Lobbying

“Under Contract” in The Hill.

“13 K Streeters cross the street” by Byron Tau in Politico.

“Bitcoin gaining currency on K Street” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

Louisiana: “Louisiana business association reviews legislative session: Four things you need to know” by Julia O’Donoghue in The Times-Picayune.

Campaign Finance

“Lawrence Lessig on His Super PAC to End Super PACs” by Denver Nicks in TIME.

“Chamber of Commerce Spends $780K for Kingston” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

North Carolina: “Political action committees have big impact on campaigns” by Susan Ladd in the News & Record.

Ethics

Hawaii: “New Chair Will Steer Hawaii Ethics Commission Through Disclosure Law” by Nathan Eagle in the Honolulu Civil Beat.

Louisiana: “New Orleans Ex-Mayor Ray Nagin Sentenced to 10 Years” by Cameron McWhirter in The Wall Street Journal.

Congress

“Capitol partially closed due to spill” by Mario Trujillo in The Hill.

Government Tech and Social Media

West Virginia: “W. Va. Proceeds With Massive Computer Overhaul, Employees Struggle With the Switchover” in Government Technology.

Lobbying

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

“Bono’s One Action Ramps Up Lobbying” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

Rhode Island: “R.I. lobbyist Rickman discloses he loaned $10,000 in 2009 to ex-House leader Fox” by Katherine Gregg in the Providence Journal.

“Bitcoin Foundation Hires Lobbying Firm” by Ryan Tracy in The Wall Street Journal.

Campaign Finance

Maryland: “Republican Larry Hogan to use public funds in fall campaign for governor of Maryland” by John Wagner in The Washington Post.

Ethics

“Did House Travel Disclosure Rules Change? | A Question of Ethics” by C. Simon Davidson in Politico.

Indiana: “Amid ethics probe, top INDOT official seeks job with firm whose contracts he OK’d” by Tony Cook and Ryan Sabalow in The Indianapolis Star.

Missouri: “It’s back: Streetcar ethics complaint refiled” by Austin Alonzo in the Kansas City Business Journal.

Government Tech and Social Media

“Riverside, Calif., Launches Transparency and Engagement Portal, Rethinks Procurement” by Colin Wood in Government Technology.

Lobbying

“Bottom Line” in The Hill.

“A driving force for truckers” by Keith Laing in The Hill.

“Squire Patton Boggs bolsters presence in Japan” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“Politico Influence: Squire Patton Boggs announces leadership structure” by Byron Tau in Politico.

“Export-Import Bank supporters aim for show of strength in Senate” by Kevin Cirilli and Vicki Needham in The Hill.

Florida: “Tallahassee’s next lobbying gold rush: cannabis” in The Miami Herald.

New York: “NYPIRG: Casino lobbying, spending hits $11 million” by James M. Odato in the Times Union.

Pennsylvania: “Ethics Commission fines lobbyists for failure to file expense reports” by Megan Henney in the Tribune-Review.

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “AG Horne sues to block Clean Elections investigation” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez in The Republic.

Vermont: “Court backs Vt. campaign finance rules” by Terri Hallenbeck in the Burlington Free Press.

Ethics

“Without ethics enforcement, it’s open season in Washington” by Melanie Sloan in The Hill.

Colorado: “Colorado ethics panel signals support for Gessler GOP seminar trip” by Joey Bunch in The Denver Post.

Indiana: “State ethics watchdog plans to leave office” by Tony Cook in The Indianapolis Star.

Missouri: “Can a candidate raffle off a hot tub? Run bingo?” by Jonathan Shorman in the Springfield News-Leader.

Congress

“The Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game in 3 Minutes (Video)” by JM Rieger in Roll Call.

Government Tech and Social Media

“Why Facebook’s ‘Voter Megaphone’ Is the Real Manipulation to Worry About” by Micah L. Sifry in TechPresident.

On July 3, the House Ethics Committee announced it would return to calling for House members to report privately sponsored travel in their annual financial disclosure forms – a requirement it had quietly removed earlier this year. However, when the removal of this requirement was revealed, it caught national attention and generated strong responses. Supporters of the change argued the reporting is merely duplicative because the travel must still be reported by members to the House Office of the Clerk.

Lobbying

“New Bill Relative To Lobbyists and Candidates” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

“Wall Street braces for gavel hand-off” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“Silicon Valley pins hopes on Obama for immigration win” by Julian Hattem in The Hill.

