April 17, 2018 •
Florida Proposal Restricting Lobbying and Abuse of Office Placed on November Ballot
The Florida Constitution Revision Commission voted to place a six-year revolving door restriction directly on the November general election ballot. Proposal 6007 would also ban state and local officials from lobbying the Legislature, executive branch, and the federal government while […]
The Florida Constitution Revision Commission voted to place a six-year revolving door restriction directly on the November general election ballot.
Proposal 6007 would also ban state and local officials from lobbying the Legislature, executive branch, and the federal government while in office. If approved by 60 percent of voters, the lobbying ban will take effect December 31, 2022.
The proposal would also prohibit public officials from abusing their position to obtain a disproportionate benefit.
The Commission on Ethics will be responsible for defining the term disproportionate benefit, prescribing the requisite intent for finding a violation, and enforcing the prohibition against the abuse of a public position.
The new ethics rule will take effect December 31, 2020, if passed by 60 percent of voters.
April 17, 2018 •
Tuesday’s Government and Ethics News
Campaign Finance Illinois: “Cook County Tax Officials Take Excess Campaign Donations from Appeals Firms, Ethics Panel Says” by Ray Long and Hal Dardick for Chicago Tribune Elections National: “Sources: Mueller has evidence Cohen was in Prague in 2016, confirming part […]
Campaign Finance
Illinois: “Cook County Tax Officials Take Excess Campaign Donations from Appeals Firms, Ethics Panel Says” by Ray Long and Hal Dardick for Chicago Tribune
Elections
National: “Sources: Mueller has evidence Cohen was in Prague in 2016, confirming part of dossier” by Peter Stone and Greg Gordon for McClatchy DC
National: “R.N.C. Official Who Agreed to Pay Playboy Model $1.6 Million Resigns” by Rebecca Ruiz and Jim Rutenberg (New York Times) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Trump Grants Pardon to Former Bush Official; Some Say He Is Using the Law as a Political Tool” by Philip Rucker, Josh Dawsey, and Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post
National: “Trump Attorney Michael Cohen’s Mystery Legal Client: Fox News commentator Sean Hannity” by Philip Bump, Devlin Barrett, and Beth Reinhard for Washington Post
West Virginia: “Legislative Auditors Recommend Ethics Investigation of Justice Loughry” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette-Mail
Lobbying
Arizona: “Woman at Center of Phoenix Lobbyist Forgery Scandal Convicted, Sentenced” by Dustin Gardner and Rick O’Dell for Arizona Republic
Michigan: “Mich. Speaker ‘Not Lobbied’ on Trip with Lobbyists” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News
Washington: “Many of the State’s Powerful Lobbyists Work from One Olympia Neighborhood” by Joseph O’Sullivan (Seattle Times) for The Olympian
April 16, 2018 •
Kansas Governor Signs Executive Branch Transparency Bill
Gov. Jeff Colyer has signed Senate Bill 394 expanding the definition of lobbying to include executive and judicial branch procurement lobbying. Effective July 1, lobbying will include the promoting or opposing in any manner an action or nonaction by any […]
Gov. Jeff Colyer has signed Senate Bill 394 expanding the definition of lobbying to include executive and judicial branch procurement lobbying.
Effective July 1, lobbying will include the promoting or opposing in any manner an action or nonaction by any executive or judicial agency on any administrative matter.
The transparency bill requires lobbyist registration for attempting to influence members of the executive or judicial branch regarding any covered action, including contracts and agreements.
The bill also increases the value of a meal an executive branch member may receive from $25 to $40.
