National/Federal

Paramount Board Clears Possible Path for Settling Trump’s ’60 Minutes’ Lawsuit

DNyuz – Benjamin Mullin, Lauren Hirsch, and Michael Grynbaum (New York Times) | Published: 4/29/2025

Lawyers for President Trump and Paramount, the parent of CBS News, are set to begin mediation over a lawsuit brought by Trump that accuses “60 Minutes” of deceptively editing an interview with his 2024 Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris. Paramount’s interest in settling has dismayed CBS’s news division, in particular the “60 Minutes” staff. Legal experts have called the suit baseless and an easy victory for CBS. But Paramount is entering the talks prepared to make a deal.

Secret Deals, Foreign Investments, Presidential Policy Changes: The rise of Trump’s crypto firm

DNyuz – Eric Lipton, David Yaffee-Bellany, and Ben Protess (New York Times) | Published: 4/29/2025

Donald Trump’s return to the White House has opened lucrative new pathways for him to cash in on his power, whether through his social media company or new overseas real estate deals. But none of the Trump family’s other business endeavors pose conflicts-of-interest that compare to those that have emerged since the birth of World Liberty Financial, the cryptocurrency firm started by Trump and his sons. The president is now not only a major crypto dealer; he is also the industry’s top policy maker.

Judge Rejects Efforts to Free F.B.I. Informant Who Lied About Hunter Biden

DNyuz – Devlin Barrett (New York Times) | Published: 4/30/2025

A federal judge rejected a bid by the Justice Department to free a former FBI informant who had pleaded guilty to lying about Hunter Biden and evading his taxes, saying that nothing about the facts of the case had changed and the man might still flee if released. The longtime informant, Alexander Smirnov admitted he lied when he claimed to have information about a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

Civil Rights Lawyers Leave En Masse as Justice Dept. Mission Shifts

MSN – Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 4/28/2025

Harmeet Dhillon, the new head of the Justice Department’s civil rights division, is reshaping the office to propel President Trump’s social agenda, prompting the departure of about half of the division’s lawyers. Dhillon redirected her staff to focus on combating antisemitism, the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, and what Trump and his allies have described as anti-Christian bias and the Democrats’ “woke ideology.” The division changed mission statements across its sections to focus less on racial discrimination and more on fighting diversity initiatives.

Drugmakers Have Spent Millions Targeting ‘Middlemen’ – and It’s Paying Off

MSN – Josh Dawsey, Kristina Peterson, and Maggie Severns (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 4/30/2025

Donald Trump’s second term has upended the business of K Street, with many industries feeling left in the cold. An exception is the drug industry’s campaign against so-called middlemen, or pharmacy-benefit managers, which manage prescription-drug benefits for health insurers. Drugmakers spent a record $31 million to lobby in Washington last year, and about $13 million in the first quarter of 2025. Millions more went to donations to political groups and ads, many of which blamed benefit managers for the high price of drugs.

Federal Campaign Finance Agency Won’t Have Enough Members to Enforce the Law

MSN – Jessica Piper (Politico) | Published: 4/30/2025

The FEC is again without enough members to take official action after a Republican commissioner announced his departure. Allen Dickerson is the second commissioner to willingly leave the agency this year, following Sean Cooksey’s resignation in January. The agency is paralyzed without a quorum and cannot vote on things like the outcomes of investigations, citing committees for campaign finance violations, and issuing advisory opinions.

Fox’s False Claims About 2020 Race Were an Audience Strategy, Smartmatic Says

MSN – Sarah Ellison and Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 4/30/2025

Smartmatic accused Fox News in a court filing of embracing false claims that the voting technology company had helped steal the 2020 election for Joe Biden only after the network endured an audience backlash for calling the race in Arizona for Biden. Smartmatic, which makes voting machines and election management systems, has been engaged in a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News and its parent company since 2021.

Trump Company Strikes Qatari Golf Resort Deal in a Sign It’s Not Holding Back from Foreign Business

MSN – Bernard Condon (Associated Press) | Published: 4/30/2025

The Trump family company struck a deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar in a sign it has no plans to hold back from foreign dealmaking during a second Trump administration, despite the danger of a president shaping U.S. public policy for personal financial gain. The project is the first foreign deal by the Trump Organization since Donald Trump took office and unlike any done in his first ter

Trump and GOP Ramp Up Investigations on Democrats’ Top Fundraising Platform

MSN – Maeve Reston and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 4/24/2025

President Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate fundraising platforms such as ActBlue, the central fundraising apparatus of the Democratic Party, escalating his effort to use his powers to target his political opponents and, in this case, the core machinery of the opposition party. Trump campaigned extensively on a promise to exact revenge on his political adversaries and frequently made unsubstantiated claims about corrupt Democratic fundraising practices.

Judge Blocks Part of Trump’s Order Requiring Citizenship Proof to Vote

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 4/24/2025

A federal judge temporarily blocked election officials from implementing parts of President Trump’s executive order to require people to prove they are citizens when they fill out federal voter registration forms. The sweeping order sought to overhaul how the 2026 midterm elections are run, even though the Constitution says voting policies are to be set by the states and Congress. Democrats and voting rights groups quickly sued, leading to the preliminary injunction.

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

MSN – Philip Marcello (Associated Press) | Published: 4/25/2025

Disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos was sentenced to over seven years in prison, sobbing as he learned his punishment for the crimes that led to his expulsion from Congress. Santos served in Congress barely a year before becoming just the sixth member of the House to be ousted by colleagues. He admitted to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of nearly a dozen people to fund his campaign. His plea deal included agreeing to pay roughly $580,000 in penalties.

Reporters’ Phone Records Could Again Be Searched, Justice Dept. Says

MSN – Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 4/25/2025

The Justice Department rescinded a Biden-era policy that prevented officials from searching reporters’ phone records when trying to identify government personnel who have leaked sensitive information to news organizations. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an internal memo that the media should not be afforded such protections, noting leaks of government information during the Trump administration.

Elon Musk’s Conflicts of Interest: $2.37 billion in potential federal penalties, report says

MSN – Laurence Darmiento (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 4/28/2025

Elon Musk and his companies faced at least $2.37 billion in potential federal fines and penalties the day President Trump took office, according to a congressional report that highlights the possible conflicts-of-interest posed by the billionaire’s cost-cutting work in government. The memo by the minority staff of the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations is the most exhaustive attempt yet to detail Musk’s alleged conflicts as an advisor to Trump and chief promoter of his team called the Department of Government Efficiency.

The MAGA Lobbyists Upending Washington with McDonald’s and Bear Hunting

MSN – Kristina Peterson and Maggie Severns (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 4/28/2025

Many high-profile lobbyists steered clear of Donald Trump in the days after the Capitol riot and skipped fundraising for him during the 2024 election. Now, as the Trump administration seeks to upend industries across America with tariffs and legal threats, it is also upending the business of lobbying, by rewarding loyalty and making K Street the latest battleground for Trump’s war on elites. The shift is reshaping the pecking order in Washington’s influence industry.

Grants Tie Trump’s Anti-DEI Order to Election Security Money

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 4/29/2025

Federal election officials are suggesting states must pledge to follow President Trump’s directive curbing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs as a condition for receiving $15 million in election security funding. The new requirement has sent Democratic secretaries of state around the nation scrambling to assess the financial, legal, and operational implications of accepting the money. The dispute is complicated by the vagueness of the revised grant agreement, which some state officials fear could be turned against them.

From the States and Municipalities

Europe – European Commission Bans Lobbyists Vouching for Huawei Amid Corruption Probe

MSN – Edith Hancock (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 4/24/2025

The European Commission banned officials from meeting with lobbyists acting on behalf of Huawei Technologies after a bribery scandal rocked Brussels this year. It was reported that prosecutors suspected Huawei representatives of lobbying European Parliament members with payments, food, and travel gifts, and invitations to watch soccer matches to promote the company’s interests in the region.

Canada – In Stunning Comeback, Carney’s Liberals Win Canada’s Federal Election

MSN – Amanda Coletta (Washington Post) | Published: 4/28/2025

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals were set to win a federal election in an extraordinary comeback that was fueled in part by President Trump’s tariff policies and attacks on Canada. Just months ago, Carney’s party was headed for a potentially historic defeat. Amid the U.S. president’s trade war and threats to annex its northern neighbor, voters flocked to Carney, a political novice who led the Bank of Canada during the global financial crisis. He pitched himself as a steady hand at a destabilizing time.

Alaska – With Lawmakers’ Help, Alaska Political Donation Limits Could Come Before 2026 Election

Alaska Beacon – James Brooks | Published: 4/29/2025

Four years after a federal appeals court eliminated Alaska’s limits on campaign contributions, lawmakers took a step toward reimposing them. The House approved legislation which mirrors the language of a ballot measure slated to go before voters in 2026. Alaskans are expected to approve the upcoming measure by a wide margin, but that approval would bring new limits into effect for the 2028 elections at the earliest. If the Legislature approves a substantially similar bill, it would allow limits for the 2026 election and remove the upcoming initiative from the ballot.

Arizona – Kari Lake’s Campaign Debt Is Unlike Most Former Senate Candidates. Here’s What to Know

Arizona Republic – Ronald Hansen | Published: 4/27/2025

Kari Lake’s $1 million campaign debt to others easily exceeds that of other former U.S. Senate candidates who do not hold elected office and raises concerns about how she can repay her creditors while working for the Trump administration. Records show the Arizona Republican is one of 23 Senate candidates whose campaigns have debts totaling at least seven figures, but in most cases that is for loans the politicians owe themselves. That is not the case for Lake, who did not loan her campaign any of her own money.

Arizona – Trump Wants Voters to Prove Citizenship. Arizona Tried That and Bungled It.

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 5/1/2025

Donald Trump and Republicans want to require voters to prove their citizenship as they claimed without proof that large numbers of noncitizens were illegally casting ballots. It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and glitches with Arizona’s registration system illustrate the risks of enacting policies that may keep eligible voters from participating in the democratic process.

Florida – Tina Descovich Must Leave Ethics Commission After Senate Again Fails to Take Up Nomination

Florida Politics – Jacob Ogles | Published: 4/25/2026

The Florida Senate is again declining to take up two of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s state ethics commission appointees, including Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich. That means neither can be reappointed and must leave their posts at the end of legislative session. Descovich had been unanimously elected as Vice Chair of the Ethics Commission. But her involvement in the politically active Moms for Liberty has made her a subject of public controversy.

Hawaii – Hawai’i Lawmakers Kill Pay-to-Play Bill – Again

Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 4/25/2025

The Legislature refused to close a loophole in state law that has allowed millions of dollars to flow to Hawaii campaigns from people who get big state contracts. House Bill 371 would have prohibited donations from the executives of state and county contractors and grantees as well as their immediate family members. The bill had cruised through the session, winning a unanimous vote in both chambers. But legislative leaders injected last-minute amendments that sought to weaken the measure.

Illinois – Jury Deadlocks, Mistrial Declared in Federal Bribery Case of Sen. Emil Jones III

NPR Illinois – Hannah Meisel (Capitol News Illinois) | Published: 4/25/2025

A judge declared a mistrial in the case of Illinois Sen. Emil Jones III after a jury deadlocked over whether Jones agreed to take bribes from red-light camera entrepreneur-turned-government cooperator Omar Maani then lied to the FBI. The federal government’s wide-ranging public corruption probe first made public in 2018 has mostly resulted in elected officials either resigning or pleading guilty after being hit with charges. It is also the third high-profile public corruption trial in seven months in Illinois to end in a hung jury.

