Campaign Finance

“Crowdpac Helps Candidates Test the Waters” by Eric Garcia for Roll Call

Ethics

“F.B.I. Director James Comey Is Fired by Trump” by Michael Shear and Matt Apuzzo for New York Times

“Sally Yates Tells Senators She Warned Trump About Michael Flynn” by Matt Apuzzo and Emmarie Huetteman for New York Times

Michigan: “4th Macomb County Official Cuts Deal in Rizzo Corruption Scandal” by Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press

New York: “Rikers Tumult Rises: Prison official accused of spying on investigator” by William Rashbaum and Michael Schwirtz for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “Court Voids Ex-House Speaker Bill DeWeese’s $116K Restitution for Corruption Convictions” by Matt Miller for PennLive.com

Elections

“Who Has Trump’s Ear? Often Rich, White, Republican Men.” by Andrew Restuccia and Aiden Quigley for Politico

Washington: “Seattle Mayor Ed Murray Won’t Seek Second Term: ‘It tears me to pieces to step away’” by Daniel Beekman for Seattle Times

Lobbying

Arizona: “Months After It Was Exposed, Phoenix Hasn’t Fixed Toothless Lobbying Law” by Dustin Gardiner and Rob O’Dell for Arizona Republic

Maine: “Lobbyist for Proposed Maine Casino Says Client Was Not Who He Thought It Was” by Scott Thistle for Portland Press Herald

Redistricting

Maryland: “Hogan Vetoes Redistricting Bill, Calling Maryland Democrats’ Measure ‘Phony’” by Luke Broadwater for Baltimore Sun

Lobbying

“Trump’s Trade Pick Clears Hurdle, Despite Past Foreign Lobbying” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “GOP Seeks to Gut Public Campaign Funding in Conn.” by Neil Vigdor for Connecticut Post

New Mexico: “Toulouse Oliver Proposes New Campaign Spending Rules” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Ethics

“Sally Yates Tells Senators She Warned Trump About Michael Flynn” by Matt Apuzzo and Emmarie Huetteman for New York Times

“Trump Looms as Kushner Companies Courts Investors in China” by Keith Bradsher, Ailin Tang, and Jesse Drucker for New York Times

California: “California Politicians Stole Their Money. Will That Make Them Care About Democracy?” by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee

Florida: “When That Feisty Neighbor Becomes the President” by Michael LaForgia and Steve Eder for New York Times

Illinois: “Ex-Top Aide to Dorothy Brown Indicted on Charges She Lied to Grand Jury” by Jason Meisner for Chicago Tribune

New York: “Murky Definitions for Government Entities Undermines Transparency” by Rachel Silberstein for Gotham Gazette

Lobbying

“Silicon Valley Tech Lobbyists Swarm Brussels” by Harry Cooper and Nicholas Hirst for Politico.eu

“Lewandowski Exits Lobby Firm Amid Reports of Foreign Clients” by Jennifer Jacobs and Ben Brody for Bloomberg.com

Canada: “Liberals Removed Lobbyists Who Signed Up for Montreal Fundraiser with Justin Trudeau” by Giuseppe Valiante and Joanna Smith (The Canadian Press) for CBC

Campaign Finance

California: “California Attorney General Targets Political Nonprofits” by Don Thompson (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report

Missouri: “Campaign Donation Limits Stay, but Other Parts of Missouri’s New Campaign Finance Law Blocked by Federal Judge” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“Nelson Mullins Partner Settles with SEC in Pay-to-Play Suit” by Scott Flaherty for American Lawyer

Ethics

“Trump Eases Ban on Political Activity by Churches” by Jordan Fabian and Naomi Jagoda for The Hill

“The Mystery Behind a Flynn Associate’s Quiet Work for the Trump Campaign” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

Mississippi: “Physician Pleads Guilty to Bribing Mississippi Prison Chief” by Jeff Amy (Assocuated Press) for U.S. News & World Report

Elections

“Ivanka Trump’s West Wing Agenda” by Jodi Kantor, Rachel Abrams, and Maggie Haberman for New York Times

See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!

