October 16, 2018 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Connecticut: “Former Democratic Legislator Ernie Newton Wins New Trial in Campaign Finance Case” by Christopher Keating for Hartford Courant Massachusetts: “Mass. Fiscal Alliance Sues State Over Its Campaign Finance Law” by Bob Katzen for Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise […]
Campaign Finance
Connecticut: “Former Democratic Legislator Ernie Newton Wins New Trial in Campaign Finance Case” by Christopher Keating for Hartford Courant
Massachusetts: “Mass. Fiscal Alliance Sues State Over Its Campaign Finance Law” by Bob Katzen for Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise
Elections
National: “Now for Rent: Email addresses and phone numbers for millions of Trump supporters” by Kenneth Vogel and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) for MSN
National: “In Senate Battleground, Native American Voting Rights Activists Fight Back Against Voter ID Restrictions” by Gabriel Pogrund and Felicia Sonmez for Washington Post
Ethics
National: “First Came a Flood of Ballot Measures from Voters. Then Politicians Pushed Back.” by Timothy Mitchell for New York Times
National: “Watchdog: Issues with IRS processing of improper political activity complaints” by Naomi Jagoda for The Hill
National: “Wilbur Ross Changes Story on Discussions of Citizenship Question for Census” by Glernn Thrush and Adam Liptak for New York Times
Colorado: “Gov. Hickenlooper Jet-Sets Across the Globe on Private Planes Paid for By Others, New Ethics Complaint Alleges” by David Migoya for Denver Post
New Mexico: “Long Road Brings NM Ethics Commission Proposal to Ballot” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal
October 15, 2018 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Elections Georgia: Voting Rights Become a Flashpoint in Georgia Governor’s Race by Ben Nadler (Associated Press) for WRAL Ethics National: Watchdog: Issues with IRS processing of improper political activity complaints by Naomi Jagoda for The Hill October National: Facebook Purged […]
Elections
Georgia: Voting Rights Become a Flashpoint in Georgia Governor’s Race by Ben Nadler (Associated Press) for WRAL
Ethics
National: Watchdog: Issues with IRS processing of improper political activity complaints by Naomi Jagoda for The Hill October
National: Facebook Purged Over 800 Accounts and Pages Pushing Political Messages for Profit by Elizabeth Dwoskin and Tony Romm for Washington Post
New York: Assemblyman Joe Errigo Charged with Accepting a Bribe to Eid a Development by Gary Craig and Steve Orr for Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
South Carolina: Will SC Lawmakers Close Loopholes Exposed by State House Corruption Probe? by Maayan Schechter for The State
Lobbying
National: From Wall Street to K Street, Companies Gauge the Risks of Doing Business with Saudi Arabia by Mark Landler, Kenneth Vogel, and Kate Kelly for New York Times
Alaska: Alaska Law Says Lobbyists Can’t Fundraise for Candidates. But the Invitations Keep Coming by Nathaniel Hertz for Alaska Public Media
Procurement
Louisiana: Louisiana’s Lucrative Voting Machine Contract Award Canceled by Melinda Deslatte (Associated Press) for Washington Times
October 12, 2018 •
News You Can Use – October 12, 2018
National: Out-of-State Donors Pour Cash into Democrats’ State Races Center for Public Integrity – Rui Kaneya and Joe Yerardi | Published: 10/10/2018 Nationwide, many Democrats running for state-level offices from governor to state representative are also collecting a significant amount […]
National:
Out-of-State Donors Pour Cash into Democrats’ State Races
Center for Public Integrity – Rui Kaneya and Joe Yerardi | Published: 10/10/2018
Nationwide, many Democrats running for state-level offices from governor to state representative are also collecting a significant amount of money from across state lines. Though Democrats still trail Republicans in the overall fundraising tally, they have so far raised at least $101 million from out of state, about $29 million more than their GOP counterparts have taken in. The influx of out-of-state contributions comes from a mix of companies with local interests, networks of contacts scattered across the country, and newly emboldened national groups that are mobilizing to influence state-level elections, mindful that the outcomes will have an impact on politics at the state and national levels lasting well into the next decade.
Federal:
FEC Guidance to Limit Impact of Dark Money Court Ruling
Associated Press – Brian Slodysko | Published: 10/5/2018
The FEC issued new guidance in response to a U.S. District Court ruling that found the agency improperly allowed “social welfare” nonprofits to skirt disclosure requirements for some donors. While the guidance answers some questions, it raises others. “A lot of people were very excited when [the case] first came out, but when you get into the weeds, one has to acknowledge that the opinion is not as broad some people had hoped,” said FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub.
