On January 1, the Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act took effect. The Act repeals the lobbying laws in Title 22 and Title 42 in the state’s statutes and enacts a new consolidated code section covering both the legislative and executive branches of government.

Among the changes in the new law are the simplification of lobbyists’ reporting requirements, an increase in penalties for failing to comply with lobbying requirements, and the allowance for more investigative and administrative authority for enforcing the lobbying laws, including administrative subpoena power.

This month, the Texas Ethics Commission adopted a new rule adjusting the compensation and reimbursement threshold for lobbyists.

The new rule eliminates an exception not requiring a person to register as a lobbyist if he or she lobbied no more than five percent of his or her compensated time during a calendar quarter. Under the new rule exception, a person is not required to register as a lobbyist if the person spends not more than 40 hours during a calendar quarter engaging in lobbying activity for which the person is compensated or reimbursed.Time spent on preparatory activity is included in determining whether the 40-hour threshold has been met.

This rule goes into effect January 1, 2017.

National:

When One Party Has the Governor’s Mansion and the Other Has the Statehouse
New York Times – Trip Gabriel | Published: 12/26/2016

Governors outgunned by veto-proof majorities in their Legislatures have successfully used the bully pulpit of their office, going over the heads of part-time lawmakers to directly appeal to citizens. Other times, governors have profited from a basic law of politics: they are usually more popular than legislative bodies, whose job favorability is little higher than that of perpetrators of Ponzi schemes. And governors in control of the bureaucracy of the executive branch have found that, like President Obama in the face of congressional obstruction, they can pull the levers of executive action to advance an agenda.

Wielding Claims of ‘Fake News,’ Conservatives Take Aim at Mainstream Media
New York Times – Jeremy Peters | Published: 12/25/2016

Until now, the term “fake news” had been understood to refer to fabricated news accounts that are meant to spread virally online. But conservative cable and radio personalities, top Republicans, and President-elect Donald Trump, incredulous about suggestions that fake stories may have helped swing the election, have appropriated the term and turned it against any news they see as hostile to their agenda. In defining “fake news” so broadly and seeking to dilute its meaning, they are capitalizing on the declining credibility of all purveyors of information. And conservatives, seeing an opening to undermine the mainstream media, a longtime foe, are more than happy to dig the hole deeper.

Federal:

Donald Trump Plans to Shut Down His Charitable Foundation, Which Has Been Under Scrutiny for Months
Washington Post – Mark Berman and David Fahrenthold | Published: 12/24/2016

President-elect Donald Trump announced he intends to dissolve his charitable foundation, his latest move aimed at settling ethical conflicts that have already dogged the incoming administration. The Donald J. Trump Foundation has come under scrutiny this year after a series of news reports detailing its practices, including cases in which Trump apparently used the charity’s money to settle lawsuits involving his for-profit businesses. New York’s attorney general has been investigating the charity after some of these reports, and a spokesperson for that office said the foundation could not officially shut down until that probe is over.

Inside the Trump Organization, the Company That Has Run Trump’s Big World
New York Times – Megan Twohey, Russ Buettner, and Steve Eder | Published: 12/25/2016

With entanglements around the world, many packaged in a network of licensing agreements and limited liability companies, the Trump Organization poses a raft of potential conflicts for a president-elect who has long exerted tight control over his business. Donald Trump, owner of all but the smallest sliver of the privately held company, has said while the law does not require it, he is formulating plans to remove himself from the company’s operations. But amid rising pressure, Trump and his advisers have been debating further steps. Yet an examination of the company underscores the challenges of taking Donald Trump out of the picture. His company is a distinctly family business fortified with longtime loyalists that operates less on standardized procedures and more on a culture of its leader.