National:

Guns and Religion: How American conservatives grew closer to Putin’s Russia
Washington Post – Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger | Published: 4/30/2017

A significant shift has been underway in recent years across the Republican right. On issues including gun rights, terrorism, and same-sex marriage, many leading advocates on the right who grew frustrated with their country’s leftward tilt under President Barack Obama have forged ties with well-connected Russians and come to see that country’s authoritarian leader, Vladimir Putin, as a potential ally. The attitude adjustment among many conservative activists helps explain one of the most curious aspects of the 2016 presidential race: a softening among many conservatives of their historically hardline views of Russia.

Federal:

Code Pink Protesters at Sessions Hearing Could Face Year in Prison
New York Times – Christopher Mele | Published: 5/3/2017

A jury convicted three Code Pink activists for disrupting Jeff Sessions’ confirmation hearing to be attorney general, including one who apparently laughed during the hearing. Desiree Fairooz, who dressed up as a pink version of Lady Liberty, was found guilty on charges of parading or demonstrating on Capitol grounds and disorderly conduct. Two other activists, Tighe Barry and Lenny Bianchi, were acquitted on a count of disorderly conduct but were convicted on two separate charges of parading or demonstrating during the hearing. Both men dressed up as Ku Klux Klan members, wearing white hooded robes, and stood up before the hearing started. All three could face up to a year in prison.

Lewandowski’s Firm Appears to Offer Trump Meetings
Politico – Kenneth Voogel and Josh Dawsey | Published: 4/28/2017

A firm co-founded by Donald Trump’s original campaign manager Corey Lewandowski appears to have been pitching clients around the world by offering not only policy and political advice, but also face time with President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and senior members of their administration. The previously unreported firm, Washington East West Political Strategies, was created by Lewandowski and fellow Trump campaign veteran Barry Bennett, as well as an Azerbaijani oil executive and an American political consultant who works extensively in Russia, to prospect for political business in Eastern Europe. And Lewandowski and Bennett have created different firms with other partners to prospect in the Middle East, Canada, and Central America, Bennett said.

Top Ethics Officer Challenges Trump Over Secret Waivers for Ex-Lobbyists
New York Times – Eric Lipton | Published: 5/1/2017

The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) sent a letter to the White House and all executive branch agency heads asking for copies of any waivers the Trump administration may have granted to appointees exempting them from ethics rules.  The OGE’s director, Walter Shaub, said the Obama administration similarly granted waivers, but the prior administration’s waivers were given “under a narrow set of circumstances” and were posted publicly on the OGE’s website. The New York Times has reported that in at least two instances, the Trump administration “secretly issued” waivers exempting officials from ethics rules.

Trump Transition Staffers Head to K Street Despite Lobbying Ban
Politico – Theodoric Meyer and Michael Stratford | Published: 5/3/2017

Donald Trump barred people who worked on his transition from lobbying for six months afterward, but at least nine people who worked on transition have registered as lobbyists. Many are registered to lobby the same agencies or on the same issues they worked on during the transition. Because of the way the six-month lobbying ban was worded, the former staffers may not be violating it. Regardless, their trips from lobbying to government service and back run counter to Trump’s campaign promise to close Washington’s “revolving door.” They also raise questions about how rigorously the White House will enforce a separate five-year lobbying ban that applies to those serving in the administration.

