The Los Angeles City Council voted to draft a law that would require contractors doing business with the city to disclose whether they have any contracts connected with the proposed border wall between Mexico and the United States.

The current proposal would not ban companies working on the wall from doing business with Los Angeles, but many council members said it would be a factor they could consider when voting on city contracts.

The City Council voted 13-0 to have city attorneys draft the ordinance. Once drafting is complete, the council will consider the ordinance for approval.

Lobbying

New York: “De Blasio Ally Didn’t Register as Lobbyist Despite Big Push for a Donor” by William Neuman for New York Times

Ethics

“Manafort Agrees to Turn Over Notes That Could Provide New Details on Trump Tower Meeting with Russian Lawyer” by Rosalind Helderman and Karoun Demirjian for Washington Post

“Five Sentenced to Days in Jail for Supreme Court Disruption Over Campaign Finance” by Spencer Hsu for Washington Post

Elections

“Federal Judge Allows Trump Commission’s Nationwide Voter Data Request to Go Forward” by Spencer Hsu for Washington Post

California: “A New Suit Says Lawmakers Broke the Law When They Changed California’s Recall Election Rules” by John Myers for Los Angeles Times

Virginia: “Transgender Woman Challenges Virginia Bathroom Bill Sponsor” by 2017 Sarah Rankin (Associated Press) for Roanoke Times

Legislative Issues

“In Congress, New Fears and New Protections in Wake of Baseball Team Shooting” by Ed O’Keefe for Washington Post

Procurement

Illinois: “New Details Emerge of Former DCFS Head’s Controversial Contracts, Hires” by David Jackson and Gary Marx for Chicago Tribune

Lobbying

“Florida Lobbyist Turning Trump Ties into Mega-Millions” by Rachel Wilson for Center for Public Integrity

Campaign Finance

Canada: “Justin Trudeau Lobbied at Recent Fundraising Event, Critics Raise Flags About New Rules” by Amy Minsky for Global News

Colorado: “Colorado Supreme Court: Douglas County School District didn’t violate campaign laws” by Brian Eason for Denver Post

Ethics

“Justice Dept. Compliance Expert Whose Contract Ended Early Says Trump Conflicts Made Work Feel Hypocritical” by Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post

“As Mueller Builds His Russia Special-Counsel Team, Every Hire Is Under Scrutiny” by Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post

“CNN Story About Source of Trump Wrestling Video Draws Backlash” by Daniel Victor for New York Times

Arizona: “Sue or Be Sued: Indicted developer George Johnson has long history in court” by Michael Kiefer for Arizona Republic

Arkansas: “Former Arkansas Judge’s Bribery Conviction, Prison Sentence Upheld” by Debra Hale-Shelton for Arkansas Online

California: “Appeals Court Throws Out Some Criminal Charges for Angela Spaccia, a Top Official in the Bell Corruption Scandal” by Corina Knoll for Los Angeles Times

Elections

Kansas: “Kobach: Kansas won’t give Social Security info to Kobach-led voter commission at this time” by Bryan Lowry for Kansas City Star

Procurement

Florida: “Florida’s Departing Fiscal Watchdog Used Public Scrutiny as a Weapon” by Mary Ellen Klas (Miami Herald) for Bradenton Herald

Campaign Finance

“This Hyperpartisan Conservative Site Is Connected To Several Pro-Trump PACs” by Craig Silverman Tarini Parti for BuzzFeed News

California: “Contra Costa DA Resigns, Is Now a Convicted Felon” by Nate Gartrell for East Bay Times

Ethics

“Special Counsel Is Investigating Jared Kushner’s Business Dealings” by Sari Horwitz, Matt Zapotosky, and Adam Entous for Washington Post

“How Michael Flynn’s Disdain for Limits Led to a Legal Quagmire” by Nicholas Confessore, Matthew Rosenberg, and Danny Hakim for New York Times