Saluting the Trump Administration, Not So Nicely
Politico – Ben Schreckinger | Published: 10/9/2018
At the White House, the nearby Trump International Hotel, and wherever the presidential motorcade goes, Washingtonians are greeting Donald Trump’s presidency with an extended middle finger. As episodes like the separation of migrant families and the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court continue to inflame passions in Washington, D.C., these one-fingered salutes have become a pervasive marker of an administration under siege in its own city. Tourists posing for photographs, passengers in the cars that drive by the White House, and pedestrians caught unaware by motorcades have all made increasing use of the vulgar gesture since Trump came to town. Some do it subtly; others make a show of it.
Wall Street Is Booming Under Trump. But Many of Its Donors Are Embracing Democrats.
WRAL – Shane Goldmacher (New York Times) | Published: 10/7/2018
The stock market is booming, unemployment is hitting record lows, and Republicans pushed through $1.5 trillion in tax cuts. But despite all that, for the first time in a decade, the broader financial community is on pace to give more money to Democratic congressional candidates and incumbents than their GOP counterparts. Some of the same grassroots energy coursing through the Democratic Party, House candidates from Kentucky to Montana to New York are reporting record sums of small donations, has spilled into the corporate boardrooms of American finance, even amid increasingly hostile rhetoric from Democrats in Washington and on the campaign trail toward Wall Street.
From the States and Municipalities:
California: Are Political Swamps in California and Washington Mostly Drained? This Study Says They Are.
Sacramento Bee – Andrew Sheeler | Published: 10/9/2018
California ranks second in the nation for anti-corruption laws, according to a new report from the Coalition for Integrity. California share second-place Rhode Island; both states fell behind Washington state, which claimed the best score in the 2018 States With Anti-Corruption Measures for Public Officials (S.W.A.M.P.) Index. The index looks at eight metrics when assigning a score to a state, including whether there is an ethics agency with subpoena and sanction power, and whether elected and appointed executive branch officials are prohibited from accepting expensive gifts from lobbyists. At the other end of the spectrum, the S.W.A.M.P. Index rated North Dakota as worst in the nation for ethics and transparency laws.
Colorado: Wall Street Pumping Cash Through Loophole in Anti-Corruption Rule
Capital & Main – David Sirota and Chase Woodruff | Published: 10/4/2018
If Wall Street executive look to land a lucrative contract to manage Colorado retirees’ pension money, a federal “pay-to-play” rule is designed to deter them from trying to use campaign donations to influence state officials who oversee those investment decisions. Despite that regulation, however, state Treasurer Walker Stapleton’s gubernatorial campaign is being boosted by a political group partially sponsored by financial firms that receive investments from the pension fund Stapleton helps run. If Stapleton is elected governor, he will leave the pension fund’s board but will appoint three members of the board, potentially giving him even more influence over which financial firms get pension investments.
Indiana: Former Intern Says Brian Bosma Tried to Intimidate Her Over Alleged Sexual Encounter
Indianapolis Star – Tony Cook, Kaitlin Lange, and Ryan Martin | Published: 10/10/2018
Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma investigated groping allegations against the state attorney general and is crafting a first-ever sexual harassment policy for legislators. He is also the same man who aggressively investigated the credibility of a former statehouse intern who said she had a sexual encounter with him decades ago. Family members of the woman claim Bosma’s attorney threatened to reveal the unfavorable information about her if her account became public and to expose her name even if news organizations withheld it. The former intern, Kandy Green, did not accuse Bosma of a crime. Bosma denies the encounter took place.
Kentucky: Amy McGrath Is Avoiding Attack Ads. Can a Congressional Candidate Win Without Them?
WRAL – Michael Tackett (New York Times) | Published: 10/10/2018
The race for Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District between U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and his Democratic challenger, Amy McGrath, has featured one of the highest concentrations of political ads in the country, almost 7,000 airings, in one of the most fiercely fought races. The contest also has one of the most lopsided ratios of negative-to-positive ads, with Barr and aligned Republican groups spending overwhelmingly on spots attacking his opponent. McGrath, so far, has not run attack ads, an approach that makes this contest a laboratory to test the proposition that while voters find negative ads distasteful, candidates use them because they work.
Missouri: Missouri Lobbying Rules Fought in Federal Court
Courthouse News Service – Joe Harris | Published: 10/8/2018
The Institute for Justice filed a lawsuit claiming an executive order that bans all gifts, including written materials, to certain government officials in Missouri violates its constitutional rights. At issue is Missouri Executive Order 17-02 which prohibits “anything of value” to be given to a member of the state’s executive branch by a lobbyist. The Institute for Justice claims that by prohibiting the distribution of two of its publications, “Bottleneckers: Gaming the Government for Power and Private Profit” and “License to Work 2,” to government employees, the executive order violates its First Amendment right to free speech and Fourteenth Amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances.