While in White House, Trumps Remained Selling Points for ‘Very Special’ Philippines Project
Washington Post – Drew Harwell and Matea Gold | Published: 5/2/2017

Four months into President Trump’s tenure, his business relationship with a developer who is one of the Philippines’ richest and most powerful men has emerged as a prime example of the collision between the private interests of a businessperson in the White House and his public responsibility to shape U.S. foreign policy. The potential conflict first came into focus shortly before Trump was elected, when the Philippines’ president, Rodrigo Duterte, named the Trump Organization’s partner on a Manila real estate venture as his top trade envoy. Although promotional videos for Trump Tower in the Philippines were posted online in 2013, the continued presence of the president and his daughter, Ivanka, in marketing materials for the reflects the extent to which they remain key selling points even as they have vowed to distance themselves from their global real estate and branding businesses.

From the States and Municipalities:

Colorado – Colorado Supreme Court Hears Dispute on Whether Legal Fees Count as Political Donations
Denver Post – Tom McGhee | Published: 5/2/2017

The Colorado Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could decide whether free, or reduced-cost, legal services provided to political groups should be considered contributions under the state’s campaign finance law. In a case stemming from the 2012 University of Colorado Board of Regents race, the Court of Appeals ruled legal services must be treated like political contributions, which limit the amount a single donor can give. The high court has stayed that ruling to allow time for justices to hear the case.

Massachusetts – Regulator Sees ‘Evidence of Violations’ at Thornton Law Firm
Boston Globe – Andrea Estes | Published: 4/29/2017

State regulators are recommending that Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey open a criminal investigation of nine lawyers at Boston’s Thornton Law Firm as well as seven of their spouses, concluding the firm’s longtime practice of reimbursing lawyers for political contributions may have broken multiple laws. Michael Sullivan, director of the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance, said in a letter to Healey his office had concluded there is “evidence of violations” of campaign finance laws that require political contributions be made in the name of the actual donor. He said the firm as well as 16 individuals may have broken the law. Sullivan’s letter marked the first time that state officials sought criminal prosecution in a “straw donor” case.

Minnesota – Allegations Against Dai Thao Campaign Reveal Law’s Complexity
Minneapolis Star Tribune – Jessie Van Berkel and Eric Roper | Published: 5/2/2017

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will investigate allegations of a failed bribery solicitation by St. Paul City Councilperson Dai Thao. Media reports indicated Thao, who is running for mayor, pressured a lobbyist for “resources” before a council vote and his campaign manager later texted the lobbyist to say a campaign donation might get him to “rethink this issue.” Lobbyist Sarah Clarke rejected the offer, citing state bribery statutes. Minnesota law prohibits a public officer or employee from requesting benefits or reward with the understanding that it will influence their power or duties. In the past five years, however, only one public official or employee was convicted under the law.

Missouri – Missouri Governor to Pay Fee for Using Nonprofit Donor List
U.S. News & World Report – David Lieb (Associated Press) | Published: 4/29/2017

Gov. Eric Greitens was fined $1,000 by the Missouri Ethics Commission for violating the state’s campaign finance law. Greitens failed to disclose last year that his campaign obtained a donor list from The Mission Continues, a nonprofit he founded in 2007. Federal law prohibits charities like The Mission Continues from intervening in political campaigns on behalf of candidates. The IRS has ruled charities cannot give donor lists to politicians but can rent them at fair market value if made available to all candidates. The ethics panel said Greitens’ campaign should have disclosed receiving the donor list as an in-kind contribution from his campaign manager, Daniel Laub.

New York – City Pays for Mets Moment, Guided by Firm with Troubled Ties to de Blasio
New York Times – J. David Goodman | Published: 4/30/2017

Several hundred city workers, tourists, and passers-by gathered near the steps of City Hall as Mayor Dill de Blasio again marked the New York Mets’ 1986 World Series victory. The event offered Dwight Gooden, the former Mets pitcher whose battles with drug addiction caused him to miss the original festivities, a chance to relive the moment. The city paid for the event, which had been conceived as a scene for a television series in development, produced by the sports radio host Amy Heart. So how did Ms. Heart get the city not only to pay for the backdrop of a scene in a television pilot but also have the mayor take part? By enlisting the influential lobbying firm of James Capalino, a friend and longtime donor to de Blasio whose business skyrocketed with the mayor’s election.