April 16, 2018 •
Monday’s Government and Ethics News
Campaign Finance National: Ex-Texas Congressman Convicted of Fraud, Conspiracy by The Associated Press for Arizona Daily Sun Florida: Florida’s State Lawmakers Haven’t Gotten a Dime from the NRA Since 2005 by Dan Sweeney for South Florida Sun Sentinel Elections National: […]
Campaign Finance
National: Ex-Texas Congressman Convicted of Fraud, Conspiracy by The Associated Press for Arizona Daily Sun
Florida: Florida’s State Lawmakers Haven’t Gotten a Dime from the NRA Since 2005 by Dan Sweeney for South Florida Sun Sentinel
Elections
National: National Enquirer Paid Second Source with Embarrassing Trump Rumor by Carol Leonnig for Washington Post
Ethics
National: Ryan Poised to Earn Millions Even If He Sheds ‘Weekend Dad’ Role by Jeff Green, John McCormick, and Bill Allison for Bloomberg.com
National: Former Staffer: EPA fired him for refusing to OK first-class flight by Alex Guillén for Politico
New York: Ex-Cuomo Aide Percoco Can Get $36K NY Pension Despite Corruption Conviction by Julie McMahon for Syracuse Post-Standard
Lobbying
Oregon: Oregon’s Largest Business Organization Fires Its CEO, Former GOP Legislator Mark Johnson by Mike Rogoway and Ted Sickinger for Portland Oregonian
Wisconsin: Wisconsin Speaker Robin Vos Took Free Trip to London with Lobbyists and Leaders from Other States by Jason Stein and Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
April 13, 2018 •
NYCU Video Digest – April 13, 2018
It’s the fastest 2 minutes in lobbying, elections, ethics and legislative sessions news in this weeks video digest!
It’s the fastest 2 minutes in lobbying, elections, ethics and legislative sessions news in this weeks video digest!
April 13, 2018 •
News You Can Use – April 13, 2018
National: AP Finds Legislatures Lack Public Records on Harassment Arizona Daily Star – David Lieb (Associated Press) | Published: 4/11/2018 In the past 15 months, dozens of state lawmakers have been forced from office, removed from their leadership roles, reprimanded. […]
National:
AP Finds Legislatures Lack Public Records on Harassment
Arizona Daily Star – David Lieb (Associated Press) | Published: 4/11/2018
In the past 15 months, dozens of state lawmakers have been forced from office, removed from their leadership roles, reprimanded. or publicly accused of sexual misconduct in a mounting backlash against misbehavior by those in power. Yet the majority of state legislative chambers across the country have no publicly available records of any sexual misconduct claims over the past 10 years. They say no complaints were made, no tally was kept, or they do not legally have to disclose it. Some lawmakers and experts on sexual wrongdoing in the workplace say that suggests legislators are not taking the problem seriously.
Facebook Fallout Deals Blow to Mercers’ Political Clout
MSN – Nicholas Confessore and David Gelles (New York Times) | Published: 4/10/2018
The revelation that Cambridge Analytica improperly acquired the private Facebook data of millions of users has set off government inquiries, plunging Facebook into crisis. But it has also battered the nascent political network overseen by wealthy conservative donor Rebekah Mercer and financed by her father, Robert Mercer. Cambridge Analytica was co-founded by Robert Mercer. An advocacy group backing President Trump and controlled by Rebekah Mercer has gone silent following strategic disputes between her and other top donors. And no American candidate or super PAC has reported payments to Cambridge Analytica since the 2016 campaign.
Facebook’s New Rules Aim to Thwart the Kind of Ads Bought by Russian Trolls During the Election
Washington Post – Tony Romm | Published: 4/6/2018
Facebook announced a series of moves meant to improve the transparency of political ads and pages on its social media service. Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said in a post that the company has started requiring advertisers to verify their identity and location before they can run political ads. That verification is meant to prevent foreign interference in U.S. elections. Facebook will also soon start verifying the identify and location of people who run large Facebook pages. Officials say Russian agents used pages to pose as Americans on different sides of the political spectrum in an attempt to spread misinformation before the election.
Federal:
Investigators Focus on Another Trump Ally: The National Enquirer
WRAL – Jim Rutenberg, Emily Steel, and Mike McIntire (New York Times) | Published: 4/11/2018
President Trump has deep connections with the country’s largest tabloid publisher, American Media Inc (AMI), which publishes The National Enquirer. The company’s chairperson, David Pecker, is a close friend of the president’s. Since the early stages of his campaign, Trump, his lawyer Michael Cohen, and Pecker have strategized about protecting him and lashing out at his political enemies. Now AMI has been drawn into an investigation of Cohen’s activities, including efforts to head off potentially damaging stories about Trump during his run for the White House. The inquiry presents thorny questions about AMI’s First Amendment protections, and whether its record in supporting Trump somehow opens the door to scrutiny usually reserved for political organizations.
