Campaign Finance

National: “Watchdog Alleges Canadian Hedge Fund Gave Illegal Contributions to DeSantis Campaign” by Mary Ellen Klas (Miami Herald) for Yahoo News

Elections

National: “A.I.’s Use in Elections Sets Off a Scramble for Guardrails” by Tiffany Hsu and Steven Lee Myers (New York Times) for DNyuz

Ethics

California: “San Francisco’s Ex-Utilities Chief Accused of Shady Business Dealings on First Day of Corruption Trial” by Michael Barba for San Francisco Standard

National: “The Attention Was All on Mar-a-Lago. Some of the Action Was at Bedminster” by Alan Feuer, Maggie Haberman, and Jonathan Swain (New York Times) for DNyuz

Massachusetts: “Councilor Ricardo Arroyo Admits to Ethics Violation, Pays Penalty in Connection with Representing His Brother” by Danny McDonald (Boston Globe) for MSN

Ohio: “Ohio Froze an Ex-Utility Regulator’s $8 Million in Assets. Lawyers Disagree Over Whether It’s Legal.” by Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) for MSN

Lobbying

Canada: “Federal Lobbying Hit a Record High Last Fiscal Year, Industry Watchdog Says” by Staff for CBC

Maryland: “National Climate Group Asks: Should Md. lobbying firms take fossil fuel clients?” by Josh Kurtz for Maryland Matters

Procurement

California: “A Big Contract Went to a San Jose Private School Run by the Mayor’s Wife. Was It Competitive?” by Gabriel Greschler (Bay Area News Group) for MSN

Campaign Finance Kentucky: “Kentucky Attorney General Is Accused of Seeking Donations from Company His Office Is Investigating” by Bruce Schreiner (Associated Press) for Yahoo News Elections North Carolina: “Supreme Court Rules Against Giving State Legislatures Unchecked Control Over Federal Elections” by Lawrence Hurley (NBC News) for MSN Oregon: “Oregon Lawmakers Would Be Able to Remove the Governor Under a Measure Headed to Voters” by Dirk VanderHart for Oregon Public Broadcasting Ethics Washington DC: “D.C. Council Majority Calls for 3rd-Party Investigation into Ex-Aide” by Meagan Flynn and Michael Brice-Saddler (Washington Post) for MSN National: “Audio Undercuts Trump’s Assertion He Did Not Have Classified Document” by Maggie Haberman and Alan Feuer (New York Times) for Seattle Times National: “Senate Panel Finds More Pre-Jan. 6 Intelligence Failures by FBI, DHS” by Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) for MSN New York: “Adams’ Confidante Frank Carone Inks Another Deal with Real Estate Big – Advocates Give It a Wary Eye” by Michael Gartland (New York Daily News) for Yahoo News Rhode Island: “Ethics Panel Votes to Investigate R.I. Officials’ Conduct During Philly Trip, and Speaker Shekarchi” by Edward Fitzpatrick (Boston Globe) for MSN

Campaign Finance National: “The Super PAC Frenzy Redefining Campaign Operations” by Jessica Piper and Sally Goldenberg (Politico) for Yahoo News Elections Arizona: “Kari Lake Accused of Defamation in Suit Filed by Arizona Election Official” by Yvonne Winget Sanchez and Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) for MSN Oregon: “Voters Will Be Asked to Create Commission to Change Elected Leaders’ Salaries” by Dianne Lugo for Salem Statesman-Journal Ethics Alabama: “Former Alabama Ethics Commission Director Says New Law Could Silence Whistleblowers” by Mike Cason (AL.com) for MSN National: “How Judges Navigate Offers of Free Lunch, Trips and NBA Tickets” by Zoe Tillman (Bloomberg News) for Bloomberg Law Florida: “Former Broward Mayor Accused of Firing Staffer to Clear Developer for $102M Loan” by Grethel Aguila (Miami Herald) for MSN Lobbying Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Lobbyist Spending Rebounds from Pandemic-Era Decline” by Keaton Ross for Oklahoma Watch Redistricting Louisiana: “Supreme Court Clears Way for Redrawing of Louisiana Congressional Map” by Melissa Quinn (CBS News) for MSN

Campaign Finance National: “FEC Deadlocks on Whether to Govern Deepfake Campaign Ads” by Daniela Altimari (Roll Call) for MSN National: “As Legal Fees Mount, Trump Steers Donations into PAC That Has Covered Them” by Shane Goldmacher and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) for DNyuz Missouri: “Ethics Commission Fines Ex-St. Louis Candidate $6,000, Citing Campaign Violations” by Austin Huguelet for St Louis Post-Dispatch Oregon: “Defying Pledges to Limit Campaign Contributions, Oregon Lawmakers Again Fail to Do So” by Grant Stringer (Portland Oregonian) for MSN Ethics National: “Ethics Committee Expands Investigation into Santos” by Mychael Schnell (The Hill) for Yahoo News Legislative Issues Tennessee: “Legislative Office Lawyers Say TN Records Laws Don’t Apply to Them in Lawsuit Over Ethics Docs” by Adam Friedman for Tennessee Lookout Lobbying Illinois: “Do You Believe in ‘Magic’ Lobbyists? Illinois Businesses Stick by Madigan-Connected Lobbyists.” by Dave McKinney for WBEZ Massachusetts: “Galvin Pushes to Update Lobbying Laws” by Christian Wade for Eagle-Tribune

National/Federal

Capitol Rioter Who Shocked Police Officer with Stun Gun Is Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Prison

Associated Press News – Michael Kunzelman | Published: 6/21/2023

Daniel Rodriguez, who drove a stun gun into a police officer’s neck during one of the most violent clashes of the U.S. Capitol riot, was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone’s body camera captured him screaming out in pain after Rodriguez shocked him with a stun gun while he was surrounded by a mob. Fanone’s injuries ultimately ended his career in law enforcement.

Rigging the System: The Martin Kao case offers an inside view of pay-to-play politics

Honolulu Civil Beat – Nick Grube | Published: 6/20/2023

Ongoing civil litigation involving a former Hawaii defense contractor continues to shed light on the ways private companies and special interests seek to game the political system for their own personal benefit. Martin Kao, the former president of Martin Defense Group has pleaded guilty to a series of federal crimes involving illegal campaign donations and fraud. Now, he faces a new series of challenges as his former business partner seeks to hold him financially accountable for his crimes. Much of the lawsuit focuses on the illegal contributions Kao and others made to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.

Hunter Biden Reaches Deal to Plead Guilty in Tax, Gun Case

MSN – Devlin Barrett and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 6/20/2023

President Biden’s son Hunter reached a tentative agreement with federal prosecutors to plead guilty to two minor tax crimes and admit to the facts of a gun charge under terms that would likely keep him out of jail. The agreement caps an investigation that was opened in 2018 during the Trump administration and has generated interest and criticism from Republican politicians who accused the Biden administration of reluctance to pursue the case. The terms of the proposed deal are likely to face similar scrutiny.