Navy Repeatedly Dismissed Evidence That ‘Fat Leonard’ Was Cheating the 7th Fleet
Washington Post – Craig Whitlock | Published: 12/27/2016

The Navy allowed the worst corruption scandal in its history to fester for several years by dismissing evidence that a Singapore-based contractor, Leonard Francis, was cheating the service out of millions of dollars and bribing officers with alcohol, prostitutes, and lavish dinners. Staffers at U.S. Pacific Fleet headquarters were so worried about the potential for trouble that they drafted a new ethics policy to discourage Navy personnel from accepting favors from Francis. But their effort was blocked for more than two years by admirals who were friendly with the contractor. It took officials years to gather enough evidence to charge Francis and arrest him. He has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Navy of $35 million.

U.S. Punishes Russia for Election Hacking, Ejecting Operatives
New York Times – David Sanger | Published: 12/29/2016

The Obama administration announced new measures in retaliation for what officials have characterized as Russian interference in American elections, ordering the removal of 35 Russian government officials from the U.S. and sanctioning agencies and individuals tied to the hacks. The announcement culminates a debate over whether and how to respond to Russia’s unprecedented election-year provocations, ranging from the hacks of the Democratic National Committee to the targeting of state electoral systems. President-elect Donald Trump suggested the U.S. should drop its effort to retaliate against Russia, and cast doubt on intelligence agencies’ conclusion that Russia was behind the hacks.

From the States and Municipalities:

California
How to Influence the California Legislature? New Spending Details Revealed
Sacramento Bee – Taryn Luna and Jim Miller | Published: 12/28/2016

The third quarter of 2016, which included the end of the legislative session, was so important that companies, unions, trade associations, and other groups paid $84.4 million to lobby California officials on bills and regulations during the three-month period. Much as campaigns for candidates seek to win over voters, the disclosure filings underline the extent to which special-interest groups employ some of the same resources to make their cases to lawmakers and state officials. They also for the first time provide details about which political consultants, public-relations experts, advertising firms, and other non-lobbyist advocates are being paid to influence policy.

California
Santa Clara County Bosses Let Workers Take Toys Meant for Needy Kids
San Jose Mercury News – Ramona Girwagis | Published: 12/23/2016

Expensive toys intended as Christmas presents for poor children were handed out instead to dozens of Santa Clara County employees, and the county executive’s office says they do not need to return them. County employees walking to their cars from work saw the items being unloaded from trucks at the Santa Clara County building as part of a toy drive. County Executive Jeff Smith insisted that county employees who took the toys understood they needed to donate them to a nonprofit or church. But he could provide no documentation that workers were told to donate them. Smith acknowledged the county has no way of knowing whether the employees donated the gifts or kept them for themselves. “Had we realized that this was going on we probably would have organized it differently,” said Steve Preminger, a special assistant to Smith.

Florida
Shining a Light on Lobbyists, New Efforts to Curb Their Influence
Tallahassee Democrat – James Call | Published: 12/18/2016

It is a new era in Washington, D.C. and Tallahassee, and the winners of the November election are imposing new realities on how lobbyists can operate. New lobbyist-disclosure requirements approved by the Florida House aim to reveal how paid advocates and lawmakers interact behind the scenes. The rules place the lobbying corps in a delicate situation. They clearly target their product – influence – yet opposition would alienate House Speaker Richard Corcoran, the official with the ability to see that their bill, amendment, or request never gets heard. Lobbyists said they are figuring out how to navigate the new working conditions.

Missouri
With Greitens’ Blessing, Lawmakers Aim for Lobbyist-Gift Ban
Springfield News-Leader – Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) | Published: 12/25/2016

Maybe this year, with support from Gov.-elect Eric Greitens, Missouri lawmakers will be able to keep lobbyists from giving officeholders expensive dinners or concert tickets. If lawmakers fail to deliver in the 2017 session, it would break a campaign promise from Greitens, who largely focused on how he would tackle corruption in the Capitol, which in recent years has been marred by ethics scandals, and said such a ban is his first goal. It is also among the top priorities for House Speaker Todd Richardson, who said he was personally disappointed when an ethics bills did not pass last session.

