The Maryland House of Delegates unanimously voted on Monday to strengthen the General Assembly’s sexual harassment policies to cover lobbyists.

The bill authorizes a person to file a complaint with the State Ethics Commission against a regulated lobbyist who has sexually harassed a member or employee of the General Assembly, and it also allows a lobbyist to file a complaint against a member of the General Assembly for sexual harassment.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “15 Got Promotions from Court Clerk Dorothy Brown Within 6 Months of Donations” by Robert Herguth and Tanveer Ali for Chicago Sun-Times

New York: “JCOPE Continues Long-Running Probe of de Blasio Donors” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

South Dakota: “‘Pay to Play’ Questions Emerge in South Dakota Governor’s Race” by John Hult for Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Elections

National: “Facebook’s Role in Data Misuse Sets Off Storms on Two Continents” by Matthew Rosenberg and Sheera Frenkel for New York Times

Ethics

North Carolina: “Cooper Names 8 to North Carolina Elections and Ethics Board” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for Durham Herald-Sun

Lobbying

National: “Bye-Bye Box Seats? Tax Law May Curb Corporate Cash at Games” by Marcy Gordon (Associated Press) for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Arkansas: “Former Arkansas Legislator’s Name Surfaces in Graft Case” by Doug Thompson for Arkansas Online

Procurement

Florida: “In Miami, MCM Thrives on Big County Contracts. Now It Faces the FIU Bridge Catastrophe” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald

Once every 20 years, the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) convenes for the purpose of reviewing the state’s Constitution and proposing changes for voter consideration. The CRC travels around the state for approximately one year to identify issues, perform research, and propose constitutional amendments.

This year, the CRC is considering 37 amendments, including one related to ethics reform. The proposal, known as P-39, establishes a revolving door provision prohibiting lawmakers from lobbying local, state, and federal officials during their terms of office and prohibiting them from lobbying the Legislature and state agencies for six years after leaving office.

Similar waiting periods would apply to appointed officials as well as officials locally elected. Current law imposes a two-year waiting period and applies only to legislators and state officers or employees.

P-39 will be considered by the full CRC this week.

Campaign Finance

National: FEC Considers Expanding Political Ad Disclaimers to Mobile Apps by Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Tony Romm for Washington Post

Elections

National: Teachers Aren’t Just Striking, They’re Running for Office by Alan Greenblatt for Governing

Ethics

National: Trump Cabinet Members Accused of Living Large at Taxpayer Expense by Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis for Washington Post

National: Trump Company Lawyer Involved in Effort to Keep Stormy Daniels Silent, Document Shows by Emma Brown, Beth Reinhard, and Frances Stead Sellers for Washington Post

Alabama: Etowah Sheriff Pockets $750k in Jail Food Funds, Buys $740k Beach House by Connor Sheets for AL.com

California: Imperial County Is a Web of Friends and Family. Is It Too Small to Investigate Itself? by Sammy Roth for Palm Springs Desert Sun

New York: Trial Raises Questions About Many Cuomo Practices by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Lobbying

Missouri: Ex-Greitens’ Adviser Now Registered to Lobby in Missouri by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The fastest 2 & 1/2 minutes in government ethics, campaign finance, legislative sessions and elections news from this week is here!

National:

A Super PAC Has Raised Millions to Mobilize Black Voters. Does It Matter That Its Funders Are White?
Center for Public Integrity – Lateshia Beachum | Published: 3/12/2018

BlackPAC spent nearly $614,000 on canvassing and calls in a matter of weeks last year in Alabama’s special U.S. Senate election, ranking it among the biggest super PAC rainmakers in a race that attracted more than $19 million in non-candidate spending overall, including the primaries. Avowedly anti-Donald Trump, anti-white supremacy, and pro-black political power, BlackPAC is now positioning itself as a difference-maker headed into the 2018 midterm elections. But some to wonder if BlackPAC is little more than a convenient rent-a-group for wealthy Democratic interests struggling to connect with black voters in a post-Barack Obama political era.

Federal:

Companies Fretting Over ‘Foreign Agents’ Label
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 3/13/2018

Legislation in Congress would eliminate a provision that has long shielded international corporations with U.S. subsidiaries from having to file under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The exemption allows private entities, like non-U.S. companies, to disclose their activities through the Lobbying Disclosure Act rather than register as a foreign agent, which comes with a much stricter disclosure regiment. FARA also requires disclosure of more than just lobbying, including advisory services and public relations. While watchdogs support the potential change, saying it would help curtail abuse, international corporations warn that being called a “foreign agent” could create the wrong impression.

