Former Hawaii House Speaker Joseph Souki is being forced to resign after admitting to inappropriately touching and kissing multiple women over his legislative tenure.

His resignation is part of a State Ethics Commission settlement agreement stemming from allegations filed by multiple women.

The Commission agreed to resolve the matter if Souki resigns by March 30, issues a public apology, pays an administrative fine, and does not seek public office for two years.

Souki, 86, has served in the Hawaii State Legislature since 1982.

A lot of campaign finance, ethics, elections and lobbying news to cover in this weeks NYCU Video Digest!

National:

There’s Never Been a Native American Congresswoman. That Could Change in 2018.
New York Times – Julie Turkewitz | Published: 3/19/2018

There are at least four indigenous women running for Congress, three more are bidding for governors’ offices, and another 31 are campaigning for seats in state Legislatures, from both sides of the aisle. The numbers far outstrip past election cycles, longtime observers of native politics say, and they are only partly driven by the liberal energy and #MeToo declarations that have flourished since Donald Trump’s election. More broadly, they are part of a decades-long shift in which native communities, long marginalized by U.S. voting laws and skeptical of a government that stripped them of land and traditions, are moving into mainstream politics.

Federal:

Bye-Bye Box Seats? Tax Law May Curb Corporate Cash at Games
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Marcy Gordon (Associated Press) | Published: 3/18/2018

K Street lobbyists who helped craft the Republican tax legislation could now be pinched by it. American companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually on entertaining customers and clients at sporting events, tournaments, and arts venues, an expense that until this year they could partially deduct from their tax bill. But a provision in the new law eliminates the long-standing 50 percent deduction in an effort to curb the overall price tag of the legislation and streamline the tax code. The provision is one of the many under-the-radar consequences slowly emerging from the new tax law.

Federal Election Officials Failed to Enforce Campaign Finance Requirements on Outside Group in 2010, Judge Rules
Washington Post – Michelle Ye Hee Lee | Published: 3/20/2018

U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper ruled the FEC did not properly enforce campaign finance laws in the case a “dark money” group that was active during the 2010 midterm elections. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington alleged that certain political ads paid for by the nonprofit American Action Network should be considered “electioneering” activity and therefore subject to disclosure requirements of who paid for the messages. The FEC deadlocked along party lines and dismissed two complaints. Cooper said the dismissals ran “contrary to law” and were based on erroneous and narrow interpretations of federal statutes governing the FEC’s enforcement powers.

Judge Rules Defamation Case Against Trump May Proceed
Washington Post – Mark Berman and Frances Stead Sellers | Published: 3/20/2018

A New York judge rejected a bid by President Trump to dismiss a lawsuit relating to his alleged groping of Summer Zervos, who was a contestant on “The Apprentice.” Lawyers for Trump argued he was immune from the suit in state court while serving as president. “Nothing in the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution even suggests that the President cannot be called to account before a state court for wrongful conduct that bears no relationship to any federal executive responsibility,” Judge Jennifer Schecter wrote. The ruling raises the possibility that Trump could be ordered to submit to a deposition about his conduct toward Zervos and perhaps other women, as well.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama – Etowah Sheriff Pockets $750k in Jail Food Funds, Buys $740K Beach House
AL.com – Connor Sheets | Published: 3/13/2018

A sheriff in Alabama took home as personal profit more than $750,000 that was budgeted to feed jail inmates and then purchased a $740,000 beach house. And it is perfectly legal in Alabama, according to state law and local officials. The state has a Depression-era law that allows sheriffs to “keep and retain” unspent money from jail food-provision accounts. Sheriffs take excess money as personal income and, in the event of a shortfall, are personally liable for covering the gap. In most cases, the public does not know how much money is involved because sheriffs do not need to report extra income of less than $250,000 a year.

