Ethics

National: “K Street Boosts Earnings Heading into Trump’s Third Year” by Alex Gangitano for The Hill

Pennsylvania: “Ex-PennDOT Exec Gets House Arrest for Soliciting and Accepting Bribes” by Sarah Cassi for lehighvalleylive.com

Utah: “Former Utah League of Cities and Towns Chief Charged with 7 Felonies for Theft, Misuse of Funds” by Lee Davidson for Salt Lake Tribune

Lobbying

National: “Indicted Russian Firm Cries Foul Over Skadden Arps Settlement” by Tim Ryan for Courthouse News Service

Canada: “Senate Lobbying Up 12 Percent in 2018, Sens. Grant Mitchell, Terry Mercer Lobbied Most” by Samantha Wright Allen for Hill Times

California: “Former California Lawmaker Registers as a Lobbyist After #MeToo Investigation” by Sophia Bollag for Sacramento Bee

Connecticut: “$97 Million of Influence: Lobbyists are fixtures at the Capitol, pushing their message amid rules on gifts, perks, receptions” by Josh Kovner for Hartford Courant

Florida: “Lawsuit Seeks to Nullify Beckham Stadium Resolution” by Brian Bandell for South Florida Business Journal

South Carolina: “After Ethics Snafu, SC Lawmakers Move to Change How They Accept Gifts from Public” by Avery Wilks for The State

South Dakota: “Lobbyist Files Suit Against South Dakota House Speaker” by Jonathan Ellis for Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Redistricting

Virginia: “Federal Judges Choose Va. Redistricting Map Favorable to Democrats; Six GOP House Districts Would Get Bluer” by Gregory Schneider for Washington Post

A Chicago-based real estate firm is challenging Illinois pay-to-play law in federal court as unconstitutional after losing a contract when its founder made contributions to gubernatorial candidates.

Plaintiffs, The Habitat Company and its founder Daniel Levin, lost a one-year management contract for a mixed-income building after Chief Procurement Officer Ellen Daley of the Illinois Procurement Office notified the firm that Levin’s campaign contributions to gubernatorial candidates in 2018 violated the state procurement code.

In Illinois, pay-to-play law prohibits government contractors or affiliated persons from making any contribution to a political committee established to promote the candidacy of the officeholder responsible for awarding the contracts.

The complaint alleges constitutional violations of Levin’s First Amendment rights of speech and association and Fourteenth Amendment rights of equal protection and due process of law.

Plaintiffs seek a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to void Daley’s decision and prevent the Illinois Housing Development Authority from entering into a property management contract with another company.

Three lobbying bills have been introduced in New Mexico.

House Bill 131 would require a post-session lobbying report due after the Legislature adjourns.

House Bill 140 would require periodic reports with estimated upcoming lobbying expenses for the year as well as actual previous expenses incurred.

Senate Bill 191 amends the current expenditure reporting threshold to include individual expenditures of less than $100 by lobbyists or the employer.

The Los Angeles Ethics Commission announced it will be taking another look at a proposal to ban certain developer contributions to elected officials and candidates after Los Angeles City Council members revived the idea.

Six council-members reintroduced the new motion last week, with Council President Herb Wesson seconding it.

The motion prohibits developers from making political contributions to city elected officials or candidates from the date of application for the property is filed until 12 months following the final resolution of the application.

The Ethics Commission also announced it could include restrictions on nonindividual entity contributors and payments made by third parties at the behest of elected officials.

