Attention all political science nerds and government relations geeks. State and Federal Communications has posted the State of the State Addresses from the Governors of the United States on its website. It is available to all of our clients on your dashboard.

This was a great idea from our new Senior Advisor Jean Cantrell at a department meeting. With Vice President Ren Koozer’s IT skills and Associate Director for Research, Michael Beckett, Esq. and his amazing team, the whole project was put together in no time and on our website.

Not every governor has given his/her State of the State Address and we will continue to update the site by providing a link to either the distributed Address or a link to the video of the Address being given.

I like having something interesting to do and this is perfect. [Truth be told, I have also spent time in the evening looking at candidate campaign finance reports and seeing if I notice irregularities.] This is a great opportunity when I am at the Public Affairs Council PAC Conference to catch up on what is going on in our country.

I would love to hear from you about this new addition. Please note this is only available to subscribers to our Guidebooks and to all our consulting clients. If that piques your interest, give me a call to discuss our services.

Next month I will discuss the #1 blog post at the company!! Stay tuned.

Campaign Finance

New York: “Lt. Gov.’s Campaign Expenses Show Conflicts with Taxpayer Refunds” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Ethics

National: “Guns, Radicalization and a Father’s Alleged Threat: First Jan. 6 trial set to begin” by Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Four US Lawmakers or Their Spouses Personally Invested in Russian Companies: Documents” by Dave Levinthal (Business Insider) for MSN

Nevada: “Social Video Shows ‘Racist’ Taunts of Nevada Governor, Wife” by Ken Ritter (Associated Press) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “Activists Disrupt House GOP Leader’s Speech Demanding Action on Gift Ban Legislation” by Jan Murphy for PennLive.com

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Regulator Bias Case Spawned by Power Line” by Chris Hubbuch (Wisconsin State Journal) for Madison.com

Legislative Issues

Kansas: “Kansas Lawmakers Are Supposed to Vet Bills in Committees. But Are Their Hearings Fair?” by Jonathan Shorman and Katie Bernard (Kansas City Star) for MSN

Redistricting

Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania GOP Urges Supreme Court to Toss Congressional Map” by Michael Macagnone (Roll Call) for MSN

Campaign Finance

National: “Trial Opens for Men Accused of Funneling Millions to Back Hillary Clinton in 2016 Presidential Race” by Josh Gerstein (Politico) for Yahoo News

Colorado: “Envelope with Checks Found in Colorado Capitol Bathroom Creates Sticky Situation” by Marianne Goodland for Colorado Politics

Maine: “Subpoenas Will Ramp Up Maine Investigation into National Conservative Group” by Caitlin Andrews for Bangor Daily News

New York: “More Than Three Thousand Campaigns Violated Campaign Finance Law. The State Board of Elections Brought Enforcement Actions Against Zero.” by Sam Mullins for New York Focus

Elections

Oklahoma: “Claiming Out-of-State Influences, Oklahoma Looks to Clamp Down on State Question Laws” by Trevor Brown for Oklahoma Watch

Ethics

National: “Four Women on the Supreme Court Would Bring Historic, Near Gender Parity for Institution Long Dominated by White Men” by Robert Barnes (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “They Threw a $74,000 Goodbye Party for a County Official. Lobbyists Pitched In. How Did That Help the Public?” by Lisa Huriash (South Florida Sun Sentinel) for MSN

Ohio: “Ohio Judge Helped Write a Bailout That Led to Arrests; Now He’s Blocking Outside Probes” by Jake Zuckerman (Ohio Capital Journal) for WEWS

New York Gov. Hochul announced a special election for Assembly District 20 to be held on April 7.

The seat became vacant when Rep. Melissa Miller resigned to join the Hempstead Town Board.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the two-year term set to expire on January 1, 2023.

A malicious cyberattack targeted the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) last week, resulting in an outage of the Lobbying Application, the online filing portal for lobbyists.

The online system will remain down until JCOPE is confident it can be restored safely.

Extensions will automatically be granted for any filings that were due and could not be submitted due to the outage.

