National/Federal

A Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade Might Upend the Midterms
MSN – Dan Balz, Colby Itkowitz, and Caroline Kitchener (Washington Post) | Published: 5/3/2022

Supporters of abortion rights and their Democratic allies predicted that Politico’s publication of a leaked draft opinion by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Jr. would reverberate through to the fall campaign. They said it could make the election a choice between Democratic and Republican governance that could ultimately hold down expected GOP gains. Countering that view were assertions by Republicans and opponents of abortion who said their supporters would be energized by a decision and issues such as inflation and crime will continue to influence voters’ decisions as much or more than abortion rights.

Draft Abortion Opinion Puts New Spotlight on Confirmation Hearings
MSN – Seung Min Kim (Washington Post) | Published: 5/4/2022

In the wake of a leaked draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, there is fresh scrutiny of the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation process, in which nominees say as little as possible and senators are left to parse their language on how they would rule. It is not just the increasingly predictable and evasive answers of nominees that are prodding some senators to conclude the hearings have become empty theater. More and more, the confirmation votes themselves seem a foregone conclusion, with senators hewing to the party line and many using their allotted time to launch political broadsides rather than seek information.

Former Top State Official to Plead Guilty for Helping Qatar
Yahoo News – Alan Sunderman and Jim Mustian (Associated Press) | Published: 4/27/2022

A former top-ranking State Department official will plead guilty for improperly helping Qatar influence U.S. policy and not disclosing on an ethics form gifts he received from a disgraced political fundraiser. Richard Olson, who was the State Department’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the end of the Obama administration, provided “aid and advice” to Qatar on lobbying activities in violation of a “revolving door” prohibition against such behavior for one year after leaving public service.

Gas Giants Have Been Ghostwriting Letters of Support from Elected Officials
Yahoo Finance – Chris D’Angelo (HuffPost) | Published: 5/2/2022

For the past several months, local officials in Virginia and North Carolina, primarily elected Republicans, have been peppering federal regulators with glowing letters in support of gas projects in their states. Internal emails show these letters all had something in common – they were ghostwritten by lobbyists and consultants of the two major pipeline firms behind those projects. The communications show how Williams Companies and TC Energy Corporation worked to boost political support for a number of natural gas infrastructure projects currently under federal review.

How a Billionaires Boys’ Club Came to Dominate the Public Square
MSN – Michael Scherer and Sarah Ellison (Washington Post) | Published: 5/1/2022

Technological change and the fortunes it created have given a small club of wealthy individuals the ability to play arbiter, moderator, and bankroller of not only the information that feeds the nation’s discourse but also the architecture that undergirds it. The information that courses over these networks is increasingly produced by publications controlled by fellow billionaires and other wealthy dynasties, who have filled the void of the collapsing profit-making journalism market with varying combinations of self-interest and altruism. It is a situation that has alarmed policy experts at both ends of the increasingly vicious ideological and partisan divides.

Jan. 6 Panel Wants Testimony from GOP Lawmakers Brooks, Biggs, Jackson
Yahoo News – Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) | Published: 5/2/2022

The House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol is seeking voluntary testimony from three additional members of Congress who appeared to have some coordination with rioters and efforts to block President Biden’s electoral victory both before and after the attack. The letter to Rep. Mo Brooks notes former President Trump asked him to help keep him in office even after January 6. A letter to Rep. Andy Biggs references his involvement in discussions to secure presidential pardons in connection with efforts to unwind the 2020 election. A letter to Rep. Ronny Jackson points to exchanges between members of the Oath Keepers militia group citing the need to protect the lawmaker.

Judge Upholds Jan. 6 Committee Subpoena for RNC Records
Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 5/2/2022

A judge supported a House select committee’s effort to obtain internal Republican National Committee (RNC) data. In rejecting the RNC lawsuit, U.S. District Court Judge Tim Kelly said the committee had demonstrated its need for the party’s data on its fundraising emails between November 3, 2020, and January 6, 2021, when the RNC and Trump campaign sent supporters messages falsely suggesting the election was stolen. The committee contends those emails helped sow the seeds of the violence that erupted on January 6. The decision is a major victory for the panel and could open the doors to reams of internal RNC data held by Salesforce, a vendor the RNC used to run email fundraising campaigns.

Panel Sends FEC Nominee Dara Lindenbaum to Senate Floor
MSN – Kate Ackley (Roll Call) | Published: 5/3/2022

The Senate Rules and Administration Committee approved the nomination of Dara Lindenbaum to the FEC. Lindenbaum, an election lawyer, would fill the seat of Steven Walther, an independent who was picked by Democrats. Lindenbaum said she would recuse herself for two years from cases involving her own clients or those of her firm. Her client roster includes Stacey Abrams, who is running for governor this year and ran in 2018, as well as other federal, state, and local candidates and political committees.

Trump Officials Muzzled CDC on Church Covid Guidance, Emails Confirm
MSN – Dan Diamond (Washington Post) | Published: 4/28/2022

Trump White House officials in May 2020 removed public health advice urging churches to consider virtual religious services as the coronavirus spread, delivering a messaging change sought by the president’s supporters, according to emails from former top officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released reports saying the virus had killed three and infected dozens at church events in Arkansas and health experts had warned houses of worship had become hot spots for virus transmission. But Trump officials wrote they were frustrated by “problematic” advice the CDC had already posted. The guidance published by CDC did not include recommendations about offering virtual or drive-in options for religious services.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – A Top Ducey Aide Raised Nearly $13k from Lobbyists Whose Cash He Promised to Shun
Arizona Mirror – Dillon Rosenblatt | Published: 5/3/2022

When Matt Gress, the budget director for Gov. Doug Ducey, launched his campaign for the Arizona House in December, he promised not to accept any contributions from lobbyists during the legislative session to avoid the appearance his campaign might influence his work for the state. His first campaign finance report in 2022 shows he did not follow through on that promise.

California – ‘Pay to Play’ Governor Behest Payment Contracting Bill Killed by Senate Democrats
California Globe – Evan Symon | Published: 4/29/2022

A bill that would have prohibited state agencies in California from awarding contracts to companies that made behest payments on the governor’s behalf failed to pass the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. Senate Bill 1367 would have specifically prohibited state agencies from awarding a contract for which the agency had not secured at least three competitive bids or proposals to a company that made a payment at the behest of the governor in the preceding 12 months.

Colorado – Colorado Lawmakers Define ‘Major Purpose’ in Campaign Finance Laws, Clarify Who Must File Reports
Colorado Politics – Marianne Goodland | Published: 5/4/2022

A bill in the Colorado Senate would change campaign finance laws pertaining to issue committees, which deal with ballot measures. The bill’s main purpose is to define “major purpose” in campaign finance statutes and the parameters under which it would apply, particularly when it comes to issue committees. Senate Bill 237 would establish clear thresholds on spending, above which an organization would qualify as having a “major purpose” of supporting a ballot measure and which would trigger registration as an issue committee, as well as a requirement to file campaign finance reports.

Florida – Disney’s Special Tax District Pushes Back Against Law That Would Dissolve It
MSN – Lori Rozsa and Beth Reinhard (Washington Post) | Published: 4/28/2022

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis assailed Disney for siding with the LGBTQ community over a controversial law. But if DeSantis is looking to reshape Disney’s operations and its uniquely powerful control in the state, he may come up short. The details of the state’s dissolution of Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District are still being hashed out behind closed doors. But Reedy Creek is not waiting. The special taxing district, which encompasses most of Disney’s Central Florida properties and allows Disney to effectively self-govern, is already pushing back, indicating it plans to fight the dissolution of a 1967 compact with the state.