Campaign Finance

National: GOP Reaches Landmark Agreement to Juice Small-Dollar Fundraising by Alex Isenstadt for Politico

District of Columbia: D.C. ‘Pay-to-Play’ Ban Closer to Becoming Law after Mayor Declines Veto by Peter Jamison for Washington Post

Illinois: Contractor Challenges Illinois Campaign Finance Law by Lorraine Bailey for Courthouse News

Ethics

National: BuzzFeed’s Stumble Is Highest-Profile Misstep at a Time When Press Is Under Greatest Scrutiny by Paul Farhi (Washington Post) for Danbury News Times

Arkansas: Arkansas Ethics Commission Pushed to ‘Breaking Point’ After Receiving Record Citizen Complaints, Director Says by Michael Wickline for Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Vermont: Ethics Commission Wants Investigatory Authority by Mark Johnson for VTDigger.org

Lobbying

Arizona: Bill Aims to Reduce the Amount Lobbyists Must Report Spending on Lawmakers by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy for Arizona Mirror

New York: Upheaval in State Legislature Creates Opportunities for Lobbyists by David Lombardo for Albany Times Union

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed several campaign finance and ethics changes in his executive budget.

These recommendations include creating a code of conduct for lobbyists and campaign finance reform.

The lobbyist’s code of conduct would include lowering the registration threshold, require reporting of campaign contributions, increase the revolving door provision from two to five years, along with additional disclosures and penalties.

Cuomo also called for banning corporate contributions, as well as lowering individual contributions to statewide and General Assembly candidates.

He also urged the Legislature to pass a revision that closes the Limited Liability Company loophole and prevents LLCs from contributing more than $5,000 annually.

Campaign Finance

California: “With FBI Probe Looming, L.A. City Council Members Revive Plan to Limit Developer Donations” by Emily Alpert Reyes and David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times

New Jersey: “NJ Lawmakers Look to Close ‘Dark Money’ Disclosure Loopholes as Top Democrats Face Flak” by Nicholas Pugliese for Bergen Record

Ethics

National: “President Trump Directed His Attorney Michael Cohen to Lie to Congress About the Moscow Tower Project” by Jason Leopold and Anthony Cormier for BuzzFeed News

National: “GOP Rep. Jason Smith Apologizes for Telling Democrats to ‘Go Back to Puerto Rico’” by Jennifer Scholtes, Caitlin Emma, and Sarah Ferris for Politico

National: “Former VA Secretary Violated Ethics Rules by Allowing Employee to Drive His Wife Around” by Donovan Slack for USA Today

North Carolina: “Judge: GOP can’t block liberal group’s Twitter comments” by Todd Richmond (Associated Press) for Charlotte Observer

Lobbying

National: “Law Firm to Pay $4.6 Million in Case Tied to Manafort and Ukraine” by Kenneth Vogel and Mathew Goldstein for New York Times

South Dakota: “Kerfuffle from Article on Lobbyist’s Access to House Floor” by the Staff for KELO.com

Got a minute?! We’re back with News You Can Use Video Digest and here are 4 stories from the past week you don’t want to miss!

Federal:

At Trump’s Inauguration, $10,000 for Makeup and Lots of Room Service
MSN – Maggie Haberman, Sharon LaFraniere, and Benn Protess (New York Times) | Published: 1/14/2019

President Trump’s inaugural committee spent roughly $100 million for an abundance of expenses, including more than $1.5 million at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. The expansive spending reflected Trump’s desire to make a grand entrance, with roughly 20 events around Washington. Disclosure of the spending details comes at a time when the inaugural committee is facing legal scrutiny over the donations that funded it. There is no indication of any investigation into the inaugural committee’s spending. For the most part, inaugural committees are free to spend the money they raise from private donations as they wish. But millions of dollars for Trump’s inauguration were written off in lost revenue.

New Members, Meet the ‘Slush Fund’
Roll Call – Stephanie Aikin | Published: 1/14/2019

More than two dozen new members of the U.S. House and Senate, many of whom campaigned against corruption and corporate money in politics, have established so-called leadership PACs. They are fundraising committees that allow lawmakers to collect money for their colleagues and candidates. The vast majority of members have one, and many say they can be helpful tools to support other politicians and the issues they care about. But the PACs are not subject to the same restrictions on personal spending as individual campaign committees, leading to numerous examples of alleged misuse. Critics say they also allow politicians to evade campaign contribution limits and obscure donations from corporations and other powerful groups.