From the States and Municipalities:
Alabama – Ivey Signs Ethics Exemption for Developers into Law
AP News – Kim Chandler | Published: 4/6/2018
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law a bill that will exempt economic developers from the state ethics law. Economic developers would not be considered lobbyists and would not register with the state and disclose their employers and activity as lobbyists do, under the legislation. Supporters said developers do not currently register, but the law needed to be clarified because of recent questions over whether they should. Critics had argued that anyone seeking deals with the state should not be exempted, and such exemptions could be exploited.
Arizona – Ducey Signs Bill Overriding Local Laws on Certain Campaign-Finance Disclosures
Arizona Daily Star – Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) | Published: 4/5/2018
Arizona cities are losing their right to demand that nonprofit groups seeking to sway local elections divulge who is financing the effort. Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation that pre-empts local ordinances requiring these groups to register as PACs. The measure, which takes effect this summer, also makes any effort to identify contributions off limits. It is not known whether Tempe will challenge the new law as an unconstitutional infringement on local powers. Tempe residents voted earlier this year to mandate disclosure of spending on local races.
Georgia – Man Gets Prison for Obstruction in Atlanta Bribery Probe
Washington Times – Kate Brumback (Associated Press) | Published: 4/9/2018
An Atlanta man who threw a concrete block through a city contractor’s window to discourage him from talking to federal investigators was sentenced to prison for obstructing their bribery probe. Shandarrick Barnes had pleaded guilty to obstructing justice. He is the fourth person to receive a prison sentence after entering a guilty plea in the ongoing federal investigation into a “pay-to-play” scheme for city contracts. U.S. Attorney Kurt Erskine said Barnes used “mob-like tactics” to try to keep construction contractor Elvin Mitchell Jr. from cooperating with investigators.
Hawaii – What’s Up with All the Gut-And-Replace Trickery at The Legislature This Year?
Honolulu Civil Beat – Nathan Eagle | Published: 4/5/2018
Watchdog groups have called on the Hawaii Legislature for years to end “misleading practices which keep the public in the dark,” as their 2013 petition to the House and Senate put it. There is the “gut-and-replace” tactic, which involves removing the entire contents of a bill and inserting the contents of another in its place without any notice. And there are the so-called Frankenstein bills that keep the original contents of one bill and add the contents of another that had died earlier in the session. A common practice this session combines both tactics while giving a couple of days’ notice.
Kansas – Kansas AG Wants Court to Bar Out-of-State Residents from Running for Governor
Kansas City Star – Hunter Woodall | Published: 4/10/2018
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt filed a lawsuit to put the brakes on out-of-state gubernatorial candidates after 10 people living outside the state’s borders took initial steps to run. State law makes no express statement about candidates’ age or residency. News coverage about the lack of requirements has led to a slew of teenagers and non-Kansans forming campaign committees for a gubernatorial run. A man tried, and failed, to get his dog on the ballot.
Missouri – Woman: Sexual encounter with Greitens was not consensual. Lawmakers find her credible
Kansas City Star – Lindsay Wise (McClatchy) and Jason Hancock | Published: 4/11/2018
The crisis confronting Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens deepened with the release of a legislative report that outlines in detail new allegations about the governor’s behavior toward a woman who was his hair dresser. While Greitens has described the extramarital relations as “consensual,” the woman said it included unwanted and potentially coerced sexual acts that she felt afraid to say no to and physical violence, in addition to the threat of blackmail. The governor is facing a felony charge that he invaded the woman’s privacy by taking a nude photograh of her without her consent. The report raised the specter of impeachment for Greitens and prompted another round of calls for him to step down.
New Mexico – Biggest Donors Get Around Contribution Limits
New Mexico Political Report – Marjorie Childress (New Mexico In Depth) | Published: 4/9/2018
Even though New Mexico passed campaign contribution limits in 2009 after several high-profile elected officials went to jail for corruption, people still have the potential to contribute more than the limits by giving through companies they own, or combining with family members to give. A debate over contribution limits since then has often included arguments that limits just push money into political committees or “dark money” groups that spend money independently, making it more difficult for the public to know who is paying for political ads and other activities designed to influence elections. But good government advocates disagree.