Georgia – City Fires Longtime Officials Who Were Mentioned During Bicker’s Corruption Trial
WSB – Richard Belcher | Published: 5/4/2022

The city of Atlanta fired two longtime city officials whose names came up in testimony during the Mitzi Bickers’ bribery trial. The star prosecution witness testified that Bickers, a former campaign aide to then-Mayor Kasim Reed, who later worked for his administration, told the witness that Cotena Alexander and Rita Braswell were “our people” at City Hall. Bickers was convicted of eight counts of bribery, money laundering.

Georgia – Stacey Abrams Switches Gears from Campaign Fundraising to Aiding Abortion Rights
MSN – Eugene Scott (Washington Post) | Published: 5/4/2022

Stacey Abrams, one of the Democratic Party’s most notable fundraisers, paused fundraising for her Georgia gubernatorial race to redirect funds to abortion rights groups after a draft Supreme Court opinion signaling the end to a constitutional right to abortion was made public. Abrams’ ability to temporarily redirect funds to groups working to expand abortion access is thought to be possible in part because she regularly beats her main GOP competitors, Gov. Brian Kemp and former U.S. Sen. David Perdue, in fundraising.

Georgia – Trump Election Probe Special Grand Jury Selected in Atlanta
MSN – Kate Brumback (Associated Press) | Published: 5/2/2022

A special grand jury was selected for the investigation into whether former President Trump and others illegally tried to influence the 2020 election in Georgia. The investigation has been underway since early last year, and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis took this unusual step to help it along. She noted in a letter to the chief judge that the special grand jury would be able to issue subpoenas to people who have refused to cooperate otherwise.

Idaho – Experts: Lawmaker rape case a ‘rare victory’ for sexual assault survivors
Idaho Press – Rebecca Boone (Associated Press) | Published: 4/30/2022

When a legislative intern came forward with rape allegations against an Idaho lawmaker last year, she was subjected to months of online harassment and abuse. She later testified about the attack at an ethics hearing, and some of the lawmaker’s supporters filmed her and chased her through the statehouse. The young woman took the stand to testify in his criminal trial and became so distraught she fled the courtroom. Aaron von Ehlinger’s rape conviction was a rare victory for prosecutors in a criminal justice system that can be fraught with trauma for sexual assault survivors, experts say.

Illinois – New Chicago IG Asked to Investigate City Clerk Anna Valencia’s Lobbying Connections
MSN – Mary Ann Ahern (WMAQ) | Published: 4/27/2022

For the first time in months, the city of Chicago has a new inspector general as Deborah Witzburg was unanimously approved for the position. Witzburg now officially replaces Joe Ferguson, who resigned after publicly criticizing Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration. One of her first acts in office will be to potentially look into City Clerk Anna Valencia’s office, with Ald. Silvana Tabares asking the new inspector general to investigate allegations the secretary of state candidate and her husband Reyahd Kazmi violated state lobbying rules.

Kansas – Kansas Ethics Panel to Redo Hearing After Questions Over Director’s Law License, Statehouse Probe
Yahoo News – Andrew Bahl (Topeka Capital-Journal) | Published: 4/27/2022

The Kansas Government Ethics Commission moved to grant a new hearing in a case involving an Overland Park civic group, after questions were raised about the law license of the agency’s director, Mark Skoglund. The move comes weeks after Skoglund’s law license was used as pretense by legislators to make a policy change that would have effectively removed him from office. While lawmakers eventually backed off on the plan, it was later revealed the proposal was offered as the ethics panel was investigating one of the state’s most high-profile groups and, potentially, Republican legislators.

Kentucky – Supreme Court Denies Former Top KY Dem’s Request to Overturn Campaign Finance Conviction
MSN – Austin Horn (Lexington Herald Leader) | Published: 5/4/2022

The U.S. Supreme Court denied Jerry Lundergan’s request to overturn his conviction for illegally funneling $200,000 to his daughter’s 2014 political campaign. The former Kentucky Democratic Party chairperson was convicted in 2018 for the contributions made through a corporation to daughter Alison Lundergan Grimes in her 2014 challenge against U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell. Lundergan’s petition argued the federal ban on corporate contributions is unconstitutional when applied to donations from a close family member.

Louisiana – ‘I See How This Looks’: Council grills top Cantrell official over ‘smart cities’ deal
The Lens – Michael Isaac Stein | Published: 4/27/2022

New Orleans City Council members grilled a top city official, Jonathan Rhodes, over a now-abandoned “smart cities” project he played a central role in developing, and which has become the subject of a formal council investigation over potential contract-rigging and conflicts-of-interest. The council formally requested the city’s inspector general to open an investigation into New Orleans’ bidding process. Questions have mounted about the process that led the city to award the project to a consortium of companies called Smart+Connected NOLA. Rhodes had been in contact with the consortium for months before the request for proposals was released and worked with a consultant that is partnered with those same companies.

Maryland – Treasurer Charged with Embezzlement from Annapolis Campaign Committee
Baltimore Sun – Dan Belson (Capital Gazette) | Published: 5/4/2022

The Office of the State Prosecutor in Maryland announced it filed embezzlement charges against the treasurer of a Democratic political committee for Annapolis-area candidates, alleging she deposited more than $4,000 in campaign funds into a personal bank account. Prosecutors allege Alexandra Gilbreath, treasurer of Team 30 Slate, deposited funds from the committee into her personal Venmo account for an almost three-month span in 2018. She then used the funds for personal expenses, charging papers say. Prosecutors also accuse Gilbreath of failing to file or amend four campaign finance reports for the committee.

Massachusetts – Former State Police Head and Three Others Violated Ethics Law by Altering Arrest Report for Judge’s Daughter, Ethics Commission Alleges
MSN – Andrea Estes (Boston Globe) | Published: 4/29/2022

Richard McKeon, the former head of the Massachusetts State Police, violated the state’s conflict-of-interest law when he ordered a trooper to remove embarrassing remarks from the arrest report of a judge’s daughter, lawyers for the state Ethics Commission charged. Commission lawyers also allege Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr., as well as his First Assistant Jeffrey Travers, and State Police Major Susan Anderson abused their positions to help the judge after his daughter was arrested and charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and drugs. They asked the Ethics Commission’s hearing officer to find the four violated the law and impose fines up to $20,000 apiece.

Michigan – FBI Raids Home in New Public Corruption Probe in Metro Detroit
Detroit News – Robert Snell and Mike Martindale | Published: 5/3/2022

Federal agents arrested two Wayne County employees accused of using taxpayer money to buy power equipment worth more than $1.7 million they later sold for personal profit. The allegations against Wayne County Roads Division manager Kevin Gunn and foreman John Gibson involved 596 generators and other power equipment that was never supplied or used by the county. The alleged scheme involved Gunn soliciting county vendors to buy generators, lawnmowers, chainsaws, and backpack blowers from area retailers. The case marks the latest federal investigation of corruption within the ranks of government in Metro Detroit.

Minnesota – Minneapolis City Council Blocks Chamber Consulting Gift to Improve Mayor Frey’s Office Efficiency
Minneapolis Star Tribune – Liz Navratil | Published: 4/28/2022

Mayor Jacob Frey cannot receive consulting services from the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce after a city council vote fell one short of the number that he needed to accept the gift. The chamber intended to loan a staffer to the mayor’s office for several weeks in hopes she could advise the office on how to improve their efficiency. Some council members raised concerns about the arrangement, noting the chamber supported a ballot initiative last fall that granted the mayor more power over the city’s daily operations.