T-Mobile Execs Seeking Trump Approval for Deal Stayed Repeatedly at His D.C. Hotel
Chicago Tribune – Jonathan O’Connell and David Fahrenthold (Washington Post) | Published: 1/16/2019

Top executives from T-Mobile booked reservations at Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. one day after it was announced that T-Mobile’s merger with Sprint would require the administration’s approval. T-Mobile executives stayed at the hotel for at least 38 nights during 2018. The Washington Post obtained about a dozen 2018 VIP Arrivals lists which are provided to hotel staff when foreign officials, executives, and Trump family friends are customers at the hotel. Countries, interest groups, and companies like T-Mobile – whose future will be shaped by the administration’s choices – are free to stop at both and pay the president’s company while also meeting with officials in his government. Such visits raise questions about whether patronizing Trump’s private business is viewed as a way to influence public policy.

From the States and Municipalities:

California: Downtown L.A. Development Is a Focus of FBI Corruption Probe
Los Angeles Times – Emily Alpert Reyes and David Zahniser | Published: 1/14/2019

The rapid transformation of downtown Los Angeles’ skyline is being fueled in good measure by huge investments from Chinese companies eager to burnish their global brands and capitalize on the city’s real estate boom. Now, some of those projects have become a focus of federal agents seeking evidence of possible bribery, extortion, money laundering, and other crimes as part of a corruption investigation at City Hall. Federal investigators have cast a wide net for information about foreign investment in Los Angeles real estate development, according to a search warrant that names an array of political and business figures. The investigation became public in November, when FBI agents raided the home and offices and offices of city Councilperson Jose Huizar.

Colorado: Judge: State ethics panel has no jurisdiction over many Colorado cities
Colorado Politics – Marianne Goodland | Published: 1/10/2019

A judge said the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission (IEC) no longer has jurisdiction over the ethics rules of home-rule cities such as Denver and Colorado Springs. Part of Amendment 41, the voter-approved ethics law, deals with ethics codes set up by home-rule cities and counties. It says Amendment 41 does not apply to “home rule cities or counties that have adopted charters, ordinance or resolutions that address the matters covered” under the amendment. Shortly after the passage of Amendment 41, the city of Glendale adopted its own code of ethics. But the IEC, in deciding it had jurisdiction over Glendale, decided the city’s code did not contain every provision laid out in Amendment 41.

Kentucky: How Much Is Spent Lobbying Kentucky’s Executive Branch? This Bill Demands an Answer.
Lexington Herald-Leader – Jack Brammer | Published: 1/15/2019

Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers introduced legislation to give the public more information about those lobbying the state’s executive branch. Businesses often spend more than $20 million-a-year lobbying Kentucky lawmakers, but no similar number is counted for executive branch lobbyists, who are far more numerous. Under Senate Bill 6, executive branch lobbyists would have to file with the Executive Branch Ethics Commission their payment and could not work for any type of contingency fee.

Montana: U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Take Up Montana Campaign Finance Case
Montana Standard; Associated Press –   | Published: 1/14/2019

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case challenging Montana’s campaign contribution limits, likely ending a legal challenge that has lasted more than seven years. Opponents of the caps, which are among the lowest in the country, said they are unconstitutional under the First Amendment and prevent candidates from waging effective campaigns. In declining to take up the case, the high court upheld the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling that the limits are a reasonable way to prevent corruption and still allow candidates to raise enough money. Since the lawsuit was filed, a federal judge has ruled twice that those limits are unconstitutional, only to be reversed upon appeal.

New York: Legislature Passes Sweeping Electoral Reforms
Albany Times Union – Rachel Silberstein | Published: 1/14/2019

New York lawmakers passed several bills that would allow early voting, preregistration of minors, voting by mail, and limits on the influence of money in elections. The reforms make state primary elections the same day as federal primary elections. One bill amends the law to hold limited liability companies (LLCs) to the same aggregate contribution limit of $5,000 that applies to corporations. The legislation includes a constitutional amendment that requires the disclosure of the identity and proportion of ownership of all direct and indirect owners of the membership interests in the LLC and may go into effect as soon as 2021.