Arkansas – Former Arkansas Legislator’s Name Surfaces in Graft Case
Arkansas Online – Doug Thompson | Published: 3/17/2018

An Arkansas judge admitted to accepting $100,000 in bribes from an indicted lobbyist while the judge was a state lawmaker, federal prosecutors said. Jefferson County Judge Henry Wilkins IV admitted to the FBI in February that he took the money from lobbyist Milton Cranford. Cranford, an executive for the nonprofit Preferred Family Healthcare, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and accepting bribes. Prosecutors say the nonprofit paid bribes through Cranford’s lobbying firms to win state grants and taxpayer money. Prosecutors said Wilkins received the money in the form of donations to a church where he serves as pastor. In exchange for the contributions, authorities say, Cranford counted on Wilkins’ support while he served in the state Legislature from 2011 to 2015.

California – Imperial County Is a Web of Friends and Family. Is It Too Small to Investigate Itself?
Palm Springs Desert Sun – Sammy Roth | Published: 3/15/2018

When Gilbert Otero said he would investigate the Imperial Irrigation District, he took on a case involving more than $100 million in energy contracts and some of the most powerful people in Imperial County, California, where Otero is the district attorney. But there are close ties between Otero and the individuals he is investigating. The Imperial Irrigation District and the county government wield most of the political power, and top officials at those agencies are often friends or relatives of powerful farmers. Many of them have done business together. For some legal ethics experts, the links between Otero’s office and the people he is investigating are a clear sign he should recuse himself and refer the case elsewhere. They are also a sign that Imperial County may be too small to investigate itself.

Florida – In Miami, MCM Thrives on Big County Contracts. Now It Faces the FIU Bridge Catastrophe
Miami Herald – Douglas Hanks | Published: 3/19/2018

Munilla Construction Management (MCM) has a long record of winning contracts and favors from local officials in South Florida, a legacy now facing its harshest test as the firm was behind the Florida International University pedestrian bridge that collapsed and killed six people. The catastrophe threw a spotlight not just on MCM’s large projects, but on its ties to Miami’s political circles as well. In past years, the company has hired both of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s sons – Julio as an executive and C.J. as a registered lobbyist. The mayor’s wife, Lourdes, is a cousin to the Munilla brothers, and C.J. Gimenez has offered the firm pro bono communications advice after the bridge collapse.

Illinois – Denounced by His Party as a Nazi, Arthur Jones Wins Illinois G.O.P. Congressional Primary
New York Times – Liam Stack | Published: 3/21/2018

A Holocaust denier and neo-Nazi has officially become the Republican nominee for a congressional seat in Illinois. Arthur Jones won the nomination after running uncontested in the GOP primary for the Third Congressional District, which includes part of Chicago and its suburbs. Jones’s campaign website contains a page devoted to the Holocaust, which he said in an interview was “a greatly overblown nonevent” and “an international extortion racket.” The state Republican Party has sought to distance itself from Jones in recent weeks, blanketing the district with campaign fliers and robocalls urging voters to “stop Illinois Nazis.” GOP leaders are in talks with several potential candidates to run as an independent in November.

Nevada – Lack of Transparency Questioned in Campaign Theft by DA’s Aide
Las Vegas Review-Journal – Jeff German and David Ferrara | Published: 3/19/2018

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson was not obligated under Nevada law to publicly disclose the theft of nearly $42,000from his campaign account, the secretary of state’s office said. “Money stolen from a campaign account and then returned within a few weeks does not qualify as a reportable contribution or expense,” said Jennifer Russell, a spokesperson for Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske. But some are questioning that interpretation of the statute, saying it goes against the law’s intent to maintain transparency in the election process.

New Mexico – Avenue for Lobbyist Harassment Complaints Unclear
Albuquerque Journal – Marie Baca and Dan Boyd | Published: 3/20/2018

Lobbyists in New Mexico are regulated by the secretary of state’s office, which oversees their registration and financial disclosures and can refer individuals to law enforcement when they are not in compliance with regulations. But the office does not have the authority to investigate harassment or sexual misconduct complaints that involve lobbyists as either alleged perpetrators or victims. Sexual harassment is illegal under the New Mexico Human Rights Act, which defines it as a subset of sexual discrimination and often forms the basis of harassment-related civil lawsuits. But the avenue for state investigation and discipline as it relates to harassment is unclear when one of the parties is a lobbyist.