FBI Resisted Opening Probe into Trump’s Role in Jan. 6 for More Than a Year

MSN – Carol Leoning and Aaron Davis (Washington Post) | Published: 6/19/2023

Merrick Garland and his deputies in January 2021 were briefed on the investigation he had promised to make his highest priority as attorney general: bringing to justice those responsible for the attack on the U.S. Capitol. But a Washington Post investigation found more than a year passed before prosecutors and FBI agents embarked on a formal probe of actions directed from the White House. Even then, the FBI stopped short of identifying Donald Trump as a focus of that investigation. Garland charted a cautious course aimed at restoring public trust in the department while some prosecutors felt top officials were shying away from looking at evidence of potential crimes by Trump and those close to him.

Lina Khan Rejected FTC Ethics Recommendation to Recuse in Meta Case

MSN – Leah Nylen (Bloomberg) | Published: 6/16/2023

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairperson Lina Khan declined to recuse herself from a case against Meta despite the advice of the agency’s top ethics official, according to internal agency documents. The FTC’s ethics official recommended that Khan remove herself from the case to avoid the appearance of bias, but left it up to Khan to decide, concluding it was not an ethics violation if she took part. Meta argued that public statements by Khan calling for a ban on its future acquisitions showed she could not be impartial.

House Passes Measure to Censure Adam Schiff

MSN – Amy Wang and Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 6/21/2023

The House passed a measure to censure U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff for pressing allegations that Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign colluded with Russia. As the vote was finalized, Democrats filled the well of the chamber and surrounded Schiff. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi led chants of “Shame! Shame! Shame!” against the Republican caucus, and other Democrats yelled out “cowards!”

Justice Samuel Alito Took Luxury Fishing Vacation with GOP Billionaire Who Later Had Cases Before the Court

ProPublica – Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan, and Alex Mierjeski | Published: 6/20/2023

Paul Singer, a hedge fund billionaire who has repeatedly asked the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in his favor in business disputes, flew Justice Samuel Alito to a luxury fishing resort in Alaska resort on his private jet, a trip that would have cost Alito more than $100,000 one way if he had chartered the jet on his own. Alito did not recuse himself from a 2014 case involving Singer and voted with the majority in Singer’s favor. The justice did not report the 2008 trip on his annual financial disclosures. Experts said they could not identify an instance of a justice ruling on a case after receiving an expensive gift paid for by one of the parties.

Guilty Pleas in ‘Scam PAC’ Case Tied to 2017 Wisconsin Senate Race

Roll Call – Nathan Gonzales | Published: 6/13/2023

Controversial former Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke is still considering a U.S. Senate run in Wisconsin this cycle, but two lawyers just pleaded guilty to conspiracy over a “scam PAC” to get Clarke to run in 2017. Jack Daly and Nathanael Pendley pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit mail fraud and lying to the FEC. Most of the $1.6 million raised was spent on operations to raise more money to personally benefit Daly and Pendley, not genuine efforts to convince Clarke to run for office.

How Local Officials Seek Revenge on Their Hometown Newspapers

Yahoo News – Emily Flitter (New York Times) | Published: 6/18/2023

In most of the country, state and local laws require public announcements – about town meetings, elections, and dozens of other routine occurrences – to be published in newspapers, as well as online, so citizens are aware of matters of public note. The payments for publishing these notices are among the steadiest sources of revenue left for local papers. Sometimes, though, public officials revoke the contracts to punish their hometown newspapers for aggressive coverage of local politics. Such retaliation is not new, but it appears to be occurring more frequently, when terms like “fake news” have become part of the popular lexicon.

Trump Real Estate Deal in Oman Underscores Ethics Concerns

Yahoo News – Eric Lipton (New York Times) | Published: 6/20/2023

On the Gulf of Oman, thousands of migrant laborers from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan are building a new city, a multibillion-dollar project backed by Oman’s oil-rich government that has an unusual partner: Donald Trump. Agents are invoking Trump’s name to help sell luxury villas at prices of up to $13 million. Trump has been selling his name to global real estate developers for more than a decade. But the Oman deal has taken his financial stake in one of the world’s most strategically important regions to a new level, underscoring how his business and his politics intersect as he runs for president again amid intensifying legal and ethical troubles.

Judge Blames George Santos for Personally Feeding ‘Media Frenzy’ into His Mysterious Bail Sponsors Before Making Their Names Public

Yahoo News – Jacob Shamsian (Business Insider) | Published: 6/22/2023

A federal judge criticized U.S. Rep. George Santos for personally feeding the “media frenzy” into his two mysterious bail sponsors, which helped force her hand and make their identities public. Rep. Santos’s father and aunt signed his bond, making them responsible for $500,000 if Santos violates the conditions of his release ahead of a criminal trial. Prosecutors brought a 13-count indictment against Santos, alleging he personally stole donations to his campaign operation, illegally took pandemic employment funds, and lied to Congress on financial disclosure documents.

From the States and Municipalities

California – LA City Council Looks into Tougher Lobbying Rules That Could Impact Themselves

Los Angeles Daily News – City News Service | Published: 6/20/2023

The Los Angeles City Council requested a report on how the city could revise its ethics and conflict-of-interest laws to require lobbyists to disclose ties to a council member or their staff. Ethics Commission records indicated Stacey Brenner received more than $174,000 for lobbying efforts for a hotel project while her husband, Shawn Bayliss, was working as the planning and land use deputy for then-Councilmember Paul Koretz.

California – The Los Angeles City Council Is in Turmoil. Can It Manage to Fix Itself?

MSN – Reis Thebault (Washington Post) | Published: 6/17/2023

Corruption charges filed against Los Angeles City Councilperson Curren Price are only the latest to rock a scandal-plagued City Hall. The case against Price comes eight months after a leaked audiotape exposed the racist remarks and backroom dealings of top city leaders, spurring one council member’s resignation and another’s ostracization. Now, multiple efforts are underway to reform the city council. But unlike past attempts to address what many say is a broken system, this time the call is also coming from inside City Hall, with key council members on board.

California – L.A. City Councilmember Curren Price Charged with Embezzlement and Perjury

MSN – James Queally, Julia Wick, and Dakota Smith (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 6/13/2023

Los Angeles City Councilperson Curren Price was charged with 10 counts of embezzlement, perjury, and conflicts-of-interest, becoming the latest in a years-long parade of elected city officials to face public corruption allegations from state or federal prosecutors. Price is accused of having a financial interest in development projects he voted on, and receiving tens of thousands of dollars in medical benefits from the city for his now wife while he was still married to another woman.

California – Anaheim Top City Staff Shower Themselves with Free Tickets to Venues They Oversee

Voice of OC – Noah Biesiada and Hosam Elattar | Published: 6/13/2023

Top Anaheim City staff members have showered themselves with hundreds of free tickets to Angel Stadium, the Honda Center, and the Convention Center over the last six months, often without an explanation as to why. City Manager Jim Vanderpool and other department managers handed out over 700 tickets to various events to a variety of city staff, and occasionally even to the city’s contracted vendors. These are the same staff members who oversee and negotiate leases with the very sports teams these tickets allow them to watch play professional baseball and hockey for free.