Campaign Finance

Massachusetts: “Are Campaign Donations to MA Sheriffs Too Suggestive of Pay-to-Play? CT May Have Solution” by Kyle Stucker (USA Today) for Herald News

Oregon: “Oregon Labor, Business Interest Groups File Challenges to Campaign Contribution Limit Proposals” by Hillary Borrud (Portland Oregonian) for Spokane Spokesman-Review

Ethics

National: “Backstage Drama at Jan. 6 Rally for Trump Draws Interest of House Committee” by Jacqueline Alemany, Josh Dawsey, and Beth Reinhard (Washington Post) for MSN

California: “Mayor’s Top Aide Held Private Call with Ash Street Defendant, Lobbyist Before Tuesday Council Meeting” by Jeff McDonald for San Diego Union Tribune

New York: “‘Malicious Cyberattack’ Strikes New York Ethics Agency” by Brendan Lyons for Albany Times Union

Lobbying

National: “Lobbyists Ramp Up Fly-Ins Despite Capitol Covid-19 Restrictions” by Nancy Ognanovich for Bloomberg Government

National: “US Lobbying Firms Rush to Cut Ties with Russian Businesses Hit with Sanctions” by Casey Tolan, Curt Devine, and Daniel Medina for CNN

Florida: “Bill Banning Lobbying for Ex-Lawmakers Heads to Gov. DeSantis’ Desk” by Gary Rohrer for Florida Politics

On February 25, President Joe Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to Serve as Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jackson will replace U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer, who is retiring from the bench upon confirmation of his replacement. Breyer, at 83, is currently the oldest member of the Court, serving since 1994 when he was appointed by President Bill Clinton.

Jackson, who was once a clerk for Justice Breyer, is currently on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She has previously served as a federal district court judge, a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, an attorney in private practice, and as a federal public defender.

The Boston City Council announced a special election for the District 1 seat to be held on May 3 with a preliminary election to be held on April 5.

The seat is vacant after Lydia Edwards was elected to the state Senate in a special election last month.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the term set to expire at the end of 2023.

National/Federal

Big U.S. Law Firms Pitch Changes to DOJ ‘Foreign Agent’ Regulations
Reuters – Mike Scarcella | Published: 2/16/2022

Many law firms responded to a U.S. Department of Justice request for views from attorneys, lobbing offices, and other outlets about potential revisions to the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The law has come into sharper focus amid greater scrutiny of foreign influence efforts in the U.S. and more enforcement actions. The Justice Department is in the early stages of a rule-making process and has not issued any proposed changes to the law.

Fed Overhauls Investment and Trading Rules Following Resignations of Top Officials
MSN – Rachel Siegel (Washington Post) | Published: 2/18/2022

The Federal Reserve overhauled its trading rules for policymakers and staff, rewriting previous guidelines that central bankers said were insufficient amid the resignations of three top policymakers. The rules mirror a general outline offered by Federal Reserve Board Chairperson Jerome Powell. But additional details reflect tougher standards and the culmination of a review that sought to regain public trust after the financial activities of top officials came under heightened scrutiny.

Feds Just Let Ron Paul’s Old Campaign Slide on Likely Violations
MSN – Roger Sollenberger (Daily Beast) | Published: 2/17/2022

More than 10 years ago, former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul’s presidential campaign got caught up in a bribery scandal that netted felony convictions against three senior staffers. Five years later, the FEC unanimously found Paul’s campaign likely broke the law. But it was not until recently that the FEC finally disclosed its unanimous vote. It took more than 3,700 days after Paul campaign aides paid an Iowa senator who dramatically flipped his presidential endorsement for the agency to make its final decision. After all the investigations had concluded, the FEC decided to let the whole thing slide.

GOP Lawmakers Are Pushing High-Tech ‘Fraud-Proof’ Ballots. A Texas Company Could Be the Only Supplier.
MSN – Rosalind Helderman (Washington Post) | Published: 2/18/2022

High-tech security features would be required to be embedded on ballots under measures proposed in at least four states by Republican lawmakers – all promoters of false claims the 2020 election was marred by mass fraud – to make the ballots as hard to counterfeit as passports or currency. But the specialized inks and watermarks also would limit the number of companies capable of selling ballot paper, potentially to just one Texas firm with no previous experience in elections that consulted with the lawmakers proposing the measures.