New York
De Blasio Signs Measures Limiting Political Contributions
Newsday – Matthew Chayes | Published: 12/22/2016

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed campaign finance reform legislation recently. Included in the bills are limits on contributions by donors with business before the city to elected officials’ political nonprofits, ostensibly aimed at a group like the mayor’s now-defunct Campaign for One New York. Other legislation eliminates public matching funds for contributions bundled by people doing business with the city, limits amounts donated for transition and inauguration activities, and changes eligibility requirements for certain activities like debates.

New York
JCOPE Settles with Firms Caught Up in Skelos, Silver Cases
Albany Times Union – Casey Seiler | Published: 12/28/2016

The New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics reached settlements over lobbying violations with companies involved in the corruption cases of former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and ex-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Glenwood Management will pay a $200,000 fine and Administrators for the Professions will pay $70,000. Glenwood failed to disclose meetings and other lobbying activities before Skelos, and recommended to a company that it hire his son as a consultant. Glenwood also retained a law firm knowing a portion of the fees it paid would be shared with Silver. Administrators for the Professions admitted in the course of lobbying Skelos, it employed his son in an arrangement designed to curry favor with the senator.

New York
NYCLU, ACLU Sue New York Over Ethics Law
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 12/22/2016

A civil liberties group has joined in the call for a federal judge to strike down new donor-disclosure provisions in New York that allegedly stray from their anticorruption goals, hurting the protected speech rights of both nonprofits and donors. The new law mandates the public disclosure of all donors and contributions to a 501(c)(3) in excess of $2,500 whenever that organization makes an “in-kind donation” of over $2,500 to certain 501(c)(4)s engaged in lobbying activity. For 501(c)4 disclosure, the law lowers the threshold from $50,000 to $15,000 in annual lobbying spending. Unless the lawsuits succeed in getting an injunction, the first lobbying reports with the new disclosure requirements are due at the end of January.

Oklahoma
An Oklahoma Newspaper Endorsed Clinton. It Hasn’t Been Forgiven.
New York Times – Manny Fernandez | Published: 12/26/2016

The Enid News & Eagle, a red newspaper in a red county in what is arguably the reddest of states went blue this campaign season and endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. The editorial board wrote that Donald Trump lacked “the skills, experience or temperament to hold office.” It was the first Democratic endorsement for president in the modern history of the newspaper, which was founded in 1893. Enid was stunned, and this slow-paced agricultural town of 52,000 near the Kansas state line has not been the same since. Around the country, as newspapers big and small are struggling to keep subscribers, a handful of papers with conservative editorial boards made news by either endorsing Clinton or urging readers to back anybody but Trump.

South Carolina
Possibility of More S.C. Lawmakers Charged with Corruption Looms
Aiken Standard – Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) | Published: 12/24/2016

Following the 30-count indictment of a former state House majority leader, questions over who else may face corruption charges will loom over South Carolina’s 2017 legislative session. The misconduct and ethics charges against Rep. Jim Merrill, the first since former Speaker Bobby Harrell pleaded guilty and resigned more than two years ago, ended all speculation that lawmakers could breathe easy. And prosecutor David Pascoe made clear he is not done. “This is still an ongoing investigation,” Pascoe said in a recent statement.

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

“Lobbying Is Not Enough to Build Influence Among U.S. Lawmakers” by Michael Gottlieb and Elise Gurney for Harvard Business Review

New York: “JCOPE Settles with Glenwood, Malpractice Insurer Over Lobbying Violations” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “Illinois Governor Donates $50M to His 2018 Campaign Fund” by the Associated Press for The New York Times

New Mexico: “Campaign Finance Reform on Agenda Again in NM” by the Associated Press for Las Cruces Sun News

Ethics

“Wielding Claims of ‘Fake News,’ Conservatives Take Aim at Mainstream Media” by Jeremy Peters for The New York Times

“Inside the Trump Organization, the Company That Has Run Trump’s Big World” by Megan Twohey, Russ Buettner, and Steve Eder for The New York Times

“Navy Repeatedly Dismissed Evidence That ‘Fat Leonard’ Was Cheating the 7th Fleet” by Craig Whitlock for The Washington Post

