October 20, 2015 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying Missouri: “On the Trail: Lawmakers struggle to close General Assembly’s ‘revolving door’” by Jason Rosenbaum for KRCU New York: “Education, Real Estate Tax Breaks Drove $131 Million Lobbying Spending” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union Campaign Finance “The […]
Lobbying
Missouri: “On the Trail: Lawmakers struggle to close General Assembly’s ‘revolving door’” by Jason Rosenbaum for KRCU
New York: “Education, Real Estate Tax Breaks Drove $131 Million Lobbying Spending” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union
Campaign Finance
“The Inside Story of Trump Campaign’s Connections to a Big-Money Super PAC” by Matea Gold, Tom Hamburger, and Jenna Johnson for Washington Post
New Mexico: “Duran Proposes New Rules for Campaign Finance” by Deborah Baker for Albuquerque Journal
Ethics
California: “‘Behested Payments’ Let Private Groups Curry Favor with Politicians – New Law Will Limit Disclosure” by Marisa Lagos for KQED
Virginia: “State Ethics Commission Recommends $15,000 Pay Raise for General Assembly Members” by Graham Moomaw for Roanoke Times
Elections
“Even with Rising Debt and Sinking Polls, Candidates Find Dropping Out Is Hard to Do” by Noah Bierman for Los Angeles Times
“The Women in the Van” by Hadas Gold for Politico
Legislative Issues
“The Obsession of the House Freedom Caucus” by Jake Sherman for Politico
October 12, 2015 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying Florida: “Hillsborough to Post Paid Lobbyists’ Visits Online” by Mike Salinero for Tampa Tribune Pennsylvania: “House Passes Legislation to Increase Lobbying Fines” by Staff for Pennsylvania Business Daily Campaign Finance “Experts: John Kasich political ads chart new territory” by […]
Lobbying
Florida: “Hillsborough to Post Paid Lobbyists’ Visits Online” by Mike Salinero for Tampa Tribune
Pennsylvania: “House Passes Legislation to Increase Lobbying Fines” by Staff for Pennsylvania Business Daily
Campaign Finance
“Experts: John Kasich political ads chart new territory” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today
New York: “Advance Group Fined $26k by Schneiderman, Campaign Finance Board” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
Pennsylvania: “Allentown Council Passes Anti-Pay-to-Play Bill in Wake of FBI Probe” by Emily Opilo for Allentown Morning Call
Ethics
“Corporations Improve Reporting of Political Activity – with Exceptions” by Dave Levinthal and Cady Zuvich for Center for Public Integrity
Illinois: “Former Chicago Public Schools Chief to Plead Guilty to Bribery Scheme” by Jason Meisner and Juan Perez, Jr. for Chicago Tribune
New York: “Three Cuomo-Tied Hires Spark JCOPE Board Unrest” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
Ohio: “Ginther among Those Being Investigated Over Trip to Big Ten Title Game” by Lucas Sullivan for Columbus Dispatch
Legislative Issues
“House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Drops Out of Race for House Speaker” by Mike DeBonis for Washington Post
“Group Tries to Teach Lawmakers How to Talk about Pot” by Evan Halper for Los Angeles Times
California: “California’s High Court Appears Ready to Allow Voters to Weigh in on Citizens United” by Maura Dolan for Los Angeles Times
October 7, 2015 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying Kentucky: “Kentucky Lawmakers, Lobbyists May Already Be Violating New State Ethics Laws” by Jonathan Meador for Insider Louisville Campaign Finance “How Hillary Clinton Kept Her Wealthy Friends Close While at State Department” by Tom Hamburger for Washington Post “Menendez’s […]
Lobbying
Kentucky: “Kentucky Lawmakers, Lobbyists May Already Be Violating New State Ethics Laws” by Jonathan Meador for Insider Louisville
Campaign Finance
“How Hillary Clinton Kept Her Wealthy Friends Close While at State Department” by Tom Hamburger for Washington Post
“Menendez’s Defense Relies on Odd Twist” by Salvador Rizzo for Bergen Record
California: “Regulators Propose Rules to Prevent Illegal Coordination” by Judy Lin (Associated Press) for Albany Times Union
Virginia: “Ex-Treasurer for Va. Senate Minority Leader is Accused of Stealing from Him” by Laura Vozzella for Washington Post
Ethics
“Donald Trump’s Candidacy Raises Novel Ethics Questions” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today
Florida: “North Miami Senior High’s Night-School Principal Arrested on Corruption Charges” by David Ovalle for Miami Herald
Elections
“The Man Who Launched the GOP’s Civil War” by Jonathan Katz for Politico
Legislative Issues
North Carolina: “Legislature’s Last-Minute Rush Prompts Criticism” by Colin Campbell for Raleigh News & Observer
September 25, 2015 •
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner Resigning in October
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner will resign and give up his seat in Congress at the end of October, according to his aides. He is currently under intense pressure from conservatives to defund Planned Parenthood as he attempts to keep […]
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner will resign and give up his seat in Congress at the end of October, according to his aides. He is currently under intense pressure from conservatives to defund Planned Parenthood as he attempts to keep the government open through the end of the year. Several members of the conservative base vowed not to vote for a bill if it did not defund the organization, and some are on a path to remove him as speaker.