Indiana – Former Indiana Congressional Candidate Gets Prison Sentence in Campaign Finance Fraud Case

Yahoo News – Casey Smith (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 4/29/2025

Former Indiana congressional candidate Gabriel Whitley was sentenced to three months in federal prison Tuesday after he falsified campaign finance records and lied about raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions ahead of the May 2024 primary. “We need to have confidence in the process and the integrity of the system, even if the political candidate doesn’t have that same integrity,” said U.S. District Court Judge James Sweeney.

Kentucky – Former Kentucky Secretary of State Wins Ethics Case

Yahoo News – Jack Brammer (Kentucky Lantern) | Published: 4/29/2025

After years of legal wrangling, former Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is free of any state ethics violation charges. The Executive Branch Ethics Commission, which brought charges against her in 2021, has decided not to appeal a decision by the Court of Appeals that cleared Grimes of any wrongdoing. The end of the legal case could open the door for a possible run for another political office.

Michigan – Hall Calls for Oversight Committee Investigation into Michigan’s New Campaign Finance Portal

Yahoo News – Kyke Davidson (Michigan Advance) | Published: 4/30/2025

As the Michigan Department of State works to transition its campaign finance data into another system, Speaker Matt Hall is slamming the new platform, prompting the House Oversight Committee to look into how the funding for the system was being spent. The department launched its new personal financial disclosure system on March 14, 2025, and has faced criticism since its launch from reporters, campaigns, and transparency advocates.

Minnesota – Ethics Panel: MN Senate President must disclose possible future conflicts

Yahoo News – Alex Derosier (Pioneer Press) | Published: 4/24/2025

The Senate Subcommittee on Ethics advised Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion to disclose potential conflicts-of-interest in future bills he sponsors. Though in that same motion, the panel made no finding on whether Champion had a conflict when he carried a 2023 bill that gave state money to a nonprofit whose founder he had done free legal work for in the past.

Nevada – Wife of Top Clark County Official on Team of Lucrative Government Project

MSN – Mary Hynes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 5/1/2025

The wife of a key Clark County public works official is part of a team that received a multi-million-dollar contract from the department, fueling concerns about a potential conflict-of-interest in the bidding process and a failure of transparency in the use of public funds. The county awarded a $10 million construction management contract to Diversified Consulting Services, which teamed up on its proposal with Rock Solid Project Solutions. Rock Solid is owned by Raquel Floyd, the wife of Jimmy Floyd, who heads the county’s construction management division and managed the bidding process.

New York – Cuomo Won’t Release Consulting Clients from His Time Out of Public Eye

MSN – Joe Anuta (Politico) | Published: 4/28/2025

New York City mayoral front-runner Andrew Cuomo is pledging to recuse himself, if elected, from potential conflicts-of-interest stemming from his recent legal consulting business. Yet he refuses to disclose his clients, making his guarantee impossible to verify. As the former governor seeks to take over a City Hall beset by corruption scandals, he is effectively setting up an honor system on his promise to avoid conflicts that could arise if his clients at Innovation Strategies have business before the administration.

New York – Andrew Cuomo Is Whispering to His Super PAC

MSN – Jeff Coltin (Politico) | Published: 4/28/2025

New York City mayoral campaigns are not allowed to strategize with super PACs that support their candidates, but Andrew Cuomo has found a way around that. With significantly less cash on hand than he had hoped due to a paperwork error, the Democratic frontrunner is relying on a legal practice known as redboxing to communicate his preferred messaging to anyone reading the fine print at the bottom of his website. If the reader happens to work for a super PAC backing Cuomo, that messaging could find its way into the ads the group is airing on his behalf.

New York – For a Yonkers Political Dynasty, a Succession of Blurred Lines

New York Focus – Chris Bragg | Published: 4/30/2025

Nick Spano faced potential ruin when he was sentenced to prison in 2012 as clients fled his Albany-based lobbying firm. But his younger brother, Mike, had just been elected mayor of New York’s third-largest city. In the years since, Nick Spano’s lobbying firm has been resurrected. His client list has swelled with nearly two dozen companies and interest groups that have business before his brother’s administration.

New York – NYC Mayor Adams’ Indictment, Despite Dismissal, Still Grounds for Denying Him $4M in Matching Funds: Records

Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 4/30/2025

Mayor Eric Adams’ federal corruption indictment is dead, but New York City’s Campaign Finance Board is not forgetting about it. The board will continue to deny Adams’ reelection campaign $4 million in public matching funds due to his indictment, as it still has “reason to believe” he and his team broke “various” federal and local laws despite the controversial dismissal of his case, according to communications obtained by the New York Daily News.

North Carolina – North Carolina Judges Block GOP Law to Strip Governor’s Election Board Powers

MSN – Gary Robertson and Makiya Seminera (Associated Press) | Published: 4/24/2025

North Carolina trial judges threw out another Republican attempt to strip the governor of his authority to appoint State Board of Elections members, declaring a law shifting the task to the state auditor is unconstitutional. The governor picks the five board members, three of whom are traditionally members of the governor’s party. Appointments are made from candidates provided by the two major parties. The latest law would have given the responsibility to new GOP Auditor Dave Boliek, with the expectation that Republicans would assume a majority on the board.

Ohio – Judge Grants Immunity to Ex-FirstEnergy Officials, Clearing Path to Testimony on Bribes

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 4/24/2025

A judge gave legal immunity to four former FirstEnergy officials, all ousted amid criminal investigations into the company’s two bribery schemes of state officials, clearing the way for them to testify to state regulators. The three lobbyists – Joel Bailey, Justin Biltz, and Ty Pine – plus ex-senior vice president Dennis Chack, all previously invoked their constitutional rights against self-incrimination and refused to testify to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio about their own and others’ involvement in the passage of House Bill 6.

Oregon – Two Former OLCC Employees Settle Ethics Investigation in Rare Bourbon Scandal

Salem Statesman Journal – Dianne Lugo | Published: 4/25/2025

Two former Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) employees will each pay a $500 fine for their role in the 2023 rare bourbon scandal, according to final orders issued by the Government Ethics Commission. The commission voted to penalize former budget director Bill Schuette and former information services director Jon-Kai Nakashima as part of a settlement of the commission’s investigation into OLCC executives using their positions for exclusive access to rare bottles of bourbon.

Texas – Fight Over ‘Truth’ in AI Political Ads Heats Up as Texas House Passes Transparency Bill

MSN – Nolan McCaskill (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 4/30/2025

The Texas House passed a bill that would ban the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in political ads “with the intent to influence an election” unless the ad conveys that what is portrayed did not occur in reality. House Bill 366 would require the disclosure of political advertising that uses generative AI technology to alter images, audio, or video of an officeholder or candidate.

Washington – New Washington Energy Chair’s Industry Ties Raise Ethics Question

Cascade PBS – Brandon Block | Published: 4/30/2025

Kurt Beckett’s work at Strategies 360, a Seattle lobbying and public relations firm where he served as chief operating officer, has provided potential conflicts-of-interest in his new job as chairperson of Washington’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council. Some have questioned Beckett’s close ties to permit applicants and whether any safeguards prevent him from influencing his former clients’ projects behind the scenes.

Washington – Spending on Lobbying in Washington State Has Doubled in a Decade. What’s It Buying?

KUOW – Scott Greenstone | Published: 4/25/2025

There were nearly 1,000 lobbyists in Washington state last year. That is more than six for every lawmaker. In the last decade, money spent lobbying in Washington rose more steadily than other U.S. states that track lobbying money, from around $41 million in 2014 to more than $90 million last year. Colorado is the only other state that tracks lobbying spending where it steadily grew to more than double in the same time.

Wisconsin – Wisconsin Supreme Court Suspends Judge Accused of Aiding Man Avoid Immigration Authorities

MSN – Vanessa Swales and Daniel Bice (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) | Published: 4/30/2025

The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended a judge charged with two federal counts on allegations of trying to help an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest after he appeared in her courtroom. Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan is accused of trying to help Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented Mexican immigrant, avoid arrest by federal immigration officials after he appeared for a pretrial conference.

Wyoming – BLM Wyoming Director on Leave After Probe Finds Ethics Violations

WyoFile – Katie Klingsporn | Published: 4/30/2025

Wyoming’s Bureau of Land Management state director was placed on administrative leave after a federal investigation found he violated ethics regulations. The investigation found Andrew Archuleta accepted a gift of dinner and drinks, misused his assistant’s time when he asked her to make travel arrangements for his girlfriend, and drove his girlfriend to and from Buffalo in a government vehicle.

Campaign Finance

Alaska: “With Lawmakers’ Help, Alaska Political Donation Limits Could Come Before 2026 Election” by James Brooks for Alaska Beacon

National: “Federal Campaign Finance Agency Won’t Have Enough Members to Enforce the Law” by Jessica Piper (Politico) for MSN

Indiana: “Former Indiana Congressional Candidate Gets Prison Sentence in Campaign Finance Fraud Case” by Casey Smith (Indiana Capital Chronicle) for Yahoo News

New York: “NYC Mayor Adams’ Indictment, Despite Dismissal, Still Grounds for Denying Him $4M in Matching Funds: Records” by Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “Paramount Board Clears Possible Path for Settling Trump’s ’60 Minutes’ Lawsuit” by Benjamin Mullin, Lauren Hirsch, and Michael Grynbaum (New York Times) for DNyuz

Washington: “New Washington Energy Chair’s Industry Ties Raise Ethics Question” by Brandon Block for Cascade PBS

Lobbying

National: “Drugmakers Have Spent Millions Targeting ‘Middlemen’ – and It’s Paying Off” by Josh Dawsey, Kristina Peterson, and Maggie Severns (Wall Street Journal) for MSN

New York: “For a Yonkers Political Dynasty, a Succession of Blurred Lines” by Chris Bragg for New York Focus

The Portland City Auditor Office of Campaign Finance and Lobbying Regulations issued guidance for the recently updated lobbying portal. Beginning with lobbying reports covering the second quarter of 2025, communications will be reported and grouped by associated official actions of interest, rather than by date and type. Details will be combined in order to group similar lobbying communications together within one entry. Other updates involve the simplification of lobbying expenditure reporting and updates to voluntary disclosures. A reminder was issued that both time and money spent by lobbying entities on indirect lobbying count towards the city’s registration and reporting thresholds. Indirect lobbying includes efforts to influence city officials by communicating through an intermediary to promote, oppose, or advocate on official action. These updates are meant to reduce the administrative burden and simplify lobbyist activity reporting.