White House Aides Blur the Legal Lines Between Partisans and Public Servants
New York Times – Julie Hirschfeld Davis | Published: 3/12/2018

Over the past 14 months there have been at least eight complaints against White House officials for potential violations of the Hatch Act, the law that since 1939 has barred government officials from using their positions to engage in partisan politics. A handful of high-profile violations and the increased number of complaints suggest that, more than a year after taking office, President Trump, who has openly defied many norms of government ethics and transparency, is surrounded by aides who blur the line between their roles as partisans and public servants, sometimes skirting or disregarding altogether decades-old standards that govern the behavior of senior White House officials.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – ‘Hamilton’ Tickets Without the Wait – or the Cost? It Helps to Be an L.A. Politician
Los Angeles Times – Emily Alpert Reyes | Published: 3/10/2018

For many Los Angeles politicians, getting into the hottest show in town was much easier than for the public. Instead of making city council members line up outside the theater to see “Hamilton,” the Pantages Theatre came to them, offering each one a coveted pair of tickets to opening night. Council President Herb Wesson ultimately accepted six tickets to the August show from the theater owner, a gift worth nearly $1,000. Free tickets are a routine part of political life in Los Angeles, where lawmakers have been given free seats at Dodgers games, galas, and other events. Politicians can legally accept them if they stay within city and state rules, which include restrictions on who can give them gifts and how much they can accept.

District of Columbia – D.C. Mayor, Reversing Course, Signs Law Creating Publicly Financed Campaigns
Washington Post – Peter Jamison | Published: 3/13/2018

In a turnaround that caught many by surprise, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a bill creating a public financing program for local campaigns and said she would fund it in the upcoming city budget. The law, which will first affect elections in 2020, will steer millions of dollars annually toward the campaigns of local candidates and is aimed at reducing their reliance on wealthy donors. The switch may help Bowser, who is seeking a second term, combat a perception that she has not done enough to erase a “pay-to-play” culture in city government.

Florida – State Ethics Board Sides with Watchdog Over Hagan, Hillsborough County
WTSP – Noah Pransky | Published: 3/9/2018

The Florida Commission on Ethics rejected Hillsborough County’s controversial petition seeking legal fees from a citizen watchdog who filed an unsuccessful ethics complaint against Commissioner Ken Hagan. The commission expressed concern that other citizen watchdogs could be stymied in future attempts to hold officials accountable if they required George Niemann to pay the county back more than $10,000 in legal fees related to his complaint.

Illinois – Assessor Berrios Loses Court Fight to Overturn Cook County’s Limits on Campaign Donations
Chicago Tribune – Ray Long and Hal Dardick | Published: 3/14/2018

Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios lost his court challenge to the county’s campaign contribution limits, marking a legal and political setback that could restrict how much property tax appeals lawyers who handle cases before his office pour into the assessor’s political funds. Berrios, whose political committees were fined $41,000 for accepting donations exceeding caps set by the county’s ethics ordinance, is expected to appeal. Berrios’ lawyers contended the county rules violate the state constitution because only the Illinois Legislature has authority to set campaign contribution limits. They said the rules also violated the U.S. Constitution because they limited the free-speech rights of tax appeal attorneys.

Iowa – Bill Dix Resigns from Iowa Senate after Video with Lobbyist Is Posted
Des Moines Register – Jason Noble, Brianne Pfannensteil, and William Petroski | Published: 3/12/2018

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix resigned after a website posted a video showing the married lawmaker kissing a lobbyist in a Des Moines bar. The woman was identified as a lobbyist for Iowa League of Cities, an organization that seeks to sway legislation at the Capitol. As the leader of the Republican majority, Dix controlled what bills come up for debate. Sexual harassment has been a major issue in the Senate in recent years following a $1.75 million settlement reached in the case of a former staffer. Dix faced calls for his resignation over the chamber’s handling of a case, which resulted in the creation of the position of human resources manager.

