Campaign Finance

California: “California Limits Pay-to-Play Politics in Local Elections, but Federal Law Enables a Loophole” by Theresa Clift (Sacramento Bee) for Yahoo News

National: “Influencer Running for U.S. Senate Challenges Campaign Finance Rules” by Taylor Lorenz (Washington Post) for MSN

Elections

National: “Shooting at Trump Rally Comes at Volatile Time in American History” by Peter Baker, Simon Levien, and Michael Gold (New York Times) for Yahoo News

Ethics

Indiana: “Ex-Lawmaker Sean Eberhart Sentenced in Casino Corruption Case” by Tony Cook (Indianapolis Star) for MSN

National: “New York Judge Throws Out Rudy Giuliani’s Bankruptcy Case” by Holly Bailey (Washington Post) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “Secret Bank Accounts, $1M Deficit Plague City as Official’s Corruption Case Is Repeatedly Delayed” by Min Xian and Angela Couloumbis for Spotlight PA

Lobbying

California: “After Pushback, Ethics Commission Now Won’t Recommend That Nonprofits Report Lobbying” by Melissa Evans for Long Beach Post

Redistricting

Utah: “Utah Supreme Court Sides with Opponents of Redistricting That Carved Up Democratic-Leaning Area” by Mead Gruver (Associated Press) for MSN

National/Federal

Clinton Campaign Case to Prompt Review of Disclosure Exemption

Bloomberg Law News – Mike Vilensky | Published: 7/9/2024

The FEC “acted contrary to law” in dismissing a Campaign Legal Center complaint alleging campaign finance violations by Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and a PAC supporting her candidacy, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled. The complaint accused Clinton’s campaign committee of accepting millions of dollars in undisclosed coordinated contributions from Correct the Record in the form of opposition research, message development, surrogate training, video production, and press outreach.

Judge Denies Effort by Trump Co-Defendant to Have Charges Dismissed

DNyuz – Alan Feuer (New York Times) | Published: 7/6/2024

The federal judge overseeing Donald Trump’s classified documents case rejected an effort by one of his co-defendants to have the charges he is facing dismissed by claiming he was the victim of a vindictive prosecution by the government. The co-defendant, Walt Nauta, who works as a personal aide to Trump, had accused prosecutors in the office of the special counsel, Jack Smith, of unfairly indicting him because he declined to help their efforts to build a case against the former president by testifying against him in front of a grand jury.

Immunity Ruling Leaves Judge Facing Tough Calls on Trump’s Election Indictment

DNyuz – Alan Feuer (New York Times) | Published: 7/9/2024

The Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity will land back with the judge who is handling the case from which it sprang – the criminal prosecution of Donald Trump on charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 election. U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan will face a daunting task. She will have to make decisions about which of the indictment’s allegations can move forward and which will have to be tossed out. The Supreme Court has held that former presidents are completely protected against accusations arising from their core constitutional duties, but that they can face prosecution for unofficial acts they took while in the White House.

Broken Records: Citizens face growing obstacles to public records, and lawmakers make it worse

Jefferson Public Radio – Daniel Walters (InvestigateWest) | Published: 7/3/2024

A rising flood of records requests – driven by partisan tensions, technological innovation, corporate data mining, and “vexatious requestors” bombarding governments – have increasingly swamped under-resourced records agencies. Across the Northwest, citizens are facing longer wait times, steep fees, and other obstacles to obtaining government records the law says they deserve. It is also happening at the federal level, with average wait times doubling in the past decade, said David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida.

Former Social Security Watchdog Abused Her Authority, Investigation Finds

MSN – Lisa Rein (Washington Post) | Published: 7/3/2024

The Social Security Administration’s recently departed inspector general abused her authority and undermined the integrity of her office while under investigation for misconduct, a report from a committee of federal watchdogs found. Gail Ennis refused to steer clear of an inquiry into her leadership of an anti-fraud program that issued extraordinary fines on disabled and elderly people accused of disability benefit fraud, investigators found. The report said she obstructed the probe by refusing to be interviewed, ordering subordinates and witnesses to limit access to information, and at times seeking to mislead investigators.

A Billionaire Is Boosting a Major Defamation Lawsuit against Fox News

MSN – Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 7/8/2024

Smartmatic, the voting technology company enmeshed in complex defamation lawsuits against Fox News and Newsmax, has a powerful new financial ally: billionaire tech entrepreneur Reid Hoffman, who is a co-founder of LinkedIn. Hoffman’s multimillion-dollar investment is intended in part to help the company sustain its costly litigation. Smartmatic has said the two news outlets smeared it by airing bogus claims of rigged vote counting in the 2020 election.

100 Years after Gaining Citizenship, Native Americans Face Barriers to Voting

MSN – Jim Saska (Roll Call) | Published: 7/8/2024

A century ago, Congress granted citizenship to Native Americans, providing them the right to vote. A report from House Administration Committee Democrats argues the nation has failed to keep that promise of voting rights because casting a ballot is too difficult in many indigenous communities. The report takes aim at state laws that require voter identification but do not recognize tribal IDs; the failure to provide voting-related materials in indigenous languages; and electoral maps that split native communities into different districts, diluting their political strength.

Ruling Boosts Social Media Free Speech Protections, Some Say

MSN – Gopal Ratnam (Roll Call) | Published: 7/9/2024

The Supreme Court’s decision on two cases challenging social media content moderation policies could expand protections for tech platforms under the First Amendment umbrella even if Congress were to dilute other protections, according to legal experts. Companies posting user content on the internet enjoy a broad shield under Section 230 of a 1996 law. Lawmakers who want such platforms to rein in harmful content have threatened to revoke the section and force stricter moderation of what gets uploaded. But the court’s decision opens the door to broader, more fundamental cover from the First Amendment.

Bipartisan Senate Group Proposes Ban on Congressional Stock Trading

MSN – Jacob Bogage and Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) | Published: 7/10/2024

Members of Congress and their families would face stiff penalties for trading stocks under new legislation from a bipartisan group of senators. The bill would bar members of Congress from buying and selling stocks and certain other investments and impose similar restrictions on lawmakers’ spouses and dependent children by 2027. Lawmakers would face a fine worth their monthly salary or 10 percent of the value of each improper investment if they violated the new rules.