“Former Lobbyist Jack Abramoff On Congressional Travel Disclosure” in the Daily Beast.

California: “Who pays the most for California government lobbying in Sacramento? Government” by Ben Baeder in the Los Angeles Daily News.

New York: “Binghamton University ranks second among SUNY schools in spending on lobbying” by Steve Reilly in the Press & Sun-Bulletin.

Pennsylvania: “Interest groups’ lobbying tally tops $500M in Pennsylvania” by Melissa Daniels in the Tribune-Review.

Rhode Island: “Schilling summoned to testify on his alleged lobbying for 38 Studios” by Katherine Gregg in the Providence Journal.

Vermont: “Revolving door: Ramos shifts from senate to lobbying job” by Anne Galloway in VTDigger.

Campaign Finance

“FEC Provides Reminder and Resources for Upcoming Deadline” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

“Hobby Lobby Ruling Fuels Amendment Push” by Eliza Newlin Carney in Roll Call.

“Law prof’s super PAC reaches fundraising goal; aim is new campaign-finance system” by Debra Cassens Weiss in ABA Journal.

Arizona: “Most AZ legislative candidates decline public funds” by Becky Pallack in the Arizona Daily Star.

California: “Activists for tougher campaign finance laws arrested at Capitol” by Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times.

Connecticut: “Despite limits, money finds its way to campaigns” by Ken Dixon in Greenwich Time.

Massachusetts: “House quietly approved amendment to help state GOP” by Frank Phillips in The Boston Globe.

New Hampshire: “‘NH Rebellion’ walks for campaign finance overhaul” by The Associated Press in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Ethics

“Ethics Chairman Says Panel Will Reverse Decision on Travel Disclosures” by Matt Fuller in Roll Call.

California: “Support wanes in Sacramento for tough ethics reform following scandal” by Jessica Calefati in the San Jose Mercury News.

Elections

“2014 Senate rankings: Map favors GOP” by James Hohmann in Politico.

State Legislatures

“Where are women winning? In state legislatures.” by Aaron Blake in The Washington Post.

Government Tech and Social Media

Pennsylvania: “Philadelphia Hires New Chief Data Officer” in Government Technology.

National:

As Numbers Grow, Single Women Emerge as Political Powerhouse

New York Times – Jackie Calms | Published: 7/2/2014

Recent elections suggest unmarried women have emerges as a voting bloc that is reshaping the electorate to the Democratic Party’s advantage. In order to prevent Republicans from capturing a U.S. Senate majority in November, Democrats and allied groups are making an aggressive push to woo single women. They seized on the ruling by the Supreme Court’s conservative majority – five men – that family-owned corporations do not have to provide birth control in their insurance coverage, to buttress their arguments that Democrats better represent women’s interests.

How Cozy Can Candidates Be With Political Groups?

The Center for Public Integrity – Rachel Baye | Published: 7/1/2014

Laws vary widely when it comes to how close candidates can be with political backers – what is allowed in one state may be illegal in another. In Florida and Michigan, for example, candidates and supposedly independent groups seemingly work hand in hand, while Connecticut and Minnesota recently affirmed such groups must keep their distance. Meanwhile, federal office seekers operate under an entirely different set of rules on coordination that even regulators cannot agree on.

Terre Haute’s Jim Bopp Jr. a Conservative Titan

Raleigh News & Observer – Mark Bennett (Terre Haute Tribune Star) | Published: 6/29/2014

Attorney Jim Bopp has won nine of 13 cases at the U.S. Supreme Court. He initiated the Citizens United case, which overturned restrictions on spending by corporations and labor unions to support or defeat candidates. Bopp has crisscrossed the nation for more than 30 years, working on more than 150 cases in state and federal courts, knocking down laws he believes inhibit the expression of free speech in campaigns. “In the often arcane world of campaign finance law, he’s a veritable rock star,” said Dave Levinthal, who investigates the influence of money in politics for the Center for Public Integrity.

Federal:

Congress Quietly Deletes a Key Disclosure of Free Trips Lawmakers Take

National Journal – Shane Goldmacher | Published: 6/30/2014

U.S. House members are longer required to list on their annual financial disclosure reports some privately sponsored trips they take. The change was not publicly announced but was described in an instruction book available to members of Congress on how to fill out the forms. Legislators will still have to provide details about their travel on the House clerk’s website, which is less commonly monitored by reporters, watchdog groups, and others than the financial disclosure reports.