Maryland – Security Video Shows Maryland Lobbyist Touching Lawmaker. He Says It Vindicates Him. She Says It Vindicates Her.
Baltimore Sun – Erin Cox | Published: 3/13/2018

A security camera video shared shows the physical contact that prompted a female Maryland senator to lodge a harassment complaint against a longtime Annapolis lobbyist, the first public accusation of sexual misconduct in the statehouse since the start of the #MeToo movement. The video shows lobbyist Gil Genn approaching Sen. Cheryl Kagan near a crowded bar at Castlebay Irish Pub in Annapolis, putting his hand on her back and sliding it down. Kagan had accused Genn of groping her when they met on March 1. Genn strongly pushed back against Kagan’s claim that the video showed him touching her inappropriately.

Missouri – Missouri Ethics Watchdog Will Be Unable to Meet after Greitens’ Inaction
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Jack Suntrup | Published: 3/13/2018

The Missouri Ethics Commission will be unable to meet because it will not have enough members to establish a quorum. The terms of three members on the six-member commission expired on March 12. It must have at least four members to meet. James Klahr, the commission’s executive director, said without a quorum, the panel will be unable to act on complaints, even though staffers still will be able to monitor issues. He said the lack of a quorum is a continuous problem. “This is an issue that comes up every two years,” Klahr said.

New York – Joseph Percoco, Ex-Cuomo Aide, Found Guilty in Corruption Trial
New York Times – Vivian Wang and Benjamin Weiser | Published: 3/13/2018

Joseph Percoco, a former aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was found guilty of agreeing to take bribes from executives at two companies seeking to do business with the state. The jury also convicted one of the businesspeople charged with paying the bribes, Steven Aiello, an executive at Cor Development. The verdict followed a multi-week trial that put a spotlight on the attempts of private companies to gain influence with Cuomo, who once likened Percoco to a brother. The governor was not accused of wrongdoing, but the trial highlighted Albany as a place where wealthy special interests use campaign donations to gain influence and flout rules meant to regulate lobbying.

North Carolina – Cooper to Appoint North Carolina Elections Board This Week
Durham Herald-Sun – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 3/14/2018

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper will appoint members to a combined state elections and ethics board, even while he continues to fight in court over the legality of the board’s latest iteration. Cooper’s office announced the decision two days before a new law approved by legislators creating a nine-member panel is supposed to take effect. The governor has sued GOP legislative leaders three times over bills creating different versions of the joint board. A state board administering elections and campaign finance laws has been vacant since last June while the constitutionality of the combination board has been litigated.

Pennsylvania – Conor Lamb Wins Pennsylvania House Seat, Giving Democrats a Map for Trump Country
New York Times – Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin | Published: 3/14/2018

Conor Lamb scored a razor-thin but extraordinary upset in a special U.S. House election in Pennsylvania after a few thousand absentee ballots cemented a Democratic victory in the heart of President Trump’s Rust Belt base. The Republican candidate, Rick Saccone, may still contest the outcome. But Lamb’s 627-vote lead appeared insurmountable, given the four counties in Pennsylvania’s 18th district have about 500 provisional, military, and other absentee ballots left to count, election officials said. That slim margin, in a district that Trump carried by nearly 20 percentage points in 2016, nonetheless upended the political landscape ahead of November’s midterm elections. It also emboldened Democrats to run maverick campaigns even in deep-red areas where Republicans remain bedeviled by Trump’s unpopularity.

Pennsylvania – Gov. Wolf Proposes Ethics Reforms for Pennsylvania Lawmakers
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Kate Giammarise | Published: 3/12/2018

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf proposed an ethics reform package that includes a complete gift ban for elected officials. Wolf is also proposing that if lawmakers do not pass a budget by the annual July 1 deadline, pay will be suspended for himself, lawmakers, and their top aides. This deadline has been missed by state lawmakers the last three years. The plan calls for broader provisions to discourage “pay-to-play,” such as requiring disclosure of campaign contributions made by parties seeking state contracts. The governor also suggested additional transparency for legislators who have outside income, requiring disclosure of sources, type of work, and amount of income received.

