National:

Elizabeth Warren, Comic Book Hero? Senator Is Latest to Star
Albuquerque Journal – Steve LeBlanc (Associated Press) | Published: 4/18/2016

“Female Force: Elizabeth Warren” tells the true-life story of Warren’s rise from Oklahoma schoolgirl to U.S. senator and champion of the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. The 22-page comic is the brainchild of publishers Storm Entertainment and is part of a larger series designed to celebrate the lives of notable women. Instead of leaping over tall buildings, Warren’s political superpowers are focused on something she sees as even more threatening: the Wall Street and Capitol Hill power brokers she holds responsible for hollowing out the middle class. The bulk of the book steers clear of ideological battles and instead zeroes in on Warren’s personal and professional struggles.

Voters Angry About Big Money in Politics Take Their Complaints to City Hall
Washington Post – Matea Gold | Published: 4/18/2016

A backlash against wealthy interests in politics that has lifted the White House bids of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders is reverberating beyond this year’s presidential race. The large sums swamping campaigns have prompted voters to appeal to City Halls and state Capitols, hoping to curb the influence of well-heeled donors in their communities. One of the biggest public protests drew thousands to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. But similar, if smaller, efforts have been playing out across the country. The growing number of local campaigns means politicians at every level of government are contending with voters who believe their voices are being drowned out by those with more resources.

Federal:

PAC Donations from Elderly Donors Draw Scrutiny
USA Today – Fredreka Schouten and Christopher Schnaars | Published: 4/18/2016

VIGOP, an obscure fundraising committee from the Virgin Islands, is one of the top-spending PACs in a constellation of groups tied to Scott Mackenzie, a political treasurer. Mackenzie, whose spending practices have drawn scrutiny in recent years from watchdogs and candidates, has served as treasurer of more than 20 PACs at some point in this election cycle. Three of them, including VIGOP, have collected more than $1 million so far for the 2016 election. In each case, more than half their contributions larger than $200 came from retirees. At the same time, a large share of the donations these groups took in went to fund operating expenses instead of direct contributions to Republican candidates. FEC member Ann Ravel has sounded alarms about the rise of PACs she believes are engaged in “consumer deception” but says there is little in current federal law that gives the agency authority to act.

The New Gilded Age: Close to half of all super PAC money comes from 50 donors
Washington Post – Matea Gold and Anu Narayanswamy | Published: 4/15/2016

Close to half of the money raised by the groups by the end of February came from just 50 donors and their relatives, according to a Washington Post analysis. In all, donors this cycle have given more than $607 million to 2,300 super PACs, which can accept unlimited contributions from individuals and corporations. That means super PAC money is on track to surpass the $828 million the Center for Responsive Politics found was raised by such groups for the 2012 elections. The huge amounts reflect how super PACs are fundraising powerhouses just six years after they came on the scene. The concentration of fundraising power carries echoes of the end of the 19th century, when wealthy interests spent millions helping put William McKinley in the White House.

Trade Group for Lobbyists Closing Down
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 4/19/2016

The Association of Government Relations Professionals (AGRP), formerly the American League of Lobbyists, is shutting down. The closure reportedly stems from a contract dispute with Columbia Books, which runs the website Lobbyists.info and had been a sponsor for events organized by AGRP. Founded to raise the image of the lobbying profession, AGRP offered networking and courses through its Lobbying Certificate Program. Paul Miller, a lobbyist with Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies, said he has created a new organization called the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics in the wake of AGRP discontinuing its certificate program.

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona – Supreme Court Upholds Arizona Redistricting Plan
Washington Post – Robert Barnes | Published: 4/20/2016

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the state legislative districts in Arizona drawn by an independent commission, rebuffing complaints the electoral maps diminished the clout of Republican voters. The justices said the commission that draws legislative boundaries did not violate the U.S. Constitution’s principle of “one person, one vote.” The case focused on state legislative districts drawn for the 2012 election based on 2010 census numbers. The challengers said the new districts favored Democrats over Republicans by packing GOP voters into certain districts in a way that would minimize their influence in neighboring districts while enhancing the sway of Democratic voters.

California – Are You an Independent Voter? You Aren’t If You Checked This Box
Los Angeles Times – John Myers, Christine Mai-Duc, and Ben Welsh | Published: 4/16/2016

The American Independent Party (AIP) is bigger than all of California’s other minor parties combined. The ultraconservative party’s platform opposes abortion rights and same sex marriage, and calls for building a fence along the entire U.S. border. But a Los Angeles Times investigation has found a majority of its members have registered with the party in error. Nearly three in four people did not realize they had joined the party, according to a survey of registered AIP voters. That mistake could prevent people from casting votes in the June 7 presidential primary. Voters from all walks of life were confused by the use of the word “independent” in the party’s name, according to the newspaper’s analysis.

California – Political Fine from 2012 Mayor’s Race Sets Record
San Diego Union-Tribune – Greg Moran | Published: 4/15/2016

A company that illegally funneled campaign contributions in San Diego’s 2012 mayoral race was fined $128,000 by the city Ethics Commission, the largest penalty ever levied by the agency for campaign finance violations. The investigation revealed the owner of Advantage Towing, Ayman Arekat, orchestrated a series of straw-donor contribution to three campaigns, then hid the source. Arekat, whose company dis business with the city, had employees make $500 contributions – at the time, the maximum allowed under the law – and then reimbursed them with checks drawn on the company’s account.

Florida – Florida Says Firm Didn’t Illegally Try to Influence Attorney General
New York Times – Eric Lipton | Published: 4/20/2016

Bernard Nash, a partner in a former Washington, D.C. law firm who allegedly sought favorable attention from Florida’s attorney general on his clients’ behalf without being registered as a lobbyist, did not violate Florida lobbying law, the state ethics commission found. The investigation began in response to a series of articles that examined the increasing efforts by a wide range of corporations to influence state attorneys general. Lawyers who handle this kind of business rarely register as lobbyists, even though in many cases they also work on general policy matters, like urging state attorneys general to intervene with the federal government on environmental regulations their corporate clients oppose, The New York Times found.

Kentucky – Beshear Aide Tim Longmeyer Pleads Guilty to Bribery; Investigation Continues
Lexington Herald-Leader – John Cheves and Bill Estep | Published: 4/19/2016

A onetime high-ranking state official whose criminal charges were an embarrassment for former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge. Tim Longmeyer abruptly resigned as a deputy in the state attorney general’s office two days before a criminal complaint was announced in March. Longmeyer pleaded guilty to using his influence as the head of the state’s Personnel Cabinet under former Beshear to steer contracts to a public relations firm in 2014 and 2015. Longmeyer admitted to receiving more than $200,000 in kickbacks from the firm. He faces up to 10 years in prison. Prosecutors have not named the consulting firm, but said more people could be charged in the case.

Louisiana – Who’s Really Being Wined and Dined? Louisiana Legislators Trying to Clear up Vague Lobbyist Disclosure Laws
New Orleans Advocate – Elizabeth Crisp | Published: 4/17/2016

Louisiana’s lobbying disclosure laws leave large gaps that lawmakers are trying to fix this year. Several bills making their way through the Legislature this session are aimed at making disclosures more specific – from lobbyists’ reports to the financial disclosures that elected officials have to file. Rep. Chris Broadwater noted in a recent House committee meeting that he did not attend many of the events where his name is listed in lobbyist disclosure reports and he was not treated to nearly all the fancy steak dinners that were ascribed to him. “We work with some very good lobbyists, but I think there are some mistakes made,” Broadwater said.

Michigan – ‘More to Come,’ Attorney General Vows, as Officials Criminally Charged in Flint Water Crisis
Washington Post – Brady Dennis and Mark Berman | Published: 4/20/2016

The first criminal charges stemming from the Flint water crisis were filed as two state officials and a city employee were accused of covering up evidence of lead contamination. Two people at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality were charged with misleading the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about whether Flint was using the treatment needed to control lead levels after the city switched its water supply in 2014. Michael Prysby, a district engineer, and Stephen Busch, a district supervisor, were also accused of impeding a Genesee County investigation. Michael Glasglow, the city’s utilities administrator, was charged with tampering with test results to make the lead contamination appear less severe. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette stressed that the charges mark the beginning of a broadening investigation.

Oregon – Political Consultants Must Disclose Clients under New Portland Rule
Portland Oregonian – Brad Schmidt | Published: 4/21/2016

New regulations that take effect on September 1 will require political consultants to register if they advise members of the Portland City Council or the city’s elected auditor. Elected officials also will be required to disclose the consultants who give them advice. But the rules do not prohibit consultants from lobbying the clients they help elect or keep in City Hall. Portland’s new rules will require consultants and lobbyists to disclose when political service begins. But there is not a requirement to reveal the topics or type of service provided.

Virginia – Va. Lawmakers Sustain Series of McAuliffe Vetoes
Richmond Times Dispatch; Staff –   | Published: 4/20/2016

State lawmakers rejected proposed changes by Gov. Terry McAuliffe to Virginia’s new ethics law, saying they were unnecessary. Lawmakers agreed to a $100 cap on gifts in last year’s session, but passed legislation this year that makes exceptions for certain kinds of gifts, including food and drinks under $20. The governor also wanted to prohibit lobbyists from bundling gifts together from multiple clients to avoid exceeding the $100 cap. McAuliffe will review whether to veto the legislation following the rejection of his amendments.

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

Federal:

As Campaigns Seek Delegates, Ordinary Voters Feel Sidelined
New York Times – Jeremy Peters | Published: 4/9/2016

For decades, both major parties have used a somewhat convoluted process for picking their presidential nominees, one that involves ordinary voters in only an indirect way. As Americans flock this year to outsider candidates, the kind most hindered by these rules, they are suddenly waking up to this reality. And their confusion and anger are adding another volatile element to an election being waged over questions of fairness and equality. Like with any private members-only club – political parties are not official government entities – party leaders exercise considerable control over which candidate gets their endorsement and the privilege of using their political infrastructure, financial support, and voter base, without which winning in November is all but impossible.

Big Bucks Spent Honoring Lawmakers
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 4/14/2016

Although rules ban gifts to federal officials and place limits on campaign contributions, there is no cap on the amount of money that can be spent honoring lawmakers and top officials with plaques and events, nor are there limits on donations to charities and institutes that policymakers support. The so-called honorary expenses are central to the way Washington, D.C. works yet are rarely reported in the press. More than 240 of organizations shelled out $19.75 million on honorary expenses last year, according to disclosure records. The contributions were made to more than 100 different organizations, some of which have federal officials on their boards.

Inside a Consulting Giant’s Deep Roots in Clinton Land
Politico – Rachel Bade | Published: 4/13/2016

When Hillary Clinton became secretary of state, she sought out Declan Kelly to be her economic envoy to Northern Ireland. While serving as Clinton’s special envoy, reaching out to global corporations for those investments, he was also working for two of them as a private consultant. It was also during this time period that Kelly and Doug Band, a close aide to former President Bill Clinton, were preparing to launch a global consulting business. Teneo Holdings would go on to employ numerous Hillary Clinton associates, giving clients rare access to the couple and their network of world leaders. The fact that Kelly and Band were laying the groundwork for their enterprise while Kelly was working for the State Department represents a fresh illustration of the blurring of the lines between Hillary Clinton’s political network and her State Department that critics have long noted.

Puerto Rico’s Prosperous D.C. Power Couple
New York Times – Eric Lipton and Michael Corkery | Published: 4/12/2016

As Puerto Rico has spiraled toward possible bankruptcy, the island’s sole representative in Congress has seen his family wealth swell, thanks in part to Wall Street companies that have sought to capitalize on the island’s financial crisis and have hired his wife to advise them. The dual roles, those of a lawmaker and a spouse who are both involved in the financial affairs of their community, are hardly unusual in Washington, a city where power couples are increasingly common and, at times, celebrated. But legislation that Pedro Pierluisi, the resident commissioner to Congress from Puerto Rico, has introduced would benefit at least two of the companies that have hired his wife, María Elena Carrión, for financial advice.

Why Thousands of Americans Are Lining Up to Get Arrested in D.C. This Week
Rolling Stone – Ben Wofford | Published: 4/13/2016

More than 400 protesters participating in a recent sit-in on Capitol Hill were arrested and if organizers have their way, there will be more. Democracy Spring is mobilizing a week of sit-ins at the Capitol building – over 3,500 have pledged to be arrested – in what organizers hope will become a series of intensifying waves of protest meant to highlight the influence of money in politics. In an election cycle that has already seen Black Lives Matter and other protesters change the conversation among candidates, Democracy Spring is billing itself as 2016’s first full-stage activist production.

From the States and Municipalities:

Hawaii – A Cool Million Was Spent Lobbying Hawaii Lawmakers in Two Months
Honolulu Civil Beat – Nathan Eagle | Published: 4/7/2016

Nearly $1 million was spent lobbying Hawaii lawmakers during the first two months of the year, pushing the total expenditures to almost $14 million since 2013. Disclosure reports do not detail when a lobbyist had lunch with a legislator or had a private meeting to discuss a bill. The vast majority of lobbyists report spending no money. The filings do show what organizations have hired lobbyists, who they have hired, and how much they’re paying them. But even that information has its limits.

