National:

Russia-Financed Ad Linked Clinton and Satan
New York Times – Cecilia Kang, Nicholas Fandos, and Mike Isaac | Published: 11/1/2017

Lawmakers released scores of political ads purchased by Russian agents on Facebook and Twitter that showed the extent of the Kremlin’s attempts to polarize the American voting public on issues like race, police abuse, and religion. One account, Army of Jesus, published an illustration of an arm-wrestling match between Christ and the devil. “Satan: If I win, Clinton wins!” the headline read. The sampling of ads came during hearings with the top lawyers for Facebook, Twitter, and Google, and were intended to show the executives how pervasively Russia used their platforms to further its campaign of misinformation.

Federal:

Congress Mulls Toughening Foreign Lobbying Law
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 10/31/2017

A day after former Trump campaign chairperson Paul Manafort was indicted on charges that included failing to register as a foreign agent, a top U.S. Senate Republican introduced legislation intended to stiffen enforcement of federal rules for foreign lobbyists. Sen. Chuck Grassley joined Rep. Mike Johnson to propose identical bills they said would address ambiguous requirements for those lobbying on behalf of foreign governments. That ambiguity has, over the years, led to a sharp drop in the number of registrations and the prospect of widespread abuses, they said.

Scofflaw Political Groups Are Ignoring FEC Fines
Politico – Dave Levinthal (Center for Public Integrity) | Published: 10/30/2017

More than 160 political committees and similar groups together owe the federal government more than $1.3 million worth of unpaid fines. Some of those unpaid fines amount to as little as $10 while others soar into five figures. Many cases concern all-but-forgotten also-ran political candidates, but others involve political luminaries. Super PACs and politically active nonprofits have joined the nonpayment parade of late. And there is little evidence any of that cash will soon begin to roll in. Uncooperative political committee leaders, bureaucratic bumbling, and weak enforcement efforts all contribute to election law breakers outrunning penalties.

Trump Campaign Adviser Admitted to Lying about Russian Contacts
Washington Post – Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger | Published: 10/30/2017

One of President Trump’s former campaign advisers, George Papadopoulos, pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents who are investigating possible collusion between the campaign and the Russian government. Papadopoulos had contact with unnamed overseas professor, who told him the Russian government had “dirt” on Hillary Clinton, including thousands of her emails. The plea represents the most explicit evidence the Trump campaign was aware the Kremlin was trying to help Trump and the campaign was eager to accept that help. As part of that effort, the Russian government hacked Democratic accounts and released a trove of embarrassing emails related to Clinton’s campaign.

Under Mueller Scrutiny, Democratic Donor Tony Podesta Resigns from Lobbying Firm
New York Times – Kenneth Vogel | Published: 10/30/2017

Hours after the first indictments in the investigation into ties between President Trump’s campaign and the Russian government, Tony Podesta abruptly quit his post atop the Podesta Group, one of K Street’s top lobbying firms. The Podesta Group and another company with which it had worked, Mercury Public Affairs, were referenced, though not by name, in an indictment of two former Trump campaign officials, Paul Manafort and Rick Gates. No charges have been brought against Podesta or officials from his firm or Mercury. But both firms have been subpoenaed for records and testimony about their work on behalf of a client referred to them by Manafort and Gates, the European Center for a Modern Ukraine.

From the States and Municipalities:

Arkansas: State PACs Cite Confusion Over E-Filing
Arkansas Online – Michael Wickline | Published: 10/29/2017

Officials representing several PACs said that because they were confused about the effective date of a new Arkansas law requiring campaign finance reports to be filed in electronic form, they signed affidavits to declare they do not have access to the technology to meet the requirement. Meanwhile, five state elected officials filed their reports on paper without submitting the affidavit required by state law to show why they are not filing electronically. A few of them said they did not file the affidavits partly out of confusion. These five candidates are in addition to six others who did sign the exemption affidavits. Two new laws address electronic filing of the reports.

Connecticut: Tucked in Budget: Shorter leash on election watchdogs
Connecticut Post – Mark Pazniokas | Published: 10/30/2017

Connecticut lawmakers are using a bipartisan budget deal to do what they could not during the regular session: require the State Elections Enforcement Commission to dismiss complaints against candidates, including legislators, that are not resolved in one year. At the same time, lawmakers included a provision in the budget that more than doubles the maximum campaign contribution they can accept to qualify for public financing under the Citizens’ Election Program from $100 to $250, a change likely to ease their access to public dollars for their campaigns. Gov. Dannell Malloy has not yet signed the budget bill.