Judge Allows Lawmaker Jan. 6 Lawsuits Against Trump to Proceed
MSN – Todd Ruger (Roll Call) | Published: 2/18/2022

A federal judge ruled Democratic lawmakers and Capitol Police officers can move forward with civil lawsuits against former President Trump in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, but U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks should be dismissed as a defendant. U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta issued the ruling on motions by the defendants to dismiss claims in three related lawsuits, which seek to hold Trump, the former president’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and others personally responsible for their roles in the events.

National Archives Confirms Classified Material Was in Boxes at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Residence
MSN – Matt Zapotosky (Washington Post) | Published: 2/18/2022

The National Archives and Records Administration confirmed it found items marked classified in boxes of White House records that former President Trump took with him to his Mar-a-Lago residence. U.S. Archivist David S. Ferriero said the agency had been in touch with the Justice Department over the matter. The Washington Post had reported that some of the Mar-a-Lago documents were marked as classified, including some at the “top secret” level, a revelation that seemed likely to intensify the legal pressure that Trump or his staffers could face.

Ryan Zinke Broke Ethics Rules While Leading Trump’s Interior Dept., Watchdog Finds
MSN – Anna Phillips and Lisa Rein (Washington Post) | Published: 2/16/2022

Facing serious allegations about this ethics and conduct in office, Ryan Zinke, Donald Trump’s former Interior secretary, told a government official in 2018 that negotiations over a land deal in his hometown of Whitefish, Montana, were proceeding without him. His involvement was minimal and his meeting with the project’s developers at Interior headquarters was “purely social.” But a report by the department’s internal watchdog said text message exchanges show he communicated with the developers 64 times to discuss the project’s design, the use of his foundation’s land as a parking lot, and his interest in operating a brewery on the site.

Supreme Court Formally Denies Trump’s Request to Review the January 6 Committee’s Bid for White House Records
Yahoo News – Sonam Sheth, Brent Griffiths, and Oma Seddiq (Business Insider) | Published: 2/22/2022

The U.S. Supreme Court officially denied former President Trump’s request to review the January 6 select committee’s bid for White House records. The decision was widely expected after the court declined Trump’s request to block the National Archives and Records Administration from turning over executive-branch documents to the congressional committee investigating the Capitol riot. A federal judge rejected Trump’s request in November, saying in a while Trump had the right to assert the privilege, President Biden was not required to honor it. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. affirmed the ruling.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Arizona Lawmakers Can’t Ignore Their Own Open Meeting Laws, Court Rules
Arizona Daily Star – Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) | Published: 2/15/2022

State lawmakers cannot ignore open meeting laws by claiming the laws do not apply to them, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled. Judge Jennifer Campbell said there is no evidence that lawmakers ever intended to exempt themselves when they approved the laws. A lawsuit contended there were 26 Republican lawmakers from Arizona attending an annual conference of the American Legislative Exchange Council. The council funded largely by corporate interests, serves as a clearinghouse for proposed changes in state laws across the nation.

California – 49ers CEO Jed York Accused of Violating Santa Clara’s Lobbyist Ordinance Over 2026 World Cup Ads
Peninsula Premier – Grace Hase (San Jose Mercury News) | Published: 2/23/2022

San Francisco 49ers Chief Executive Officer Jed York may have violated Santa Clara’s lobbying ordinance after spending more than $15,000 on Facebook ads without registering with the city as a lobbyist. The ads asked residents to tell the Santa Clara City Council to support bringing the 2026 FIFA World Cup to Levi’s Stadium. The stadium is publicly owned and governed by the Stadium Authority, which is composed of the mayor and council. The lobbying law defines an expenditure lobbyist as an individual who spends more than $5,000 influencing city business. While several members of the 49ers’ organization are registered lobbyists, York is not.