California – County Supervisor Fined by State Watchdog for Not Disclosing Free Chargers Tickets

Voice of OC – Noah Biesiada | Published: 6/22/2023

Orange County supervisor Katrina Foley was fined nearly $1,800 by the Fair Political Practices Commission for failing to properly disclose free tickets to Los Angeles Chargers games she received in 2017. The violation happened while Foley was mayor of Costa Mesa. The commission said there were two instances where Foley received tickets to a Chargers game, with a total of seven tickets. While Foley reported some of the tickets, she failed to report all of the tickets or their total value.

California – Trump Adviser Faces Possible Disbarment Over His Efforts to Overturn 2020 Election

Yahoo News – Stefanie Dazio, Michael Blood, and Alanna Durkin Richer (Associated Press) | Published: 6/20/2023

Attorney John Eastman, the architect of a legal strategy aimed at keeping former President Trump in power, concocted a baseless theory and made false claims of fraud to overturn the 2020 election, a prosecutor said in arguing Eastman be disbarred. Eastman faces 11 disciplinary charges in the State Bar Court of California stemming from his development of a strategy aimed at having Vice President Mike Pence interfere with the certification of President Biden’s victory.

Connecticut – Former CT Port Authority Board Member Fined for Ethics Violations

MSN – Michael Brown (Connecticut Mirror) | Published: 6/19/2023

A former board member of the Connecticut Port Authority will pay $18,500 in fines related to allegations he used his position to benefit a maritime company he co-founded. Henry Juan III will pay the fine to resolve claims he violated ethics codes for both public officials and lobbyists. The state was prepared to prove at a hearing that Juan used his official position at the authority to advance the interests of Seabury Maritime, which included work related to the redevelopment of New London State Pier.

Florida – Gov. Ron DeSantis Used Secretive Panel to Flip State Supreme Court

MSN – Beth Reinhard and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 6/20/2023

For decades, the ambitions of Florida’s Republican governors were stymied by the liberal-leaning state Supreme Court. But the court let Ron DeSantis erase a congressional district with a large Black population. It opened the door to a law making it easier to impose the death penalty. Now, it is poised to rule on the governor’s plan to outlaw most abortions in the state. DeSantis seized on the unusual retirement of three liberal justices at once to quickly remake the court. He did so with the help of a secretive judicial panel that vetted judicial nominees in an three weeks before the governor’s inauguration.

Florida – DeSantis Donor Supplied Golf Simulator for ‘Governor’s Cabana’ and Private Flights

MSN – Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dawsey, Nate Jones, Michael Scherer, and Alice Crites (Washington Post) | Published: 6/21/2023

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s wealthy donors and supporters lent a golf simulator to the Governor’s Mansion and provided private flights to fundraisers and other political events. AboutGolf simulators that require installation are typically built to fit a specific space and start at $27,500. DeSantis’s travel records, including those from past trips, are now exempt from public records requests, under a law he signed in May, citing security concerns.

Georgia – Georgia Poll Workers Targeted by Trump Cleared of False Election Fraud Claims

MSN – Jane Timm (NBC News) | Published: 6/21/2023

Years after their lives were turned upside down by conspiracy theorists, Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea Moss, were officially cleared by Georgia authorities. The State Election Board dismissed its years-long investigation into alleged election fraud at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, more than two years after conspiracy theorists and then-President Trump claimed Freeman and her daughter had committed election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. The fraud claims were “unsubstantiated and found to have no merit,” the investigation concluded.

Hawaii – Maui Ethics Board: You can’t keep those $400 Koa digging sticks

Honolulu Civil Beat – Mariana Starleaf | Published: 6/16/2023

To celebrate the start of construction for Pulelehua, a development of roughly 1,000 homes in part subsidized by millions of dollars from Maui County, each official who posed for photographs was given a wooden digging stick to take with them when the event wrapped up. The Maui Board of Ethics says county officials should give back the pricey koa digging sticks, worth an estimated $400, they received at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Illinois – Jury Convicts Politically Connected Chicago Businessman James Weiss of Attempting to Bribe Two State Legislators

Yahoo News – Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/15/2023

A federal jury convicted a politically connected Chicago businessperson of attempting to pay off two state legislators to pass a bill beneficial to his sweepstakes gaming company. James Weiss was found guilty of bribery, fraud, and lying to the FBI. Prosecutors alleged Weiss wanted the state’s gambling expansion bill to include language explicitly legalizing sweepstakes machines, but it was left out of the proposal in the 2019 session. Weiss then agreed to pay monthly $2,500 bribes to get a deal done, first to Rep. Luis Arroyo and later to Sen. Terry Link.

Illinois – After Judge Rules Niles Ethics Board Cannot Be Elected, Citizens File Appeal

Yahoo News – Caroline Kubzansky (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/15/2023

Although a Cook County judge ruled that Niles voters could not elect the members of the village’s ethics board, the primary backer of the change and a candidate for the board are asking a higher court to reconsider the decision. Mayor George Alpogianis said when the elected board was ruled unconstitutional that the most recently seated board would be reconstituted. It is a twist in a three-year legal and political quest to establish an elected ethics board in Niles.

Kentucky – Beshear Campaign, Kentucky Democratic Party Return $202,000 Linked to London Mayor

Kentucky Lantern – Tom Loftus | Published: 6/20/2023

Gov. Andy Beshear’s reelection campaign and the Kentucky Democratic Party refunded $202,000 in what they determined to be excess political contributions, money originally reported as donations from numerous members of the family of London Mayor Randall Weddle and employees of a company Weddle co-founded. Eric Hyers, manager of Beshear’s campaign, said the campaign recently determined all that money was donated on a credit card of Randall Weddle and his wife.

Maryland – Sports Betting Advocacy Group Tagged with Largest Elections Board Fine

Maryland Matters – Bryan Sears | Published: 6/21/2023

A consortium of top gambling companies was hit with the largest fine in the history of the Maryland State Board of Elections. The $48,000 penalty levied against Sports Betting Alliance was assessed for failing to comply with the state’s 48-hour disclosure requirements. The fine was related to activities during the 2020 campaign when voters were asked to approve legalizing sports wagering. All the fines were part of an audit marking the close of the most recent four-year fundraising cycle.

Massachusetts – Healey Created a Nonprofit to Bankroll Her Transition into Office. But the Donors Are Secret, and So Is How Much They Gave Her.

MSN – Matt Stout (Boston Globe) | Published: 6/22/2023

In the days after her election victory last year, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey created a tax-exempt group, headed by a veteran political operative, to raise money and “facilitate” her transition into office. But the source of those funds remains a secret, which, while legal, means state residents have little idea of whether someone sought to curry favor with the new administration by helping bankroll her early hiring process and, disclosures show, a retreat for Healey and dozens of appointees months after her swearing-in.

New Hampshire – The Budget Removes Limits on Campaign Donations. Not All Are Thrilled.