Florida: City Issues New Ethics Rules for Employees
Tallahassee Democrat – Jeffrey Schweers | Published: 10/30/2017

Tallahassee employees cannot accept gifts of $100 or more from contractors and suppliers with the city and must tell their supervisors each year of any outside work. The email notification of the changes was sent on the heels of an ethics workshop where the city commission adopted three provisions involving misuse of position, gifts from lobbyists, and greater financial disclosure.

Florida: Ethics Board Cites Justin Sayfie, Capitol Group for Reporting Violations
Florida Politics – Jim Rosica | Published: 10/25/2017

The Florida Commission on Ethics is moving against lobbyist Justin Sayfie and another firm for problems arising from random audits of their compensation reports. Sayfie called the problem “a simple math error.” The commission also dropped cases against three other executive-branch lobbying concerns. The ethics board said it found probable cause “to believe that the executive branch lobbying firm under-reported compensation received from a principal for the third and fourth quarters of 2015.” Once the commission finds probable cause, that finding is sent to the governor for further action. The firms can request a hearing, or the governor and Cabinet members can decide to call a hearing on their own.

Florida: Florida Politicians Become Surveillance Targets as Political Payback Rumors Swirl
Politico – Matt Dixon | Published: 10/30/2017

During the final week of the 2017 legislative session, a covert surveillance camera recorded the comings and goings of legislators and lobbyists living on the sixth floor of the Tennyson condominium near the Florida Capitol. Weeks later, in a parking lot of a restaurant in Tallahassee, Sen. Jack Latvala, a candidate for governor, was also being spied upon. Photographs show him kissing a female lobbyist. These incidents were the work of private investigators, whose research has fueled an escalating barrage of rumors about sexual harassment in Tallahassee and infidelity among state lawmakers.

Illinois: Emanuel’s Ethics Board Walks Back $2,500 Fines Against 3 Who Illegally Lobbied Him
Chicago Tribune – Bill Ruthhart | Published: 10/27/2017

In July, the Chicago Board of Ethics fined businessperson Jim Abrams, Linden Capital Partners President Tony Davis, and attorney Alan King $2,500 each after finding they failed to register as lobbyists after seeking to influence Mayor Rahm Emanuel through his personal email account. But the board has rescinded the fines. As part of the settlement, the men agreed not to lobby any city official for one year without registering and to complete a training program on the lobbying law. When large fines were levied in the first round of fines for illegally lobbying the mayor, Emanuel accused the ethics board of turning “average citizens” into lobbyists.

Massachusetts: Rare Trick Pays Off Big Time for Lobbyists
Boston Herald – Matt Stout | Published: 10/30/2017

Some of Massachusetts’ top-paid lobbyists have fattened their lucrative paychecks by working under multiple firms and in some cases, raising concerns of potential conflicts between their well-played clientele. At least three of the top 10 highest compensated lobbyists registered as working in the Capitol last year reported building a client list of at least two different lobbying firms, each pushing their total pay north of $500,000. Ethics experts cautioned that lobbyists have to tread lightly in situations involving complex bills in which clients stake out separate interests.

South Carolina: Law Provides Loophole for South Carolina Legislators to Be Paid for ‘Consulting’ Work
Charleston Post and Courier – Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) | Published: 10/29/2017

When they were in office, few knew that state Reps. Jim Harrison and Tracy Edge, both in House leadership posts, were working for Richard Quinn, one of South Carolina’s most influential political and business consultants. Between them, Edge and Harrison earned a reported $1.2 million from their secret consulting work with Quinn. They could keep the payments under wraps because, until this year, lawmakers did not have to disclose that kind of consulting work on ethics reports. But even after last year’s income disclosure law required public officials to start reporting all sources of income, much can remain hidden.

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.