South Dakota – South Dakota Ethics Bill Lost Teeth on Its Way to Becoming Law
Sioux Falls Argus Leader – Dana Ferguson | Published: 4/27/2017

Four retired judges will be appointed in the coming months to the new government accountability board, forming the nearest thing to a state ethics board that South Dakota has had in nearly four decades. Once convened, the panel will exist as a place for South Dakotans to bring concerns about government fraud, conflicts-of-interest, and other potential wrongdoing. The compromise bill creating the board cleared the Legislature in the wake of protests over lawmakers’ repeal of a major ethics and campaign finance law approved by voters in November. Critics said the new accountability board is at best a tepid step in the right direction and at worst a symbolic move to give lawmakers cover from criticism following the repeal of Initiated Measure 22.

Tennessee – Jeremy Durham Dismisses Campaign Finance Audit, Points Finger in Fiery Letter
The Tennessean – Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert | Published: 5/3/2017

Former Tennessee Rep. Jeremy Durham offered justifications for his actions in response to 690 possible campaign law violations leveled by election ethics officials. While denying essentially any wrongdoing, the 235-page response presented to state election finance officials points the finger at legislators, overly broad state laws, and human error. The allegations against Durham range from using campaign funds to improperly buy sunglasses, suits, and spa products to inappropriately loaning thousands of dollars to his wife, a prominent fundraiser, and a professional gambler.

Texas – How the Federal Case Against John Wiley Price Fell Apart
Dallas News – Jennifer Emily, Gromer Jeffers Jr., and Kevin Krause | Published: 4/28/2017

Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price was found not guilty of bribery and six other counts by a federal jury that considered whether he was abusing his public office to collect about $1 million in secret profits over a decade. The jury deadlocked on four tax-related counts and the judge declared a mistrial on those charges. Price is likely the most well-known politician to ever be prosecuted by the federal government in Dallas. His confrontational style and focus on the issues of race and economic equality have made him a controversial figure, but his constituents have re-elected him for three decades. The acquittal is a surprising defeat for the U.S. Justice Department and FBI, who have spent a decade investigating and prosecuting Price.

Vermont – House Passes Ethics Commission Bill with Some Reluctance
VTDigger.org – Mark Johnson | Published: 5/2/2017

The Vermont House passed a bill creating a state ethics commission, overcoming objections about a requirement that lawmakers disclose their spouses’ sources of income. The legislation also prevents lawmakers from becoming lobbyists within a year of leaving their seats, and restricts holders of no-bid state contracts of $50,000 or more from making campaign contributions to certain candidates. A conference committee will have to iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions before the legislation goes to Gov. Phil Scott.

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.

Several ethics bills have been introduced in Michigan Legislature.

House Bill 4489 prohibits immediate family members of a public officer or employee from accepting gifts tending to influence the manner in which the public officer or employee or another public officer or employee performs official duties.

House Bill 4526 prohibits, for three years after leaving office, a former member of the Michigan Senate or House of Representatives who was, at any time, the chair of a standing committee, from making expenditures for or receiving compensation or reimbursement for actual expenses for lobbying equal to or exceeding the limit established to require registration as a lobbyist agent.

Similarly, House Bill 4527 prohibits any former member of the Michigan Senate or House of Representatives from being a lobbyist agent for two years after leaving office.

If passed, the bills will become effective 90 days after the end of the legislative session.