New York – JCOPE Reaches Settlement with Top Lobbyist Over de Blasio Donation
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 4/9/2018
Lobbyist James Capalino agreed to pay $40,000 to settle an investigation by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE). The commission has been investigating Capalino’s fundraising for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s now-defunct nonprofit Campaign for One New York. The probe relied on JCOPE’s re-interpretation of the state gift ban law. The law disallows public officials from accepting “valuable gifts” from people with business before state government if such a gift appears intended to influence the official. JCOPE in 2014 said donations to an official’s nonprofit are covered under the law.
Ohio – Amid FBI Investigation, Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger Resigns
Cincinnati Enquirer – Chrissie Thompson and Jessie Balmert | Published: 4/10/2018
Facing an FBI investigation into his spending and overseas travel, Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger said he will resign from office on May 1. Rosenberger has been criticized for his lavish lifestyle, which includes traveling around the world and staying in a luxury Columbus condominium owned by a wealthy Republican campaign donor. In August, Rosenberger took a four-day trip to London with GOP leaders from other states for an event paid for by the GOPAC Education Fund’s Institute for Leadership Development. Steve Dimon, a registered lobbyist for title lender LoanMax, also was on the trip. Title and payday lenders have been lobbying against proposed legislation in Ohio that would place restrictions on their industry. Dimon declined to say whether the two discussed any legislation or if he has been questioned by the FBI.
South Dakota – South Dakota a ‘Standout’ in Limiting Voters’ Ability to Bring Issues to the Ballot
Sioux Falls Argus Leader – Dana Ferguson | Published: 4/6/2018
South Dakota voters in 2016 passed a sweeping ethics reform initiative, which state legislators then struck down. A year after Initiated Measure 22’s demise, lawmakers passed a dozen bills tightening the reins on the initiative and referendum process. The onslaught of bills puts South Dakota in a league of its own in terms of restricting direct democracy. Now, advocates are scrambling to undo the laws that do the most damage before they are left fighting under the new constraints imposed on the process.
State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.
April 12, 2018 •
Upcoming Rulemaking Hearing on Changes to Colorado Lobbyist Rules
The Colorado Secretary of State will host a rulemaking hearing on April 16 regarding proposed changes to lobbyist regulations. A copy of the revised draft is available online at the Secretary of State’s website. Proposed changes include, but are not […]
The Colorado Secretary of State will host a rulemaking hearing on April 16 regarding proposed changes to lobbyist regulations. A copy of the revised draft is available online at the Secretary of State’s website.
Proposed changes include, but are not limited to, amending and adding lobbying definitions, clarification of professional lobbyist and lobbyist firm registration and disclosure requirements, and recodification to ensure uniform and proper administration and implementation of state law.
Written comments regarding the proposed draft may be submitted any time before and during the hearing.
April 12, 2018 •
Texas Representative Resigns
U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold resigned his seat in congress last week following a string of ethics investigations stemming from a 2014 sexual harassment allegation. Farenthold, under fire for using $84,000 of taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment claim, announced […]
U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold resigned his seat in congress last week following a string of ethics investigations stemming from a 2014 sexual harassment allegation.
Farenthold, under fire for using $84,000 of taxpayer money to settle a sexual harassment claim, announced his retirement in December, but said he planned to serve out the remainder of his term ending in January of 2019.
Gov. Greg Abbott is tasked with calling a special election to fill the seat for the remainder of the year. Gov. Abbott can schedule the special election on the state’s next uniform election date on November 6, or can order an emergency election on any other Tuesday or Saturday.
April 12, 2018 •
Lobbyists Amendment Act, 2018 Introduced in Alberta Legislative Assembly
On April 11, a bill was introduced in the Alberta Legislative Assembly to amend the providence’s lobbying laws. Bill 11, Lobbyists Amendment Act, 2018, lowers the threshold required for lobbyist registration from 100 hours per year spent lobbying to 50 […]
On April 11, a bill was introduced in the Alberta Legislative Assembly to amend the providence’s lobbying laws. Bill 11, Lobbyists Amendment Act, 2018, lowers the threshold required for lobbyist registration from 100 hours per year spent lobbying to 50 hours. The proposed amendments also ban contingency lobbying but allow a consultant lobbyist who has entered into a contingency agreement before the law takes effect to received contingency payments until either the agreement expires or 24 months after the bill takes effect, whichever is earlier.
