Lobbying

Arkansas: “30-Day Grace Vexes State’s Ethics Panel” by Michael Wickline for Arkansas Online

Campaign Finance

“House Quietly Passes Tax Exemption for Megadonors” by Kenneth Vogel and Hillary Flynn for Politico

“Big Money in Politics Emerges as a Rising Issue in 2016 Campaign” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

Ethics

Florida: “Florida Ethics Panel Recommends Fining Former Lawmaker David Rivera $58K” by Kathleen McGrory for Miami Herald

Florida: “Even after the Gift Ban and Reform, Freebies Flow to Florida Lawmakers” by Michael Van Sickler for Tampa Bay Times

Kentucky: “Head of State Ethics Agency to Take Top Post at Kentucky Registry of Election Finance” by Jack Brammer for Lexington Herald-Leader

New Jersey: “Ferriero Convicted on Racketeering Count; Ex-Democratic Chief Used Political Clout for Profit” by Peter Sampson for Bergen Record

New York: “Carl Heastie, New York Assembly Speaker, Benefited from Mother’s Embezzling” by Russ Buettner and David Chen for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “Montco Businessman Charged in PennDot Graft Probe” by Ben Finley for Philadelphia Inquirer

Redistricting

North Carolina: “US Supreme Court Tosses NC High Court Decision on State’s GOP-Drawn Electoral Maps” by Ann Blythe for Raleigh News & Observer

Lobbying

“Waning Influence? Part 3: Ups and Downs, by Industry” by Dan Auble for Center for Responsive Politics

“PSC Rejects FPL’s Lobbying Fee Request” by Susan Salisbury for Palm Beach Post

“Boston-to-D.C. Flights Showcase Region’s Power Players” by Matt Viser for Boston Globe

Campaign Finance

“Wall Street Money Can Predict How Democrats Vote. Here’s How” by Chris Wilson and Pratheek Rebala for Time

“National Parties, Donors Embrace Higher Campaign Limits” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

“Ethics Panel Wants State Agencies, Employees to Disclosure Campaign Activity” by Mario Moretto (Bangor Daily News) for Lewiston Sun Journal

Ethics

“Languid, Lax Congressional Ethics Disciplinary System May Pick Up Pace in 2015” by David Hawkins for Roll Call

“‘Boss’ Gifts to Pittsburgh Employees from Peduto Raise Questions” by Bob Bauder for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Elections

“The Tortoise and the Hare” by Maggie Haberman for Politico

Redistricting

“Panel Adopts Ideas for Changing Virginia’s Redistricting Process” by Jenna Portnoy for Washington Post

Lobbying

Arkansas: “Schools Rethinking Gifts to Arkansas Lawmakers Following Passage of Constitutional Amendment” by the Associated Press for Greenfield Reporter

Florida: “Homestead’s Former Mayor Sentenced to 22 Months in Corruption Case” by David Ovalle and Melhor Marie Leonor for Miami Herald

Maine: “Maine Public in the Dark on Local-Issue Lobbying” by Steve Mistler for Portland Press Herald

West Virginia: “Statehouse Beat: Lobbyists change with new Legislature” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette

Campaign Finance

“Here’s Where Campaign Finance Reform May Move Ahead As Congress Dithers” by Paul Blumenthal for Huffington Post

Ethics

Pennsylvania: “Kane’s Account of Sting Draws Increasing Fire” by Craig McCoy and Angela Couloumbis for Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania: “Who’s Minding the Store for Legislative Ethics?” by Joe Smydo for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Wisconsin: “GAB Declined to Reauthorize Walker Campaign Probe” by Patrick Marley and Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Elections Board Director Defends Work, Structure, Amid Calls for Overhaul” by Scott Bauer (Associated Press) for Minneapolis Star Tribune

Elections

“Tea Partier Braces for Primary Challenge from the Establishment” by Manu Raju for Politico

Redistricting

North Carolina: “NC Supreme Court Upholds GOP-Drawn Legislative and Congressional Districts” by Ann Blythe for Raleigh News & Observer

Lobbying

California: “Santa Monica Could Require Lobbyists to Register” by Nikki Cervantes for Santa Monica Lookout

Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Lawmakers Will Be Challenged to Ban Themselves from Taking Lobbyists’ Gifts” by Marc Levy (Associated Press) for Columbus Republic

Rhode Island: “Mollis Concludes Former R.I. Attorney General Lynch Did Not Violate Lobbying Rules” by Katie Mulvaney for Providence Journal

Rhode Island: “Ruling Says Zaccagnino Lobbied for 38 Studios without Registering” by Katie Mulvaney for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

“New Software Helps Connect the Money Dots in Politics” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