North Carolina – Cooper Names 8 to North Carolina Elections and Ethics Board
Durham Herald-Sun – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 3/16/2018

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced his initial choices for a new state board that administers both elections and ethics laws, even as he presses his latest legal challenge against the law that created the combined panel. Cooper, a Democrat, appointed eight people – four Democrats and four Republicans, as the law requires. The law took effect March 16 because Cooper decided to let it become law without his signature. There has not been a board seated since last June, the result of extended litigation between Cooper and GOP leaders. That has led to difficulties for the state board and county boards to carry out their responsibilities.

Pennsylvania – Supreme Court Refuses to Stop New Congressional Maps in Pennsylvania
Washington Post – Robert Barnes | Published: 3/19/2018

The U.S. Supreme Court refused an emergency appeal by Pennsylvania Republicans to block the implementation of a new court-ordered congressional map, a decision that all but assures that new district lines making several races more competitive for Democrats will be in place for this year’s midterm elections. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court had ruled the state’s congressional map had been warped by partisan gerrymandering and then imposed one of its own. Republican lawmakers said the state Supreme Court had usurped the Legislature’s role in violation of federal law. Generally, the justices stay out of the way when a state’s highest court is interpreting its own state constitution.

South Dakota – ‘Pay to Play’ Questions Emerge in South Dakota Governor’s Race
Sioux Falls Argus Leader – John Hult | Published: 3/18/2018

South Dakota’s campaign finance laws do little to stop companies and citizens who contract with the state from donating to the candidates who might hire them after the election. Individual donors who own or work for state-contracted companies commonly give to candidates, but state law does not require them to disclose their employer or industry. The FEC requires disclosure of occupation and employer for individual donors giving $200 or more to a candidate committee, and 32 states have similar rules. Attempts in Pierre to tighten the laws have fallen short, however. Lawmakers also overturned a voter-backed ethics law called Initiated Measure 22 last year after a judge issued an injunction against it.

Washington – Wash. Gov Signs Universal Voter Registration Law
The Hill – Reid Wilson | Published: 3/20/2018

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a package of bills aimed at increasing voter access in the state, including a measure to preregister 16- and 17-year-olds and another that allows in-person voter registration to occur the same day of an election. Inslee also signed a bill that requires nonprofit organizations, who are not defined as political committees, to file statements with the Public Disclosure Commission if they make contributions or expenditures on campaigns above a specified threshold and to disclose certain contributors, starting January 1, 2019.

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.

North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger approved the format of a petition to amend the state constitution to include an independent ethics commission.

If voters approve, the ethics commission would be responsible for adopting rules related to elections, lobbying, and for reporting and investigating alleged violations of those rules and related state laws.

Additionally, the measure prohibits gifts from lobbyists, prohibits the delivery of campaign contributions by lobbyists, restricts lobbying from former public officials, and restricts the use of campaign contributions, among other provisions.

Supporters of the petition have until July 9 to gather nearly 27,000 signatures to place the constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

Campaign Finance

National: “Federal Election Officials Failed to Enforce Campaign Finance Requirements on Outside Group in 2010, Judge Rules” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee for Washington Post

National: “Controversy Swirls as Lawmakers Eye Campaign Finance Changes” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Washington: “Wash. Gov Signs Universal Voter Registration Law” by Reid Wilson for The Hill

Elections

Illinois: “Denounced by His Party as a Nazi, Arthur Jones Wins Illinois G.O.P. Congressional Primary” by Liam Stack for New York Times

Mississippi: “Mississippi Governor Defies White House with His G.O.P. Appointee to Senate” by Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns for New York Times

Ethics

National: “Judge Rules Defamation Case Against Trump May Proceed” by Mark Berman and Frances Stead Sellers for Washington Post

National: “White House Job Requirement: Signing a nondisclosure agreement” by Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Maggie Haberman, Michael Shear, and Katie Rogers for New York Times

Hawaii: “Former Hawaii House Speaker Forced Out Over Sexual Harassment” by Anita Hofschneider for Honolulu Civil Beat

Lobbying

New Mexico: “Avenue for Lobbyist Harassment Complaints Unclear” by Marie Baca and Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

The Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) is one step closer to placing an ethics proposal on the November ballot.