New Mexico: New Mexico Legislators Eat, Lobbyists Treat, but Public Left Guessing Who
Santa Fe New Mexican – Andrew Oxford | Published: 10/8/2018
Because of a loophole in New Mexico law, lobbyists for the most part do not have to disclose which officials they have been attempting to influence. Although the latest round of filings by lobbyists points to tens of thousands of dollars spent on entertaining policymakers, the representatives of companies and special interests remain largely free to conceal the issues they are advocating for and the policymakers they are trying to sway. The Legislature has shown little appetite for requiring more disclosure from lobbyists.
Ohio: Workers Allege Campaign Donations Were Expected, Rewarded by Summit Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh
WKYC – Phil Trexler and Tom Meyer | Published: 10/10/2018
Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh is accused of ignoring acts of bullying, sexual harassment, and racial discrimination in her office, while allowing political campaigning to take place by favored workers, sometimes on county time, and requiring campaign donations of her workers and denying pay hikes to those who did not. Walsh’s campaign finance reports reflect the cash flow, showing her employees contributed thousands of dollars, or about half of her entire campaign funds, in the past six filing periods. Five employees have filed complaints alleging mistreatment.
Oklahoma: Attorneys Help Bankroll Campaigns of Judges Who Hear Their Cases
Oklahoma Watch – Taylor Brown | Published: 10/8/2018
Judges in Oklahoma rarely recuse themselves voluntarily or on request because they received money from attorneys arguing before them. That is despite the fact that attorneys represent the largest number of donors to district judges’ campaigns. Court filings show many of those attorneys frequently have appeared before the candidates to whom they gave money; some donated to judges while the judge was still presiding over their case. No evidence has emerged that donations from lawyers gained them or their firms more favorable rulings or treatment from judges. But campaign finance reform advocates, along with some Oklahoma judicial candidates, say the state’s system of electing district judges poses a risk to the integrity of the system.
South Carolina: SC Attorney General Tried to Impede Statehouse Corruption Probe, Grand Jury Says
Charleston Post and Courier – Glenn Smith and Thad Moore | Published: 10/9/2018
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson’s inaction impeded a probe into statehouse corruption, according to a grand jury report. Wilson’s conduct after former House Speaker Bobby Harrell pleaded guilty and named two other lawmakers cost investigators 13 months and meant the statute of limitations on potential federal crimes like money laundering ran out, the grand jurors said. The report notes Wilson’s close relationship with political consultant Richard Quinn. The corruption inquiry focused mainly on Quinn’s consulting business, his clients, and whether he acted like a lobbyist without registering. The report gives a behind the curtain look at the blurry line between political consultants, lobbyists, and powerful businesses in the state.
Tennessee: Taylor Swift’s Stunning Statement: Famously apolitical star slams Tennessee Republican, endorses Democrats
Washington Post – Emily Yahr | Published: 10/7/2018
Taylor Swift, the pop music star who has been notably apolitical in turbulent political times, endorsed two Democratic candidates running for election in Tennessee. In a post on Instagram, Swift said she planned to vote for Phil Bredesen, who is competing in a close U.S. Senate race against a Republican candidate backed by President Trump, and U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, an incumbent who represents the Nashville area. Swift’s political views had previously been left up to interpretation, and at times her silence was viewed as support for Trump as well as the alt-right movement.
West Virginia: As 1 Supreme Court Justice Survives Impeachment in West Virginia, Others Face Trial
Governing – Phil Kabler (Charleston Gazette) | Published: 10/3/2018
One West Virginia Supreme Court justice has survived an impeachment scare. Beth Walker will remain in office after state senators rejected an impeachment article against her after a two-day trial. Senators later adopted a resolution by voice vote to issue a public reprimand of Walker. She was accused of abusing her authority. The impeachment charge stated Walker and other justices failed to control office expenses and maintain policies over matters such as working lunches and the use of state vehicles and office computers at home.