Ohio: Columbus Council Appoints Shayla Favor, Approves Campaign Finance Reforms
WOSU – Gabe Rosenberg | Published: 1/15/2019

The Columbus City Council approved the city’s first ever campaign finance reforms. The measures set requirements for disclosing the sources of campaign advertisements and include a tax credit for small donations. But the most-discussed part of the reforms are the campaign contribution limits: $12,707.79 per year. The limit is higher than any other city in Ohio. Because the provision applies annually rather than by campaign period, city officials could raise more money than state officeholders serving for the same amount of time. It applies to all municipal candidates including mayor, council member, auditor, and city attorney. The contribution limits will take effect in time for this year’s elections.

Oklahoma: Stitt Inauguration Donors May Not Be Revealed Until Summer
Oklahoma Watch – Trevor Brown | Published: 1/10/2019

Hundreds of donors and supporters will welcome Kevin Stitt as Oklahoma’s new governor during four days of events. The pre-inaugural events are a lavish and at times controversial tradition shared by newly elected presidents and governors across the country. The events will be entirely funded by private money from Stitt’s backers or those looking to gain good will with the administration. If past inaugurations are a guide, Stitt will likely raise more than $1 million from wealthy individuals, companies, and special-interest groups that are allowed to contribute without limits. But those donors can be kept secret for up to six months, until well after this year’s legislative session is over.

South Carolina: SC Ethics Advocate Creates Ethics Dilemma by Gifting Corruption Book to Lawmakers
The State – Avery Wilkes | Published: 1/10/2019

Lobbyist John Crangle, a longtime ethics reform advocate, gave the South Carolina House and Senate more than 180 copies of his book on a corruption scandal to remind legislators of “Operation Lost Trust,” the 1990 investigation that found widespread vote-selling in the General Assembly and led to criminal charges against 18 lawmakers. The books were delivered to individual lawmakers as they returned to Columbia to begin the legislative session. House Ethics Committee Chairperson Murrell Smith said staffers contacted Crangle and the publisher to verify the book was worth less than the $25 and, thus, would not need to be reported as a gift. State Rep. Kirkman Finlay said Crangle’s gift highlights the awkward spot that legislators regularly find themselves in when a gift reaches their door.

Texas: Texas Republicans Rally Behind Muslim Official as Some Try to Oust Him Over Religion
MSN – Adeel Hassan (New York Times) | Published: 1/10/2019

Shahid Shafi will retain his role as vice-chairperson of the Tarrant County Republican Party despite a push to remove him from his post because he is Muslim. Those who were in favor of Shafi’s removal said he is unequipped to be vice-chair because he does not represent all Tarrant County Republicans due to his religion. They have also said Islamic ideologies run counter to the U.S. Constitution, an assertion many Texas GOP officials have called bigoted.

Vermont: A White Nationalist’s Harassment Helped Force a Black Female Lawmaker to Resign. He Won’t Face Charges.
MSN – Meagan Flynn (Washington Post) | Published: 1/15/2019

Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan said he will not file charges in the reported racial harassment of former state Rep. Kiah Morris, though he believes Morris and her family were victims. Donovan said he would not pursue a criminal case because the First Amendment protects free speech. Morris was the only black female lawmaker in the Legislature and she won the Democratic nomination this summer but withdrew, citing racially motivated threats and online harassment. The messages Max Misch, a self-described white nationalist, sent to Morris over a two-year period disrupted her life to the point that she sought, and was granted, a protective order against him. To Misch, the incidents were little more than a joke. “I like trolling people – it’s fun,” Misch said.

Washington: Split Court: Local initiatives subject to disclosure rule
KOMO – Gene Johnson (Associated Press) | Published: 1/10/2019

The Washington Supreme Court ruled the state attorney general’s office can pursue a campaign finance disclosure case against the conservative Evergreen Freedom Foundation. The majority rejected the group’s assertion that the disclosure requirements did not apply to local initiatives before they are placed on the ballot. State law explicitly says that after a measure has been submitted to an elections official, donations to that campaign must be reported. That applies to statewide initiative measures, which must be reviewed by the secretary of state’s office before proponents can gather signatures. But for some local initiatives, supporters do not turn them in until after they have collected signatures.