Proposal 39, creating an extended waiting period for state and local officials seeking to lobby after leaving office, was approved as amended.

The proposal prohibits state and local officials from lobbying their former departments, agencies, or governing bodies for six years after leaving office. Such persons would also be prohibited from lobbying any federal agency or any state or local body or agency during their respective terms of office.

Upon approval, the measure advanced, along with seven other proposals, to the Style and Drafting Committee. The committee has the authority to revise and combine proposals prior to a final vote by the full commission.

To be placed on the November 6 ballot, the proposal will need support from at least 22 commission members.

Campaign Finance

California: “Californians Appointed to State Posts Could Soon Be Barred from Writing Checks to Lawmakers Who Vote on Their Nomination” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

Nevada: “Lack of Transparency Questioned in Campaign Theft by DA’s Aide” by Jeff German and David Ferrara for Las Vegas Review-Journal

Ohio: “Ohio’s Campaign-Finance Laws for Judges Debated at Sixth Circuit” by Kevin Koeninger for Courthouse News Service

Elections

National: “There’s Never Been a Native American Congresswoman. That Could Change in 2018.” by Julie Turkewitz for New York Times

Kansas: “Kansas Voting Trial Over. One More Court Day, a Contempt Hearing, Ahead for Kobach” by Bryan Lowry for Kansas City Star

Ethics

Florida: “Voters Could Get Say on Government Ethics” by News Service of Florida for Orlando Sentinel

Maryland: “Md. House Approves Overhaul of Anti-Harassment Policy; Fate in Senate Unclear” by Ovetta Wiggins and Rachel Carson for Washington Post

Redistricting

Pennsylvania: “Supreme Court Refuses to Stop New Congressional Maps in Pennsylvania” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “15 Got Promotions from Court Clerk Dorothy Brown Within 6 Months of Donations” by Robert Herguth and Tanveer Ali for Chicago Sun-Times

New York: “JCOPE Continues Long-Running Probe of de Blasio Donors” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

South Dakota: “‘Pay to Play’ Questions Emerge in South Dakota Governor’s Race” by John Hult for Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Elections

National: “Facebook’s Role in Data Misuse Sets Off Storms on Two Continents” by Matthew Rosenberg and Sheera Frenkel for New York Times

Ethics

North Carolina: “Cooper Names 8 to North Carolina Elections and Ethics Board” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for Durham Herald-Sun

Lobbying

National: “Bye-Bye Box Seats? Tax Law May Curb Corporate Cash at Games” by Marcy Gordon (Associated Press) for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Arkansas: “Former Arkansas Legislator’s Name Surfaces in Graft Case” by Doug Thompson for Arkansas Online

Procurement

Florida: “In Miami, MCM Thrives on Big County Contracts. Now It Faces the FIU Bridge Catastrophe” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald

The Board of Commissioners adopted a county ethics ordinance requiring additional disclosures from county candidates, elected officials, and certain county employees.

The ordinance requires candidates, elected officials, and certain county employees to disclose interests in real property and in corporations.

Additionally, the ordinance amends lobbyist reporting from monthly to bi-annual reporting.

The ethics ordinance was needed to bring Carroll County in compliance with state ethics requirements.

Once every 20 years, the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) convenes for the purpose of reviewing the state’s Constitution and proposing changes for voter consideration. The CRC travels around the state for approximately one year to identify issues, perform research, and propose constitutional amendments.

This year, the CRC is considering 37 amendments, including one related to ethics reform. The proposal, known as P-39, establishes a revolving door provision prohibiting lawmakers from lobbying local, state, and federal officials during their terms of office and prohibiting them from lobbying the Legislature and state agencies for six years after leaving office.