Mississippi – Governor Vetoes Bill Tweaking Campaign Finance Law
Daily Journal – Taylor Vance | Published: 5/4/2022

The way Mississippi holds its politicians accountable for skirting state campaign finance law is convoluted with large gaps in the enforcement process. It appears that will not change anytime soon. Gov. Tate Reeves vetoed legislation that would have transferred the power to levy fines against candidates who fail to file campaign finance reports on time from the state Ethics Commission to the Mississippi secretary of state’s office. The snag in the current process is that it forces three different state organizations to share responsibilities for issuing fines, leading to a confusing process.

New Jersey – A Toxic Culture Exists in N.J. Politics, Campaigns, Experts Say. This Lesson Aims to Prevent Harassment.
MSN – Susan Livio (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 4/29/2022

Three out of four people who are targeted with unwelcome sexual remarks or physical contact at work never file a sexual harassment complaint, according to experts who have studied the issue. For people who work on a political campaign or have a job in New Jersey politics, the YWCA of Northern New Jersey and New Jersey State Bar Association Foundation created a video tutorial to let everyone to know that “toxic culture” is not acceptable. The video, made with the help of some of the state’s most prominent women in politics, will be sent to every campaign and political body that can be located, beginning in June.

New York – Gov. Hochul Taps Rep. Antonio Delgado as New Lieutenant Governor
Gotham Gazette – Brigid Bergin | Published: 5/3/2022

U.S. Gov. Kathy Hochul moved to fill the vacant lieutenant governor position, tapping U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado to take the role. Hochul is the first woman to serve as governor of New York. Delgado is the first person of color to represent the 19th Congressional District. He is the first person of African American and Hispanic descent to be the state’s lieutenant governor. A representative of a predominantly white and rural congressional district, Delgado has emphasized his ability to work across the aisle. His campaign website touts the two awards he won for his bipartisanship from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

New York – Hochul Pens Legal Path for Former Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin to Drop Off Primary Ballot
Yahoo News – Rob Hackford (WGRZ) | Published: 5/2/2022

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that gives disgraced former Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin a legal path to get off the state’s primary ballot. Hochul’s signature came almost immediately after the Legislature got it passed despite a limited timeline and political criticism. The law allows any candidate for local, state, or federal office to remove themselves from a ballot if they have had an accusatory instrument filed against them in state court; had a criminal complaint or indictment filed against them in federal court; been convicted at any time after they are designated or nominated.

New York – Judge Won’t Revive NY Political Maps That Favored Democrats
Yahoo News – Marina Villeneuve (Associated Press) | Published: 5/4/2022

A federal judge refused to order New York to hold its congressional and state Senate primaries this spring using district maps declared unconstitutional by state judges, saying a legal effort by Democrats to revive the maps looked unlikely to succeed. Replacement maps are now being drawn by an independent scholar at Carnegie Mellon University under the supervision of a state judge. The judge ordered the state’s primaries for Congress and state Senate moved from June to August so the redistricting process would have enough time to play out.

New York – Trump Grand Jury Ending in N.Y. with No Charges Against Ex-President
MSN – Shayna Jacobs, Josh Dawsey, and Jonathan O’Connell (Washington Post) | Published: 4/29/2022

A New Yor City grand jury that was convened late last year to hear evidence against Donald Trump was set to expire, closing a chapter in a lengthy criminal investigation that appears to be fizzling out without charges against the former president, people familiar with matter said. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who took office in January, inherited a probe launched by his predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr., who was convinced there was a case against Trump for crimes related to manipulating the value of property assets to secure tax advantages or better loan rates.

North Carolina – Federal Court Considers Ruling That Blocked Madison Cawthorn Eligibility Challenge
Yahoo News – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 5/4/2022

A federal appeals court questioned whether a lower court got it right when it blocked a challenge of U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s candidacy by voters who cited a section of the Constitution addressing insurrection as disqualifying him. Three judges on the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in a lawsuit that Cawthorn filed to derail the formal challenge sent to the State Board of Elections in North Carolina from going forward. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Myers ruled for Cawthorn in March and prevented the board from formally examining whether he should remain on ballots, and the voters appealed.

Ohio – A Limited Ban on Developer Campaign Donations Goes into Effect This Month
WVXU – Becca Costello | Published: 5/4/2022

A ban on some campaign donations to Cincinnati City Council members and the mayor takes effect on May 26. Interim City Manager John Curp recently approved regulations for the “solicitation ban” the council passed last year. The rules prohibit sitting council members and the mayor from soliciting or accepting campaign donations from someone with active business at the council, starting from the day the ordinance is filed with the council clerk. A new Office of Ethics and Good Government has been working on the regulations since last fall.

Ohio – Election 2022: JD Vance wins Ohio’s GOP Senate primary
MSN – Jill Colvin and Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) | Published: 5/4/2022

“Hillbilly Elegy” author J.D. Vance won Ohio’s contentious Republican U.S. Senate primary on, buoyed by Donald Trump’s endorsement in a race that was an early test of the former president’s hold on his party as the midterm season kicks into high gear. A onetime critic of Trump, Vance spent much of the campaign behind in the polls. But an endorsement from Trump pushed him to frontrunner status and the two men downplayed Vance’s past scathing criticism of the former president, with Vance saying he was wrong. He now faces Democrat Tim Ryan in the general election race to fill the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Sen. Rob Portman.

Tennessee – Campaign Finance Reform Bill Passes After McNally Issues Rebuke of Dark-Money Groups
Yahoo News – Adam Friedman (Tennessean) | Published: 4/28/2022

Tennessee lawmakers passed House Bill 1201, which requires 501(c)4s, often considered “dark money” organizations, to disclose any expenses over $5,000 in the 60 days leading up to an election when using candidate names and images. The bill’s final version would enhance several disclosure laws around campaign service companies and make various changes to increase transparency with the Registry of Election Finance. Some of the provisions directly respond to actions by former speaker and current Rep. Glen Casada and former Rep. Robin Smith. In March, Smith pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge.

Texas – Lobby Ordinance Needs Revision to Cover Virtual Meetings
Austin Monitor – Jo Clifton | Published: 5/4/2022

Auditors have found that while Austin’s registered lobbyists are largely complying with city regulations, there is one significant gap in the reporting requirements. Although lobbyists are required to report their in-person meetings, no such requirement exists for virtual meetings, according to a report discussed at a city council committee. Some offices use an electronic form while others use the electronic calendars to keep up with virtual lobbyist meetings, but nothing in city code requires either the lobbyist or the person being lobbied to keep a record.

Vermont – After Years in Committee Limbo, a Statewide Ethics Code Is Finally Adopted in Vermont
VTDigger.org – Sarah Mearhoff | Published: 5/4/2022

Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill that establishes a code of ethics in Vermont. Senate Bill 171 establishes baseline ethics rules for public officials in state government. It sets boundaries around conflicts-of-interest, preferential treatment, gifts, outside employment, the use of state employment for personal gain, among other provisions. It also protects whistleblowers from retaliation. Before the bill passed, Vermont was one of only five states without statewide codes of ethics for officials.

Virginia – Youngkin’s Move to Force Loudoun School Board Elections Called ‘Troubling’
MSN – Gregory Schneider and Laura Vozzella (Washington Post) | Published: 4/30/2022

Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s attempt to force the entire Loudon County School Board to face new elections this fall, shortening the terms of most of its members, stunned many political observers as an intrusion into local election integrity without modern precedent in Virginia. The plan, aimed at a school board that Youngkin has made a constant political target, initially won approval from the Republican-controlled House. But the Democratic-controlled Senate killed it, with one Republican senator joining the vote against a measure he called “troubling.”