New York: “Hotelier Avoids Prison for Violating Campaign Finance Laws” by Stephanie Clifford for New York Times

Ethics

“Lawyers Create Big Paydays by Coaxing Attorneys General to Sue” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

New Jersey: “New Jersey Paying Fees to a Financial Firm That Employs Christie’s Wife” by Kate Zernike for New York Times

Virginia: “Va. Del. Joseph Morrissey to Resign in Wake of Conviction but Run Again for His Seat” by Rachel Weiner for Washington Post

South Carolina: “S.C. House, Senate Clash over Ethics Reform” by Jeremy Borden for Charleston Post and Courier

Pennsylvania: “Ex-Traffic Court Judge Sentenced to Prison in Bracelet Case” by Julie Shaw for Philadelphia Daily News

Redistricting

Ohio: “Redistricting Reform Plan Passes House, Needs Voter Approval” by Jackie Borchardt (Northeast Ohio Media Group) for Cleveland Plain Dealer

Lobbying

“Report: Energy contractor and former lawmaker lobbied officials for no-bid contract worth $2.4 billion per year” by Josh Hicks for Washington Post

Arizona: “Ducey Seeking Donations to Gubernatorial Transition Effort” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star

California: “California Legislators Flying to Maui to Meet with Special Interests” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

“Hate Political Ads? Skip Morning Shows” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity

Massachusetts: “Election Was Awash in Cash, but Effect is Unclear” by David Scharfenberg for Boston Globe

San Diego, CA: “Fines Levied for Illegal Donations” by David Garrick for San Diego Union-Tribune

Ethics

Arkansas: “Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe to Pardon Son on Drug Charge” by Sam Levine for Huffington Post

Hawaii: “Court: State must release financial disclosures for boards” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat

North Carolina: “Ex-Duke Energy Lawyer Now Advising NC Regulators” by Michael Biesecker and Mitch Weiss (Associated Press) for Raleigh News and Observer

Ohio: “Canton Financial Advisor Sentenced to 45 Months in Ohio Treasurer’s Office Kickback Scheme” by Theodore Decker and Kathy Lynn Gray for Columbus Dispatch

Pennsylvania: “Ex-Official Pleads Guilty in Turnpike Scandal” by Angela Couloumbis for Philadelphia Inquirer

Washington: “Lt. Governor Defends Work Ethic, Outside Business” by Susannah Frame for KING

West Virginia: “Ethics Commission Hires Stepto as Director” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette

Procurement

Idaho: “Court Says State Broke Law with Broadband Contract Law” by Nathan Brown for Twin Falls Times-News

Elections

“Spurred by Midterm Losses, Liberal and Moderate Democrats Square off Over Strategy” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times

Redistricting

Alabama: “Justices Hear Black Lawmakers’ Challenge to Alabama Redistricting” by Adam Liptak for New York Times

Lobbying

“Congressman presses Holder for review of think tank funding” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“Burger King hires former members of Congress to work on inversion deal” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

Pennsylvania: “Threatened with Pa. fee increase, lobbyists go to work” by Mary Wilson in NewsWorks.

Rhode Island: “R.I. Supreme Court denies request by 38 Studios defendant Wells Fargo” by Paul Grimaldi in the Providence Journal.

Campaign Finance

“FEC votes suggest gridlock is easing” by Byron Tau and Kyle Cheney in Politico.

“In the Senate, campaign finance is the new flag burning” by Gayle Trotter in The Hill.

“Midterm Voters Drown in Dark Money” by Albert R. Hunt in Bloomberg.

“Ads Paid for by Secret Money Flood the Midterm Elections” by Nicholas Confessore in The New York Times.

“Dark money threatens democracy” by Robert Maguire in The Hill’s Congress Blog.

Arkansas: “Some Arkansas candidates talk of limiting outside groups” by John Lyon in Arkansas News.

Ethics

Ohio: “Kasich appoints retired judge to state commission” on WKBN.

Oklahoma: “Financial interests of state officers will not be put online, Ethics Commission says” by Barbara Hoberock in Tulsa World.

Elections

“2014 Ballot Measures That Matter Most for States and Localities” in Governing.

“11 questions that will decide the Senate” by James Hohmann in Politico.

“Dems: Don’t trust the polls” by Niall Stanage in The Hill.

“Courts Strike Down Voter ID Laws in Wisconsin and Texas” by Adam Liptak in The New York Times.

Colorado: “Centrism Hurting Once-Popular Gov. Hickenlooper’s Re-Election Hopes” by Alan Greenblatt in Governing.

Georgia: “Georgia Uses Big Data to Get Out the Vote” by Daniel Malloy and Kristina Torres in Governing.

Michigan: “As election nears, big names stump for state candidates” by Chris Gautz in Crain’s Detroit Business.