October 11, 2018 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Out-of-State Donors Pour Cash into Democrats’ State Races” by Rui Kaneya and Joe Yerardi for Center for Public Integrity National: “The Hidden Money Funding the Midterms” by Derek Willis and Maggie Severns for ProPublica New York: “Democratic […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Out-of-State Donors Pour Cash into Democrats’ State Races” by Rui Kaneya and Joe Yerardi for Center for Public Integrity
National: “The Hidden Money Funding the Midterms” by Derek Willis and Maggie Severns for ProPublica
New York: “Democratic Lobbyist Pleads Guilty to Setting Up Illegal Donation” by Barbara Leonard for Courthouse News Service
South Dakota: “Free Speech Group Sues State Ahead of November Election” by Jonathan Ellis for Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Elections
National: “Amy McGrath Is Avoiding Attack Ads. Can a Congressional Candidate Win Without Them?” by Michael Tackett (New York Times) for WRAL
Ethics
National: “Rosenstein Faces Congressional Confrontation Amid New Claim He Seriously Suggested Wiretapping Trump” by Matt Zapotosky, Devlin Barrett, Josh Dawsey, and Ellen Nakashima (Washington Post) for Danbury News-Times
National: “Saluting the Trump Administration, Not So Nicely” by Ben Schreckinger for Politico
Michigan: “Detroit City Councilman Leland Indicted in Bribery Conspiracy” by Robert Snell and Christine Ferretti for Detroit News
South Carolina: “SC Attorney General Tried to Impede Statehouse Corruption Probe, Grand Jury Says” by Glenn Smith and Thad Moore for Charleston Post and Courier
West Virginia: “As 1 Supreme Court Justice Survives Impeachment in West Virginia, Others Face Trial” by Phil Kabler (Charleston Gazette) for Governing
Lobbying
Florida: “Lobbying Restrictions Set to Go Before Voters” by Lloyd Dunkelberger (News Service of Florida) for WJXT
Washington: “Kimberly-Clark Lobbyist, Wife Gave Republicans $4K” by Todd Richmond (Associated Press) for Seattle Times
October 10, 2018 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance California: “LA City Council Favors Reducing Barriers to Campaign Matching Funds” by Craig Clough for Los Angeles Daily News Oklahoma: “Attorneys Help Bankroll Campaigns of Judges Who Hear Their Cases” by Taylor Brown for Oklahoma Watch Elections National: […]
Campaign Finance
California: “LA City Council Favors Reducing Barriers to Campaign Matching Funds” by Craig Clough for Los Angeles Daily News
Oklahoma: “Attorneys Help Bankroll Campaigns of Judges Who Hear Their Cases” by Taylor Brown for Oklahoma Watch
Elections
National: “Trump Campaign Aide Requested Online Manipulation Plans from Israeli Intelligence Firm” by Mark Mazzetti, Ronan Bergman, David Kirkpatrick, and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) for MSN
Tennessee: “Tennessee Lawmaker Struggles Getting State Help with Anonymous Facebook Survey” by Taylor Whetstone for Knoxville News Sentinel
Ethics
National: “Amid Kavanaugh Uproar, Changes to Congress’s Sexual Harassment Rules Stall” by Elise Viebeck and Gabriel Progrund (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune
Lobbying
Arkansas: “Ethics Rule Gets Arkansas Panel’s Support; Senate’s Lobbyist Ties at Issue” by Michael Wickline for Arkansas Online
Missouri: “Missouri Lobbying Rules Fought in Federal Court” by Joe Harris for Courthouse News Service
New Mexico: “New Mexico Legislators Eat, Lobbyists Treat, but Public Left Guessing Who” by Andrew Oxford for Santa Fe New Mexican
October 9, 2018 •
North Carolina Proposed Constitutional Amendment Concerns Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement
North Carolina will vote on a constitutional amendment to establish an eight-member Bipartisan Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement in November. A 2017 law establishing an eight-member board was struck down by the North Carolina Supreme Court because it reduced […]
North Carolina will vote on a constitutional amendment to establish an eight-member Bipartisan Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement in November.
A 2017 law establishing an eight-member board was struck down by the North Carolina Supreme Court because it reduced the governor’s executive authority and failed to provide representation for unaffiliated voters.
If the amendment passes, majority and minority leaders of the legislature would nominate potential members from which the governor would choose.