“Office of Government Ethics: Bannon’s waiver ‘problematic'” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Washington: “Mayor Ed Murray Not Ruling Out Write-In Campaign, As Accuser in Sex-Abuse Lawsuit Vows to Revive Case” by Lewis Kamb and Jim Brunner for Seattle Times

Lobbying

Illinois: “Emanuel Friend, Alderman’s Husband Both Illegally Lobbied Mayor Via His Personal Email: Ethics board” by Bill Ruthhart for Chicago Tribune

New Jersey: “Bringing Balloons Down to Earth: Bill would end mass release” by Scott Fallon for Bergen Record

Procurement

District of Columbia: “D.C. Council Report: Bowser administration favored top donor in contracting” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post

Gov. Larry Hogan signed House Bills 390 and 426 into law. Both bills amend the procurement code.

House Bill 390 requires business to file a public disclosure form if, during a calendar year, a business enters into contracts, leases, or other agreements with the state worth $200,000 or more.

House Bill 426 amends the dollar value of small procurements from $25,000 to $50,000.

Both bills will become effective on October 1, 2017.

Lobbying

“DOJ Deflects Calls for More Foreign Agents Act Transparency” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA

Kansas: “Who Are Kansas Lobbyists Taking to Dinner?” by Bryan Lowry and Kelsey Ryan for Kansas City Star

Texas: “Powerful Abbott Appointee’s Lobbying Sparks Blowback in Legislature” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

Campaign Finance

Maryland: “FBI Searches Republican Political Consulting Firm in Annapolis” by Fenit Nirappil, Josh Hicks, and Matea Gold for Washington Post

Ethics

“Trump Warning to Comey Prompts Questions on ‘Tapes’” by Peter Baker and Michael Shear for New York Times

District of Columbia: “Bowser Cabinet Official Probed Over Child’s School Placement” by Peter Jamison for Washington Post

Florida: “Ex-Florida Congresswoman Convicted of Taking Money Meant for Charity” by Matt Stevens for New York Times

Rhode Island: “Providence Council President Charged with Embezzlement” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal

Elections

“Trump Picks Voter ID Advocate for Election Fraud Panel” by Julie Hirschfeld Davis for New York Times

Procurement

New York: “Government Watchdogs Push ‘Clean Contracting’ Reform in Albany” by Rachel Silberstein for Gotham Gazzette

Lawmakers passed two measures dealing with ethics and transparency during the regular legislative session that wrapped up in April.

House Bill 2319 will become effective July 5, requiring candidate committees for members of the Legislature to make additional disclosures of contributions and fundraising events while the Legislature is in session.

House Bill 2001 will become law July 7, requiring companies contracting with state agencies on contracts over $100,000 to make disclosures listing interested parties to the contract.

Bills that were not approved during the legislative session do not carry over.

On April 25, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Gary Peters introduced legislation designed to help small businesses registering to procure federal contracts.

Senate Bill 938, the Procurement Fraud Prevent Act, would require small businesses, when registering to contract with the federal government, to be notified of free federal program assistance when procuring federal contracts. These federal programs include the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, the Small Business Administration, and the Minority Business Development Agency.

“Our legislation would ensure that more small businesses are aware of the free tools and resources already available to them so they can focus on making competitive bids, growing their companies, and creating jobs in their communities,” said Collins in a press release.

Lobbying

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

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

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

Campaign Finance

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

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

Ethics

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

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

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

Elections

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

Legislative Issues

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

Procurement

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

Lobbying

“Flynn’s Turkish Lobbying Linked to Russia” by Issac Arnsdorf for Politico

“‘What’s Upstream?’ Ad Campaign Funded by EPA Did Not Break Federal Lobbying Rules, Investigation Finds” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times

Campaign Finance

“Bill Would Force Maine-Based PACs to Shed Light on Secretive Contributors” by Steve Mistler for Maine Public Radio

Ethics

“Flynn Probably Broke the Law by Failing to Disclose Foreign Payments, House Oversight Leaders Say” by Karoun Demirjian for Washington Post

“State Department Website Removes Article Touting History of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Estate” by Anne Gearan for Washington Post

