April 4, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “Annual GAO Report on Federal Lobbying Compliance Shows Mixed Enforcement Bag: Fewer audits, more and larger enforcement penalties” by Andrew Garrahan for National Law Review California: “Documentaries Like ‘Blackfish’ Influence California’s Capitol” by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee California: […]
Lobbying
“Annual GAO Report on Federal Lobbying Compliance Shows Mixed Enforcement Bag: Fewer audits, more and larger enforcement penalties” by Andrew Garrahan for National Law Review
California: “Documentaries Like ‘Blackfish’ Influence California’s Capitol” by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee
California: “Lawmakers Act to Shine Light on California Coastal Commission, Other Key State Boards” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times
Campaign Finance
Arizona: “AZ Governor Signs Bill Easing Dark Money Rules” by Ryan Van Velzer (Associated Press) for Albuquerque Journal
Kentucky: “Judge Tosses Kentucky’s Ban on Corporate Campaign Donations” by The Associated Press for Lexington Herald-Leader
Mississippi: “Senate Passes Campaign Finance Reform” by Geoff Pender (Jackson Clarion-Ledger) for Hattiesburg American
Ethics
Alabama: “Rebekah Caldwell Mason, and How Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley ‘Lost His Mind’ ‘” by Amber Phillips for Washington Post
California: “San Diego May Revamp Ticket Perk” by David Garrick for San Diego Union-Tribune
Elections
“The American Idea in 140 Characters” by Vann Newkirk for The Atlantic
“Targets of Trump’s Attacks Fight Back in D.C.” by Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman for Politico
“Who Are the Angriest Republicans?” by Thomas Edsall for New York Times
Legislative Issues
“Abortion, Guns and Gay Rights Offer Risks, Rewards for State Republicans” by Richard Fausset for New York Times
Missouri: “Political Insider Accused of Harassing Missouri Capitol Interns Can Return, with Conditions” by Alex Stuckey for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
March 30, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying Minnesota: “Governments Spend Millions Lobbying Government” by J. Patrick Coolican for Minneapolis Star Tribune Missouri: “State Law Murky on Who Qualifies as a Local Lobbyist” by Caitlin Campbell for Columbia Tribune Campaign Finance “Marco Rubio’s Secret (Money) Legacy” by […]
Lobbying
Minnesota: “Governments Spend Millions Lobbying Government” by J. Patrick Coolican for Minneapolis Star Tribune
Missouri: “State Law Murky on Who Qualifies as a Local Lobbyist” by Caitlin Campbell for Columbia Tribune
Campaign Finance
“Marco Rubio’s Secret (Money) Legacy” by Shane Goldmacher for Politico
“House Wants Campaign Finance Study” by Geoff Pender for Jackson Clarion-Ledger
Ethics
“Ethics Advocates Decry Opaque Budget Negotiations” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union
Florida: “Opa-locka’s ‘Shadow’ Force Moves Millions in City Contracts” by Jay Weaver, Michael Sallah, and Katie Lepri for Miami Herald
Ohio: “City Hall Scandals Prompt Ginther to Propose New Ethics Rules” by Lucas Sullivan for Columbus Dispatch
South Carolina: “Solicitor David Pascoe Says He Won’t Step Down from Corruption Probe Unless Court-Ordered to Do So” by Cynthia Roldan and Glenn Smith for Charleston Post & Courier
Elections
“How Clinton’s Email Scandal Took Root” by Robert O’Harrow, Jr. for Washington Post
“Campaign Manager for Donald Trump Is Charged With Battery” by Maggie Haberman and for New York Times
Legislative Issues
Maryland: “Maryland Lawmakers Want Gender Pay Gap Closed. They Should Look at Their Own Payroll.” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post
March 29, 2016 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying “Union ‘Persuader’ Rule to Offer Rare Look inside DC Consulting” by Megan Wilson for The Hill “FOI Agency, In Role Reversal, Opposes Disclosure of Connected Lobbyist’s Emails” by Jon Lender for Hartford Courant Texas: “Travis County to Create Its […]
Lobbying
“Union ‘Persuader’ Rule to Offer Rare Look inside DC Consulting” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
“FOI Agency, In Role Reversal, Opposes Disclosure of Connected Lobbyist’s Emails” by Jon Lender for Hartford Courant
Texas: “Travis County to Create Its First Code of Ethics” by Sean Collins Walsh for Austin American-Statesman
Campaign Finance
California: “Valley Councilwoman’s Aides Sought $5 and $10 Donations That Are Focus of U.S. Inquiry” by David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times
Ethics
Alabama: “Governor’s Political Adviser Discloses Pay from Nonprofit” by Kim Chandler (Associated Press) for Montgomery Advertiser
Florida: “Gov. Rick Scott Signs Anti-Corruption Bill” by Matt Reed and James Call for Tallahassee Democrat