Redistricting

“Things to know about political mapmaking in Ohio” by Ann Sanner (Associated Press) in the Daily Journal.

Political Advertising

“Campaigns Find Ad Space Finite, Even on the Web” by Ashley Parker in The New York Times.

Lobbying

“Lobbyists try to save Roberts” by Alexander Bolton in The Hill.

“Facebook lobbyist chief promoted to global policy head” by Julian Hattem in The Hill.

Campaign Finance

“Rogue donors not ready for Hillary?” by Kenneth P. Vogel in Politico.

California: “CalPERS board member now facing $4,000 fine over campaign disclosure problems” by Dale Kasler in the Fresno Bee.

California: “Fine proposed for laundering contributions to Ed Lee’s campaign” by John Coté in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Maryland: “Md. candidate pays penalty over campaign funds” by The Associated Press on WHTM ABC News.

South Dakota: “Unlikely South Dakota Senate Race Attracts Big Money From Campaign Finance Reformers” by Paul Blumenthal and Sam Levine in The Huffington Post.

Wisconsin: “The Right Takes on WI Campaign-Finance Law” by Rose Bouboushian in Courthouse News Service.

Ethics

Missouri: “Gifts to Missouri lawmakers are not always easy to track” by Jason Hancock in The Kansas City Star.

Nevada: “NV Ethics Commission Director Resigns” by Jay Bartos on KNPR News.

North Carolina: “Kay Hagan, Thom Tillis file rival ethics complaints” by Burgess Everett in Politico.

Elections

“How Asian-Americans are Changing the South” by Jake Grovum in Stateline.

Kansas: “Sam Brownback Has Made Enemies, May Lose Election” by Alan Greenblatt in Governing.

State Legislatures

New Jersey: “N.J. lawmaker tries to limit new bills … by introducing a new bill” by Matt Friedman on NJ.com.

Redistricting

Alabama: “Supreme Court’s new session could bring decisions on huge issues” by Irin Carmon and Ned Resnikoff on MSNBC.

South Carolina: “Supreme Court Rejects Appeal On South Carolina Redistricting” by The Associated Press in The Huffington Post.

Tech and Social Media

West Virginia: “Statehouse Beat: New computer system experiencing turbulence” by Phil Kabler in The Charleston Gazette.

On October 2, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case concerning whether a state commission created to craft federal congressional districts violates the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution. In Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, a voter initiative amended the state constitution to give the authority of redistricting to a commission rather than the state Legislature.

In February, a District Court held the Elections Clause does not prohibit Arizona from using a voter initiative to give congressional redistricting authority to a redistricting committee.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced the appointment of a bipartisan panel to review state campaign finance, gift, and public disclosure laws. The panel is co-chaired by former Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and former U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, who represented a district in southwestern Virginia.

The governor’s announcement comes just weeks after former Gov. Bob McDonnell was convicted of corruption charges for accepting close to $200,000 of gifts in exchange for public acts.

Other topics on the table include merit selection of judges and redrawing of legislative district lines.

Gov. McAuliffe has asked the panel for a report by December 1, giving the General Assembly time to take action in 2015.

Photo of Gov. Terry McAuliffe courtesy of Kate Wellington in Wikimedia Commons.

A Leon County Circuit Court judge has approved the Florida Legislature’s changes to the state’s congressional map. Judge Terry Lewis’ ruling in July found the 5th and 10th congressional districts to be in violation of the Florida Constitution and ordered the Legislature to redraw the map. The approval, however, did not call for a special election to implement the new districts.

All 2014 elections will be held under the current map and the changes, affecting a total of seven districts, will go into effect in 2016. Challengers of the congressional map, including the League of Women Voters, believe the new map does not go far enough and plan to appeal.

Lobbying

“Lobbying disclosures leave public in the dark” by Marcelo Rochabrun and Dave Levinthal in The Center for Public Integrity.

“Microsoft Leaves Lobbying Group ALEC Amid Split Over Renewables” by Ari Natter in Bloomberg.

“Wisconsin’s Walker confronted with damaging new details” by Catherine Ho in The Washington Post.

Canada: “Toronto lobbyist Jamie Besner broke the rules, registrar finds” by Paul Moloney in the Toronto Star.

Indiana: “Heuer resigns seat for lobbying post” by Vivian Sade in The Journal Gazette.

Iowa:  “Lobbying by payday lenders” by Lauren Mills in the Des Moines Register.

New York: “Online course rule for lobbyists nears” by Rick Karlin in the Times Union.

Campaign Finance

“Ethics group asks FEC for dark money disclosure” by Nat Stein in the Colorado Independent.

“Bitcoin lobby launches spending PAC” by Julian Hattem in The Hill.