New Hampshire Bulletin – Ethan DeWitt | Published: 6/22/2023

In a change that took effect in January, the New Hampshire Legislature added limits on how much candidates could receive from political committees, and how much they could transfer from their previous campaign accounts. Where statewide candidates had once enjoyed unlimited transfers, they would be capped at $30,000 per cycle. The state budget this year included a last-minute amendment to do away with the limits, allowing any candidate, PAC, or political advocacy organization to transfer an unlimited amount of money directly to a candidate during an election cycle.

New Jersey – Governor Murphy Appoints New Campaign Finance Watchdog Board

New Jersey Monitor – Nikita Biryukov | Published: 6/15/2023

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy appointed four commissioners to the state’s campaign finance watchdog, ending an 11-week stretch of inactivity that began when the last members of the Election Law Enforcement Commission board resigned in March over legislation they said defanged the agency. Provisions of the recently enacted Elections Transparency Act will allow the appointees to take their positions without the advice and consent of the state Senate.

New York – De Blasio Fined for Using City-Issued Security Detail During Presidential Campaign

MSN – Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 6/15/2023

The Conflicts of Interest Board said former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio owes the city nearly $320,000 and must pay a $155,000 fine for using his government-issued security detail on travel “in connection with his presidential campaign.” The board stated it advised de Blasio about this prohibition before the launch of his campaign. De Blasio, the board wrote, “disregarded” the advice.

North Carolina – FBI Investigation Leads to NC Politician’s Campaign Finance Sentence in Federal Court

Yahoo News – Danielle Battaglia (Charlotte Observer) | Published: 6/20/2023

A federal judge sentenced Lynda Bennett to a year of probation and a $7,500 fine after prosecutors said she “thwarted the voting public’s ability to make informed decisions at the ballot box.” Bennett, a close family friend of former President Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows, ran in 2020 to replace Meadows in Congress. Prosecutors said Bennett asked a relative for a $25,000 loan for her campaign, but since federal election laws cap primary-election donations from an individual at $2,800, she wrote the donation in her own name.

Ohio – Jury Finds Former Toledo Councilman Guilty on One of Two Bribery Charges

WTVG – Staff | Published: 6/15/2023

A jury found former Toledo City Councilperson Gary Johnson guilty on one bribery charge and not guilty on another. Prosecutors say he took a cash bribe and a check in exchange for votes on internet café zoning requests. Johnson testified he considered the $1,000 check given to him in January of 2020 to be a campaign contribution when he was running for Lucas County sheriff.

Oklahoma – Legislature’s Funding Scheme Handcuffs Ethics Commission Enforcement

Oklahoma Watch – Keaton Ross | Published: 6/20/2023

In recent years, a flood of outside money has poured into state political races amid a funding shortfall for the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. While the agency recently settled a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against an out-of-state group that improperly targeted state legislative candidates, the commission’s executive director said similar violations may go unchecked because of funding constraints.

Oregon – Oregon Senate Passes Bill Banning Politicians from Accepting More Than $100 a Year in Cash from One Donor

Willamette Week – Sophie Peel | Published: 6/15/2023

The Oregon Senate passed a bill that bans any candidate or committee from accepting more than $100 annually in cash from any one source. Republican lawmakers drafted the bill in response to reporting that said Rosa Cazares and Aaron Mitchell, co-founders of embattled cannabis chain La Mota, gave tens of thousands of dollars in political contributions to top Democrats in cash.

Pennsylvania – Pa. Lawmakers Ask for Investigations After Gaming Regulators Met Privately with Casino Lobbyists

Spotlight PA – Angela Couloumbis | Published: 6/15/2023

Two state lawmakers asked for an investigation into media reports that top officials at the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board met privately with casino lobbyists about a competitor and failed to disclose the meeting. Spotlight PA reported lobbyists for Parx Casino embarked on an effort to get the board to abandon its hands-off stance toward skill games, which are not regulated by the state. The skill games industry has become a prime target for some casino executives and their array of lobbyists, who argue the machines are illegal and should be banned.

Rhode Island – McKee Under Fire for Free Lunch with Lobbyist, Contractor Tied to Philly Trip

WPRI – Eli Sherman and Alexandra Leslie | Published: 6/21/2023

The Rhode Island Republican Party is calling on the state Ethics Commission to expand its investigation into state officials’ now-infamous interactions with a Philadelphia company after the revelation the contractor and its lobbyist treated Gov. Dan McKee to lunch in January. The GOP alleged McKee’s failure to pick up the $228 lunch tab at The Capital Grille in Providence violated the state’s ethics code, which prohibits public officials from accepting gifts worth more than $25.

South Carolina – Legislators Fear S.C. Ethics Law ‘Blasted Wide Open’ After Judge Rules in Campaign Fundraising Lawsuit

WIS – Mary Green | Published: 6/19/2023

A recent court ruling could have a major effect on how much money can flow into South Carolina elections and the extent to which the public may know about it. Some lawmakers are calling it a victory for free speech and their abilities to have a voice in the political process, while others fear the ruling could have grave consequences. The judge’s order results from a lawsuit brought by the South Carolina Freedom Caucus, a group of hardline Republicans who have often been at odds with the larger House Republican Caucus.

Texas – Records Show Houston Council Member Michael Kubosh Spent Campaign Money on Birthdays, Vacation Expenses

KHOU – Jeremy Rogalski | Published: 6/19/2023

The announcement that Houston City Councilperson Michael Kubosh is dropping out of the race for city controller comes after reporters began asking Kubosh about questionable campaign finance expenses. KHOU told him it reviewed nearly 1,700 pages of his campaign finance reports and cross-referenced those with social media posts made by Kubosh and his family members. The analysis reveals thousands of dollars of expenses that appear for personal use, which is not allowed under Texas Ethics Commission rules.

Texas – Dallas Has New Ethics Rules, Adds Misdemeanor for Leaking City Information

MSN – Everton Bailey Jr. (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 6/15/2023

The Dallas City Council approved a series of changes to the ethics code, including lowering the standard of proof needed for the inspector general to prove an ethics violation occurred and making it a criminal offense for leaking confidential city information. It is the second time in three years the council has updated ethics rules. Five council members have admitted to or been convicted of crimes related to taking bribes or embezzling since 2000.

Texas – September Date Set for Texas Attorney General Impeachment Trial

MSN – Molly Hennessy-Fiske (Washington Post) | Published: 6/21/2023

The Texas Senate voted to begin the historic impeachment trial of state Attorney General Ken Paxton on September 5, and it approved rules that bar Paxton’s wife from voting due to a conflict-of-interest. The House impeached Paxton over allegations of bribery, unfitness for office, and abuse of public trust, temporarily forcing him from office pending the Senate trial that could lead to his permanent ouster.