Wyoming – An Effort to Crackdown on ‘Dark Money’ in Wyoming Quietly Died at the Legislature. Nobody Is Quite Sure Why.
Casper Star-Tribune – Arno Rosenfeld | Published: 3/13/2018

The Wyoming Legislature this year sought to clarify and strengthen campaign finance rules. House Bill 2 was meant to improve the ability of law enforcement and local government to enforce the existing laws, while House Bill 67 was meant to clarify those laws. The first measure passed and has been signed into law by Gov. Matt Mead, while House Bill 67 died a quiet – and critics say alarming – death, falling victim to one of the Legislature’s many cut-off deadlines. House Bill 67 would have tightened definitions for political spending to include “electioneering communications,” messages that do not explicitly call for voters to act in a certain manner but nonetheless seek to influence an election.

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

Campaign Finance

National: “A Super PAC Has Raised Millions to Mobilize Black Voters. Does It Matter That Its Funders Are White?” by Lateshia Beachum for Center for Public Integrity

Arizona: “Tom Horne Takes on ‘Dark Money’ Despite Past Campaign Investigations” by Richard Ruelas for Arizona Republic

Oregon: “Multnomah County to Appeal Campaign Finance Ruling” by Nick Budnick for Portland Tribune

Elections

National: “Despite Mueller’s Push, House Republicans Declare No Evidence of Collusion” by Nicholas Fandos for New York Times

Ethics

National: “White House Aides Blur the Legal Lines Between Partisans and Public Servants” by Julie Hirschfeld Davis for New York Times

National: “Ivanka Trump Never Cut Ties with the Trump Organization. That’s Turned into a Problem.” by Anita Kumar for McClatchy DC

Maryland: “Security Video Shows Maryland Lobbyist Touching Lawmaker. He Says It Vindicates Him. She Says It Vindicates Her.” by Erin Cox for Baltimore Sun

Missouri: “Missouri Ethics Watchdog Will Be Unable to Meet after Greitens’ Inaction” by Jack Suntrup for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

New York: “Joseph Percoco, Ex-Cuomo Aide, Found Guilty in Corruption Trial” by Vivian Wang and Benjamin Weiser for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “Gov. Wolf Proposes Ethics Reforms for Pennsylvania Lawmakers” by Kate Giammarise for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lobbying

National: “Companies Fretting Over ‘Foreign Agents’ Label” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Campaign Finance

National: “Trump Company Email Was Used for Stormy Daniels Hush-Money Payment” by Michael Finnegan for Los Angeles Times

Ethics

National: “Out of Public View, Trumps and Kushners Are Talking Business” by Ben Protess, Steve Eder, and Jesse Drucker for New York Times

California: “‘Hamilton’ Tickets Without the Wait – or the Cost? It Helps to Be an L.A. Politician” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times

Maryland: “Anne Arundel Prosecutor’s Campaign Paid $40,000 to Consulting Firm Owned by Top Aide’s Wife” by Phil Davis for Capital Gazette

New York: “Tackling Sexual Harassment With ‘Bipartisan Bad Behavior’ in Shadows” by Jesse McKinley for New York Times

Lobbying

Alabama: “Alabama Ethics Commission Director Says Bill Weakens Ethics Law” by Associated Press for AL.com

Iowa: “Bill Dix Resigns from Iowa Senate after Video with Lobbyist Is Posted” by William Petroski, Brianne Pfannensteil, and Jason Noble for Des Moines Register

Wisconsin: “Ethics Commission Won’t Fine Lobbyists After Audit” by Associated Press for Madison.com

Campaign Finance

National: “New Federal Rules on Facebook and Google Ads May Not Be in Place for 2018 Midterms” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Tony Romm for Washington Post

Canada: “Liberals Plan New Election Rules for Foreign, Domestic Pressure Groups” by Alex Boutilier for Toronto Star

Elections

National: “How Russian Trolls Crept into the Trump Campaign’s Facebook Message” by Kenneth Vogel for New York Times

Ethics

District of Columbia: “A D.C. Lawmaker Took on Mayor Muriel Bowser. Three Days Later, He Backed Down.” by Peter Jamison and Perry Stein for Washington Post

Florida: “State Ethics Board Sides with Watchdog Over Hagan, Hillsborough County” by Noah Pransky for WTSP

Illinois: “Berrios’ Assessor’s Office Gives Tax Break to Firm’s Lobbying Client” by Chuck Neubauer and Sandy Bergo (Better Government Association) for Chicago Daily Herald

Maryland: “Former Baltimore County Schools Leader Dallas Dance Pleads Guilty to Perjury” by Liz Bowie for Baltimore Sun

Lobbying

New Jersey: “Lobbying in New Jersey: Here is who’s spending millions to shape how you live” by Nicholas Pugliese for Bergen Record

And we’re back, coming to you with the fastest 2 & 1/2 minutes in government, ethics, lobbying and campaign finance News You Can Use!