Campaign Finance

South Carolina: “Former Myrtle Beach Chamber Chairman Admits to Ethics Violations, Fined Thousands” by David Weissman for Myrtle Beach Sun News

Elections

National: “New Court Filing Indicates Prosecutors Have Extensive Details on Manafort Actions Not Yet Made Public” by Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Judge Orders Trump Administration to Remove 2020 Census Citizenship Question” by Hansi Lo Wang for National Public Radio

National: “T-Mobile Executives Stayed at Trump Hotel Often While Seeking Approval on Megadeal” by Jonathan O’Connell and David Fahrenthold (Washington Post) for Seattle Times

National: “House Conflict-of-Interest Rules Still Not Up to Snuff, Ethics Experts Lament” by Griffin Connolly for Roll Call

Georgia: “Ga. Senate Makes It Harder, Riskier to File Ethics, Harassment Complaints” by Johnny Kauffman for WABE

Vermont: “A White Nationalist’s Harassment Helped Force a Black Female Lawmaker to Resign. He Won’t Face Charges.” by Meagan Flynn (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

Kentucky: “How Much Is Spent Lobbying Kentucky’s Executive Branch? This Bill Demands an Answer.” by Jack Brammer for Lexington Herald-Leader

Campaign Finance

National: “New Members, Meet the ‘Slush Fund’” by Stephanie Aikin for Roll Call

National: “At Trump’s Inauguration, $10,000 for Makeup and Lots of Room Service” by Maggie Haberman, Sharon LaFraniere, and Benn Protess (New York Times) for MSN

Montana: “U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Take Up Montana Campaign Finance Case” by Holly Michels for Helena Independent Record

New York: “Legislature Passes Sweeping Electoral Reforms” by Rachel Silberstein for Albany Times Union

Ohio: “Columbus Council Appoints Shayla Favor, Approves Campaign Finance Reforms” by Gabe Rosenberg for WOSU

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Ethics Commission Bans Leadership PACs” by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman

Ethics

National: “Steve King Stripped of Committee Seats – with More Punishment Coming” by Heather Caygle, Sarah Ferris, and John Bresnahan for Politico

Colorado: “Colorado Ethics Commission Narrows Complaint Against John Hickenlooper” by Nic Garcia for Denver Post

Oregon: “Oregon Senate President’s Longtime Aide Resigns Over Harassment Allegations” by Hillary Borrud for Portland Oregonian

Campaign Finance

California: “Downtown L.A. Development Is a Focus of FBI Corruption Probe” by Emily Alpert Reyes and David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times

Oklahoma: “Stitt Inauguration Donors May Not Be Revealed Until Summer” by Trevor Brown for Oklahoma Watch

Ethics

National: “Trump Has Concealed Details of His Face-to-Face Encounters with Putin from Senior Officials in Administration” by Greg Miller (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

National: “F.B.I. Opened Inquiry into Whether Trump Was Secretly Working on Behalf of Russia” by Adam Goldman, Michael Schmidt, and Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) for MSN

Arkansas: “Former Arkansas Senator Charged with Conspiracy in Bribery Scheme” by Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) for Hot Springs Sentinel

Illinois: “Mayor Rahm Emanuel Unveils Ethics Plan Following Ald. Edward Burke’s Criminal Charge” by John Byrne for Chicago Tribune

New Mexico: “Former Governor Will Relinquish Squash Blossom Necklace” by Thom Cole for Santa Fe New Mexican

Lobbying

National: “Ex-Lawmakers ‘Scrambling and Looking’ for Lobbying Gigs” by Theodoric Meyer for Politico

Campaign Finance

Washington: “Split Court: Local initiatives subject to disclosure rule” by Gene Johnson (Associated Press) for KOMO