Indiana – Indy Council Approves Ethics Reforms
Indianapolis Star – Brian Eason | Published: 4/11/2016

The ethics code for the city of Indianapolis and Marion County was overhauled with new restrictions on lobbyists and tougher penalties for noncompliance. When the ethics ordinance was first approved in 2009, it set up a registry that required lobbyists to file annual disclosures. But in part because of lax reporting requirements, no enforcement actions have been taken and few gifts have been disclosed since it became effective. Now, lobbyists will have to report the value and recipient of all gifts worth $25 or more. Repeat violators would be subject to lifetime bans for themselves and the firms they represent.

Kentucky – Inside The Kentucky Firm at the Center of the FBI’s Corruption Probe
Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting – James McNair | Published: 4/14/2016

FBI agents in March raided MC Squared Consulting’s office in Lexington. Today, visitors are greeted by a locked door and a paper sign saying “Out of town today.” MC Squared provided services to candidates, like conducting polls, setting up focus groups, developing campaign strategy, and buying ads. Although its offices were searched and employees interviewed by the FBI, MC Squared has not been accused of wrongdoing. Only one person was criminally charged the day of the raid: Tim Longmeyer, Kentucky’s former Personnel Cabinet secretary. Longmeyer is accused of taking more than $200,000 in bribes from an unnamed consulting company in exchange for sending it more than $2 million worth of market research work. Officials would not say if MC Squared is the firm mentioned in the Longmeyer complaint. But more and more, MC Squared appears to be the unnamed company.

Massachusetts – State Panel OK’s GOP’s Use of Federal Funds for Baker War Chest
Boston Globe – Frank Phillips | Published: 4/8/2016

The Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) ruled the state Republican Party can give federally raised resources to Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s campaign committee. OCPF Director Michael Sullivan said federal campaign finance laws trump state law. That means a political party is free to raise donations of up to $10,000 under federal guidelines, far above the state’s $1,000 annual limits, and then use those funds to support a state campaign committee. Typically, donations raised under federal guidelines have been used to support candidates for federal, not state, office. “It’s a loophole, but an avenue that can used by both parties; this has never been brought to our attention prior to this case,” Sullivan said.

Nebraska – Nebraska Senators Fail to Vote on Lobbyist Meal Ban
Grand Island Independent; Associated Press –   | Published: 4/13/2016

State senators engaged in a brief discussion about a resolution to end lunches paid for by lobbyists and served to senators in the Nebraska Capitol. But they moved on without taking a vote, to the chagrin of the sponsor, Sen. Ernie Chambers, who plans to reintroduce it next year as a bill instead of a legislative resolution. The resolution sought to stop lobbyists from buying catered meals for lawmakers during the final weeks of the legislative session. Served in the senators’ lounge behind the chamber, the lunches cost about $10,000 last year, according to the lobbyist who organizes them. State law caps gifts to senators or their family members at $50 in value, but places no limits on food and beverages.

New York – Donald Trump and New York Tabloids Resume Their Elaborate Dance
New York Times – Michael Grynbaum | Published: 4/11/2016

As the presidential spotlight swings to New York for the state’s primary contest, Donald Trump is reuniting with the press corps he knows best, a boisterous tabloid culture that spawned and nurtured the outsize Trump personality now known the world over. It is also the ink-stained caldron in which Trump, over decades, honed the method of media management – cajoling, combating, at times dissembling – that he has unleashed, to great effect, in this year’s national campaign. Some Americans have been caught off guard by Trump’s take-no-prisoners style, but New York’s media veterans detect the old Trump playbook at work.

New York – Federal Prosecutors Cast a Wider Net in New York City Hall Inquiry
New York Times – William Rashbaum and Al Baker | Published: 4/10/2016

A federal corruption investigation examining New York City police officials, a correction union leader, and businesspeople with fundraising ties to Mayor Bill de Blasio has expanded into a probe of the mayor’s campaign fundraising, people familiar with the matter said. One of the businesspeople held a fundraiser at his home for the Campaign for One New York, a nonprofit supporting the mayor’s agenda and run by his allies, and another bundled more than $40,000 in contributions to de Blasio’s 2013 campaign. Federal investigators are interested in whether major donors to the Campaign for One New York received special treatment from de Blasio’s administration, the sourced said. The investigators are looking at whether donations were made in exchange for some kind of official act.

Tennessee – Jeremy Durham’s Office Moved Across Street after AG Probe
The Tennessean – Joel Ebert | Published: 4/8/2016

Tennessee Rep. Jeremy Durham is effectively being quarantined from lawmakers, lobbyists, and interns after the state’s attorney general determined he could pose a risk to “unsuspecting women” at the state Capitol complex. House Speaker Beth Harwell announced she is moving Durham’s office to the ground floor of a building across the street and his access to committee rooms and the House chamber will be limited to when meetings are taking place. The move comes amid an investigation into the Durham’s “pattern of conduct” toward women. Interviews with 34 current and former lawmakers, lobbyists, staffers, and interns included allegations that Durham made sexual comments and inappropriate physical contact with women working at Legislative Plaza, according to Attorney General Herbert Slatery’s memorandum to Harwell.

Washington – Legislature Gets a C- Grade from Lobbyists. That’s Actually an Improvement.
Tacoma News-Tribune – Melissa Santos | Published: 4/12/2016

According to the annual poll of lobbyists, the Washington Legislature’s overall performance in 2016 was slightly better than in any year since 2011. On a 4.0 scale, the Legislature this year earned a grade point average of 1.78, an improvement from 1.73 last year and the six-year low of 1.54 in 2013. Lobbyists docked the Legislature for its work on certain issues, especially K-12 education. Grades were lower than last year in five of eight subject areas, according to the report. Lobbyists were even more critical of Gov. Jay Inslee, giving him the lowest rating they have since he took office in 2013.

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

Federal:

Could Republican Convention Delegates Be Bought? Legally, Maybe
CNN – Tal Kopan and Gregory Krieg | Published: 4/4/2016

There are federal and state laws prohibiting bribery of elected officials, and restrictions on campaigns themselves, but there is not much on the books governing what private citizens serving as delegates at their parties’ conventions can take in exchange for their votes on a nominating ballot. In a fight between Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and perhaps an alternative not currently in the race, every delegate vote will matter in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Campaigns and candidates are not the only entities that have funds to spend on the process, and there are a variety of laws and regulations that could come into play for delegates at this year’s convention.

Republicans on FEC Suggest They May Scrutinize Mystery Corporate Donors
Washington Post – Matea Gold | Published: 4/3/2016

The three Republican appointees on the FEC have indicated that campaign donors who give through private companies solely to shield their identities can be sanctioned, signaling the agency may scrutinize a rash of “pop-up” corporations giving large sums to super PACs. Their stance suggests the potential for movement by the polarized six-person panel, where a sense of stasis has been the norm. Democratic commissioners, however, reacted with skepticism, saying their GOP colleagues have until now delayed and actively blocked examination of such cases. But Lee Goodman, one of the Republican commissioners, said in an interview that contributors seeking to mask themselves through a privately held company or limited liability corporation should think twice.

Supreme Court Rejects Conservative Challenge to ‘One Person, One Vote’
Washington Post – Robert Barnes | Published: 4/4/2016

The U.S. Supreme Court endorsed the way Texas draws its legislative districts based on total population and not just eligible voters, the same method used by all 50 states, rejecting a conservative challenge in a case focusing on the legal principle of “one person, one vote.” The justices unanimously rebuffed the challenge spearheaded by a conservative legal activist that could have shifted influence in state legislative races away from urban areas that tend to be racially diverse and favor Democrats to rural ones predominantly with white voters who often back Republicans. The court did not rule on a separate question of whether it would be constitutional for states to use the voter-eligible population for reapportionment if they chose to do so.

Trump Effect Hits Dem Convention
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 4/5/2016

Businesses have long kept a big presence at the Democratic and Republican conventions, cutting checks for the festivities and sponsoring branded parties where their executives hobnob with the biggest names in the political world. But raising money for this year’s conventions is proving difficult, with many corporations wary of associating themselves with Donald Trump and his controversial campaign for the White House. Corporations are now considering sitting out the Democratic National Convention this summer for fear of looking partisan if they decide to skip the GOP’s event because of Trump.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama – Were the Gov. Robert Bentley Sex Scandal Tapes Legally Obtained?
AL.com – Keith Faulk | Published: 4/5/2016

It is not clear exactly who, how, and where the recordings were made of a few racy phone conversations purportedly between Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and a woman on the other end believed to be his senior adviser Rebekah Mason. Apparently neither was the person who recorded the conversations. But if the conversations were recorded without the permission of either Bentley or the woman on the other end of the phone, the person who recorded it may run afoul of Alabama and/or federal eavesdropping laws, said Jenny Carroll, a professor at the University School of Law. She is interested in how it might play out in a court, before the Legislature, or the state Ethics Commission as to whether the tapes could be used. “It’s going to be very exciting,” Carroll said.

Arizona – AZ Governor Signs Bill Easing Dark Money Rules
Albuquerque Journal – Ryan Van Velzer (Associated Press) | Published: 4/1/2016

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill that makes numerous changes to the state’s campaign finance rules. One provision cedes regulation of “dark money” and other nonprofit groups to the IRS, essentially doubling the amount that secretive organizations can spend on ballot measures and allowing nonprofits to spend more money influencing elections without having to reveal donors. Also gone are limits on how much someone can spend hosting a fundraising event for one or more candidates. In addition, Senate Bill 1516 allows candidates who have amassed large donations to transfer some of that money to others running for office.

California – Documentaries Like ‘Blackfish’ Influence California’s Capitol
Sacramento Bee – Alexei Koseff | Published: 3/31/2016

For advocates in California, movies have become a popular way to generate public awareness, promote legislation, and reach those who have a say on issues. These events largely highlight traditionally liberal causes, but it is a nonpartisan strategy. Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger once co-hosted a showing of “Waiting for Superman,” a film critical of public education. Jennifer Fearing, a lobbyist for animal rights groups, said it is a vital tool for nonprofits and other small organizations that have a less sophisticated presence in Sacramento. Documentaries send a message that something is “a mature problem that serious people are worried about and have put resources into,” while also providing an entertaining platform to educate the public and politicians, said Fearing.

Georgia – Friends in the Hall: How lobbyists use influence to help their clients
Atlanta Magazine – Max Blau | Published: 3/28/2016

Wayne Garner and Charlie Watts walked through the “revolving door” from legislating to lobbying and today are among nearly 1,000 badge-wearing lobbyists registered in Georgia. Their firm, Southeastern Resource Group, relies on their institutional knowledge, personal relationships with everyone from the state troopers guarding the Capitol doors to the governor, and a “good ol’ boy” sense of humor. Jokes aside, their expertise is valuable to clients, earning them up to $5,000 a month as contract lobbyists.

Kansas – The Conservative Gladiator from Kansas behind Restrictive Voting Laws
Washington Post – Sari Horwitz | Published: 4/6/2016

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach has emerged as a major figure in a movement to add more requirements for Americans to vote or register to vote. Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key part of the Voting Rights Act, sixteen states have made changes that will be in effect for the first time in a presidential election, many of them requiring photo identification at the polls. Kobach, a Republican, has gone a step further by pushing for states to demand proof of citizenship, such as a passport or a birth certificate, before allowing people to even register. “The reason we have to do this is there is a significant problem in Kansas and in the rest of the country of aliens getting on our voting rolls,” Kobach said. Election law experts say there is no evidence of significant voter fraud and Kobach is intentionally trying to make it more difficult for minority voters who tend to vote Democratic.

Kentucky – Judge Tosses Kentucky’s Ban on Corporate Campaign Donations
Lexington Herald-Leader; Associated Press –   | Published: 3/31/2016

U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ruled the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance cannot enforce the state’s prohibition on corporate campaign donations, finding the disparate treatment of corporations and unincorporated organizations violates the Constitutional right to equal protection under the law. The ruling stems from the battle over “right-to-work” legislation in the state: the labor unions that oppose those measures are allowed to make political contributions, while a corporation that promotes them is not.

Mississippi – High Court Rejects Challenge to Miss. Campaign Finance Law
San Diego Union-Tribune; Associated Press –   | Published: 4/4/2016

The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear an appeal challenging the constitutionality of a Mississippi campaign finance law that requires reporting by people or groups spending at least $200 to support or oppose a ballot measure. The justices left in place an appeals court ruling that upheld the law over claims it is too burdensome.

New Jersey – Why Are N.J. Public Contractors Who Took in $8.2B Donating Less to Candidates?
Newark Star-Ledger – Samantha Marcus (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 4/7/2016

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) said the state’s “pay-to-play” laws are chilling campaign contributions from public contractors. While they received nearly $8.2 billion in public contracts in 2015, a $1.2 billion hike over 2014, political donations from contractors fell 15 percent, from $9.8 million in 2014 to $8.3 million in 2015, according to an analysis of annual disclosure reports. “Many contractors are so afraid of violating the law that they have just stopped making political contributions entirely; many contractor donations are now going to PACs and independent groups, which are not subject to ‘pay-to-play,'” said ELEC Executive Director Jeff Brindle.