Washington – Republican Spokane County Commissioner Candidate Gets Partial Exemption from Campaign Finance Requirements
Yahoo News – Colin Tiernan (Spokane Spokesman-Review) | Published: 4/29/2022

The Public Disclosure Commission voted to allow Kim Plese, a Republican candidate for Spokane County commissioner, to withhold the names of clients who spent more than $12,000 at her printing business for a one-year time-period, so long as those clients are not governmental entities or candidates for elected office. Washington law requires candidates for elected office to disclose a wide range of financial information. In Plese’s case, that means sharing recent transaction records for the business she owned for more than 30 years, Plese Printing and Marketing. Plese did not want to share records of sales greater than $12,000.

Washington DC – Trump Organizations Agree to Pay $750,000 to Settle Lawsuit with District
MSN – Keith Alexander (Washington Post) | Published: 5/3/2022

The Trump Organization and Trump’s Presidential Inaugural Committee agreed to pay the District of Columbia $750,000 to settle a lawsuit the city filed alleging the organizations misused nonprofit funds to benefit the former president and his family. The city filed a lawsuit in 2020 alleging the Inaugural Committee, a nonprofit corporation, coordinated with Trump’s family to overpay for event space in the Trump International Hotel and even paid for space on days when it did not hold events, among other malfeasance.

Interim City Manager of Cincinnati, Ohio, John Curp, approved rules and regulations for the solicitation ban passed by City Council last year.

Ordinance 0415-2021 prohibits councilmembers from soliciting campaign contributions from developers who have an interest before council, created the Office of Ethics & Good Government, and authorized the city manager to establish rules and begin enforcement.

The new rules require all persons or entities who request or apply for city business to disclose financially interested persons by filing a form with the Office of Ethics & Good Government.

The office will maintain a City Business List and a Financially Interested Persons List on their website.

A financially interested person is a person or entity who has a financial interest in city business, including anyone who owns or controls 20% or more of the entity.

Campaigns are prohibited from accepting campaign contributions from a person on the temporary prohibition list.

The new rules and regulations will go into effect May 26.

Two training sessions for elected officials, business leaders, and the public are scheduled for May 20 at 1:30 p.m. and May 23 at 11 a.m. in Room 115 of City Hall.

I had an opportunity a few years ago and I took it. State and Federal Communications had the opportunity to have Joe May oversee our Corporate Social Responsibility. He already had started our social media program and helped us with client analytics, and it was time to consider how else he could help the company.

Joe always loved how involved we were in the community, and we worked on a great job description where he headed up our new Corporate Social Responsibility. He would find organizations looking for an extra hand and coordinated a group of staff to help. We all realized how much we have been involved in community, state, and even national.

We have now published our fifth CSR annual report, which provides you with the timeline of how long State and Federal Communications has been a part of many national and local organizations. Plus, it includes the current staff who go out of their way to help organizations around them.

It is not easy to do. It takes a lot of organization. And, it takes a commitment from everyone at State and Federal Communications.

As our 2021 Annual Report states, “We care about our work. We care about our community. We care about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Doing the right thing is just good business… and we’re not done yet!”

Let me know if you are interested in hearing what our plans are for 2022. We are happy to set up a webinar to help others jump on the CSR bandwagon.

Thank you.

EB
@elizabethbartz

[From May 2022 Compliance Now]

On May 3, the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration favorably reported to the full Senate its approval of the nomination of Dara Lindenbaum to serve as a commissioner on the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

In January, FEC Vice Chair Steven T. Walther announced he would be stepping down as commissioner upon the nomination and confirmation of his replacement.

Lindenbaum, who was nominated by President Joe Biden on January 21, is currently an attorney with Sandler Reiff Lamb Rosenstein & Birkenstock, P.C., previously worked with the Voting Rights Project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. According to her profile on her law firm’s website, she also currently serves as General Counsel to Stacey Abrams’ campaign for Governor of Georgia.

With the appointment of Lindenbaum, there will be three registered members of the Republican Party, and three registered members of the Democratic Party. No more than three members of the FEC may be registered with the same political party.

To become a commissioner, Lindenbaum must now be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Campaign Finance

National: “Panel Sends FEC Nominee Dara Lindenbaum to Senate Floor” by Kate Ackley (Roll Call) for MSN

Arizona: “A Top Ducey Aide Raised Nearly $13k from Lobbyists Whose Cash He Promised to Shun” by Dillon Rosenblatt for Arizona Mirror

Kentucky: “Supreme Court Denies Former Top KY Dem’s Request to Overturn Campaign Finance Conviction” by Austin Horn (Lexington Herald Leader) for MSN

Ohio: “A Limited Ban on Developer Campaign Donations Goes into Effect This Month” by Becca Costello for WVXU

Elections

North Carolina: “Federal Court Considers Ruling That Blocked Madison Cawthorn Eligibility Challenge” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Ethics

New York: “Gov. Hochul Taps Rep. Antonio Delgado as New Lieutenant Governor” by Brigid Bergin for Gotham Gazette

Vermont: “After Years in Committee Limbo, a Statewide Ethics Code Is Finally Adopted in Vermont” by Sarah Mearhoff for VTDigger.org

Lobbying

Texas: “Lobby Ordinance Needs Revision to Cover Virtual Meetings” by Jo Clifton for Austin Monitor

Redistricting

New York: “Judge Won’t Revive NY Political Maps That Favored Democrats” by Marina Villeneuve (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed Senate Bill 171 establishing a statewide ethics code.

The bill prohibits public officials and employees from accepting or soliciting gifts not expressly permitted by the code.

Permitted gifts include food and beverage where the cost does not exceed $100 and unsolicited de minimis gifts with a value of $50 or less.

The bill also prohibits former legislative employees from being paid to appear before the General Assembly or its committees for one year following the termination of their service.

The bill will take effect on July 1.

Elections

National: “Democrats Hope Draft Abortion Opinion Will Jolt Midterm Elections” by Sarah Ferris and Marianne LeViner (Politico) for Yahoo News

Georgia: “Trump Election Probe Special Grand Jury Selected in Atlanta” by Kate Brumback (Associated Press) for MSN

New York: “Hochul Pens Legal Path for Former Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin to Drop Off Primary Ballot” by Rob Hackford (WGRZ) for Yahoo News

Ohio: “Election 2022: JD Vance wins Ohio’s GOP Senate primary” by Jill Colvin and Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Jan. 6 Panel Wants Testimony from GOP Lawmakers Brooks, Biggs, Jackson” by Rebecca Beitsch (The Hill) for Yahoo News

Michigan: “FBI Raids Home in New Public Corruption Probe in Metro Detroit” by Robert Snell and Mike Martindale for Detroit News

Washington DC: “Trump Organizations Agree to Pay $750,000 to Settle Lawsuit with District” by Keith Alexander (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “Gas Giants Have Been Ghostwriting Letters of Support from Elected Officials” by Chris D’Angelo (HuffPost) for Yahoo Finance

The Kansas Legislature adjourned its special veto session just after 2 a.m. on April 29.

During the recently concluded veto session, the Legislature passed the omnibus spending bill to fund public schools and special education.

Typically, upon veto adjournment, the Legislature sets sine die, the last official day of the session. This year, the Legislature set a date to return of May 23, leaving the session open in case court rulings on congressional maps would require further legislative action.

This does not affect lobbying dates.