Campaign Finance

Hawaii: “Hawai’i Lawmakers Kill Pay-to-Play Bill – Again” by Blaze Lovell for Honolulu Civil Beat

New York: “Andrew Cuomo Is Whispering to His Super PAC” by Jeff Coltin (Politico) for MSN

Elections

National: “Grants Tie Trump’s Anti-DEI Order to Election Security Money” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Secret Deals, Foreign Investments, Presidential Policy Changes: The rise of Trump’s crypto firm” by Eric Lipton, David Yaffee-Bellany, and Ben Protess (New York Times) for DNyuz

National: “Civil Rights Lawyers Leave En Masse as Justice Dept. Mission Shifts” by Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

Kentucky: “Former Kentucky Secretary of State Wins Ethics Case” by Jack Brammer (Kentucky Lantern) for Yahoo News

Oregon: “Two Former OLCC Employees Settle Ethics Investigation in Rare Bourbon Scandal” by Dianne Lugo for Salem Statesman Journal

Lobbying

Washington: “Spending on Lobbying in Washington State Has Doubled in a Decade. What’s It Buying?” by Scott Greenstone for KUOW

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Kari Lake’s Campaign Debt Is Unlike Most Former Senate Candidates. Here’s What to Know” by Ronald Hansen for Arizona Republic

Elections

Canada: “In Stunning Comeback, Carney’s Liberals Win Canada’s Federal Election” by Amanda Coletta (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Reporters’ Phone Records Could Again Be Searched, Justice Dept. Says” by Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Elon Musk’s Conflicts of Interest: $2.37 billion in potential federal penalties, report says” by Laurence Darmiento (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

Florida: “Tina Descovich Must Leave Ethics Commission After Senate Again Fails to Take Up Nomination” by Jacob Ogles for Florida Politics

New York: “Cuomo Won’t Release Consulting Clients from His Time Out of Public Eye” by Joe Anuta (Politico) for MSN

Lobbying

Europe: “European Commission Bans Lobbyists Vouching for Huawei Amid Corruption Probe” by Edith Hancock (Wall Street Journal) for MSN

National: “The MAGA Lobbyists Upending Washington with McDonald’s and Bear Hunting” by Kristina Peterson and Maggie Severns (Wall Street Journal) for MSN

On May 27, amendments to British Columbia’s Lobbyists Transparency Act come into force. The changes included in Bill 9, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act 2024, include removing requirements that requested government funding be reported, extending the due date to report received government funding, and clarifications on other existing filing requirements for coalition lobbying.

Designated filers will no longer be required to report requested government funding but will still need to report received government funding the previous 12 months. The deadline to report received government funding has been extended. A filer now has three months plus 15 days following the month in which government funding was received to report the funding. Designated filers may continue to file received government funding information monthly if they prefer to do so.

While requirements remain the same concerning coalition lobbying reporting, there are language changes for clarification. Designated Filers will be required to report the name and business address of any other client or organization who they work with for the purpose of lobbying and who has a direct interest in the outcome of the lobbying activities. When a consultant lobbyist or an organization ceases lobbying, the designated filer will have 30 days after the month in which lobbying stops to end their registration return in the Lobbyists Registry. They must submit any outstanding information that otherwise would have been submitted in a monthly return or any outstanding information on received government funding up to the date the lobbying ceased.

National/Federal

After Harvard, Liberal Donors and Groups Fear New Scrutiny from Trump

DNyuz – Theodore Schleifer and Lisa Friedman (New York Times) | Published: 4/17/2025

The close-knit world of liberal donors and the nonprofit groups they support are worried that President Trump could go after their assets or their tax-exempt status. Trump confirmed he was potentially seeking to pull Harvard’s tax-exempt status, in an apparent act of retaliation for the university’s refusal to bow to a long list of demands. And he said there “could be” others. while some of these donors and their allied groups have cozied up to the Trump administration, more of them have worked diligently to lie low, de-emphasizing viewpoints that could attract scrutiny.

Appeals Court Panel Hears Arguments on AP’s Access to White House

MSN – Hassan Ali Kanu (Politico) | Published: 4/17/2025

A federal appeals court panel appeared skeptical at a hearing of the Trump administration’s request that it immediately lift a lower court’s order restoring the Associated Press to the White House press pool. The panel seemed wary of the administration’s arguments that they must immediately intervene in the case, saying there was not a risk of some imminent harm, especially since the Associated Press already had a longstanding, permanent slot in the small group of reporters who get access to the Oval Office and other White House spaces.

DOJ Questions Science Journal About Bias, Triggering Free Speech Concerns

MSN – Mark Johnson (Washington Post) | Published: 4/18/2025

The acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia sent a letter to the editor of a scientific journal for chest doctors, implying the journal was partisan and asking a series of questions about how the publication protects the public from misinformation, whether it included competing viewpoints, and whether it was influenced by funders. Free speech experts raised alarm over the letter. “The government has no authority under the First Amendment to regulate the editorial decisions of publications, and the letter suggests that’s what Martin intends to do,” said David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition.

The Supreme Court Could Be Poised to Hobble the Trump Resistance

MSN – Hassan Ali Kanu and Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 4/21/2025

The Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments on the extent of lower court judges’ power to block a president’s policies nationwide. If the high court grants the Trump administration’s request to limit or lift three nationwide injunctions blocking the president’s bid to end birthright citizenship, it could cripple the ability of Trump’s opponents to seek, and judges’ ability to grant, such blocks entirely.

Wife of Former Senator Bob Menendez Found Guilty in Corruption Case

MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 4/21/2025

The wife of former U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez was found guilty of helping her husband generate a steady flow of bribes and gifts that totaled about $1 million and included gold bars, cash, and a luxury car. Nadine Menendez was convicted of bribery, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit those crimes, and related counts. She faces the possibility of decades in prison.

Politically Connected Firms Benefit from Trump Tariff Exemptions Amid Secrecy, Confusion

MSN – Robert Faturechi (ProPublica) | Published: 4/22/2025

Critics say the Trump administration’s process for crafting its tariff policy has been opaque. Major stakeholders are in the dark about why certain products face levies and others do not. Tariff rates have been altered without any clear explanation for the changes. Administration officials have given conflicting messages about the tariffs or declined to answer questions at all. The lack of transparency about the process has created concerns among trade experts that politically connected firms might be winning carve-outs behind closed doors.

The Top Producer at ’60 Minutes’ Has Quit. He Says He Can No Longer Run the Show as He Always Has

MSN – David Bauder (Associated Press) | Published: 4/22/2025

With his show involved in a bitter dispute with President Trump, the top executive at the storied CBS News show “60 Minutes”, Bill Owens, abruptly resigned while saying he is losing the freedom to run it independently. Trump sued “60 Minutes” for $20 billion last fall, claiming it deceptively edited an interview with Kamala Harris. CBS denied it had done anything to give an advantage to Harris and released the full transcript of its interview.

Watchdog Agency Tells Fired Workers They Have No Legal Basis for Complaints

MSN – Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 4/21/2025

The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) told thousands of probationary federal workers it will not pursue their complaints about their firings. The decision was a reversal of the position of the previous head of the independent office, who was fired by President Trump. The watchdog agency said it does not have the purview to pursue the complaints made by more than 2,000 federal employees. It acknowledged many of the workers disputed the poor performance that was cited in their removals. But the OSC said it was impossible for them to challenge the firings as unlawful.

Jury Finds New York Times Didn’t Defame Sarah Palin

MSN – Corinne Ramey and Isabella Simonetti (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 4/22/2025

A federal jury rejected former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s claims that the New York Times defamed her in an editorial about gun violence. The verdict of not liable was the same conclusion a previous jury had reached in 2022 during the first trial in the case. The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year ordered a new trial, finding the judge acted improperly when he said, during jury deliberations, that he planned to dismiss the case.

Two Major Law Firms Urge Judges to Permanently Block Trump’s Executive Orders

MSN – Eric Tucker (Associated Press) | Published: 4/23/2025

A federal judge expressed deep skepticism over President Trump’s executive order targeting a prominent law firm, signaling she was inclined to grant a request to permanently block its enforcement. U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell grilled a Justice Department lawyer over the government’s plans to suspend security clearances from lawyers at the firm of Perkins Coie and pressed him to explain why the Trump administration was forcing law firms to disavow the use of diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations in its hiring practices.

Elon Musk Had the Government in His Grasp. Then It Unraveled.

MSN – Dan Diamond, Faiz Siddiqui, Trisha Thadani, and Jeff Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 4/24/2025

Elon Musk has had numerous confrontations with top Trump administration appointees in a three-month government stint that has been peppered with controversy. He has rebuked officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and economic adviser Peter Navarro. He also alienated Trump aides with unscripted remarks and abrupt edicts, forcing political appointees to scramble to explain his decisions. With Tesla battered by declining sales, Musk told investors his “time allocation to [the Department of Government Efficiency] will drop significantly,” though he added he will probably stay involved.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Cannabis Company Alleges Gov. Hobbs’ Aide Improperly Intervened in Marijuana License Case

Arizona Capitol Times – Kiera Riley | Published: 4/19/2025

Arizona Wellness Center Springerville filed a lawsuit against state public health department officials, the governor, and her chief of staff, accusing them of improperly issuing a dual-use cannabis license after the statutory deadline to Arizona’s largest cannabis retailer. The company and Cave claim Gov. Katie Hobbs’ chief of staff, Chad Campbell, coordinated with a lobbyist for the cannabis retailer Trulieve to grant a dual license to one of its subsidiaries despite past court orders finding it unlawful to grant a license after the deadline.

California – Former L.A. Councilmember Kevin de León Faces Ethics Fine for Voting on Issues in Which He Had a Financial Stake

MSN – Ben Poston (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 4/19/2025

Former Los Angeles Councilperson Kevin de León is facing an $18,750 ethics fine for voting on council decisions in which he had a financial interest and for failing to disclose income. A report from the city Ethics Commission said that in 2020 and 2021, De León voted on three city council issues that benefited the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and one that helped the University of Southern California, all decisions that were made less than a year after he received income from each.

California – Another Top Staffer Quits Oakland Public Ethics Commission

MSN – Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) | Published: 4/17/2025

Nicolas Heidorn, executive director of the Oakland Public Ethics Commission, is leaving his post in July. Heidorn is the second high-level staffer to leave the agency in recent months. Last September, Simon Russell, the commission’s enforcement chief, announced he was resigning and criticized city officials for refusing to give his team more resources, despite repeated warnings that his staff are overwhelmed with work.

California – $5K in a Coffee Mug: Indictment details Bay Area developers’ alleged bribe to elected official

MSN – Bob Egelko and Molly Burke (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 4/23/2025

The owners of a Bay Area housing development firm, David Sanson and his son, Trent Sanson, were charged with offering bribes to an Antioch City Council member to win approval for a residential project. Prosecutors said Trent Sanson met with the council member and said his father was willing to pay $10,000 to put the project on the council’s agenda and win approval. He told the council member his father would likely give them $5,000 in cash and another $5,000 as a donation to a political action committee or as an independent expenditure.

California – Top S.F. Official Ousted After Probe Finds Misconduct, ‘Unlawful Activities’

MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 4/23/2025

A city commission voted to remove a beleaguered official from her post after an administrative investigation found she committed what San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie described as misconduct and “unlawful activities.” Kimberly Ellis, director of the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women, faced a months-long investigation for secretly working a side job for a political group and directing city money to her friends.

Colorado – Bill to Add Colorado School Board and Special Districts to Ethics Commission Will Cost $120,000 Annually

Colorado Politics – Marianne Goodland | Published: 4/22/2025

House Bill 1079, which would add school and special districts to the jurisdiction of Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission, was approved by the House Appropriations Committee. Under the bill, the commission would handle complaints tied to members of 178 school boards and board members for 2,713 special districts, covering fire, water, sanitation, metropolitan, hospitals, libraries, and others. That would also extend to “direct hires” of those boards, such as district directors and school superintendents.