Pennsylvania – Lobbying for Philadelphia, and Well Paid for It
Philadelphia Inquirer – Jonathan Tamari and Claudia Vargas | Published: 4/4/2016

One is a longtime Philadelphia-area member of Congress who quit in 2002. Another worked for U.S. Rep. Robert Brady (R-Pa.). A third was a powerful state senator from Delaware County until he went to federal prison. Yet years after they left their public jobs, all remain on the taxpayers’ tab as private lobbyists, paid to promote Philadelphia’s interests in Washington, D.C. and Harrisburg. It is a common arrangement for cities, but one that troubles some watchdogs. A review of city records found Philadelphia taxpayers paid private lobbyists $482,924 last year. And despite already working for City Hall, some of the same firms also collected additional amounts from public entities such as Visit Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation.

Tennessee – Bible Could Soon Be Tennessee’s Official Book
New York Times – Katie Rogers | Published: 4/5/2016

Derided by critics as everything from unconstitutional to sacrilegious, Tennessee lawmakers nevertheless moved ahead with designating the Holy Bible as the state’s official book. Sponsors argue the bill seeks to honor the historical significance of the Bible in Tennessee’s history rather than serving as a government endorsement of religion. But opponents say the measure trivializes the Scripture by placing it alongside other state symbols like the official flower, tree, reptile, or folk dance. It remains unclear whether opponents of the bill will take the issue to court should Gov. Bill Haslam sign the legislation.

Virginia – Virginia Lawmakers Banish Pricey Gifts – But Not Fundraisers
ABC News – Alan Suderman (Associated Press) | Published: 4/6/2016

An analysis shows Virginia’s elected officials have hosted birthday parties, hunting and fishing trips, and golf tournaments in efforts to raise money. The fundraising occurred while lawmakers were putting new limits on gifts they could take from lobbyists and others after a scandal involving a former governor. Many lawmakers said they need to throw attention-getting fundraisers to attract lobbyists and donors, who are inundated with constant requests. Critics say the limits on gifts have done little to change the political culture. Instead of spoiling legislators with sports tickets and vacations, businesses are helping subsidize luxurious fundraisers, and filings provide scant details on the events.

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

National:

Feeling G.O.P. Peril, Muslims Try to Get Out Vote
New York Times – Alan Rappeport | Published: 3/24/2016

American Muslims are watching in growing horror as Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz battle for the Republican presidential nomination, outdoing each other with provocative proposals that have included Muslim registries, immigration bans, and fleets of police patrolling their neighborhoods. National advocacy groups are planning to fend off policies they consider hostile to Muslims with a more proactive strategy: driving up the Muslim vote. Organizations are encouraging mosques to turn themselves into voter registration centers before the November election so Muslims can make their voices heard at the polls. Registration drives are expected to ramp up significantly in June, during Ramadan, when attendance at Islamic centers peaks. Although Muslims make up only about one percent of the U.S. population, civil rights groups have set a goal of registering a million new voters.

Federal:

How Clinton’s Email Scandal Took Root
Washington Post – Robert O’Harrow, Jr. | Published: 3/27/2016

Since Hillary Clinton’s private email account was brought to light a year ago, the matter has been a source of nonstop national news. The FBI is now trying to determine whether a crime was committed in the handling of that classified material. It is also examining whether the server was hacked. The Washington Post reviewed documents and interviewed more than a dozen knowledgeable government officials to understand the decisions and the implications of Clinton’s actions. The resulting scandal revolves around questions about classified information, the preservation of government records, and the security of her email communication.

Surprising Source of GOP Petition
CBS News – Arden Farhi | Published: 3/29/2016

A man who says he authored a petition to allow open carry of guns at the Republican National Convention says he did it to test the limits of the party’s support for the Second Amendment. The petition, which has attracted national attention, reads as if it was written by a supporter of gun rights. Instead, the man behind the petition is a self-professed liberal Democrat and gun control advocate. In response to questions about the petition, the Secret Service said only law enforcement personnel will be allowed to carry firearms at the event.

Union ‘Persuader’ Rule to Offer Rare Look inside DC Consulting
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 3/27/2016

The U.S. Department of Labor finalized the so-called union persuader rule that requires third-party lawyers and outside consultants to disclose when they are paid to advise businesses on resisting union-organizing campaigns. The rule takes effect on July 1. The rule covers activities like conducting union-avoidance seminars, providing materials for employers to distribute to workers, and writing talking points. Registered lobbyists in Washington, D.C. often lament that while their activities are heavily regulated, other professionals in the advocacy industry do similar work without any disclosure requirements at all. Craig Holman, a lobbyist for Public Citizen, said the Labor Department’s persuader rule could show the value in expanding advocacy disclosure beyond registered lobbyists.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama – Governor of Alabama, Robert Bentley, Says He Won’t Quit
New York Times – Alan Blinder | Published: 3/30/2016

Rebekah Caldwell Mason announced her resignation, saying she would no longer serve as Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley’s senior political adviser after he publicly admitted making inappropriate remarks to her but denied the two ever had an affair. It was uncertain whether it would be politically feasible for Bentley to remain in office. Some lawmakers are talking of impeaching the governor. His former pastor said Bentley was no longer a member of the Tuscaloosa congregation where he was once a deacon. The Alabama Ethics Commission said it would investigate whether Bentley and Mason had committed wrongdoing.

Arizona – Bill Overhauling Campaign Finance Laws Heads to Arizona Governor
Arizona Daily Star – Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) | Published: 3/29/2016

The Arizona Legislature passed a bill that rewrites campaign finance law, including a provision that would remove food, beverages, and invitations from the list of what is considered a political contribution or expenditure under state law. It also eliminates existing law that requires groups that spend money to influence elections to register first with the state. Critics call the legislation a back-door attempt to expand the influence of anonymous political spending in elections. Senate Bill 1516 now goes to the governor.

Arkansas – Ex-Judge Gets 10-Year Sentence for Taking Bribe
Arkansas News – John Lyon | Published: 3/24/2016

A former Arkansas judge was sentenced to 10 years in prison in federal court after he pleaded guilty to lowering the amount of damages a jury awarded in a civil suit in exchange for campaign contributions. Michael Maggio, a former state District Court judge, reached a plea deal where he admitted to receiving the bribes to reduce a $5.2 million judgment in a civil negligence case against a nursing home company to $1 million. Maggio met with an unidentified person who said he could provide about $50,000 in campaign funds in return for a favorable ruling in the civil case. Maggio was removed from office in 2014 after admitting he disclosed information about the adoption of a child by actress Charlize Theron, which was handled by another judge in the state.

California – Lobbying Class Teaches Sacramento State Students ‘Rough and Tumble’ Politics
Sacramento Bee – Taryn Luna | Published: 3/28/2016

Richie Ross is best known as a campaign consultant for many of California’s highest ranking Democrats and a longtime lobbyist and ally of the United Farm Workers. But he has a side job that few have heard about: helping to teach undergrads at Sacramento State University how to develop and carry an actual bill through the state Legislature. In the course description, “Making a New Law” is defined as “hands-on and grounded in rough and tumble politics.” Few universities offer lobbying majors or programs specifically geared for students interested in the profession. Ross said internships can provide valuable experience, but do not necessarily give students an insider’s perspective.

Florida – Opa-locka’s ‘Shadow’ Force Moves Millions in City Contracts
Miami Herald – Jay Weaver, Michael Sallah, and Katie Lepri | Published: 3/28/2016

In a community where money begets political favors at City Hall, Dante Starks has known few equals in pulling the levers of government in Opa-locka, Florida. The lobbyist has helped steer millions of dollars in public works projects to clients, shut down police investigations, and pushed successfully for the firing of a city manager – all after his own arrest on public bribery charges nearly a decade ago. Now, Starks is at the center of a federal investigation that threatens to topple him and a cadre of elected leaders in the most comprehensive corruption probe in Miami-Dade County in decades. A federal grand jury has issued 18 subpoenas to current and former City Hall employees in a kickback investigation involving nearly every public works project in Opa-locka in the past 10 years.

Kentucky – Beshear Aide Charged in Kickback Scheme
Louisville Courier-Journal – Joseph Gerth, Andrew Wolfson, and Tom Loftus | Published: 3/26/2016

The former secretary of the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet allegedly took more than $200,000 in kickbacks to steer business to a consulting company and make illegal campaign contributions. Timothy Longmeyer was charged with bribery. The alleged kickback scam involved the Kentucky Employees’ Health Plan, which is administered by the department that Longmeyer headed. The state contracts with private insurance companies such as Humana and Anthem to provide services to employees. The affidavit alleged Longmeyer abused his authority over the health plan in order to get Humana and Anthem to give business to a consulting company in return for bribes from the company.

Michigan – Feds Charge 12 Detroit School Principals with Bribery
USA Today – Katrease Stafford and Tresa Baldas (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 3/29/2016

Thirteen former or current principals with the Detroit Public Schools (DPS) system face federal conspiracy and bribery charges in an alleged scheme to receive kickbacks from Allstate Sales, a school supplies vendor. According to the charges, the principals approved fraudulent invoices from the vendor in order to receive payment from DPS for supplies that were ordered. Allstate Sales reportedly provided cash, checks, or gift cards to the principals in many cases as kickbacks, instead of delivering the full amount of supplies that were ordered. The payments for all of the defendants total more than $800,000. U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said DPS suffered a loss of $2.7 million in the scheme.

Missouri – Lawmakers Bunking with Lobbyists Show More Cozy Connections in Capitol
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Kurt Erickson | Published: 3/30/2016

A review of data collected by the Missouri Ethics Commission shows at least 13 state legislators have had business relationships in the past year with lobbyists, ranging from the renting of sleeping rooms to the use of lawmaker-owned businesses. It is all perfectly legal for lawmakers to have business dealings with lobbyists under Missouri’s ethics laws, where candidates can take unlimited amounts of campaign money and be entertained by the companies and groups seeking to influence policy. The housing data comes from business relationships reported by lobbyists on their monthly reports. Along with reporting how much they spend on legislators, lobbyists must note any direct business relationships or partnership with any public official.

Montana – Montana Lawmakers Rarely Refrain from Voting on Personal Interests
Helena Independent Record – James DeHaven | Published: 3/27/2016

Montana law requires the disclosure of potential conflicts-of-interest for state lawmakers only ahead of votes that “have a direct and distinctive personal impact on the legislator.” The law also leaves questions about the determination and enforcement of such conflicts up to each lawmaker and a pair of partisan legislative ethics committees that have not met for at least the past decade. An analysis of more than 900,000 floor and committee votes over the past four legislative sessions found just 20 recorded instances of a lawmaker announcing a conflict-of-interest ahead of a vote. Records point to only three documented instances when a legislator abstained from a vote in light of that conflict.

Ohio – City Hall Scandals Prompt Ginther to Propose New Ethics Rules
Columbus Dispatch – Lucas Sullivan | Published: 3/28/2016

The Columbus City Council approved new ethics regulations that center on more accountability for lobbyists, increased campaign finance reporting for city candidates, and more disclosure of gifts and trips by elected officials. The rules, which go into effect in April, will increase the penalties for noncompliance. Under the reforms, lobbyists will be required to disclose expenditures and interactions with any elected city officials and some of their staff three times a year. Lobbyists who make false statements or disclosures will be subject to first-degree misdemeanors. There will also be additional disclosure beyond the state requirement for gifts provided to city officials, including the type of gift, who gave it, and the value.

South Carolina – Wilson Defends Firing of Pascoe, Johnson Refuses Job
Greenville News – Tim Smith | Published: 3/30/2016

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson defended his decision to fire David Pascoe, a special prosecutor he had appointed to investigate corruption within South Carolina’s Legislature. Pascoe filed a petition with the state Supreme Court asking it to immediately hold a hearing and rule on whether Wilson has the authority to remove him. Meanwhile, the man tapped by Wilson to lead the inquiry, Dan Johnson, is refusing to take the job until the Supreme Court issues a decision in the matter. Wilson said he was shocked and disappointed to learn of the plea deal with House Speaker Bobby Harrell that Pascoe had negotiated. Harrell pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor counts of misusing his campaign funds and avoided jail time with his sentence.