Campaign Finance

Washington: “Republican Spokane County Commissioner Candidate Gets Partial Exemption from Campaign Finance Requirements” by Colin Tiernan (Spokane Spokesman-Review) for Yahoo News

Elections

Virginia: “Youngkin’s Move to Force Loudoun School Board Elections Called ‘Troubling’” by Gregory Schneider and Laura Vozzella (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “How a Billionaires Boys’ Club Came to Dominate the Public Square” by Michael Scherer and Sarah Ellison (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Judge Upholds Jan. 6 Committee Subpoena for RNC Records” by Kyle Cheney (Politico) for Yahoo News

Idaho: “Former Idaho Lawmaker Found Guilty of Raping Intern” by Rebecca Boone (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Massachusetts: “Former State Police Head and Three Others Violated Ethics Law by Altering Arrest Report for Judge’s Daughter, Ethics Commission Alleges” by Andrea Estes (Boston Globe) for MSN

New York: “Trump Grand Jury Ending in N.Y. with No Charges Against Ex-President” by Shayna Jacobs, Josh Dawsey, and Jonathan O’Connell (Washington Post) for MSN

Procurement

California: “‘Pay to Play’ Governor Behest Payment Contracting Bill Killed by Senate Democrats” by Evan Symon for California Globe

Last week Tennessee lawmakers overwhelmingly passed House Bill 1201, which requires 501(c)4 organizations to disclose any expenses over $5,000 in the 60 days leading up to an election when using candidate names and images.

The bill seeks to create more transparency for dark-money groups and enhances disclosure laws around campaign service companies.

The bill now goes to Gov. Bill Lee for approval.

Campaign Finance

Tennessee: “Campaign Finance Reform Bill Passes After McNally Issues Rebuke of Dark-Money Groups” by Adam Friedman (Tennessean) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “Trump Officials Muzzled CDC on Church Covid Guidance, Emails Confirm” by Dan Diamond (Washington Post) for MSN

Louisiana: “‘I See How This Looks’: Council grills top Cantrell official over ‘smart cities’ deal” by Michael Isaac Stein for The Lens

Minnesota: “Minneapolis City Council Blocks Chamber Consulting Gift to Improve Mayor Frey’s Office Efficiency” by Liz Navratil for Minneapolis Star Tribune

New Jersey: “A Toxic Culture Exists in N.J. Politics, Campaigns, Experts Say. This Lesson Aims to Prevent Harassment.” by Susan Livio (NJ Advance Media) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “Former Top State Official to Plead Guilty for Helping Qatar” by Alan Sunderman and Jim Mustian (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Florida: “Disney’s Special Tax District Pushes Back Against Law That Would Dissolve It” by Lori Rozsa and Beth Reinhard (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “New Chicago IG Asked to Investigate City Clerk Anna Valencia’s Lobbying Connections” by Mary Ann Ahern (WMAQ) for MSN

National/Federal

Amid the War in Ukraine, PR Firms Defend Russian-Tied Clients
MSN – Hailey Fuchs (Politico) | Published: 4/26/2022

Several wealthy businesspeople from Eastern Europe have turned to public relations professionals to help navigate press coverage emanating from Russia’s assault on Ukraine. It has created a unique business opportunity for Madison Avenue and beyond. They want to make sure the press does not tie them to the Kremlin or describe them as oligarchs. Whereas K Street and some law firms have worked to distance themselves from Russian interests, public relations professionals have stepped in to help illuminate the distinctions between those businesspeople tied to Putin and those who want nothing to do with him.

Bill Subjecting U.S. Judges to More Financial Disclosure Passes Congress
Yahoo News – Nate Raymond (Reuters) | Published: 4/27/2022

Legislation that would subject U.S. Supreme Court justices and federal judges to tougher disclosure requirements for their financial holdings and stock trades passed the House in a rare show of bipartisanship. The bill, approved on a voice vote after winning Senate passage in February, would make it easier for the public to see if a member of the federal judiciary has a financial conflict-of-interest warranting recusal from hearing a case. Lawmakers introduced the bill after The Wall Street Journal reported more than 130 federal judges had failed to recuse themselves from cases involving companies in which they or their family members owned stock.

Democrats Ramp Up Investigation into Impact of Disinformation on Elections
MSN – Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) | Published: 4/21/2022

House Democrats are seeking information from officials in key battleground states about their efforts to combat “lies and conspiracy theories” that could damage the integrity of federal elections as part of a broader investigation into the “weaponization of misinformation and disinformation” in the electoral process. The leaders of the House Oversight and Reform and House Administration committees sent letters to election officials in Florida, Arizona, Texas, and Ohio – all Republican-led states – requesting the information while noting their concern about new laws affecting election administration.

Ethics of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Other Justices Questioned at Hearing
MSN – Ella Lee (USA Today) | Published: 4/28/2022

Experts and lawmakers questioned how strict ethics rules should be for U.S. Supreme Court justices, a topic that has gained importance recently with revelations that Ginni Thomas, the wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, supported efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results. But the discussion at a House subcommittee hearing largely split along party lines. Republicans accused reform proponents of partisan and racial attacks against Justice Thomas. Democrats pointed to ethical lapses of justices appointed by both parties and the importance of the appearance of impartiality, in addition to impartiality as defined by law.

Feds Could Accept Donations of Up to $10K for Legal Funds Under First-Ever Ethics Rule
Government Executive – Eric Katz | Published: 4/22/2022

The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) issued first-of-its-kind guidelines for federal employees who accept donations to pay for job-related legal fees, easing the restrictions on receiving gifts that the workers typically face.  The proposed rule followed high-profile Trump administration officials drawing scrutiny for their use of such funds. The OGE said the rule, while expanding the universe of individuals from whom federal employees can accept gifts, would help avoid perceptions of civil servants using their public office for private gain.

GOP Texts Cast Renewed Spotlight on Post-2020 Election Efforts
MSN – Jacqueline Alemany and Felicia Sonmez (Washington Post) | Published: 4/25/2022

Newly revealed text messages between then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and congressional Republicans including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene cast a renewed spotlight on communication between the Trump White House and allies determined to overturn the results of the 2020 election or stoke chaos in its aftermath. The texts involving dozens of GOP members of Congress prompted calls for a panel investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol to reconsider issuing subpoenas or other punitive measures against lawmakers who were involved with peddling dubious legal theories that might have contributed to the deadly assault.

McCarthy Said Trump Acknowledged ‘Some Responsibility’ for Attack on Jan. 6
Seattle Times – Alexander Burns and Neil Vigdor (New York Times) | Published: 4/22/2022

Then-House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy told Republican lawmakers in the days after the attack on the U.S. Capitol that former President Trump acknowledged he bore “some responsibility” for what happened that day. The audio, obtained by The New York Times, is part of a series of revelations about GOP leaders’ private condemnations of Trump in the days after his supporters stormed the Capitol. The revelation comes as congressional investigators scour for evidence of Trump’s involvement in his supporters’ failed attempt to block the official certification of his loss in the 2020 election.

Paid Protesters, Free Lunches and Backroom Chats: Inside the menthol lobbying machine
Bureau of Investigative Journalism – Emily Baumgaertner (Los Angeles Times), Ben Stockton, and Ryan Lindsay | Published: 4/25/2022

Menthol cigarettes are the choice of 85% of Black smokers, the result of decades of targeted marketing in Black communities. Cities have banned the sale of menthol-flavored cigarettes. As the Food and Drug Administration considers a nationwide ban, the owner of the country’s most popular menthol brand has waged a huge lobbying and public relations campaign to keep them in the hands of smokers. An investigation reveals how consultants working for Reynolds American have exploited concerns about police brutality against Black citizens and at times failed to declare their links to the industry.