Political Ads on Social Media Rife with Misinformation and Scams, New Research Finds

MSN – David Klepper (Associated Press) | Published: 7/10/2024

Political advertisements on social media are one of the best ways for candidates to reach supporters and raise campaign cash. But as a new report from Syracuse University shows, weak regulations governing online ads and haphazard enforcement by tech companies also make ads a prime source for misleading information about elections and an easy way for con artists to target victims. The research examined more than 2,200 groups on Facebook or Instagram that ran ads between September and May mentioning one of the presidential candidates. Combined, the ads cost nearly $19 million and were seen more than 1 billion times.

Democratic Lawmakers Seek Criminal Investigation of Justice Thomas

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 7/9/2024

Two Democratic U.S. senators announced they are seeking a criminal investigation of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas over gifts of travel, a loan for a recreational vehicle, and other benefits he received from wealthy benefactors. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Ron Wyden said they sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting he appoint a special counsel to probe whether Thomas violated ethics, false statement, and tax laws.

GOP Jump-Starts 2024 Election Challenges with Trump-Inspired Lawsuits

MSN – Amy Gardner and Isaac Arnsdorf (Washington Post) | Published: 7/10/2024

The Republican National Committee has expanded legal challenges to voting and election procedures in key swing states since March, when presumptive nominee Donald Trump installed new party leaders with a mandate to pursue his unsubstantiated claims of widespread cheating. Critics say the challenges are legally frivolous. But the cases are dangerous nonetheless, they argue, because they are meant to further erode public confidence in elections and lay the groundwork to overturn the results if Trump loses.

Supreme Court Ethics Remain at Center Stage After Hard-Right Rulings

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 7/5/2024

Legal experts say the Supreme Court’s recent blockbuster rulings coupled with ethics allegations against some of the justices have reinforced doubts among a large swath of the country over whether the nations’ highest court can be a neutral interpreter of the law. Gabe Roth, executive director of Fix the Court, sees the scrutiny directed at the court as a positive step. “I’ve long believed that Supreme Court justices should be treated like politicians when it comes to assessing their moral character and potential entanglements,” Roth said. “We have moved to that place, and I think that’s positive given how powerful the justices are.”

From the States and Municipalities

Arkansas – Arkansas Official Rejects Bid to Put Abortion Rights Measure on Ballot

MSN – Frances Vinall (Washington Post) | Published: 7/10/2024

Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston rejected petitions to put an abortion access measure on the ballot this fall, blaming a procedural error by the organizing group. Arkansans for Limited Government gathered more than 100,000 signatures in support of a ballot proposal to legalize abortion up to 18 weeks after fertilization, and exceptions afterward in cases of rape, incest, fatal fetal anomaly, or threat of physical harm to the pregnant patient. The group has faced a significant challenge in promoting its constitutional amendment initiative in what is sometimes ranked as “the most pro-life state in America.”

California – Big LA County Reforms, Including Board of Supervisors Expansion, Clear First Hurdle

MSN – Frank Stoltze (LAist) | Published: 7/9/2024

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors moved forward with a wide-ranging proposal to dramatically change how county governance works. The measure would expand the board of supervisors from five to nine members and create a countywide elected executive position akin to a mayor. Another proposed reform would create an independent ethics commission designed to root out corruption by elected officials. Supervisors would need to take a final vote on the package of reforms by August 9 to get them on the November ballot.

California – California Lawmakers Enacted a Bill to Limit Local Pay-to-Play Politics. Is It Working in Sacramento?

MSN – Theresa Clift (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 7/11/2024

Alvin Cheung, a founding president of California Northstate University, last year donated $250 to Sacramento City Councilperson Mai Vang’s re-election campaign. That amount was just one dollar less than the limit that would have prohibited Vang, who was facing no challenger, from casting a vote expected later this year on whether to award the university a tax break to build a hospital. Senate Bill1439 went into effect January 1, 2023, as a way to combat “pay-to-play” politics.

California – After FBI Raids, Oakland City Council Kills Plan to Strengthen Government Watchdog

Oaklandside – Eli Wolfe | Published: 6/27/2024

The Oakland City Council defeated a modest proposal to strengthen an agency that investigates public corruption and ethics violations. The decision raised eyebrows among those witnessed the FBI raid the home of Mayor Sheng Thao and properties belonging to the city’s recycling contractor, California Waste Solutions. The council rejected a proposed ballot measure to improve the city’s Public Ethics Commission.

Colorado – Faith Winter Violated Colorado Senate Ethics Policy by Appearing to Be Intoxicated at Community Meeting, Panel Rules

Colorado Sun – Jesse Paul | Published: 7/8/2024

State Sen. Faith Winter violated the Colorado Senate’s ethics rules when she appeared to be intoxicated when attending a community meeting earlier this year in Northglenn, a legislative committee convened to investigate her conduct ruled. The Senate Committee on Ethics found that Winter, the chamber’s assistant majority leader, failed to meet the chamber’s ethics standards requiring that she promote public integrity and public confidence.

Connecticut – Did a CT Advocacy Group’s Email Violate Campaign Finance Law? SEEC Investigating

Connecticut Mirror – Andrew Brown and Ginny Monk | Published: 7/5/2024

The State Election Enforcement Commission is investigating a complaint alleging CT169Strong, an organization that has lobbied against Democratic-sponsored housing and zoning legislation in recent years, illegally assisted one of the group’s members who is running for a seat in the Connecticut Legislature. At issue is a message CT169Strong distributed in May as the group was lobbying against the so-called Work Live Ride bill, a piece of legislation that would have encouraged towns to approve more apartments near train and bus stations.

Georgia – Appeals Court Greenlights Campaign Finance Case Against Nonprofit Founded by Stacey Abrams

MSN – Robert Schmad (Daily Caller) | Published: 7/8/2024

A federal appeals court struck down an injunction blocking Georgia from enforcing a state campaign finance law against two nonprofits founded by former gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams. A complaint accused the New Georgia Project and the New Georgia Project Action Fund of illegally canvassing for Democratic candidates, including Abrams, during the 2018 midterm elections and failed to disclose millions of dollars in electioneering expenses.

Hawaii – Government Workers in Hawaii Get Paid Not to Work as Misconduct Investigations Drag on for Months or Years

Honolulu Civil Beat – Christina Jedra | Published: 7/10/2024

In Hawaii, “stay away” pay is the practice of giving public employees time off from work while they are investigated for alleged misconduct. Some 350 employees across more than two dozen state and county agencies were put on paid leave due to investigations into suspected wrongdoing from 2020 through 2023. An analysis shows paying these employees not to work cost taxpayers at least $9.5 million in that three-year period. When investigations, and therefore the paid leave, drag on for years, it can waste taxpayer dollars, cause already strained government offices to be stretched even thinner and reward bad behavior.