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

Lobbying

California: “Lobbying Class Teaches Sacramento State Students ‘Rough and Tumble’ Politics” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee

Missouri: “Lawmakers Bunking with Lobbyists Show More Cozy Connections in Capitol” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Bill Overhauling Campaign Finance Laws Heads to Arizona Governor” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star

Indiana: “Exclusive: Special prosecutor investigating allegation against Monarch Beverage” by Tony Cook for Indianapolis Star

Ethics

Michigan: “Feds Charge 12 Detroit School Principals with Bribery” by Katrease Stafford and Tresa Baldas (Detroit Free Press) for USA Today

Missouri: “Missouri Lawmakers Pass Limits on Paid Political Consulting” by Adam Aton and Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) for Kansas City Star

Texas: “Indictment Aside, Crystal City Mayor is Running Again” by Jim Malewitz for Texas Tribune

Vermont: “Trimmed Down Ethics Commission Plan Gets Committee’s OK” by Mark Johnson for VTDigger.org

Elections

Ohio: “Surprising Source of GOP Petition” by Arden Farhi for CBS News

Lobbying

“Union ‘Persuader’ Rule to Offer Rare Look inside DC Consulting” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

“FOI Agency, In Role Reversal, Opposes Disclosure of Connected Lobbyist’s Emails” by Jon Lender for Hartford Courant

Texas: “Travis County to Create Its First Code of Ethics” by Sean Collins Walsh for Austin American-Statesman

Campaign Finance

California: “Valley Councilwoman’s Aides Sought $5 and $10 Donations That Are Focus of U.S. Inquiry” by David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times

Ethics

Alabama: “Governor’s Political Adviser Discloses Pay from Nonprofit” by Kim Chandler (Associated Press) for Montgomery Advertiser

Florida: “Gov. Rick Scott Signs Anti-Corruption Bill” by Matt Reed and James Call for Tallahassee Democrat

Kentucky: “Beshear Aide Charged in Kickback Scheme” by Joseph Gerth, Andrew Wolfson, and Tom Loftus for Louisville Courier-Journal

Missouri: “Despite Fast Start, Legislative Progress on Ethics Reform Slows” by Ellen Cagle for Fulton Sun

Montana”Montana Lawmakers Rarely Refrain from Voting on Personal Interests” by James DeHaven for Helena Independent Record

Elections

“Uninformed Voters Are a Problem. This May Be a Solution.” by Mike Maciag for Governing

“How the G.O.P. Elite Lost Its Voters to Donald Trump” by Nicholas Co
nfessore for New York Times

National:

Scorecard: Essential disclosure requirements for contributions to state campaigns, 2016
National Institute on Money in State Politics; Staff –   | Published: 3/15/2016

The National Institute on Money in State Politics released its latest review of campaign finance transparency across the country. The institute formulated its national scorecard to grade states’ disclosure practices governing direct contributions to state candidates, state political parties, and, where applicable, committees that support or oppose any kind of statewide ballot question. Twenty-nine states received a “B” or better, including 10 that earned an “A”; conversely, 12 states got a “D” or worse, including eight that flunked. Scores varied widely across the country, with almost every region represented on each side of the grading spectrum. Maine led the way with a perfect score. Mississippi stood alone at the opposite pole with only 37.5 points.

The U.S. Has ‘Worst Elections of Any Long-Established Democracy,’ Report Finds
Washington Post – Rick Noack | Published: 3/21/2016

The U.S. ranked 47th worldwide, out of 139 countries, in a comparison of election standards and procedures. The survey is a measure of dozens of factors, including voter registration, campaign financing rules, election laws, the voting process, and vote count. Overall, one in six elections around the world were considered electoral failures. But in general, countries in the Americas and Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in Asia, were considered to be on the winning side in terms of electoral integrity, with Scandinavian and Western European nations topping the lists.

Federal:

GOP Campaigns Hunt for Convention Killer App
Politico – Robert Samuelsohn | Published: 3/24/2016

Tracking, counting, and potentially swaying the Republican National Convention’s 2,472 delegates amid a maze of confusing rules is a critical function in a nominating process that figures to be contested, which is why the campaigns have already embarked on a once-in-a-generation feat of political and technological engineering. The goal is not necessarily an app, but rather some combination of technology designed for the first contested national convention in 40 years. While campaigns for statewide office have used delegate-tracking data technology in state party conventions and even at recent national party conventions, nothing on the scale of what would be required for the summer of 2016 has ever been attempted.

How ‘Ghost Corporations’ Are Funding the 2016 Election
Washington Post – Matea Gold and Anu Narayanswamy | Published: 3/18/2016

A growing cadre of mystery groups are financing super PACs. Many were formed just days or weeks before making six- or ­seven-figure contributions, an arrangement that election law experts say violates a long-standing federal ban on straw donors. But the individuals behind the “ghost corporations” appear to face little risk of reprisal from a deeply polarized FEC, which recently deadlocked on whether to even investigate such cases. Advocates for stronger campaign-finance enforcement fear there will be even more pop-up limited liability corporations funneling money into independent groups, making it difficult to discern the identities of wealthy players seeking to influence this year’s presidential and congressional contests.

Trump Wannabes Shake Up Cable Airwaves
Politico – Hadas Gold | Published: 3/21/2016

These days, with Donald Trump steamrolling to the Republican nomination while so many party regulars oppose him, the cable networks have little choice but to look outside their comfort zone for talking heads. They have almost endless hours of airtime to fill, and most of their regular conservative commentators – the ones kept on a retainer to be available at odd hours – are arrayed against Trump. Some speakers now have A-list status for the simple reason that they favor Trump. While their relationships to the Trump campaign range from loose to very loose, they do share their favored candidate’s penchant for eye-popping comments.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama – Alabama Governor, Robert Bentley, Denies Having Affair with Aide
New York Times – Alan Blinder | Published: 3/23/2016

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley admitted he made inappropriate remarks to a top female staffer, but denied accusations they had a “physical affair.” The governor’s admission capped a bizarre day in which, a day after his firing, his former law enforcement secretary and one-time close friend made public the content of a clandestine recording, made by a family member before Bentley’s wife filed for divorce last year, and accused his former boss of having an inappropriate relationship with the staffer. The governor, a former Baptist deacon, acknowledged he said “some inappropriate things” to his senior political adviser, Rebekah Caldwell Mason.

California – Former L.A. City Council Aide, Wife Acquitted of Embezzlement in Corruption Case
Los Angeles Times – Marisa Gerber | Published: 3/22/2016

Jurors found Robert Katherman, Jr. and his wife, Marilyn, not guilty of misappropriation of public funds and embezzlement. A third defendant, Ronald Smith, treasurer of the West Basin Municipal Water District, pleaded guilty in 2014 to embezzling nearly $20,000 from the agency. Prosecutors alleged Smith, persuaded the water agency to give paid sponsorships to the Adopt a Stormdrain Foundation. The Kathermans were members of the nonprofit’s board. The couple, prosecutors argued, steered money to Smith, who used the funds to pay for tennis and dance lessons for his children and to fix his boat. But defense attorneys argued Smith deceived Rob Katherman into believing the checks covered educational grants, and that Marilyn Katherman had nothing to do with them at all.

Florida – Trump Camp Says $25,000 Charity Contribution to Florida AG Was a Mistake
Washington Post – David Fahrenthold and Rosalind Helderman | Published: 3/22/2016

Donald Trump’s aides admitted his charitable foundation made mistakes when it donated to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s political committee. In 2013, the Trump Foundation gave $25,000 to And Justice for All, a committee supporting Bondi’s re-election bid. But federal tax law bans 501(c)(3) charities like the Trump Foundation from contributing to political campaigns. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington asked for an IRS investigation into whether the foundation should lose its tax-exempt status and whether its accountants committed perjury by not properly disclosing a political contribution on its tax forms.

Indiana – Hogsett to Lobbyists: Disclose gifts, or face ban
Indianapolis Star – Brian Eason | Published: 3/23/2016

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett wants to close loopholes in the city ethics code with a package of reforms introduced recently. The proposed ordinance would strengthen reporting requirements, impose stronger penalties for violations, and create a web portal for easier public access to ethics disclosures. Thomas Cook, the mayor’s chief of staff, said the existing law lists certain gifts a lobbyist has to report, such as food, entertainment, and travel expenses, meaning lobbyists can omit those that do not fall into specific categories. Another problem, Cook says, was a lack of teeth. In addition to existing fines, lobbyists under the proposal could incur lifetime bans for themselves and their firms if they repeatedly break the rules, while contractors who violate the ordinance could be banned for a single offense.

Massachusetts – Large Donations Help Mass. GOP Avoid State Cap
Boston Globe – Frank Phillips | Published: 3/17/2016

Wealthy individuals with interests before state government are helping to keep the usually financially strapped Massachusetts Republican Party flush with cash and circumventing the state’s strict limits on political contributions and transparency requirements. These large donations are funneled through the Massachusetts Victory Committee, a joint fundraising effort between the state and national parties. Because of its national component, it was set up under federal guidelines, which allows annual donations up to $43,400, far above the $5,000 cap set for state-regulated political donations to party accounts and the $1,000 annual limit for contributions to Gov. Charlie Baker’s campaign committee. This appears to be the only such arrangement nationwide, according to FEC filings.

Mississippi – Many Mississippi Officials Take from Closed Campaign Accounts, Review Reveals
New York Times; Associated Press –   | Published: 3/20/2016

An Associated Press review shows that of 99 elected officials in Mississippi who have left office in recent years, as many as 25 may have pocketed more than $1,000 when they closed their campaign accounts. At least five former officeholders took more than $50,000. Mississippi is one of five states where such withdrawals are legal as long as state and federal income taxes are paid, with no restrictions on how the money is spent. A proposal to end the practice has consistently failed to win support from lawmakers; it died again this year without even a committee vote. Experts say the practice makes campaign contributions perilously close to bribes.

Montana – For Some Montana Office Seekers, It’s Not about Winning
Great Falls Tribune – Bobby Caina Calvan (Associated Press) | Published: 3/20/2016

Montana law allows campaign donors to give a gubernatorial candidate a maximum of $1,320 – up to $660 in the primary and another $660 in November’s general election. But without a primary challenger, candidates would have to send back any amount exceeding $660. Most states have limits on campaign contributions, but Montana and South Carolina may be the only ones requiring candidates to return money when they run unopposed. Some say Montana law should be changed to prevent “paper candidates.” It has become a ritual among Montana election watchers to see who Democrats and Republicans can wrangle into key races to skirt campaign finance rules.

New York – Harold Ickes, Mentor to Mayor Bill de Blasio, Builds Lobbying Victories
New York Times – Michael Grynbaum | Published: 3/19/2016

On his path to becoming mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio has long relied on Harold Ickes, whom he calls his mentor. Ickes has advised de Blasio’s campaigns, introduced him to wealthy donors, and recommended him for a breakthrough job managing Hillary Clinton’s run for U.S. Senate. Shortly after de Blasio’s election in 2013, Ickes opened a New York branch of his lobbying firm. Although he had not lobbied in the city for nearly a decade, Ickes proved a quick study, collecting about $1 million in fees and securing wins for major clients. The mayor has said his friendship with Ickes does not influence his decision-making, or the city’s treatment of his mentor’s clients. But an examination of public records obtained shows the close relationship has given Ickes extraordinary access, enabling him to push his clients’ interests directly to the city’s top officials.

New York – Oft-Criticized Ethics Watchdog Names Cuomo Aide as Executive Director
Gotham Gazette – David Howard King | Published: 3/23/2016

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) picked a former aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo as its new director. JCOPE chose Seth Agata a former counsel to Cuomo and the governor’s pick last year to serve as chairperson of the Public Employment Relations Board. Agata will be the board’s third consecutive director with close ties to Cuomo. Critics have questioned JCOPE’s effectiveness and whether Cuomo has too much influence over its work. Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group said he had known Agata for years and he was an “honest, hard-working straight shooter. … Whether he’s independent enough or not is the question.”

Ohio – Security Officials Brace for GOP Convention amid Trump Protests, Brussels Attack
Politico – Anna Palmer | Published: 3/23/2016

Cleveland is preparing to host the Republican National Convention during one of the most tumultuous presidential elections in decades. Tensions are escalating as Donald Trump warns of “riots” if he is denied the nomination at the July convention. Add two major terrorist attacks abroad in four months into the cauldron, including the bombings in Brussels, and it is not hard to imagine the potential for chaos at the convention this summer. Still, convention organizers and security officials say they are ready to execute a plan that was in the works before fisticuffs broke out regularly at Trump’s rallies.

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

National:

Even as Political Spending Explodes, Disclosure Remains Hazy
CTNewsJunkie.com – Mary Spicuzza (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) and Jeremy White (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 3/15/2016

So-called dark money spending is expected to explode during this presidential election year. Congress could require more disclosure about who is financing campaigns, but it has made no move to do so. Attempts to force more disclosure from outside special interest groups have succeeded in some states. But there is a limit to what states can do, since they do not have oversight of spending on federal races, which are consistently the costliest elections. While some state election agencies have moved to make more donor information public, they often struggle to win support from lawmakers, said Denise Roth Barber of the National Institute on Money in State Politics.