Rep. Ronny Jackson’s Campaign Paid for Dues at Private Social Club
MSN – Chris Marquette (Roll Call) | Published: 4/25/2022

U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson tapped his campaign account for more than $2,300 in costs associated with membership at a private social club in Texas, campaign finance records show.  Jackson spent campaign donor money at the posh Amarillo Club on what were described in some disclosures to the FEC as membership fees or dues. It is illegal to spend campaign funds for personal purposes. “These costs are strictly associated with campaign and fundraising events,” Casey Nelson, a spokesperson for Jackson, said in a statement.

Trump Officials Overruled Pentagon to Approve Pandemic Loan, Emails Show
MSN – Yeganeh Torbati and Jeff Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 4/27/2022

Senior Trump administration officials overruled Pentagon staffers to provide a politically connected trucking firm with hundreds of millions of dollars in pandemic aid after a concerted lobbying effort, according to documents released by House Democrats. Career employees at the Defense Department decided they should not certify Yellow Corp. was critical to maintaining national security, which would mean the company could not qualify for a loan program created by Congress, the investigation found. But the Trump appointees ignored that determination after a phone call between Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

Twitter Has Been Focused on ‘Healthy Conversations.’ Elon Musk Could Change That
MSN – Sarah Ashley O’Brien and Clare Duffy (CNN) | Published: 4/26/2022

Twitter has banned many accounts promoting abuse and spam, added labels for false or misleading information, and launched a team dedicated to studying and increasing transparency around the technology that determines what content is promoted on the site. But some critics say the work Twitter has done in recent years could be unraveled now that Elon Musk acquired Twitter in a deal worth about $44 billion. Twitter has an outsized influence in the online (and offline) world because it is popular among influential figures, and because it has often acted as a model for other platforms on how to address thorny harmful content issues.

Canada

Canada – Conservatives Ask If Trudeau Used ‘Get Out of Jail Free Card’ Before 2016 Aga Khan Vacation
CBC – Staff | Published: 4/25/2022

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) examined the possibility of charging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with fraud after investigating his 2016 family vacation on the Aga Khan’s private island in the Bahamas. The police force ultimately decided not to pursue a criminal investigation of the trip, which was separately examined by former ethics commissioner Mary Dawson. The RCMP’s decision responded, in part, to a nuance in the law that makes it possible for sitting prime ministers to grant themselves consent to receive gifts that otherwise would constitute fraud against the government.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – A Top GOP Prosecutor Said Trump Lost. Running for Senate, He Has a New Message.
MSN – Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) | Published: 4/23/2022

As false claims of a stolen election took root in 2020, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, a Republican, spoke out on national television. Donald Trump was projected to lose the swing state, he said, and “no facts” suggested that would change. But Brnovich recently called into a far-right podcast with a different message: his investigation into the vote was turning up “serious concerns.” Many GOP candidates have embraced the former president’s false election claims while seeking an endorsement in their 2022 primary races. But Brnovich, now running for U.S. Senate, stands out for his shift over the past year and a half.

California – Beverly Hills Developer Agrees to Plead Guilty in Bribery Scheme
MSN – Christopher Goffard (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 4/27/2022

Developer Arman Gabaee agreed to plead guilty to bribing a former Los Angeles County real estate official in connection with a lucrative lease scheme, a charge that could bring a 10-year federal prison term. Gabaee paid the county employee, Thomas Shepos, about $1,000 a month from around 2011 to 2017, according to the plea agreement. In exchange, Shepos gave non-public information to Gabaee and got him favorable terms on county deals. Shepos cooperated with the FBI and secretly recorded meetings at which Gabaee paid $6,000 in cash bribes.

California – ‘People’s Convoy’ Truckers Driven Out After Youths, Residents Egged Them
MSN – Timothy Bella (Washington Post) | Published: 4/26/2022

A trucker convoy were blasting their horns and crowding the roadway outside the East Bay home of California Assembly member Buffy Wicks. The truckers said on a live stream they were targeting the Democrat because she had proposed a bill preventing coroners from investigating stillbirths and other lost pregnancies. Another bill she proposed calls for employers to mandate that workers be vaccinated against the coronavirus. It turns out that residents of the neighborhood, including the younger ones, were not happy with the hulking rigs disrupting their lives. Video shows people pelting the trucks with eggs and shouting, “Get out of our town!”

California – Riverside Man Who Was LADWP General Manager Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison in Bribery Scheme
Riverside Press-Enterprise – City News Service | Published: 4/25/2022

A former top executive of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) was sentenced to six years in federal prison for his role in a bribery scheme stemming from a probe of the city’s handling of the botched launch of a DWP billing system. David Wright will also pay a fine of $75,000. Prosecutors said Wright accepted bribes from a lawyer in exchange for supporting a $30 million, no-bid DWP contract. The lawyer named in the case, Paul Paradis, pleaded guilty to a federal bribery count and is awaiting sentencing.

California – Villanueva Backs Off Investigation of Times Reporter Who Revealed Cover-Up
MSN – Harriet Ryan and Brittny Mejia (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 4/26/2022

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva criticized Los Angeles Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian during a news conference in which he suggested two longtime foes leaked to the journalist a surveillance video showing a deputy kneeling on the head of a handcuffed inmate. Villanueva noted a list of possible felonies under investigation in the case, including conspiracy and burglary. The sheriff termed the video stolen property. The U.S. Supreme Court has held journalists generally cannot be held liable for publishing leaked materials that are about matters of public concern, even if the reporter knew or should have known they were obtained illegally.

Connecticut – A CT Group Home Director Wants to Cash in on Her State-Funded Properties
CT Mirror – Andrew Brown | Published: 4/24/2022

For nearly four decades, Malcolm and Margaret Winkley have run a pair of nonprofits in Connecticut that serve individuals with developmental disabilities. Over the course of those 40 years, the husband and wife used their authority over the two organizations, and the taxpayer money they received, to amass millions of dollars’ worth of real estate. Records show the couple held the titles for group homes while the nonprofits used state and federal funding to pay the taxes, insurance, and mortgages on those properties. That arrangement was specifically called out in an ethics opinion in 1999.

Florida – Voting Rights Groups Sue Florida Over New Congressional Map
Yahoo News – Gary Fineout (Politico) | Published: 4/22/2022

Several voting rights and civil rights organizations as well as a Democratic-aligned redistricting group sued over Florida’s new congressional map on the same day Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the map into law. The map hands significant gains to Republicans and dismantles the North Florida seat now held by a Black Democrat. In their filings, the groups challenging the map contend the proposal violates Florida’s voter-approved anti-gerrymandering standards that were first approved by voters back in 2010.

Georgia – Greene Says She Can’t Remember If She Urged Trump to Impose Martial Law
MSN – Matthew Brown and Felicia Sonmez (Washington Post) | Published: 4/21/2022

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, testifying about her alleged role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol as part of a case seeking to disqualify her from seeking reelection, said she could not remember whether she urged then-President Trump to impose martial law to remain in power. The exchange marked one of dozens of times during the hearing that Greene said she could not recall her tweets or statements related to the attack. Greene’s appearance in an Atlanta courtroom represented one of the first times a member of Congress has been questioned under oath about the insurrection.