Campaign Finance

Kentucky: “Beshear Campaign, Kentucky Democratic Party Return $202,000 Linked to London Mayor” by Tom Loftus for Kentucky Lantern

Maryland: “Sports Betting Advocacy Group Tagged with Largest Elections Board Fine” by Bryan Sears for Maryland Matters

North Carolina: “FBI Investigation Leads to NC Politician’s Campaign Finance Sentence in Federal Court” by Danielle Battaglia for Yahoo News

Elections

Georgia: “Georgia Poll Workers Targeted by Trump Cleared of False Election Fraud Claims” by Jane Timm (NBC News) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Trump Adviser Faces Possible Disbarment Over His Efforts to Overturn 2020 Election” by Stefanie Dazio, Michael Blood, and Alanna Durkin Richer (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

National: “Justice Samuel Alito Took Luxury Fishing Vacation with GOP Billionaire Who Later Had Cases Before the Court” by Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan, and Alex Mierjeski for ProPublica

Florida: “DeSantis Donor Supplied Golf Simulator for ‘Governor’s Cabana’ and Private Flights” by Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dawsey, Nate Jones, Michael Scherer, and Alice Crites (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

California: “LA City Council Looks into Tougher Lobbying Rules That Could Impact Themselves” by City News Service for Los Angeles Daily News

Campaign Finance

National: “Rigging the System: The Martin Kao case offers an inside view of pay-to-play politics” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat

Oklahoma: “Legislature’s Funding Scheme Handcuffs Ethics Commission Enforcement” by Keaton Ross for Oklahoma Watch

South Carolina: “Legislators Fear S.C. Ethics Law ‘Blasted Wide Open’ After Judge Rules in Campaign Fundraising Lawsuit” by Mary Green for WIS

Texas: “Records Show Houston Council Member Michael Kubosh Spent Campaign Money on Birthdays, Vacation Expenses” by Jeremy Rogalski for KHOU

Ethics

California: “The Los Angeles City Council Is in Turmoil. Can It Manage to Fix Itself?” by Reis Thebault (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Trump Real Estate Deal in Oman Underscores Ethics Concerns” by Eric Lipton (New York Times) for Yahoo News

National: “Hunter Biden Reaches Deal to Plead Guilty in Tax, Gun Case” by Devlin Barrett and Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “Gov. Ron DeSantis Used Secretive Panel to Flip State Supreme Court” by Beth Reinhard and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics California: “Anaheim Top City Staff Shower Themselves with Free Tickets to Venues They Oversee” by Noah Biesiada and Hosam Elattar for Voice of OC National: “FBI Resisted Opening Probe into Trump’s Role in Jan. 6 for More Than a Year” by Carol Leoning and Aaron Davis (Washington Post) for MSN National: “Lina Khan Rejected FTC Ethics Recommendation to Recuse in Meta Case” by Leah Nylen (Bloomberg) for MSN Illinois: “After Judge Rules Niles Ethics Board Cannot Be Elected, Citizens File Appeal” by Caroline Kubzansky (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News National: “How Local Officials Seek Revenge on Their Hometown Newspapers” by Emily Flitter (New York Times) for Yahoo News Ohio: “Jury Finds Former Toledo Councilman Guilty on One of Two Bribery Charges” by Staff for WTVG Rhode Island: “R.I. Governor McKee Says He Apologized to Developer Insulted by Official’s Racist, Sexist Remarks” by Brian Amaral (Boston Globe) for MSN Lobbying Connecticut: “Former CT Port Authority Board Member Fined for Ethics Violations” by Michael Brown (Connecticut Mirror) for MSN

Campaign Finance National: “Guilty Pleas in ‘Scam PAC’ Case Tied to 2017 Wisconsin Senate Race” by Nathan Gonzales for Roll Call New Jersey: “Governor Murphy Appoints New Campaign Finance Watchdog Board” by Nikita Biryukov for New Jersey Monitor Ethics California: “L.A. City Councilmember Curren Price Charged with Embezzlement and Perjury” by James Queally, Julia Wick, and Dakota Smith (Los Angeles Times) for MSN Hawaii: “Maui Ethics Board: You can’t keep those $400 Koa digging sticks” by Mariana Starleaf for Honolulu Civil Beat Illinois: “Jury Convicts Politically Connected Chicago Businessman James Weiss of Attempting to Bribe Two State Legislators” by Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News New York: “De Blasio Fined for Using City-Issued Security Detail During Presidential Campaign” by Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) for MSN Texas: “Dallas Has New Ethics Rules, Adds Misdemeanor for Leaking City Information” by Everton Bailey Jr. (Dallas Morning News) for MSN Lobbying Pennsylvania: “Pa. Lawmakers Ask for Investigations After Gaming Regulators Met Privately with Casino Lobbyists” by Angela Couloumbis for Spotlight PA

National/Federal

G.O.P. Rebels Are Breaking the Rule on Rules, Upending How the House Works

Buffalo News – Carl Hulse (New York Times) | Published: 6/13/2023

It has long been an axiom of the U.S. House majority: vote against a piece of legislation put forth by your party if you absolutely must, but never vote against the “rule” to bring that legislation to the floor. Until the last few weeks, that standard had held for more than two decades. But now, about a dozen rebellious House Republicans have decided to leverage their badly needed votes on the routine procedural measures to win policy concessions, breaking the longstanding code of party discipline and threatening the traditional operation of the House.

DeSantis Campaign Uses Apparently Fake Images to Attack Trump on Twitter

DNyuz – Nicholas Nehamas (New York Times) | Published: 6/8/2023

As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis begins to aggressively attack Donald Trump, his campaign has spread three images of the former president embracing Dr. Anthony Fauci that forensic experts say are almost certainly realistic looking “deepfakes” generated by artificial intelligence. As the 2024 campaign heats up, the use of such deepfakes has been of concern to those who study manipulated images, which thanks to new technology are easier to generate than ever before.

Why Lawmakers Can’t Get Their Act Together on Time

Governing – Alan Greenblatt | Published: 6/12/2023

Whether it is Congress waiting until the last minute to raise the debt ceiling or legislators voting on the cusp of midnight the day before the state budget is due, lawmakers cannot seem to help putting off most of their work until they are almost out of time. The final details of Louisiana’s budget were only presented to most legislators just 20 minutes before the end of the session this year.

Liberals Try to Reclaim ‘Parents’ Rights’ from Conservatives in Education

MSN – Laura Meckley, Hannah Natanson, and John Harden (Washington Post) | Published: 6/12/2023

In the culture wars, conservative parents jumped out first with an agenda built around the defense of “parents’ rights.” Now, groups are coalescing on the left to resist conservative efforts to remove books from schools, end student LGBTQ clubs, and restrict classroom discussions of race and gender. Experts and advocates say the progressives, some forming groups nationally and others in states and local communities, increasingly are in a strong position to push back.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal Launches Probe into PGA Tour-Saudi Alliance

MSN – Rick Maese (Washington Post) | Published: 6/12/2023

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, chairperson of a powerful Senate subcommittee, launched a probe into the partnership between the PGA Tour and its Saudi-funded rival, requesting documents and communications that led to the alliance. Blumenthal demanded communications that led to the alliance, records related to the dispute between the competing tours that fractured the sport recently, and records related to the PGA Tour’s tax-exempt status. Blumenthal has broad authority to scrutinize the deal and issue subpoenas on a range of matters, from corporate and financial crimes to terrorism.

