Campaign Finance

Pennsylvania: “Pittsburgh Looks to Tighten Campaign Finance Reports for PACs, Independent Expenditures” by Ashley Murray for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Elections

National: “Wisconsin Recount Confirms Biden’s Win Over Trump, Cementing the President’s Failure to Change the Election Results” by Rosalind Helderman and Amy Gardner (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “NRA Reports Alleged Misspending by Current and Former Executives to IRS” by Beth Reinhard and Carol Leonning (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Trump Pardons Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, Who Pleaded Guilty to Lying to the FBI” by Rosalind Helserman and Josh Dawsey for Washington Post

Delaware: “Wilmington Councilman Rebuked: ‘City employees must not be threatened for doing their jobs’” by Jeanne Kuang for Wilmington News Journal

Illinois: “City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin Denies Wrongly Firing Chief of Staff, Other Employees” by Gregory Pratt for Chicago Tribune

Illinois: “New Cache of ComEd Documents Shows Indicted Madigan Confidant Pressing Utility for Jobs and Contracts” by Dan Petrella, Jamie Munks, and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

Virginia: “As Virginia Democrats Rein Themselves In with Bill Limits, Some Legislators See Lost Opportunities” by Laura Vozzella for Washington Post

Lobbying

Ohio: “Bankruptcy Judge Orders Lobbyists to Testify About Any Ties to Householder Bribery Case” by Jim Mackinnon for Akron Beacon Journal

Campaign Finance

National: “Georgia Senator David Perdue Privately Pushed for a Tax Break for Rich Sports Teamowners” by Robert Faturechi and Justin Elliott for ProPublica

California: “SLO County Supervisors OK $25,000 Campaign Donation Cap Over Hundreds of Objections” by Lindsey Holden for San Luis Obispo News

New York: “Bill Would Further Restrict Coordination Between City Candidates and Independent Expenditure Campaigns” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Elections

National: “Trump Pushes Supreme Court to Let Him Reshape Apportionment” by Michael Macagnone for Roll Call

Ethics

National: “All the President’s ‘Guys’” by Ben Terris for Washington Post

California: “Feds Charge Recology Exec in Purported Mohammed Nuru Bribery Scheme” by Julian Mark and Joe Eskenazi for Mission Local

Illinois: “Feds Draw Near Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan as Key Confidant Weighs Cooperation Choice” by Jason Meisner and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

Ohio: “Sam Randazzo Resigns as Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chair” by Jeremy Pelzer for Cleveland Plain Dealer

Legislative Issues

Wyoming: “When Will the Wyoming Legislature Convene Next Year? No One’s Sure Yet” by Nick Reynolds for Casper Star Tribune

Lawmakers on Wednesday signaled support in using a provision from the state constitution never before used.

Under the provision, Gov. Kate Brown can declare a catastrophic disaster.

In addition, she can convene a special legislative session under looser rules than lawmakers would normally abide by.

Legislators likely would not be required to appear at the Capitol for such a session, eliminating concerns about spreading the coronavirus.

The House and Senate also could operate without a two-thirds quorum of lawmakers in attendance.

If Gov. Brown does declare a catastrophic emergency, it can only last for 30 days unless extended by lawmakers.

A spokesperson for Brown stated the governor is open to holding another special session if legislators can agree to a succinct list of policies addressing Oregonians’ most pressing needs.

Campaign Finance

New Mexico: “Modest Sunshine Still Leaves Campaign Cash in Shadow” by Sara Swann (The Fulcrum) and Bryan Metzger for New Mexico In Depth

Elections

National: “Trump Fires Top DHS Official Who Refuted His Claims That the Election Was Rigged” by Ellen Nakashima and Nick Miroff (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “State Investigating Mysterious Candidate Who Swayed Tight Florida Senate Race” by Samantha Gross and Ana Ceballos for Tampa Bay Times

Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rejects Complaints About Philadelphia Election Observations” by Zach Montellaro and Josh Gerstein for Politico

Ethics

Louisiana: “After IG’s Ouster, Stronger Whistleblower Laws Considered by New Orleans Ethics Review Board” by Jeff Adelson for Nola.com

New York: “After Cuomo Book Approval, Ethics Commissioners Quash Greater Scrutiny” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Legislative Issues

National: “6 Lawmakers in 5 Days: New COVID-19 infections put spotlight on Congress’ loose guidelines” by Christal Hayes for USA Today

Lobbying

National: “Corporations and Foreign Nations Pivot to Lobby Biden” by Kenneth Vogel and Eric Lipton for New York Times

California: “Newsom’s Cozy Ties with Top Lobbyist Showcased by French Laundry Dinner Party” by Jeremy White and Debra Kahn for Politico

The Colorado General Assembly is preparing for a special session to provide more relief to those impacted by COVID-19.

