Lobbying

Pennsylvania: “Pa. Officials, Lobbyists Split on How to Vet Business Propositions” by Brad Bumsted for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Campaign Finance

“Key G.O.P. Donors Still Deeply Resist Donald Trump’s Candidacy” by Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns for New York Times

Massachusetts: “New Bill Would Rein in State GOP’s Fund-Raising” by Frank Phillips for Boston Globe

Ethics

Alabama: “One-Time Rising Star Hubbard to Stand Trial on Ethics Charges” by Mike Cason for AL.com

Colorado: “Audit: Colorado ethics commission rarely helps those filing complaints” by Joey Bunch for Denver Post

Hawaii: “Hawaii Lawmakers Again Balk at Ethics, Lobbying Reform” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat

Elections

“Why Democrats Are Set to Retake State Legislatures in 2016 (and It’s Not Just Trump)” by Amber Phillips for Washington Post

“Bernie Sanders Makes a Campaign Mark. Now, Can He Make a Legacy?” by Jonathan Mahler and Yamiche Alcindor for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Montana: “Term Limits Have Weakened Legislature, Some Observers Say” by Jayme Fraser for Helena Independent Record

Redistricting

Virginia: “Supreme Court Upholds Virginia Redistricting” by Richard Wolf for USA Today

Lobbying

Rhode Island: “Do R.I. General Assembly Grants Funnel Back into Lobbying?” by Patrick Anderson for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

“G.O.P. Donors Shift Focus from Top of Ticket to Senate Races” by Nick Corasaniti and Ashley Parker for New York Times

California: “Tony Strickland Agrees to $40,000 Ethics Fine” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee

New York: “De Blasio’s Elections Strategy, Under Scrutiny, Recalls Predecessor’s” by William Neuman for New York Times

Ethics

Arkansas: “Ark. High Court Rejects Lawsuit over Campaign Finance Ballot Measure” by Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) for Baxter Bulletin

Hawaii: “Hawaii Ethics Commission Picks Interim Director” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat

Hawaii: “Totto Tells Ethics Commission to Scrap ‘Silly’ Time Sheet Rules” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat

Michigan: “Panel OKs Added Transparency for Governor, Legislators” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News

Elections

“A History of Insurgent Candidates’ Impact On Down-Ballot Races” by Louis Jacobson for Governing

Legislative Issues

“Chaos in House after GOP Votes Down LGBT Measure” by Cristina Marcos and Mike Lillis for The Hill

Lobbying

California: “Legislature Passes Bill to Disclose Lobbying on State Contracts” by Guy Marzorati for KQED

Campaign Finance

New Jersey: “Ex-Birdsall Exec Admits Role in $1M Pay-to-Play Scheme” by S.P. Sullivan (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger

New York: “Hearing Advances Reforms to City Campaign Finance System” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Ethics

“What is Corruption?” by Robert Gebelhoff for Washington Post

Alabama: “Zeigler Says He’ll File Court Motion Seeking Bentley Testimony” by Mike Cason for AL.com

New York: “Sheldon Silver, Ex-New York Assembly Speaker, Gets 12-Year Prison Sentence” by Benjamin Weiser and Vivian Yee for New York Times

Virginia: “Fla. Businessman Paid $10K for Va. Senator’s Trip to Meet Syrian President Assad” by Laura Vozzella for Washington Post

Elections

“Ted Cruz Drops Out of the Republican Presidential Race” by Sean Sullivan and Katie Zezima for Washington Post

“Sanders Wins Indiana, but Clinton Looks to November” by Heidi Przybyla for USA Today

Legislative Issues

“Now, Dennis Hastert Seems an Architect of Dysfunction as Speaker” by Carl Hulse for New York Times

Lobbying

Ohio: “Many GOP Lobbyists Will Go to Cleveland but the Thrill Is Gone” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

“The New Gilded Age: Close to half of all super PAC money comes from 50 donors” by Matea Gold and Anu Narayanswamy for Washington Post

California: “Political Fine from 2012 Mayor’s Race Sets Record” by Greg Moran for San Diego Union-Tribune

Ethics

“Unsealed Document Alleges Silver Had Two Extramarital Affairs” by Coby Hamilton and Josefa Velasquez for Capital New York

“Inquiries Cloud de Blasio’s Bid to Come Off as Strong Manager Before ’17 Race” by J. David Goodman and William Neuman for New York Times

South Carolina: “SLED Report Names 2 with Ties to SC Attorney General Wilson” by John Monk for The State

Alabama: “Alabama Governor Had His Wallet Delivered to Him by Law Enforcement Helicopter” by Travis Andrews for Washington Post

Missouri: “Missouri’s Nixon Signs Bill Tightening Loose Ethics Laws” by Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) for ABC News

Elections

“Prosecutor Says He Won’t Pursue Case against Trump Campaign Manager” by Terrence Dopp for Bloomberg.com

Michigan: “Gov. Snyder Sets Elections to Fill Virgil Smith’s Senate Seat” by Kathleen Gray for Detroit Free Press

Legislative Issues

Tennessee: “Gov. Bill Haslam Vetoes Bible Bill” by Dave Boucher, Holly Meyer, and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Lobbying
Missouri: “Missouri Lawmakers Strike a Deal on Revolving-Door Lobbyist Ban” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Campaign Finance

New York: “Vote to Close ‘LLC Loophole’ Deadlocks, but Could Impact Lawsuit” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Virgina: “Virginia Lawmakers Banish Pricey Gifts – But Not Fundraisers” by Alan Suderman (Associated Press) for ABC News

Ethics

“Ethics Watchdog Urges Full Probe of Senate Hopeful Grayson” by Cristina Marcos for The Hill

Alabama: “Lawmaker Takes First Step in an Effort to Impeach Alabama’s Governor” by Campbell Robertson and Alan Blinder for New York Times

Connecticut: “Former Investment Director for Quasi-Public Agency Fined In Ethics Probe” by David Altimari for Hartford Courant

Massachusetts: “Prosecutors Investigate Fees Collected by Joyce on Randolph Projects” by Andrea Estes and Shelley Murphy for Boston Globe

Elections

“Trump Effect Hits Dem Convention” by Megan Wilson Megan Wilson for The Hill

Legislative Issues

Tennessee: “Bible Could Soon Be Tennessee’s Official Book” by Katie Rogers for New York Times

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.