Federal:

Donald Trump’s Presidential Run Began in an Effort to Gain Stature
New York Times – Maggie Haberman and Alexander Burns | Published: 3/12/2016

During his remarks at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in 2011, President Obama lampooned Donald Trump. After the dinner ended, Trump quickly left, appearing upset. That evening of public abasement accelerated Trump’s efforts to gain stature within the political world. And it captured the degree to which his campaign is driven by a yearning sometimes obscured by his bluster and bragging: a desire to be taken seriously. That desire has played out over the last several years within a Republican Party that placated and indulged him, and accepted his money and support, seemingly not grasping how determined he was to become a major force in American politics. In the process, the party bestowed upon Trump the kind of legitimacy that he craved, which has helped him pursue a credible bid for the presidency.

Rubio’s Demise Marks the Last Gasp of the Republican Reboot
Washington Post – Robert Costa and Philip Rucker | Published: 3/15/2016

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio dropped out of the presidential race after losing the Florida primary to Donald Trump and failing to unite the Republican establishment against the front-runner. Since Mitt Romney’s loss in 2012, the Republican National Committee and leading voices at think tanks and editorial boards have charted a path back to the White House based on inclusive rhetoric and a focus on middle-class issues. Nobody embodied that vision better than Rubio, a standard-bearer for conservative orthodoxy who readily embraced the proposals of the right’s elite thinkers. But his once-promising candidacy, as well as the conservative reform movement’s playbook, was spectacularly undone by Trump and his defiant politics of economic and ethnic grievance. The drift toward visceral populism became an all-consuming rush, leaving Rubio and others unable to adjust.

Supreme Court Nomination Drives Groups from Left and Right to Fight
New York Times – Eric Lipton | Published: 3/16/2016

With the selection by President Obama of Merrick Garland to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, advocacy groups from the left and the right are now fully engaged in what both sides agree will be a highly contentious nomination fight, even if the Senate never formally considers the president’s choice. Part of the intensity is a reflection of the enormous and diverse range of special interest groups that have decided to engage in this fight, which will be the first in an age in which social media has become a dominant force. In many cases, the groups have set aside longstanding tensions that have prevented them from teaming up in a unified way.

Wild Card for Trump: Who gets to be a convention delegate?
Washington Post – Karen Tumulty and Jose DelReal | Published: 3/16/2016

With more than half the states having now held their nominating contests, Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz are directing their attention to a second, shadow election campaign – one that is out of sight and little understood but critical if Republicans arrive at their national convention with Trump short of a majority of delegates. This parallel campaign is to select the individual delegates who will go to Cleveland in July for what could be the first contested convention in more than 60 years. Chosen through a byzantine process in each state, most of the delegates will become free agents if no one wins a majority on the first ballot. The mere prospect that delegates could deny Trump the nomination led him to predict that violence could erupt in such a scenario.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – FPPC Votes to Tighten California Lobbying Regulations
Sacramento Bee – Taryn Luna | Published: 3/17/2016

The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) voted to narrow a regulation that allows people to avoid identifying themselves as lobbyists by attending Capitol meetings as experts. The regulation has faced scrutiny as a way for former legislators and officials to skirt state rules requiring they wait a year after leaving office to lobby their former colleagues. The changes approved by the FPPC state that the “ride-along” participant must work for the lobbyist employer and can only act as an expert on subject matter related to the legislation under discussion.

California – How a State Senator – Whose Family is in the Taxi Business – Put the Brakes on Two Uber Bills
Los Angeles Times – Liam Dillon | Published: 3/11/2016

San Diego taxi company owner Alfredo Hueso is a frustrated businessperson. He believes state regulations are helping companies like Uber and Lyft rob him of business. And as he complained in a recent letter to the state Senate president, elected leaders are not doing anything to fix the problem. In that battle, though, Hueso has one advantage over the ridesharing companies: his younger brother is state Sen. Ben Hueso, an important advocate in Sacramento for the taxi industry. Since his election to the Legislature more than five years ago, Sen. Hueso has pushed for stiffer regulation of rideshare companies amid a battle playing out all over the country. At the same time, the burgeoning industry has stepped up its attempt to influence policy in Sacramento.

Florida – FBI Agents Blow Lid Off Opa-locka City Hall Corruption Probe
Miami Herald – Jay Weaver, Michael Sallah, and Katie Lepri | Published: 3/10/2016

Federal agents raided Opa-locka City Hall to gather official records, computers, and other evidence in a public corruption probe zeroing in on top public officials, including the mayor and other city commissioners. The FBI’s search follows a two-year investigation into allegations of kickback schemes between government contractors and public officials, according to law enforcement sources familiar with the case. The crackdown comes at a time when Opa-locka, one of Miami-Dade County’s poorest cities, has been struggling with a financial crisis stemming from millions of dollars in uncollected revenue and mismanagement.

Hawaii – Honolulu Ethics Director on Leave after Internal Investigation
Honolulu Civil Beat – Anita Hofschneider | Published: 3/14/2016

Chuck Totto, the Honolulu Ethics Commission’s longtime executive director, is on leave following an independent investigation by the commissioners into the management of the agency’s staff. He has been gone since March 1 and plans to return on April 4. Totto has had a contentious relationship with Mayor Kirk Caldwell and, increasingly, the commission over the last three years.

Hawaii – Passing The Buck: When Hawaii politicians give to each other
Honolulu Civil Beat – Nathan Eagle | Published: 3/15/2016

Hawaii law prohibits candidates from using their own campaign funds to support others running for office. But some state legislators and other officeholders have long gotten around the ban through a loophole that lets them buy up to two tickets to another politician’s fundraiser for an amount often equal to the maximum allowable individual campaign contribution. Now the Legislature is considering a bill that would remove the need to hold a fundraiser and simply allow direct campaign donations between candidates, something critics contend amounts to buying influence.

Michigan – Could More Government Transparency Help Prevent Another Flint?
Christian Science Monitor – Jessica Mendoza | Published: 3/17/2016

The drinking water crisis in Flint, which left about 200 children diagnosed with dangerous levels of lead in their blood, underscored not only officials’ failure to address concerns about the city’s water quality, open government advocates say. It also reflects an overall lack of transparency in Michigan’s government, which two watchdog groups characterized as the worst in the nation. As some, but not all, e-mails related to the decision to switch Flint’s water source have been released, it also has called to question loopholes in the state’s Freedom of Information Act, which some say allowed officials to function with little public oversight. More broadly, the situation has renewed national conversation about the value of the public’s right to know and the role of accountability in effective governance.

New Mexico – Questions Raised about Martinez’s Inaugural Spending
Las Cruces Sun-News – Justin Horwath | Published: 3/14/2016

How the nearly $1 million that Susana Martinez’s inaugural committee raised was spent has remained largely a mystery and was, until recently, among the subjects of a long-running FBI investigation into Jay McCleskey, the governor’s top political adviser. McCleskey’s lawyer said the FBI has dropped its inquiry and no grand jury indictment is forthcoming. Records obtained by The Santa Fe New Mexican provide details into the committee’s spending, including more than $130,000 that went to companies connected to McCleskey. The documents also provide strong evidence that, despite the committee’s promises to the contrary, some of the 2010 inaugural money was used for fundraising for Martinez’s 2014 re-election campaign. The committee had promised to donate all unspent money to charity.

New York – Suit to Close LLC Loophole Tossed
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 3/16/2016

A judge has dismissed a challenge to the New York Board of Elections’ treatment of limited liability companies (LLCs). The board treats LLCs as individuals for the purpose of determining campaign contribution limits, which allows those who control many of them give politicians far more than the caps that apply to other individuals. The Brennan Center for Justice brought a case challenging this interpretation. State Supreme Court Justice Lisa Fisher dismissed the case, finding the statute of limitations against the 1996 board decision had passed. She also wrote that the treatment of LLCs “has all the hallmarks of a political question best suited for resolution through legislative action.”

Washington – Judge Finds Grocery Group Violated Campaign Laws in 2013
Tacoma News-Tribune – Donna Gordon Blankinship (Associated Press) | Published: 3/11/2016

A judged ruled the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association (GMA) violated Washington’s campaign finance disclosure laws by hiding the identities of corporate donors that were funding efforts to defeat a food labeling initiative in the state. But Superior Court Judge Anne Hirsch said the case has to go to trial to determine what fine the group will pay; the amount depends on whether the violation was intentional. The GMA raised $14 million from corporations to fight Initiative 522 and then donated $11 million in the organization’s name. State Attorney General Bob Ferguson sued the association in October 2013.

Washington – Voters Could Get $150 to Give to Candidates under Proposed Initiative
Seattle Times – Jim Brunner | Published: 3/14/2016

Washington voters would be allowed to make $150 in taxpayer-funded donations to legislative candidates every two years under a ballot initiative proposal. Backers of the measure, aimed at the November 2016 ballot, say it would curb the influence of moneyed special interests by creating the new public campaign financing system, modeled in part on a “Democracy vouchers” initiative approved by Seattle voters last year. It also would make a host of changes to state campaign finance and lobbying laws, including a $100 limit on campaign donations by government contractors and lobbyists to candidates for offices with power to benefit them.

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

Campaign Finance

“Even as Political Spending Explodes, Disclosure Remains Hazy” by Mary Spicuzza (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) and Jeremy White (Sacramento Bee) for CTNewsJunkie.com

Arizona: “House Panel OKs Significant Changes to Campaign Finance Laws” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star

Hawaii: “Honolulu Ethics Director on Leave after Internal Investigation” by Anita Hofschneider for Honolulu Civil Beat

Hawaii: “Passing The Buck: When Hawaii politicians give to each other” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat

Washington: “Voters Could Get $150 to Give to Candidates under Proposed Initiative” by Jim Brunner for Seattle Times

Ethics

“Supreme Court Nomination Drives Groups from Left and Right to Fight” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

California: “‘Dark Money’ Measure Pulled by California Campaign Reform Backers” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee

California: “How a State Senator – Whose Family is in the Taxi Business – Put the Brakes on Two Uber Bills” by Liam Dillon for Los Angeles Times

Florida: “FBI Agents Blow Lid Off Opa-locka City Hall Corruption Probe” by Jay Weaver, Michael Sallah, and Katie Lepri for Miami Herald

West Virginia:”Lawmakers Killed Ethics Bills on Session’s Last Day” by Eric Eyre for Charleston Gazette

Elections

“Hillary Clinton Wins 4 Races, Rebounding From Michigan Loss” by Patrick Healy and Amy Chozick for New York Times

“Donald Trump Takes 3 States; John Kasich Wins Ohio” by Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns for New York Times

“Rubio’s Demise Marks the Last Gasp of the Republican Reboot” by Robert Costa and Philip Rucker for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

“Capitol Benches That Provided Comfort to Lobbyists Have Been Ordered Removed” by Nathaniel Herz for Alaska Dispatch News

Lobbying

California: “California Watchdog Considers Rule Narrowing Secret Lobbying” by Alison Noon (Associated Press) for Los Angeles Daily News

Florida: “Broward Commissioners Reject ‘Gift’ from Boys & Girls Club” by Brittany Wallman for South Florida Sun Sentinel

New Jersey: “Sweeney’s Office and Horizon Swapped Notes before Key Speech” by Susan Livio (NJ Advance media) for Newark Star-Ledger

North Carolina: “Group Attacks NC House Member Justin Burr for Dating a Lobbyist” by Colin Campbell for Raleigh News & Observer

Vermont: “Lawmakers Switch Tack on Lobbyist Donations” by Jasper Craven and Anne Galloway for VTDigger.org

Virgina: “Virginia Legislative Session Ends with Agreements and Bickering” by Travis Fain for The Daily Press

Campaign Finance

New Mexico: “Questions Raised about Martinez’s Inaugural Spending” by Justin Horwath for Las Cruces Sun-News

Virgina: “Lawmakers Switch Tack on Lobbyist Donations” by Jasper Craven and Anne Galloway for VTDigger.org

Washington: “Judge Finds Grocery Group Violated Campaign Laws in 2013” by Donna Gordon Blankenship (Associated Press) for Tacoma News-Tribune

Ethics

New York: “Heastie Outlines Assembly Ethics Plan” by David Howard King for Gotham Gazette

South Carolina: “Group Sends SC House Members $2 Each, Asking for their Vote” by Jamie Self for The State

Elections

“Donald Trump’s Presidential Run Began in an Effort to Gain Stature” by Maggie Haberman and Alexander Burns for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Alabama: “Momentum to Remove Confederate Symbols Slows or Stops” by Alan Blinder for New York Times

Federal:

Ben Carson’s Small-Dollar Donors Could Keep Yielding Big Money
Center for Public Integrity – Carrie Levine | Published: 3/3/2016

Ben Carson’s database containing personal information on more than 700,000 donors to his presidential campaign could be a big money-maker if supporters’ information is rented to other candidates, political committees, and even for-profit data brokers, that may, in turn, use it to raise money. Some of the primary beneficiaries of renting Carson’s list would likely be his own campaign consultants and political operatives, who typically oversee marketing such lists and administering what remains of the campaign apparatus. A high percentage of Carson’s contributors has not previously given to candidates, which means those donors are less likely to be on other political lists already in circulation. This makes Carson’s supporter database an even more valuable commodity, to the party and to others who want to raise money.