Gov. Jared Polis wants lawmakers to take immediate action on elements of his $1.3 billion stimulus package. This would include relief for restaurant owners and other small businesses.

The special session is expected after the Thanksgiving holiday, before lawmakers return on January 13 for their next regular session. It will take at least three days to approve the legislation.

A professional lobbyist must disclose within 72 hours if a lobbyist agrees to lobby for an existing client or takes a new position in connection to legislation, standard, rules, or rates during a special session.

Campaign Finance

Alabama: “Former Alabama Sen. David Burkette Gets Probation, $3K Fine in Campaign Finance Case” by Brad Harper for Montgomery Advertiser

California: “San Bernardino to Cap Campaign Contributions at $4,700 Per Individual Per Election” by Brian Whitehead for San Bernardino Sun

Elections

National: “Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Death Brings New Uncertainty to the Battle Over Voting Rights in 2020” by Elise Viebeck and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “DeVos Under Investigation for Potentially Violating Hatch Act Because of Fox News Interview” by Daniel Lippman and Michael Stratford for Politico

New York: “Trump Could Be Investigated for Tax Fraud, D.A. Says for First Time” by Benjamin Weiser and William Rashbaum for New York Times

Washington DC: “D.C. Official Who Sought Howard Job After Negotiating a Tax Break for School Fined $2,500” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

Minnesota: “Preparing Minnesotans of Color to Wield More Power at the Capitol” by Melissa Townsend for MPR News

Lobbying

National: “Behind Trump’s Turkish ‘Bromance’: Lev Parnas, oligarchs and a lucrative lobbying deal” by Aubrey Belford, Adam Klasfeld, Andrew Lehren, and Dan De Luce for NBC News

Illinois: “CUB’s ‘Conflict’: How a utility watchdog got millions from the utilities it watches” by Dave McKinney and Dan Mihalopoulos for WBEZ

Campaign Finance

Ohio: “Dems Blast Bogus FirstEnergy PAC Campaign Report” by Staff for Youngstown Business Journal

Elections

National: “Campaigns Adjust as Voters Cast Ballots Before Election Day” by Bridget Bowman for Roll Call

Ethics

National: “Judges in D.C. Threatened, Harassed After High-Profile, Political Legal Battles” by Ann Marimow for Washington Post

National: “Trump’s Businesses Charged Secret Service More Than $1.1 Million, Including for Rooms in Club Shuttered for Pandemic” by David Fahrenthold and Josh Dawsey for Washington Post

Illinois: “Cook County Board of Ethics Appoints New Chair After Previous Two Ousted Amid Earlier Shakeups” by Alice Yin for Chicago Tribune

Kentucky: “Kentucky GOP Lawmaker Indicted on Assault, Accused of Strangling Woman with Ethernet Cable” by Teo Armus for Washington Post

Louisiana: “In Parting Shot, Resigning New Orleans IG Says Audubon Institute Possibly Made Unlawful Deals” by Jessica Williams for Nola.com

New York: “New York Ethics’ Panel Renews Search for a Leader” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Legislative Issues

South Carolina: “Wearing Masks at the SC Capitol Is Required, but Many Found a Way Around the Order” by Maayan Schechter for Charlotte Observer

The North Dakota Supreme Court granted a writ of injunction to keep Measure 3 off the ballot.

In a unanimous ruling, the justices enjoined Secretary of State Al Jaeger from placing the initiated measure on the ballot.

The measure seeks to amend the North Dakota Constitution concerning elections and legislative districting, referencing the North Dakota Century Code.

Additionally, it does not comply with the constitutional requirement to contain the full text of the measure.

Three Republican lawmakers have introduced articles of impeachment against Gov. Mike DeWine over his COVID-19 response.