Lobbying

“Trump Transition Staffers Head to K Street Despite Lobbying Ban” by Theodoric Meyer and Michael Stratford for Politico

“City Pays for Mets Moment, Guided by Firm with Troubled Ties to de Blasio” by J. David Goodman for New York Times

Campaign Finance

Colorado: “Colorado Supreme Court Hears Dispute on Whether Legal Fees Count as Political Donations” by Tom McGhee for Denver Post

Minnesota: “Minnesota Republicans Want to Eliminate ‘Welfare for Politicians’” by Rachel Stassen-Berger for St. Paul Pioneer Press

Tennessee: “Jeremy Durham Dismisses Campaign Finance Audit, Points Finger in Fiery Letter” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Ethics

“A Code Pink Protester Laughs Over a Trump Nominee and Is Convicted” by Christopher Mele for New York Times

“While in White House, Trumps Remained Selling Points for ‘Very Special’ Philippines Project” by Drew Harwell and Matea Gold for Washington Post

Vermont: “House Passes Ethics Commission Bill with Some Reluctance” by Mark Johnson for VTDigger.org

Elections

“Comey Forcefully Defends ‘Painful’ Decision on Clinton Probe” by Josh Gerstein and Austin Wright for Politico

The Tennessee House voted unanimously last week to require legislators to disclose travel expenses provided by anyone with an interest in public policy if the travel was for the purpose of educating a legislator with respect to said policy.

The bill, as originally introduced, would cover national organizations such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), or other organizations where corporations provide scholarship funds for legislators to attend a conference.

The bill would require disclosure of the corporation or entity providing the scholarship or funding, but would not require specific dollar amounts.

The Senate passed an amendment to the House bill to exclude from the definition of travel expense any expense paid for by an organization of elected or appointed state government officials, or any other established and recognized organization serving as an umbrella organization for legislative officials and staff.

It has been placed back on the House calendar for early May.

Lobbying

“New Registration Details Manafort’s Lobbying for Group with Pro-Russia Ties” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Campaign Finance

Massachusetts: “Regulator Sees ‘Evidence of Violations’ at Thornton Law Firm” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe

Missouri: “Missouri Governor to Pay Fee for Using Nonprofit Donor List” by David Lieb (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report

Washington: “Washington State Senators Tap Surplus Campaign Money for Food, Clothes, Furnishings” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times

Ethics

“Ethics Rules Waivers for Trump’s Team to Get Federal Scrutiny” by Bill Allison for Bloomberg.com

Florida: “Hooters ‘Calendar Girl’ and Playboy ‘Miss Social’ Were Artiles’ Paid Consultants” by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald

Florida: “Miami Firm Involved in Anti-Hazing Program Did Not Detail Use of $1 Million from State” by Arek Sarkissian for Naples Daily News

Illinois: “Byrd-Bennett Sobs While Trying to Explain Corruption, Gets 4 1/2 Years in Prison” by Jason Meisner and Juan Perez Jr. for Chicago Tribune

Elections

“Guns and Religion: How American conservatives grew closer to Putin’s Russia” by Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

North Carolina: “North Carolina Judges Back Governor Over Election Changes” by Emery Dalesio (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report

Lobbying

“Lewandowski’s Firm Appears to Offer Trump Meetings” by Kenneth Vogel and Josh Dawsey for Politico

Campaign Finance

California: “Rep. Rohrabacher’s Ex-Campaign Treasurer Sentenced to Year in Jail for Embezzlement” by Hannah Fry for Los Angeles Times

Colorado: “Judge Says Ex-Congressman Bob Beauprez’s Group Must Pay $17,000 in Campaign Finance Fines” by Corey Hutchins for Colorado Independent

Colorado: “Campaign Finance Reform Measures Die in Colorado Legislature” by Peter Marcus for ColoradoPolitics.com

Maine: “New Info About Maine Casino Campaign’s Financing Triggers Ethics Concerns” by Mitchell Shepherd for Bangor Daily News

New Mexico: “City Contractors Give to ABQ Mayoral Candidates” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth

New York: “Proposal Would Boost Public Campaign Matching Funds” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma State Sen. Kyle Loveless Resigns Amid Criminal Investigation” by Nolan Clay and Dale Denwalt for The Oklahoman

Ethics

“Bribe Cases, a Secret Jared Kushner Partner and Potential Conflicts” by Jesse Drucker for New York Times