National:

It’s a Steep Hill to Climb for Women Running for State Office
Center for Public Integrity – Kristian Hernandez | Published: 3/6/2018

Nearly 500 women have shown interest in running for Congress in this year’s midterm elections, twice as many as compared with the same time in 2016. More women have raised their hand to run for governor in 2018 than in the past seven years combined, and scores of women plan to run for attorneys general, legislative seats, and more. Women still have a long way to go before political offices reflect the U.S. population. But women’s success in politics might not be all about winning this year, said Kim Olson, the Democratic candidate for Texas agriculture commissioner. She said the elections might be as much about planting seeds that will one day grow and fill the gender gaps in the halls of Congress, governors’ mansions, and statehouses across the country.

Federal:

Companies Court Lawmakers with Charitable Giving, but Don’t Always Disclose the Funds
Center for Public Integrity – Carrie Levine | Published: 3/5/2018

By law, corporations and organizations that lobby the federal government must disclose certain charitable contributions to nonprofits, including ones such as the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation that are intimately tied to lawmakers. They also must disclose spending to “honor” lawmakers and high-level executive branch officials if the spending meets certain criteria. But an analysis found more than 20 companies and trade associations that have failed to disclose payments made to nonprofit groups aligned with government officials or aimed at honoring lawmakers they may want to influence. In every instance, other companies disclosed payments linked to the same events, though varying circumstances and exceptions to federal rules allow some omissions.

Companies, Nonprofits Put Brakes on Foreign Lobbying Bills
Roll Call – Kate Ackley | Published: 3/2/2018

A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation to strengthen enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The new bill indicates that momentum to revamp foreign lobbying disclosures persists as the Russia probe has kept concerns about international influences in the spotlight. But opposition remains. Representatives of foreign-owned businesses and multinational nonprofit organizations say they do not want the stigma of being defined as foreign agents. They are pushing for changes to separate legislation that passed the House Judiciary Committee but has not yet been scheduled for floor action.

Trump Spoke to Witnesses About Matters They Discussed with Special Counsel
MSN – Michael Schmidt and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) | Published: 3/7/2018

The New York Times reported the special counsel in the Russian election meddling probe has learned of two conversations in which President Trump asked witnesses about matters discussed with investigators. Trump told an aide that White House counsel Donald McGahn should issue a statement denying a report in January that said McGahn told investigators the president had once asked him to fire special counsel Robert Mueller. Trump also asked his former chief of staff, Reince Priebus, how his interview with the special counsel investigators had gone and whether they had been “nice.” The episodes demonstrate that even as the inquiry appears to be intensifying, the president has ignored his lawyers’ advice to avoid doing anything publicly or privately that could create the appearance of interfering with it.

What Swamp? Lobbyists Get Ethics Waivers to Work for Trump
CNBC – Associated Press | Published: 3/7/2018

President Trump and his appointees have stocked federal agencies with former lobbyists and corporate lawyers who now help regulate the industries from which they previously collected paychecks, despite promising as a candidate to drain the swamp in Washington. A week after his inauguration, Trump signed an executive order that bars former lobbyists, lawyers, and others from participating in any matter they lobbied or otherwise worked on for private clients within two years before going to work for the government. But records show White House counsel Don McGahn has issued at least 24 ethics waivers to key administration officials at the White House and executive branch agencies.

From the States and Municipalities:

Colorado: Colorado Rep. Steve Lebsock Is Expelled Following Harassment Complaints from Five Women
Denver Post – Brian Eason and Jesse Paul | Published: 3/2/2018

The Colorado House voted to expel Rep. Steve Lebsock after hours of emotional debate in which several members broke down in tears. Lebsock had been accused of harassing five women, including a fellow state legislator, a lobbyist, and a former staffer, in 11 separate complaints. Lebsock has denied the charges, even distributing a dossier that detailed personal information about his accusers. He is the second lawmaker in the nation to be removed from office over harassment allegations since the rise of the #MeToo movement.

