a cease-and-desist letter to stop the messages. The company’s text messages to Louisiana residents included a link to a draft letter urging lawmakers to oppose the legislation that someone could sign with their email address and send to legislators.
Maryland – A State Senator Aided a Disgraced Developer’s ‘Affordable’ East Baltimore Project
Baltimore Banner – Giacomo Bologna and Lee Sanderlin | Published: 6/15/2025
A developer with a checkered past had a vision for a narrow plot of land in East Baltimore. Ronald Lipscomb and his business partner wanted to build an apartment tower near the Johns Hopkins Hospital on a parcel that was owned by a quasi-governmental agency. There were three problems, though: the land was appraised at $5.25 million, Lipscomb needed money, and the community had questions. That is when an influential state senator, Cory McCray, stepped in and helped with all of it.
Massachusetts – A Push for More Transparency on Ballot Question Spending, Fundraising
CommonWealth Beacon – Gintautas Dumcius | Published: 6/11/2025
For an eight-month period last year during the heat of the campaign – from January to September – ballot question committees were not required to report their fundraising and spending activity to the state campaign finance office, which makes public such filings on its website. The disclosure rules in Massachusetts are far stricter for candidates for statewide office, legislative seats, and other posts, who must file monthly reports during the same period.
Michigan – Tech Flaws, Weak Rules Mar Michigan System to Shine Light on Lawmaker Conflicts
Bridge Michigan – Simon Schuster | Published: 6/17/2025
Michigan’s beleaguered transparency portal stuttered again as lawmakers struggled to file their second-ever personal financial disclosure reports even after extending their own deadline to do so. Many of the reports state officials filed were difficult to access and decipher, undermining the public’s ability to understand potential conflicts-of-interest they sought to spotlight by approving a 2022 ballot measure.
Michigan – GOP Fundraiser Pleads Guilty in Unlock Michigan ‘Dark Money Scheme’
Bridge Michigan – Jordyn Hermani | Published: 6/17/2025
Republican fundraiser Sandra Baxter pled guilty to knowingly providing false information to state investigators during a probe into an alleged “dark money scheme.” In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Unlock Michigan launched a petition drive aimed at repealing the law that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer leaned on to issue emergency stay-at-home orders. The names of individuals who donate to a ballot question must be made public in Michigan. But it was alleged in a complaint that Unlock Michigan was circumventing this requirement by receiving money through a nonprofit tied to then-Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey.
Minnesota – Suspect in Minnesota Shootings in Custody After Wide Manhunt
MSN – Patrick Marley and Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 6/15/2025
Vance Boelter, the man suspected of shooting two Democratic lawmakers and their spouses in their homes in what officials describe as politically motivated attacks, was arrested and charged after authorities scoured the rural area around where he had a home after a manhunt involving more than 100 officers. The search began after a gunman opened fire on state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife before driving to the home of state Rep. Melissa Hortman, the former speaker of the Minnesota House. Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed, while Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, survived and remain hospitalized in serious condition.
New Mexico – Ethics Commission Sues Group for More Information About Lobbyist Advertising
New Mexico In Depth – Marjorie Childress | Published: 6/18/2025
The New Mexico Ethics Commission filed a lawsuit against a nonprofit for allegedly violating the state’s lobbying law. The dispute demonstrates how the law requires varying amounts of disclosure depending on which reports groups are required to file. Should the commission win in court, Safety over Profit will have to disclose not only how much it spent, but who paid for an advertising campaign it conducted in 2024. The commission also asked a judge to impose $5,000 in penalties against the group.
New York – NY Candidates Broke Spending Records in First Year of State-Funded Matching Program
Albany Times Union – Emilie Munson | Published: 6/15/2025
Legislative candidates in New York spent more money last year than in any election in the past 25 years except one, in part due to a new program that poured millions of taxpayer dollars into state Senate and Assembly campaigns. Under the new state program, candidates in certain races collected small contributions from donors in their districts to unlock an infusion of state matching funds for their campaigns. The program’s stated intention was to shift power away from wealthy donors. The program has had an unintended consequence – has helped make legislative campaigns more expensive.
New York – Ex-New York Assembly Candidate Charged with Campaign Finance Fraud
DNyuz – Santul Nerkar, Jay Root, and Bianca Pallaro (New York Times) | Published: 6/13/2025
A former New York Assembly candidate used fake donations and forged signatures to fraudulently inflate the share of public matching funds he received in last year’s election, federal prosecutors said. Dao Yin was charged with wire fraud in a federal criminal complaint. Prosecutors said Yin abused the system by using a scheme that The New York Times found yielded him $162,000 in matching funds.
New York – NYC Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander Arrested at Immigration Court
MSN – Cedar Attanasio (Associated Press) | Published: 6/17/2025
New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by federal agents at an immigration court after he linked arms with a person that authorities were attempting to detain. Lander was released from custody after a few hours. The U.S. attorney’s office said it was investigating his actions and would decide later whether to charge him with a crime. The immigrant Lander escorted out of the courtroom was also arrested.