Hawaii – Honolulu Ethics Commission Says Number of Complaints Has Dropped

Honolulu Civil Beat – Matthew Leonard | Published: 7/8/2024

The Honolulu Ethics Commission says it cannot explain a dramatic fall in the number of complaints it received last year, but it is hopeful the decrease might be the result of more specialized training and expanded outreach. The number of ethics complaints the commission received in 2023 was the lowest since 2018, but the 160 it received in 2022 was a record. That spike could be attributed to the increased scrutiny of ethics rules following the guilty pleas of former state legislators Ty Cullen and Kalani English for taking part in a bribery scheme.

Illinois – Former GOP State Lawmaker, Candidate for Governor Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison

Northern Public Radio – Hannah Meisel (Capitol News Illinois) | Published: 7/10/2024

Former Illinois Sen. Sam McCann was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for stealing nearly $700,000 in campaign funds and attempting to conceal his theft with false reports to state election authorities. McCann pleaded guilty to seven counts of wire fraud and one count each of money laundering and tax evasion after prosecutors had spent nearly three days presenting evidence against him at trial. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Lawless said McCann’s refusal to “accept responsibility” until the last possible moment factored into her calculation for prison time.

Illinois – Fate of ComEd Bribery Defendants Could Be in the Dark for Months

WBEZ – Jon Seidel (Chicago Sun-Times) | Published: 7/9/2024

The fate of four people convicted in one of Chicago’s biggest corruption trials will remain up in the air for at least four months as a judge considers the full effect of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that threatens the jury’s verdict. The high court ruled a law prohibiting bribery among state and local officials did not also criminalize after-the-fact rewards known as “gratuities.” The law in question is involved in five of the nine counts in the Commonwealth Edison bribery case.

Indiana – For Indiana Democrats These Days, Every Year Is a Rebuilding Year

MSN – Brittany Carloni and Kayla Dwyer (Indianapolis Star) | Published: 7/10/2024

Indiana Democrats have not won a contested statewide race since 2012, and party factions disagree about how to turn that tide: whether to run moderate or progressive candidates, and whether to focus on rural or suburban communities. In the absence of an elected statewide party leader, there is a tendency among some to blame the party chair, while his defenders argue naysayers have an outsized view of what role the party should play. The Democratic Party and its top candidates also raise far less money than they used to in Indiana.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Faces Higher Quorum Hurdle Under New Law

Louisiana Illuminator – Julie O’Donoghue | Published: 7/8/2024

The Louisiana Board of Ethics will face challenges conducting its business over the next five months under a new state law that gives Gov. Jeff Landry more control over the body. In August, the number of members required to hold a meeting will jump from six to eight of the current 11 members. Ten of 11 board members, instead of eight, will need to be present for the board to move forward with investigations of a potential ethics violation, said Kathleen Allen, the board’s administrator. The ethics board already struggles at times to maintain a quorum under its current threshold.

Maine – The Young People Striving to Make Their Mark on Maine State Policy

Yahoo News – Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) | Published: 7/8/2024

After Lianna Holden, a recent high school graduate from Lewiston, saw the devastation in her community from a mass shooting last fall, she took to the Maine Legislature to compel change. While testifying for the first time before lawmakers, Holden’s nerves were, for the most part, eclipsed by her knowledge of the legislative process. She had undergone training on grassroots lobbying, workshops on how to write testimony, and had been tracking the changing text and outcomes of gun bills and other legislation of interest to her and her classmates.

Missouri – Ozarks Nonprofits Reassert Political Neutrality After Drone Show with Campaign Message

MSN – Susan Szuch (Springfield News-Leader) | Published: 7/6/2024

A 15-minute-long drone show that included an endorsement for a Christian County Commission candidate left two nonprofits scrambling to assert their political neutrality, while highlighting a potential gray area in Missouri campaign finance law. Near the end of the display, which ran at the same time as the fireworks display, drones spelled out “VOTE JACKSON” in reference to Christian County Commissioner Bradley Jackson, who is up for re-election in November.

New Jersey – Can Pro-Trump N.J. Governor Candidate Keep His Popular Radio Show? State Just Ruled.

MSN – Brent Johnson (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 6/28/2024

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) took a wait and see approach when it comes to whether the morning radio show of gubernatorial hopeful Bill Spadea violates campaign finance law. ELEC said the show can continue, but it will keep a close watch on what the Republican candidate says on the program and could act later. The hearing addressed whether the show amounts to an in-kind campaign contribution from the station that exceeds the legal limit because of the name recognition and platform he receives.

New York – Hochul Nominates Ethics Commissioner as the Panel’s Future in Limbo

Albany Times Union – Brendan Lyons | Published: 7/3/2024

Gov. Kathy Hochul nominated a New York City attorney to fill one of three vacant positions on the state ethics commission, even as the future of that panel remains in limbo following a recent appellate decision that found it was created in violation of New York’s constitution. Hochul’s nomination of James Caras, who last year retired from his role as special counsel to the speaker of the New York City Council, will be subject to a seven-day public comment period before being presented to a review committee comprised of New York law school deans.

New York – How a New York Democrat Lost a Progressive Ballot Line to a G.O.P. Proxy

DNyuz – Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) | Published: 7/5/2024

When Mondaire Jones, a former Democratic member of Congress running for his old House seat, broke ranks and endorsed the primary opponent of U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman in a neighboring district, his longtime allies in the left-leaning Working Families Party were furious. It cancelled plans to campaign for former Jones in his comeback bid. Then things took an even more bizarre turn. The Working Families Party held what should have been a drama-free primary, but instead of nominating the liberal Jones, voters overwhelmingly chose the unlikeliest of alternatives as their nominee: a bankrupt local businessperson propped up by Republicans.

New York – NRA’s Ex-CFO Agreed to 10-Year Not-for-Profit Ban, Still Owes $2M for Role in Lavish Spending Scheme

MSN – Michael Sisak (Associated Press) | Published: 7/9/2024

The National Rifle Association’s (NRA) former finance czar, Wilson Phillips, has been banned for a decade from managing money for any nonprofit company in New York, the state’s attorney general said. Phillips agreed to the ban after a jury found him liable in a scheme to have the gun rights organization bankroll the extravagant lifestyle of the NRA’s longtime chief executive, Wayne LaPierre. Phillips still must pay $2 million in damages to the NRA for his role in concealing and enabling LaPierre’s spending.