Similar waiting periods would apply to appointed officials as well as officials locally elected. Current law imposes a two-year waiting period and applies only to legislators and state officers or employees.

P-39 will be considered by the full CRC this week.

Campaign Finance

National: FEC Considers Expanding Political Ad Disclaimers to Mobile Apps by Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Tony Romm for Washington Post

Elections

National: Teachers Aren’t Just Striking, They’re Running for Office by Alan Greenblatt for Governing

Ethics

National: Trump Cabinet Members Accused of Living Large at Taxpayer Expense by Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis for Washington Post

National: Trump Company Lawyer Involved in Effort to Keep Stormy Daniels Silent, Document Shows by Emma Brown, Beth Reinhard, and Frances Stead Sellers for Washington Post

Alabama: Etowah Sheriff Pockets $750k in Jail Food Funds, Buys $740k Beach House by Connor Sheets for AL.com

California: Imperial County Is a Web of Friends and Family. Is It Too Small to Investigate Itself? by Sammy Roth for Palm Springs Desert Sun

New York: Trial Raises Questions About Many Cuomo Practices by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Lobbying

Missouri: Ex-Greitens’ Adviser Now Registered to Lobby in Missouri by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The fastest 2 & 1/2 minutes in government ethics, campaign finance, legislative sessions and elections news from this week is here!

National:

A Super PAC Has Raised Millions to Mobilize Black Voters. Does It Matter That Its Funders Are White?
Center for Public Integrity – Lateshia Beachum | Published: 3/12/2018

BlackPAC spent nearly $614,000 on canvassing and calls in a matter of weeks last year in Alabama’s special U.S. Senate election, ranking it among the biggest super PAC rainmakers in a race that attracted more than $19 million in non-candidate spending overall, including the primaries. Avowedly anti-Donald Trump, anti-white supremacy, and pro-black political power, BlackPAC is now positioning itself as a difference-maker headed into the 2018 midterm elections. But some to wonder if BlackPAC is little more than a convenient rent-a-group for wealthy Democratic interests struggling to connect with black voters in a post-Barack Obama political era.

Federal:

Companies Fretting Over ‘Foreign Agents’ Label
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 3/13/2018

Legislation in Congress would eliminate a provision that has long shielded international corporations with U.S. subsidiaries from having to file under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The exemption allows private entities, like non-U.S. companies, to disclose their activities through the Lobbying Disclosure Act rather than register as a foreign agent, which comes with a much stricter disclosure regiment. FARA also requires disclosure of more than just lobbying, including advisory services and public relations. While watchdogs support the potential change, saying it would help curtail abuse, international corporations warn that being called a “foreign agent” could create the wrong impression.

White House Aides Blur the Legal Lines Between Partisans and Public Servants
New York Times – Julie Hirschfeld Davis | Published: 3/12/2018

Over the past 14 months there have been at least eight complaints against White House officials for potential violations of the Hatch Act, the law that since 1939 has barred government officials from using their positions to engage in partisan politics. A handful of high-profile violations and the increased number of complaints suggest that, more than a year after taking office, President Trump, who has openly defied many norms of government ethics and transparency, is surrounded by aides who blur the line between their roles as partisans and public servants, sometimes skirting or disregarding altogether decades-old standards that govern the behavior of senior White House officials.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – ‘Hamilton’ Tickets Without the Wait – or the Cost? It Helps to Be an L.A. Politician
Los Angeles Times – Emily Alpert Reyes | Published: 3/10/2018

For many Los Angeles politicians, getting into the hottest show in town was much easier than for the public. Instead of making city council members line up outside the theater to see “Hamilton,” the Pantages Theatre came to them, offering each one a coveted pair of tickets to opening night. Council President Herb Wesson ultimately accepted six tickets to the August show from the theater owner, a gift worth nearly $1,000. Free tickets are a routine part of political life in Los Angeles, where lawmakers have been given free seats at Dodgers games, galas, and other events. Politicians can legally accept them if they stay within city and state rules, which include restrictions on who can give them gifts and how much they can accept.

