March 9, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying New Mexico: “Transparency Legislation Isn’t Quite as Transparent as Billed” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth New York: “PR Firms File Suit over ‘Hopelessly Vague’ JCOPE Lobbying Definition” by Bill Mahoney for Capital New York Campaign Finance […]
Lobbying
New Mexico: “Transparency Legislation Isn’t Quite as Transparent as Billed” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth
New York: “PR Firms File Suit over ‘Hopelessly Vague’ JCOPE Lobbying Definition” by Bill Mahoney for Capital New York
Campaign Finance
“The FEC Just Made It Easier for Super PAC Donors to Hide Their Identities” by Matea Gold for Washington Post
“Ben Carson’s Small-Dollar Donors Could Keep Yielding Big Money” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity
Connecticut: “A Legislative Mystery: Who changed a watchdog’s bill?” by Mark Pazniokas for CT Mirror
Mississippi: “No State Officials Enforce Campaign Finance Laws” by Mollie Bryant, Geoff Pender, and Katie Royals for Jackson Clarion-Ledger
Ethics
California: “Golfing, Tequila and Spa Treatments: These are the gifts given to California lawmakers in 2015” by Patrick McGreevy and Liam Dillon for Los Angeles Times
Wisconsin: “Politics Apparent in Appointments to New Ethics, Elections Panels” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Elections
“Michael Bloomberg Says He Won’t Run for President” by Maggie Haberman and Alexander Burns for New York Times
“Ted Cruz Keeps Up Pressure on Donald Trump; Bernie Sanders Takes 2 on ‘Super Saturday’” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times
North Carolina: “Trump Cracks Down on Protesters” by Ben Schreckinger for Politico
Legislative Issues
Indianapolis: “State to Locals: You can’t do that. Or that.” by Brian Eason for Indianapolis Star
March 2, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying Massachusetts: “Bill Would Have Lobbyists Disclose Clients” by Michael Norton (State House News Service) for The Sentinel & Enterprise Campaign Finance “Jeb Bush’s Ambitions Paid Dividends for GOP Admaker Over the Years” by Matea Gold for Washington Post California: “California’s […]
Lobbying
Massachusetts: “Bill Would Have Lobbyists Disclose Clients” by Michael Norton (State House News Service) for The Sentinel & Enterprise
Campaign Finance
“Jeb Bush’s Ambitions Paid Dividends for GOP Admaker Over the Years” by Matea Gold for Washington Post
California: “California’s Ethics Watchdog Opposes Donor Stickers for Politicians” by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee
New Jersey: “Another Birdsall Exec Pleads Guilty, Faces Jail” by Kathleen Hopkins for Asbury Park Press
Ethics
Pennsylvania: “Menendez’s Lawyers Argue That Public Corruption Case against Senator Should Be Thrown Out” by Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post
District of Columbia: “Ethics Group Urges Inquiry of Mortgage Banking Lobbyist Who Led F.H.A.” by Gretchen Morgenson for New York Times
New Mexico: “Governor OKs Upgrades to State’s Campaign Finance Reporting System” by Heath Haussamen for New MexicoPolitics.net
Oklahoma: “Credit Card Purchases, Gifts Questioned by Oklahoma’s State Audit” by Randy Ellis for The Oklahoman
Elections
“How America’s Dying White Supremacist Movement Is Seizing on Donald Trump’s Appeal” by Jonathan Mahler for Washington Post
“Inside the Clinton Team’s Plan to Defeat Donald Trump” by Amy Chozick and Patrick Healy for New York Times
“Donald Trump Overwhelms G.O.P. Rivals from Alabama to Massachusetts” by Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin for New York Times
“Minority Voters Push Hillary Clinton to Victories” by Patrick Healy and Amy Chozick for New York Times