October 9, 2018 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Wall Street Is Booming Under Trump. But Many of Its Donors Are Embracing Democrats.” by Shane Goldmacher for New York Times Elections National: “‘We Are Here!’ From a Blue Dot in a Sea of Red Comes a […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Wall Street Is Booming Under Trump. But Many of Its Donors Are Embracing Democrats.” by Shane Goldmacher for New York Times
Elections
National: “‘We Are Here!’ From a Blue Dot in a Sea of Red Comes a Hopeful Pitch for a Politician’s Visit.” by Stephanie McCrummon for Washington Post
National: “Taylor Swift’s Stunning Statement: Famously apolitical star slams Tennessee Republican, endorses Democrats” by Emily Yahr for Washington Post
Ethics
National: “Trump Team’s Contact with Mueller Targets Could Taint Findings” by Darren Samuelsohn for Politico
Missouri: “Is Clean Missouri’s Redistricting Proposal Fixing Problem or Power Grab?” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star
North Carolina: “Prosecutor Asks SBI to Review Allegations Raised About House Speaker Moore” by Dan Kane for Raleigh News and Observer
Redistricting
Virginia: “Virginia Redistricting Appears Headed to Courts as GOP Cancels Hearing” by Marie Algebis for The Virginian-Pilot
October 8, 2018 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “FEC Guidance to Limit Impact of Dark Money Court Ruling” by Brian Slodysko for Associated Press National: “Wall Street Pumping Cash Through Loophole in Anti-Corruption Rule” by David Sirota and Chase Woodruff for Capital & Main Elections […]
Campaign Finance
National: “FEC Guidance to Limit Impact of Dark Money Court Ruling” by Brian Slodysko for Associated Press
National: “Wall Street Pumping Cash Through Loophole in Anti-Corruption Rule” by David Sirota and Chase Woodruff for Capital & Main
Elections
North Carolina: “Is Elections Board Amendment a Victory for Bipartisanship? Or a Recipe for Chaos?” by Jim Morrill for Charlotte Observer
Ethics
Alabama: “Alabama Ethics Commission Drops Case Against ‘Beach House Sheriff’” by Connor Sheets for AL.com
Colorado: “Moonlighting Criticism in Colorado Secretary of State Race Raises New Questions About an Old Practice” by Lars Gesing for Colorado Independent
Delaware: “New Wilmington Ethics Code Strengthens Financial Disclosures, Reduces Penalties” by Christina Jedra for Wilmington News Journal
Hawaii: “Should Public Have More Input on Legislature’s Sexual Harassment Policies?” by Anita Hofschneider for Honolulu Civil Beat
New York: “New York Regulators Examine the Trump Family’s Tax Schemes” by Russ Buettner, Susanne Craig, and David Barstow for New York Times
October 5, 2018 •
News You Can Use – October 5, 2018
National: Missing in the G.O.P.: Black and Hispanic Nominees for Governor New York Times – Astead Herndon | Published: 10/3/2018 In the first midterm elections under Donald Trump, whose campaign and presidency included strong appeals to white voters, Republicans have […]
National:
Missing in the G.O.P.: Black and Hispanic Nominees for Governor
New York Times – Astead Herndon | Published: 10/3/2018
In the first midterm elections under Donald Trump, whose campaign and presidency included strong appeals to white voters, Republicans have no black or Hispanic nominees for governor in 2018, and few from other racial minorities, in the 36 states holding elections for the position. The overwhelming majority are white men. Democrats this year have nominated black, Hispanic, and Native American candidates for governor in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, and elsewhere. The Republican falloff is striking after past election seasons when party leaders attempted to identify and then rally behind minority candidates for governor in major states, like Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Federal:
Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes as He Reaped Riches from His Father
MSN – David Barstow, Susanne Craig, and Russ Buettner (New York Times) | Published: 10/2/2018
Donald Trump won the presidency proclaiming himself a self-made billionaire, and he has insisted his father provided almost no financial help. But an investigation reveals Trump received the equivalent today of at least $413 million from his father’s real estate empire, starting when he was a toddler and continuing to this day. Much of this money came to Trump because he helped his parents dodge taxes. He and his siblings set up a sham corporation to disguise millions of dollars in gifts from their parents. Records indicate Trump helped his father take improper tax deductions worth millions of dollars more. He also helped formulate a strategy to undervalue his parents’ real estate holdings by hundreds of millions of dollars on tax returns, reducing the tax bill when those properties were transferred to him and his siblings.
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama: ‘Beach House Sheriff’ Used Pistol Permit Fees to Pay for TV Commercials During Campaign
AL.com – Connor Sheets | Published: 10/3/2018
Between October 31, 2017, and July, Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin paid Venture Marketing Group more than $29,000 for work related to television ads. Venture created multiple commercials that only aired during the eight months prior to the June primary election. Even though the ads feature Entrekin speaking about the sheriff’s office and promoting programs he oversees as sheriff, his campaign committee did not pay Venture for the work. Entrekin instead paid the company out of an official sheriff’s office account he alone controls called the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Fund. Nearly half of the money in the fund is generated by selling pistol permits.
Arizona: This Lawmaker Stands to Earn at Least $11M on His Own Charter Schools. His Votes Helped Lay the Groundwork.
