On August 18, an ordinance revising the lobbying law for the city of Austin, Texas, met with preliminary approval from the City Council. The new proposed law repeals and replaces Chapter 4-8 of the city’s code relating to the regulation of lobbyists.

The draft ordinance was approved on a first reading only and will require at least two more approvals from the City Council to become law. The City Council is next meeting again on September 1, but the proposed ordinance is not yet on the council’s agenda for that date. The ordinance may be addressed later in the year following the adoption of the city budget in mid-September, according to the Austin Monitor.

If passed as currently drafted, the new ordinance would take effect on January 1, 2017.

Photo of the Austin, Texas skyline by Argash on Wikimedia Commons.

Saskatchewan’s Lobbyist Act is officially effective today. Under the Act, people who are paid to lobby elected Saskatchewan government members and civil servants must register their activities.

Lobbyists have 30 days to register with the new online database which launched today at https://www.sasklobbyistregistry.ca.

Lobbying

“Signs Suggest Hillary Clinton May Be More Open to Lobbyists in Her Administration” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post

“The Lobbying Law at the Center of Manafort’s Trouble with Ukraine” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Missouri: “Republican Resigns from Missouri House to Avoid Waiting Period to Lobby” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Campaign Finance

“FEC to Fight Fake Candidates Like ‘Deez Nuts’” by Mark Hensch for The Hill

California: “Little-Regulated Accounts Offer a Path to Political Clout in Sacramento” by Jessica Calefati and Kaitlyn Landgraf (Bay Area News Group) for Marin Independent Journal

Massachusetts: “Donors Behind Charter Push Keep to the Shadows” by Michael Levenson for Boston Globe

New York: “For 2017 Effect, Time Running Out for Campaign Finance Bills in Limbo” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Ethics

“Foundation Ties Bedevil Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Campaign” by Amy Chozick and Steve Eder for New York Times

“Power Opens Door to Sexual Harassment” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Elections

“Trump’s Empire: A maze of debts and opaque ties” by Susanne Craig for New York Times

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) is investigating a series of donations to Manhattan nonprofit Pledge 2 Protect.

Under current law, groups engaged in lobbying activities exceeding $50,000 annually must disclose donors of $5,000 or more. The investigation arose from a series of donations nearing $700,000 from unknown sources to a newly founded law firm, Marquart & Small. These donations were ultimately given to Pledge 2 Protect, with only Marquart & Small disclosed as Pledge 2 Protect’s donor.

Depending on the outcome of the case, Marquart & Small may be required to name their undisclosed third-party donors, and similarly situated groups would have to do the same moving forward.

Campaign Finance

“How One Family’s Deep Pockets Helped Reshape Donald Trump’s Campaign” by Nicholas Confessore for New York Times

“Rep. Ami Bera’s Father Sentenced to Prison for Funneling Money to His Son’s Campaigns” by John Myers and Sophia Bollag for Los Angeles Times

Florida: “South Florida Politicians Repeatedly Fined for Failing to Disclose Donors on Time” by Alex Daugherty for Miami Herald

Maryland: “Grass Roots Group Eyes Launch of ‘Citizen-Funded’ Campaign System” by Fatimah Waseem for Baltimore Sun

New Jersey: “ELEC Unable to Meet Because of Vacancies” by Briana Vannozzi for NJTV News

Ethics

“No Record That Clinton, Aides Took Required Ethics Training” by Anita Kumar for McClatchy DC

“Ex-Officials Use Court Ruling to Attack Bribery Convictions” by Maryclaire Dale (Associated Press) for Washington Times

Florida: “County Estimate to Search for Nine Days of Correspondence: $22,000” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald

Idaho: “Idaho lawmakers Guthrie, Perry Face Investigation Over Alleged Affair” by Kimberlee Kruesi (Associated Press) for Idaho Statesman

New Jersey: “Judge in Newark Blasts U.S. Attorney for Seeking Light Sentences in Corruption Cases” by Salvador Rizzo for Bergen Record

Elections

“Clinton Foundation to Restrict Foreign, Corporate Donations If Hillary Clinton Wins” by Abby Phillip and Rosalind Helderman for Washington Post

“Trump Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort Resigns” by Robert Costa, Dan Balz, and Jose DelReal for Washington Post

Here is our latest edition of the News You Can Use Video Digest. Have a great weekend!