Ohio – Ex-Lobbyist Serving 5 Years After Conviction in FirstEnergy Bribery Trial Argues Appeal

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 7/3/2024

A former lobbyist, sentenced to five years in prison after a jury found he bribed a political operative with $15,000 for private campaign information, argued to appellate judges that he did nothing illegal. Matt Borges, once the chair of the Ohio Republican Party who later worked for FirstEnergy Solutions, told judges on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals prosecutors relied on Borges’ use of mob-like language in text messages rather than their underlying substance when they accused him of racketeering.

Oregon – Oregon Ethics Laws Don’t Bar First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson from Unpaid Work in Wife’s Administration

MSN – Jamie Goldberg (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 7/10/2024

First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson is allowed to volunteer in Gov. Tina Kotek’s office under state ethics laws as long as she does not personally benefit financially, ruled Susan Myers, executive director of the Oregon Ethics Commission. Myers provided the formal advice three months after the governor’s office asked the commission whether Kotek Wilson could develop, advise, and promote her wife’s priorities as a volunteer in the administration and whether the governor’s office could provide her with staff and resources to accomplish those goals.

South Carolina – A House Contest Where Race, Gerrymandering and the Supreme Court Loom Large

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 7/9/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court signed off on district lines in South Carolina that Republican state lawmakers said they had designed to benefit their party. The First Congressional District had previously been competitive but is now ranked solidly Republican by the Cook Political Report. The Supreme Court ruled the new district lines did not represent an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, overturning a federal three-judge panel. In dissent, Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the majority had cleared the way for discrimination by giving states a green light for “using race as a short-cut to bring about partisan gains.”

Tennessee – Appeals Panel Keeps 21-Month Sentence for Ex-Tennessee Lawmaker Who Tried to Withdraw Guilty Plea

Kentucky Today – Jonathan Mattise (Associated Press) | Published: 7/9/2024

A federal appeals panel is keeping a 21-month prison sentence in place for a former Tennessee senator who tried to withdraw his guilty plea on campaign finance law violations. Former state Sen. Brian Kelsey had pleaded guilty to charges related to his attempts to funnel campaign money from his state legislative seat toward his failed 2016 congressional bid. His attorneys argued prosecutors violated the plea agreement when they said a harsher sentence could be applied after he attempted to withdraw his plea.

Tennessee – Tennessee Attorney General’s Office to Election Finance Office: We’re ‘not an investigative agency’

Tennessee Lookout – Sam Stockard | Published: 7/11/2024

Despite a major funding increase for personnel over two years, the state attorney general’s office notified the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance it is “not an investigative agency” and the agency can find other options if it is not satisfied with the length of time it takes to complete probes. Deputy Attorney General Andrew Coulam said his office is a “law firm with only three investigators” specializing in Medicaid fraud and consumer protection and might not have the staff to do campaign finance investigation in just a few months.

Texas – West Texas Pastor Who Used Illegal Donations from Churches to Campaign for Office Is Fined $3,500

MSN – Jessica Priest (Texas Tribune) | Published: 7/8/2024

A pastor who used his parish’s resources to campaign for office and several pastors from other churches who donated to him were fined after the Texas Ethics Commission determined each violated election law. Scott Beard, the pastor at Fountaingate Fellowship church who was fined $3,500, showed a “lack of good faith” in accepting the donations and in posting campaign signs on church property for his unsuccessful Abilene City Council race despite warnings against doing so, the commission found.

Vermont – New Report Shows Who Has – and Hasn’t – Turned in Latest Campaign Finance Records

VTDigger.org – Shaun Robinson | Published: 7/10/2024

Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas released a set of lists naming which candidates have – and which ones have not – filed campaign finance reports with the state as of early July, a move she said would help shine a spotlight on those who are not following the rules. Candidates for the upcoming primary who did not file a July 1 report, about a third of some 300 running for state and county offices this year, are not necessarily out of compliance with state law, Copeland Hanzas said. She thinks it is likely, though, that some are.

Wisconsin – Ballot Drop Boxes Returning to Wisconsin Following Top Court Decision

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 7/5/2024

Liberals on the Wisconsin Supreme Court cleared the way for the use of absentee-ballot drop boxes, reversing a decision made by conservatives two years ago when they controlled the court. Ballot drop boxes were available for years in some Wisconsin communities, and their use was greatly expanded for the 2020 presidential election as voters turned to absentee voting because of the covid-19 pandemic. Top Wisconsin Republicans supported them at the time but turned against them after Joe Biden narrowly beat Donald Trump in the state.

The city of Sacramento recently passed Ordinance 2024-0015, which amends various aspects of the city’s lobbying code.

The definition of lobbyist is amended to lower the compensation threshold of when a contract lobbyist must register from $3,000 to $1,500.

The threshold for a business or organization lobbyist is lowered from 100 hours to 15 hours or more in any three-month period for owners, officers, and employees.

Additional reporting requirements were added for both a contract lobbyist and business or organization lobbyist.

A contract lobbyist must now report the dollar amount of either the received or agreed-upon compensation from each client regarding each legislative or administrative action the lobbyist sought to influence on behalf of the client.

A business or organization lobbyist must now report the dollar amount, in terms of salary or wages, of the time spent by each owner, officer, or employee who conducted lobbying activities for each legislative or administrative action.

Lobbyists must also report all campaign contributions made by a lobbyist (or a client at the lobbyist’s behest) to any city official regardless of the amount.

Finally, the city has passed a gift limit of $10 per calendar month from city lobbyists to any city official. Ordinance 2024-0015 becomes effective July 25.

Electronic Video Notarization (EVN) will no longer be a valid form of notarization in North Carolina.

EVN was a policy put in place during Covid-19 to allow for safer notarization of documents by allowing notaries to witness signatures over video calls. This order has expired on June 30.

The order could have been extended to July 1, 2025, by House Bill 556, but the bill was vetoed by the governor.

Unless the veto is overridden, EVN is not a legal way to notarize documents and documents will need to be notarized in person going forward, but the use of e-notaries and document signing programs will still be valid.

The civil penalty for violating revolving door restrictions has increased.

Senate Bill 7014 doubled the maximum fine to $20,000 for former officials who violate the state’s six-year ban on lobbying on matters of policy and procurement.

The bill also makes changes to ethics investigation procedures and to public disclosures allowing public officials who are lawyers to claim clients as a source of income without divulging their names.