Kentucky: “Beshear Aide Charged in Kickback Scheme” by Joseph Gerth, Andrew Wolfson, and Tom Loftus for Louisville Courier-Journal
Missouri: “Despite Fast Start, Legislative Progress on Ethics Reform Slows” by Ellen Cagle for Fulton Sun
Montana”Montana Lawmakers Rarely Refrain from Voting on Personal Interests” by James DeHaven for Helena Independent Record
Elections
“Uninformed Voters Are a Problem. This May Be a Solution.” by Mike Maciag for Governing
“How the G.O.P. Elite Lost Its Voters to Donald Trump” by Nicholas Co
nfessore for New York Times
March 17, 2016 •
Thursday News Roundup
Campaign Finance “Even as Political Spending Explodes, Disclosure Remains Hazy” by Mary Spicuzza (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) and Jeremy White (Sacramento Bee) for CTNewsJunkie.com Arizona: “House Panel OKs Significant Changes to Campaign Finance Laws” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for […]
Campaign Finance
“Even as Political Spending Explodes, Disclosure Remains Hazy” by Mary Spicuzza (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) and Jeremy White (Sacramento Bee) for CTNewsJunkie.com
Arizona: “House Panel OKs Significant Changes to Campaign Finance Laws” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star
Hawaii: “Honolulu Ethics Director on Leave after Internal Investigation” by Anita Hofschneider for Honolulu Civil Beat
Hawaii: “Passing The Buck: When Hawaii politicians give to each other” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat
Washington: “Voters Could Get $150 to Give to Candidates under Proposed Initiative” by Jim Brunner for Seattle Times
Ethics
“Supreme Court Nomination Drives Groups from Left and Right to Fight” by Eric Lipton for New York Times
California: “‘Dark Money’ Measure Pulled by California Campaign Reform Backers” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee
California: “How a State Senator – Whose Family is in the Taxi Business – Put the Brakes on Two Uber Bills” by Liam Dillon for Los Angeles Times
Florida: “FBI Agents Blow Lid Off Opa-locka City Hall Corruption Probe” by Jay Weaver, Michael Sallah, and Katie Lepri for Miami Herald
West Virginia:”Lawmakers Killed Ethics Bills on Session’s Last Day” by Eric Eyre for Charleston Gazette
Elections
“Hillary Clinton Wins 4 Races, Rebounding From Michigan Loss” by Patrick Healy and Amy Chozick for New York Times
“Donald Trump Takes 3 States; John Kasich Wins Ohio” by Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns for New York Times
“Rubio’s Demise Marks the Last Gasp of the Republican Reboot” by Robert Costa and Philip Rucker for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
“Capitol Benches That Provided Comfort to Lobbyists Have Been Ordered Removed” by Nathaniel Herz for Alaska Dispatch News
March 15, 2016 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying California: “California Watchdog Considers Rule Narrowing Secret Lobbying” by Alison Noon (Associated Press) for Los Angeles Daily News Florida: “Broward Commissioners Reject ‘Gift’ from Boys & Girls Club” by Brittany Wallman for South Florida Sun Sentinel New Jersey: “Sweeney’s […]
Lobbying
California: “California Watchdog Considers Rule Narrowing Secret Lobbying” by Alison Noon (Associated Press) for Los Angeles Daily News
Florida: “Broward Commissioners Reject ‘Gift’ from Boys & Girls Club” by Brittany Wallman for South Florida Sun Sentinel
New Jersey: “Sweeney’s Office and Horizon Swapped Notes before Key Speech” by Susan Livio (NJ Advance media) for Newark Star-Ledger
North Carolina: “Group Attacks NC House Member Justin Burr for Dating a Lobbyist” by Colin Campbell for Raleigh News & Observer
Vermont: “Lawmakers Switch Tack on Lobbyist Donations” by Jasper Craven and Anne Galloway for VTDigger.org
Virgina: “Virginia Legislative Session Ends with Agreements and Bickering” by Travis Fain for The Daily Press
Campaign Finance
New Mexico: “Questions Raised about Martinez’s Inaugural Spending” by Justin Horwath for Las Cruces Sun-News
Virgina: “Lawmakers Switch Tack on Lobbyist Donations” by Jasper Craven and Anne Galloway for VTDigger.org
Washington: “Judge Finds Grocery Group Violated Campaign Laws in 2013” by Donna Gordon Blankenship (Associated Press) for Tacoma News-Tribune
Ethics
New York: “Heastie Outlines Assembly Ethics Plan” by David Howard King for Gotham Gazette
South Carolina: “Group Sends SC House Members $2 Each, Asking for their Vote” by Jamie Self for The State
Elections
“Donald Trump’s Presidential Run Began in an Effort to Gain Stature” by Maggie Haberman and Alexander Burns for New York Times
Legislative Issues
Alabama: “Momentum to Remove Confederate Symbols Slows or Stops” by Alan Blinder for New York Times
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
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.