Florida – The $10M Steered to Hope Florida by the State was Medicaid Money, Document Shows

MSN – Alexandra Glorioso and Lawrence Mower (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 4/23/2025

The $10 million that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration diverted to a state-created charity last year consisted of Medicaid dollars owed to state and federal taxpayers, contrary to what the governor and other officials have publicly asserted. The administration sent the $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity overseen by first lady Casey DeSantis. The money was then sent to two nonprofits that are not required to report how they spend their funds. Those dark money groups later gave $8.5 million to a political committee overseen by the governor’s chief of staff.

Florida – Man Detained in Florida on Immigration Hold Despite Being Citizen, Lawyer Says

MSN – Vivian Ho (Washington Post) | Published: 4/18/2025

Florida authorities detained a U.S.-born citizen on the charge of entering the state as an “unauthorized alien,” forcing him to spend more than 24 hours in a county jail on an immigration hold, despite the man having proof of his citizenship through his birth certificate and social security card. His lawyers said Juan Lopez-Gomez was arrested under a law that was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in February but was temporarily blocked in federal court.

Hawaii – Hawai’I County Moves to Adopt Nepotism Rules for Government Employees

Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 4/21/2025

It was an awkward moment for the Hawaii County Council as the board was considering the mayor’s nomination of Rebecca Inaba to serve on the island’s Leeward Planning Commission. The discomfort had nothing to do with her qualifications, experience, or reputation. The issue was that Inaba is the mother of the council chair, Holeka Goro Inaba. That same morning the council considered legislation to update the county code to prohibit nepotism.

Idaho – Woman Seeks $5M in Damages After Removal from GOP Town Hall for Heckling

MSN – Daniel Wu (Washington Post) | Published: 4/22/2025

An Idaho woman who was dragged out of a local Republican town hall in February by private security guards for heckling lawmakers is seeking $5 million in damages after the confrontation drew widespread attention and led city officials to press criminal charges against the guards. Video of plainclothes guards hauling Teresa Borrenpohl out of her seat and forcing her to the ground in an auditorium went viral as stories emerged across the country of constituents speaking out against Republican policies in town halls. Critics saw Borrenpohl’s ejection as an assault on free speech.

Indiana – Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith Signs No-Bid Contract with Law Firm Closely Tied to His Church

Indianapolis Star – Haleigh Columbo | Published: 4/24/2025

Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith’s office signed a no-bid contract with a law firm that is closely affiliated with Life Church, the church where Beckwith still serves as a pastor, a move that has raised red flags for ethics experts and lawmakers. Multiple ethics experts questioned the optics of awarding a no-bid contract to a company that has close ties to Beckwith’s other employer. Adler Attorneys’ chief executive officer, Raymond Adler, is a member of the church, and another attorney at the firm serves on the church’s board of directors. The law firm has also recently represented Life Church in municipal government matters.

Iowa – House Ethics Committee Reprimands Group for Claiming Lawmaker Was a Former Stripper

Iowa Capital Dispatch – Robin Opsahl | Published: 4/23/2025

The Iowa House Ethics Committee voted to publicly reprimand members of the “Bitches Get Stuff Done” organization for publishing content online claiming state Rep. Samantha Fett was a “former stripper.” Fett told the committee she filed the complaint because the group was registered to lobby lawmakers. “When you do register as a lobbyist, you agree to operate at a higher level of professionalism, under rules,” Fett said.

Louisiana – While Facing Ethics Charges, Landry Pushes Overhaul of Investigation Process

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 4/23/2025

Gov. Jeff Landry wants to reform the Louisiana Board of Ethics’ investigation process. The changes Landry seeks would make it easier for subjects of an ethics complaint – like he is – to avoid charges or a probe into their alleged wrongdoing. House Bill 397 also loosens limits on elected officials and state employees’ state travel, weakens restrictions on government contracts with public officials and their families, and reduces requirements for elected officials and candidates’ disclosure of financial interests.

Maine – Judge Denies Laurel Libby’s Request to Immediately Restore Her Right to Vote in Maine House

Yahoo News – Rachel Ohm (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 4/18/2025

A federal judge denied a request from Rep. Laurel Libby to immediately restore her speaking and voting rights on the floor of the Maine House of Representatives. Libby was censured by House Democrats in February after she used a Facebook post to criticize a transgender athlete’s high school track championship and shared photos of the student without their consent.

Mississippi – House Speaker Jason White, Staff Treated to Super Bowl by Gambling Giant Pushing for Legalized Betting

MSN – Michael Goldberg and Taylor Vance (Mississippi Today) | Published: 4/23/2025

The sports gambling lobby has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Mississippi politicians trying to convince them to legalize mobile sports betting. Part of that effort was a trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans this year for House Speaker Jason White, his staff, and two of their spouses. The trip was paid for, at least in part, by DraftKings, which has lobbied for legal online betting. Thanks to a loophole in Mississippi’s lobbying laws, there is no public account of the expensive weekend in lobbying reports that are supposed to document spending on behalf of state employees.

Missouri – Missouri Campaign Watchdog Is Once Again Unable to Function Due to Vacancies

Yahoo News – Rebecca Rivas (Missouri Independent) | Published: 4/22/2025

Seventeen complaints have been dismissed in the more than 100 business days since the Missouri Ethic Commission last had enough members to reach a quorum. It is the second time in less than a year that the commission has not had enough members to enforce campaign finance and ethics laws. In January, former Gov. Mike Parson withdrew two commissioners who he appointed months earlier but who had not yet been confirmed by the Senate. That left only two of the six seats on the commission filled. The last time the commission had enough members to meet was November 20.

Nevada – Nevada Lawmakers Often Fail to Disclose Rental Property Income, Point to Confusing Forms

Nevada Independent – Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren | Published: 4/20/2025

One-third of Nevada lawmakers who report owning rental properties did not disclose receiving income from them, which could be a violation of campaign finance disclosure laws if they are making money from them. But most of the lawmakers said the omission was an accident or a result of not taking income from the properties. A review of financial disclosure forms shows Nevada’s stipulations for filing are not always clear-cut to lawmakers or detailed about how to report rental income, leaving room for errors.

New Jersey – Racketeering Charges Against George Norcross Should Be Reinstated, N.J. Prosecutors Tell Appeals Court

MSN – Andrew Seidman (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 4/22/2025

State prosecutors urged an appeals court to reinstate criminal racketeering charges against New Jersey power broker George Norcross III, arguing a judge erred in dismissing the indictment without reviewing evidence that was presented to the grand jury. In his decision, prosecutors said Mercer County Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw effectively threw out five months of work by the grand jury, which heard 2,000 pages of testimony and hundreds of exhibits, and reached determinations about Norcross’ motivations through a faulty analysis.

New York – Federal Prosecutors in Eric Adams Case Resign After Being Put on Administrative Leave

MSN – Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 4/22/2025

Three of the Manhattan federal prosecutors who worked on the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams resigned, accusing the Justice Department of trying to force them to admit wrongdoing in connection with their resistance to dropping the charges. The prosecutors, Celia Cohen, Andrew Rohrbach, and Derek Wikstrom, had been placed on administrative leave after they, along with the then-acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, balked at accepting the Justice Department’s orders to drop the corruption case against the mayor.

North Carolina – North Carolina Judges Weigh GOP Law Shifting Election Board Control Away from Democratic Governor

MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 4/16/2025

Judges in North Carolina heard arguments from attorneys for Republican legislative leaders who insist their latest method to attempt to wrest control of the State Board of Elections from a Democratic governor is lawful, this time giving the job of appointing members to the GOP state auditor. But lawyers for Gov. Josh Stein, who sued to stop the changes approved by the General Assembly and begin in earnest in May, contend the alteration suffers constitutional flaws similar to those that caused courts to strike down previous GOP attempts.

North Dakota – North Dakota House Passes Campaign Finance Bill Changing Deadlines, Donor Disclosures

Fargo Forum – Grant Coursey (Bismarck Tribune) | Published: 4/18/2025

The North Dakota House passed a number of changes to campaign finance disclosures. The version passed by the House solidifies reporting deadlines for political candidates, district parties and committees so they are based on dates instead of a certain number of days before or after an election, with the exception of special elections, among other changes.

North Dakota – Ethics Commissioners Say Bill Would Impose an Arbitrary Cutoff for Investigations

Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 4/17/2025

The North Dakota Ethics Commission fears changes approved by state lawmakers could allow alleged ethical violations by public officials to go unaddressed. The House voted to approve a number of amendments to the commission’s budget, Senate Bill 2004, which included a new provision requiring the commission to dismiss ethics complaints older than 180 days. If the bill is signed into law, it would take effect immediately.

Ohio – Ethics Probe Set Stage for Kenni Burns’ Firing as Kent State Football Coach, with Independent Firm uncovering $100K Loan from Booster

MSN – Tyler Carey (WKYC) | Published: 4/21/2025

Kent State University asked the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to investigate head football coach Kenni Burns earlier this year, and its findings eventually contributed to Burns’ recent firing. The probe found Burns accepted a loan of more than $100,000 from Kent State booster and area restaurant owner Mike Awad, and while Burns was found to have paid the money back, the transaction was found to “highly likely” be a violation of Ohio ethics laws.

Oregon – OLCC Manager Who Diverted Bottles of Elmer T. Lee Bourbon Back on the Job

MSN – Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 4/21/2025

Brian Flemming, the retail services manager for the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) who diverted sought-after Elmer T. Lee bourbon for himself, a colleague, and his bosses is back on the job after two years on leave. The allegations that Flemming used his position and insider knowledge of the state’s liquor inventory for his own benefit mirror the findings of a previous human resources investigation into six high-ranking OLCC executives. Those top managers were reprimanded and later resigned or were fired.

Pennsylvania – How the Restoration of Philly’s Historic 30th St. Station Became a Corruption Bonanza

MSN – Andrew Seidman and Chris Palmer (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 4/24/2025

In 2018, Amtrak officials invited the media to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia for a tour of the rail operator’s work on a yearslong project to restore the historic building’s facade. Although the taxpayer-funded project’s cost had nearly doubled to $109 million, the price tag was worth it, said Ajith Bhaskaran, the Amtrak manager overseeing the project, “because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do this work.” What Bhaskaran did not say at the time was that in exchange for signing off on all the extra work, he seized an opportunity to line his own pockets.

Tennessee – Corruption Trial of Ex-House Speaker Casada, Aide Cothren Starts This Week. What to Know

Yahoo News – Evan Mealins (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 4/21/2025

After more than three years of investigation, ex-Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former top aide Cade Cothren are on trial, facing 20 fraud-related charges that could lead to decades in prison. Several current and former state legislators, and alleged co-conspirator Robin Smith are expected to testify that Casada and Cothren orchestrated a scheme to take advantage of a state-funded mailer program through a shadowy company organized under a fake persona.

Washington – Seattle Council Sends Democracy Voucher Renewal to August Ballot

Seattle Times – David Kroman | Published: 4/23/2025

Voters will decide this August whether to continue with Seattle’s experiment in taxpayer-funded Democracy Vouchers that have helped finance the campaigns of local candidates since 2017. The city council signed off on Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed 10-year, $45 million renewal, officially sending the question to the ballot this summer. If approved, the average Seattle homeowner would spend around $13 a year in property taxes on the program.

Washington – As in D.C., a Fight Breaks Out in Washington State Over Who Gets Access to Lawmakers

Spokane Public Radio – Daniel Walters (InvestigateWest) | Published: 4/20/2025

The White House Correspondents’ Association condemned the Trump administration’s move in February to handpick the reporters who get access to the White House, stripping that power from the association. But just eight days later, Washington state’s own Capitol Correspondents Association willingly chose to give up its own influence over which reporters get access to the Legislature, handing that gatekeeping role solely to the same lawmakers they cover.