Lobbyists Plan for Battle over Contractor Fair Pay Rule
Bloomberg BNA – Ben Penn | Published: 3/3/2016

A controversial executive order requiring federal contractors to disclose past employment law violations has trade association lobbyists, worker advocates, and attorneys gearing up for a fierce debate on Capitol Hill and in the courts. The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council and the Labor Department are busy finalizing a regulation and guidance to implement the President Obama’s Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order. It requires businesses to disclose any violations of 14 federal labor and employment laws, as well as comparable state laws, for the previous three years to be eligible for contracts worth more than $500,000. It allows agencies to deny contracts based on the information.

The FEC Just Made It Easier for Super PAC Donors to Hide Their Identities
Washington Post – Matea Gold | Published: 3/7/2016

Political donors hiding their super PAC contributions behind shell companies have effectively been given the green light to continue the practice after the FEC could not agree whether to open an investigation into so-called straw donations. Campaign finance law stipulates that donors cannot make political contributions in another person’s name. This law has tended to be breached by employers who privately instruct their employees to donate to political campaigns, with the assurance that they will later be reimbursed. But in the era following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, the practices of disclosure have become even cloudier, and mysterious LLC groups have proliferated.

Trump Cracks Down on Protesters
Politico – Ben Schreckinger | Published: 3/8/2016

Donald Trump’s campaign appears to be ramping up efforts to prevent displays of dissent at his often unruly rallies. New tactics include extended barriers cordoning off the press and plainclothes private intelligence officers monitoring the crowd for protestors. Trump has escalated confrontations with protesters, leaving his podium to stare them down and repeatedly lamenting that his supporters cannot retaliate against them. At a rally in Nevada, he said of a dissenter, “I’d like to punch him in the face.” One member of Trump’s private security team, Eddie Deck, said his duties were now weighted towards intelligence work researching potential protesters and assisting uniformed security personnel under the direction of the candidate’s head of security.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alaska – Legislature Pursues More Big Cuts to Campaign Finance Regulators
Alaska Dispatch News – Alex DeMarban | Published: 3/9/2016

The Legislature last year cut funding to the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) by 43 percent. Now, lawmakers are moving ahead with plans to strike another $200,000, reducing the agency’s budget to $591,000, a 57 percent drop from two years earlier. Heather Hebdon, APOC’s campaign disclosure coordinator, said if the latest round of cuts is accepted by lawmakers, it will be harder for her agency to regulate fundraising and spending during busy state elections this summer and fall. APOC also enforces disclosure requirements for lobbyists, a job handled by one employee in Juneau, as well as disclosure requirements for public officials.

California – California GOP Leader Wants to Reinvent Party
The Desert Sun – Laurel Rosenhall (CALmatters) | Published: 3/9/2016

Chad Mayes, the California Assembly’s Republican leader, takes over as the GOP is fracturing at the national level over the presidential nomination, and dwindling in California, where less than 28 percent of voters are now registered Republican. Mayes believes he can make his party relevant in this blue state by moving away from social issues like gay marriage and abortion, and focusing instead on quality of life issues like housing affordability and the need for middle-class jobs. Fueled by his Christian faith and a pragmatic style, Mayes is trying to make poverty alleviation a key focus for Republicans.

Colorado – Audit: Colorado’s ethics commission rarely helps those filing complaints
Denver Post – Joey Bunch | Published: 3/8/2016

A state audit revealed that the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission does a poor job telling people how to file a complaint, what complaints the commission can review, and what the public can reasonably expect to happen to those who commit a violation. Those failings are among the reasons that 50 of the 57 complaints the commission reviewed from 2012 through 2015 were dismissed because the commission did not have authority or jurisdiction over the case, auditors suggested. The commission, which has a one-person staff and no investigators, found just four violations in four years. The agency’s few powers include oversight of gifts to state and some local officials exceeding $59 a year.

Connecticut – Connecticut Election, Information and Ethics Watchdog Agencies Fear Results of Deep Cuts
New Haven Register – Mary O’Leary | Published: 3/3/2016

Connecticut’s watchdog agencies say any additional budget cuts will leave them unable to function. The state is trying to close a $900 million deficit. The executive directors of the Freedom of Information Commission, the State Election Enforcement Commission, and the Office of State Ethics said their collective mission to keep government honest is being threatened. The directors said a big part of each of their jobs is training people to keep them out of trouble. Carol Carson, executive director of the Office of State Ethics, said if they hold fewer training sessions, they will have fewer people seeking advice and there will be more expensive enforcement action against state employees, public officials, and lobbyists. “I’d rather give advice to 1,000 people than enforce against 100,” Carson said.

Indiana – State to Locals: You can’t do that. Or that.
Indianapolis Star – Brian Eason | Published: 3/6/2016

Lately, it seems, whenever an Indiana city even thinks about passing an ordinance the General Assembly disagrees with, state lawmakers strip local officials of the authority to do so. To some, the erosion of local authority is nothing short of an attack on local democracy. To others, the practice known as pre-emption is a necessary protection. The recent proliferation of pre-emption bills can be explained in part by Indiana’s political culture and in part by a national conservative movement.

Massachusetts – Mass. Campaign Finance Regulators’ Office Gets Hip to Memes
Boston Globe – Steve Annear | Published: 3/3/2016

Regulators in Massachusetts are using a social media campaign to educate the public about the state’s campaign finance law. An image posted on the Office of Campaign and Political Finance’s Twitter account explained how much money candidates running for office are allowed to collect from donors. “An individual can contribute up to $50 a year in cash to a candidate,” read the message, which used a picture of an enthusiastic man in a business suit being showered with money to accentuate the point. The goal is to make the complex rules and regulations of running for political office more engaging. It is a dramatic change of tactics from the usually staid office.

Mississippi – No State Officials Enforce Campaign Finance Laws
Jackson Clarion-Ledger – Mollie Bryant, Geoff Pender, and Katie Royals | Published: 3/5/2016

No government agency claims responsibility for ensuring candidates and officials in Mississippi follow the state’s campaign finance laws. Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said no one reviews campaign finance reports filed with his office, and his office does not have the authority or resources to do so. The only campaign finance enforcement under Mississippi law involves disclosure. State law requires the secretary of state to report the names of candidates and elected officials who have not filed campaign finance reports and to fine them. If candidates and elected officials do not pay what they owe within 120 days, the secretary of state is required to notify the attorney general, who can file a suit.

New Mexico – Transparency Legislation Isn’t Quite as Transparent as Billed
New Mexico In Depth – Sandra Fish | Published: 3/4/2016

House Bill 105, which was signed into law by Gov. Susana Martinez, aims to make it easier for the public to access information about campaign contributions and lobbyists’ reporting. But the bill also ends a requirement that lobbyists report cumulative spending on lawmakers, and increases the limit for reporting from $75 to $100 per event. If the law had been in effect during 2015, nearly one-fourth of the 4818,000 spent by lobbyists would have gone unreported. The section on lobbyist reporting takes effect July 1, and would apply to lobbyists reports filed in October and January 2017.

New York – Assembly Democrats Introduce Bill to Increase Public Disclosure Requirements for Groups Who Lobby in New York
New York Daily News – Kenneth Lovett | Published: 3/10/2016

A bill introduced in the New York Assembly would amend lobbying disclosure rules. It would also specifically exempt from the definition of lobbying any communications with news outlets, including editorial boards. The legislation would require organizations registered to lobby in New York and that spend more than $5,000 to disclose the names of all donors who gave them more than $1,000. They would also have to disclose the exact amount donated and how the funding was used.

New York – PR Firms File Suit over ‘Hopelessly Vague’ JCOPE Lobbying Definition
Capital New York – Bill Mahoney | Published: 3/8/2016

A group of public relations firms filed suit in federal court against the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) to stop it from putting into effect a rule requiring disclosure of efforts to get editorial columns written for causes. The suit claims JCOPE overstepped its mandate when it adopted an advisory opinion that reinterpreted the definition of the lobbying. The new standard caused an uproar among many public relations professionals, who argued such disclosure would limit their right to free speech as well as the ability of editorial board members and other journalists to talk with such sources about issues and possible articles.

Pennsylvania – Former LCB Chairman Who Took Gifts Drops Out of Ethics Panel
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – Kari Andren | Published: 3/8/2016

Patrick Stapleton, a former chairperson of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, backed out of a National Alcohol Beverage Control Association meeting on the same day a reporter inquired about his appearance. Stapleton was implicated in a 2014 investigation for accepting gifts from vendors. He and was on the agenda of the meeting as a panelist instructing alcohol regulators about ethical behavior. Stapleton was fined more than $7,250 for accepting gifts ranging from golf outings and meals to Philadelphia Phillies tickets and wine and spirits donations for an annual event he and his then-wife operated. A report painted a picture of officials regularly taking advantage of liquor vendors looking for their piece of the Pennsylvania agency’s $2.1 billion in annual sales.

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

National:

Meet the ‘Nones,’ the Democratic Party’s Biggest Faith Constituency
Washington Post – Michelle Boorstein | Published: 2/29/2016

A large group of Americans reject any label or affiliation to describe their faith. At 23 percent of the population, this left-leaning group called “Nones” are the Democratic parallel to the Republican Party’s white evangelicals – except without organization, PACs, and a clear agenda. They do, however, have one big expectation of political candidates: be ethical, and go light on the God talk. A group that skews under 40, is white, and non-immigrant, the Nones want politicians to tone it down because they are fed up with religious institutions they see as corrupt and discriminatory. In the process, they are rewriting the country’s political discourse on morality.

Federal:

As Presidential Campaign Unfolds, So Do Inquiries into Clinton’s Emails
New York Times – Steven Lee Myers and Matt Apuzzo | Published: 3/2/2016

Hillary Clinton faces legal hurdles from her use of a private computer server as secretary of state. Foremost among a half-dozen inquiries and legal proceedings into whether classified information was sent through Clinton’s server is an investigation by the FBI, whose agents could seek to question Clinton’s closest aides and possibly the candidate herself within weeks. A federal law enforcement official said barring any unforeseen changes, the investigation could conclude by early May. Then the Justice Department will decide whether to file criminal charges and, if so, against whom. Federal law makes it a crime to mishandle classified information outside secure government channels when someone does so “knowingly” or, more seriously, permits it through “gross negligence.” Clinton has correctly pointed out that none of the emails on her server were marked as classified at the time.

Inside the Clinton Team’s Plan to Defeat Donald Trump
New York Times – Amy Chozick and Patrick Healy | Published: 2/29/2016

Hillary Clinton and her allies are shifting their attention to a likely general-election contest against Donald Trump that they expect to be strongly negative. Clinton is still waging a nomination battle against Bernie Sanders, but increasingly sure that Trump will win the Republican nomination, she appears to be running a two-pronged campaign. Several Democrats argued Clinton would easily beat Trump. They were confident his incendiary remarks would make him unacceptable to many Americans. But others, including former President Bill Clinton, dismissed those conclusions as denial. They said Trump clearly had a keen sense of the electorate’s mood and only a concerted campaign portraying him as dangerous and bigoted would win what both Clintons believe will be a close November election.

Jeb Bush’s Ambitions Paid Dividends for GOP Admaker Over the Years
Washington Post – Matea Gold | Published: 2/28/2016

Since 1998, when Mike Murphy helped Jeb Bush remake his image and win the Florida governor’s office, the strategist’s firms have received nearly $36 million from Bush’s campaigns, allied political committees, and educational foundation. While the vast majority of the money went to purchase advertising, Murphy got a significant cut as the media consultant. In this year’s presidential contest, Murphy helmed the big-money super PAC that Bush and his allies believed would give him a key edge in the race. By the time Bush dropped out, Right to Rise USA had raced through more than $101 million, to little effect. Murphy’s work for Bush over the years underscores how a long-term relationship with a politician can pay dividends for a political consultant, even in defeat. Right to Rise’s approach will be studied as a test of the kind of fiscal accountability that donors demanded after the 2012 election.

Lobbyists Could Make a Comeback after Obama
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 3/2/2016

None of the candidates running for the White House has vowed to keep President Obama’s restrictions on lobbyists in place, and Democrats have already abandoned his ban on lobbyist contributions to the party committee and nominating convention. Obama came into office vowing to “change how Washington works” by curbing the influence of lobbyists and special interest groups. The measures have been widely panned by K Street over the past seven years. Lobbyists say the attempt to curb Washington’s “revolving door” has succeeded only in keeping qualified people out of important jobs and impeding the flow of information to the administration. Critics say Obama’s policies drove more of the influence industry underground.