NYCU Video Digest was produced by 2016 interns Brittany Anderson and Clémence Besnard for State and Federal Communications.

National:

Will Donald Trump Hand State Capitols to Democrats?
The Atlantic – Russell Berman | Published: 8/12/2016

With Donald Trump’s falling poll numbers, some Democrats see an opportunity to not only put Hillary Clinton in the White House, but wrest control of the U.S. Senate and shrink the party’s gap in the House, if not flip it entirely. There could also be a Trump effect that could shape the political landscape further into the future: the elections for control of state Legislatures. With more states in play, Democrats are now aiming to flip at least 10 and as many as 13 legislative chambers. The stakes for control of state governments are all the higher because unlike Congress, Legislatures outside Washington, D.C. have been hotbeds of activity rather than gridlock.

Federal:

Obama Facing Pressure to Rip Up His Lobbyist Rules
Politico – Sarah Wheaton | Published: 8/12/2016

Some are calling on President Obama to revoke the executive order that restricts lobbyists from serving in the White House. “There are political optics reasons why there’s a lot of attractiveness to make the ethics bars really strict, but in governing, you’ve got to be careful that you’re not losing on actual talent,” said Max Stier, the head of a nonprofit that is working to facilitate an orderly transition of power after the election. But ending the order could be seen as an acknowledgment Obama failed to uphold one of the major pledges of his 2008 campaign, or the change he brought was not enduring. The debate also reveals a broader disagreement among watchdogs about how effective his administration has been at filling the government with knowledgeable public servants who deserve the voters’ trust.

The Psychiatric Question: Is it fair to analyze Donald Trump from afar?
New York Times – Benedict Carey | Published: 8/15/2016

The American Psychiatric Association in 1973 declared it unethical for any psychiatrist to diagnose a public figure’s condition “unless he or she has conducted an examination and has been granted proper authorization for such a statement.” Now, Donald Trump’s incendiary, stream-of-consciousness pronouncements have strained that rule to the breaking point, exposing divisions in the field over whether such restraint is appropriate today. Supporters of the guideline have cited three main rationales for adhering to it: most diagnoses made from a distance turn out to be wrong; the labels themselves can cause real harm to the person and family members; and the practice undermines the field’s credibility. But the psychoanalyzing of public figures by commentators, columnists, and pop psychologists has a bipartisan history.

Trump Chair Routed Ukrainian Money to D.C. Lobbyists
Politico; Associated Press –   | Published: 8/17/2016

Donald Trump’s campaign chairperson, Paul Manafort, helped a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine secretly funnel more than $2 million to two lobbying organizations in Washington, D.C., the Associated Press reported. Citing unidentified sources with knowledge of the effort, the AP reported the payments were concealed in order to mask the party’s efforts to influence U.S. lawmakers. Lobbyists in the U.S. are required by law to register as foreign agents if they receive funding from other nations’ leaders. The New York Times has reported that Manafort’s name was found in a secret ledger in Ukraine, which listed more than $12 million in cash payments to the political operative, which he has since denied receiving.

Trump Shakes Up Campaign, Demotes Top Adviser
Washington Post – Robert Costa and Jose DelReal | Published: 8/17/2016

Donald Trump has shaken up his presidential campaign for the second time in two months, hiring a top executive from the conservative website Breitbart News and promoting a senior adviser in an effort to right his faltering campaign. Paul Manafort, the campaign chairperson, will retain his title. But the staffing change was seen by some as a demotion for Manafort. People briefed on the move said it reflected Trump’s realization that his campaign was at a crisis point. But it indicates that Trump, who has chafed at making the types of changes his current aides have asked for, even though he had acknowledged they would need to occur, has decided to embrace his aggressive style for the duration of the race.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama – Ethics Commission Schedules Special Meeting to Address Backlog
AL.com – Mike Cason | Published: 8/15/2016

Alabama Ethics Commission Executive Director Tom Albritton said the agency has a backlog of requests for advisory opinions and will hold a special meeting on September 1 to address them. Albritton said the meeting was not specifically about requests related to former House Speaker Mike Hubbard’s trial. But he said the commission received a large number of opinion requests in July. Hubbard was convicted of 12 felony ethics violations in June. The commission normally meets every 60 days, and its next regular meeting will be in October. Albritton said he did not want those requesting opinions to have to wait until then.