A resolution introduced by Representatives John Becker (Clermont County) and co-sponsors Nino Vitale (Champaign County) and Paul Zeltwanger (Warren County) includes 10 articles of impeachment against DeWine.

The trio allege his handling of the pandemic violated the Ohio and United States Constitution, in addition to several sections of the Ohio Revised Code.

The articles claim DeWine interfered in the primary election and violated the separation of powers by having the Department of Health issue orders outside the scope of its authority.

In order for DeWine to be removed from office, a majority of the House would need to approve the resolution, and then two-thirds of the Senate would have to vote to convict him.

Rep. Jim Durkin introduced House Resolution 885 declaring the members of the House of Representatives have no confidence House Speaker Michael J. Madigan can continue in his role as speaker.

The effort to remove Madigan comes in the wake of the federal charges and conduct outlined in testimony and in the Deferred Prosecution Agreement entered into between Commonwealth Edison Company and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.

Campaign Finance

National: “Lobbyists Bundle Donations to Senate Democrats, Trump Victory” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

National: “Ethics Committee Clears Rep. Trahan in Campaign Finance Case” by Steve LeBlanc for AP News

North Dakota: “ND GOP Fined $8,000 for Campaign Finance Violation” by Barry Amundson for Grand Forks Herald

Texas: “Oil-and-Gas Money Flows to Railroad Commission Nominee Who Pledged to Recuse Himself” by Asher Price for Austin American Statesman

Ethics

National: “Dan Sullivan, Marco Rubio Pay Tribute to John Lewis Using the Photo of a Different Black Congressman” by Colby Itkowitz (Washington Post) for Anchorage Daily News

Legislative Issues

National: “House Lawmakers Agree That Secure Remote Voting Is Possible, but Implementation Still Divides” by Katherine Tully-McManus for Roll Call

Lobbying

Canada: “WE Organization Under Scrutiny for Not Registering as Lobbyist Before Pitching Proposals to Trudeau Liberals” by Christopher Nardi for National Post

Maryland: “Political Operative Used Maryland’s DC Lobbyist in Seeking $12.5M Coronavirus Supplies Contract That Went Sour” by Pamela Wood for Baltimore Sun

Rhode Island: “Political Scene: State House lobbyists’ game has changed, but it’s still lucrative” by Patrick Anderson for Providence Journal

Gov. Mike Parson approved Missouri House Bill 1386, modifying the definition of legislative lobbyist for purposes of lobbying laws to exclude legislative liaisons.

Legislative liaison is defined as any state employee hired to communicate with members of the General Assembly on behalf of any elected official of the state, the judicial branch of state government, or any department, agency, board, or commission of the state, provided such entity is a part of the executive branch of state government.

Any state employee employed as a legislative liaison who performs lobbying services for any other entity must register as a lobbyist with respect to such lobbying services.

The law becomes effective August 28, 2020.

Gov. Mike Parson announced a Special Session of the General Assembly beginning July 27 to focus on addressing violent crime in Missouri.

The escalating violence has become especially deadly in St. Louis and Kansas City, and both cities have tried various measures to stem the violence.

A new Kansas City program announced by the White House last week, Operation Legend, will bring in more than 100 agents from the FBI and other agencies to battle violent crime.

Parson said stopping this trend is more than just a big city problem, “It is a Missouri problem and we cannot wait until next session to address it.”

Other states are considering police reforms in the wake of protests.

Parson indicated Missouri lawmakers will focus only on measures that could strengthen laws and put more people behind bars.

He wants lawmakers to focus on six issues: juvenile certification, witness statement admissibility, witness protection funds, the unlawful transfer of weapons, and laws against endangering the welfare of a child.

Gov. Tim Walz announced on July 7, he intends to call lawmakers back for an open-ended session beginning July 13.

Walz stated the session will coincide with the 30-day extension of the peacetime emergency ending July 12, and added that other issues should get top billing.

Walz is obligated by law to call a special session for the Legislature to approve the emergency declaration.

The Senate tried to revoke the governor’s executive power during the first special session ending June 19.

However, the attempt failed because it requires the vote of both chambers.

In the first special session, no deals were reached on legislation both parties said was necessary and everything will be on the agenda again.

The Legislature will determine the length of the session.