Ethics

National:”Prosecutors Examining Ukrainians Who Flocked to Trump Inaugural” by Kenneth Vogel, Scott Shane, Mark Mazzetti, and Iuliia Mendel (New York Times) for MSN

National: “Tom Udall to Introduce Senate Campaign Finance, Voting Rights and Ethics Reform Bill” by Richard Blumenthal for Huffington Post

National: “Michael Cohen Agrees to Testify to Congress About Work for Trump” by Maggie Haberman and Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) for MSN

Colorado: “Judge: State ethics panel has no jurisdiction over many Colorado cities” by Marianne Goodland for Colorado Politics

Kentucky: “He Bribed Andy Beshear’s Top Deputy. Now He’s Headed to Prison for Nearly 3 Years.” by Bill Estep for Lexington Herald-Leader

South Carolina: “SC Ethics Advocate Creates Ethics Dilemma by Gifting Corruption Book to Lawmakers” by Avery Wilkes for The State

Legislative Issues

Texas: “Texas Republicans Rally Behind Muslim Official as Some Try to Oust Him Over Religion” by Adeel Hassan (New York Times) for MSN

Federal:

Feds’ GoFundMe Campaigns Open a ‘Minefield’ of Ethical Questions During Shutdown
Federal News Network – Nicole Ogrysko | Published: 1/8/2019

The Office of Government Ethics said employees on unpaid furlough due to the government shutdown remain covered by federal ethics policies. Many of those on furlough are exploring taking outside jobs or applying for unemployment benefits. Some are soliciting donations on “GoFundMe” pages to ease the financial uncertainty of likely missed paychecks. But existing rules open a “minefield” of questions about how the employees can ask for contributions during shutdown furloughs, if at all, said Virginia Canter, an attorney for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Typically, federal employees cannot accept gifts from “prohibited sources,” or organizations that do business with the employee’s agency. With that in mind, federal employees soliciting shutdown donations would need to ensure the source of every contribution.

How a Little-Known Democratic Firm Cashed in On the Wave of Midterm Money
Washington Post – Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Anu Narayanswamy | Published: 1/8/2019

Mothership Strategies, a little-known and relatively new digital consulting firm, collected tens of millions of dollars from a tide of small donations that flowed to Democrats during the 2018 midterm elections. The firm’s rapid ascendancy as one of the highest-paid vendors of the election since its launch speaks to how lucrative the explosion of small-dollar contributions has been for a group of political consultants who saw the wave of cash coming and built a business model to capitalize. But Mothership Strategies’ rise also has sparked consternation in Democratic circles because of its aggressive and sometimes misleading tactics. Some call its approach unethical, saying the company profits off stoking fear of Donald Trump and making the sort of exaggerated claims they associate with the president.

Manafort Intended for Polling Data to Go to 2 Ukrainian Oligarchs, a Source Says
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Katelyn Polantz and Evan Perez (CNN) | Published: 1/9/2019

Serhiy Lyovochkin and Rinat Akhmetov, two Ukrainian oligarchs who had paid Paul Manafort for years for his political work in their country, were the intended recipients of American polling data that Manafort shared with Konstantin Kilimnik during the 2016 presidential campaign, a person familiar with the matter said. Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team has been circling Lyovochkin and Akhmetov’s dealings with Manafort, as they were both generous backers of Manafort’s Ukrainian lobbying work. Manafort spokesperson Jason Maloni confirmed Manafort expected to receive the $2.4 million in income from his Ukrainian political backers, including Lyovochkin and Akhmetov. But the money was meant to reimburse old debts that predated the Trump campaign, spokesman Maloni added, and it was not a quid pro quo for the polling data.