LobbyIt: Aiming to be everyman’s lobbyist

Washingtoon Post – Catherine Ho | Published: 6/30/2014

Four years ago, Paul Kanitra opened LobbyIt, a firm in Washington whose business model was nicknamed by some as “McLobbying.” The firm represents mostly small businesses and little-know associations. LobbyIt does not use retainers – which on K Street is typically $15,000 per month. Instead, it uses set pricing levels of $995, $1,995, $2,995, or $4,999 a month. Kanitra describes the firm’s target audience not as the in-house government affairs manager at a Fortune 500 company, but as “the executive director of a small association in Idaho who hasn’t been in D.C. since their eighth-grade class trip.”

From the States and Municipalities:

California – Complaints of Nepotism Dog California Senate

Sacramento Bee – Laurel Rosenhall | Published: 6/29/2014

Concerns about personnel practices and allegations of nepotism are swirling in Sacramento as an investigation proceeds into claims that friends and family of key administrators get special access to taxpayer-funded jobs. Hiring family members is not forbidden in the California General Assembly, and the Legislature is not subject to the same rules that govern hiring in other parts of state government.

Connecticut – Diageo, Pfizer Pay to Settle 2012 DNC Ethics Violation

Connecticut Mirror – Mark Pazniokas | Published: 6/30/2014

Diageo North America and Pfizer agreed to each pay a $5,000 penalty to the Connecticut Office of State Ethics for failing to report spending on receptions each company held during the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Multiple Connecticut state employees, public officials, and/or members of a public official’s family or staff attended each event. Neither Diageo nor Pfizer, both registered as principals in Connecticut, reported the expenses on their lobbyist financial reports.

Kentucky – Legislative Caucuses Rely on PACs, Reports Show

Louisville Courier-Journal – Tom Loftus | Published: 6/30/2014

Each of the General Assembly’s four political caucuses reported their contributions and expenses over the past 18 months to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance recently. A review of those reports show how heavily dependent the caucuses are on the special interests that lobby lawmakers. Of the nearly $1,036,000 raised by the caucuses over the period, about $394,000 – roughly 38 percent – was contributed by PACs affiliated with corporations and trade associations.

Missouri – Freebies Flow at Missouri Capitol; Pols Accept More than $600K from Lobbyists

St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Walter Moskop | Published: 7/2/2014

Lobbyists in Missouri spent $680,000 on gifts for public officials during the 2014 legislative session, with nearly all of it going to state lawmakers. It is not clear which lawmakers were the recipients of the vast majority of lobbyist spending. More than $500,000 in gifts went to legislative committees or the entire General Assembly, mostly in the form of receptions and meals. By listing a committee or legislative body as the recipient of the gift, lobbyists do not have to provide names of specific lawmakers.

New York – G.O.P. Power Broker in Albany Is Charged With Lying to F.B.I.

New York Times – Thomas Kaplan and William Rashbaum | Published: 7/1/2014

New York Sen. Thomas Libous is facing charges he lied to the FBI about using his elected position to arrange a law firm job and an inflated salary for his son. An indictment alleges Libous claimed he did not know how his son, Matthew, got the job. It also says Sen. Libous told the FBI he was unaware a lobbying firm was paying part of his son’s salary. It has been previously alleged that Thomas Libous arranged his son’s job and salary in exchange for steering business to the law firm.

Ohio – Ben Suarez Acquitted On All Charges except One – Witness-Tampering/Obstruction of Justice for Letter to SCI Controller

Cleveland Plain Dealer – James McCarty | Published: 6/30/2014

Businessperson Benjamin Suarez was found not guilty of illegally funneling $200,000 to the campaigns of U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci and Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel. The jury found him guilty of one felony count for tampering with a witness. Prosecutors said Suarez’s family members, employees, and their spouses contributed money to the re-election campaign of Renacci and Mandel’s failed U.S. Senate bid. The donors were then reimbursed with company money. The contributions coincided with acts Mandel and Renacci took on behalf of Suarez’s company, which was facing a lawsuit in California. Defense lawyers maintained Suarez did not willfully break the law.