Campaign Finance

National: “Clinton Campaign Case to Prompt Review of Disclosure Exemption” by Mike Vilensky for Bloomberg Law News

Georgia: “Appeals Court Greenlights Campaign Finance Case Against Nonprofit Founded by Stacey Abrams” by Robert Schmad (Daily Caller) for MSN

National: “Political Ads on Social Media Rife with Misinformation and Scams, New Research Finds” by David Klepper (Associated Press) for MSN

Elections

California: “Big LA County Reforms, Including Board of Supervisors Expansion, Clear First Hurdle” by Frank Stoltze (LAist) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Bipartisan Senate Group Proposes Ban on Congressional Stock Trading” by Jacob Bogage and Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) for MSN

Hawaii: “Government Workers in Hawaii Get Paid Not to Work as Misconduct Investigations Drag on for Months or Years” by Christina Jedra for Honolulu Civil Beat

Illinois: “Fate of ComEd Bribery Defendants Could Be in the Dark for Months” by Jon Seidel (Chicago Sun-Times) for WBEZ

Oregon: “Oregon Ethics Laws Don’t Bar First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson from Unpaid Work in Wife’s Administration” by Jamie Goldberg (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Tennessee: “Appeals Panel Keeps 21-Month Sentence for Ex-Tennessee Lawmaker Who Tried to Withdraw Guilty Plea” by Jonathan Mattise (Associated Press) for Kentucky Today

Elections

New York: “How a New York Democrat Lost a Progressive Ballot Line to a G.O.P. Proxy” by Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) for DNyuz

Ethics

Colorado: “Faith Winter Violated Colorado Senate Ethics Policy by Appearing to Be Intoxicated at Community Meeting, Panel Rules” by Jesse Paul for Colorado Sun

National: “Immunity Ruling Leaves Judge Facing Tough Calls on Trump’s Election Indictment” by Alan Feuer (New York Times) for DNyuz

Louisiana: “Louisiana Ethics Board Faces Higher Quorum Hurdle Under New Law” by Julie O’Donoghue for Louisiana Illuminator

National: “Ruling Boosts Social Media Free Speech Protections, Some Say” by Gopal Ratnam (Roll Call) for MSN

New York: “NRA’s Ex-CFO Agreed to 10-Year Not-for-Profit Ban, Still Owes $2M for Role in Lavish Spending Scheme” by Michael Sisak (Associated Press) for MSN

Redistricting

South Carolina: “A House Contest Where Race, Gerrymandering and the Supreme Court Loom Large” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

A special election has been called for August 6 to replace At-Large Councilmember Mel Franklin, who resigned in June.

Thirteen candidates have announced their registration to run.

This primary will include both Democrat and Republican candidates and the winners of the primary will be added to the general election ballot on November 5.

The winner will serve the remaining two years in Franklin’s term.

John Cetor, Esq., an expert Manager of Compliance Services, comes to us from the University of Akron School of Law, Class of 2015. After having his own practice, then working in bankruptcy law, he joined the State and Federal Communications, Inc. team in 2019.

John started off in our Research Department, where his focus was the Southeastern region of the United States. He moved to our Compliance Department in 2022. Currently, he spends much of his time working with clients in Maryland and Illinois, among other jurisdictions.

“My two biggest jurisdictions are Illinois and Maryland, so a lot of my time is devoted to those two states. Illinois more so because they report twice a month. In Maryland, essentially every big municipal government, as well as every county, has their own registration and reporting requirements,” he explained.

Our Compliance Managers work with numerous jurisdictions, all of which have different rules for reporting and disclosing lobbying activity.

“In some jurisdictions, like Chicago, there are very strict rules. Then I have some jurisdictions which are more laissez-faire about it, just making sure you’re disclosing everything without many rules to navigate,” he said.

According to John, a fulfilling part of his job is the opportunity to help clients one-on-one in situations like confusing reporting requirements or potential violations of lobbying laws. When that happens, our Compliance Managers explain what is going on to the client, so they know how to handle it, how to move forward, and how to avoid such circumstances in the future.

“It starts pretty much like everything else,” he explained. “A few emails or phone calls just to figure out what happened, and whether something’s going to happen, or something already happened.”

It’s not uncommon for confusion to arise when lobbyists are working in a new jurisdiction, laws change, or perhaps the lobbyist wasn’t aware they were interacting with someone who is covered by a specific law in that jurisdiction.

When that happens, “We’re going to tell you what the situation is, what the options may be, and what the consequences of the options may be, but at the end of the day, they have to make decisions and they have to go through with it,” John said.

Another interesting aspect of the job is when clients ask an unexpected question and John has to put on his detective hat. They might have asked about a jurisdiction they may have never mentioned or been registered in, or asking about rules that may not have applied to them before.

Situations like this also highlight why the work of our Research Department is so important, not just to our clients, but to our Compliance Department as well. By keeping our website up to date, our Compliance Department can rely on that information to assist clients.

“The key, I think, is trying to figure out what their needs are and guiding my efforts in that. Some clients are pretty hands off. They already know what they’re doing, and it’s just getting the occasional reminder to make sure we’re still on track. We also have clients that need more attention. Sometimes big changes come down from the states, so we have to make sure that our clients are aware of that as well,” John said.

The State and Federal Communications, Inc. team is full of experts you can trust. Learn more about what we can do for you at https://stateandfed.com/services/.

Campaign Finance

New Jersey: “Can Pro-Trump N.J. Governor Candidate Keep His Popular Radio Show? State Just Ruled.” by Brent Johnson (NJ Advance Media) for MSN

Texas: “West Texas Pastor Who Used Illegal Donations from Churches to Campaign for Office Is Fined $3,500” by Jessica Priest (Texas Tribune) for MSN

Elections

National: “A Billionaire Is Boosting a Major Defamation Lawsuit against Fox News” by Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “100 Years after Gaining Citizenship, Native Americans Face Barriers to Voting” by Jim Saska (Roll Call) for MSN

Ethics

California: “After FBI Raids, Oakland City Council Kills Plan to Strengthen Government Watchdog” by Eli Wolfe for Oaklandside

National: “Judge Denies Effort by Trump Co-Defendant to Have Charges Dismissed” by Alan Feuer (New York Times) for DNyuz

Hawaii: “Honolulu Ethics Commission Says Number of Complaints Has Dropped” by Matthew Leonard for Honolulu Civil Beat

Lobbying

Maine: “The Young People Striving to Make Their Mark on Maine State Policy” by Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) for Yahoo News

House Bill 237 passed by a legislative override after being vetoed by Gov. Cooper.