Estuaries? Pickleball? Rum? There’s a Congressional Caucus for Practically Everything

MSN – Jim Saska (Roll Call) | Published: 6/13/2023

No matter the topic, Congress has a caucus. In fact, Congress is home to approximately 820 caucuses. Many are focused on just a single, sometimes obscure, issue, like the Congressional American 250 Caucus that is helping plan the nation’s upcoming semiquincentennial, while others may be an intraparty faction trying to drag its colleagues one way or another. The caucus is distinctly American affair. The  term first appeared in writing at the end of the French and Indian War.

Trump’s Path to Indictment: ‘Isn’t it better if there are no documents?’

MSN – Marc Fisher (Washington Post) | Published: 6/10/2023

More than two years after Donald Trump’s departure from the White House, the Justice Department revealed the first-ever federal indictment of a president of the United States, a chronicle of allegations that portray Trump as the architect of a knowing scheme to hide classified documents from the government he had run and to persuade his own attorneys to mislead federal officials. The trouble Trump now faces is virgin terrain: a former president, now his party’s leading candidate to return to the White House, faces trial, at risk of a years-long prison sentence during the heart of his third campaign for the nation’s highest office.

Judge Ruling Requiring Mike Pence to Testify to Grand Jury About Jan. 6 Unsealed

MSN – Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 6/9/2023

A federal judge unsealed a potentially landmark ruling that compelled former Vice President Mike Pence to testify before a grand jury investigating the U.S. Capitol attack and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Pence called U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg’s ruling the first to lay out how a vice president also qualifies for constitutional protection enjoyed by lawmakers from being compelled to testify even in criminal investigations.

Why Campaign Websites No Longer Have ‘Issues’ Pages

Yahoo Finance – Mini Racker (Time) | Published: 6/12/2023

“Issues” pages, which outline candidates’ stances on key policy topics, have long been expected features of campaign websites. But of the fourteen major candidates who have entered the presidential race, only a handful have detailed, stand-alone pages describing where they stand on the issues and what they plan to do in office. Several include no written policy commitments at all. Strategists agree the country has become so polarized that the candidates’ positions on issues matter much less than they once did. In general elections, many voters will simply support the candidate of their preferred party without bothering to look up their stances.

The Presidential Candidate Who Has His Own Supporters Scratching Their Heads

Yahoo News – Jonathan Weisman (New York Times) | Published: 6/8/2023

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has a plan for winning the Republican nomination for president: eschewing the culture wars and getting the party back on a business-friendly economic message of low taxes, less regulation, and can-do entrepreneurship. But even North Dakotans who express admiration for their governor’s wealth, business acumen, and energy are baffled by his suddenly lofty political ambitions.

F.B.I. Investigating Spy Ring’s Political Contributions

Yahoo News – Adam Goldman and Mark Mazzetti (New York Times) | Published: 6/8/2023

Federal prosecutors are investigating possible campaign finance violations in connection with an undercover operation based in Wyoming that aimed to infiltrate progressive groups, political campaigns, and the offices of elected representatives before the 2020 election. As part of the operation, participants used large campaign donations and cover stories to gain access to their targets and gather dirt to sabotage the reputations of people and organizations considered threats to the agenda of former President Trump.

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – Alaska Ballot Measure Filed to Reestablish Campaign Contribution Limits

Yahoo News – Sean Maguire (Anchorage Daily News) | Published: 6/11/2023

A newly filed ballot measure would reestablish campaign contribution limits in Alaska, with the intention of restricting the influence of big-money donors in state politics. A federal appeals court in 2021 struck down three of Alaska’s main contribution limits as a violation of donors’ First Amendment rights. The state’s previous $500-per-year cap on donations had been among the lowest in the nation.

Arizona – An Ariz. Democrat Hid Bibles as a ‘Prank.’ Republicans Tried to Expel Her.

MSN – María Luisa Paúl (Washington Post) | Published: 6/14/2023

Arizona House Republicans failed to expel Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, who admitted to a Bible-hiding prank caught on hidden camera. Instead, the House could only muster a vote to censure Stahl Hamilton. She apologized over what she called a “peaceful, playful protest” meant as commentary on the separation of church and state. But an ethics committee determined her behavior amounted to “disorderly conduct,” a violation of House rules. Many Republicans were outraged by what they called the “desecration” of scripture.

California – As Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon’s Power Grew, So Did His Wife’s Income

MSN – Hannah Wiley and Katie Licari (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 6/8/2023

Outgoing California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon is one-half of a political power couple with Annie Lam, a successful consultant and nonprofit executive. The two flourished together during Rendon’s unusually long time as speaker. As Rendon’s influence grew, Lam’s consultancy business similarly boomed, allowing her income to swell and public profile to soar. Though Lam is not a lobbyist, she is paid by an organization that lobbies the Legislature. The League of California Cities has reported paying Lam’s business nearly $600,000 over the last 18 months.

California – SF Ethics Watchdogs Issue Huge Fine to Group that Supported Breed’s 2018 Mayoral Run

San Francisco Standard – Josh Koehn | Published: 6/13/2023

The San Francisco Ethics Commission fined one of the most influential political groups in the 2018 elections, saying a committee that supported Mayor London Breed and her allies failed to properly report nearly $1.1 million in spending. An investigation found Progress San Francisco repeatedly alternated between classifying itself as a city and state committee, making it harder for local voters to understand how hundreds of thousands of dollars were being spent to influence races. Progress San Francisco agreed to pay a fine of $29,300.

California – Anaheim’s Ticket to Ride: City leaders hand out thousands of free tickets every year

Voice of OC – Noah Biesiada and Hosam Elattar | Published: 6/12/2023

Officials in Anaheim, home to Angel Stadium and Honda Center, regularly give out thousands of free tickets every year to events at city-owned venues, arguing they mainly go to community nonprofits. Yet a Voice of OC review of the past six months of ticket passes given out by Anaheim’s new council majority and city staff shows loose tracking of who really gets access to what amounts to a six-figure sum of free sports and concert tickets.

Illinois – City Ethics Board to Seek Changes to Contractor Oversight Following Tribune Report

MSN – Alex Harrison and John Byrne (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/13/2023

The Chicago Board of Ethics will look to amend the city’s ethics ordinance in response to a Chicago Tribune story that detailed how several aldermen used tax dollars to pay a former top Park District official tens of thousands of dollars as a consultant after he had had been asked to resign and placed on the district’s “do not rehire” list for his role in that agency’s sexual abuse lifeguard scandal. The proposal comes after a Tribune review of aldermanic expense accounts, which are little-known funds totaling $122,000 a year for each of the city’s 50 council members to spend on almost anything they want with little oversight.

Illinois – As Chicago’s City Commissions Start Meeting in Person Again, Future of Online Access in Doubt

WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 6/12/2023

For the first time in more than three years, all city boards and commissions in Chicago are once again meeting in person, putting an end to the virtual meetings that became a hallmark of the COVID-19 pandemic. But there are no rules ensuring those meetings will continue to be streamed online or allow members of the public to weigh in virtually, either by Zoom or by phone. When Gov. J.B. Pritzker ended the public health emergency, boards and commissions across the state could no longer meet virtually, as rules that allowed them to meet via Zoom or other teleconferencing platforms expired.