Lobbying

Massachusetts: “Rare Trick Pays Off Big Time for Lobbyists” by Matt Stout for Boston Herald

Campaign Finance

Tennessee: “Jeremy Durham Fined $10,000 for Incorrect PAC Disclosures” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Ethics

“Trolling Trump: How viral visual taunts have changed protest in nation’s capital” by Steve Hendricks and Perry Stein for Washington Post

Florida: “Florida Politicians Become Surveillance Targets as Political Payback Rumors Swirl” by Matt Dixon for Politico

Florida: “State Attorney: Allegations, hearsay not enough to pursue criminal charges over football tickets, catering discount” by Jeffrey Schweers for Tallahassee Democrat

Kansas: “Not Only Does Sexual Harassment Happen at Kansas Capitol, ‘It’s a Regular Occurrence’” by Hunter Woodall, Kelsey Ryan, and Bryan Lowry for Kansas City Star

New York: “Amid Larger Moment, Will Albany Face Another Sexual Misconduct Reckoning” by Rachel Silberstein for Gotham Gazette

Pennsylvania: “Ex-Pa. Treasurer Sentenced to Probation for Lying to Feds” by Angela Couloumbis for Philadelphia Inquirer

Washington: “Women at Washington State Capitol Say ‘Me Too’” by Austin Jenkins and Walker Orenstein for NW News Network

Lobbying

“Grassley Introduces Bill to Toughen Foreign Lobbying Oversight after Manafort Indictment” by Kyle Cheney for Politico

“Under Mueller Scrutiny, Democratic Donor Tony Podesta Resigns from Lobbying Firm” by Kenneth Vogel for New York Times

Campaign Finance

“Scofflaw Political Groups Are Ignoring FEC Fines” by Dave Levinthal (Center for Public Integrity) for Politico

Canada: “B.C. to Ban Corporate and Union Donations in Municipal Elections” by Rob Shaw for Vancouver Sun

Arkansas: “State PACs Cite Confusion Over E-Filing” by Michael Wickline for Arkansas Online

Connecticut: “Tucked in Budget: Shorter leash on election watchdogs” by Mark Pazniokas for Connecticut Post

Illinois: “At Hearing on Harassment Bill, Lobbyist Accuses Senator” by Tina Sfondeles and Fran Spielman for Chicago Sun-Times

Ethics

Arizona: “Arizona House Now Has Written Policy Against Sex Harassment After Complaint” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star

Florida: “City Issues New Ethics Rules for Employees” by Jeffrey Schweers for Tallahassee Democrat

Ethics

Trump Campaign Adviser Admitted to Lying about Russian Contacts by Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

Manafort Indicted on 12 Counts, Surrenders to FBI by Katie Bo Williams for The Hill

How Congress Plays by Different Rules on Sexual Harassment and Misconduct by Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Elise Viebeck for Washington Post

California: California Assemblyman Was Disciplined After Woman Claimed He Groped Her by Melanie Mason for Los Angeles Times

Florida: Florida Senate’s Top Democrat Resigns after Admitting Affair with Lobbyist by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald

South Carolina: Law Provides Loophole for South Carolina Legislators to Be Paid for ‘Consulting’ Work by Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) for Charleston Post and Courier

Campaign Finance

California: Judge Sentences Azano to Three Years in Federal Prison by Greg Moran for San Diego Union Tribune

New York: De Blasio Donor Says He Helped Mayor Get Ex-Jail Guards Chief ‘Under Control’ by Vivian Wang for New York Times

Procurement

Puerto Rico Moves to Cancel Contract with Whitefish Energy to Repair Electric Grid by Steven Mufson, Arelis Hernandez, and Aaron Davis for Washington Post

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) will conduct a public hearing on proposed regulations in Hearing Room A of the Legislative Building, 198 State Street, Albany, New York on October 30, from 1-4 p.m.

The proposed regulations compile existing guidelines and advisory opinions regarding rules and requirements related to lobbying. The proposals were originally introduced in October 2016 and were reviewed in December 2016.

After the public hearing, JCOPE will review comments and decide if further amendments must be made. If the rules are adopted, JCOPE must follow the State Administrative Procedures Act and file the full text of the rule with the Department of State.

More information about the proposed regulations are available at JCOPE’s website.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission held an informal meeting this week to review a proposed amendment regarding a cooling-off period for elected officials and state employees.

The proposed amendment would require state employees and public officials to wait 2 years before registering as a lobbyist or representing another entity before the agency he or she previously served.

Supporters believe a cooling-off period prevents a conflict of interest while opponents to the proposed amendment feel it discourages involvement in government.

The proposal also includes a waiver of the restriction if the intent of the cooling-off period would not be undermined when waived.