Since becoming speaker in 2011, Boehner has struggled to navigate politically with a polarized Congress and its increasingly conservative Republican members. Boehner’s announcement comes just a day after he had a private audience with Pope Francis at the Capitol. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is expected to serve as the next speaker.
September 14, 2015 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying Hawaii: “Lawsuit Seeks New City Council Votes on Honolulu Rail” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat Missouri: “Report: Lobbyist goodies for Missouri lawmakers topped $10M over past decade” by Kevin McDermott for St. Louis Post-Dispatch Campaign Finance California: […]
Lobbying
Hawaii: “Lawsuit Seeks New City Council Votes on Honolulu Rail” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat
Missouri: “Report: Lobbyist goodies for Missouri lawmakers topped $10M over past decade” by Kevin McDermott for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Campaign Finance
California: “San Jose Commission Will Investigate Nearly the Entire City Council” by Ramona Giwargis for San Jose Mercury News
Montana: “Group Suing over Election Laws Seeks to Avoid Disclosures” by Matt Volz (Associated Press) for The Missoulian
Pennsylvania: “Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski Implicated in FBI Probe” by Emily Opilo and Scott Kraus for Allentown Morning Call
Ethics
“GOP Consultant Admits Lying to Ethics Investigators” by Paul Singer for USA Today
California: “Carson Mayor under Investigation for Not Filing Disclosure Reports with the State” by Nathan Fenno, Paul Pringle, and Richard Winton for Los Angeles Times
Indiana: “BMV Vendor Fires 2 Employees amid Ethics Probe” by Tony Cook for Indianapolis Star
Michigan: “House Expels Gamrat; Courser Resigns Before Vote” by Chad Livengood for Detroit News
New Mexico: “Impeachment Is ‘As Heavy As It Gets’” by Deborah Baker for Albuquerque Journal
Legislative Issues
“Boehner’s Future as Speaker in Doubt” by Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan for Politico
September 1, 2015 •
North Carolina State Representative Resigns
On August 28, state Rep. Rick Glazier resigned from his seat in the General Assembly to take a job with the North Carolina Justice Center. He had planned to wait until the end of the session, but had to step […]
On August 28, state Rep. Rick Glazier resigned from his seat in the General Assembly to take a job with the North Carolina Justice Center.
He had planned to wait until the end of the session, but had to step down earlier because the session has lasted longer than expected.
Democrats in the 44th District will meet to choose his replacement.