Illinois – Ex-Mayor Lightfoot Was Warned About Email Electioneering 10 Months Before Campaign Tried to Recruit CPS Students

Yahoo News – Gregory Pratt (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/10/2023

Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s campaign was told to stop electioneering to city employees nearly a year before her staff tried to recruit Chicago Public Schools students to do political work for extra credit. When it came to light in January, Lightfoot’s camp first defended but then quickly denounced the practice of sending emails to public workers soliciting campaign help. Now it is emerged that her campaign had been warned by the city Board of Ethics in March 2022 to cease sending political communications to public employee emails.

Kentucky – Judge Rejects Louisville Lawmaker’s Plea for Privacy in Ethics Probe

Louisville Public Media – Jacob Ryan | Published: 6/13/2023

Metro Council member Anthony Piagentini claimed Louisville’s ethics commission violated state and local laws by disclosing his response to a complaint accusing him of ethics violations. But a judge ruled the Louisville Metro Ethics Commission did not violate any laws and is free to disclose certain records related to the investigation. Piagentini has been investigated for possible violations related to his assistance securing a $40 million COVID-19 relief grant for the Louisville Healthcare CEO Council. The day after the council approved the spending measure, Piagentini took a consulting job with the group.

Maryland – Maryland State Board of Elections Taps Longtime Employee Jared DeMarinis as Administrator

MSN – Emily Opilo and Hannah Gaskill (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 6/8/2023

The Maryland State Board of Elections hired a new elections administrator, selecting a longtime employee for the top job. Jared DeMarinis was chosen by a unanimous vote., DeMarinis, who has worked as the director of the board’s campaign finance division, will face a confirmation hearing before the state Senate next session before he can take on the role in a permanent capacity.

Nevada – Lombardo Could Have Taken $50K Settlement in Ethics Case; Fine Now $1.6 Million

MSN – Greg Klas (KLAS) | Published: 6/13/2023

After Joe Lombardo won the 2022 gubernatorial election, a letter from the Nevada Ethics Commission offered to settle complaints against him before he was sworn into office. The offer: a $50,000 fine, censure from the Ethics Commission, ethics training for “all staff within 30 days of your client’s inauguration as governor,” and a designated ethics officer in the governor’s office during Lombardo’s first term. But in turning down the settlement, the governor is facing a hearing and a possible fine of $1.6 million.

New York – Could Democrats Get Another Shot at Redistricting in New York?

DNyuz – Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) | Published: 6/8/2023

A year ago, Democrats were taken to task by New York’s highest court for attempting to gerrymander the state’s congressional districts, and saw their tilted map replaced by more neutral lines that helped Republicans flip four House seats. Now, with a 2024 rematch approaching, Democratic leaders in Washington and Albany are reviving a legal battle to reopen the mapmaking process and potentially pull the lines back in their direction.

New York – Judge: E. Jean Carroll can seek more damages after Trump CNN remarks

MSN – Andrea Salcedo and Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 6/13/2023

E. Jean Carroll, who won a $5 million lawsuit against Donald Trump in a sexual assault and defamation case, can amend a separate pending lawsuit to seek more damages against the former president for disparaging comments he made during a recent CNN town hall, a judge ruled. Attorneys for Carroll filed an amended complaint following Trump’s comments during the CNN special event, seeking at least $10 million in damages for the town hall comments and for the initial defamation that Carroll alleged.

New York – Critics Say Changes to State’s Public Campaign Finance Law Subverts Its Purpose

WXXI – Karen DeWitt | Published: 6/13/2023

Before New York legislators adjourned their session, they approved a measure to alter the state’s fledgling public campaign finance system – a change that critics and some lawmakers say undermines the program’s original purpose. For state legislative offices, there is a tiered system with higher match ratios for contributions up to $250. Now, donations of up to $18,000 would be eligible for public matching funds. The bill goes to Gov. Kathy Hochul.

North Carolina – NC GOP Wants to Restructure State Elections Board, Stripping Governor of Appointment Power

MSN – Kyle Ingram (Charlotte Observer) | Published: 6/12/2023

Republicans in North Carolina introduced legislation to drastically restructure the State Board of Elections, taking away the power of the governor to appoint its members and creating an even partisan split among the powerful board. Under the proposed law, the board would have an even number of Republicans and Democrats, all of whom would be appointed by legislative leaders rather than the governor. A similar bill passed in 2016 was later ruled unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court.

Ohio – State Issue 1 Ballot Language Must Be Rewritten, Ohio Supreme Court Rules

MSN – Andrew Tobias (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 6/12/2023

The Ohio Supreme Court ordered state officials to rewrite some of the language for an August ballot measure that, if passed, would make it more difficult to amend the state constitution. The court, however, declined to take a more expansive role in ordering the language to be rewritten, rejecting some of the core arguments from plaintiffs. State Issue 1 would amend the Ohio Constitution to require future amendments to get a 60 percent supermajority in a statewide vote to pass. That is compared to the current simple majority standard that has been in place for more than a century.

Ohio – Federal Judge: Ex-Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger is not a victim of convicted successor Householder

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 6/12/2023

A federal judge rejected a request from ex-Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger to be formally acknowledged as a victim of former Speaker Larry Householder’s bribery and racketeering scheme. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Black ruled Rosenberger failed to prove the FBI’s investigation into his own conduct as speaker and subsequent resignation were directly caused by Householder’s political maneuvering.

Oregon – Democratic Party of Oregon Will Return Illegal $500K FTX Contribution

Centralia Chronicle – Ted Sickinger (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/8/2023

The Democratic Party of Oregon said it will return the illegal $500,000 campaign contribution it received last October from an executive at FTX, the bankrupted cryptocurrency exchange, by tapping into donations from some of the state’s most powerful Democrats. The party received the donation last fall from FTX executive Nishad Singh, but at his request, party officials misattributed it to Prime Trust, a crypto payment processor. The Oregon Secretary of State’s election division subsequently investigated the party’s handling of the contribution and fined it $15,000.

Oregon – Shemia Fagan Spent Taxpayer or Donor Money on Hotel Pet Fees, Airfare for Her Kids. She Says She’s Done Nothing Wrong.

MSN – Aimee Green (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/9/2023

A media investigation found former Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan sought, and in many cases received, thousands of taxpayer dollars in questionable reimbursements from the state for travel expenses both large and small. The investigation also found Fagan spent tens of thousands of dollars in campaign funds on airplane tickets for her children and stays at four-star hotels thousands of miles from Oregon, among many other unexplained expenses. Acting Secretary of State Cheryl Myers now says Fagan ignored warnings that she may be breaking state travel rules.

Rhode Island – Two Rhode Island Officials Visited Philly. They Were So Rude Their State Launched Two Separate Investigations.