Ethics

Justice Department Agrees to Settle Lawsuits Over IRS Scrutiny of Tea Party Groups by Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post

California: Sexual Harassment Complaints Topic of California Assembly Public Hearings by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee

Florida: City Commissioners Nix Key Wording in Ethics Ordinance by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat

South Carolina: South Carolina GOP Caucus: Open records law doesn’t apply by The Associated Press for Raleigh News and Observer

Campaign Finance

FEC Drops Foreign Money Case Involving Super PAC Contributions by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA

Kansas: Kansas Ethics Panel Says No to Bitcoin Contributions, at Least for Now by Peter Hancock for Lawrence Journal-World

Lobbying

Florida: Ethics Board Cites Justin Sayfie, Capitol Group for Reporting Violations by Jim Rosica for Florida Politics

Illinois: Emanuel’s Ethics Board Walks Back $2,500 Fines Against 3 Who Illegally Lobbied Him by Bill Ruthhart for Chicago Tribune

Elections

Kentucky: Fired Elections Staffer Alleges Grimes Improperly Gathered Voter Data During Campaigns by Daniel Desrochers for Lexington Herald-Leader

Procurement

With Business Booming Under Trump, Private Prison Giant Gathers at President’s Resort by Amy Brittain and Drew Harwell for Washington Post

Let Becky give you this week’s Government and Ethics News You Can Use, and stick around for details on our annual donuts and cider sale on Halloween to benefit the United Way of Summit County!

National:

Black Executives Join Forces, Forming a PAC to Back Them Up
New York Times – Kate Kelly | Published: 10/24/2017

Dozens of black executives and their spouses joined U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, as well as Eric Holder Jr., the former attorney general, for a private dinner in July in Bridgehampton, New York. Many attendees had long been part of an informal group of friends and associates who raised money for philanthropies or policy issues on an ad hoc basis. At the dinner, they decided it was time to use their wealth and stature in a more formal way. By early 2018, the group hopes to start a political action committee, creating a new fundraising model for corporate executives of color. The group would support candidates of any political party who fit the PAC’s agenda.

Russia’s Favored Outlet Is an Online News Giant. YouTube Helped.
New York Times – Daisuke Wakabayashi and Nicholas Confessore | Published: 10/23/2017

As investigators examine the scope and reach of Russian interference in American politics, the once-cozy relationship between RT and YouTube is drawing closer scrutiny. YouTube played a crucial role in helping build and expand RT, an organization the U.S. intelligence community has described as the Kremlin’s “principal international propaganda outlet” and a key player in Russia’s information warfare operations around the world. While Kremlin-aligned agents secretly built fake Facebook groups to foment political division and deployed hordes of Twitter bots to stoke criticism of Hillary Clinton, RT worked out in the open, bolstered by one of the largest online audiences of any news organization in the world and a prominent presence on YouTube’s search results.

Study: Despite changing demographics, the political playing field still tilts toward white men
Washington Post – Vanessa Williams | Published: 10/24/2017

Women are running for office in larger numbers in the run-up to the 2018 midterm elections, but most of them face formidable odds because of long-standing practices and attitudes that are more favorable to men. The Reflective Democracy Campaign study finds that despite the growing diversity within the U.S. population, 90 percent of elected officials, from the local to the national level, are white, and most are male. Even in some jurisdictions in which the majority of the residents are people of color, the elected leadership is dominated by whites. The report’s authors point to gatekeepers such as political parties and outside groups that provide financial and logistical support to candidates as more often working to maintain the status quo than helping to elect candidates more reflective of their communities.

Federal:

As G.O.P. Bends Toward Trump, Critics Either Give in or Give Up
New York Times – Jonathan Martin and Jeremy Peters | Published: 10/25/2017

Some observers see an existential threat to traditional Republicans as the Grand Old Party risks a longer-term transformation into the Party of Trump. President Trump’s brand of hard-edge nationalism is taking root within his adopted party, and those uneasy with grievance politics are either giving in or giving up the fight. Many of those who remain will have to accommodate the president to survive primaries from the pro-Trump right. The party establishment, Trump backers say, wants to govern as if the election never happened. “They still think the election was about Trump’s personality. It wasn’t. It was his ideas,” said Laura Ingraham, a pro-Trump talk show host.