California – DWP Commissioner Held Fundraiser for Councilmember Koretz in Violation of City Rules
Knock LA – John Peltz | Published: 2/22/2022

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Commissioner Jill Banks Barad-Hopkins sent out invitations to a fundraiser for city council member and city controller candidate Paul Koretz, which would be held in the backyard of her house. Attached was a flier with her name on it next to Koretz’s, and a payment form for contributions and tickets. She also noted Koretz’s work on labor rights, animal rights, environmental protection, and reducing homelessness. City ethics laws prohibit for city commissioners to hold fundraisers for a candidate for office. It is also a violation for city officials to ask someone else to donate, among other provisions.

Colorado – Why is Colorado Lawmaker’s Home Address in His District for an Empty Lot?
MSN – Marshall Zellinger (KUSA) | Published: 2/23/2022

Colorado House Minority Leader Hugh McKean is challenging McKean’s residency. Austin filed two complaints: one elections complaint about his residency and a campaign finance complaint about the address McKean listed on his candidate affidavit. Hein points out McKean’s voting address is an empty lot. A state law automatically registers someone to vote when they get a driver’s license or renew their license. It also automatically updates a person’s voter registration if they change their driver’s license address. “Because we have ‘motor-voter,’ [it] switched my voter registration to the [lot] where I’m building [a house],” said McKean.

Connecticut – Federal Prosecutors Unseal New Indictment Accusing Former CT Lawmaker, His Wife and Business Associates of Stealing COVID Relief and Other Funds
MSN – Edmund Mahoney (Hartford Courant) | Published: 2/16/2022

Federal prosecutors unsealed a new indictment against former Connecticut Rep. Michael DiMassa that raises the total amount of federal grant money he is accused of stealing to more than $1 million and brings new theft and conspiracy charges against his wife and two associates. DiMassa and business associate John Bernardo are accused of creating phony businesses as a vehicle to steal federal money allocated to West Haven to defray the costs associated with the coronavirus pandemic.

Florida – Confidential Records Leaked from Ex-Double-Dipping Collier Deputy Manager’s Office
newsonedirect.com – Rachel Heimann Mercader (Naples Daily News) | Published: 2/20/2022

Former Collier County Deputy Manager Sean Callahan apparently left “confidential” records relating to foreign governments behind after his firing from the county. The records, discovered in his county government office, were related to his second, secret lobbyist job with the firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. An expert on U.S. foreign lobbyist affairs said Callahan’s client caseload was significant, adding doubt that he could have possibly fulfilled his duties for both his county and secret lobbyist role at the same time.

Hawaii – Corruption at The Hawaii Legislature Puts Campaign Donations in the Spotlight
Honolulu Civil Beat – Kevin Dayton | Published: 2/16/2022

The convictions of former Hawaii Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English and former state Rep. Ty Cullen on charges of accepting bribes to benefit a wastewater company in the Legislature may provoke campaign finance reform in the state. In addition to illicit cash that changed hands in a restaurant men’s room and was stuffed under the floor mat of a car, there were dozens of apparently lawful campaign contributions that businessperson Milton Choy gave to English, Cullen, and other political figures in Hawaii. Some see a direct link between political donations and government contracts.

Hawaii – Honolulu Ethics Commission Rules Out Gift Disclosure for City Employees
Honolulu Civil Beat – Christina Jedra | Published: 2/16/2022

The Honolulu Ethics Commission wants the city to lower the value of gifts accepted by city employees from $200 to $25, but it is not interested in requiring gift disclosure forms. The debate comes amid increased scrutiny over ethics rules after two former Hawaii legislators pleaded guilty to thousands of dollars in bribes. Federal prosecutors brought charges of honest services wire fraud after former Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English and ex-Rep. Ty Cullen failed to list the money on mandatory annual gift disclosures filed with the state.

Hawaii – How Honolulu’s Ex-City Attorney Went from Obscurity to a Federal Indictment
Honolulu Civil Beat – Christina Jedra | Published: 2/20/2022

Before Donna Leong became the city and county of Honolulu’s top attorney, she was the chief legal officer for the Outrigger hotel chain. In the private sector, it is not unusual for a company to part ways with an employee and pay them off to make a problem disappear quickly, according to David Carey, Outrigger’s former chief executive. Now Leong is facing a federal conspiracy charge for allegedly doing just that, striking a deal with the police chief at the time, Louis Kealoha, and paying $250,000 in public funds to cut him loose as he faced a corruption probe.