Supreme Court to Hear Cases on Partisan Gerrymandering in Maryland, N. Carolina
Salt Lake Tribune – Robert Barnes (Washington Post) | Published: 1/4/2019

The U.S. Supreme Court once again will take up unresolved constitutional questions about partisan gerrymandering, agreeing to consider rulings from two lower courts that found congressional maps in North Carolina and Maryland so extreme they violated the rights of voters. The North Carolina map was drawn by Republicans, the Maryland districts by the state’s dominant Democrats. The Supreme Court has never found a state’s redistricting map so infected with politics that it violates the Constitution. It passed up the chance last term to settle the issue of whether courts have a role in policing partisan gerrymandering, sending back on technical rulings challenges to a Republican-drawn plan in Wisconsin, and the challenged Maryland map. But there will be a new set of justices considering the issue.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama: Secret Campaign to Use Russian-Inspired Tactics in 2017 Ala. Election Stirs Anxiety for Democrats
Denver Post – Craig Timberg, Tony Romm, Aaron Davis, and Elizabeth Dwoskin (Washington Post) | Published: 1/6/2019

A secret effort to influence the 2017 U.S. Senate election in Alabama used tactics inspired by Russian disinformation teams, including the creation of fake accounts to deliver misleading messages on Facebook to help elect Democrat Doug Jones in the deeply red state. But unlike the 2016 presidential campaign when Russians worked to help elect Donald Trump, the people behind the Alabama effort, dubbed Project Birmingham, were Americans. Now Democratic operatives and a research firm known to have had roles in Project Birmingham are distancing themselves from its most controversial tactics. Jones’s upset victory over Roy Moore in all likelihood resulted from other factors, political analysts say. But news of the effort has underscored the warnings of disinformation experts who have said threats to transparent political discourse in the age of social media are as likely to be domestic as foreign.

California: As Fires Ravaged California, Utilities Lobbied Lawmakers for Protection
MSN – Ivan Penn (New York Times) | Published: 1/5/2019

As more wildfires are traced to equipment owned by California’s investor-owned utilities, the largest, Pacific Gas and Electric, could ultimately have to pay homeowners and others an estimated $30 billion for causing fires over the last two years. Realizing their potential fire liability is large enough to bankrupt them, the utility companies are spending tens of millions of dollars on lobbying and campaign contributions. Their goal is a law that would allow them to pass on the cost of wildfires to their customers in the form of higher electricity rates. After an earlier lobbying push, legislators have already voted to protect the companies from having to bear the cost of fires in 2017, and utilities are seeking the same for 2018.

California: Irvine City Council Strengthens Lobbyist Policy
Voice of OC – Spencer Custodio | Published: 1/10/2019

The Irvine City Council strengthened its conflict-of-interest policy by adding a provision to its contracts which says if a council member or employee lobbied on behalf of a city contractor, the contract can be voided with cause and the city will get reimbursed. While there was a similar contract provision preventing employment of a city official by a city contractor, it did not address lobbying services – paid or unpaid.

Connecticut: Under the Influence: Marijuana industry seeks ruling on legality of political contributions in Connecticut
Hartford Courant – Neil Vigdor | Published: 1/8/2019

The pioneers of Connecticut’s growing medical marijuana industry say they should be allowed to donate to lawmakers who could make the state the next lucrative frontier for recreational cannabis. State election regulators came to the opposite conclusion on an informal basis early last year, finding medical marijuana growers and dispensaries are subject to the same ban on campaign contributions by state contractors under state law. But those business owners are disputing that “licensing arrangements” between the state and 18 dispensaries are contracts. They petitioned the State Elections Enforcement Commission for a formal ruling on their status.

Georgia: State Ethics Director Put on Paid Leave Over Porn, Misconduct Allegations
WSB – Richard Belcher | Published: 1/8/2019

The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission voted to put Executive Director Stefan Ritter on paid leave and conduct an investigation after allegations he had pornography on his work computer. There also were complaints about his job performance, including irregular work hours. Ritter, who worked for over a decade as an assistant attorney general before taking over the commission, has been credited with cleaning up the troubled agency, reducing backlogs, and helping get raises for staff.