Wisconsin – Wisconsin Governor Can Lock in 400-Year School Funding Increase Using a Veto, Court Says

MSN – Scott Bauer (Associated Press) | Published: 4/18/2025

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ creative use of his uniquely powerful veto to lock in a school funding increase for 400 years may be “attention grabbing,” but it was constitutional, the state Supreme Court ruled. The ruling affirms the partial veto power of Wisconsin governors, which is the broadest of any state. Wisconsin is the only state where governors can partially veto spending bills by striking words, numbers, and punctuation to create new meaning or spending amounts.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce is hosting staff from the Office of the Legislative Inspector General for a training session open to government affairs professionals on JLEC filing and lobbying requirements. The in-person session is from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Friday, April 25, at the Ohio Chamber Office in Columbus, Ohio. Although registration is not required, notify Tony Long if planning to attend at tlong@ohiochamber.com.

National/Federal

Greene Bought Market Dip Before Trump Paused Tariffs, Profiting from the Rally

DNyuz – Annie Karni (New York Times) | Published: 4/14/2025

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene disclosed she purchased between tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of stock on April 8 and 9, the day before and the day of President Trump’s announcement that he was pausing a sweeping set of global tariffs, a pivot that sent the stock market soaring out of a sizable slump. The report came as Democrats in Congress have demanded investigations of whether the president’s moves on trade might have been aimed at manipulating the market and giving his allies a lucrative opportunity for insider trading.

At the Supreme Court, the Trump Agenda Is Always an ‘Emergency’

DNyuz – Abbie VanSickle (New York Times) | Published: 4/10/2025

The Trump administration has in recent weeks asked the Supreme Court to allow it to end birthright citizenship, to freeze more than a billion dollars in foreign aid, and to permit the deportation of Venezuelans to a prison in El Salvador without due process. In each case, the administration told the justices the request was an emergency. Traditionally reserved for clearly urgent matters, most often requests for stays of execution for people sentenced to death, they are now the favored path to challenge so-called nationwide injunctions, where a single federal judge issues a ruling that affects not only the parties to a case but the entire nation.

House Passes Voter Registration Bill That Would Require Proof of Citizenship

MSN – Justin Papp (Roll Call) | Published: 4/10/2025

House Republicans passed legislation aimed at stopping noncitizens from voting in federal elections, a priority pursued by President Trump. Known as the SAVE Act, it would require people to provide proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. Democrats have railed against the bill, particularly its limits on acceptable forms of identification, which they say would make it difficult for married women who have changed their last names to register. The real goal, some Democrats say, is to disenfranchise Americans.

Amid Trump’s Pause on Foreign Bribery Cases, One Involving a Company His Allies Targeted Will Proceed

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 4/12/2025

President Trump has paused enforcement of an anti-corruption statute barring U.S. companies from bribing foreign officials, but the Justice Department said recently it will move forward on one pending case involving an old target of the president and his allies. Government lawyers said they intend to continue their prosecution of two executives at the voting machine company Smartmatic who were charged last year in an alleged bribery scheme involving payoffs to win business in the Philippines.

Some DOGE Staffers Hold High-Powered Jobs at Multiple Federal Agencies

MSN – Faiz Siddiqui and Jacob Bogage (Washington Post) | Published: 4/14/2025

Some Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff members have jobs in as many as seven federal offices. The unorthodox practice affords trusted acolytes of Elon Musk authority across broad swaths of government, as well as access to an array of confidential information. Because their jobs are embedded within agencies, the DOGE staffers have far more influence than those who might have worked collaboratively across government before, and their positions raise the possibility that even if Musk leaves government service at the end of May, as he has suggested, his allies will still have power, potentially for years to come.

‘Nothing But a Pattern’: Ethics advocates alarmed by delay for House watchdog

MSN – Justin Papp (Roll Call) | Published: 4/14/2025

More than three months into the 119th Congress, House leaders have not yet appointed board members of the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC), hamstringing the ethics office and its mission. Failure to appoint the board of the OCC, an independent, nonpartisan office that reviews allegations of misconduct against House lawmakers and staff, is alarming on its own, according to some transparency advocates. But they also see a larger trend during the second administration of Donald Trump, as other ethics and accountability bodies come under fire.

Harvard Hit with $2.2 Billion Funding Freeze After Rejecting Trump’s Demands

MSN – Susan Svrluga (Washington Post) | Published: 4/14/2025

The Trump administration announced it would block Harvard University from receiving $2.2 billion in federal grants and $60 million in contracts after the school rejected demands to adopt new policies on student and faculty conduct and admissions. The administration’s demands are part of a crackdown on what it calls rampant antisemitism and leftist ideology on college campuses. The university was the first to formally push back against the government’s efforts to force change in higher education.

DNC Leader Announces Plans to Primary Members of His Own Party

MSN – Dylan Wells (Washington Post) | Published: 4/15/2025

A group dedicated to electing young progressives co-founded by David Hogg, the vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, is launching a $20 million effort to primary “out-of-touch, ineffective” incumbent House Democrats. Leaders We Deserve, the organization founded by Hogg and Kevin Lata, who was the campaign manager for the first Gen Z member of Congress, Rep. Maxwell Frost, will target representatives they do not view as meeting the moment in an effort to force generational change in the Democratic Party.

Justice Department Must Provide Details of Attempts to Return Illegally Deported Man, Judge Says

MSN – Steve Thompson and Katie Mettler (Washington Post) | Published: 4/15/2025

A federal judge said she will require the Trump administration to produce records and sworn answers about the U.S. government’s attempts, or lack thereof, to return a Maryland resident who was apprehended by immigration authorities and illegally sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador. The decision from U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis, where she left open the possibility of a contempt ruling against the Trump administration, marks another escalation in the legal showdown with the White House.

Judge Boasberg to Launch Contempt Proceedings into Trump Administration

MSN – Marianne LeVine, Spencer Hsu, Salvador Rizzo, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 4/16/2025

Chief U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg said he would launch proceedings to determine whether any Trump administration officials defied his order not to remove Venezuelan migrants from the country based on the wartime Alien Enemies Act and should face criminal contempt charges. Boasberg’s order is the latest development in a broader showdown between the administration and the federal judiciary, which has blocked or slowed many of the White House’s far-reaching actions.

Rubio Shuts State Dept. Foreign Disinformation Office, Citing Censorship

MSN – Adam Taylor (Washington Post) | Published: 4/16/2025

Secretary of State Marco Rubio the State Department is closing an office designed to counter foreign disinformation, saying the effort had “spent millions of dollars to actively silence and censor the voices of Americans.” The closure of the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference office marks a win for conservatives who claimed they were targeted by government-sponsored disinformation efforts.

White House Starting New Media Policy Sharply Curtailing Wire Service Access

MSN – David Bauder (Associated Press) | Published: 4/16/2025

The Associated Press (AP) says a new White House media policy violates a court order by giving the administration sole discretion over who gets to question President Trump, and the news agency asked a federal judge to enforce that order. U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden said the White House had violated the AP’s free speech by banning it from certain presidential events because Trump disagreed with the outlet’s decision not to rename the Gulf of Mexico.

Supreme Court Will Review Trump’s Attempt to Ban Birthright Citizenship

MSN – Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 4/17/2025

The Supreme Court said it will review President Trump’s attempt to ban automatic U.S. citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants and foreign visitors, scheduling a special court session for May 15. The administration had asked the justices to lift or narrow nationwide orders blocking Trump’s birthright citizenship executive action, which Democratic-led states and immigrant advocacy organizations say is at odds with past court rulings and the Constitution.

Sarah Palin, New York Times to Face Off in Defamation Retrial

Yahoo News – Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) | Published: 4/10/2025

Sarah Palin and the New York Times are headed back to a courtroom where the former Alaska governor and Republican vice-presidential candidate will try convincing a second jury the newspaper defamed her in an editorial about gun control. Palin lost her first trial against the Times and former editorial page editor James Bennet in 2022. But last August, an appeals court found the verdict tainted by several rulings by the presiding judge and ordered a retrial.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Former Ontario Mayor Dubbed ‘Mr. X’ Banned from Lobbying Province for 2 Years

Yahoo News – Adam Carter (CBC) | Published: 4/17/2025

Former Clarington Mayor John Mutton, who Ontario’s integrity commissioner identified as “Mr. X” in a scathing report about the removal of land from the Greenbelt, was banned from lobbying the provincial government for two years. “Mr. Mutton’s several failures to register, use of contingency fees, and disregard of the conflict-of-interest prohibition undermine the [law’s] purpose of transparency and public confidence in the independence of public sector decision making,” says a report from Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake.

California – SF Will Let Nonprofits Report Less About Themselves Due to Fears of Political Attacks

KQED – Katie DeBenedetti | Published: 4/15/2025

San Francisco supervisors voted unanimously to ease easing financial reporting requirements for city-funded nonprofits. The changes are intended to protect employees at nonprofits, particularly those who serve the LGBTQIA+ community and survivors of domestic violence. One government ethics expert worried that rolling back the disclosures could make the city more vulnerable to financial mismanagement, an issue that has plagued its departments and nonprofits for years.

California – California’s Lieutenant Governor Leases Offices to the State. What If She’s Elected Governor?

MSN – Alexei Koseff (CalMatters) | Published: 4/11/2025

Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who earns millions of dollars annually from extensive property investments, says she will put some of her holdings into a blind trust if she is elected governor of California. Her portfolio includes downtown Sacramento office buildings that rent to dozens of organizations with business before the state and at least three state agencies. Which of those assets would be transferred to the blind trust and how Kounalakis would determine what constitutes a conflict of interest, however, remains unclear.

California – Anaheim Chamber of Commerce to Close in Aftermath of Corruption Probes

Voice of OC – Hosam Elattar | Published: 4/15/2025

Anaheim’s Chamber of Commerce, an organization deeply involved in one of Orange County’s largest corruption scandals, will be closing at the end of April. The closure comes roughly three years after the Chamber’s former chief executive officer, Todd Ament, pleaded to federal criminal charges after FBI agents described him as the ringleader of a group of powerful insiders who controlled public affairs and policymaking through elected officials at City Hall.

Connecticut – Ex-Bridgeport BOE Member’s Lie to Grand Jury Involved 2018 Campaign Event at Dolphin’s Cove: Records

Middletown Press – Jarrod Wardwell | Published: 4/13/2025

Former Bridgeport Board of Education Chairperson Jessica Martinez admitted she lied on the witness stand as she testified about allegedly illegal campaign activity at the former Dolphin’s Cove restaurant, court records show. Martinez was the treasurer of Dennis Bradley’s 2018 state Senate campaign. A grand jury found the Dolphin’s Cove event, which was omitted from the campaign’s financial disclosures, raised nearly $6,000 for the campaign and would have disqualified them from later earning over $84,000 in matching funds from the state.

Florida – Here’s Where $10 Million Donation to DeSantis’ Hope Florida Effort Went

MSN – Lawrence Mower and Alexandra Glorioso (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 4/11/2025

Part of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s crusade to defeat a Florida recreational cannabis ballot measure received $10 million from two groups that got money from a nonprofit associated with first lady Casey DeSantis’s community-based assistance program. The payments raise questions about whether the administration steered Medicaid dollars through Casey DeSantis’s key initiative to a political campaign.