Arizona Republic – Craig Harris | Published: 10/2/2018
Arizona House Speaker J.D. Mesnard and Rep. Eddie Farnsworth amended the state budget to exempt charter schools from procurement and conflict-of-interest laws, and from a requirement to disclose their entire annual spending plans on school websites. Farnsworth was not just a lawmaker interested in the details of the bill. He also runs a four-campus charter chain that because of the amendment would remain free of state oversight of its spending. Farnsworth’s involvement in the last-minute maneuver highlights how his roles as a state lawmaker and charter-school operator have for years mingled at the Capitol, almost always to the benefit of Farnsworth and the state’s other charter school operators.
California: Gov. Brown Signs Bill Requiring Lobbyists to Receive Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
San Francisco Chronicle – Bay City News Service | Published: 10/1/2018
California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that requires lobbyists to receive sexual harassment prevention training. Assembly Bill 2055 requires lobbyists’ ethics courses to include information on Assembly and Senate policies against harassment, including sexual harassment, in connection with lobbying activities. “We need to make sure that everyone who does business in the Capitol understands what we mean by our zero-tolerance policy. Mandated training is an effective method to get that message across,” Assemblyperson Marc Levine said.
California: New State Law Requires More Transparency from Social Media Political Ads
Voice of OC – Brandon Pho | Published: 10/3/2018
California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a social media disclosure bill into law. A separate bill had bolstered the requirements for disclosing the names of the top three funders of ballot measures and independent expenditures on television, radio, and print ads. Assembly Bill 2188 now extends those same requirements to online platforms. Social media platforms that sell ads directly to advertisers will be required to keep a database of any political ad disseminated on the platform by a committee that purchased $500 or more in ads within a year.
Florida:Lobbyists Paid to Pressure County Officials Skip Filing Required Disclosures, Audit Says
Fort Myers News-Press – Bill Smith | Published: 9/29/2018
An audit found nearly 60 percent of registered lobbyists in Lee County, Florida have missed the required filing of annual or quarterly statements on their activities. The county ordinance covers contact with county commissioners and employees at the director level and above to report contacts with anyone who is paid to “influence the passage, defeat, modification or repeal,” of any matter requiring a commission vote. It also includes non-secretarial employees in the purchasing division and contracts office. Companies that employee lobbyists are required to file an annual registration statement and quarterly statements about lobbying activities.
Kentucky: Ethics Bill Seeks to Close Reporting Loophole on Groups Paying for Legislators’ Travel
Insider Louisville – Joe Sonka | Published: 9/27/2018
An ethics bill pre-filed in Kentucky could close a reporting loophole that allowed groups, including partisan advocacy organizations, to prepay for the out-of-state travel and lodging expenses of state legislators. A recent investigation estimated that up to $100,000 was spent by outside groups on lawmakers’ approved travel outside of the state last year; that spending did not have to be reported to any state agency. While public funds spent on such travel and reimbursements from private groups must be reported, there is no requirement for legislators to disclose how much those organizations spend to send them to conferences and events, so long as such groups pay for the airfare, lodging, and meals in advance.
Mississippi: In Mississippi Senate Race, an African American Democrat Faces a Republican Using a Confederate Symbol
Washington Post – Cleve Wootson Jr. | Published: 9/30/2018
U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy has tried to remind Mississippians how he has served them in the past, with three terms in the U.S. House who spent time as President Clinton’s agriculture secretary. But even his most ardent supporters worry that when many voters go to the polls in November, what Espy has done will matter much less than what he is: a black man running for one of the highest elected offices in a state with a Confederate emblem on its flag. One of his opponents is hearkening to another version of the past: Republican Chris McDaniel, a conservative fond of provocative statements whose yard signs feature the flag of the Confederate States of America.
New Jersey: Murphy Still Defends Hiring Ex-Official Jailed for Corruption (Even Though He Was Forced to Resign)
Newark Star Ledger – Brent Johnson (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 10/2/2018
Gov. Phil Murphy continued to defend his administration’s decision to hire a former Passaic City Council member who served prison time for accepting bribes, even after the hiring was deemed unlawful and Marcellus Jackson was forced to resign. Murphy hired Jackson in July for a $70,000-a-year position as a special assistant in the state Department of Education’s Office of Civic and Social Engagement. Murphy said his administration conducted a legal review that cleared Jackson’s hiring. But Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said state law should have prevented the hire because former public officials convicted of corruption are disqualified from ever holding a public job again in New Jersey.
Pennsylvania: Alex Trebek Moderated a Gubernatorial Debate in Pennsylvania. It Didn’t Go Well.