The bill changes registration and reporting requirements for federal PACs contributing in state elections.

Federal PACs may now file a copy of the FEC Statement of Organization within 10 days of making a permissible contribution.

Federal PACs now report by filing with the State Board a copy of the FEC report for any federal filing period during which the federal PAC makes a contribution within 10 calendar days of the federal filing.

Submitting these reports can be done either through mail or email.

Previously, federal PACs were required to register and report using state forms and on state reporting schedules.

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “Did a CT Advocacy Group’s Email Violate Campaign Finance Law? SEEC Investigating” by Andrew Brown and Ginny Monk for Connecticut Mirror

Missouri: “Ozarks Nonprofits Reassert Political Neutrality After Drone Show with Campaign Message” by Susan Szuch (Springfield News-Leader) for MSN

Elections

Wisconsin: “Ballot Drop Boxes Returning to Wisconsin Following Top Court Decision” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Supreme Court Ethics Remain at Center Stage After Hard-Right Rulings” by Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Former Social Security Watchdog Abused Her Authority, Investigation Finds” by Lisa Rein (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Broken Records: Citizens face growing obstacles to public records, and lawmakers make it worse” by Daniel Walters (InvestigateWest) for Jefferson Public Radio

New York: “Hochul Nominates Ethics Commissioner as the Panel’s Future in Limbo” by Brendan Lyons for Albany Times Union

Ohio: “Ex-Lobbyist Serving 5 Years After Conviction in FirstEnergy Bribery Trial Argues Appeal” by Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

National/Federal

Stephen Bannon Plans to Record His Podcast and Then Report to Prison

DNyuz – Ken Bensinger (New York Times) | Published: 7/1/2024

Immediately before reporting for a four-month sentence in federal prison, Stephen Bannon, the longtime adviser to former President Trump, will host the two final hours of his podcast from just outside the low-security facility in Danbury, Connecticut. Bannon lost his last-ditch bid to avoid incarceration after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request to postpone the sentence while he appealed a verdict that found him guilty of contempt for ignoring a congressional subpoena.

Departing FDA Staffers Told They Can Still Influence the Agency in Big Pharma Jobs: BMJ report

FiercePharma – Andrea Park | Published: 7/1/2024

Former FDA employees are prohibited from engaging in certain lobbying activities, but an investigation published in The BMJ claims the agency’s staffers are often advised of loopholes in those regulations on their way out the door. Internal emails reportedly show, for example, that FDA ethics staff telling two agency officials who had worked on COVID-19 vaccine approvals and who were moving on to roles at Moderna they could still work with the FDA indirectly, “behind the scenes,” from their new positions.

Supreme Court Orders Second Look at Texas and Florida Social Media Laws

MSN – Ann Marimow and Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) | Published: 7/1/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court ordered lower courts to take a second look at a pair of laws in Texas and Florida that would have prevented social media companies from removing certain political posts or accounts, saying the courts had not fully addressed the First Amendment issues at play. The justices voided the judgments of separate appeals courts that had reached opposite conclusions about whether the laws were constitutional, ordering both to perform a deeper analysis of whether the statutes violate the right to free speech.

Judge Cannon Orders Hearing for Trump to Challenge Mar-a-Lago Search

MSN – Devlin Barrett and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 6/27/2024

U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon will hold a hearing for Donald Trump’s lawyers to challenge some of the evidence gathered against him for alleged mishandling of classified documents and obstructing government efforts to retrieve them. Cannon said “further factual development is warranted” when it comes to Trump’s challenge to the search warrant for his Florida home and private club. Trump is seeking to suppress much of the evidence by arguing that the search warrant was faulty.

Justices Strike Obstruction Charge for Jan. 6 Rioter, Likely Impacting Others

MSN – Ann Marimow and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) | Published: 6/28/2024

Federal prosecutors improperly charged a January 6 defendant with obstruction, the Supreme Court ruled, a decision that will likely upend many cases against rioters who disrupted the certification of the 2020 presidential election and which Donald Trump’s legal team may use to try to whittle down one of his criminal cases. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said prosecutors’ broad reading of the statute gives them too much discretion to seek a 20-year maximum sentence “for acts Congress saw fit to punish only with far shorter terms of imprisonment.”

Supreme Court’s ‘Chevron’ Ruling Means Changes for Writing Laws

MSN – Michael Macagnone (Roll Call) | Published: 6/28/2024

A Supreme Court decision left an uncertain and more difficult path for Congress to shape how the federal government carries out laws on major issues such as environment, health, immigration, and more, lawmakers and legal experts said. The ring overturned a long-standing legal doctrine called Chevron deference, which required judges to defer to an agency’s interpretation when it comes to regulations about laws that are ambiguous. Instead, the opinion says judges should give that deference only when Congress explicitly says an agency can make its own decision.

Thomas Uses Trump Immunity Ruling to Question Jack Smith Appointment

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 7/1/2024

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas tackled a question in his presidential immunity opinion that Donald Trump’s attorneys did not bring before the nation’s highest court: Was special counsel Jack Smith legally appointed? Thomas argued both that the special counsel’s office needs to be established by Congress and Smith needed to be confirmed by the Senate. He said he tacked on his concurring opinion to the immunity ruling to “highlight another way in which this prosecution may violate our constitutional structure.”

Biden’s Lapses Are Said to Be Increasingly Common and Worrisome

Seattle Times – Peter Baker, David Sanger, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, and Kate Rogers (New York Times) | Published: 7/2/2024

Like many people his age, President Biden, 81, has long experienced instances in which he mangled a sentence, forgot a name, or mixed up a few facts, even though he could be sharp engaged most of the time. But people in the room with him more recently said the lapses seemed to be growing more frequent, more pronounced, and more worrisome. He is certainly not that way all the time. In the days since the debate debacle, aides and others who encountered Biden described him as being in good shape – alert, coherent, and capable, engaged in complicated and important discussions and managing volatile crises.

Ruling Accusing Former Miami Lawmaker of Campaign Finance Violations Tossed Out

WLRN – Jim Saunders (News Service of Florida) | Published: 7/1/2024

A federal appeals court tossed out a ruling that would have led to former U.S. Rep. David Rivera getting hit with a $456,000 fine in a case involving campaign finance violations. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a District Court judge improperly granted summary judgment to the FEC in the case, which involves allegations that Rivera secretly funneled money to try to undermine a Democratic rival in 2012.