The legislation would also prohibit a consultant lobbyist or organizational lobbyist, during lobbying activities, to give any gift to a public office holder, being or intended to be lobbied, that would place the public office holder in a conflict of interest under the office holder’s own ethics rules.
Authority for additional administrative financial penalties for contraventions of the lobbying laws are included in the bill. The amount of an administrative penalty is determined by the registrar, who considers factors such as the severity of the contravention, the degree of willfulness or negligence in the contravention, any history of non-compliance, and whether the person who received the notice of administrative penalty has received an economic benefit because of the contravention.
Additionally, the bill creates new definitions for “public office holder” and “former public officer holder.”
The bill is being sponsored by MLA Christina Gray, who represents the provincial election district for Edmonton-Mill Woods.
April 12, 2018 •
Thursday’s Government and Ethics News
Campaign Finance National: “Facebook Fallout Deals Blow to Mercers’ Political Clout” by Nicholas Confessore and David Gelles for New York Times National: “NRA Discloses Two Dozen Additional Contributions from Russian Donors” by Pete Madden and Matthew Mosk for ABC News […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Facebook Fallout Deals Blow to Mercers’ Political Clout” by Nicholas Confessore and David Gelles for New York Times
National: “NRA Discloses Two Dozen Additional Contributions from Russian Donors” by Pete Madden and Matthew Mosk for ABC News
National: “Ex-Candidates May Face Restrictions on Campaign Cash” by Ken Doyle for Bloomberg Government
Missouri: “Missouri Defends Campaign Donation Limits in Eighth Circuit” by Joe Harris for Courthouse News Service
Elections
Kansas: “Kansas AG Wants Court to Bar Out-of-State Residents from Running for Governor” by Hunter Woodall for Kansas City Star
Ethics
Kentucky: “Kentucky Lawmaker Fined for ‘Inappropriate Text Messages’” by Adam Beam (Associated Press) for Miami Herald
Ohio: “Amid FBI Investigation, Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger Resigns” by Chrissie Thompson and Jessie Balmert for Cincinnati Enquirer
Legislative Issues
National: “AP Finds Legislatures Lack Public Records on Harassment” by David Lieb (Associated Press) for Arizona Daily Star
Natoinal: “Speaker Paul Ryan Will Not Seek Re-election in November” by Jonathan Martin and Nicholas Fandos for New York Times
National: “Bipartisan Senators Unveil Compromise Special Counsel Bill Amid Hopes to Break Political Logjam” by Karoun Demirjian for Washington Post
Lobbying
Missouri: “Records Show Drop in Number of Lawmakers Bunking with Lobbyist” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
April 11, 2018 •
Ohio House Speaker Resigns Amid Potential FBI Investigation
Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger is resigning from office, effective May 1, amid a looming FBI investigation. Investigators are looking into his lavish lifestyle, including worldwide travel and his use of a donor’s luxury condominium. Upon his resignation, Speaker Pro […]
Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger is resigning from office, effective May 1, amid a looming FBI investigation.
Investigators are looking into his lavish lifestyle, including worldwide travel and his use of a donor’s luxury condominium.
Upon his resignation, Speaker Pro Tempore Kirk Schuring will assume Rosenberger’s responsibilities until the House elects a new speaker.