Legislative Issues
Wyoming: “‘Leg’-Mart’ Growing on Wyoming Lawmakers, Public” by Laura Hancock for Casper Star-Tribune
February 29, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “Senator Defends Lobbyists after Ethics Reform Hearing in Capitol” by Max Londberg for Cass County Democrat California: “Female Lobbying Firm Thrives in Male-Dominated Capitol” by Laurel Rosenhall for CalMatters.org Campaign Finance Arizona: “Appeals Court Rules against Ex-AG Horne in […]
Lobbying
“Senator Defends Lobbyists after Ethics Reform Hearing in Capitol” by Max Londberg for Cass County Democrat
California: “Female Lobbying Firm Thrives in Male-Dominated Capitol” by Laurel Rosenhall for CalMatters.org
Campaign Finance
Arizona: “Appeals Court Rules against Ex-AG Horne in Campaign Finance Case” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star
Massachusetts: “New Rules Clarify ‘Cooperation’ between Candidates, Super PACs” by for NewBostonPost.com; Statehouse News Service
Ethics
“Aides’ Email-Server Testimony Could Throw Clinton Campaign a Curveball” by Spencer Hsu and Rosalind Helderman for Washington Post
Massachusetts: “Joyce’s Role in Solar Project Probed” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe
New York: “Despite ‘Crickets’ on Ethics, Galef Presents a Tall Stack of Fixes” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union
Washington: “Scalia Led Court in Taking Trips Funded by Private Sponsors” by Eric Lipton for New York Times
Elections
“To Fight Critics, Donald Trump Aims to Instill Fear in 140-Character Doses” by Alexander Burns and Maggie Haberman for New York Times
New Jersey: “New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Endorses Donald Trump for President” by Jose DelReal for Washington Post
South Carolina: “Hillary Clinton Wins South Carolina Primary” by Amy Chozick and Patcrick Healy for New York Times
Legislative Issues
Missouri: “Missouri Supreme Court to Rule on Advocacy Group’s Right to Film Senate Hearings” by Zachary Reger for Columbia Missourian
February 22, 2016 •
Legislation We Are Tracking
At any given time, more than 1,000 legislative bills, which can affect how you do business as a government affairs professional, are being discussed in federal, state, and local jurisdictions. These bills are summarized in State and Federal Communications’ digital […]
At any given time, more than 1,000 legislative bills, which can affect how you do business as a government affairs professional, are being discussed in federal, state, and local jurisdictions. These bills are summarized in State and Federal Communications’ digital encyclopedias for lobbying laws, political contributions, and procurement lobbying and can be found in the client portion of our website.
Summaries of major bills are also included in monthly email updates sent to all clients. The chart below shows the number of bills we are tracking in regard to lobbying laws, political contributions, and procurement lobbying.
February 22, 2016 •
Jurisdictions Added to our Website
The number of municipalities and regional governments our research associates track continues to grow. We now cover almost 300 municipalities and local governments. This is part of a continuous effort to better serve the needs of our clients. In that effort, […]
The number of municipalities and regional governments our research associates track continues to grow. We now cover almost 300 municipalities and local governments. This is part of a continuous effort to better serve the needs of our clients.
In that effort, we have recently added abridged jurisdictions to our website. These entries, condensed due to the limited number of relevant local laws, provide the core information our clients need for their government relations work.