Ruling Further Slows Trump Election Case but Opens Door to Airing of Evidence

Yahoo News – Alan Feuer (New York Times) | Published: 7/2/2024

The Supreme Court’s decision about executive immunity makes it all but certain that Donald Trump will not stand trial on charges of seeking to overturn the last election before voters decide whether to send him back to the White House in the next one. But the ruling also opened the door for prosecutors to detail much of their evidence against Trump in front of a federal judge – and the public – at an expansive fact-finding hearing, perhaps before Election Day. It remains unclear when the hearing, which was ordered as part of the court’s decision, might take place or how long it would last.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Appeals Court Upholds Core of AZ ‘Dark Money’ Disclosure Law Voters Approved in 2022

Arizona Mirror – Caitlin Sievers | Published: 6/29/2024

A three-judge panel of the Arizona Court of Appeals upheld most of the Voters’ Right to Know Act, which passed in 2022. But it concluded a provision in the law that bars the Legislature from limiting the Citizens Clean Elections Commission from enforcing the “dark money” disclosure provisions is unconstitutional. The law aims to eliminate secret election spending by requiring political committees that spend at least $50,000 in statewide or legislative campaigns reveal the identities of individual donors who give more than $5,000, among other provisions.

Arizona – In CD1 Race, Mysterious Group’s Ads May Have Violated Campaign Finance Law

MSN – Laura Gersony (Arizona Republic) | Published: 6/28/2024

A group spending money in the race for Arizona’s First Congressional District has not registered with federal elections officials in what one expert said could be a violation of campaign finance law. The Turn AZ Blue PAC has bought television ads against congressional candidate Marlene Galán-Woods, one of the six Democratic candidates looking to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. David Schweikert. Records show the group has spent more than the sum that is often required for groups to register with the FEC, but it still has not done so.

California – Judge Denies LA Councilman John Lee’s Bid to Short-Circuit Ethics Commission Action

Courthouse News Service – Hillel Aron | Published: 7/2/2024

Los Angeles City Councilperson John Lee’s attempt to short circuit an Ethics Commission probe ended after a state court judge dismissed his lawsuit against the commission, though he can still make many of his legal objections to the probe in an administrative setting. Lee is accused of accepting gifts without disclosing them while he was working as the chief of staff for his predecessor, Mitchell Englander. Lee was identified in Englander’s indictment as “City Staffer B” and was accused by the commission of receiving a free hotel stay and $1,000 in casino chips, which Lee lost playing baccarat. He also received roughly $4,300 in free food and alcohol.

California – S.F. City Hall Corruption Scandal: Former city worker sentenced to prison for taking bribes

MSN – Carolyn Stein (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 6/28/2024

Cyril Yu, a former San Francisco Department of Building Inspection plan checker, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for taking $15,000 worth of bribes from a local developer in return for expediting building plans.  He must also pay a $20,000 fine. It marks the latest action in a public corruption probe city government that started with the arrest of former Public Works Chief Mohammed Nuru but included former employees and others working with the Department of Building Inspection.

California – ‘Recall Sheng Thao’ Campaign Refuses to Cooperate with Ethics Investigators, Faces Lawsuit

MSN – Darwin BondGraham and Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) | Published: 7/1/2024

The Oakland Public Ethics Commission filed a lawsuit against organizers of the recall campaign targeting Mayor Sheng Thao. The lawsuit alleges the recall’s backers have refused to hand over fundraising records sought by the commission, which is looking into allegations the recall supporters violated campaign finance laws.

California – California Gubernatorial Candidate Spent Big on Vienna Trip – with Her Spouse’s Firm

MSN – Christopher Cadelago (Politico) | Published: 6/27/2024

California gubernatorial candidate Toni Atkins paid $22,500 to the Global Policy Leadership Academy, where her longtime spouse is the firm’s chief executive officer and its sole shareholder. Atkins described the money as going toward a trip to Vienna, Austria in 2022. California law bars officeholders from using campaign funds for personal reasons such as giving to a spouse or domestic partner, experts said. Ann Ravel, former chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission, said the amount of money Atkins sent to the Global Policy Leadership Academy, a for-profit company, is not legal.

California – Reform Expert Robert Stern Joins LA Ethics Commission

MyNewsLA – Staff | Published: 7/2/2024

The Los Angeles City Council confirmed reform expert Robert Stern as the newest member of the Ethics Commission, marking the first time in several months that the five-member body has had all its seats filled. A nationally recognized expert in the fields of campaign finance and government reform, Stern was the first general counsel of the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

Colorado – Denver Clerk Applauds Passage of Campaign Finance Bill

LaVozColorado – Staff | Published: 7/3/2024

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston signed a campaign finance reform bill into law. It streamlines the Office of the Clerk and Recorder’s citizen complaint process and increases the office’s authority to levy penalties against candidates and committees who fail to report required information. Independent expenditure filers are also subject to new disclosure rules.

Florida – Judge Dismisses ‘Shakedown’ Lawsuit Allegations Against Alex Díaz de la Portilla

MSN – Tess Riski (Miami Herald) | Published: 7/3/2024

A judge dismissed allegations in a lawsuit against former Miami City Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla accusing him of attempting to “shake down” the operator of the Rickenbacker Marina by pressuring him to take on one of the commissioner’s associates as a business partner. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mavel Ruiz ruled that, as an elected official, Díaz de la Portilla was protected by “legislative immunity” from claims leveled against him by former state representative and lobbyist Manuel Prieguez.

Hawaii – Mayor Signs Bill Further Limiting Value of Gifts City Employees Can Accept

MSN – KHNL Staff | Published: 7/2/2024

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed a bill aimed at bolstering public trust by further limiting the monetary value of gifts city employees can accept. The mayor said the measure was about bolstering transparency and accountability. “I cringe every time I hear people talk about corrupt politicians,” Blangiardi said.

Illinois – Pritzker Signs Bill to Increase Party Power in Primary Elections

WTTW – Andrew Adams (Capitol News Illinois) | Published: 7/2/2024

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzger signed a bill affecting primary election fundraising, the electoral college, and the state’s voter registration database. Under the new law, political parties will be allowed to transfer an unlimited amount of funds to candidates during primary elections. Another provision in the bill would change how the state handles the electors it sends to the electoral college during presidential elections.