Ohio – Ex-FirstEnergy Officials Finally Breaking Silence on Ohio’s Biggest Bribery Scandal
MSN – Jeremy Pelzer and Laura Hancock (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 6/13/2025
Several former FirstEnergy executives and lobbyists are set to testify under immunity before state regulators over the next few weeks about the House Bill 6 bribery scandal and their involvement in it. Dennis Chack, FirstEnergy’s former senior vice president of branding and marketing, was the first to take the stand during a Public Utilities Commission of Ohio hearing.
Ohio – Ohio House, Senate Budgets Eliminate Agency Tasked with Campaign Finance Oversight
Ohio Capital Journal – Nick Evans | Published: 6/17/2025
The Ohio Senate approved a two-year spending plan that eliminates the Ohio Elections Commission. Negotiators from the House and Senate still have a vast array of differences to hammer out, but both chambers advanced proposals that axed the state campaign finance watchdog. Several lawmakers have bristled at the pace and demands of Elections Commission hearings. They argue the agency takes too long reach a decision, and hearings held in Columbus demand too much of their time.
Oklahoma – Oklahoma Ethics Commission Approves Prosecuting State Representative for Campaign Finance Misuse
KOSU – Thomas Pablo | Published: 6/13/2025
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission will prosecute state Rep. Ajay Pittman for failure to pay the penalties she owed after agreeing to a settlement agreement for campaign expenditure violations in 2024. Pittman agreed to repay $35,000 out of her personal finances last May. This reportedly represented full compensation for Pittman’s alleged use of campaign funds for personal expenditures.
Oregon – Oregon Ethics Commission Triples Fine for Former OLCC Chief in Liquor Diversion Scandal
MSN – Maddie Khaw (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/13/2025
The state ethics commission voted to increase the fine against former Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission Director Steve Marks from $500 to $1,500 after he reserved a bottle of a popular bourbon for himself. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission had previously rejected the lower penalty for Marks after it determined he had set aside and purchased a bottle of expensive 23-year Pappy Van Winkle for personal use from the liquor agency’s reserve stock, violating three ethics rules.
Oregon – Oregon Ethics Commission Votes to Launch Investigation into Former Sewer CEO’s Food, Travel Spending
MSN – Jamie Goldberg (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/13/2025
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted to further investigate whether questionable spending on local meals and travel by the former head of Washington County’s sewer agency violated state ethics law. The vote came after the commission opened a preliminary review into former Clean Water Services Chief Executive Officer Diane Taniguchi-Dennis in March following a media investigation that uncovered lavish travel spending and sky-high food expenses at the sewer agency. A noteworthy amount of that spending was by Taniguchi-Dennis.
South Carolina – SC Representative Charged with Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material
Yahoo News – Skylar Laird (South Carolina Daily Gazette) | Published: 6/13/2025
South Carolina Rep. RJ May will remain in jail without bond on charges of distributing child sexual abuse material. He was suspended without pay from the House pending the case’s outcome. State law requires an officeholder indicted on a felony to be suspended. May faces up to 20 years in prison, with a minimum of five years, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 if found guilty.
Virginia – Jay Jones Projected to Win Va. Democratic Nomination for Attorney General
MSN – Gregory Schneider and Laura Vozzella (Washington Post) | Published: 6/17/2025
Jerrauld Jones won the Democratic nomination for Virginia attorney general while the party’s choice for lieutenant governor was too close to call, according to election results projected by the Associated Press. The winners will join gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger in pivotal fall elections that will be watched as an off-year referendum on President Trump and on Virginia’s own ambitious Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who is term-limited out of office.
June 19, 2025 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Alabama: “Bills to Change Alabama’s Campaign Finance Laws Fail in Legislature” by Ralph Chapoco for Alabama Reflector Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Ethics Commission Approves Prosecuting State Representative for Campaign Finance Misuse” by Thomas Pablo for KOSU Elections Virginia: “Jay Jones […]
Campaign Finance
Alabama: “Bills to Change Alabama’s Campaign Finance Laws Fail in Legislature” by Ralph Chapoco for Alabama Reflector
Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Ethics Commission Approves Prosecuting State Representative for Campaign Finance Misuse” by Thomas Pablo for KOSU
Elections
Virginia: “Jay Jones Projected to Win Va. Democratic Nomination for Attorney General” by Gregory Schneider and Laura Vozzella (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
National: “‘My Duty Is to Call It Out’: Judge accuses Trump administration of discrimination against minorities” by Kyle Cheney and Danny Nguyen (Politico) for Yahoo News
National: “Federal Employees Celebrate Their Oscar Night Under a Shadow” by Maryl Kornfield (Washington Post) for MSN
Michigan: “Tech Flaws, Weak Rules Mar Michigan System to Shine Light on Lawmaker Conflicts” by Simon Schuster for Bridge Michigan
National: “After Minnesota Shooting, Some States Are More Tightly Guarding Officials’ Personal Information” by Jaimie Ding (Associated Press) for MSN
New York: “NYC Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander Arrested at Immigration Court” by Cedar Attanasio (Associated Press) for MSN
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.