April 11, 2018 •
Wednesday’s Government and Ethics News
Campaign Finance New Mexico: Biggest Donors Get Around Contribution Limits by Marjorie Childress (New Mexico In Depth) for New Mexico Political Report New York: State BOE Moves to Curb Autonomy of Enforcement Counsel by Rachel Silberstein for Albany Times Union Ethics National: Top Government Ethics Official […]
Campaign Finance
New Mexico: Biggest Donors Get Around Contribution Limits by Marjorie Childress (New Mexico In Depth) for New Mexico Political Report
New York: State BOE Moves to Curb Autonomy of Enforcement Counsel by Rachel Silberstein for Albany Times Union
Ethics
National: Top Government Ethics Official Demands EPA Probe Pruitt’s Ethics Controversies by Brady Dennis (Washington Post) for Denver Post
National: Trump Advised to Stay Away from Fund for Staff in Russia Probe by Shannon Pettypiece for Bloomberg.com
National: Mueller Investigating Ukrainian’s $150,000 Payment for a Trump Appearance by Michael Schmidt and Maggie Haberman for New York Times
Colorado: Colorado State Sen. Vicki Marble Violated Ethics Rules Through Her Role in Oil and Gas Forum Last Year, Commission Rules by Jesse Paul for Denver Post
Florida: Hialeah’s ‘Junkyard Millionaire’ and His Son Charged in Opa-locka Corruption Case by Jay Weaver for Miami Herald
Georgia: Man Gets Prison for Obstruction in Atlanta Bribery Probe by Kate Brumback (Associated Press) for Washington Times
April 10, 2018 •
Tuesday’s Government and Ethics News
Elections South Dakota: “South Dakota a ‘Standout’ in Limiting Voters’ Ability to Bring Issues to the Ballot” by Dana Ferguson for Sioux Falls Argus Leader Ethics National: “F.B.I. Raids Office of Trump’s Longtime Lawyer Michael Cohen; Trump Calls It ‘Disgraceful’” […]
Elections
South Dakota: “South Dakota a ‘Standout’ in Limiting Voters’ Ability to Bring Issues to the Ballot” by Dana Ferguson for Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Ethics
National: “F.B.I. Raids Office of Trump’s Longtime Lawyer Michael Cohen; Trump Calls It ‘Disgraceful’” by Matt Apuzzo for New York Times
National: “Lobbyist Couple Had to Change the Locks on Pruitt” by Eliana Johnson for Politico
District of Columbia: “Emails: Ousted D.C. government watchdog frustrated the mayor’s aides” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post
Indiana: “Senate Candidate Braun Pushed Legislation Benefiting His Industry as a State Lawmaker” by Tony Cook, Kaitlin Lange, and Robert King for Indianapolis Star
Maryland: “Former Md. Liquor Board Commissioner Sentenced in Bribery Scheme” by Lynh Bui for Washington Post
Lobbying
Alabama: “Ivey Signs Ethics Exemption for Developers into Law” by Kim Chandler for AP News
New York: “JCOPE Reaches Settlement with Top Lobbyist Over de Blasio Donation” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
April 9, 2018 •
Monday’s Government and Ethics News
Campaign Finance National: “Facebook’s New Rules Aim to Thwart the Kind of Ads Bought by Russian Trolls During the Election” by Tony Romm for Washington Post Arizona: “Ducey Signs Bill Overriding Local Laws on Certain Campaign-Finance Disclosures” by Howard Fischer […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Facebook’s New Rules Aim to Thwart the Kind of Ads Bought by Russian Trolls During the Election” by Tony Romm for Washington Post
Arizona: “Ducey Signs Bill Overriding Local Laws on Certain Campaign-Finance Disclosures” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star
Ohio: “Critics Say Rep. Jim Renacci May Have Used ‘Straw Donor’ Scheme to Fund State Campaign Account” by Deirdre Shesgreen (USA Today) for Cincinnati Enquirer
Ethics
National: “Mueller Probe Tracking Down Trump Business Partners, with Cohen a Focus of Queries” by Kevin Hall, Ben Wieder, and Greg Gordon for McClatchy DC
Colorado: “Sexual Harassment, Misconduct Prevalent but Largely Unreported at Colorado Capitol, New Report Finds” by John Frank and Jesse Paul for Denver Post
West Virginia: “WV Ethics Commission Takes Issue with New Public Service Volunteer Law” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette-Mail
Legislative Issues
Hawaii: “What’s Up with All the Gut-And-Replace Trickery at The Legislature This Year?” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat
Lobbying
National: “Lobbyist Tied to Pruitt’s Condo Had Roster of Clients Facing EPA” by Jennifer Dlouhy and Jennifer Jacobs for Bloomberg.com
Canada: “Facebook Claims Its Very Busy Man in Ottawa Is Not a Lobbyist” by Murad Hemmadi for Macleans.ca
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