The new jurisdictions are:
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 
Merced County, California 
January 25, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “Lobby Firms Reap Benefits of an Active Congress” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post Campaign Finance “Court Rejects Push for Stricter Disclosure on Super PAC Ads” by Josh Gerstein for Politico “Corruption’s Not the Problem, It’s Inequality” by Richard […]
Lobbying
“Lobby Firms Reap Benefits of an Active Congress” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post
Campaign Finance
“Court Rejects Push for Stricter Disclosure on Super PAC Ads” by Josh Gerstein for Politico
“Corruption’s Not the Problem, It’s Inequality” by Richard Hasen for BillMoyers.com
Massachusetts: “Sen. Joyce to Pay Nearly $5,000 to Resolve Campaign Finance Issues” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe
Ethics
Pennsylvania: “Allentown Council Unanimous in No Confidence Vote on Mayor Ed Pawlowski” by Emily Opilo for Allentown Morning Call
Elections
“Donald Trump or Ted Cruz? Republicans Argue Over Who Is Greater Threat” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times
Legislative Issues
Kansas: “Senate Chairman’s Rules Block Female Witnesses in Revealing Attire” by Tim Carpenter for Topeka Capital-Journal
Mississippi: “Republicans Gain Edge with Vote to Unseat Mississippi Democrat” by Richard Fausset and Alan Blinder for New York Times
January 21, 2016 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “Big Names Free to Lobby in 2016” by Megan Wilson for The Hill Nebraska: “Ernie Chambers Resolution Takes Aim at Free Meals Provided by Lobbyists” by Joe Duggan for Omaha World-Herald New Mexico: “New Mexico Lobbyist Spending Tops $818,000 […]
Lobbying
“Big Names Free to Lobby in 2016” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
Nebraska: “Ernie Chambers Resolution Takes Aim at Free Meals Provided by Lobbyists” by Joe Duggan for Omaha World-Herald
New Mexico: “New Mexico Lobbyist Spending Tops $818,000 in 2015” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth
New York: “Friend Gave to de Blasio Just as Client Won Permit to Stage Festival” by Michael Grynbaum for New York Times
Campaign Finance
“President Obama May Require Federal Contractors to List Campaign Gifts” by Julie Hirschfeld Davis for New York Times
“High Court Rejects Challenge over Contractor Contributions” by The Associated Press for Philadelphia Inquirer
Ethics
South Carolina: “Bill Would Require South Carolina Journalists to Register” by Meg Kinnard (Associated Press) for Denver Post
Elections
“’90s Scandals Threaten to Erode Hillary Clinton’s Strength with Women” by Amy Chozick for New York Times
“Sarah Palin Endorses Donald Trump, Which Could Bolster Him in Iowa” by Alan Rappeport and Maggie Haberman for New York Times
Legislative Issues
West Virginia: “Court Offers Little Clarity in Arguments on Hall’s Senate Seat” by David Gutman for Charleston Gazette
January 14, 2016 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying California: “Bill That Aimed to Shed Light on Specialty Prescription Drug Pricing Is Shelved” by Melanie Mason for Los Angeles Times Florida: “Stricter Lobbying, Employment, Ethics Rules Advance in Senate” by Steve Bousquet for Tampa Bay Times Campaign Finance […]
Lobbying
California: “Bill That Aimed to Shed Light on Specialty Prescription Drug Pricing Is Shelved” by Melanie Mason for Los Angeles Times
Florida: “Stricter Lobbying, Employment, Ethics Rules Advance in Senate” by Steve Bousquet for Tampa Bay Times
Campaign Finance
“Upset GOP Donors: Have we wasted our money?” by Jonathan Swan for The Hill
Oregon: “Constitutional Amendment on Campaign Finance Reform Goes to Legislature” by Gordon Friedman for Salem Statesman-Journal
Ethics
“Obama’s Plea to ‘Fix Our Politics’ Leaves Both Sides Looking Inward” by Carl Hulse and Julia Hirschfeld Davis for New York Times
New Mexico: “Papen’s Former Aide Accused of Embezzlement” by Lauren Villagran for Albuquerque Journal
New York: “Assembly Democrats Reject Republican Rules Changes, Promise Own Proposals Soon” by David Howard King for Gotham Gazette
New York: “How Sheldon Silver Became a Convicted Felon Thanks to Shady Real Estate Relationships” by Jillian Jorgensen for Commercial Observer
Legislative Issues
Ohio: “Meet the People Who Actually Write Ohio’s Laws (And They’re Not Lawmakers)” by Jeremy Pelzer for Cleveland Plain Dealer