MSN – Zoe Greenberg (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 6/12/2023

Two Rhode Island officials traveled to Philadelphia to tour Bok, the former vocational school that is now home to dozens of artists and entrepreneurs. Scout Ltd., the team behind Bok, had contracted with Rhode Island, under a former administration, to develop a vacant state building in Providence. Hoping to convince a new administration to fund the project, Scout executives offered to show the officials around. But the way the Rhode Island representatives allegedly behaved was so “bizarre, offensive, and unprofessional” that the company executives documented what happened in an email that was sent to the governor of Rhode Island.

Rhode Island – Lawmakers Want to Make It Easier to Raise Campaign Cash. Who Will Benefit the Most?

MSN – Patrick Anderson (Providence Journal) | Published: 6/13/2023

The Rhode Island House passed a package of campaign finance law changes that would double how much an individual could give to a candidate each year. Progressive Democrats blasted both hiking the $1,000 maximum annual individual contribution to $2,000 and raising the maximum size of donations that can be reported anonymously. Rep. Brian Newberry said while the bill might allow top lawmakers to collect more campaign cash than they already do, he believes it would have a greater benefit to challengers who often struggle to raise the bare minimum to compete.

South Carolina – Judge Extends Election Fundraising Rights in Win for Ultraconservative South Carolina Lawmakers

Associated Press News – James Pollard | Published: 6/13/2023

Special interest caucuses in South Carolina can formally campaign, a federal judge ruled in a victory for a hardline conservative group of state representatives that want to push the Republican-controlled Legislature further to the right. The order allows the South Carolina Freedom Caucus to fundraise and distribute election materials just like the House Republican, Democratic, Black, and Women’s Caucuses already do. The conservative faction argued a state law limiting those abilities only to caucuses organized by political party, race, ethnicity, or gender violated its freedom of speech.

Campaign Finance California: “SF Ethics Watchdogs Issue Huge Fine to Group that Supported Breed’s 2018 Mayoral Run” by Josh Koehn for San Francisco Standard Rhode Island: “Lawmakers Want to Make It Easier to Raise Campaign Cash. Who Will Benefit the Most?” by Patrick Anderson (Providence Journal) for MSN South Carolina: “Judge Extends Election Fundraising Rights in Win for Ultraconservative South Carolina Lawmakers” by James Pollard for Associated Press News Ethics Illinois: “City Ethics Board to Seek Changes to Contractor Oversight Following Tribune Report” by Alex Harrison and John Byrne (Chicago Tribune) for MSN Kentucky: “Judge Rejects Louisville Lawmaker’s Plea for Privacy in Ethics Probe” by Jacob Ryan for Louisville Public Media National: “Liberals Try to Reclaim ‘Parents’ Rights’ from Conservatives in Education” by Laura Meckley, Hannah Natanson, and John Harden (Washington Post) for MSN Nevada: “Lombardo Could Have Taken $50K Settlement in Ethics Case; Fine Now $1.6 Million” by Greg Klas (KLAS) for MSN New York: “Judge: E. Jean Carroll can seek more damages after Trump CNN remarks” by Andrea Salcedo and Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) for MSN Legislative Issues National: “G.O.P. Rebels Are Breaking the Rule on Rules, Upending How the House Works” by Carl Hulse (New York Times) for Buffalo News

Campaign Finance New York: “NY Bills Overhaul Local Elections, Roll Back Campaign Reforms; NYPA Nominee Rejected” by Chris Bragg (Buffalo News) for KPVI Elections National: “Why Campaign Websites No Longer Have ‘Issues’ Pages” by Mini Racker (Time) for Yahoo Finance North Carolina: “NC GOP Wants to Restructure State Elections Board, Stripping Governor of Appointment Power” by Kyle Ingram (Charlotte Observer) for MSN Ohio: “State Issue 1 Ballot Language Must Be Rewritten, Ohio Supreme Court Rules” by Andrew Tobias (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN Ethics National: “Sen. Richard Blumenthal Launches Probe into PGA Tour-Saudi Alliance” by Rick Maese (Washington Post) for MSN Rhode Island: “Two Rhode Island Officials Visited Philly. They Were So Rude Their State Launched Two Separate Investigations.” by Zoe Greenberg (Philadelphia Inquirer) for MSN Legislative Issues National: “Estuaries? Pickleball? Rum? There’s a Congressional Caucus for Practically Everything” by Jim Saska (Roll Call) for MSN Redistricting New York: “Could Democrats Get Another Shot at Redistricting in New York?” by Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) for DNyuz

Q: My organization wants to sponsor a reception in Texas. State legislators, staff, and family members are likely to be in attendance. As a registered lobbyist, what are my limits and reporting obligations?

As a registered lobbyist, there are several items to keep in mind when sponsoring an event. First, a lobbyist can provide an unlimited amount of food and beverage to an official, employee, immediate family member, or guest when the lobbyist attends the event. If not present at the event, food and beverage expenditures are limited to $100 or less.

Next, when engaging with officials at the event, sponsorship is considered a lobbying expenditure and will need to be disclosed on the appropriate lobbying report. These reports break expenditures down by type (food and beverage, entertainment, transportation, etc.) and by recipient. This may seem straightforward, but if your sponsorship goes to the organizing entity, how do you know how your dollars are being used?

The state provides some guidance here. When reporting expenditures for a reception or banquet type event, the Food and Beverage category includes all items needed to hold the event such as room rental, table settings, and printing costs. Other categories may need to be included depending on the specific event.

Additionally, you will need to know who among the attendees are in a reportable category of persons benefitted. Generally, this is state senators/representatives, state officers, state employees, immediate family members, and guests. If a combination of these groups are in attendance, or a combination of covered and non-covered individuals, the expenditure should be divided appropriately based on the numbers in each category. If all members of the legislature are invited, the entire expenditure is reported under that category. As long as all members are invited, it does not matter how many actually attend.

Finally, keep in mind the detailed reporting threshold. If the per person costs exceed the threshold, currently $132.60, the individuals must be identified and other details disclosed.

For more information, please see the “Reports Required” and “Gift Law” sections of the Lobbying Compliance Laws online  publication for Texas. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Campaign Finance Alaska: “Alaska Ballot Measure Filed to Reestablish Campaign Contribution Limits” by Sean Maguire (Anchorage Daily News) for Yahoo News Elections National: “DeSantis Campaign Uses Apparently Fake Images to Attack Trump on Twitter” by Nicholas Nehamas (New York Times) for DNyuz Maryland: “Maryland State Board of Elections Taps Longtime Employee Jared DeMarinis as Administrator” by Emily Opilo and Hannah Gaskill (Baltimore Sun) for MSN Ethics California: “Anaheim’s Ticket to Ride: City leaders hand out thousands of free tickets every year” by Noah Biesiada and Hosam Elattar for Voice of OC National: “Judge Ruling Requiring Mike Pence to Testify to Grand Jury About Jan. 6 Unsealed” by Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) for MSN Illinois: “As Chicago’s City Commissions Start Meeting in Person Again, Future of Online Access in Doubt” by Heather Cherone for WTTW Ohio: “Federal Judge: Ex-Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger is not a victim of convicted successor Householder” by Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN Legislative Issues National: “Why Lawmakers Can’t Get Their Act Together on Time” by Alan Greenblatt for Governing