Alaska: “Group wants Alaska U.S. Senate candidates to sign campaign finance pledge” by Casey Grove in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

California: “CalPERS board member likely facing stiffer fine from FPPC” by Dale Kasler in The Sacramento Bee.

Florida: “David Rivera named co-conspirator as friend pleads guilty in campaign-finance case” by Marc Caputo, Jay Weaver and Patricia Mazzei in the Miami Herald.

“U.S. House incumbents rolling in cash” by Jessica Wehrman in the Columbus Dispatch.

Texas: “Ethics Commission takes aim at Texas dark money” by David Saleh Rauf in the Houston Chronicle.

Virginia: “The Virginia bait and switch” by Brad Smith in The Hill.

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker sought help from top GOP donors for allied group” by Matea Gold in The Washington Post.

Ethics

Georgia: “Report: Costs to the state for lawsuit against Ga. ethics commission continue to grow” by The Associated Press in The Republic.

Rhode Island: “Ethics Commission to probe lawmaker’s beach bid” by The Associated Press in The Washington Times.

State Legislatures

California: “California Legislature Rushes to Complete Bills Before the Session Ends” by Patrick McGreevy and Melanie Mason in Governing.

Redistricting

Florida: “Judge Lets Florida Use Unconstitutional Congressional Map Until 2016” by Mary Ellen Klas in Governing.

Lobbying

“Spending on lobbying is actually falling. Or is it?” by Alexander Becker in The Washington Post.

“Researchers Try To Quantify The Value Of Lobbying” by Michael Ide in Value Walk.

Campaign Finance

“DCCC outraises NRCC by $3.5M in July” by Alexandra Jaffe in The Hill.

Arizona: “Scottsdale campaign-finance violation likely, city says” by Beth Duckett in The Republic.

California: “California lawmakers pass 3 campaign reform bills” by The Associated Press in the News & Observer.

Missouri: “Missouri Democratic group to pay $10K ethics fine” by The Associated Press in the News & Observer.

Ethics

“House Ethics panel probing Rep. Petri” by Mario Trujillo in The Hill.

“The Grimes family discount” by Manu Raju in Politico.

Florida: “Update: Group blasts city for challenging ethics initiative” by Jeff Burlew in the Tallahassee Democrat.

Oklahoma: “Ethics Commission Seeks Input Regarding Financial Disclosure Availability” on KGOU.

Washington: “Washington Legislative Ethics Panel To Consider Free-Meals Rule” by Austin Jenkins on KPLU.

Elections

“Revised Election Schedule Submitted in Florida Map Case” by Bridget Bowman in Roll Call.

Government Tech and Social Media

“Local Governments Open Data with Performance Dashboard” by Colin Wood in Government Technology.

“Report Ranks Top Open Data States” by Colin Wood in Government Technology.

Lobbying

“Universities chase big defense dollars” by Austin Wright in Politico.

“Obama reversal shows difficulty of limiting lobbyists’ D.C. clout” by Mark Trumbull (Christian Science Monitor) in the Alaska Dispatch News.

Campaign Finance

“The Transparency Trap” by David Frum in The Atlantic.

“GOP looks to shake loose more Wall Street cash” by Patrick Temple-West in Politico.

“Sen. Mike Lee doing ‘due diligence’ on illegal donation claims” by Lisa Riley Roche in the Deseret News.

Maine: “Maine campaign finance law challenged as unfair to independents” by Dave Sherwood in Reuters.

Texas: “Bitcoin Plays A ‘Bit’ Part In Campaign Fundraising, But Could That Change?” by Shelley Kofler in KERA News.

Ethics

North Carolina: “Conflict of interest statements for NC officials now online” by Tyler Dukes in WRAL.

North Carolina: “McCrory misstated Duke Energy holdings, sold stock after coal-ash spill” by J. Andrew Curliss and Craig Jarvis in The News & Observer.

Political Advertising

“GOP makes no apologies for ads disguised as news sites” by Jessica Taylor in The Hill.

Redistricting

Florida: “Scott signs congressional redistricting bill” by Lloyd Dunkelburger in the Herald-Tribune.

Following an order of the Leon County Circuit Court, Florida’s Legislature approved a bill to alter the boundaries of seven congressional districts. Judge Terry Lewis ruled the 5th and 10th districts were drawn to benefit the Republican Party in violation of the state constitution. The court set a deadline of August 15 for lawmakers to redraw the congressional map and for state officials to propose a special election schedule.

Judge Lewis will now review the proposed map and determine when the new districts will go into effect. The altered boundaries would also affect the 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, and 17th districts.

Following passage of the bill, the Legislature adjourned its special session on Monday, August 11.