December 10, 2015 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “Under Contract” in The Hill “Lobbying World” in The Hill “Top McCarthy aide heading to K Street” by Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer in Politico Campaign Finance “Poll: Americans not fans of public campaign financing” by The Associated Press […]
Lobbying
“Under Contract” in The Hill
“Lobbying World” in The Hill
“Top McCarthy aide heading to K Street” by Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer in Politico
Campaign Finance
“Poll: Americans not fans of public campaign financing” by The Associated Press in the Columbia Daily Tribune
“Super-PACs set to influence Senate primaries” by Ben Kamisar in The Hill
Michigan: “Senate votes to write super PACs into state campaign finance law” by Emily Lawler in MLive
Utah: “SLC Council slashes campaign contribution limits” by Christopher Smart in the Salt Lake Tribune
Ethics
District of Columbia: “Long-running probe ends without charges against former D.C. mayor Vincent Gray” by Ann E. Marimow, Spencer S. Hsu and Keith L. Alexander in The Washington Post
Legislative Issues
“Why State Legislatures Are Still Pretty White” by Teresa Wiltz in Governing
Redistricting
“Supreme Court Mulls One-Person, One-Vote Redistricting Case” by Todd Ruger in Roll Call
“Republican Redistricting Rows Rock SCOTUS” by Kimberly Robinson in Bloomberg BNA
Texas: “Analysis: In Redistricting, Somebody Will Be Slighted” by Ross Ramsey in The Texas Tribune
November 30, 2015 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “Penalty against lobbying firm sends message to an industry unfamiliar with prosecution” by Marcus Howard in the Los Angeles Times New York: “Corruption trial: Adam Skelos laid out lobbyists’ views of upstate, downstate” by Chris Bragg in the Albany […]
Lobbying
“Penalty against lobbying firm sends message to an industry unfamiliar with prosecution” by Marcus Howard in the Los Angeles Times
New York: “Corruption trial: Adam Skelos laid out lobbyists’ views of upstate, downstate” by Chris Bragg in the Albany Times Union
Campaign Finance
“GOP rider would boost party spending” by Kenneth Vogel and Seung Min Kim in Politico
“Campaign Spending’s Gray Areas Are Getting Politicians Into Trouble” by Alan Greenblatt in Governing
California: “California campaign law’s loopholes allow donors to skirt limits” by The Associated Press in the San Jose Mercury News
Hawaii: “High Court Rejects Challenge to Hawaii Campaign Finance Laws” by The Associated Press on ABC News
New Mexico: “New Mexico lawmakers to discuss campaign finance reform” by The Associated Press in the San Francisco Chronicle
Ethics
“Funding for lawmakers’ portraits under fire” by Megan Wilson in The Hill
New Mexico: “Will 2016 be the year for ethics reform in New Mexico?” by Steve Terrell in The New Mexican
Elections
“5 takes on 2016 as the campaign kicks into high gear” by Glenn Thrush in Politico
“The 2016 ballot wars begin” by Shane Goldmacher in Politico
Congress
“Congress Has a List of Deadlines, Is Checking It Twice” by Emma Dumain in Roll Call
“Dems go digital with whip operation” by Scott Wong in The Hill
November 24, 2015 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying Arizona: “In Arizona, lobbyist disclose spending; you just don’t know on whom” by Justin Price in The Arizona Republic Canada: “Lobbying: important amendments to the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct” by Gregory Kane, V. Peter Harder and Danylo Korbabicz in Lexology […]
Lobbying
Arizona: “In Arizona, lobbyist disclose spending; you just don’t know on whom” by Justin Price in The Arizona Republic
Canada: “Lobbying: important amendments to the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct” by Gregory Kane, V. Peter Harder and Danylo Korbabicz in Lexology
Campaign Finance
Kansas: “House-Senate panel votes to double campaign donation limits” by Tim Carpenter in The Topeka Capital-Journal
State Legislatures
Florida: “State Lawmakers Pushing To Extend Legislative Terms” by Nick Evans in WFSU.org
Vermont: “Off-session legislative activity causes concern” by Neal Goswami in the Times Argus
Washington: “Liias, Ryu selected for leadership posts in State Legislature” in My Edmonds News
Elections
“What to Know About the Presidential Race Today” in The New York Times
Redistricting
Florida: “Redistricting challengers amend filed maps, withdraw plan to cross Tampa Bay” by Mary Ellen Klas in Tampa Bay Times
November 12, 2015 •
Thursday News Roundup