Mueller Now Investigating Democratic Lobbyist Tony Podesta
NBC News – Tom Winter and Julia Ainsley | Published: 10/23/2017

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating lobbyist Tony Podesta and the Podesta Group. Mueller, who is leading the investigation into Russia’s attempts to meddle in the U.S. election, is reportedly probing the firm to determine whether it violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in its work for the European Centre for a Modern Ukraine (ECMU). The non-profit ECMU was part of a public relations campaign run by former President Trump’s campaign chairperson, Paul Manafort, to support Ukraine’s reputation. Sources said the investigation into Podesta and his company began as more of a fact-finding mission about the ECMU and Manafort’s role in the campaign, but has now morphed into a criminal inquiry.

From the States and Municipalities:

Colorado: Cub Scout Is Exiled After Pressing Legislator on Guns and Race
New York Times – Christine Hauser | Published: 10/22/2017

A Cub Scout was forced out of his den after he strongly questioned a state lawmaker about her stance on gun control. Ames Mayfield, 11, was asked to leave the den, the groups Cub Scouts are organized in, after he pushed Colorado Sen. Vicki Marble about her stance on gun legislation and past comments she made about health issues among black people. Soon after the event, Marble met with the leader of the Cub Scout pack that includes Mayfield’s den. Afterward, the leader told Mayfield’s mother that he was upset over the questions on guns and Mayfield would have to leave that den.

Florida: City Manager Asked Lobbyist for Football Tickets
Tallahassee Democrat – Jeff Burlew | Published: 10/24/2017

Tallahassee City Manager Rick Fernandez asked a local lobbyist for four tickets to a Florida State University football game last year. The text exchange was delivered to the state ethics commission, which is investigating a complaint involving Fernandez. Florida’s ethics laws prohibit public officials from knowingly accepting, a gift from someone who lobbies the public official’s agency if he or she reasonably believes that the gift has a value over $100.  The box seat football tickets, which had an estimated total value of about $2,000, were not included in Fernandez’s public gift disclosures. There is no indication in the texts that the city manager paid for the tickets.

Missouri: New Limits to Campaign Financing Confuse Missouri’s Political Candidates
St. Louis Public Radio – Jo Mannies | Published: 10/24/2017

Missouri candidates are grappling with the new restrictions to campaign donations mandated by Amendment 2. Voters approved the constitutional amendment in 2016, putting an end to the Missouri’s status as one of only a handful of states without donation limits. But flaws in the new system are prompting the General Assembly and political activists to seek more changes. The Missouri Ethics Commission, charged with enforcing the new law, has had its hands full. The panel has issued at least 15 different opinions addressing various provisions of Amendment 2. It is also in the middle of several lawsuits.

Montana: Donors Once Again Much More Limited in Contributions to Montana Candidates
Helena Independent Record – Amy Beth Hanson (Associated Press) | Published: 10/23/2017

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated Montana’s previous limits on the amount of money candidates can receive. In May 2016, a federal judge declared that Montana’s contribution limits were unconstitutional and voided those caps. That kicked the state back to amounts set before a 1994 initiative where voters lowered how much candidates could collect. The Ninth Circuit’s actions bring Montana back to the voter-approved limits. A summary of the court’s opinion said the panel found the limits “both justified by and adequately tailored to the state’s interest in combating quid pro quo corruption or its appearance.”

New York: Former Top Assembly Ethics Official: Position a ‘waste of money’
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 10/22/2017

In the wake of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s indictment on fraud and extortion charges, his successor embarked on what seemed like a major reform. Speaker Carl Heastie was praised for conducting a nationwide search for the leader of the newly created Assembly Office of Ethics and Compliance. In September 2015, Heastie announced that Jane Feldman, a respected former top ethics official in Colorado, would lead the office. But only a few months after taking the position, Feldman began to doubt that Heastie was serious about reform. Looking back, Feldman regards her hiring in large part as a public relations move by the legislative chamber’s leadership.

New York: Reform Group Criticizes JCOPE’s Online Lobbying Filing System
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 10/24/2017

Reinvent Albany released a report calling the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics’ (JCOPE) online lobbying filing system “antiquated and outdated.” The group says certain filings raise questions about whether information is accurately and completely reported. Former top state lobbying official David Grandeau, now a private attorney, also submitted comments on JCOPE’s proposed comprehensive lobbying regulations alleging that a number go beyond what is allowed in state law.