District of Columbia: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser Says She Won’t Testify About Schools Chief’s Resignation
Washington Post – Peter Jamison | Published: 3/7/2018

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser said she will refuse to testify under oath to the city council about the circumstances of the resignation of the former chancellor of the public school system, setting up a showdown with lawmakers, the outcome of which could weigh on her re-election campaign. She said she would instead cooperate with a parallel investigation by the city inspector general’s office that is underway. Bowser demanded the resignations of Chancellor Antwan Wilson and the deputy mayor for education, saying she had just been notified the pair had transferred Wilson’s daughter to one of the city’s most desirable high schools, skipping a waiting list of more than 600 students, in violation of city policy. But Wilson said Bowser knew about the transfer four months ago and raised no objections.

Massachusetts: SJC May Be Option in ‘Union Loophole’ Case
Lowell Sun – Andy Metzger (State House News Service) | Published: 3/7/2018

The Supreme Judicial Court is considering whether Massachusetts can constitutionally bar corporations from making political contributions, while allowing labor unions and nonprofits to do so. James Manley, an attorney representing two Massachusetts businesses, said his clients simply want corporations to be on equal footing with other entities, and that federal law requires it. The plaintiffs would be somewhat satisfied if the court decided to rein in unions’ abilities to contribute politically, Manley told reporters.

New Mexico: Steve Pearce, State Move to Settle Lawsuit Over Gubernatorial Campaign Funds
Las Cruces Sun News – Andrew Oxford (Santa Fe New Mexican) | Published: 3/6/2018

New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce are moving to settle a dispute about access to campaign money that Pearce raised while in Congress and sought to use in his run for governor. Under the proposed agreement, the state would allow candidates to use donations collected while in federal office for state office campaigns. The contributions cannot be larger than what it is allowable under New Mexico law, and they must have been reported to the FEC. “Those conditions were included to prevent future federal-to-state transfers from becoming a loophole around New Mexico’s campaign finance laws,” said Joey Keefe, a spokesperson for the secretary of state’s office.

New York: As Jurors Decide Fate of Key Cuomo Ally, Political Verdict May Be In
New York Times – Jesse McKinley and Shane Goldmacher | Published: 3/6/2018

Federal prosecutors in the corruption trial of a former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo presented unflattering tales of how Cuomo conducts himself and how his administration has conducted the people’s business in Albany. The governor has not been accused of illegal acts, but the trial may well tarnish the well-groomed reputation of Cuomo, who is facing re-election in the fall. It may also complicate or undercut any national ambitions of Cuomo, which would need to take flight in places like Iowa and New Hampshire next year.

North Carolina: GOP’s 8-Member Elections-Ethics Board Struck Down. Is a Third Lawsuit on the Horizon?
Raleigh News and Observer – Anne Blythe | Published: 3/5/2018

A panel of state judges decided a recent North Carolina Supreme Court ruling favoring Gov. Roy Cooper means only a portion of a 2017 law combining the state ethics and elections boards is now struck down. Republicans at the General Assembly passed small changes related to the combined board’s membership and Cooper’s powers after the Supreme Court decision. Cooper’s lawyers had argued the Supreme Court ruling meant the judges should void the entire law. That would have opened the door to Cooper’s wishes. He wanted the law to revert to what it was before December 2016 – separate elections and ethics boards, and Democrats getting a majority of elections board seats.

Oregon: Multnomah County Political Spending Limits Unconstitutional, Judge Finds
Portland Oregonian – Gordon Friedman | Published: 3/6/2018

Multnomah County’s voter-approved limits on campaign contributions are an unconstitutional infringement on free speech, a county judge ruled. Judge Eric Bloch said the county and its voters cannot cap donations to candidates for county office at $500 per donor, force disclosure of the largest contributors to political mailers, or limit other types of spending. The limits are “impermissible” under the free speech guarantees within the Oregon Constitution, Bloch wrote, citing a related state Supreme Court opinion.