Florida – State Workers Who Solicit Campaign Cash Could Face Criminal Charges Under Florida Bill

MSN – Ana Ceballos and Romy Ellenboge (Miami Herald) | Published: 4/14/2025

DeSantis administration employees who solicit money for campaigns or campaign for issues while they are supposed to be doing their jobs could face criminal penalties under a proposal moving in the Florida House. The bill appears to take aim at staffers in Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration who reportedly solicited political contributions for his presidential bid and have asked state lobbyists to commit money to a political committee as first lady Casey DeSantis considers a run for governor in 2026.

Georgia – 2 Protesters at Marjorie Taylor Greene Town Hall Are Subdued with Stun Guns

DNyuz – Maya Miller (New York Times) | Published: 4/15/2025

A town hall for U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene outside of Atlanta quickly deteriorated into chaos. Greene, a loyal ally of President Trump, started to speak when a man in the crowd stood up and started yelling, booing and jeering at her. Several police officers grabbed the man and dragged him out of the room. Police officers escorted at least six people from the room. Three people, including the two who were subdued with stun guns, were arrested.

Hawaii – Honolulu Director’s Free Trip to Poland Raises Ethics Questions

Honolulu Civil Beat – Christina Jedra | Published: 4/14/2025

A company that just signed a no-bid contract with Honolulu’s motor vehicle office is hoping to send the agency’s director on an all-expenses-paid trip to Gdańsk, Poland in May. Thales Group offered to cover the flight, hotel, meals, and other related costs – a $5,000 value – for Department of Customer Services Director Kim Hashiro to visit their facility. Honolulu Ethics Commission guidelines prohibit officials with authority over contracts from accepting gifts from contractors, and a city council resolution forbids them from accepting any gift that could, in fact or appearance, impair their judgment.

Hawaii – Hawai’I Lawmakers Appear Poised to Crack Down on Pay-To-Play Politics

Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 4/11/2025

Hawaii lawmakers are working to outlaw political donations from people who win government contracts. But key supporters of the legislation still need to come to an agreement on critical points including how contractors and nonprofit organizations will have to report who their officers and close family members are and whether that information will be kept secret from the public.

Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Resistance to Ethics Reforms Draws Criticism

Yahoo News – Jake Sheridan (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 4/13/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson unsuccessfully resisted efforts to codify old rules banning lobbyists from donating to mayoral candidates. He criticized Inspector General Deborah Witzburg’s report that he mishandled gifts and is fighting her again as she alleges his Law Department hinders investigations. Witzburg said Johnson’s pattern of resistance amounts to “brick walls” at each step in her attempts at ethics reform. The mayor appears to feel unfairly attacked by the reform bids, many of which he has argued should be broadened to also target the city council or are bad policy.

Maine – Trump Administration to Pull Maine K-12 Funding Over Trans Athletes Dispute

MSN – Brianna Tucker (Washington Post) | Published: 4/14/2025

The Trump administration announced it would pull all federal education funding from Maine after state officials said they would not comply with demands from the administration to ban transgender athletes from participation in women’s sports, which could slash millions of dollars in federal funding from K-12 schools in the state. The move marks a major and retaliatory step forward in how far the administration is willing to go to force state governments to adhere to executive orders.

Massachusetts – Cape Cod State Rep. Accused of Stealing from Former Employer to Fund Campaign Expenses, Psychic Services

MSN – Abby Patkin (Boston.com) | Published: 4/11/2025

Massachusetts Rep. Christopher Flanagan was arrested following his indictment on wire fraud and falsification of records charges. Federal prosecutors allege Flanagan stole $36,000 from his former employer, the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Cape Cod, and used the money to pay for campaign expenses, credit card bills, menswear, and psychic services.

Minnesota – Champion Directed Public Funds to Another Nonprofit He Later Did Legal Work For, Records Show

Yahoo News – Christopher Ingraham (Minnesota Reformer) | Published: 4/11/2025

Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion recently stepped down from the ethics subcommittee after it was reported he steered millions of dollars in public funds to a legal client. Champion maintains the work was pro-bono, and it concluded before the start of the legislative session during which he spearheaded $3 million in state grants to a nonprofit run by that client. Court records indicate McAfee was not the only legal client to benefit from Champion’s grantmaking.

Montana – Bill to Streamline Legislator-to-Lobbyist ‘Revolving Door’ Voted Down in Montana House

Longview News-Journal – Seaborn Larson (Montana State News Bureau) | Published: 4/11/2025

The Montana House rejected Senate Bill 222, which would have repealed a two-year waiting period state law during which legislators and other public employees are prohibited from becoming lobbyists. Supporters of the bill said the two-year window prevents effective lawmakers who are no longer permitted to run because of term limits from continuing their good work as lobbyists. Opponents contended the buffer is important to keep legislators and government employees from setting up their own windfall from public office.

Nevada – Ethics Panel Rejects Settlement for Nevada Energy Director Over Free VGK Tickets

Las Vegas Review-Journal – Mary Hynes | Published: 4/16/2025

The Nevada Commission on Ethics rejected an agreement that would have resolved a complaint against Dwayne McClinton, director of the Governor’s Office of Energy, with commissioners saying they want disciplinary action to include a fine. The complaint stated McClinton accepted free Las Vegas Golden Knights tickets and solicited other perks while negotiating a potential taxpayer-funded sponsorship deal with the National Hockey League franchise.

Nevada – Secretary of State’s Bill Would Allow Some Personal Use of Campaign Funds

Yahoo News – Dana Gentry (Nevada Current) | Published: 4/11/2025

A campaign finance measure championed by Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar seeks to make running for office financially feasible for more individuals by allowing campaign contributions to be spent for some personal uses. The current prohibition deters some individuals from serving in low-paying positions such as state legislator, which pays $130 a day for the first 60 days of the 120-day session, plus per diem amounts for travel and expenses.

New Jersey – Gottheimer Funnels $10 Million from Congressional Campaign into Group Supporting Bid for Gov

MSN – Madison Fernandez (Politico) | Published: 4/16/2025

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer’s congressional campaign has sent close to $10 million to a super PAC supporting his bid for governor. Gottheimer had more than $20 million in his congressional campaign coffers when he announced his gubernatorial run in November. But that money cannot be transferred directly to his state campaign for governor, raising questions about how his congressional fund would be used to help it.

New Mexico – Lujan Grisham Nixes Lobbying Transparency Bill

New Mexico In Depth – Marjorie Childress | Published: 4/14/2025

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed House Bill 143, which would have required lobbyists to publicly report the bills they are working to support or defeat during the legislative session. Lobbyists said they had concerns about the viability of a requirement in the bill that they file reports within 48 hours of lobbying activity.

New York – NYCHA Paid Out Millions to Bribe-Paying Contractors Implicated in Corruption Takedown

The City – Greg Smith | Published: 4/16/2025

One year after a sweeping corruption takedown at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), there have been 64 convictions out of the 70 housing authority employees arrested on charges of taking cash bribes to hand out contracts to vendors performing public housing repairs. On the other side of the corrupt transactions, it is a different story. Since the big sweep in February. 2024, NYCHA has awarded hundreds of contracts worth a total of $7.8 million to eight companies whose operators have publicly confessed to participating in the decade-long bribery conspiracy.

New York – NYC Mayoral Front-Runner Andrew Cuomo Denied $2.5 Million in Public Matching Funds Over Missing Information

Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 4/15/2025

The New York City Campaign Finance Board denied mayoral race front-runner Andrew Cuomo more than $2.5 million in public matching funds, dealing an unexpected and significant blow to his campaign. The board voted to deny the former governor the critical funds because his campaign had failed to furnish some identifying information about the donors whose contributions it had hoped to match.

North Carolina – North Carolina Supreme Court Rules Most Challenged Ballots Must Stay in Election Count

Yahoo News – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 4/11/2025

The North Carolina Supreme Court said tens of thousands of cast ballots challenged by the trailing candidate in November’s unresolved election for a seat on the court must remain in the election count. But a majority of justices, all registered Republicans, let stand a lower court’s determinations that additional ballots from two other categories Associate Justice Allison Riggs contested were wrongly allowed in the tally. The Supreme Court’s order is not expected to fully resolve the close race.

North Dakota – North Dakota House Removes New Ethics Commission Position from Budget, Adds 6-Month Deadline

Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 4/14/2025

The North Dakota House voted to give the state’s Ethics Commission a six-month deadline to resolve complaints while also removing a new position approved by the Senate. The amended bill will head to the Senate for a concurrence vote before it can go to Gov. Kelly Armstrong. Rep. Mike Nathe, who brought the amendments, he believes some North Dakotans are “weaponizing” the commission to lodge frivolous complaints against public officials that can drag on indefinitely. The commission has some complaints that are more than two years old.

Ohio – HBO’s ‘The Dark Money Game’ Spotlights FirstEnergy’s Corruption as Trump Revives Federal Coal Plant Bailout the Utility Once Lobbied For

Energy and Policy Institute – Dave Anderson | Published: 4/16/2025

The premiere of HBO’s new documentary “The Dark Money Game” shines a spotlight on FirstEnergy’s bribes-for-bailouts scheme in Ohio days after President Trump revived a failed push to use federal emergency powers to bail out coal-fired power plants that FirstEnergy lobbied for extensively during Trump’s first term. “Ohio Confidential,” the first film in director Alex Gibney’s two-part documentary series about money in American politics, examines the federal racketeering investigation that exposed how FirstEnergy secretly paid millions of dollars in bribes to influence former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder.

Pennsylvania – Man Charged with Arson at Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion Denied Bail

MSN – Justine McDaniel, Amber Ferguson, and Annabelle Timsit (Washington Post) | Published: 4/14/2025

The man charged with setting fire to the official residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro told authorities he walked more than an hour from his home, carrying beer bottles filled with gasoline, before scaling a fence, breaking into the mansion, and setting a room ablaze. Police accused Cody Balmer of seeking to harm Shapiro – he allegedly told police he planned to beat the governor with a hammer if he encountered him – and his family. He was denied bail at an arraignment.

Texas – A Texas Republican Benefited from Out-of-State Donors. Now He Wants to Limit Their Impact

MSN – Nolan McCaskill (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 4/10/2025

Texas soon could impose limits on out-of-state political contributions under a bill filed by former House Speaker Dade Phelan. Texas only has campaign donation limits for judges and judicial candidates in nonfederal races, allowing unlimited sums of money to flow into the campaign coffers of state candidates from donors nationwide.