Chicago Tribune – Antonia Noori Farzan (Washington Post) | Published: 10/2/2018
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and his Republican challenger, Scott Wagner, met recently in their only debate prior to the November election with “Jeopardy” host Alex Trebek serving as moderator. While moderators typically ask questions and let the candidates talk, Trebek spoke at length – at times sharing his own policy opinions – during the 45-minute debate, frustrating viewers. At one point, Trebek joked that the only thing with a lower approval rating than the Pennsylvania Legislature was the Catholic Church. Polite laughter from the audience turned to boos. On Twitter, the consensus was that Trebek should stick to his day job.
Tennessee: In Tennessee Senate Race, Financial Missteps Linger in the Background
New York Times – Danny Hakim | Published: 10/3/2018
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican candidate for an open Senate seat in Tennessee, has faced questions about her spending practices. In her years as a member of Congress, she has paid out more than $370,000 from her campaign funds to her daughter and son-in-law or firms they control. Her campaigns have received 54 requests for additional information from the FEC since 2002, and in a 2008 audit, the campaign admitted receiving nearly $400,000 in unreported contributions and expenditures. Her opponent, Phil Bredesen, has had his own financial misstep. A longtime booster of the solar industry as governor, he started a solar company with two of his aides during his last year in office. After he left office, the business went on to reap some of the tax breaks the Bredesen administration had put in place.
Vermont: Governor’s Business Ties Violate State Ethics Code, Commission Finds
VTDigger.org – Mark Johnson | Published: 10/2/2018
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott violated the ethics code by maintaining an ongoing financial relationship with a company doing business with the state, according to the Vermont State Ethics Commission. Under political pressure, Scott sold his interest in Dubois Construction back to the company after he took office in 2017. Scott received no cash at the time of the transaction and is still owed $2.5 million by the company. The commission said the conflict arose when Dubois won a two-year contract for $250,000 in 2017, which the panel said “provides significant income to the company, and directly assists the company in meeting its financial obligation to the public official.”
Washington: Washington Court Upholds Fine Against Anti-GMO Group
Capital Press – Don Jenkins | Published: 10/3/2018
An appeals court affirmed that Food Democracy Now must pay a $319,281 fine for not reporting the names of more than 7,000 donors who supported a food labeling initiative in 2013. The court rejected the group’s argument that it should not have been convicted because it did not intentionally hide the donations. Judge Rich Melnick said the law does not make an exception for unintentionally concealing the source of campaign contributions. The fine stemmed from Initiative 522, which would have required food and beverage makers to label products with genetically modified ingredients.
October 4, 2018 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Alabama: “‘Beach House Sheriff’ Used Pistol Permit Fees to Pay for TV Commercials During Campaign” by Connor Sheets for AL.com New Mexico: “Patrick Lyons Fundraising for Land Commissioner Campaign Raises Legal and Ethical Questions” by Elizabeth Miller for […]
Campaign Finance
Alabama: “‘Beach House Sheriff’ Used Pistol Permit Fees to Pay for TV Commercials During Campaign” by Connor Sheets for AL.com
New Mexico: “Patrick Lyons Fundraising for Land Commissioner Campaign Raises Legal and Ethical Questions” by Elizabeth Miller for New Mexico In Depth
Washington: “Washington Court Upholds Fine Against Anti-GMO Group” by Don Jenkins for Capital Press
Elections
National: “Missing in the G.O.P.: Black and Hispanic Nominees for Governor” by Astead Herndon for New York Times
Massachusetts: “Galvin Accused of Mixing Politics with Voter Guide” by Christian Wade for Salem News
Missouri: “Jason Kander Ends Campaign for Kansas City Mayor to Focus on Depression, PTSD” by Steve Vockrodt, Bill Turque, and Mike Hendricks for Kansas City Star
Ethics
National: “Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes as He Reaped Riches from His Father” by David Barstow, Susanne Craig, and Russ Buettner (New York Times) for MSN
Kentucky: “Beshear Appoints Independent Counsel to Investigate Allegations Against Grimes” by Daniel Desrochers for Lexington Herald-Leader
Tennssee: “In Tennessee Senate Race, Financial Missteps Linger in the Background” by Danny Hakim for New York Times
Vermont: “Governor’s Business Ties Violate State Ethics Code, Commission Finds” by Mark Johnson for VTDigger.org
October 3, 2018 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Massachusetts: “After Baker Tasked Eversource with Merrimack Valley Response, Executives Cut Checks to His Campaign” by Matt Stout for Boston Globe Washington: “Pursuit of Campaign-Spending Violations Breaks the Budget” by Jerry Cornfield for Everett Daily Herald Elections National: […]