Rhode Island – Fox Had Loan from Registered Lobbyist for Years

WPRI – Michelle Smith (Associated Press) | Published: 6/27/2014

Documents show former Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox had a personal loan from a registered lobbyist for several years. State Ethics Commission filings show the loan of an undisclosed amount over $1,000 was from lobbyist Ray Rickman. Jason Gramitt, an attorney for the Ethics Commission, said state law does not prohibit a lawmaker from taking a loan from a lobbyist, but it does create a business association. Fox’s activities have been under scrutiny since March, when the FBI, IRS, and other authorities raided his statehouse office and home. He resigned his leadership position the next day.

Vermont – Court: Super PAC not independent enough

Politico – Byron Tau | Published: 7/2/2014

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled a state-level super PAC in Vermont was not “functionally distinct” enough from a sister committee that gives money to candidates and political parties. As a result, the judges found the supposedly separate group might not have been acting independently and can be subject to Vermont’s contribution limits. Campaign finance reformers say the court has taken an important step in actually examining claims about whether an organization is independent, rather than accepting the group’s word on the matter.

Wisconsin – No Conclusion in Inquiry into Scott Walker’s Campaign Fundraising

New York Times – Monica Davey | Published: 6/26/2014

A prosecutor cautioned he has not made a final determination about whether Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and his campaign illegally coordinated fundraising among conservative groups during recall elections in 2011 and 2012. An attorney representing special prosecutor Francis Schmitz warned the media and public against jumping to conclusions of guilt based on documents within a once-secret John Doe probe that emerged in a federal lawsuit.

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.

In a statement released Tuesday, the Legislative Ethics Commission announced J. William Roberts has been named acting legislative inspector general.

Roberts is a former U.S. attorney and served as legal counsel to former Gov. Jim Edgar. He will take over for Tom Homer, who served 10 years following the creation of the position as part of the 2003 Ethics Act.

Roberts will be responsible for investigating complaints of rule violations, abuse of authority, and other forms of legislative misconduct.

Without any official announcement, the U.S. House Ethics Committee quietly removed the requirement that privately sponsored travel be revealed in House Members’ annual financial disclosure forms.

However, when the removal of this requirement was revealed by the National Journal on June 30, it caught national attention and generated strong responses. In a press release from the Campaign Legal Center, Policy Director Meredith McGehee said, “With public confidence in the U.S. Congress reaching a record low of 7%, according to yesterday’s Gallup poll, you would think the House Ethics Committee would focus on building public confidence in the institution, rather than looking for ways to make their dirty laundry harder to find.”

According to the National Journal, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said the change “must be reversed.”

Supporters of the change argue the reporting is merely duplicative because the travel must still be reported by members to the House Office of the Clerk.

Lobbying

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

“Clark Hill adds two in public affairs” by Byron Tau in Politico.

“#Modernlobbying: Why bankers are tweeting for regulatory relief” by Mark Holan in Washington Business Journals.

Virginia: “Taxicab industry has history of lobbying, donations” by Kathryn Watson on Watchdog.org.

Campaign Finance

“Shedding New Light on Dark Money” by Timothy Karr on The Huffington Post.

“Campaign finance laws vary widely from state to state, report says” by Patrick Marley in the Journal Sentinel.

“How Cozy Can Candidates Be With Political Groups? It All Depends” by Rachel Baye (Center for Public Integrity) on NBC News.

Massachusetts: “Gubernatorial candidates back campaign disclosure bill” by Jim O’Sullivan in The Boston Globe.

Montana: “Super PAC spending $1.7M in Montana Senate race” by The Associated Press in the Billings Gazette.

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin among several states with dust-ups over campaign coordination with outside groups” by Bill Leuders in WisconsinWatch.org.

Ethics

“Congress Quietly Deletes a Key Disclosure of Free Trips Lawmakers Take” by Shane Goldmacher in National Journal.

“Pelosi to Ethics panel: Require lawmakers to report free trips” by Mike Lillis in The Hill.

Missouri: “Streetcar ethics complaint goes away — for now” by Austin Alonzo in the Kansas City Business Journal.

New York: “New York State Senator Indicted” by Erica Orden and Sean Gardner in The Wall Street Journal.

West Virginia: “Tomblin names members of new Ethics Commission” by Phil Kabler in the Charleston Gazette.

Government Tech and Social Media

“Governments Struggling to Get Social Media Right” by Jonathan Walters in Governing.

“DigitalGov rolls out 3 new social media toolkits in quest for ‘social government’” by Greg Otto in FedScoop.

“The Looming Crisis in Voting Technology” by J.B. Wogan in Governing.