District of Columbia – ‘Shadow Campaign’ Donor and Mastermind Sentenced to Three Months Behind Bars
Washington Post – Ann Marimow, Mike DeBonis, and Rachel Weiner | Published: 8/15/2016

A District of Columbia businessperson who poured millions of illegal dollars into city, state, and federal elections was sentenced to three months in jail. Jeffrey Thompson acknowledged setting up a slush fund to help Vincent Gray get elected mayor of Washington in 2010. He also gave more than $600,000 in illegal funds to help Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential bid. Prosecutors had asked for six months of home confinement, in part because of Thompson’s cooperation in the case. But U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said home confinement was “not sufficient” punishment. The judge also ordered Thompson serve 36 months’ probation and pay a $10,000 fine.

Missouri – Faith Leaders Go on Trial for Protesting Missouri Senate for Medicaid Expansion
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Celeste Bott | Published: 8/15/2016

Prosecutors are moving forward with a case against 23 clergy members arrested after participating in a Missouri Senate protest. Authorities charged the clergy with obstructing government operations and first-degree trespassing after they and a few hundred others in 2014 protested lawmakers’ refusal to accept federal dollars to expand the state’s Medicaid program. Protesters filled the Senate’s public galleries, and chanted and sang before police arrested the clergy members. Typically, charges for these kind of political demonstrations are dropped or not pursued by prosecutors, making this trial unusual.

New Jersey – ELEC Unable to Meet Because of Vacancies
NJTV News – Briana Vannozzi | Published: 8/17/2016

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) has been unable to meet for the past five months. Three out of the four seats are vacant, and because ELEC needs at least two members to hold a quorum, the sole member has been left waiting on the sidelines. It is up to the governor’s office, with the advice and consent of the state Senate, to make the appointments. Historically speaking, the makeup of the commission has been non-partisan with two Democrats and two Republicans. But with political gridlock in Trenton becoming the new norm, the process has stalled.

New York – For Cuomo, Passing Ethics Bill Was Urgent, Signing It Was Not
Gotham Gazette – David Howard King | Published: 8/12/2016

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has yet to request the Legislature send him an ethics reform package he personally designed and pushed lawmakers to pass. Announced by Cuomo late in the legislative session, the actual bill was then a mystery for days before being introduced in the wee hours of the morning on the final day of the session. Thanks to the governor’s message, legislators were able to pass it within hours despite mostly not being familiar with the bill. While the governor has not even called the bill to his desk, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics approved a series of emergency regulations prompted by the bill that will go into effect 30 days after Cuomo does sign it.

Pennsylvania – Gifts to Seth Williams Create Conflicts
Philadelphia Inquirer – Tricia Nadolny, Aubrey Whelan, and Chris Brennan | Published: 8/18/2016

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams amended his annual financial disclosure reports to include $160,050 in gifts from 2010 to 2015 that he had failed to list. Among them are four family vacations at the Key West beach house of Philadelphia lawyer Richard Hoy. During the same period, Hoy represented scores of defendants facing charges brought by Williams’ office. Observers see it as one of several red flags scattered among the newly disclosed gifts. Williams received $800 in cash for Christmas from members of his security detail; $6,000 in tickets, trips, and gift cards from a defense attorney who later was elected judge with Williams’ backing; and sideline passes from the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that has seen former and current players investigated by Williams’ office.

Pennsylvania – Jury: A.G. Kane guilty of perjury, obstruction, all other charges
Philadelphia Inquirer – Craig McCoy, Angela Couloumbis, and Laura McCrystal | Published: 8/15/2016

A jury found Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane guilty on perjury and obstruction charges, leaving the state’s top prosecutor facing a potential prison term for what was called a case of political retribution at her trial. One day after the verdict, Kane announced her resignation. Prosecutors painted a picture of Kane trying to “go on the offensive” after a newspaper article criticized her for shutting down an undercover investigation into possible corruption by state representatives. Prosecutors say she believed former Chief Deputy Attorney General Frank Fina was behind the story. Kane was accused of leaking secret grand jury documents to the news media in an effort to discredit Fina, and then lying to cover it up.