Maryland: Federal Judge Stops Enforcement of Maryland Election Law
Courthouse News Service – Edward Ericson Jr. | Published: 1/4/2019

A federal judge enjoined Maryland from enforcing a law aimed at preventing foreign interference in state elections while a challenge by a group of newspapers plays out in court. The Online Electioneering Transparency and Accountability Act requires platforms with more than 100,000 monthly visitors to publish the names and contact information for any purchaser of a “qualifying paid digital communication,” along with the price paid, among other provisions. Some of the information the law demands is proprietary, such as how many people the ads reached. Much of the rest, U.S. District Court Judge Paul Grimm found, is duplicative.

Michigan: Whitmer Choice Raises Questions About State’s Conflicts of Interest Laws
Detroit Free Press – Paul Egan | Published: 1/7/2019

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer named Orlene Hawks as director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), an agency with responsibilities that include oversight of Michigan’s new marijuana industry, liquor licensing, the regulation of utilities, and licensing of doctors and hospitals. Hawks is married to Michael Hawks, an owner and principal of Government Consultant Services Inc., which represents many clients affected by the policies and rulings of LARA and its sub-agencies. An ethics expert said the potential issues raised by the situation underline a need for stronger financial disclosure and conflict-of-interest laws in Michigan.

Montana: Montana’s Dark Money Detective
Pacific Standard – Jimmy Tobias | Published: 1/9/2019

With a history of ant-corporate populism and intimate electoral campaigns, Montana is the sort of place where someone can run for office without a lot of money and still stand a chance. It is a state with just a million people and little tolerance for big money meddling in elections. As the former commissioner of political practices, Jonathan Motl set an example for other states that are also contending with the influence of unaccountable election spending. A ruling by the state Supreme Court upholding a conviction against former Sen. Art Wittich for corruption and violating campaign finance laws was a vindication and a climactic moment in Montana’s anti-corruption efforts.

Oklahoma: Stitt Unveils Plan to Address Potential Business Conflicts
Oklahoma Watch – Paul Monies | Published: 1/7/2019

Incoming Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is asking the state attorney general to review his plan to step away from his mortgage company as it becomes a bank and to approve a conflict-of-interest policy for his family investments. Stitt is facing potential conflicts-of-interest related to Gateway Mortgage Group, which he founded, and possibly some real estate and other personal investments. The first step in this shift from private businessperson to public official has to do with the state banking commission. Stitt pledged to have no contact with the state banking commissioner on Gateway-related matters, as it is converting to a bank. The governor appoints the banking commissioner and members of the state banking board.

Oregon: BOLI Finds ‘Substantial Evidence’ of Sexual Harassment at Oregon Capitol
Portland Oregonian – Ted Sickinger and Hillary Borrud | Published: 1/3/2019

Oregon labor regulators found “substantial evidence” of sexual harassment at the Capitol, concluding that lawmakers and administrators have known about it for years and did little to stop it. The Bureau of Labor and Industries released its findings after a five-month investigation, as well as a laundry list of allegations gleaned from witness interviews conducted by agency investigators, legislative analysts, and an attorney hired by the Legislature to investigate the harassment claims. The report concludes the most powerful lawmakers and administrators in the Capitol mishandled, downplayed and ignored allegations of sexual harassment, including inappropriate touching, sexually suggestive language, and the lopsided power dynamics that enabled the behavior.

Washington: From Campaign Consultant to Lobbyist and Adviser: The firm that has Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s ear
Seattle Times – Daniel Beekman and Lewis Kamb | Published: 1/6/2019

Political operatives Sandeep Kaushik and Kelly Evans helped Jenny Durkan win Seattle’s mayoral race in 2017. As Durkin embarks on her second year, they and their company, Sound View Strategies, have emerged as key players at City Hall. They successfully ran the mayor’s campaign for a $600 million education levy. Durkan’s major-initiatives director, office administrator, and chief of staff all are former Sound View employees. Kaushik describes himself and Evans as members of Durkan’s informal “kitchen cabinet,” even as they lobby her administration and advocate for corporate clients such as Comcast and Airnub. The mayor downplayed Sound View’s clout. Her ties to the company are known, and the city’s requirements are adequate to protect against real and perceived conflicts, Durkin said.