Tom Homer stepped down from his post as legislative inspector general at the end of June. Homer, an advocate for modern ethics reform, took the job in 2004 and served as the state’s first and only legislative watchdog.

It is unclear who will replace him; the inspector general is appointed by a resolution approved by three-fifths majorities in both houses of the General Assembly.

Photo of Illinois State Capitol by Martin Haase on Wikimedia Commons.

Lobbying

“LobbyIt: Aiming to be everyman’s lobbyist” by Catherine Ho in The Washington Post.

“The Influence Industry: Ex-Im Bank renewal, a familiar issue on K Street, divides GOP” by Holly Yeager in The Washington Post.

Rhode Island: “Ex-RI House speaker Fox’s personal loan from registered lobbyist still unpaid” by W. Ray Malinowski in the Providence Journal.

Campaign Finance

Indiana: “Terre Haute’s Jim Bopp Jr. a conservative titan” by Mark Bennett in the Sacramento Bee.

Ohio: “GOP donor found not guilty on campaign finance charges, guilty of obstruction” by Joe Vardon in the Columbus Dispatch.

Ethics

California: “SF open government and ethics oversight broken, report says” by Jonah Owen Lamb in The Examiner.

Illinois: “Closer Look: Ill. legislative watchdog steps down” by The Associated Press in The Washington Examiner.

Kentucky: “Legislative caucuses rely on PACs, reports show” by Tom Loftus in The Courier Journal.

New York: “Three months after Gov. Cuomo pulled plug on Moreland Commission, executive director still being paid” by Ken Lovett in the NY Daily News.

North Carolina: “Former FBI agent Chuck Stuber opens up about corruption cases against NC politicians” by J. Andrew Curliss in the News & Observer.

Wisconsin: “No Conclusion in Inquiry Into Scott Walker’s Campaign Fund-Raising” by Monica Davey in The New York Times.

National Conventions

Ohio: “Cleveland should learn fate of Republican National Convention bid no later than early August” by Henry J. Gomez in the Plain Dealer.

Government Tech and Social Media

“Mistaken Identity: People Angry at Supreme Court Decision Vent at Blog” by Chris Taylor on Mashable.

California: “California governor signs bill to bring bitcoin and other currency into fold” in Reuters.

On July 1, the maximum value for food, drink, or refreshment an individual may provide to an elected official or public employee in Louisiana for a single event increases from $57 to $58.

This threshold value is adjusted each year by the Board of Ethics to reflect changes in the consumer price index.

Lobbying

Florida: “Florida lobbyists to hold annual industry summit Sept. 3-5 in Tampa” in Saint Peters Blog.

Minnesota: “Capitol Chatter: Greater Minnesota cities’ group leads in lobbying costs” by Don Davis in the Morris Sun Tribune.

Rhode Island: “State postpones hearing into possible lobbying violations against lawyer” on WJAR NBC News.

Campaign Finance

“Candidates Rush to Collect Funds by June 30th Deadline” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

California: “FPPC hands down fines for area campaign finance violations” in Los Angeles Wave News.

California: “Oakland tries to close campaign finance loophole” by Matthew Artz in the Contra Costa Times.

Delaware: “Campaign-finance bills go to governor” by Jon Offredo in The News Journal.

Maryland: “Does increased campaign spending sway odds of winning?” by Phil Davis on DelmarvaNow.com.

Massachusetts: “Super PAC aims to end all other super PACs” by Akilah Johnson in The Boston Globe.

Ohio: “Jury deliberations to begin in Ben Suarez campaign finance case” by Phil Trexler in the Akron Beacon Journal.

Wyoming: “Wyoming group sues over campaign finance laws” on KGWN CBS News.

Ethics

“Rangel wrangled in potential ethics probe?” by Tim Devaney in The Hill.

Arizona: “Horne hires political backers to investigate his office” by Howard Fischer in the Arizona Daily Star.

Arkansas: “Arkansas judge fined in campaign-gifts case” by The Associated Press in The Washington Times.

California: “O.C. Grand Jury again calls for ethics commission” by Adolfo Flores in the Daily Pilot.

Florida: “Ex-partner of Ponzi schemer gets 2 ½ years” by The Associated Press in the Connecticut Post.

Virginia: “Changing laws in Virginia take effect Tuesday” by Bill Sizemore in The Virginian-Pilot.

Government Tech and Social Media

Oregon: “Oregon website breach: State officials failed to patch ‘high risk’ software problem” by Yuxing Zheng in The Oregonian.