Campaign Finance
Massachusetts: “After Baker Tasked Eversource with Merrimack Valley Response, Executives Cut Checks to His Campaign” by Matt Stout for Boston Globe
Washington: “Pursuit of Campaign-Spending Violations Breaks the Budget” by Jerry Cornfield for Everett Daily Herald
Elections
National: “Alex Trebek Moderated a Gubernatorial Debate in Pennsylvania. It Didn’t Go Well.” by Antonia Noori Farzan for Washington Post
Ethics
Arizona: “This Lawmaker Stands to Earn at Least $11M on His Own Charter Schools. His Votes Helped Lay the Groundwork.” by Craig Harris for Arizona Republic
Maryland: “Lobbyist Who Wrote Draft Bill to Expand Liquor Sales in Pr. George’s Sentenced in Bribery Scheme” by Lynn Bui for Washington Post
New Jersey: “Murphy Still Defends Hiring Ex-Official Jailed for Corruption (Even Though He Was Forced to Resign)” by Brent Johnson (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star Ledger
New Mexico: “Report Finds Gaps in Financial Disclosures in New Mexico Legislature” by Andrew Oxford for Santa Fe New Mexican
Lobbying
California: “Gov. Brown Signs Bill Requiring Lobbyists to Receive Sexual Harassment Prevention Training” by Bay City News Service for San Francisco Chronicle
October 2, 2018 •
South Dakotans to Vote on Ethics this November
South Dakotans will have multiple ethics-related ballot measures to vote on this November. Constitutional Amendment W, also known as the South Dakota Voter Protection and Anti-Corruption Amendment, would create an independent ethics commission, decrease limits on campaign donations, bar gifts […]
South Dakotans will have multiple ethics-related ballot measures to vote on this November.
Constitutional Amendment W, also known as the South Dakota Voter Protection and Anti-Corruption Amendment, would create an independent ethics commission, decrease limits on campaign donations, bar gifts from lobbyists to many public officials, and prevent the Legislature from altering or rejecting laws approved by ballot question without returning to the ballot.
More than 51 percent of voters supported a similar initiative in November 2016, but lawmakers repealed it in early 2017, citing constitutional concerns.
Also on the November ballot, Initiated Measure 24, would prohibit contributions to ballot question committees by non-residents, out-of-state political committees, and entities who have not filed with the secretary of state for the four years prior to making a contribution.
October 2, 2018 •
California Training for Lobbyists Will Now Include Policies Against Sexual Harassment
On September 30, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill requiring lobbyists to complete training on sexual harassment in connection with lobbying activities. Assembly Bill 2055 adds a component to training already required for lobbyists registered with the state and […]
On September 30, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill requiring lobbyists to complete training on sexual harassment in connection with lobbying activities.
Assembly Bill 2055 adds a component to training already required for lobbyists registered with the state and conducted by the ethics committees in both houses of the California Legislature.
The lobbyist training course now must include “information on each house of the Legislature’s policies against harassment, including sexual harassment, in connection with lobbying activities.”
October 2, 2018 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance California: “Inglewood Mayor’s Campaign Loaned Nearly $160,000 to a Political Ally. None of It Has Been Paid Back” by Benjamin Oreskes for Los Angeles Times Massachusetts: “State Police Union President Pullman Resigns Amid New Federal Probe” by Andrea […]
Campaign Finance
California: “Inglewood Mayor’s Campaign Loaned Nearly $160,000 to a Political Ally. None of It Has Been Paid Back” by Benjamin Oreskes for Los Angeles Times
Massachusetts: “State Police Union President Pullman Resigns Amid New Federal Probe” by Andrea Estes and Matt Rocheleau for Boston Globe
Elections
National: “In Mississippi Senate Race, an African American Democrat Faces a Republican Using a Confederate Symbol” by Cleve Wootson Jr. for Washington Post
Ethics
National: “Congressional Democrats’ Lawsuit Alleging Trump’s Private Business Is Violating the Constitution Can Proceed, Federal Judge Rules” by Jonathan O’Connell, David Fahrenthold, and Carol Leonnig (Washington Post) for MSN
New Mexico: “AG: Youngblood abused position in DWI stop” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal
Texas: “Are Christi Craddick’s Deep Ties with Oil and Gas a Conflict of Interest?” by Asher Price for Austin American-Statesman
Washington: “Rape Allegation by Seattle Woman Against State Sen. Joe Fain Leads to Calls for Investigation” by Joseph O’Sullivan, Heidi Groover, and Jim Brunner for Seattle Times
Lobbying
Florida: “Lobbyists Paid to Pressure County Officials Skip Filing Required Disclosures, Audit Says” by Bill Smith for Fort Myers News-Press
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.