Montana: “Montana Governor, Legislators Condemn Plans for White-Nationalist March” by David Weigel for The Washington Post

New York: “A Song for Bill de Blasio Sounds a Sour Note for Watchdogs” by William Neuman for The New York Times

Ohio: “Company Must Pay $100,000 to Columbus in Red-Light Bribery Scheme” by Earl Rinehart and Rick Rouan for The Columbus Dispatch

Elections

“Trump Inauguration Security Planners Brace for Wave of Protesters” by Nicholas Fandos for The New York Times

The Bureau of Elections adjusted lobbying reporting thresholds, fees and penalties for the new year. These annual adjustments reflect changes in the Detroit consumer price index and are effective January 1, 2017.

Updates include a $50 increase in the expenditure threshold. Any lobbyist or lobbyist agent is required to register if expenditures exceed $2400 during a 12-month period. Transactions of $1200 or more between a lobbyist/lobbyist agent and a public official must be reported. The 2016 threshold was $1175.

Additionally, the permitted value of food and beverages purchased for public officials in any one month increased from $58 to $59.

Lobbying

Missouri: “With Greitens’ Blessing, Lawmakers Aim for Lobbyist-Gift Ban” by Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) for Springfield News-Leader

New York: “Ex-Prisoners Get an Advocate from Their Own Ranks” by Benjamin Weiser for New York Times

Campaign Finance

“Trump Rewards Big Donors with Jobs and Access” by Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico

Vermont: “Donovan Taking Hard Look at AG’s Campaign Finance Case” by Morgan True for VTDigger.org

Ethics

“Donald Trump Plans to Shut Down His Charitable Foundation, Which Has Been Under Scrutiny for Months” by Mark Berman and David Fahrenthold for Washington Post

California: “Santa Clara County Bosses Let Workers Take Toys Meant for Needy Kids” by Ramona Girwagis for San Jose Mercury News

Maryland: “Botsaris Appointed Executive Director of Anne Arundel County Ethics Commission” by Amanda Yeager for Capital Gazette

South Carolina: “Possibility of More S.C. Lawmakers Charged with Corruption Looms” by Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) for Aiken Standard

Elections

Oklahoma: “An Oklahoma Newspaper Endorsed Clinton. It Hasn’t Been Forgiven.” by Manny Fernandez for New York Times

Legislative Issues

“Ryan Proposes Fines, Ethics Moves on Grandstanding House Members” by Billy House for Bloomberg.com

North Carolina: “When One Party Has the Governor’s Mansion and the Other Has the Statehouse” by Trip Gabriel for New York Times

Procurement

California: “Bid-Rigging Indictment Alleges California Government Contracting Scheme” by Adam Ashton for Sacramento Bee

Lobbying

Florida: “Shining a Light on Lobbyists, New Efforts to Curb Their Influence” by James Call for Tallahassee Democrat

Illinois: “Players Ask Favors Big and Small in Emanuel Emails” by Rick Pearson, David Heinzmann, and Jeff Coen for Chicago Tribune

New York: “NYCLU, ACLU Sue New York Over Ethics Law” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Campaign Finance

New York: “De Blasio Signs Measures Limiting Political Contributions” by Matthew Chayes for Newsday

Washington: “‘Everybody Is in Violation of the PDC,’ Says Activist as Attorney General Files Complaint” by Lisa Pemberton for The Olympian

Ethics

“Trump’s Son, Fearing ‘Quagmire,’ to Stop Soliciting for Charity” by Eric Lipton and Maggie Haberman for New York Times

California: “No Charges for Government Critic Who Penned Racist Comments and Images about L.A. City Council Member” by Matt Hamilton and Dakota Smith for Los Angeles Times

Elections

“Do It for The Country? Or Don’t Do It at All? The Dilemma Facing Artists at Trump’s Inauguration.” by Monica Hesse for Washington Post

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

National:

Suspected of Corruption at Home, Powerful Foreigners Find Refuge in U.S.
Miami Herald – Kyra Gurney, Analji Tsui, David Iaconangelo, and Selena Cheng | Published: 12/9/2016

Wealthy politicians and businesspeople suspected of corruption in their native lands are fleeing to a safe haven where their wealth and influence shield them from arrest. They have entered this country on a variety of visas, including one designed to encourage investment. Some have applied for asylum, which is intended to protect people fleeing oppression and political persecution. The increasingly popular destination for people avoiding criminal charges is no pariah nation. It is the United States.