Texas: “City Responds to Negative Tweets with Humor” by Kristi Dalton on Government Technology.

National:

Wisconsin Governor Scandal Shows States as New Front in Fight for Dark Money Disclosure

Sunlight Foundation – Stan Oklobdzija | Published: 6/25/2014

As prospects for any regulations at the federal level seem murky at best, it appears the fight against clandestine political donors may be leaving Washington, D.C. and entering statehouses around the country. The Sunlight Foundation reported that at least 18 bills introduced during the most recent legislative sessions in various states would impose new disclosure rules or amend existing regulations regarding independent expenditures.

Federal:

Thousands of Missing Emails at IRS: What’s it all about?

Los Angeles Times – Joseph Tanfani | Published: 6/24/2014

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen disclosed that emails sent by Lois Lerner, the former director of the agency’s division that oversaw tax-exempt groups, were lost when her computer hard drive crashed in 2011. Koskinen told Congress that eight other hard drives from potential recipients had crashed as well. Republicans have seized on the missing emails, alleging in hearings that their disappearance is evidence of a cover-up by the IRS over a scheme to target conservative nonprofits seeking tax exempt status.

Venture Capital Firm Settles S.E.C. Charges over ‘Pay-to-Play’

New York Times – William Alden | Published: 6/20/2014

TL Ventures agreed to pay almost $300,000 to settle charges it violated the Securities and Exchange Commission’s “pay-to-play” rules. The SEC prohibits investment firms from providing paid services to a government client for two years after a contribution by the firm or an employee to candidates or officials who could influence the management of public assets. The agency said TL Ventures continued to receive advisory fees from the city and state pension funds immediately following campaign donations made by an associate in 2011 to the Pennsylvania governor and a candidate for mayor of Philadelphia.

From the States and Municipalities:

Florida – Unknown Candidate for Governor with Questionable Donations Asks State for Public Campaign Money

Naples Daily News – Matt Dixon | Published: 6/20/2014

Obscure Florida gubernatorial candidate Yinka Adeshina has received 12 campaign contributions worth $3,000 from an address listed as 400 West Park in Tallahassee. But that address would fall in the middle of Tallahassee’s Old City Cemetery. Another six contributions worth $1,500 came from donors who share an address with a Best Buy. Adeshina lists a total of $182,080 in donations, which would make her eligible to receive nearly $100,000 in public funds for her campaign.

Georgia – Changes Ahead for Ga. Ethics Commission

Macon Telegraph – Christina Cassidy (Associated Press) | Published: 6/21/2014

The Georgia ethics commission has been mired in staffing issues, lawsuits, and allegations of outside influence. Now that the commission has opted to avoid what could have been a lengthy court battle and settle with three former employees, a key question is whether the agency will finally begin to make progress on more than 100 cases that have remained opened for months and sometimes years. The commission hopes to jumpstart the process of resolving cases by hiring up to two staff attorneys in the next month or two.

Hawaii – An Inside Look at the Hawaii Super PAC That Helped Defeat Cayetano

Honolulu Civil Beat – Nick Grube | Published: 6/19/2014

PRP, an advocacy group for the Hawaii Carpenters Union and contractors, spent more than $3 million in 2012 to dismantle Ben Cayetano’s Honolulu mayoral campaign and keep the city’s $5.26 billion rail project on track. Emails obtained as part of Cayetano’s defamation lawsuit against the group provide an unprecedented glimpse of the behind-the-scenes operations of one of Hawaii’s most powerful independent expenditure committees. Such groups are allowed to receive and spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns.

Illinois – Event Honoring Quinn Raises ‘Pay to Play’ Issues

Washington Times – Carla Johnson (Associated Press) | Published: 6/20/2014

The Roosevelt Group, a lobbying firm with close ties to a key subcontractor hired to promote the nation’s health care law in Illinois, hosted a fundraiser for the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) “honoring Pat Quinn,” according to an invitation that lists suggested sponsorship levels of between $2,500 and $20,000. The DGA formed a PAC last fall to support Quinn’s re-election as governor. Critics said the event raises questions about “pay-to-play” in the state’s highly competitive governor’s race.