Pennsylvania: Irate Judge Gives Ex-Philly DA Seth Williams 5-Year Sentence in Bribery, Corruption Case
Philadelphia Inquirer – Jeremy Roebuck | Published: 10/24/2017

Former Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, a career prosecutor who chased down municipal corruption but whose tenure was mired in a corruption scandal, was sentenced to five years in prison for accepting a bribe. “Your profound dishonesty has to be deterred,” U.S. District Court Judge Paul Diamond said before ordering that Williams be imprisoned immediately. An investigation into Williams’ financial affairs resulted in a wide-ranging indictment in which he was charged with accepting cash and gifts, fraudulently using thousands of dollars from his campaign fund for personal expenses, misusing city vehicles, and misappropriating money intended to fund his mother’s nursing home care.

South Carolina: Quinn’s State House ‘Tentacles’ Included Paying Lawmakers $1.3 Million, Judge Told
The State – John Monk | Published: 10/24/2017

For the first time, Solicitor David Pascoe laid out details of a much-rumored behind-the-scenes payoff scheme to buy influence at the South Carolina Legislature. Richard Quinn literally put lawmakers on the payroll of his consulting firm, working with now-former state Reps. Tracy Edge and Jim Harrison to peddle influence on certain legislation that would benefit his private industry clients. “[Quinn] used legislators, groomed legislators, and inspired legislators and others to violate multiple provisions of the state ethics act so they could all make money,” Pascoe told a judge.

Texas: Lawmakers Accept $1.5 Million While Passing Governor’s Agenda
Texas Monitor – Andrew McLemore | Published: 10/19/2017

During this summer’s special session of the Texas Legislature, the state’s top elected officials collected more than $1.5 million in campaign contributions. The lion’s share of those dollars went to Gov. Greg Abbott, who accepted nearly $900,000 during the two-month special session. State law prohibits campaign contributions during regular sessions but say nothing about accepting money during the special session. Some legislators see a conflict-of-interest in this practice and abstain. Most do not. Of the 183 officials involved in the legislative process, 103 reported campaign contributions during the special session.

Virginia: Ed Gillespie’s Lobbying Career Included Work for Firms with Vast Interests in Virginia
Washington Post – Beth Reinhardt | Published: 10/19/2017

If he is elected governor of Virginia, Ed Gillespie would face decisions in which the public’s interests may conflict with the interests of companies that have paid his firms millions of dollars collectively for lobbying and consulting services, and that could hire him again. Gillespie closed his consulting firm, Ed Gillespie Strategies, shortly before launching his campaign in January. The Republican nominee has no current financial interests in the companies, such as stock holdings, and he and his wife would put their personal investments in a blind trust if elected.

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.

Lobbying

Florida: “City Manager Asked Lobbyist for Football Tickets” by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat

New York: “Reform Group Criticizes JCOPE’s Online Lobbying Filing System” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Tempe Considers Ballot Measure to Curb ‘Dark Money’ Influence in Elections” by Jerod MacDonad-Evoy for Arizona Republic

Missouri: “New Limits to Campaign Financing Confuse Missouri’s Political Candidates” by Jo Mannies for St. Louis Public Radio

Pennsylvania: “2 Top Brady Aides Charged in Probe of Payoff to 2012 Primary Rival” by Jeremy Roebuck, Chris Brennan, and Craig McCoy for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

Illinois: “Women Want Statehouse Sexual Harassment Exposed – and Stopped” by Tina Sfondeles for Chicago Sun-Times

Pennsylvania: “Irate Judge Gives Ex-Philly DA Seth Williams 5-Year Sentence in Bribery, Corruption Case” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

South Carolina: “Quinn’s State House ‘Tentacles’ Included Paying Lawmakers $1.3 Million, Judge Told” by John Monk for The State

Tennessee: “Ethics Commission Levies $30,000 Fine Against Jeremy Durham” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Elections

“Study: Despite changing demographics, the political playing field still tilts toward white men” by Vanessa Williams for Washington Post

“Clinton Campaign, DNC Paid for Research That Led to Russia Dossier” by Adam Entous, Devlin Barrett, and Rosalind Helderman for Washington Post

Lobbying

Washington: “Seattle Mayoral Aide Sees Conflict of Interest in Lobbying by Political Consultants” by Jim Brunner for Seattle Times

Campaign Finance

“Black Executives Join Forces, Forming a PAC to Back Them Up” by Kate Kelly for New York Times