The Future of Campaign Finance Reform Is at The State and Local Level
Huffington Post – Paul Blumenthal | Published: 12/20/2016

Portland’s passage of an ordinance establishing public funding for campaigns came on the heels of similar victories in South Dakota and Missouri, as well as in Berkeley, California, and Howard County, Maryland. These successes showcase the broad bipartisan support across the country for campaign finance reform that boosts the power of small donors to counter the dominance of big money. These wins, while big in their own right, were supposed to be overshadowed by changes at the U.S. Supreme Court level. Donald Trump is likely to appoint someone whose thought process lines up with that of late Justice Antonin Scalia, meaning the five-vote majority that wrote Citizens United would maintain its power and campaign finance laws would continue to fall. So reformers rest their hopes where they can: at the state and local levels.

Federal:

Access to Donald Trump, for $500,000: Pitfalls for Presidents’ Families
New York Times – Eric Lipton | Published: 12/20/2016

The initial invitation from Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump dangled a rare opportunity for donors willing to give $500,000 and more: a private reception with the new president the day after his inauguration and a hunting or fishing excursion with one of the brothers. But after the details about the “camouflage & cufflinks”-themed fundraiser first leaked, a spokesperson for President-elect Donald Trump said neither he nor his adult sons were involved in plans for the event. The confusion over the family’s connection to the fundraiser showed the degree to which Trump has failed to set rules that would protect his family from allegations of influence-peddling or draw clear lines between himself and the interests of his children, who will take over management of his business empire, watchdog groups said.

Donald Trump Is Holding a Government Casting Call. He’s Seeking ‘The Look.’
Washington Post – Philip Rucker and Karen Tumulty | Published: 12/21/2016

The parade of potential job-seekers passing the media cameras at Trump Tower has the feel of a casting call. It is no coincidence that a disproportionate share of the names most mentioned for jobs at the upper echelon of the new administration are familiar faces to viewers of cable news. Given Donald Trump’s own background as a master brander who ran beauty pageants as a sideline, it was probably inevitable he would be looking beyond their résumés for a certain aesthetic in his supporting players. “You can come with somebody who is very much qualified for the job, but if they don’t look the part, they’re not going anywhere,” said a person familiar with the transition team’s deliberations.

Former Philadelphia Congressman Chaka Fattah Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
Philadelphia Inquirer – Jeremy Roebuck | Published: 12/13/2016

Former U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, who was convicted in June of more than 20 counts corruption, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Fattah repeatedly bribed others and stole campaign contributions, charitable donations, and federal grant money, prosecutors said. He will pay $614,000 in damages and will be supervised for three years after his release. Fattah’s son is serving a five-year prison sentence for defrauding Philadelphia banks and the IRS to cover gambling debts and other personal expenses.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alaska
New Alaska House Leaders Embrace Loophole to raise Campaign Cash from Lobbyists
Alaska Dispatch News – Nathaniel Herz | Published: 12/18/2016

Republican leaders of Alaska’s incoming House majority coalition are embracing a fundraising loophole that allows them to collect money from lobbyists, who are otherwise restricted from donating to legislators and candidates. House Democrats, who joined with the Republicans to form the majority coalition, have been some of the most vocal supporters of legislation to limit the flow of special-interest money into the state’s campaigns. But they are now collaborating with the fundraising efforts of their new GOP colleagues, Reps. Gabrielle LeDoux and Paul Seaton.