“Pentagon Inquiry Seeks to Learn if Flynn Hid Foreign Payment” by Emmarie Huetteman and Matthew Rosenberg for New York Times

Rhode Island: “Restaurant Owner to Serve Year in Prison for Bribing Former R.I. House Speaker” by Katie Mulvaney for Providence Journal

South Dakota: “South Dakota Ethics Bill Lost Teeth on Its Way to Becoming Law” by Dana Ferguson for Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Texas: “How the Federal Case Against John Wiley Price Fell Apart” by Jennifer Emily, Gromer Jeffers Jr., and Kevin Krause for Dallas News

See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!

Effective July 30, 2017, Arkansas constitutional officers are prohibited from soliciting or accepting loans from lobbyists.

Senate Bill 7, now known as Act 1108, amends the definition of gift to include any advance or loan. The bill excludes an advance or loan made in the ordinary course of business by a financial institution or business regularly extending credit.

Bills signed during the regular session are effective 90 days after the final, official day of session, unless otherwise specified. The 91^st General Assembly is set to adjourn sine die on May 1, 2017.

National:

Can Elections Like Georgia’s Help Predict Future Races?
New York Times – Jonah Engel Bromwich | Published: 4/19/2017

The recent congressional election in Georgia was billed as having potential national implications, as an early test of whether anti-President Trump energy could fuel Democratic victory in a traditionally Republican district. It seems likely the same will be said for scattered upcoming special elections in other states. But political scientists and pollsters who analyze races for a living say so-called bellwether races are tricky to evaluate, if they even exist at all.

Some Public Pensions Help Trump, Report Shows
U.S. News & World Report – Julia Harte (Reuters) | Published: 4/26/2017

Public pension funds in at least seven U.S. states have invested millions of dollars in an investment fund that owns a New York hotel and pays one of President Donald Trump’s companies to run it. That arrangement could put Trump at risk of violating an obscure constitutional clause. The Trump SoHo Hotel and Condominium is owned by a Los Angeles investment group, the CIM Group, through one of its real estate funds. The possible problem for Trump lies in the fact that state- and city-run pension funds have invested in the CIM fund and pay it a few million dollars in quarterly fees to manage their investments in its portfolio. In return for marketing and managing the hotel-condo, CIM pays Trump International Hotels Management a percentage of the SoHo’s operating revenues. The Constitution bars the president from receiving additional payments beyond his salary from state governments.

Federal:

Flynn Probably Broke the Law by Failing to Disclose Foreign Payments, House Oversight Leaders Say
Washington Post – Karoun Demirjian | Published: 4/25/2017

Michael Flynn, President Trump’s first national security adviser, may have violated federal law by not fully disclosing his business dealings with Russia when seeking a security clearance to work in the administration, the top oversight lawmakers from both parties in the U.S. House sad. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairperson of the House oversight committee, said Flynn also appeared to have inappropriately accepted the funds without permission. The declaration came after Chaffetz and other members of the committee reviewed classified documents related to Flynn, including the form he filled out in January 2016 to renew his security clearance.

Sessions Vows to Enforce an Anti-Bribery Law Trump Ridiculed
New York Times – Charlie Savage | Published: 4/24/2017

Attorney General Jeff Sessions affirmed the U.S. Justice Department’s commitment to prosecutions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which bars corporations from bribing foreign officials to gain a business advantage. Paul Pelletier, a former deputy chief of the fraud section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, said Sessions’ remarks were significant because of speculation about whether the administration would ease enforcement of the act. President Trump once called it a “horrible law.” The act was little invoked or discussed for years. But around 2005, the fraud section began enforcing it much more vigorously. It has rapidly become a major factor in business decisions about overseas operations, generating big fees for law firms and large fines for the government.