Indiana – IEDC Contractor Steers Indiana Investment Funds to Firms Run by Its Chairman and His Son

Indianapolis Star – Alex Campbell | Published: 6/19/2014

In 2011, Indiana hired the private nonprofit Elevate Ventures to choose startup companies to receive taxpayer dollars. An Indianapolis Star investigation has uncovered possible conflicts-of-interest in the arrangement, which has triggered a federal probe. The newspaper discovered a company run by Elevate founder Howard Bates received $500,000 in state money from an Elevate-run fund. Elevate was authorized to distribute the money to the companies connected to Bates without state approval, despite the fact it was public money.

Massachusetts – House Supports Super PAC Disclosure Bill, Boosts Donation Limits

MassLive.com – Colleen Quinn (State House News Service) | Published: 6/25/2014

The Massachusetts House passed legislation that would require corporations, labor unions, and other entities to disclose expenditures in statewide, county, or local races, as well as the sources of their funding, within seven days. The top five donors to an independent expenditure group would also have to be listed in the organization’s television or newspaper advertisement. House Bill 4226 raises the individual limits on annual campaign contributions for any one candidate from $500 to $1,000.

Mississippi – How Cochran Bounced Back from Disaster

Politico – Alexander Burns | Published: 6/25/2014

Following Mississippi’s June 3 Republican primary, U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran’s staff members were crestfallen at the results of an election that deprived the incumbent of an electoral majority. With Cochran forced into a run-off against an aggressive and energetic challenger, a dark mood shadowed his backers in Washington and Mississippi. Yet almost immediately, the Cochran coalition began bouncing back. One aide paraphrased Cochran adviser Stuart Stevens’ primary-night message: “We’re going to figure this out and it’s going to be something you remember for the rest of your life.”

Nebraska – Lobbying Report Shows Millions Spent to Influence State Senators

Lincoln Journal Star – JoAnne Young | Published: 6/20/2014

A report by Nebraska Common Cause said special interests spend nearly $14 million a year to influence state lawmakers. But the watchdog maintains it is difficult to measure the full impact of lobbying money on the Legislature. Senators must report only gifts valued over $100. The companies and organizations that hire lobbyists only report total expenditures; food and beverages are exempt. And golf outings, luncheons, holiday gifts, birthday gifts, wedding presents, and tickets to events are difficult to track to specific senators, said the report.

South Carolina – SC Ethics Reform Bill Dies

The State – Andrew Shain | Published: 6/19/2014

South Carolina’s legislative session ended without the Senate voting on an ethics reform measure that Republicans who took the podium to run out the clock denounced as too watered down. The bill’s key components required officeholders to disclose all of their income sources, though not the amounts, and required third-party groups raising money to defeat or elect candidates to disclose their donors and expenses. An ethics bill can be reintroduced in January when a new session begins.

Virginia – Va. Officials Skeptical of U.S. Interest in Phillip Puckett’s Resignation from State Senate

Washington Post – Laura Vozzella, Matt Zapotosky, and Jenna Portnoy | Published: 6/19/2014

Federal investigators have interviewed officials and sought documents in connection with the resignation of then-state Sen. Philip Puckett, which handed Republicans control of the Virginia Senate at a critical time and was connected to job prospects for him and his daughter. Puckett said there was no quid pro quo but withdrew his name from consideration for a top job with the state tobacco commission. But even some of Puckett’s most prominent critics expressed mixed feelings about a federal inquiry into a matter that many considered unseemly but not criminal.

Wisconsin – Conservative Group Targets State’s Political Committee Donation Limits

Wisconsin State Journal – Matthew DeFour | Published: 6/24/2014

A federal lawsuit has been filed challenging a Wisconsin law that limits the aggregate amount of money candidates can collect from PACs. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) filed the lawsuit on behalf of the political arm of conservative group CRG Network. CRG argues its First Amendment rights to free speech and free association have been denied because of the limits. The institute’s legal team previously won a case challenging the cap on aggregate donations by individuals.

Wisconsin – Scott Walker Case Shows Growing Closeness between Politicians and Wealthy Allies

Washington Post – Matea Gold and Tom Hamburger | Published: 6/23/2014

The investigation of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and his allies over alleged illegal coordination has been challenged as unconstitutional, and it is unclear if it will proceed. Still, the inquiry is being watched closely by campaign strategists and legal experts as a major test of what practices cross the line in the loosely governed and increasingly murky area of big-money politics. The growing influence of super PACs and politically active nonprofits, which can raise unlimited funds, has eroded the once-thick wall between official campaigns and outside interest groups.

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.