Campaign Finance

Florida: “Here’s Where $10 Million Donation to DeSantis’ Hope Florida Effort Went” by Lawrence Mower and Alexandra Glorioso (Tampa Bay Times) for MSN

Texas: “A Texas Republican Benefited from Out-of-State Donors. Now He Wants to Limit Their Impact” by Nolan McCaskill (Dallas Morning News) for MSN

Elections

North Carolina: “North Carolina Supreme Court Rules Most Challenged Ballots Must Stay in Election Count” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “Amid Trump’s Pause on Foreign Bribery Cases, One Involving a Company His Allies Targeted Will Proceed” by Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Some DOGE Staffers Hold High-Powered Jobs at Multiple Federal Agencies” by Faiz Siddiqui and Jacob Bogage (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Resistance to Ethics Reforms Draws Criticism” by Jake Sheridan (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

National: “Sarah Palin, New York Times to Face Off in Defamation Retrial” by Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

Montana: “Bill to Streamline Legislator-to-Lobbyist ‘Revolving Door’ Voted Down in Montana House” by Seaborn Larson (Montana State News Bureau) for Longview News-Journal

Campaign Finance

Hawaii: “Hawai’I Lawmakers Appear Poised to Crack Down on Pay-To-Play Politics” by Blaze Lovell for Honolulu Civil Beat

Nevada: “Secretary of State’s Bill Would Allow Some Personal Use of Campaign Funds” by Dana Gentry (Nevada Current) for Yahoo News

Elections

National: “House Passes Voter Registration Bill That Would Require Proof of Citizenship” by Justin Papp (Roll Call) for MSN

Ethics

California: “California’s Lieutenant Governor Leases Offices to the State. What If She’s Elected Governor?” by Alexei Koseff (CalMatters) for MSN

National: “At the Supreme Court, the Trump Agenda Is Always an ‘Emergency'” by Abbie VanSickle (New York Times) for DNyuz

Massachusetts: “Cape Cod State Rep. Accused of Stealing from Former Employer to Fund Campaign Expenses, Psychic Services” by Abby Patkin (Boston.com) for MSN

Minnesota: “Champion Directed Public Funds to Another Nonprofit He Later Did Legal Work For, Records Show” by Christopher Ingraham (Minnesota Reformer) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

New Mexico: “NM Governor Nixes New License Plates, State Bread, Lobbying Disclosure” by Julia Goldberg and Danielle Prokop (Source New Mexico) for Yahoo News

On April 11, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed a lobbying disclosure bill aimed at increasing disclosure.

House Bill 143 required lobbyists provide more details about the specific legislation lobbied, whether legislation was supported or opposed and if their positions changed, and the names of a lobbyist’s employer that lobbied on the legislation, either directly or through the registered lobbyist. The bill also required that if a lobbyist or lobbyist’s employer commenced lobbying on legislation after the adjournment of a legislative session, a lobbying activity report would have been required to have been filed prior to the end of the time period in which the governor could have acted on legislation.

In her House Executive Message No. 21 vetoing the bill, the governor wrote, “ While I support the intent of this legislation, [House Bill] 143 needs work. For example, it imposes an onerous requirement that lobbyists or their employers file these reports within forty-eight hours of commencing the lobbying activity – including any time their ‘position on legislation has changed’- irrespective of weekends and holidays.”

The bill would have also required lobbying reports be preserved for a period of 10 years.

National/Federal

Trump Sidelines Justice Dept. Legal Office, Eroding Another Check on His Power

DNyuz – Charlie Savage (New York Times) | Published: 4/4/2025

The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel has traditionally been a powerful guardrail in government. It has issued interpretations of the law that bind agencies across the executive branch, decided which proposed policies were legally permissible, and approved draft executive orders before they went to presidents to be signed. But in President Trump’s second term, the office has largely been sidelined. As Trump issues policies that push legal limits and asserts an expansive view of his power, the White House has undercut its role, delaying giving it senior leadership and weakening its ability to impose quality control over executive orders.

Democratic Attorneys General Sue to Block Trump’s Voting Restrictions

MSN – Maeve Reston (Washington Post) | Published: 4/3/2025

A coalition of 19 Democratic state attorneys general sued the Trump administration seeking to block President Trump’s effort to impose new voting restrictions across the country, calling his recent executive order unconstitutional, antidemocratic, and un-American. Though the constitution grants most power over elections to the states, Trump signed an executive order last week demanding changes including a new requirement for voters to produce documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

Justice Department Lawyers Struggle to Defend a Mountain of Trump Executive Orders

MSN – Carrie Johnson (NPR) | Published: 4/3/2025

In courtrooms all over the country, the Justice Department has been busy defending President Trump’s executive actions. But in many of those cases, the government’s own lawyers have been struggling to answer questions and having to correct the record. It is a function of how aggressively Trump has moved so far and how the attorneys have been having a hard time keeping up.

Judge Orders White House Ban on AP Lifted

MSN – Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 4/8/2025

A judge ordered the White House to lift a nearly two-month-long set of access restrictions it placed on the Associated Press (AP) while the news organization’s lawsuit against three Trump administration officials plays out. Since February 11, AP reporters have been prevented from being at Oval Office events, on Air Force One flights. and at other official presidential events because the news organization refused to primarily use the name Gulf of America when referring to the body of water, instead of the Gulf of Mexico.

As Tariffs Set to Take Effect, Confusion Reigns on K Street

MSN – Caitlin Oprysko and Gabby Miller (Politico) | Published: 4/8/2025

As the White House rolls out its tariff plan, lobbyists across Washington are working to decipher the administration’s muddled messaging and translate it into a strategy for relief for their clients. In some cases, lobbyists are still puzzling out who they should contact at the White House to ensure their concerns are heard, or how the new duties will be implemented.

House Rejects Proxy Voting for New Parents, Chooses ‘Pairing’ Instead

MSN – Justin Papp (Roll Call) | Published: 4/8/2025

A weeks-long dustup over proxy voting for new parents in the U.S. House came to an end despite a last-ditch effort from one of its chief proponents. “Congress is stuck doing things the way that we did hundreds of years ago, and it’s time that we move it to the 21st century,” said Rep. Brittany Pettersen. She has led the charge to allow proxy voting for up to 12 weeks after birth.

Trump Directs Justice Dept. to Probe Officials Who Opposed Him in First Term

MSN – Kelly Kasulis Cho (Washington Post) | Published: 4/10/2025

President Trump signed sweeping presidential memorandums targeting two former government officials who opposed his actions in his first term, his latest effort to use the powers of the presidency to punish people and institutions who have challenged him. Trump directed the Justice Department to investigate former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency director Chris Krebs and former homeland security official Miles Taylor, who penned an anonymous 2018 New York Times op-ed titled “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration.”

U.S. Will Monitor Immigrants’ Social Media for ‘Antisemitic Activity’

MSN – Anumita Kaur and María Luisa Paúl (Washington Post) | Published: 4/9/2025

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin screening immigrants’ social media accounts for antisemitic content as grounds to deny visa and green-card applications, a move immigration law and free-speech experts condemn as an alarming federal overstep. The announcement raised concern among experts that the policy is too vague and would rely heavily on the personal opinions of officials.

Trump Told People to Buy. Hours Later, His Tariff Pause Sent Markets Soaring.

MSN – Rachel Lerman and Douglas MacMillan (Washington Post) | Published: 4/9/2025

Less than four hours before President Trump’s announcement that he was pausing tariffs sent markets soaring, he posted online telling his millions of social media followers it was a good time to buy. Democrats are now accusing Trump of “market manipulation.” The president holds much of his net worth in his stake in Truth Social’s parent company, Trump Media & Technology Group. The company’s stock rallied with the broader markets after the tariff announcement, closing the day up more than 21 percent.

White House Says It Ignores Journalists Who Use Pronouns in Email Bios

MSN – Gaya Gupta (Washington Post) | Published: 4/9/2025

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she will not engage with reporters who list their pronouns in their email signatures, the Trump administration’s latest move to target expressions of gender identity in the workplace. Including one’s pronouns in introductions, over email and in-person, has become normalized across many industries in recent years as a way to show support with the transgender or nonbinary community and prevent misgendering. But the practice has since been fiercely rejected by Republican politicians.

US Appeals Court Blocks Trump from Removing Democrats from Labor Boards

Reuters – David Wiessner and Jonathan Stempel | Published: 4/7/2025

A federal appeals court blocked President Trump from removing Democratic members from two federal labor boards, setting aside its earlier ruling. The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit further complicates a pair of cases that are emerging as key tests of Trump’s efforts to bring federal agencies meant to be independent from the White House under his control.

He Said He Would Ban Congressional Stock Trading. Now in Office, He Trades Freely.

Scranton Times-Tribune – Annie Karni (New York Times) | Published: 4/6/2025

When Rob Bresnahan, Jr., a wealthy Republican business executive, was running to represent a competitive U.S. House district in Pennsylvania, he published a letter to the editor in a local newspaper demanding an end to stock trading by members of Congress. If elected, Bresnahan told voters, he would co-sponsor legislation to ban stock trading by members of Congress. More than two months after being sworn in, Bresnahan has not introduced or co-sponsored such a bill. He has emerged as one of the most active stock traders in the freshman class.

Musk’s DOGE Using AI to Snoop on U.S. Federal Workers, Sources Say

Yahoo News – Alexandra Ulmer, Marisa Taylor, Jeffrey Dastin, and Alexandra Alper (Reuters) | Published: 4/8/2025

Trump administration officials have told some U.S. government employees that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team of technologists is using artificial intelligence to surveil at least one federal agency’s communications for hostility to President Trump and his agenda. While much of DOGE remains shrouded in secrecy, the surveillance would mark an extraordinary use of technology to identify expressions of perceived disloyalty in a workforce already upended by widespread firings and cost cutting.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Pro-Car Great Highway Group Faces Ethics Fine for Skirting S.F. Campaign Laws

Mission Local – Eleni Balakrishnan | Published: 4/9/2025

Open the Great Highway faces a fine from the San Francisco Ethics Commission for violating campaign finance law. It has been reported that Open the Great Highway was campaigning against Proposition K and soliciting donations without registering as a PAC with the California Secretary of State, a requirement for any group soliciting political donations above a certain threshold.

Florida – Florida Teacher Loses Job for Calling Student by Preferred Name

MSN – Laura Meckler and Lori Rozsa (Washington Post) | Published: 4/10/2025

A Florida high school teacher lost her job after calling a student by an alternative name without parental permission, sparking community backlash in the conservative area as school officials sought to comply with state law. It is the first known dismissal resulting from the campaign to shut down recognition of alternative gender identities, a policy piloted by Florida that spread to other Republican states and now has been taken up by the Trump administration.

Florida – Transgender Student’s Arrest for Violating Florida Bathroom Law Is Thought to Be a First

MSN – Hannah Schoenbaum (Associated Press) | Published: 4/3/2025

A transgender college student declared “I am here to break the law” before entering a women’s restroom at the Florida Capitol and being led out in handcuffs by police. Civil rights attorneys say the arrest of Marcy Rheintgen is the first they know of for violating transgender bathroom restrictions passed by numerous state Legislatures across the country.

Florida – State Officials Steered $10 Million Settlement to Casey DeSantis’ Hope Florida Charity

MSN – Lawrence Mower and Alexandra Glorioso (Miami Herald) | Published: 4/8/2025

Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration diverted $10 million in state settlement money last year to the charity arm of a welfare initiative led by his wife. The unusual injection of cash was part of an undisclosed settlement agreement involving Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration. The money went to the Hope Florida Foundation, a nonprofit that was established by the state to help realize Casey DeSantis’s vision to reshape welfare.

Idaho – Idaho Republican’s Bill Would Have Let Her Husband Sue Boise. Rules Say It’s OK

MSN – Sarah Cutler (Idaho Statesman) | Published: 4/7/2025

State Sen. Codi Galloway sponsored a bill to ban homeless encampments in large Idaho cities, including Boise, which she represents. In its initial form, the bill would have allowed business owners to sue cities that failed to enforce the ban. Galloway did not disclose that her husband could be one of the people filing such a lawsuit.