Illinois – CTU Lobbyist Helped Craft Mayor’s Letter to Senate President at Heart of Springfield Selective Enrollment Fight

Yahoo News – Alice Yin and Jeremy Gorner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/27/2024

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s letter to Illinois Senate President Don Harmon vowing not to shut down selective enrollment schools was directly edited by a Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) lobbyist and was preceded by an earlier version that made no such promise. Harmon pointed to Johnson’s promise in the letter as evidence of the trust between the two officials. But public records reveal a CTU official helped craft the eleventh-hour letter that likely saved the union and Johnson from an embarrassing defeat in the statehouse, as well as an earlier, watered-down version.

Massachusetts – Ballot Question Fundraising and Spending Largely Hidden from Public View

CommonWealth Beacon – Gintautas Dumcius | Published: 6/30/2024

Voters in Massachusetts will weigh in on a slew of ballot questions this November, with the competing sides raising and spending millions of dollars trying to convince them which way to vote. But who is behind the barrage of spending aimed at persuading voters will be largely a mystery until weeks before the election. In contrast to state election laws governing candidates for office, which require regular reporting throughout the year on campaign donations and expenditures, ballot question committees operate under relatively lax reporting requirements.

Nebraska – Some Nebraskans Say Misleading Words Led Them to Sign Petitions on Abortion They Don’t Support

MSN – Margery Beck (Associated Press) | Published: 7/1/2024

The Nebraska Secretary of State’s office said it has received 91 affidavits from voters seeking to have their names removed from an abortion petition, claiming they were misled into signing. The vast majority, 67, came from those seeking to have their name removed from Protect Women and Children or other petitions seeking to ban abortions. Only seven had sought to remove their names from a petition to protect abortion rights.

New York – Giuliani Disbarred in N.Y. Over False Statements About 2020 Election

MSN – Patrick Svitek (Washington Post) | Published: 7/2/2024

Rudy Giuliani, the former personal attorney to Donald Trump, was disbarred in New York over his false statements about the 2020 election. The ruling found Giuliani “repeatedly and intentionally made false statements” about the 2020 election – “some of which were perjurious” – to courts, the public and state lawmakers. “In so doing, respondent … actively contributed to the national strife that has followed the 2020 Presidential election, for which he is entirely unrepentant,” the ruling said.

New York – Trump’s Sentencing in N.Y. Hush Money Case Postponed Until September

MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 7/2/2024

Donald Trump’s sentencing in the New York election interference case was pushed back to September, as his lawyers seek to convince the trial judge his conviction should be tossed out after a Supreme Court ruling that presidents have immunity for official acts. The conduct at issue in the New York case was principally about paying hush money to an adult-film actress and then reimbursing Trump’s former lawyer for arranging the payment. But Trump’s legal team may also try to use the new ruling to attack the trial evidence, since the Supreme Court ruled evidence related to official acts of a president may not be presented to a jury.

North Carolina – Republicans: Veto override levels campaign finance playing field

Center Square – Alan Watson | Published: 6/27/2024

Republicans in North Carolina say they evened the playing field of national political parties on campaign finance following an override of Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto. Democrats had access to more money because the Democratic Governors Association had a regular PAC while the Republican Governors Association did not. Both parties’ super PACs could not give to state parties directly, while their regular PACs could. The new law clarifies language on definitions of the political committees.

North Dakota – Ethics Commission Sees Uptick in Campaign Complaints, but Lacks Rules to Enforce

Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 7/1/2024

The North Dakota Ethics Commission has seen a rise in campaign-related complaints but lacks tools to address the allegations, Executive Director Rebecca Binstock said. Commissioners are considering adopting a new set of rules, so the board has more authority to investigate the complaints. There have been recent allegations of campaign fraud in North Dakota submitted to federal authorities.

Ohio – Lawsuit Challenges Ohio Law Banning Foreign Nationals from Donating to Ballot Campaigns

WCPO – Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) | Published: 6/28/2024

A new law banning foreign nationals and green card holders from contributing to state ballot campaigns in Ohio curtails the constitutionally protected rights of free speech and association, according to a lawsuit. Political committees involved in two ballot measures took money from entities that had received donations over the past decade from Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, though any direct path from him to the Ohio campaigns is untraceable under campaign finance laws left unaddressed in the law. Wyss lives in Wyoming.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Schools Are Required to Teach the Bible, State Superintendent Says

MSN – Anumita Kaur (Washington Post) | Published: 6/27/2024

Oklahoma’s state superintendent mandated that all public schools teach the Bible in a move he said was meant to impart “historical understanding,” but critics say blurs the constitutional boundary between church and state. The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently rejected a proposed state-financed Catholic charter school, saying the first-of-its-kind religious public school violated the state and U.S. constitutions.

Oregon – Oregon Ethics Commission Drops Investigation into Role of Gov. Tina Kotek’s Wife in Her Administration

MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/28/2024

On a tie vote, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission decided to not pursue an investigation into whether Gov. Tina Kotek violated any ethics laws by elevating her wife’s role in her office. Commission members generally agreed a preliminary investigation produced no substantial evidence Kotek or her wife, Aimee Kotek Wilson, violated any ethics laws. It is unknown what role Kotek Wilson will have in the administration going forward.

Texas – Texas AG Ken Paxton Owes the State Thousands in Ethics Fines. Now His Own Agency Has to Collect It

MSN – Taylor Goldenstein (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 7/3/2024

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton owes more than $11,000 in fines for filing late campaign finance reports. His own office is charged with collecting the money. The campaign finance enforcement system in Texas is unusual. Ethics agencies in other large states, including California and New York, can file their own collections lawsuits without the attorney general’s involvement. In other states, such as Illinois, candidates who do not pay their ethics fines cannot get on the ballot.

Virginia – Judges Order Hate Groups to Pay Millions for 2017 Charlottesville Rally

MSN – Ellie Silverman (Washington Post) | Published: 7/1/2024

A federal appeals court restored more than $2 million of damages a jury said some of the nation’s most prominent white supremacists and hate groups owed for their role in 2017’s deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The ruling allows plaintiffs to collect, nearly three years after a jury said they were entitled to relief for the physical harm and emotional distress they incurred when white supremacists descended on Charlottesville in a weekend of hate.

State Sen. Jim Perry of Lenoir County resigned from the Legislature after lawmakers concluded this year’s chief work session.

Perry previously announced he was not seeking reelection due to personal time constraints.

Republicans will appoint a replacement to fill the Senate District 2 seat for the remainder of the year.