August 13, 2015 •
Thursday News Roundup
Campaign Finance “First on CNN: Ted Cruz to release the names of his bundlers” by Theodore Schleifer for CNN “Jeb Bush Super PAC Donors Also Spend Big To Influence Washington” by Paul Blumenthal for Huffington Post Ohio: “State Rep. Ron […]
Campaign Finance
“First on CNN: Ted Cruz to release the names of his bundlers” by Theodore Schleifer for CNN
“Jeb Bush Super PAC Donors Also Spend Big To Influence Washington” by Paul Blumenthal for Huffington Post
Ohio: “State Rep. Ron Gerberry Resigns amid Investigation of Campaign Funds” by Jim Siegel for Columbus Dispatch
Oklahoma: “Democratic Party Sues Oklahoma Ethics Commission” by Rick Green for The Oklahoman
Ethics
“Will Common Cause Still Be Georgia’s Watchdog?” by Max Blau for Atlanta Magazine
Illinois: “Illinois’ Corrupt Women” by Maureen Foertsch McKinney for WUIS
Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Top Prosecutor Says Charges Tied to Porn Emails” by Peter Jackson (Associated Press) for Philadelphia Inquirer
Elections
“‘Little House on the Prairie’ Actress Melissa Gilbert Just Became Another Celebrity Turned Politician” by Lindsey Bever for Washington Post
“Hillary Clinton Agrees to Provide Private E-mail Server to FBI” by Carol Leonnig, Tom Hamburger, and Rosalind Helderman for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
Maine: “Maine Court: 65 bills are law after LePage misses deadline” by Alanna Durkin (Associated Press) for Lexington Herald-Leader
August 10, 2015 •
Maine Supreme Judicial Court Says LePage’s 65 Vetoes Too Late
On August 6, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued an opinion finding 65 bills from the 2015 legislative session were vetoed by Gov. Paul LePage too late to prevent the legislation from taking effect. Last month, the governor had returned […]
On August 6, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued an opinion finding 65 bills from the 2015 legislative session were vetoed by Gov. Paul LePage too late to prevent the legislation from taking effect.
Last month, the governor had returned the 65 bills to the Legislature on July 16, the last day of the session. However, the bills were returned beyond the 10 days, excluding Sundays, a governor has to veto legislation once he or she receives the bills.The court found the bills were beyond the ten days provided for gubernatorial objection and became law effective ninety days after the adjournment sine die of the Legislature, except where enacted as emergency legislation.
The opinion was made at the request of the governor.
August 6, 2015 •
Thursday News Roundup
Campaign Finance “Rand Paul Super PAC Head Indicted over Alleged 2012 Campaign Finance Violations” by Sean Sullivan and Matea Gold for Washington Post Connecticut: “CT Democrats Seek New Ruling to Resolve Malloy Campaign Investigation” by Mark Pazniokas and Keith Phaneuf […]
Campaign Finance
“Rand Paul Super PAC Head Indicted over Alleged 2012 Campaign Finance Violations” by Sean Sullivan and Matea Gold for Washington Post
Connecticut: “CT Democrats Seek New Ruling to Resolve Malloy Campaign Investigation” by Mark Pazniokas and Keith Phaneuf for Connecticut Mirror
Massachusetts: “2 Businesses Fight State Ban on Campaign Contributions” by Shira Schoenberg for MassLive.com
Minneapolis: “MN Campaign Finance Board Gets Report about Holes in Disclosure Law” by J. Patrick Coolican for Minneapolis Star Tribune
Pennsylvania: “Reading Councilman Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer
Wisconsin: “Scott Walker, GOP Lawmakers Want to Change Elections Board by 2016” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ethics
California: “Public Officials Named in New Findings from FBI Probe of ‘Shrimp Boy’ Chow” by Jonah Owen Lamb for San Francisco Examiner
Hawaii: “Ian Lind: Ex-Legislator May Make a Good Ethics Commissioner” by Ian Lind for Honolulu Civil Beat
New York: “New York State Ethics Watchdog Panel Divided on Choice for New Top Administrator” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union
Legislative Issues
Kansas: “The Kansas Experiment” by Chris Suellentrop for New York Times Magazine