District of Columbia – D.C. Mayor, Reversing Course, Signs Law Creating Publicly Financed Campaigns
Washington Post – Peter Jamison | Published: 3/13/2018

In a turnaround that caught many by surprise, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a bill creating a public financing program for local campaigns and said she would fund it in the upcoming city budget. The law, which will first affect elections in 2020, will steer millions of dollars annually toward the campaigns of local candidates and is aimed at reducing their reliance on wealthy donors. The switch may help Bowser, who is seeking a second term, combat a perception that she has not done enough to erase a “pay-to-play” culture in city government.

Florida – State Ethics Board Sides with Watchdog Over Hagan, Hillsborough County
WTSP – Noah Pransky | Published: 3/9/2018

The Florida Commission on Ethics rejected Hillsborough County’s controversial petition seeking legal fees from a citizen watchdog who filed an unsuccessful ethics complaint against Commissioner Ken Hagan. The commission expressed concern that other citizen watchdogs could be stymied in future attempts to hold officials accountable if they required George Niemann to pay the county back more than $10,000 in legal fees related to his complaint.

Illinois – Assessor Berrios Loses Court Fight to Overturn Cook County’s Limits on Campaign Donations
Chicago Tribune – Ray Long and Hal Dardick | Published: 3/14/2018

Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios lost his court challenge to the county’s campaign contribution limits, marking a legal and political setback that could restrict how much property tax appeals lawyers who handle cases before his office pour into the assessor’s political funds. Berrios, whose political committees were fined $41,000 for accepting donations exceeding caps set by the county’s ethics ordinance, is expected to appeal. Berrios’ lawyers contended the county rules violate the state constitution because only the Illinois Legislature has authority to set campaign contribution limits. They said the rules also violated the U.S. Constitution because they limited the free-speech rights of tax appeal attorneys.

Iowa – Bill Dix Resigns from Iowa Senate after Video with Lobbyist Is Posted
Des Moines Register – Jason Noble, Brianne Pfannensteil, and William Petroski | Published: 3/12/2018

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix resigned after a website posted a video showing the married lawmaker kissing a lobbyist in a Des Moines bar. The woman was identified as a lobbyist for Iowa League of Cities, an organization that seeks to sway legislation at the Capitol. As the leader of the Republican majority, Dix controlled what bills come up for debate. Sexual harassment has been a major issue in the Senate in recent years following a $1.75 million settlement reached in the case of a former staffer. Dix faced calls for his resignation over the chamber’s handling of a case, which resulted in the creation of the position of human resources manager.

Maryland – Security Video Shows Maryland Lobbyist Touching Lawmaker. He Says It Vindicates Him. She Says It Vindicates Her.
Baltimore Sun – Erin Cox | Published: 3/13/2018

A security camera video shared shows the physical contact that prompted a female Maryland senator to lodge a harassment complaint against a longtime Annapolis lobbyist, the first public accusation of sexual misconduct in the statehouse since the start of the #MeToo movement. The video shows lobbyist Gil Genn approaching Sen. Cheryl Kagan near a crowded bar at Castlebay Irish Pub in Annapolis, putting his hand on her back and sliding it down. Kagan had accused Genn of groping her when they met on March 1. Genn strongly pushed back against Kagan’s claim that the video showed him touching her inappropriately.

Missouri – Missouri Ethics Watchdog Will Be Unable to Meet after Greitens’ Inaction
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Jack Suntrup | Published: 3/13/2018

The Missouri Ethics Commission will be unable to meet because it will not have enough members to establish a quorum. The terms of three members on the six-member commission expired on March 12. It must have at least four members to meet. James Klahr, the commission’s executive director, said without a quorum, the panel will be unable to act on complaints, even though staffers still will be able to monitor issues. He said the lack of a quorum is a continuous problem. “This is an issue that comes up every two years,” Klahr said.