Campaign Finance Florida: “Dade Medical College’s Ernesto Perez Pleads Guilty in Criminal Cases” by Michael Vasquez and David Ovalle for Miami Herald “Seattle’s Experiment with Campaign Funding” by Russell Berman for The Atlantic Ethics California: “California Gets C-Minus in Government […]
Campaign Finance
Florida: “Dade Medical College’s Ernesto Perez Pleads Guilty in Criminal Cases” by Michael Vasquez and David Ovalle for Miami Herald
“Seattle’s Experiment with Campaign Funding” by Russell Berman for The Atlantic
Ethics
California: “California Gets C-Minus in Government Integrity Survey; 47 States Score D-Plus or Lower” by Thomas Peele for San Jose Mercury News
Michigan: “Integrity Report Ranks Michigan Worst in Nation for Government Transparency, Accountability” by Jonathan Oosting for MLive.com
Missouri “Unlimited Cash, Lavish Meals, Revolving Doors: How Missouri got a D-minus in national ethics report” by Kevin McDermott for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Nevada: “Auditing, lobbying disclosure among trouble spots for Nevada” by Sean Whaley for Las Vegas Review-Journal
New York: “Report: New York has 30th best anti-corruption laws” by Bill Mahoney for Capital New York
Elections
“G.O.P. Candidates, Lagging, Rely on New Hampshire to Get Close” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times
“Scott Walker Is a Diminished Figure – Except in the State He Governs” by David Weigel for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
“Even as House Speaker, Paul Ryan Sleeps in His Office” by Jennifer Steinhauer for New York Times
November 4, 2015 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying “Bush, Clinton Benefit from Lobbying Gray Area” by Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico Campaign Finance “Small Donors Are Clicking More with Democrats than Republicans” by Eric Lichtblau and Nick Corasaniti for New York Times Ethics New York: “Report: JCOPE should […]
Lobbying
“Bush, Clinton Benefit from Lobbying Gray Area” by Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico
Campaign Finance
“Small Donors Are Clicking More with Democrats than Republicans” by Eric Lichtblau and Nick Corasaniti for New York Times
Ethics
New York: “Report: JCOPE should be smaller, more transparent” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union
“How Andrew Cuomo’s Flashy Bid to Clean up Albany Backfired” by Chris Smith for New York Magazine
Elections
“Neuropolitics, Where Campaigns Try to Read Your Mind” by Kevin Randall for New York Times
“Steve Deace and the Power of Conservative Media” by Jackie Calmes for New York Times Magazine
“How the Rising Death Rate among Middle-Aged Whites Helps Explain Our Political Reality” by Janell Ross for Washington Post
California: “Measure Slashing Drug Prices May Go to California Voters Next Fall” by Tracy Seipel for San Jose Mercury News
Legislative Issues
“Paul Ryan Lands at Center of a Rivalry for the Soul of the G.O.P.” by Carl Hulse for New York Times
October 27, 2015 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying “DNC Courts Lobbyist Cash with Promise of VIP Access at Convention” by Megan Wilson for The Hill Illinois: “Spending by Lobbyists Up This Year; Diana Rauner-Led Organization Tops List of Spenders” by Doug Finke for State Journal Register New […]
Lobbying
“DNC Courts Lobbyist Cash with Promise of VIP Access at Convention” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
Illinois: “Spending by Lobbyists Up This Year; Diana Rauner-Led Organization Tops List of Spenders” by Doug Finke for State Journal Register
New York: “JCOPE Issues Fines to Housing Activists, Others on Filing Violations” by Rick Karlin for Albany Times Union
Texas: “Opposition to Lobbying Resolution Organizes” by Elizabeth Pagano for Austin Monitor
Campaign Finance
“‘Fire Paul Ryan’? Rebel PACs Hit Republicans, and It Pays” by Eric Lipton and Jennifer Steinhauer for New York Times
Ethics
“DOJ: No criminal charges in IRS Tea Party probe” by Kevin Johnson and Gregory Korte for USA Today
Colorado: “New Working Group Could Slow Denver Ethics Code Changes” by Jon Murray for Denver Post
North Carolina: “NC Ethics Panel Gets Extra Funding to Chip at Backlog” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for Ashville Citizen-Times
Elections
“Jeb Bush Shakes Up His Struggling Campaign with Major Spending Cuts” by Philip Rucker for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
Kansas: “Kansas Legislation Is Most Anonymous in Nation” by Celia Llopis-Jepsen for Topeka Capital-Journal
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.