Slow Pace of Trump Nominations Leaves Cabinet Agencies ‘Stuck’ in Staffing Limbo
Washington Post – Lisa Rein | Published: 4/25/2017

President Trump’s Cabinet secretaries are growing exasperated at how slowly the White House is moving to fill hundreds of top-tier posts, warning the vacancies are hobbling efforts to oversee agency operations and promote the president’s agenda. The Senate has confirmed 26 of Trump’s picks for his Cabinet and other top posts. But for 530 other vacant senior-level jobs requiring confirmation, the president has advanced just 37 nominees. The nomination process has been slowed by the unusual degree of scrutiny the White House is giving job candidates. Prospective nominees for senior posts and even some of the more junior ones must win approval from competing camps inside the White House.

Trump Inauguration Admits Errors, Vows to Correct Numerous Faulty Donor Records
HuffPost – Christina Wilkie | Published: 4/25/2017

President Trump’s inaugural committee acknowledged it made errors in a list of donors submitted to the FEC. That admission followed an unusual crowdsourced reporting project, in which HuffPost reporter Christina Wilkie asked the public to examine more than 1,500 listings of individual donors and their addresses. That effort, along with others from other news organizations, seemed to turn up more than 300 examples where the data seemed not to match reality. The scores of mistakes contained in the FEC filing can largely be traced to a fundraising and ticketing system the Republican Party introduced this year, which provided special online access codes to Trump supporters.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama – U.S. Top Court Preserves Alabama Campaign Finance Curbs
Reuters – Andrew Chung | Published: 4/24/2017

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to Alabama’s ban on the transfer of campaign contributions between PACs. The decision left in place an appeals court ruling that the 2010 law does not unconstitutionally restrict political speech. To comply with the law, the Alabama Democratic Conference established separate banks accounts for candidate contributions and its other expenditures. It then proceeded to sue to the state and the Alabama attorney general, arguing in the law violated its First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

California – Blacklist of Border-Wall Contractors Advanced in California Senate
Courthouse News Service – Nick Cahill | Published: 4/25/2017

Contractors would have to choose between building a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico and doing business with California under a bill that advanced in the Senate. Senate Bill 30 would blacklist companies who help to build the controversial wall that President Trump has promised to construct. In addition, Assembly Bill 946 would force the state to drop its pension investments in any companies involved in the project. Lobbyists for contractors spoke out against the bill at a hearing, saying it would create a slippery slope. “What next unpopular project would we blacklist for contractors”” asked Todd Bloomstine of the Southern California Contractors Association.

Missouri – Fewer Missouri Lawmakers Are Bunking with Lobbyists
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Kurt Erickson | Published: 4/21/2017

Four members of the Missouri Legislature and one former deputy attorney general have rented sleeping space from lobbyists this year, compared with eight last year. Staying in a room in a lobbyist’s home is an alternative to staying in a hotel near the Capitol, where lawmakers typically work from Monday afternoon to Thursday afternoon before heading back to their home districts. Some legislators buy condominiums, homes, or duplexes during their stints in office. Disclosure reports do not offer details on how much lawmakers are paying in rent.

North Carolina – Tar Heel Republicans Override Gov. Cooper Veto in Latest Partisan Clash
Raleigh News & Observer; Associated Press –   | Published: 4/25/2017

The Republican majority in the North Carolina General Assembly voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of plans to combine elections and ethics oversight under one state board. Under Senate Bill 68, the State Board of Elections and the State Ethics Commission would be merged into an eight-person board evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. County elections boards also would be split evenly, going against the tradition of giving a one-person majority on the state and county boards to the party of the governor. Lawmakers voted in a December special session to combine the two state boards, but a three-judge panel declared that legislation unconstitutional, ruling lawmakers had overstepped their authority. Lawmakers tweaked Senate Bill 68 to address those concerns.