“Sessions Vows to Enforce an Anti-Bribery Law Trump Ridiculed” by Charlie Savage for New York Times

“Greitens Says He Isn’t Responsible for Attack Ads Against Sen. Rob Schaaf” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Legislative Issues

“Tar Heel Republicans Override Gov. Cooper Veto in Latest Partisan Clash” by The Associated Press for Raleigh News & Observer

Procurement

“Contract with Company Connected to Epps Bribery Case Questioned” by Geoff Pender for Jackson Clarion-Ledger

Lobbying

Missouri: “Limit on Lobbyist Gifts Clears Missouri Senate Committee” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Campaign Finance

California: “Anti-Pot Group Faces Campaign Finance Violations from Its Work Opposing Marijuana Legalization in California” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

New York: “Investigations into De Blasio Spurred City Reform, Renewed Calls for State Changes” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Ethics

“Secret A.T.F. Account Paid for $21,000 Nascar Suite and Las Vegas Trip” by Matt Apuzzo for New York Times

Michigan: “Michigan Sen. Bert Johnson Indicted by Grand Jury” by Paul Egan and Kathleen Gray for Detroit Free Press

South Carolina: “New SC Ethics Law Does Not Go Far Enough, Critics Say” by Avery Wilks for The State

Elections

Texas: “Federal Judge Says Texas Voter ID Law Intentionally Discriminates” by Manny Fernandez for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Oklahoma: “LGBTQ Group’s Capitol Visit Prompts Mass Email About ‘Cross-Dressers in the Building’” by Randy Krehbiel for Tulsa World

Procurement

California: “Feds: Well-known Oakland contractors conspired to cheat government” by Malaika Fraley for East Bay Times

Gov. Hickenlooper recently signed House Bill 17-1051, modernizing the Colorado Procurement Code.

Among other changes, the bill exempts grants from the state bidding requirements and makes the Procurement Code of Ethics and Guidelines applicable to state procurement officials, end users, vendors, contractors, and interested third parties.

If the Legislature adjourns sine die on May 10, 2017, the bill will be effective August 9.

Photo of Gov. Hickenlooper By U.S. Department of Agriculture via Wikimedia Commons

On March 9, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued an analysis of federal contracting trends to Congress. The report, titled Contracting Data Analysis: Assessment of Government-wide Trends, identified overall trends in contract obligations of defense and civilian agencies from fiscal year 2011 to 2015 using data from the Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation.

The report states defense obligations to purchase goods and services decreased by over 30 percent while civilian obligations remained steady, as did the percentage of total obligations reported for competitive contracts. During this period, fixed price contracts were used for an average of 63 percent of obligations.

The GAO did not make any new recommendations in the report, but did highlight previous recommendations made to defense and civilian agencies. The report asserts the agencies “generally concurred with these recommendations and have taken or planned actions to address them.”

Campaign Finance

‘Soft Money’ Case a Test for Trump, Supreme Court by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA

Missouri: Amid Greitens Mystery, Missouri Democrats Revive Inauguration Funding Disclosure Bill by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Ethics

Americans Are Seriously Stressed Out About the Future of the Country, Survey Finds by Colby Itkowitz for The Washington Post

Democratic Party Chairs Struggle to Harness Activism Burst by Heidi Przybyla and Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

New Jersey: Judge: Bridge case complaint against Christie can proceed by David Porter (Associated Press) for ABC News

Pennsylvania: Closer Monitoring on Tap for City Council’s Ethics Training by Julia Terruso for Philadelphia Inquirer

South Carolina: SC Government Watchdog Crangle Takes New Post but Will Still Be Working General Assembly by John Monk for The State

Texas: Texas May Still Be Giving State-Funded Pension to Convicted Elected Officials by Jackie Wang for Texas Tribune

Lobbying

Hawaii: Tightening The Rules for Lobbyists by Ian Lind for Honolulu Civil Beat

Procurement

Arizona: Rival Sues Taser Over Loss of Phoenix Police Body-Cam Contract by Megan Cassidy for Arizona Republic