June 9, 2015 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying California: “Businesses with Stake in California Politics Utilize Capitol Grounds” by Jeremy White for Sacramento Bee Campaign Finance “Two FEC Officials Implore Agency to Curb 2016 Election Abuse” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today “Why So Many Women Are […]
Lobbying
California: “Businesses with Stake in California Politics Utilize Capitol Grounds” by Jeremy White for Sacramento Bee
Campaign Finance
“Two FEC Officials Implore Agency to Curb 2016 Election Abuse” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today
“Why So Many Women Are Raising Money for Hillary Clinton” by Matea Gold for Washington Post
Delaware: “Bill Would Increase Campaign Donation Limits” by Jonathan Starkey for Wilmington News Journal
Massachusetts: “Baker, State GOP’s Use of Federal Funds Questioned” by Frank Phillips for Boston Globe
New York: “Carl Heastie’s Campaign Spending Blurs Line between Political and Personal” by Russ Buettner for New York Times
Ethics
“Dennis Hastert Rushed to Make Money as Payouts Grew” by Eric Lipton for New York Times
New Jersey: “Ex-Official Says Chris Christie Broke Grand Jury Law” by Kate Zernike for New York Times
Pennsylvania: “Fourth Defendant in Sting Case Pleads Guilty” by Angela Couloumbis and Craig McCoy for Philadelphia Inquirer
Legislative Issues
“Divided Legislatures Produce Gridlock, Not Compromise” by Alan Greenblatt for Governing
Indiana: “House Lawmakers Move to Shield Communications from Public” by The Associated Press for Indianapolis Business Journal
May 14, 2015 •
NY Senate Majority Leader Resigns after His Arrest
New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos has resigned following his arrest on federal corruption charges. John J. Flanagan was formally elected to succeed Skelos on May 11, 2015. Skelos’ resignation comes just weeks after the resignation of Sheldon Silver, […]
New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos has resigned following his arrest on federal corruption charges. John J. Flanagan was formally elected to succeed Skelos on May 11, 2015.
Skelos’ resignation comes just weeks after the resignation of Sheldon Silver, former Speaker of the Assembly, following Silver’s arrest on similar charges. Skelos will keep his seat in the Senate even as his prosecution is ongoing.
May 13, 2015 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying “Amid Gridlock in D.C., Influence Industry Expands Rapidly in the States” by Reid Wilson for Washington Post Florida: “Legislators Approve Water Farming Funding after Copter Rides, Donations” by Craig Pittman and Michael Van Sickler for Tampa Bay Times Florida: […]
Lobbying
“Amid Gridlock in D.C., Influence Industry Expands Rapidly in the States” by Reid Wilson for Washington Post
Florida: “Legislators Approve Water Farming Funding after Copter Rides, Donations” by Craig Pittman and Michael Van Sickler for Tampa Bay Times
Florida: “Voters Won’t Get Say on Lifting Gift Ban” by Brittany Wallman for South Florida Sun Sentinel
New Mexico: “Lobbyists, Groups Spend Large on New Mexico Lawmakers” by Sandra Fish (New Mexico In Depth) for Las Cruces Sun-News
Texas: “Wendy Davis Fined $5,000 for Ethics Violation” by Terri Langford for Texas Tribune
Virginia: “Lobbyists Take Changes to Gifts Law in Stride” by Patrick Wilson for The Virginian-Pilot
Campaign Finance
“Bill Shuster Aided Virgin Islands – Then Asked for Cash” by Anna Palmer, Jake Sherman, and John Bresnahan for Politico
“Jeb Bush Leans on Nonprofit Group as He Prepares Likely Presidential Run” by Ed O’Keefe and Matea Gold for Washington Post
Montana: “New Campaign Finance Law Praised, but Some Say It Needs to Be Toughened” by Charles Johnson for The Missoulian
New York: “The New Office Politics: Funding boss’s political causes” by Michelle Conlin and Lucas Iberico Lozada (Reuters) for The Times Record
Ethics
Nebraska: “Common Cause Files Complaints on Activity Surrounding Niobium Bill” by Joanne Young for Lincoln Journal-Star
“Bill Clinton’s Lucrative Speeches Got Fast Approval at State” by Lisa Lerer and Stephen Braun (Associated Press) for Fresno Bee