South Dakota – Charles Koch’s Network Launches New Fight to Keep Donors Secret
USA Today – Fredreka Schouten | Published: 8/16/2016

Americans for Prosperity, the largest activist group in the policy and political empire founded by Charles and David Koch, launched a coalition this year to fight South Dakota’s Initiated Measure 22, which calls for public disclosure of donors who fund advocacy efforts, the creation of a state ethics commission, and public financing of campaigns. It also limits lobbyists’ gifts to elected officials and lowers the amount of campaign contributions to candidates, parties, and political action committees. The South Dakota campaign marks the latest in a string of battles the Koch network has waged around the country to block efforts to disclose contributors’ identities.

Texas – Pool Offers Changes to Lobby Ordinance
Austin Monitor – Jo Clifton | Published: 8/17/2016

City Councilperson Leslie Pool revised her legislation that would reform Austin’s lobbying ordinance after her initial proposal met with resistance. The new ordinance requires registration only for lobbyists who earn at least $2,000 in compensation during a quarter and work at least 26 hours on lobbying during that quarter. The current ordinance requires a person to register if he or she earns just $200 a quarter, with no hourly requirements. The revised measure also would eliminate the term “incidental lobbying,” a phrase included in current city regulations. If the ordinance passes as Pool is proposing, lobbyists will also have to report their compensation within ranges, which is not required under current law. Pool is also seeking to do away with Austin’s antiquated reporting system.

Washington – Can State Lawmakers Use GoFundMe to Attend National Conventions – and Not Report Donors?
Tacoma News Tribune – Melissa Santos | Published: 8/16/2016

A few Washington lawmakers were chosen to attend the Democratic National Convention as delegates, and some solicited donations online to help cover their cost of attendance. Legislative attorneys issued informal advice that such donations do not violate state ethics rules and do not need to be reported. But members of the Legislative Ethics Board questioned that reasoning during a recent meeting, wondering whether contributions made through crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe provide a covert way for lobbyists to influence state lawmakers while evading normal reporting requirements. The board asked for a report on whether lawmakers must disclose who helps them attend national conventions.

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

“Trump Chair Routed Ukrainian Money to D.C. Lobbyists” by The Associated Press for Politico

Texas: “Pool Offers Changes to Lobby Ordinance” by Jo Clifton for Austin Monitor

Campaign Finance

“Pro-Trump Super PAC Hire Tests Federal Election Rules” by Andrew Perez for MapLight

South Dakota: “Charles Koch’s Network Launches New Fight to Keep Donors Secret” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

Tennessee: “Durham Campaign Investigation Hints at ‘Serious Violations’” by Joel Ebert and Dave Boucher for The Tennessean

Elections
“Early Voting Limits Donald Trump’s Time to Turn Campaign Around” by Patrick Healy for New York Times

“Trump Shakes Up Campaign, Demotes Top Adviser” by Robert Costa and Jose DelReal for Washington Post

Ethics

Washington: “Can State Lawmakers Use GoFundMe to Attend National Conventions – and Not Report Donors?” by Melissa Santos  for Tacoma News Tribune

Pennsylvania: “Nutter Calls Controller ‘a Snake’ After Report Alleging ‘Slush Fund’” by Claudia Vargas for Philadelphia Inquirer

City Councilman Felipe Fuentes will resign on September 11, nearly 10 months before his term ends, to become a lobbyist with the Apex Group in Sacramento.

In his new role, Fuentes will advocate for Associated General Contractors of California, a statewide trade association.

The council could call for a special election to fill his seat, but the 2017 city election schedule makes the scenario unlikely. The municipal election is already scheduled for March; if no candidate receives a majority in the March election, a May runoff will be held.

The primary focus of the current special session is to pass a constitutional amendment allowing a statewide lottery (Senate Bill 11).

If the constitutional amendment passes, members of the Alabama Lottery Commission would be subject to the Ethics Law. Legislators are using the special session to introduce several ethics bills.

If all of the bills pass, any individual convicted of a felony would be prohibited from registering as a lobbyist (House Bill 32), any legislator indicted on a felony would be automatically suspended from any leadership position (House Bill 11), and public school employees would be allowed to accept gifts from students (House Bill 10).