Colorado
Denver Officials Move Closer to Listing Their Gifts Online and Tightening Ethics Rules
Denver Post – Jon Murray | Published: 12/20/2016

Denver is moving closer to adopting ethics code reforms and revamping lobbyist and gift disclosure rules that will make it easier for citizens to see who is wooing officials with meals and tickets. Besides discussing a new dollar limit on event tickets from each donor with a city interest, the most significant proposed changes also may be the simplest: make elected and appointed officials’ gift disclosures available online, and do it more often, every six months instead of annually.

Louisiana
Lobbyists Spent Nearly Half a Million Dollars to Woo Louisiana Legislators in 2016
New Orleans Advocate – Elizabeth Crisp | Published: 12/18/2016

Nearly $500,000 has been spent entertaining state legislators this year, roughly $3,300 in lobbyist spending per lawmaker, as the Louisiana Legislature spent a record-setting 19 weeks in session sorting through the state’s fiscal woes. A review of disclosure data shows the $476,019.20 tab that lobbyists have run up in 2016 far outpaced the amount spent in any of the eight years since the state began requiring more detailed expenditure reporting. At least 593 registered lobbyists pushed for or against legislation as it made its way through the Capitol this year. “Every interest pretty much has a lobbyist in Baton Rouge,” said Pearson Cross, a political science professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Massachusetts
Appeals Court Overturns Convictions in Probation Department Scandal
Boston Globe – Milton Valencia | Published: 12/19/2016

A U.S. appeals court judge overturned the convictions of three former Massachusetts Probation Department officials accused of running a rigged hiring scheme. Probation Commissioner John O’Brien and his deputies, Elizabeth Tavares and William Burke, were convicted in July 2014. Prosecutors said they hired employees based on political connections, not merit, then lied when they certified the hires were done correctly. Judge Juan Torruella in his ruling said O’Brien and others misran the department and made efforts to conceal the patronage hiring system. “But not all unappealing conduct is criminal,” Torruella wrote. He said the government did not adequately prove O’Brien accepted a gratuity since there was not sufficient linkage between O’Brien’s offering favored candidates a job and him getting a specific item of value in return.

New Jersey
Lawmakers’ Revolt Sinks Book Deal, Newspaper Bill
Bergen Record – Salvador Rizzo | Published: 12/19/2016

A book deal for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will have to wait. State lawmakers said they would not vote on a measure changing an ethics law that barred Christie from cashing in on a book deal while in office, at the same time giving millions of dollars in pay raises to lawmakers’ staff, judges, and other officials. The measure had buy-in from leaders in the Democrat-led Legislature and was on a fast track to the governor’s desk at the same time as a measure viewed by some as a vendetta by Christie against the state’s newspapers. But rank-and-file members all but revolted in closed-door meetings when faced with the book-deal legislation, and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto said a separate bill that would end the requirement that government legal notices be published in newspapers will be postponed until next year.

New York
De Blasio Is Fined $48,000 for Campaign Finance Violations
New York Times – J. David Goodman | Published: 12/15/2016

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has been fined almost $48,000 for violating spending rules during his 2013 mayoral campaign. The city council also passed a bill to limit the activities of outside nonprofit political groups, a measure aimed squarely at the Campaign for One New York, a nonprofit political group created by de Blasio and his aides that is at the center of state and federal inquiries into his fundraising.

New York
N.Y. Pay-to-Play Plot Fueled by Bribes, U.S. Says
Bloomberg.com – Bob Van Voris and Chris Dolmetsch | Published: 12/21/2016

A former official at the country’s third-largest pension fund and two broker-dealers were charged in what a federal prosecutor described as a classic bribery scheme. Navnoor King, the former head of the New York State Common Retirement Fund’s fixed income trades, received more than $100,000 worth of bribes from broker-dealers Deborah Kelley and Gregg Sconhorn, prosecutors said. Regulators found Kang steered about $2 billion in fixed-income trades to firms represented by Kelley and Schonhorn, resulting in millions of dollars in commissions. Prosecutors said in exchange, Kang received a $10,000 all-expenses-paid trip to Montreal, tickets to a Paul McCartney concert, a $17,420 Panerai wristwatch, dinners at upscale restaurants, prostitutes, and cocaine.