New York – Joseph Percoco, Ex-Cuomo Aide, Found Guilty in Corruption Trial
New York Times – Vivian Wang and Benjamin Weiser | Published: 3/13/2018

Joseph Percoco, a former aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was found guilty of agreeing to take bribes from executives at two companies seeking to do business with the state. The jury also convicted one of the businesspeople charged with paying the bribes, Steven Aiello, an executive at Cor Development. The verdict followed a multi-week trial that put a spotlight on the attempts of private companies to gain influence with Cuomo, who once likened Percoco to a brother. The governor was not accused of wrongdoing, but the trial highlighted Albany as a place where wealthy special interests use campaign donations to gain influence and flout rules meant to regulate lobbying.

North Carolina – Cooper to Appoint North Carolina Elections Board This Week
Durham Herald-Sun – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 3/14/2018

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will appoint members to a combined state elections and ethics board, even while he continues to fight in court over the legality of the board’s latest iteration. Cooper’s office announced the decision two days before a new law approved by legislators creating a nine-member panel is supposed to take effect. The governor has sued GOP legislative leaders three times over bills creating different versions of the joint board. A state board administering elections and campaign finance laws has been vacant since last June while the constitutionality of the combination board has been litigated.

Pennsylvania – Conor Lamb Wins Pennsylvania House Seat, Giving Democrats a Map for Trump Country
New York Times – Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin | Published: 3/14/2018

Conor Lamb scored a razor-thin but extraordinary upset in a special U.S. House election in Pennsylvania after a few thousand absentee ballots cemented a Democratic victory in the heart of President Trump’s Rust Belt base. The Republican candidate, Rick Saccone, may still contest the outcome. But Lamb’s 627-vote lead appeared insurmountable, given the four counties in Pennsylvania’s 18th district have about 500 provisional, military, and other absentee ballots left to count, election officials said. That slim margin, in a district that Trump carried by nearly 20 percentage points in 2016, nonetheless upended the political landscape ahead of November’s midterm elections. It also emboldened Democrats to run maverick campaigns even in deep-red areas where Republicans remain bedeviled by Trump’s unpopularity.

Pennsylvania – Gov. Wolf Proposes Ethics Reforms for Pennsylvania Lawmakers
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Kate Giammarise | Published: 3/12/2018

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf proposed an ethics reform package that includes a complete gift ban for elected officials. Wolf is also proposing that if lawmakers do not pass a budget by the annual July 1 deadline, pay will be suspended for himself, lawmakers, and their top aides. This deadline has been missed by state lawmakers the last three years. The plan calls for broader provisions to discourage “pay-to-play,” such as requiring disclosure of campaign contributions made by parties seeking state contracts. The governor also suggested additional transparency for legislators who have outside income, requiring disclosure of sources, type of work, and amount of income received.

Wyoming – An Effort to Crackdown on ‘Dark Money’ in Wyoming Quietly Died at the Legislature. Nobody Is Quite Sure Why.
Casper Star-Tribune – Arno Rosenfeld | Published: 3/13/2018

The Wyoming Legislature this year sought to clarify and strengthen campaign finance rules. House Bill 2 was meant to improve the ability of law enforcement and local government to enforce the existing laws, while House Bill 67 was meant to clarify those laws. The first measure passed and has been signed into law by Gov. Matt Mead, while House Bill 67 died a quiet – and critics say alarming – death, falling victim to one of the Legislature’s many cut-off deadlines. House Bill 67 would have tightened definitions for political spending to include “electioneering communications,” messages that do not explicitly call for voters to act in a certain manner but nonetheless seek to influence an election.

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.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will appoint members to the State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement while litigation over the structure of the board is pending.

The Democratic governor has sued Republican legislative leaders three times over legislation creating different versions of the joint board. The latest lawsuit was filed by the governor on March 13.

Cooper won the two previous lawsuits over versions creating an eight-member board comprised of four Democrats and four Republicans. He sued again, arguing the now nine-member board still prevents him from having control over carrying out elections laws.

A state board administering elections and campaign finance laws has been vacant since last June while the constitutionality of the joint board has been litigated.