Illinois – Ethics Chair Proposes Sweeping Package of Ethics Reforms
Chicago Sun-Times – Fran Spielman | Published: 4/22/2022

Chicago Ald. Michele Smith unveiled a sweeping package of ethics reforms. Provisions include empowering the city Board of Ethics to levy fines as high as $20,000 for violations, quadruple the current maximum, plus the “entire amount of the ill-gotten gains.” It would extend the $1,500 limit on campaign contributions within an election cycle to sub-contractors and applying that limit to other agencies of local government. “The whole idea of ‘I got a guy at City Hall’ – we’re trying to end that,” said Smith, who chairs the council’s Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight.

Illinois – Former Crestwood Mayor Louis Presta Sentenced to 1 Year in Prison in Red Light Camera Bribery Case
WBBM – Todd Feurer | Published: 4/25/2022

Former Crestwood Mayor Louis Presta was sentenced to one year and one day in prison after pleading guilty to taking a $5,000 bribe from a red-light camera company executive in 2018. Presta, who resigned from office a day before pleading guilty to federal bribery and tax charges in November, was caught on camera accepting an envelope containing $5,000 in cash from former SafeSpeed executive Omar Maani, and then lied about it when questioned by the FBI and IRS, falsely claiming the envelope was empty.

Indiana – Candidate with Ties to Troubled Casino Wants Indiana Statehouse Seat – Again
Yahoo News – Tony Cook (Indianapolis Star) | Published: 4/26/2022

Former Indiana Rep. Matthew Whetstone resigned his seat in 2007 to become a lobbyist, then returned to the statehouse as parliamentarian for the House speaker in 2013, only to leave in 2015 to create his own lobbying firm. Now, Whetstone wants to return to the General Assembly. Critics say Whetstone’s case is a particularly egregious example of the “revolving door” culture at the Capitol, where government officials often seek private sector jobs to cash in on their public service. The state has a one-year waiting period for those who leave government service to become lobbyists, but there is no restriction for lobbyists who want to become lawmakers.

Iowa – Watchdogs Troubled by Ties to Iowa Government by Those Behind Carbon Dioxide Pipeline
Minneapolis Star Tribune – Leah Douglas (Reuters) | Published: 4/25/2022

Summit Carbon Solutions, the company behind a carbon pipeline proposal in the Midwest, has close ties to Iowa officials and regulators charged with approving a large part of its route. The proposed Midwest Carbon Express pipeline would connect customers such as ethanol plants in Iowa and Minnesota to a carbon storage facility in North Dakota. Iowa would host the longest portion of the pipeline. At least four members of Summit’s leadership have direct links to the Iowa governor’s office or the Iowa Utility Board, both of which could influence the future of the roughly 2,000-mile pipeline.

Kansas – Judge Strikes Down Kansas Map, Finding Lawmakers Intended to Dilute Minority Voter Power
MSN – Jonathan Shorman and Katie Bernard (Kansas City Star) | Published: 4/25/2022

A Kansas judge tossed the state’s Republican-drawn congressional map, finding the Legislature intentionally diluted minority votes in a partisan and political gerrymander that violated the state constitution. The decision by Wyandotte County District Court Judge Bill Klapper is a victory for a group of voters who challenged the map, arguing it violated guarantees of voting rights, equal rights, and free speech in the Kansas Constitution. It is the first time in Kansas history a state court has ruled against a congressional map.

Maryland – Ohio Bribery Scandal Hits Home in Md. – and Utility Customers May Be Footing the Bill
Maryland Matters – Josh Kurtz | Published: 4/21/2022

In 2020, then-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four of his associates were arrested in a bribery scandal. The aftershocks are still being felt in Maryland. Householder and the four operatives were charged in a federal criminal complaint of accepting $61 million in bribes from FirstEnergy to pass legislation that provided a $1.5 billion taxpayer-funded bailout for the utility’s nuclear power plants. FirstEnergy is the parent company of Potomac Edison, the electric utility that serves customers in Western Maryland. A consumer watchdog in the state is trying to figure out how much the Ohio scandal is costing ratepayers in Maryland.

Michigan – Monica Conyers a ‘Candidate’ for Wayne County Executive, but Banned from Serving
Detroit News – James David Jackson | Published: 4/27/2022

Former Detroit City Council President Monica Conyers set herself up for a comeback on April 19, when she filed to run as a Democrat in the Wayne County executive race. But she is banned from being elected to office under Michigan law since she pleaded guilty in 2009 to one federal count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Conyers was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for accepting money in exchange for her vote on a $1 billion sludge-hauling deal.

Minnesota – A Candidate Gave a Speech While in Labor – Then Had to Withdraw from the Race to Give Birth
MSN – Amy Wang (Washington Post) | Published: 4/25/2022

For months, a running joke inside Erin Maye Quade’s campaign for the Minnesota Senate was that the candidate, pregnant with her first child, might give birth April 23, the day Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party delegates would gather to vote on who would be the party’s nominee for the race. It would be a grueling convention, packed with speeches, in-person campaigning for delegates’ support, and potentially multiple rounds of balloting. As fate would have it, on the day of the convention, Maye Quade texted her campaign manager to let him know she had gone into labor four hours earlier.

Missouri – Dueker Deregisters as Lobbyist to Fundraise for St. Louis County Executive Race
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Nasim Benchaabane | Published: 4/26/2022

Local police union attorney Jane Dueker deregistered as a lobbyist to open her own campaign account for the Democratic primary for St. Louis County executive. Dueker, who had previously argued it was not necessary to fundraise for her campaign, said her decision was based on “the overwhelming support I’m getting from voters in St. Louis County.” Missouri law forbids registered lobbyists from operating campaign accounts. JanePAC, a third-party PAC newly formed to support Dueker, recently accepted $10,000 from the St. Louis County Police Association, one of the unions Dueker had represented as a lobbyist.

New York – Judge Holds Trump in Contempt Over Documents in New York A.G.’s Inquiry
MSN – Jonah Bromwich, Ben Protess, and William Rashbaum (New York Times) | Published: 4/25/2022

A New York judge held Donald Trump in contempt of court for failing to turn over documents to the state’s attorney general, an extraordinary rebuke of the former president. The judge ordered Trump to comply with a subpoena seeking records and assessed a fine of $10,000 per day until he satisfied the court’s requirements. Alina Habba, a lawyer for Trump, said she intended to appeal the ruling. Still, the ruling represents a significant victory for New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office is conducting a civil investigation into whether Trump falsely inflated the value of his assets in annual financial statements.

New York – Lt. Governor Indictment Puts Spotlight on State Campaign Finance Reform
Albany Times Union – Rebekah Ward | Published: 4/22/2022

When then-Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin was accused of taking fraudulent contributions for his 2021 failed bid for New York City comptroller, attention turned to a city agency soon to be mirrored at the state level: the Campaign Finance Board. Some proponents of statewide reform are lauding the role the city’s board appears to have had in spurring the indictment against Benjamin, which describes his attempt to defraud the city’s matching funds program. Detractors of the impending changes in the state’s campaign system say the alleged fraud does not bode well for a program that will soon see more taxpayer money spent on elections in New York.

New York – N.Y. Congressional Map Is Illegal and Must Be Redrawn, Court Says
MSN – Colby Itkowitz (Washington Post) | Published: 4/27/2022

New York’s highest court struck down the state’s new congressional map as unconstitutional, dealing a setback to Democrats ahead of this year’s midterm elections. The state’s Court of Appeals sided with Republicans, who sued over complaints that the new lines were drawn to help Democrats win more seats. The court called the map “substantively unconstitutional as drawn with impermissible partisan purpose.”