North Carolina
North Carolina Governor Signs Bill Limiting His Successor’s Power
Governing – Pat Jarvis (Raleigh News & Observer) | Published: 12/19/2016

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed bills that will limit the authority of his successors and reduce Democrats’ power over election regulation in the wake of two contentious special sessions. Senate Bill 4 would create a commission merging the current State Board of Elections, State Ethics Commission, and the lobbying-regulation functions of the secretary of state’s office. Protesters disrupted a House debate about the changes to election law, chanting and prompting House Speaker Tim Moore to order police to clear the public gallery.

South Carolina
Rep. Jim Merrill Indicted in S.C. Statehouse Probe; Suspended from Office
Charleston Post & Courier – Schuyler Kropf and Glenn Smith | Published: 12/15/2016

South Carolina Rep. Jim Merrill was indicted on 30 charges that accuse him of misconduct in office as far back as 2002 as well as a series of ethics violations. The indictment says Merrill illegally used his office to pocket at least $1.3 million, either directly or through his business, Geechie Communications. He also failed to disclose receiving payments of more $673,000 from trade, advocacy, and political groups in violation of state ethics law, according to the indictment. Crangle, head of South Carolina Common Cause, said he suspects as many as three or four more people are facing indictments.

South Carolina
Smarter Corruption: How Lost Trust evolved into ‘Capitol Gains’
Charleston Post & Courier – Tony Bartelme and Doug Pardue | Published: 12/17/2016

“Operation Lost Trust” in 1990 ended much of the overt vote selling that went on at the South Carolina Legislature. But the recent indictment of a powerful state lawmaker showed, prosecutors believe other forms of graft and influence-peddling have taken its place, schemes that are more difficult to pierce. Where cash once was transferred in brown bags and envelopes, prosecutors now say money moves through a murky system of legislative caucuses, PACs, campaign accounts, and private businesses – and enormous sums are at stake.

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.

Circuit Judge Mark Barnett ruled yesterday that Initiated Measure 22 cannot be separated into different parts, issuing an order blocking the entire law from taking effect. Initiated Measure 22 was approved by the majority of South Dakota voters last month as an act to revise campaign finance and lobbying laws.

There was an existing preliminary injunction on the law’s implementation; however, supporters of Initiated Measure 22 wanted to reinstate portions of the law not challenged by the plaintiffs, such as the provisions dealing with lower caps on campaign contributions.

Lobbying

“A Lobbying Roadmap to Influencing Trump” by Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico

“Nuclear Weapon Firms Pay to Settle Illegal Lobbying Cases” by Patrick Malone (Center for Public Integrity) for USA Today

“Trump’s Ex-Campaign Manager Starts Lobbying Firm” by Shane Goldmacher, Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dawsey, and Kenneth Vogel for Politico

Campaign Finance

“The Future of Campaign Finance Reform Is at The State and Local Level” by Paul Blumenthal for Huffington Post

California: “State Investigation Clears Coastal Commissioner of Improperly Voting for a Pismo Beach Housing Project” by Dan Weikel for Los Angeles Times

Ethics

“Trump Team Discussing ‘Half-Blind’ Trust for Conflicts of Interest” by Josh Gerstein for Politico

“Access to Donald Trump, for $500,000: Pitfalls for Presidents’ Families” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

Colorado: “Denver Officials Move Closer to Listing Their Gifts Online and Tightening Ethics Rules” by Jon Murray for Denver Post

New York: “N.Y. Pay-to-Play Plot Fueled by Bribes, U.S. Says” by Bob Van Voris and Chris Dolmetsch for Bloomberg.com

North Carolina: “NC Senator Seeking Money from Program He Created” by Mark Binker for WRAL

South Carolina: “Smarter Corruption: How Lost Trust evolved into ‘Capitol Gains’” by Tony Bartelme and Doug Pardue for Charleston Post & Courier

Lobbying

Louisiana: “Lobbyists Spent Nearly Half a Million Dollars to Woo Louisiana Legislators in 2016” by Elizabeth Crisp for New Orleans Advocate