Seeing Chris Christie with Donald Trump, New Jersey and Internet Cringe
New York Times – Michael Barbaro | Published: 3/2/2016

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s seemingly shell-shocked gaze as he stood behind Donald Trump on Super Tuesday is generating befuddlement and mockery in his home state and beyond. Conservatives and liberals alike have piled on. His introductory remarks were so subdued and his appearance was so grave that the joke making the rounds on the Internet was that he was a hostage reading a coerced statement. “Gov. Christie, blink twice if you’re in trouble!” one person tweeted. Some newspaper editorials in New Jersey said he is not even fit to be governor any more. They called him a political opportunist who has neglected his duties in the Garden State, and urged him to resign.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – Budding Marijuana Lobby Gains Influence at California Capitol
Sacramento Bee – Taryn Luna | Published: 2/25/2016

When Amy Jenkins signed on to represent the California Cannabis Industry Association, veteran lobbyists told her the move could ruin her career. Bit in Sacramento, cannabis now is a welcome topic in many legislative offices and given rise to a budding micro-economy: marijuana lobbying. More than two dozen groups from the Recreational Boaters of California to the Wine Institute in San Francisco employed lobbyists to influence marijuana issues in the state last year. As the public becomes more accepting of pot, the industry is drawing well-funded business interests that want a piece of California’s billion-dollar market.

California – Female Lobbying Firm Thrives in Male-Dominated Capitol
Bakersfield Californian – Laurel Rosenhall (CALmatters.org) | Published: 2/27/2016

Women have become more prominent in Sacramento’s political scene than they were a generation ago, but they remain in the minority. Just 26 percent of California’s 120 legislators are female, two of the eight state officers elected statewide are women, and women are more likely to be employees than partners at Sacramento’s biggest lobbying firms. Roughly 300 firms are registered to lobby in California. Among the top 20 that brought in the most money last year, Political Solutions is the only one owned entirely by women. Its rare position shows both how far women have come in being able to succeed in the business of politics, and how much they remain outsiders in an old-school industry.

Colorado – Colorado Lobbying Law Offers Murky Picture of Influence on Politics
Denver Post – Joey Bunch | Published: 2/28/2016

The Center for Public Integrity last year deemed Colorado “largely sleaze-free” but criticized the state for its lack of transparency on lobbyists. Attempts to strengthen disclosure at the Legislature have not been effective, and state officials say there is not enough money to make improvements. Meanwhile, the lobbying firms that rank at the top of the income scale are viewed by insiders as those most diligent in reporting because loopholes and a lack of oversight allow for many firms to allow untold amounts of income paid to them to go unreported to the public.

Louisiana – What Budget Crisis? Louisiana Lawmakers Raising Campaign Cash
New Orleans Times-Picayune – Julia O’Donoghue | Published: 3/2/2016

Unlike regular legislative sessions when political fundraisers are forbidden, legislators in Louisiana are free during special sessions to pull in campaign money from fundraising events on the same days they vote on tax increases, budget cuts, and other bills. And 42 of the 144 members of the Legislature have taken advantage of the exception to hold or schedule political fundraisers in Baton Rouge during the 25-day special session that must end March 9. Two more lawmakers are having political fundraisers in Baton Rouge the day after the special session ends. Legislators do not have to report their political contributions from this period until the beginning of 2017, when their 2016 campaign finance reports are due.

Massachusetts – Bill Would Have Lobbyists Disclose Clients
The Sentinel & Enterprise – Michael Norton (State House News Service) | Published: 3/1/2016

State Sen. Sen. Michael Brady introduced a bill calling for municipal lobbyists to begin disclosing their clients and compensation with clerks at city and town halls throughout Massachusetts. Brady said his legislation, which was referred to the State Administration Committee, is modeled after the state lobbying law and establishes new categories governing municipal agents and municipal lobbying. It would require agents receiving more than $2,500 per year to disclose the nature of matters they are lobbying on, officials they have lobbied, the interests paying the agent, and campaign contributions made to local officials. Municipal lobbyists would be required to register annually and pay a fee of $100 under the bill.

Massachusetts – Marty Walsh’s Friends with Benefits
Boston Globe – Mark Arsenault and Andrew Ryan | Published: 2/28/2016

Michael Goldman has set up media interviews for Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, consulted with city officials about the release of public records, orchestrated the rollout of a major municipal labor contract, and written speeches for the mayor – all for free. O’Neil, a political strategist with so much affection for Walsh he said he would “die for the guy,” said he offers his skills and experience to the mayor as a “friend.” At the same time, Goldman’s consulting firm, the O’Neil/Goldman Group, firm lobbies City Hall on behalf of corporate clients who need things from the administration like permits and administration support on development projects worth millions of dollars.

Mississippi – Lobbyists: Campaign finance system ‘disgusting’
Jackson Clarion-Ledger – Geoff Pender, Kate Royals, and Mollie Bryant | Published: 2/28/2016

For roughly the last decade, outside interests such as political parties, lobbyists, corporations, and policy advocates have pumped money into Mississippi legislative races. Typically, lawmakers go to lobbyists, who line up corporate donors for their campaigns, or corporate donors go to lobbyists who direct them to the candidates they should donate to based on their issues or desired legislation. Eight top state lobbyists did give varying opinions on legislators and campaign money. Some said they and their clients are being pressured to cough up more money for more legislative races and find politicians’ personal spending of the money distasteful. Others said they see no problems. All said they do not believe there is any direct “pay-to-play” setup between making donations and getting legislation passed.

New Mexico – Governor OKs Upgrades to State’s Campaign Finance Reporting System
New MexicoPolitics.net – Heath Haussamen | Published: 2/29/2016

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez signed legislation designed to standardize electronic reporting so that filings by candidates, lobbyists, and political committees can be searched, cross-referenced, or downloaded for analysis. The law also will require lobbyists to file regular reports, as candidates already do. Registration fees from lobbyists would be reinvested in maintaining the database.

Wisconsin – With Fewer Members, a Diminished Political Role for Wisconsin Unions
New York Times – Monica Davey | Published: 2/27/2016

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker led a push five years ago to cut collective bargaining rights for most public sector workers, saying he needed to solve a state budget gap. Since then, union membership has dropped precipitously. Long a labor stronghold, the state has lost tens of thousands of union members, leaving Wisconsin with a smaller percentage of union members than the national average. The shift has shaken the order of election-year politics. Democrats, who most often have been the beneficiaries of money and ground-level help from the unions, said they were uncertain about what the coming elections would look like, and what forces could take the place of depleted labor groups.

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

National:

Political Polarization? It’s Not Just in Washington
Boston Globe – Jill Ramos | Published: 2/19/2016

Political scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have measured for the first time the relative liberalism or conservatism of all 50 states by examining a host of policies from the past eight decades. The study shows state policies across the country became more liberal between the 1930s and 1970s, and then stopped. In more recent years, overall economic policies have been constant, but social policies have become more liberal. The findings also confirmed what might have been suspected for some time: that over the past 20 years, states have become more politically polarized, not just in voting for president or members of Congress but also in state-level policies.

Univision Aims to Make Hispanic Voting Bloc Even More Formidable
New York Times – Nick Corasaniti | Published: 2/22/2016

Univision, including its top-rated Spanish-language network and many subsidiaries, is making an ambitious nationwide effort aimed at registering about three million new Latino voters this year, roughly the same number who have come of voting age since 2012. The initiative will entail an aggressive schedule of advertisements on all of Univision’s video and digital platforms. Station managers will exhort their audiences in old-fashioned editorials, a comprehensive online voter guide will be updated throughout the election season, and the media company will use the kinds of grassroots organizing events usually staged by candidates to try to turn its viewers into even more of a powerhouse voting bloc than it already is.

Federal:

Bernie Sanders, as Secular Jew, Leaves Religion in Background
New York Times – Joseph Berger | Published: 2/24/2016

The secular image that Bernie Sanders casts is complicating the way American Jews regard the historic nature of his candidacy. When Joseph Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew who spurned campaigning on the Sabbath, was Al Gore’s vice-presidential running mate in 2000, many Jewish voters saw it as a breakthrough. While Sanders’ surprising run for even higher office is eliciting many strong emotions, religious pride is usually not the main one.

Democratic Party Fundraising Effort Helps Clinton Find New Donors, Too
Washington Post – Matea Gold and Tom Hamburger | Published: 2/20/2016

Campaign officials for Hillary Clinton last summer urged state officials to sign on to an ambitious fundraising endeavor that would allow Clinton’s presidential bid, the Democratic National Committee, and the state parties to collect and share contributions from wealthy donors. A record 32 state parties signed on to the fund, allowing the committee to solicit donations 130 times greater than what a supporter can give to Clinton’s campaign for the primary. But the states have yet to see a financial windfall. Meanwhile, Clinton’s campaign has been a major beneficiary, getting an infusion of low-dollar contributions through the committee. The early, expansive use of a jumbo-size joint fundraising committee shows how the Clinton campaign has worked to maximize donations from wealthy supporters, seizing on rules loosened by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Fall of the House of Bush: How last name and Donald Trump doomed Jeb
Washington Post – Ed O’Keefe, Dan Balz, and Matea Gold | Published: 2/21/2016

Jeb Bush dropped out of the presidential race, ending a quest for the White House that started with a war chest of $100 million, a famous name, and a promise of political civility but concluded with a humbling recognition: in 2016, none of it mattered. No single candidacy this year fell so short of its original expectations. It began with an aura of inevitability that masked deep problems. The campaign had rested on a set of assumptions that, one by one, turned out to be incorrect: that the Republican primaries would turn on a record of accomplishment in government; Bush’s cerebral and reserved style would be an asset; and a country wary of dynasties would evaluate this member of the Bush family on his own merits.

Shuster Lounges Poolside with Airline Lobbyists as He Pursues FAA Bill
Politico – Anna Palmer, Jake Sherman, and John Bresnahan | Published: 2/23/2016

Nick Calio, head of the nation’s top airline trade group, Airlines for America, testified before U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster’s House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee recently. The topic was a top priority for both men: a bill to overhaul the Federal Aviation Administration, most controversially by putting air traffic control in the hands of an entity favorable to the airlines. Two days later, Shuster’s committee approved the measure. The week after that, he and Calio traveled to Miami Beach with Shelley Rubino, an Airlines for America vice president who is Shuster’s girlfriend. The three lounged by the pool and dined together during festivities tied to U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart’s annual weekend fundraising trip. It is the most recent example of Shuster’s cozy relationship with the powerful airline association. His panel has jurisdiction over the $160 billion U.S. airline industry.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – Former State Sen. Leland Yee Sentenced to Prison
San Jose Mercury News – Howard Mintz | Published: 2/24/2016

Former California Sen. Leland Yee was sentenced to five years in prison after admitting he accepted bribes from undercover agents posing as campaign donors. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in racketeering, which was filed as part of an organized crime investigation in San Francisco’s Chinatown that led to charges against more than two dozen people. Yee acknowledged accepting $11,000 in exchange for setting up a meeting with another state senator and $10,000 for recommending someone for a grant. He also discussed helping an undercover FBI agent buy automatic weapons from the Philippines that were intended to be brought to the U.S. for distribution.

Kansas – Want to Vote in This State? You Have to Have a Passport or Dig Up a Birth Certificate.
Washington Post – Sari Horwitz | Published: 2/19/2016

National attention on voting rights has mostly focused on whether new voter-identification laws in states such as North Carolina and Texas will disenfranchise minority voters. But there is a battle unfolding in Kansas over who can register to vote in the first place. Election-law experts say what happens here could have ramifications for voting throughout the country during a pivotal presidential election year. The American Civil Liberties Union sued Kansas, saying thousands of state residents are “trapped in limbo” because of the requirement that Kansans who register to vote have to show documents, such as a birth certificate or a passport, proving they are citizens.

Maine – After Legislative Raids and Funding Delays, Maine’s Public Campaign-Finance Money Could Run Out
Portland Press Herald – Steve Mistler | Published: 2/23/2016

Maine’s public campaign finance system could run out of money as state lawmakers have repeatedly raided the fund for other purposes. Jonathan Wayne, the executive director of the state ethics commission, told the Legislature’s budget writing committee that lawmakers have withdrawn around $12 million from the clean elections fund since 2002. Wayne also said the Legislature had returned $5.6 million to the voter-approved program, but that was not enough to offset the decline in funds. Supporters of the program also blame Gov. Paul LePage for withholding $1 million that was supposed to go the fund. The additional funding was included in the 2015 referendum that boosted the annual allocation to the program.

Massachusetts – Walsh Files Municipal Lobbying Legislation
Boston Globe – Mark Arsenault | Published: 2/25/2016

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh filed a home rule petition that would force city lobbyists to register and publicly report their efforts to influence public policy. It requires approval by the city council and then the Massachusetts Legislature. The proposal is based on existing lobbying rules for state government, Walsh said. He wants to get it through the Legislature this session. If the plan wins approval, municipal lobbyists in Boston would be required to file reports twice a year declaring their campaign contributions, the names of their clients, the legislation or policy decisions they had tried to influence, and the political positions for which they advocated. Lobbyists would also be required to report the pay they received from each lobbying client, as well as the dates of “lobbying communications” with public officials.