Illinois – Illinois Senate President Don Harmon Improperly Accepted $4 Million in Campaign Cash, Election Authorities Say

MSN – Addison Wright and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 4/9/2025

The Illinois State Board of Elections said Senate President Don Harmon’s campaign committee has accepted $4 million in prohibited donations. At issue is whether a loophole that allows politicians to remove campaign contribution limits was in effect when he collected what is deemed extra cash. Harmon has repeatedly given or loaned his campaign fund more than $100,000 over the years, opening the loophole and allowing him to collect unlimited sums of money. It is a maneuver political insiders call “the money bomb.”

Illinois – Anointed by Powerful Father, State Sen. Emil Jones III Heads to Trial on Bribery Charges

Yahoo News – Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 4/6/2025

Illinois Sen. Emil Jones III, whose father led the state Senate for years, is on trial for allegedly agreeing to help a red-light camera company alter legislation in exchange for $5,000 and a job for his legislative intern. It is the first case from a sprawling red-light camera probe to go before a jury, and will feature testimony from FBI mole Omar Maani, a founder and executive at SafeSpeed.

Indiana – Diego Morales’ $90K SUV Came from Dealership That Gave Him $65K in Campaign Donations

Indianapolis Star – Hayleigh Columbo | Published: 4/4/2025

Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith are under scrutiny after using state funds to buy premium SUVs costing the state around $90,000 each. In Morales’ case, his 2024 GMC Yukon Denali comes from Kelley Automotive Group in Fort Wayne, owned by Thomas Kelley, who has given Morales’s campaign $65,000 since 2022. Kelley sits on the state’s Motor Vehicle Advisory Board with Morales, which advises the secretary of state’s office on matters related to the regulation of automobile dealers in Indiana.

Kansas – Kansas Governor Signs Bill Doubling Campaign Finance Limits on Legislative Candidates

Yahoo News – Tim Carpenter (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 4/9/2025

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill into law that doubles campaign contribution limits to statewide and legislative candidates. The governor also signed legislation that creates a new definition for “cooperation or consent” in relation to express advocacy expenditures. For example, it would exclude a candidate’s or political party’s expenditures in response to inquiries about positions on legislative issues or the endorsement of a candidate.

Maine – Censured Lawmaker Seeks Immediate Restoration of Voting Rights in House

Yahoo News – Emily Allen (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 4/4/2025

A Maine lawmaker is asking a federal judge to immediately restore her ability to vote in the Legislature despite being over social media posts she made that identified a transgender student-athlete. Rep. Laurel Libby has argued the censure violates her First and 14th Amendment rights by punishing her for “protected speech outside the walls of the State House.”

Massachusetts – Canadian Utility Company Paid for Parts of Mass. Lawmakers’ Trip to Hydroelectric Facility

MSN – Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) | Published: 4/9/2025

A group of Massachusetts lawmakers who visited Canadian hydroelectric facilities in March were ferried there at the expense of a public utility company that runs a power line between Quebec and Ayer. The cadre of elected officials, which was made up of three senators and eight representatives, touted the three-day trip as an “alternative energy fact finding” mission.

Massachusetts – Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson to Plead Guilty in Federal Corruption Case, and Will Resign

MSN – Gayla Cawley (Boston Herald) | Published: 4/8/2025

Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson plans to plead guilty in a federal public corruption case tied to allegations she stole thousands of dollars from taxpayers in a kickback scheme that took place in City Hall and intends to resign. Prosecutors recommend that Fernandes Anderson be sentenced to prison for a year and a day, and that she pay $13,000 in restitution.

Minnesota – DFL Senate President Steered Millions in Public Funds to a Legal Client

Yahoo News – Christopher Ingraham (Minnesota Reformer) | Published: 4/4/2025

Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion faces questions about a possible conflict-of-interest related to his legal work and funding bills he sponsored. It was reported that Champion worked with a client, the Rev. Jerry McAfee, on a pro bono basis. McAfee’s nonprofit group 21 Days of Peace later received state grant funds from an account that Champion worked to authorize.

Mississippi – Judge Tosses Former Miss. Governor’s Suit Against Pulitzer-Winning Reporter

MSN – Samantha Cherry and Avi Selk (Washington Post) | Published: 4/5/2025

A judge dismissed former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant’s defamation lawsuit against a news nonprofit that investigated his connections to a $77 million public welfare scandal, sparing the newsroom from being forced to reveal internal documents and confidential sources it used for the Pulitzer-winning series. The dismissal was applauded by press freedom groups that viewed the suit as an effort to punish Mississippi Today and its journalists for scrutinizing government officials.

New Jersey – A Teachers’ Union Is Spending Millions to Elect Its Boss Governor

DNyuz – Tracey Tully (New York Times) | Published: 4/9/2025

Sean Spiller failed to qualify for matching state campaign funds and fell short of the threshold to participate in two upcoming debates as he runs for governor of New Jersey. His spokesperson works for a consulting firm in Washington, and he has no paid campaign manager. But Spiller has something the other five Democrats running for governor do not: a $35 million blank check from a group with close ties to the labor union he leads, the New Jersey Education Association.

New Mexico – NM Ethics Commission Has Authority Over Lobbying Advertising Campaigns, Court of Appeals Rules

Yahoo News – Austin Fisher (Source New Mexico) | Published: 4/7/2025

The New Mexico Court of Appeals ruled that when lawmakers passed the State Ethics Commission Act, they intended to give the panel power to handle complaints not only about individual lobbyists and their employers, but also to organizations that run lobbying advertising campaigns. The ruling stems from a complaint filed against New Mexico Families Forward. Former Rep. Ambrose Castellano alleged the group violated the law by failing to disclose the identity of its donors, and how much they had given.

New York – This Agency Fights Corruption. New York City Leaders Have Weakened It.

DNyuz – Jan Ransom (New York Times) | Published: 4/6/2025

In recent months, New York City’s government has been rocked by corruption scandals at a pace not seen in nearly a century. Yet over the past few years, New York’s leaders have presided over a gradual weakening of the city’s leading corruption-fighting agency, the Department of Investigation. In recent months, the agency has been so strapped for funds that it has tapped millions of dollars forfeited by people convicted of crimes to cover basic operating costs.

North Carolina – Court Directive to Notify Voters in Close North Carolina Election Blocked for Now

MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 4/7/2025

The North Carolina Supreme Court temporarily halted enforcement of an appeals court decision that favored a Republican candidate in a close and unresolved November election for a seat on the state’s highest court. The Supreme Court issued a temporary stay of an order by a Court of Appeals panel that in part directed election workers to identify and contact potentially tens of thousands of voters whose ballots were challenged by Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin.

North Dakota – House Committee Recommends Removing New Ethics Commission Position, Adding Deadline

Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 4/8/2025

A House committee recommended several sweeping changes to the North Dakota Ethics Commission’s budget, including cutting a new full-time staff member and adding a new six-month deadline for processing ethics complaints. The commission called the changes “a roadblock intended to hamper the commission’s work.”

Ohio – House Republicans Propose Eliminating the State’s Campaign Finance Enforcer

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 4/4/2025

Ohio House Republicans want to eliminate a regulatory body that enforces deadlines and accuracy of candidates’ campaign finance spending and fundraising reports. While their proposed state budget does not repeal the section of state law that created the Ohio Elections Commission 30 years ago, it reduces its budget from about $432,000 this year to zero in the next two fiscal years.

Ohio – Ex-Cleveland City Councilman Basheer Jones Sentenced to 2 Years, 4 Months in Prison for Corruption Schemes

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 4/2/2025

Former Cleveland City Councilperson Basheer Jones was sentenced to two years and four months in prison for using his influence to benefit him and a romantic partner. The judge also ordered the one-time mayoral candidate to pay back $143,000 that he and others made off three schemes in which they swindled nonprofits. Jones is the sixth council member in the last two decades to be convicted of corruption-related charges.

Pennsylvania – Emails Between Pa. Lawmakers and Lobbyists Will Remain Hidden from the Public After Court Ruling

Yahoo News – Angela Couloumbis (Spotlight PA) | Published: 4/8/2025

A panel of Commonwealth Court judges ruled the state Legislature can continue to shield from public view written interactions lawmakers have with lobbyists. Good-government advocates called the ruling a missed opportunity to create more transparency around the inner workings of the Legislature, which has exempted itself from having to disclose many records – including emails – the executive branch routinely makes public.

Tennessee – Pardoned Ex-Sen. Kelsey Wrangles for Amendment to Campaign Finance Bill

Yahoo News – Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) | Published: 4/9/2025

Straight off a prison stint cut short by a presidential pardon, former Tennessee Sen. Brian Kelsey is maneuvering for legislation to pay his legal expenses. Kelsey, who served two weeks in prison for directing an illicit campaign finance scheme, is lobbying lawmakers to pass legislation that would enable him to use his state campaign account to pay legal fees after three years of court battles.

Texas – Gov. Greg Abbott Sets Nov. 4 Special Election to Fill U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s Seat

MSN – Jasper Scherer, Kayla Guo (Texas Tribune), and Natalia Contreras (Votebeat) | Published: 4/7/2025

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott set November 4 as the special election date to fill the congressional seat left vacant by former U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s death, a timeline that leaves the solidly Democratic seat vacant for at least seven months as Republicans look to drive President Trump’s agenda through a narrowly divided Congress. Turner died March 5, two months into his first ter. State law does not specify a deadline for the governor to order a special election.

Texas – Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Former Aides Win $6.6 Million in Whistleblower Case

MSN – Ayden Runnels and Jasper Scherer (Texas Tribune) | Published: 4/4/2025

A judge awarded $6.6 million to four former senior aides to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who said they were improperly fired after reporting Paxton to the FBI. The case was sparked when eight former aides, including the four plaintiffs, reported Paxton to federal authorities in over his relations with Nate Paul, a friend and real estate investor. The whistleblowers accused Paxton of abusing his office to do favors for Paul, including by hiring an outside lawyer to investigate claims made by Paul and providing him confidential law enforcement documents.

Vermont – Final Reading: House advances changes to its ethics panel’s procedures spurred by bag-soaking scandal

VTDigger – Shaun Robinson | Published: 4/8/2025

The bag-soaking scandal that catapulted the Vermont House into national headlines last year and focused attention on the chamber’s internal committee that investigated the incident has prompted lawmakers to tweak the rules guiding inquiries into their colleagues allegedly bad behavior. The House gave preliminary approval to a set of rule changes that would give the secretive House Ethics Panel more leeway to describe its work to the public and the press. It would also require the panel to issue public reports on each of its investigations.

Wisconsin – Former Wisconsin Justice to Give Up Law License Over 2020 Election Review

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 4/7/2025

Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman agreed to give up his law license for three years after facing a string of ethics allegations stemming from his error-riddled review of the 2020 election for Republican lawmakers. Gableman conceded that legal regulators had produced enough evidence to find he had violated state ethics rules for lawyers. He gave up his legal fight over the matter a week after a candidate backed by Democrats won a seat on the state’s high court and locked in a likely liberal majority for years.

The Legislative Assembly recently passed a bill to overhaul lobbying regulations for the commonwealth. Currently, the lobbying system in Puerto Rico is split into three district systems for the House, Senate, and executive branch. House Bill 42 unites the three separate systems under one new registry. The bill also establishes new disclosures, penalties, and revolving door restrictions. If approved by Gov. Jenniffer González Colón, the bill is effective immediately, but regulators will have 60 days to adopt regulations.