Florida: “Beach Commissioner Resigns, Cuts Deal Barring Him from Public Office for One Year” by Joey Flechas and Nicholas Nehamas for Miami Herald

Idaho: “City Attorney Investigates Helicopter Promotion” by Bruyan Clark for Post-Register

Missouri: “Greitens’ Office Coordinated with Campaign Fund Over Top Missouri Schools Job, Report Shows” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Ethics

California: “California Senate Hires Two Firms to Investigate Sexual Harassment Complaints” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee

Oregon: “State Senator: Fellow senator groped me in Oregon Capitol” by Gordon Friedman for Portland Oregonian

Texas: “Prosecutors Drop All Remaining Charges Against Rep. Dawnna Dukes” by Nolan Hicks, Mark Wilson, and Ryan Autullo for Austin American-Statesman

Elections

“Russia’s Favored Outlet Is an Online News Giant. YouTube Helped.” by Daisuke Wakabayashi and Nicholas Confessore for New York Times

Legislative Issues

“Sen. Jeff Flake Will Retire, Citing Direction of GOP Under Trump” by David Weigel and Ed O’Keefe for Washington Post

Procurement

Montana: “Small Montana Firm Lands Puerto Rico’s Biggest Contract to Get the Power Back On” by Steven Mufson, Jack Gillum, Aaron Davis, and Arelis Hernandez for Washington Post

Lobbying

“Mueller Now Investigating Democratic Lobbyist Tony Podesta” by Tom Winter and Julia Ainsley for NBC News

Campaign Finance

“Democrats Ban Some Corporate Donations While Approving Controversial New Member List” by David Weigel for Washington Post

California: “Feds Toss Jury Convictions Against Azano’s Son, Agree to Misdemeanor” by Kristina Davis and Greg Moran for San Diego Union Tribune

Montana: “Donors Once Again Much More Limited in Contributions to Montana Candidates” by Amy Beth Hanson for Helena Independent Record

Ethics

“Cub Scout Is Exiled After Pressing Legislator on Guns and Race” by Christine Hauser for New York Times

Florida: “He Paid His Ethics Fine in Pennies. Now Hialeah’s Mayor Investigates the Ethics Board.” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald

New York: “Former Top Assembly Ethics Official: Position a ‘waste of money’” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Pennsylvania: “Sexual Harassment Inside the Pa. Capitol? It Exists and ‘Needs to Stop,’ Lobbyist Says” by Jan Murphy for PennLive.com

Elections

“Hopes Dim for Congressional Russia Inquiries as Parties Clash” by Nicholas Fandos for New York Times

Lobbying

“RT Bucks DOJ Request to Register as a Foreign Agent” by Hadas Gold for CNN Money

Virginia: “Ed Gillespie’s Lobbying Career Included Work for Firms with Vast Interests in Virginia” by Beth Reinhardt for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

“Lawmakers Unveil Bill to Thwart Russian Election Ads on Social Media” by Ashley Gold and Nancy Scola for Politico

New York: “No Public Financing, but ‘Comp Time’ Gives Public Help for Campaigns: Tax Watch” by David McKay Wilson for The Journal News

Texas: “Lawmakers Accept $1.5 Million While Passing Governor’s Agenda” by Andrew McLemore for Texas Monitor

Ethics

Alabama: “Charity’s Promised Back Pay to Roy Moore Was Not Reported to IRS As Income” by Robert O’Harrow Jr. and Shawn Boburg for Washington Post

California: “Campaign Grows Against Sexual Harassment at California Capitol” by Taryn Luna and Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee

South Carolina: “Clients Leaving South Carolina Political Consultant Indicted in Statehouse Corruption Probe” by Andy Shain for Charleston Post and Courier

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Lawmaker’s Tweets About Roofing Company Raise Ethics Questions” by Keegan Kyle for Appleton Post-Crescent

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed four bills into law – three amending the Political Reform Act and one amending post employment restrictions.

Assembly Bill 867 states behested payments are not contributions and recasts the provisions defining the term “contribution.”

Senate Bill 45 prohibits sending mass mailings within the 60 days before an election by or on behalf of a candidate on the ballot.

Senate Bill 226 requires slate mailer organizations to disclose on any mailing whether the organization represents public safety personnel.

Assembly Bill 1620 extends the time frame a member of the Legislature can lobby after resignation from one year after leaving office to one year after the adjournment sine die of the session in which the resignation occurred.