Pennsylvania: Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski Guilty on Most Charges in Pay-to-Play Trial; Must Leave Office
Allentown Morning Call – Peter Hall, Emily Opilo, and Daniel Patrick Sheehan | Published: 3/1/2018

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski was convicted of selling his office to campaign donors in a scheme meant to fuel his political ambitions. Jurors convicted him of 47 of the 54 charges he faced, a verdict that will force Pawlowski from office and end his tenure as leader of Pennsylvania’s third-largest city. Prosecutors said Pawlowski masterminded a plan to rig city contracts for legal, engineering, technology, and construction work, all in a bid to raise money for his statewide campaigns. Pawlowski ran for governor in 2014 and U.S. Senate in 2015, suspending the latter campaign days after the FBI raided City Hall.

Tennessee: Nashville Mayor Megan Barry Resigns from Office; ‘I love you, Nashville,’ she says
The Tennessean – Joey Garrison and Nate Rau | Published: 3/6/2018

Megan Barry resigned as Nashville’s mayor, weeks after admitting an affair with the police officer who ran her security detail. She announced her resignation shortly after she pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge related to the affair. Barry agreed to reimburse the city $11,000 and serve three years’ probation. The scandal drew attention to the overtime Sgt. Rob Forrest accrued while managing her detail. An affidavit detailed nude photos the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said appeared to be Barry taken on the phone of Forrest during city trips. Forrest pleaded guilty to property theft and was sentenced to three years of probation. He will reimburse the city $45,000 that was paid to him as salary and/or overtime during times when he was not performing his duties as head of the mayor’s security detail.

Texas: Talk About Big Bucks: Deer semen donations are fueling South Texas campaign
Dallas News – Jackie Wang | Published: 3/1/2018

A candidate in the race for a Texas House seat has received $87,500 in campaign donations, more than half of which is made up of deer semen. Ana Lisa Garza has received $51,000 in in-kind donations to her campaign, listed as individual donations of frozen deer semen straws. The containers are reportedly a common way for deer breeders in the state to donate to political campaigns. Garza’s campaign has valued the straws at $1,000 each. The group does not give the semen directly to the campaign, but accepts the straw donations and sells them at auction. Attorney Buck Wood said the donations technically were not “in-kind” since the money, not the semen, was given to the campaign.

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

A bill passed by the Utah Legislature last month amending parts of the state’s election code was signed by Gov. Gary Herbert this week and is effective immediately.

House Bill 20, introduced and sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Peterson and Sen. Wayne Harper, modifies provisions relating to filling a State Board of Education candidate vacancy and a State Board of Education office vacancy.

The bill also addresses the handling of, and access to, a financial disclosure form filed by a candidate and shortens the deadline for a filing officer to forward a financial disclosure form to the lieutenant governor in certain situations. Included in the bill was also a clarification of the definition of expenditure under the Lobbyist Disclosure and Regulation Act.

The Utah Legislature is set to adjourn its regular session today. A number of bills passed by the Legislature have yet to be signed by Gov. Herbert.

Campaign Finance

National: “Adviser to Emirates with Ties to Trump Aides Is Cooperating with Special Counsel” by Mark Mazzetti, David Kirkpatrick, and Adam Goldman for New York Times

Massachusetts: “SJC May Be Option in ‘Union Loophole’ Case” by Andy Metzger (State House News Service) for Lowell Sun

New Mexico: “Steve Pearce, State Move to Settle Lawsuit Over Gubernatorial Campaign Funds” by Andrew Oxford (Santa Fe New Mexican) for Las Cruces Sun News

Oregon: “Multnomah County Political Spending Limits Unconstitutional, Judge Finds” by Gordon Friedman for Portland Oregonian

Elections

National: “It’s a Steep Hill to Climb for Women Running for State Office” by Kristian Hernandez for Center for Public Integrity

Ethics

National: “EPA Chief Pruitt’s Aide Given Permission to Work for Private Clients on the Side – but Their Identities Will Be Kept Secret” by Michael Biesecker (Associated Press) for Denver Post

National: “Ethics Office Finds Kellyanne Conway Broke Law in Alabama Race” by Jennifer Epstein for Bloomberg.com

Lobbying

Alabama: “Watchdog Accuses Key PAC in Alabama Race of Hiding Donors” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser

South Carolina: “Gov. McMaster Suspects Santee Cooper Is Meddling with Effort to Sell the Utility” by Avery Wilks for The State

The Connecticut Office of State Ethics will soon transition to a new lobbyist reporting system.

The new system will be installed on March 8 starting at 7am.

Users may experience some difficulty with the system during the installation process.