Lobbying

Florida: “After #StartCounting Didn’t Work, Miami-Dade Group Sues Elections Dept.” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald

Campaign Finance

Washington: “Judge Gives Attorney General Green Light to Follow Tim Eyman’s Money” by Joel Connelly for Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Ethics

Kentucky: “Correction: Feuding Governors Story” by Adam Beam (Associated Press) for Lexington Herald-Leader

Missouri: “Faith Leaders Go on Trial for Protesting Missouri Senate for Medicaid Expansion” by Celeste Bott for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Pennsylvania: “Jury: A.G. Kane Guilty of Perjury, Obstruction, All Other Charges” by Craig McCoy, Angela Couloumbis, and Laura McCrystal for Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia: “D.A. Williams Belatedly Reports $160,050 in Gifts” by Chris Brennan for Philadelphia Inquirer

Elections

“The Psychiatric Question: Is It Fair to Analyze Donald Trump from Afar?” by Benedict Carey for New York Times

“Transcribers’ Agony: Frustrated Not by What Trump Says but How He Says It” by Daniel Libit for CNBC

Lobbying

“Obama Facing Pressure to Rip Up His Lobbyist Rules” by Sarah Wheaton for Politico

Campaign Finance

District of Columbia: “‘Shadow Campaign’ Donor and Mastermind Sentenced to Three Months Behind Bars” by Ann Marimow, Mike DeBonis, and Rachel Weiner for Washington Post

Montana: “Groups Change Ad Strategies before Campaign Finance Deadline” by Matt Volz (Associated Press) for McClatchyDC

New Mexico: “Legal Loophole Allows Last-Minute Money in Bernco Race to Remain Hidden” by Trip Jennings for New Mexico In Depth

Texas: “Texas Ethics Commission Chases ‘Campaign in a Box’ Spending” by Ross Ramsey for Texas Tribune

Ethics

“Secret Ledger in Ukraine Lists Cash for Donald Trump’s Campaign Chief” by Andrew Kramer, Mike McIntire, and Barry Meier for New York Times

Alabama: “Ethics Commission Schedules Special Meeting to Address Backlog” by Mike Cason for AL.com

Massachusetts: “City Employees Undergo Ethics Refresher Course” by Meghan Irons for Boston Globe

Elections

“Will Donald Trump Hand State Capitols to Democrats?” by Russell Berman for The Atlantic

“Inside the Failing Mission to Tame Trump’s Tongue” by Alexander Burns and Maggie Haberman for New York Times

Lobbying

“Thought the U.S. Was Divided Already? Just Watch as Elections Go Digital.” by Stephen Ansolabehere for Washington Post

California: “Lawmakers Weaken Bill to Ban Behind-the-Scenes Communications at Coastal Commission” by Dan Weikel for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

Alaska: “Anchorage Rep. LeDoux’s New Fundraising Effort Targets Lobbyists, Bar Owners” by Nathaniel Herz for Alaska Dispatch News

New Jersey: “Voters to Decide on Belmar Pay-to-Play” by Paul Williams for Asbury Park Press

New Mexico: “New Mexico Election Officials Fix Campaign Spending Glitch” by Associated Press for KOB 

Ethics

“Criticize Politicians on Twitter? They Might Block You” by Colin Campbell for Raleigh News & Observer

New York: “For Cuomo, Passing Ethics Bill Was Urgent, Signing It Was Not” by David Howard King for Gotham Gazette

Elections

“One Ally Remains Firmly Behind Donald Trump: The N.R.A.” by Nick Corasaniti and Alexander Burns for New York Times

“Hack of Democrats’ Accounts Was Wider Than Believed, Officials Say” by Eric Lichtblau and Eric Schmitt for New York Times

“Is Trump Wrecking Both Parties?” by Thomas Edsall for New York Times

Redistricting

North Carolina: “Federal Judges Find NC Legislative Districts Unconstitutional” by Lynn Bonner for Raleigh News & Observer

On August 11, the U.S. House clerk’s office erroneously sent out a group of emails to lobbyists informing them their contribution reports were late, according to the National Law Review. However, many of the registrants receiving the emails had timely filed their 2016 Mid-Year LD-203 contribution reports, which were due August 1. The Review reports it is unclear how many late notices were sent in error. The House clerk’s office is aware of the error.