Campaign Finance

“Offer of Access to Trump and Family at Fundraiser Is Pulled Back, But Ties Remain” by Matea Gold and David Fahrenthold for The Washington Post

“DeVos Heads into Confirmation with a Megadonor’s Advantage” by Michael Stratford for Politico

Ethics

“Suspected of Corruption at Home, Powerful Foreigners Find Refuge in U.S.” by Kyra Gurney, Anjali Tsui, David Iaconangelo, and Selina Cheng for Miami Herald

“There’s Already a Big Problem with Trump’s ‘No New Deals’ Pledge” by Drew Harwell for The Washington Post

Massachusetts: “Appeals Court Overturns Convictions in Probation Department Scandal” by Milton Valencia for Boston Globe

New Jersey: “Lawmakers’ Revolt Sinks Book Deal, Newspaper Bill” by Salvador Rizzo for Bergen Record

New York: “Grand Juries Said to Hear Testimony on Inquiries into de Blasio Fund-Raising” by William Rashbaum for The New York Times

South Carolina: “Rep. Jim Merrill Indicted in S.C. Statehouse Probe; Suspended from Office” by Schuyler Kropf and Glenn Smith for Charleston Post & Courier

Virginia: “Residents Push to Change Law That Lets Norfolk Treasurer Anthony Burfoot Stay in Office” by Eric Hartley for The Virginian-Pilot

Elections

“Electoral College Settles Donald Trump’s Victory, but Little Else” by Jonathan Martin and Michael Wines for The New York Times

Campaign Finance

“Activists Brace for Fight Over Campaign Finance Law” by Alex Roarty for Roll Call

Arkansas: “Old Advice on State Judicial Donors Cut, Not Revised” by Lisa Hammersly for Northwest Arkansas News

Oregon: “Portland to Revive Public Campaign Financing in 2019” by Jessica Floum for Portland Oregonian

Ethics

Pennsylvania: “Former Philadelphia Congressman Chaka Fattah Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

Illinois: “Ald. Willie Cochran Indicted on Thefts from Ward Charity” by Jason Meisner, Jeremy Gorner, and Hal Dardick for Chicago Tribune

Indiana: “Former Lawmaker Lands Job with Vaping Group That Benefited from His Vote” by Tony Cook for Indianapolis Star

Kentucky: “Tim Longmeyer Pleads Guilty to State Felony” by Tom Loftus for Louisville Courier-Journal

New York: “Reform Group Sues Over New Disclosure Law” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Ethics Commissioner Resigns in Disgust” by Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Elections

“Electoral College Settles Donald Trump’s Victory, but Little Else” by Jonathan Martin and Michael Wines for New York Times

“All This Talk of Voter Fraud? Across U.S., Officials Found Next to None” by Michael Wines for New York Times

Lobbying

“Longtime Business Lobbyist Laments Loss of ‘Smoke-Filled Rooms’ in Washington” by Carl Hulse for New York Times

Campaign Finance

Alaska: “New Alaska House leaders embrace loophole to raise campaign cash from lobbyists” by Nathaniel Herz for Alaska Dipatch News

Arizona: “Arizona Supreme Court to review Tom Horne’s campaign-finance case” by Bob Christie (Associated Press) for Arizona Republic

Massachusetts: “Campaign finance among bills passed” by Bob Katzen for Sentinel & Enterprise

New York: “De Blasio Is Fined $48,000 for Campaign Finance Violations” by J. David Goodman for New York Times

Ethics

“Trump’s billionaire-loaded cabinet will face a government ethics test after confirmation” by Kevin Hall for The Charlotte Observer

Illinois: “Lawmakers push package of ethics reform bills intended to mesh with Greitens’ goals” by Will Schmitt for Springfield News-Leader

South Carolina: “Companies say they weren’t trying to buy SC legislator’s influence” by Avery Wilks for SCNow

Elections

“North Carolina Governor Signs Bill Limiting His Successor’s Power” by Craig Jarvis for Governing