Mississippi – Elected Officials Use Campaign Finds for Private Gain in Mississippi
The Sun-Herald – Geoff Pender, Mollie Bryant, and Katie Royals (Jackson Clarion-Ledger) | Published: 2/22/2016

For many Mississippi politicians, campaign funds have become personal expense accounts or a second income, potentially tax free. The spending is largely paid for by lobbyists and special interests doing business with state government. They otherwise would not be allowed to lavish cash, gifts, or a second income on politicians. Campaign funds are shielded from taxes, ethics, and other laws because they are ostensibly to be used only for campaigning and records of them are ostensibly open to the public. Most states and the federal government, in efforts to reduce the corrosive influence of money in politics, have stringent reporting requirements. Mississippi does not. Most states also have prohibitions against personal spending of campaign money. In Mississippi, the practice is common.

Missouri – Some Question the Limits to Legislating the Missouri Legislature
St. Louis Public Radio – Jason Rosenbaum | Published: 2/24/2016

The Missouri House this year embarked on an ethics overhaul buoyed by the resignations of Reps. John Diehl and Paul LeVota, who stepped down amid accusations of inappropriate behavior toward female interns. Once the session began, the House quickly passed bills that would curb lobbyist gifts and slow down the transition between legislating and lobbying. But some lawmakers have questions about whether these reform initiatives will change a Legislature whose reputation has increasingly declined. They point out the scandals in question involved male lawmakers sexually harassing female interns, conscious choices that do not have much to do directly with lobbyist gifts or influence.

New Hampshire – N.H. Campaign Finance Lapses Go Unnoticed
Concord Monitor – Allie Morris | Published: 2/20/2016

A bill in New Hampshire would bar lawmakers from accepting campaign donations from lobbyists and block legislators from becoming registered lobbyists immediately after leaving office. It is not yet clear what lawmakers will do with the bill. But before they seek to put more regulations in place, a recent report shows they could be better served focusing on enforcing the ones that already exist. The Center for Public Integrity found campaign finance violations in New Hampshire can go largely unnoticed. The center cited a 2013 report that showed the state attorney general’s office regularly reviewed complaints regarding election violations and voter fraud, but investigated just one complaint out of 40 that dealt with campaign finance.

New Jersey – Birdsall CEO Pleads Guilty in Huge N.J. Pay-to-Play Scheme
Newark Star Ledger – S.P. Sullivan (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 2/18/2016

The former chief executive of a politically connected engineering firm has admitted to his role in a $1 million scheme to get around New Jersey’s “pay-to-play” laws. Howard Birdsall pleaded guilty to corporate misconduct. He ran Birdsall Services Group before investigators found the company disguised illegal corporate political contributions as personal donations from employees. The firm would have been disqualified from public contracts if made contributions to campaigns and political organizations in its own name. The state will recommend that Birdsall be sentenced to four years in state prison. He must also pay nearly $50,000. That is the amount of political donations he made that were reimbursed by the firm.

Virginia – No Rules Means No Accountability for Virginia Campaign Funds
ABC News – Alan Suderman (Associated Press) | Published: 2/19/2016

Records show the businesses that lobby Virginia politicians are also subsidizing meals at fancy restaurants, stays in the finest hotels, and personal expenses like gas and cellphone bills through campaign donations. Compounding the issue is the fact that lawmakers seldom face serious challenges; only a handful of races were seriously contested in 2015, and not a single incumbent lost in the general election. That means politicians who run up huge fundraising accounts to scare off challengers do not have to spend the money on campaigning.

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

National:

Sanders Supporters Like Chipotle, While Trump Fans Prefer Sonic
Bloomberg.com – Tim Higgins | Published: 2/18/2016

Consumer data have traditionally been used by campaigns to better understand where they should invest their ad dollars, or which potential voters and donors they should have volunteers call. Now, candidates are increasingly using the sentiment to figure out how to present themselves to voters. A survey by Resonate shows Bernie Sanders supporters are 82 percent more likely than the average American to eat at Chipotle, while Donald Trump fans are 111 percent more likely to grab a bite at Sonic. Marco Rubio’s backers are 141 percent more likely to have stayed at a Ritz-Carlton.

Snapchat Bets Big on Quick-Fire Approach to Campaign Coverage
New York Times – Nick Corasaniti | Published: 2/12/2016

Best known for photo and video messages that disappear soon after they are delivered, Snapchat is making a big bet by trying to break into the news business at a time when the industry is in turmoil. Developing a strategy for news coverage at a time when established newsrooms are struggling with the digital transition could be seen as a risky move, even for a booming technology company. But Snapchat has something that every other news organization is after: a loyal and active audience of more than 100 million users. Snapchat’s mission is to reinvent mobile storytelling through the most compelling and important story of the year – the presidential election – and it is already finding an audience, with more than one million viewers on every political story it has produced.

The Year of ‘Enormous Rage’: Number of hate groups rose by 14 percent in 2015
Washington Post – Niraj Chokshi | Published: 2/17/2016

For the first time in five years, the number of hate groups in the U.S. rose in 2015, according to a report from the Southern Poverty Law Center. Swelling numbers of Ku Klux Klan chapters and black separatist groups drove last year’s surge, though organizations classified as anti-gay, anti-immigrant, and anti-Muslim saw small increases, too. A creeping rhetoric of intolerance among politicians helped to normalize hate, the center argued. And while it singled out other presidential contenders, the center, which conservatives criticize for casting too wide a net, stated Donald Trump had “electrified the radical right.”

Federal:

Battle over Scalia’s Replacement Already Spilling into Senate Races
Washington Post – Steven Mufson and Juliet Eilperin | Published: 2/15/2016

Advocacy groups are gearing up for a fierce political fight over President Obama’s pick to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, and already the battle is spilling from the presidential campaign into some of the nation’s most hotly contested Senate races. Republicans have argued Obama should allow his successor to make the pick and they would block any attempt to confirm a new justice this year. One consideration that may force Republicans to recalibrate their strategy is the prospect of political damage to some of the embattled Senate incumbents up for re-election this fall. Democrats see a potential confirmation battle as an opportunity to put Republicans on the defensive and as a wedge issue that could help them retake control of the Senate.

Campaigns Secretly Prep for Brokered GOP Convention
Politico – Brett Schreckinger | Published: 2/15/2016

As Donald Trump and Ted Cruz divide up the first primaries and center-right candidates hammer one another in a race to be the mainstream alternative, Republicans are waging a shadow primary for control of delegates in anticipation of what one senior party official called “the white whale of politics”: a contested national convention. Should the first ballot fail to produce a nominee, the outcome of the convention will depend on results of the parallel primary now underway for the hearts and minds of delegates. Each state party has its own rules governing delegate selection, a process so steeped in nuance and legal ambiguity that there are multiple blogs dedicated to wading through it all.

DNC Rolls Back Restrictions on Lobbyist Donation
Washington Post – Tom Hamburger and Paul Kane | Published: 2/12/2016

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has dismantled the last of its prohibitions on receiving contributions from lobbyists and PACs. The DNC opened the door to K Street donations earlier this summer, when it announced that lobbyists and corporate PACs would once again be allowed to contribute to the annual nominating conventions. With the DNC now accepting all lobbyist and PAC donations, it has reversed the policies that were adopted in 2008, when Barack Obama vowed to curb the influence of special interests in Washington.

Pope Francis Suggests Donald Trump Is ‘Not Christian’
New York Times – Jim Yardley | Published: 2/18/2016

Pope Francis suggested Donald Trump “is not Christian” because of the harshness of his campaign promises to deport more immigrants and force Mexico to pay for a wall along the border. Trump has also made inflammatory comments accusing Mexican immigrants of being rapists and criminals. Asked whether he would try to influence Catholics in how they vote in the presidential election, Francis said he “was not going to get involved in that” but then repeated his criticism of Trump, with a caveat. “I say only that this man is not Christian if he has said things like that,” Francis said.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – Coastal Chief’s Ouster Prompts Bill to Require Transparency between Lobbyists and Panel
Los Angeles Times – Dan Weikel and Tony Barboza | Published: 2/12/2016

Assembly members said they plan to introduce legislation to require people who lobby the California Coastal Commission to register with the state and disclose their clients with business pending before the land-use agency. Lawmakers contend the measure would close a loophole that exempts lobbyists on the commission level from reporting details of their activities to the public. They say their bill also would require lobbyists to report to the public the payments they receive from clients and how much they spend on lobbying for specific matters that come before the commission. Lawmakers said they are motivated by what they consider a lack of transparency surrounding the firing of commission Executive Director Charles Lester.

California – L.A. Ethics Commission OKs $47,000 in Fines for Lobbying Violations
Los Angeles Times – Emily Alpert Reyes | Published: 2/16/2016

The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission voted to fine two nonprofits more than $47,000 for failing to accurately report how much they had spent on lobbying. Both the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy and the Hospital Association of Southern California had registered employees with the city as lobbyists. Yet the two groups reported spending nothing on lobbying by those employees for years, even as they spoke up on a laundry list of issues at City Hall. The steeper fine imposed on LAANE – $30,000 for a dozen violations over three years – appears to be the highest for a lobbying violation that the Ethics Commission has ever imposed. The hospital group will pay $17,500.

Florida – Apopka’s Hired Lobbyist Not Registered to Lobby for City in 2014, 2015
Orlando Sentinel – Bethany Rodgers | Published: 2/11/2016

The city of Apopka paid $165,000 to Richard Anderson to lobby the state and federal governments on behalf of the city from late 2014 through 2015. But state records show there was no registered lobbyist for Apopka during that time period, either in Tallahassee or Washington, D.C. Anderson said he has not done any state or federal lobbying for Apopka because city officials never requested it. Dave Mica, chairperson of the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists, said Anderson is not a member of his organization and declined to comment on Apopka’s situation. Mica said there are industry standards for lobbyists. “It’s stated in our code of ethics that all members should diligently and vigorously advance the interests of their client and employer,” Mica said.

Massachusetts – FBI, IRS Raid Canton Law Office of State Senator Brian Joyce
Boston Globe – Milton Valencia, Astead Herndon, and Andrea Estes | Published: 2/17/2016

The FBI and IRS raided the law office of Massachusetts Sen. Brian Joyce. A person familiar with the investigation said the raid stemmed from recent stories in The Boston Globe detailing several ways in which Joyce allegedly used his position as a senator to benefit himself and his law practice. He is already under investigation by the state Ethics Commission and recently settled allegations of improper use of his campaign fund with Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Jerry Richman said he gave Joyce free dry cleaning for more than a decade starting in 1997. Richman, who owned Woodlawn Cleaners until 2008, said Joyce brought in $50 to $100 worth of dry cleaning almost weekly for years and did not pay.

Michigan – Lansing Power Brokers: Law firms, others strengthen their lobbying corps
Crain’s Detroit Business – Lindsay Vanhulle | Published: 2/7/2016

Lobbying is not just the work of traditional multi-client firms in state capitals. Some law firms with offices in Michigan are hiring more in-house lobbyists or forming other partnerships to handle meetings with legislators, prepare testimony for committee meetings, and build the relationships needed to help swing the pendulum in favor of their clients. The investment in lobbying is not without its critics, but nontraditional shifts in hiring, and consultants who serve as these behind-the-scenes dealmakers and educators, are a trend as clients seek to save money on litigation or influence policy decisions. Another motivation is to educate existing staff on legislative issues of the day.

New Mexico – Ethics Bill Appears Dead after Sponsor Ends Support
Albuquerque Journal – Dan Boyd | Published: 2/16/2016

The New Mexico Legislature abandoned efforts to establish a state ethics commission this year that would oversee the conduct of public officials, lobbyists, and contractors. A proposed constitutional amendment to create an independent ethics agency died in a Senate committee after requests were made to rein in the authority of the agency. The plan was an ambitious component of reforms proposed in response to a campaign finance scandal last year that led the resignation and jailing of former Secretary of State Dianna Duran. The House had voted in favor of creating the ethics commission.

Utah – Free Lunches Becoming More Rare for Utah Legislators
Salt Lake Tribune – Lee Davidson | Published: 2/15/2016

Utah lawmakers’ schedules these days generally include fewer free-meal events sponsored by special-interest groups than they used to. Many groups hoping to lobby the Legislature en masse seem to be shifting away from time-consuming lunches and dinners to receptions where legislators can drop in briefly. A likely reason is the Legislature changed its pay structure a few years ago to eliminate what had been a financial incentive to accept free meals. With that gone, many now tend to value quick events that do not consume too much of their time. But so many free breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snack breaks, receptions, and family events still exist that questions arise about whether they allow wealthy special interests to buy extra access and, perhaps, influence.

Washington – State: Food industry lobby engaged in ‘egregious’ money laundering in 2013 vote
Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Joel Connelly | Published: 2/17/2016

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson alleges the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) concealed the source of $11 million spent to fight a 2013 ballot initiative, and internal documents reveal how it was done. Ferguson is suing the GMA over a fund it set up to conceal food companies donating to the defeat of Initiative 522, which would have required labeling of all genetically engineered foods and seeds sold in Washington. Ferguson filed a suit against the GMA late in the campaign, after which the association agreed to register with the Public Disclosure Commission and provide information on donors, who turned out to be a “who’s who” of big food companies. The GMA decried what it called Washington’s “hopelessly vague disclosure law” and charged it “improperly burdens” the constitutional right of trade associations to participate in the state’s political process.

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