Pennsylvania – Phila. Board of Ethics Fines Teamsters Local 830
Philadelphia Tribune – Layla Jones | Published: 4/22/2017

The Philadelphia Board of Ethics cited Teamsters union Local 830 for failing to follow the city’s lobbying disclosure law. During the battle in city council over Mayor Jim Kenney’s proposed sweetened-beverage tax, the Teamsters paid Frank Keel to write opinion pieces opposing the levy. The ethics board said that amounts to lobbying. The law requires lobbyists to register and their clients to file reports disclosing what they have spent to influence city policy if it is more than $2,500 in one quarter. The board says the union paid Keel $5,000 for his services. The union will pay a $2,000 penalty. Keel, who was told to register as a lobbyist, was spared a fine.

Rhode Island – Panel: Probable cause that R.I. Supreme Court justice Flaherty violated ethics code
Providence Journal – Katie Mulvaney | Published: 4/25/2017

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted to find probable cause that state Supreme Court Justice Francis Flaherty violated the ethics code by failing to report his service on the board of a Catholic lawyers’ group. Helen Hyde filed a complaint faulting Flaherty for not indicating on his financial disclosure statements from 2010 to 2015 that he served as president of the St. Thomas More Society of Rhode Island. Hyde alleges Flaherty held that role while presiding over her appeal before the state Supreme Court. She alleged that a Roman Catholic priest sexually abused her more than four decades ago and sought to recover damages from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence. Flaherty wrote the decision denying Hyde and Jeffrey Thomas damages.

Virginia – Virginia Makes Key Adjustments to Law Governing Gifts to Officials, Adds New Lobbyist Gift Notification
National Law Review – Andrew Garrahan | Published: 4/26/2017

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed House Bill 1854, which makes changes to the state’s lobbyist and gift laws. It eliminates a controversial exception to the $100 limit on lobbyist gifts to legislators and officials, adds a key new exception to that law, and includes an additional gift notification requirement for lobbyists, among other provisions.

Washington – ‘What’s Upstream?’ Ad Campaign Funded by EPA Did Not Break Federal Lobbying Rules, Investigation Finds
Seattle Times – Joseph O’Sullivan | Published: 4/24/2017

A controversial clean-water campaign funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not violate federal lobbying rules, an audit by the agency’s inspector general determined. The What’s Upstream? campaign included billboards and ads to raise awareness of water issues surrounding agricultural pollution in the Puget Sound region. Some Republican lawmakers accused What’s Upstream?, which included a form letter on its website for people to contact their legislators, of being an “anti-farmer campaign.”  A letter signed by 145 members of Congress cited federal law that prohibits the EPA from using money for propaganda or advocacy without congressional approval.

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.

Lobbying

“Spending on Lobbying Approached $1 Billion in First Quarter, Highest in 5 Years” by Kimberly Kindy for Washington Post

New York: “NYCLU’s Request for Donor Exemption Is Denied” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Oregon: “Ethics Commission: Gov. Brown’s budget adviser may lobby on her behalf” by Anna Marum for Portland Oregonian

Campaign Finance

“Trump Inauguration Admits Errors, Vows to Correct Numerous Faulty Donor Records” by Christina Wilkie for HuffPost

Montana: “State Campaign Finance Reform Bill Hits Snag in Senate” by Corin Cates-Carney for Montana Public Radio

Ethics

“Some Public Pensions Help Trump, Report Shows” by Julia Harte (Reuters) for U.S. News & World Report

Rhode Island: “Panel: Probable cause that R.I. Supreme Court justice Flaherty violated ethics code” by Katie Mulvaney for Providence Journal

Vermont: “Ethics Commission Bill Gains Steam in House” by Mark Johnson for VTDigger.org

Elections

“Slow Pace of Trump Nominations Leaves Cabinet Agencies ‘Stuck’ in Staffing Limbo” by Lisa Rein for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

Alabama: “House Judiciary Committee Releases Final Report on Bentley Impeachment” by Mike Cason for AL.com

Procurement

California: “Blacklist of Border-Wall Contractors Advanced in California Senate” by Nick Cahill for Courthouse News Service