North Carolina – Former Representative Ends Campaign for NC House After Health Issues, Missing Finance Documents
Charlotte Observer – Will Wright | Published: 4/25/2022

Former state Rep. Rodney Moore’s return to politics started with a state-mandated prohibition on accepting campaign contributions. Moore was making his first bid for General Assembly since he was convicted of a felony charge in a campaign finance case in 2019. Moore announced on Twitter he was going to “withdraw my candidacy” for House District 112. He will still appear on ballots. Until earlier in April, he was barred from accepting campaign contributions in the new race. Records show Moore did not file a quarterly finance report from 2018 until April 7. He still owes the state several other required campaign disclosures.

North Dakota – State Senator to Resign After Report He Texted with Child Porn Suspect
MSN – Julian Mark (Washington Post) | Published: 4/25/2022

As Nicholas James Morgan-Derosier, accused of possessing child pornography, sat in a North Dakota jail in August 2021, he texted with people on the outside. Among them was one of the most powerful senators in the North Dakota Legislature. All told, state Sen. Ray Holmberg and Morgan-Derosier exchanged 72 text messages as Morgan-Derosier was being held on the child pornography charges, although it remains unclear exactly what they communicated about. Now Holmberg, the state’s longest-serving senator, announced his resignation.

Ohio – FirstEnergy Agrees to $37.5 Million Settlement to Resolve Ratepayer Lawsuits over HB6 Scandal
MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 4/22/2022

FirstEnergy reached a $37.5 million settlement to resolve four lawsuits filed by ratepayers who sued the utility over the House Bill 6 scandal. FirstEnergy had set aside the money to settle the suits that alleged the company committed civil federal and state anti-racketeering violations. FirstEnergy is still involved other lawsuits related to the legislation, which federal authorities say was passed thanks to $60 million in FirstEnergy bribe money distributed via a network overseen by then-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder.

Ohio – Ohio State Superintendent of Public Instruction Finalist Led Job Search for the Position for Months Before Applying, Emails Show
Cleveland Plain Dealer – Laura Hancock | Published: 4/27/2022

A candidate on the short list for the open state superintendent of public instruction position led the superintendent search for several months, which provided him access to his competitors’ applications and other information. Steve Dackin was vice president of the Ohio State Board of Education before resigning. Former board members can apply for positions in the agency they have overseen, as long as the job search process is open and fair and “it is clear that they did not use the position, while on the board, to secure the job, and that the best and most qualified candidate is selected for the job,” according to an Ohio Ethics Commission summary of the law.

Oklahoma – Stitt Vetoes Bill Requiring Gubernatorial Appointees to File Financial Disclosure Forms
Yahoo News – Carmen Forman (Oklahoman) | Published: 4/27/2022

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed legislation that would require his appointed Cabinet secretaries and state agency directors to file financial disclosure forms. In his veto message, Stitt asked the Legislature to take a more holistic approach to requiring financial disclosures by also requesting the same information from legislative appointees to boards, commissions, and agency leadership positions.

Rhode Island – US Supreme Court Lets R.I. Election Finance Disclosure Law Stand
MSN – Edward Fitzpatrick (Boston Globe) | Published: 4/25/2022

The U.S. Supreme Court will not take up a challenge to Rhode Island’s campaign finance law.  The state enacted the disclosure law in response to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which allowed corporations and other outside groups to spend unlimited amounts on elections. Two conservative groups claimed the law, which requires disclosures and disclaimers for independent expenditures or electioneering communications, violates the First Amendment and infringes on rights of privacy and association.

Tennessee – Tennessee Attorney General Takes Cade Cothren to Court Over Subpoena Issue
Yahoo News – Melissa Brown (Tennessean) | Published: 4/26/2022

The Tennessee attorney general asked a local court to compel former political aide Cade Cothren to explain why he refused to obey subpoenas issued in a campaign finance probe earlier this year. The court filing follows a Tennessee Registry of Election Finance investigation into Rep. Glen Casada and related PACs, which the registry referred to Williamson County prosecutors. Cothren’s attorney called the subpoenas an “abuse of process” and stated her client would invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Virginia – Lawsuit Targets Skill-Game Company Over Lobbying Effort Invoking Deceased Senator
Virginia Mercury – Graham Moomaw | Published: 4/26/2022

A lawsuit seeks $1.35 million in damages against business entities affiliated with Queen of Virginia, one of the state’s leading suppliers of the electronic gaming machines that have spread to many sports bars, convenience stores, and truck stops. The estate of the late Virginia Sen. Yvonne Miller is suing the company over a photograph of Miller used as part of a lobbying campaign near the end of the 2021 General Assembly session, when lawmakers were considering outlawing skill games.

Washington DC – D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto Broke Campaign Finance Law Last Year
DCist – Martin Austermuhle | Published: 4/26/2022

The fundraiser held on December 6, 2021, was seemingly routine: a small group of wealthy supporters gathered at the home of real estate developer Marc Duber to contribute up to $500 a person to District of Columbia Councilperson Brooke Pinto. “Help Brooke retire her 2020 campaign loans,” read an invitation for the event, which ultimately netted the first-term lawmaker just over $21,000. But the fundraiser was lot legal. Pinto ran afoul of a new law that prohibits candidates who win office from fundraising to pay off campaign debts more than six months after they are elected to office.

Campaign Finance

Missouri: “Dueker Deregisters as Lobbyist to Fundraise for St. Louis County Executive Race” by Nasim Benchaabane for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Tennessee: “Tennessee Attorney General Takes Cade Cothren to Court Over Subpoena Issue” by Melissa Brown (Tennessean) for Yahoo News

Elections

Minnesota: “A Candidate Gave a Speech While in Labor – Then Had to Withdraw from the Race to Give Birth” by Amy Wang (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Trump Officials Overruled Pentagon to Approve Pandemic Loan, Emails Show” by Yeganeh Torbati and Jeff Stein (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Bill Subjecting U.S. Judges to More Financial Disclosure Passes Congress” by Nate Raymond (Reuters) for Yahoo News

California: “‘People’s Convoy’ Truckers Driven Out After Youths, Residents Egged Them” by Timothy Bella (Washington Post) for MSN

California: “Villanueva Backs Off Investigation of Times Reporter Who Revealed Cover-Up” by Harriet Ryan and Brittny Mejia (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

Ohio: “Ohio State Superintendent of Public Instruction Finalist Led Job Search for the Position for Months Before Applying, Emails Show” by Laura Hancock for Cleveland Plain Dealer

Lobbying

National: “Amid the War in Ukraine, PR Firms Defend Russian-Tied Clients” by Hailey Fuchs (Politico) for MSN

Virginia: “Lawsuit Targets Skill-Game Company Over Lobbying Effort Invoking Deceased Senator” by Graham Moomaw for Virginia Mercury

The 107th Nebraska Legislature adjourned sine die on April 20 after 60 days in session.

Due to term limits, 11 senators are leaving the Legislature and an additional two decided not to seek reelection. The term limit senators include Henderson Sen. Curt Friesen, Lincoln Sen. Matt Hansen, Omaha Sen. Robert Hilkemann, Venango Sen. Dan Hughes, Seward Sen. Mark Koltermann. Creighton Sen. Tim Gragert and Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop chose not to run for reelection.

During the session, legislation to provide Nebraskans with a record $3.4 billion in tax relief by 2027 passed. Other legislation related to lobbying and campaign finance that would have prohibited a school board of an education service unit from authorizing a lobbyist to act on its behalf without a current contract for lobbing services was introduced but not passed.

Lobbying reporting dates are not affected by adjournment. The 2023 session is scheduled to convene January 4.