“Politics Is a Dirty Business. It Should Stay That Way.” by Chris Cillizza for Washington Post
New Jersey: “Report: Christie racked up $82,594 bill at sports stadium” by Karey Van Hall for Politico
Ohio: “Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic Resigns: The Big Story” by John Harper (Northeast Ohio Media Group) for Cleveland Plain Dealer
Vermont: “Vermont Lawmaker Accused in Sex-for-Rent Scheme” by Paris Achen, Zach Despart, and Adam Silverman (Burlington Free Press) for USA Today
Virginia: “Appeals Judges Pepper McDonnell Defense with Skeptical Questions” by Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post
Elections
“Study: State elections becoming less competitive” by Reid Wilson for Washington Post
“The Great Democratic Crack-Up of 2016” by Robert Draper for New York Times
Legislative Issues
New York: “Dean Skelos, New York Senate Leader, Vacates Post” by Thomas Kaplan and Susanne Craig for New York Times
May 11, 2015 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying Illinois: “In Illinois Capitol, Lobbying Is a Growing Business” by Kurt Erickson for Quad City Times Nevada: “Bill Imposes Cooling-Off Period for Ex-Lawmakers” by Sandra Chereb for Las Vegas Review-Journal Vermont: “House Oks Bill Limiting Lobbyist Contributions during Session” […]
Lobbying
Illinois: “In Illinois Capitol, Lobbying Is a Growing Business” by Kurt Erickson for Quad City Times
Nevada: “Bill Imposes Cooling-Off Period for Ex-Lawmakers” by Sandra Chereb for Las Vegas Review-Journal
Vermont: “House Oks Bill Limiting Lobbyist Contributions during Session” by Erin Mansfield for VTDigger.org
Campaign Finance
“Hillary Clinton Embraces a ‘Super PAC,’ Trying to Erode a Republican Edge” by Maggie Haberman and Nicholas Confessore for New York Times
“The FEC’s ‘Non-Partisan’ Whistleblower” by Tarini Parti for Politico
Ethics
Florida: “Politicians Send Millions to Charity of Lobbyist’s Daughter” by Francisco Alvarado (BrowardBulldog.org) for Miami Herald
Indiana: “Expanded Disclosure, Ethics Rules Now Law” by Olivia Covington for WFYI
Massachusetts: “Brian Joyce Thrives at the Edge of a Fuzzy Boundary” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe
New York: “Scarborough Pleads Guilty Twice” by Brendan Lyons for Albany Times Union
Texas: “Government Contract Disclosure Bill Advances” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune
West Virginia: “‘Trinkets’ Defined as Ethics Commission Prepares for New WV Law” by Joel Ebert for Charleston Daily Mail
Legislative Issues
Hawaii: “Hawaii Lawmakers Quietly Dole Out Millions of Dollars in Grants” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat
April 16, 2015 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “Europe at Risk of Corruption from Lobbying – Report” by Damian Grammaticas for BBC “Lawmakers in No Rush to Disclose Wining and Dining” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune Campaign Finance “REBNY Members Gave a Tenth of all N.Y. […]
Lobbying
“Europe at Risk of Corruption from Lobbying – Report” by Damian Grammaticas for BBC
“Lawmakers in No Rush to Disclose Wining and Dining” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune
Campaign Finance
“REBNY Members Gave a Tenth of all N.Y. Campaign Money” by Bill Mahoney for Capital New York
Ethics
“Postal Worker Lands Helicopter on U.S. Capitol Grounds to Make Special Mail Delivery” by Eric Katz for GovExec.com
“Kate Brown Takes Questions as Lawmakers Air Ethics Proposal” by Denis Theriault for Portland Oregonian
“Senate Urged to Restore Ethics Powers” by Jennifer Bogdon and Katherine Gregg for Providence Journal
“John Doe Reform Bill Stalls in Legislature” by M.D. Kittle for Watchdog.org
Elections
“In Perception Primary, It’s Folksy Hillary Clinton vs. Statesmen-Looking Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio” by Patrick Healy for New York Times
“Chelsea’s Invisible Hand” by Kenneth Vogel for Politico
Legislative Issues
“Tennessee House Votes Bible as Official State Book” by Dave Boucher for The Tennessean
“Lack of Virginia’s General Assembly Openness Is Criticized” by Dave Ress for The Daily Press
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