Illinois – Judge Cites ‘Common Sense,’ Legal Precedent in Denying Bid to Dismiss Counts in ComEd Bribery Probe
Yahoo News – Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 2/17/2022

A federal judge denied a motion to dismiss key counts against a longtime confidant of ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and three others charged in the ongoing Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) bribery probe, saying  the charges outlined in the indictment were sufficient. U.S. District Court Judge Harry Leinenweber said it was “common sense” that the benefits the defendants allegedly intended to lavish on Madigan, which included do-nothing jobs given by ComEd to Madigan loyalists, need not be paid directly to Madigan in order for them to be considered bribes.

Illinois – The Illinois Subsidiary of AT&T Is Under Federal Criminal Investigation
WBEZ – Dave McKinney | Published: 2/17/2022

Federal prosecutors investigating alleged schemes to influence former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan are considering filing charges against a subsidiary of AT&T involving a 2017 consulting contract. It was reported in 2020 that AT&T had been subpoenaed by federal prosecutors amid a widening criminal probe into Madigan’s political operation. The subpoena was part of an inquiry into whether companies improperly used a stable of consultants with ties to the longtime speaker as they pushed for legislation in Springfield.

Massachusetts – The Massachusetts State House Is Now Open to the Public, Nearly Two Years into the COVID Pandemic
MassLive.com – Alison Kuznitz | Published: 2/22/2022

The Massachusetts statehouse reopened to the public for the first time in nearly two years on with little fanfare. But in a noticeable change, a small white tent was erected outside the building, in a testament to the strict COVID-19 protocols that Beacon Hill leaders implemented that far exceed what Gov. Charlie Baker is mandating statewide. Rick Branca, a lobbyist for disabled Massachusetts veterans, was the first person inside the building. He said there was a “huge learning curve” for doing his job remotely while the statehouse was shuttered for more than 700 days.

Michigan – Millions Poured into Michigan Petition Drives. Their Funding Is a Mystery.
Bridge Michigan – Yue Stella Yu | Published: 2/14/2022

A handful of groups have poured millions of dollars into Michigan’s dozen-plus ballot drives that seek major changes to election, education, health, and drug policies but are keeping their donor identities a secret. Committees working for or against citizen petition initiatives in Michigan have raised a total $10.6 million through December 2021.Of that money, $9.4 million, almost 90 percent of all contributions, comes from nonprofits such as 501(c)(4)s, including social welfare groups or associations of employees.

Missouri – Party Officials Move to Block Embattled Missouri Lawmaker from Running in 2022 Election
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Kurt Erickson | Published: 2/23/2022

The Missouri Republican Party moved to block a sitting lawmaker from running in the 2022 election. State Rep. Patricia Derges had been seeking to run for reelection despite facing federal Medicaid fraud charges since last year. The GOP said it would not accept a required filing fee from Derges to get on the August primary ballot.

Nebraska – Female Nebraska Lawmakers Call for Change Amid Photo Probe
Yahoo News – Grant Schulte (Associated Press) | Published: 2/22/2022

Several female Nebraska lawmakers railed against the Legislature’s handling of a male state senator who resigned after admitting he took photos of a female subordinate without her consent, calling for an overhaul of their internal policies and recounting their own experiences of being groped, harassed, and belittled. The push by half a dozen female lawmakers from both parties came less than a day after Sen. Mike Groene abruptly stepped down and abandoned his campaign to be a University of Nebraska Regent. Groene said none of the images were sexual in nature and he also snapped pictures of other staffers and office visitors, including his wife.

New Mexico – Appeals Court: Cowboys for Trump is a political committee
MSN – Morgan Lee (Associated Press) | Published: 2/17/2022

A federal appeals court turned away a constitutional challenge by Cowboys for Trump and co-founder Couy Griffin to New Mexico election laws and registration requirements for political groups. The secretary of state’s office prevailed in a June 2020 arbitration decision that ordered Cowboys for Trump to register, file expenditure and contribution reports, and pay a fine of $7,800.

New Mexico – Lobbyist Accuses Dem Senator of Sexual Harassment, Calls for His Removal
NM Political Report – Andy Lyman | Published: 2/22/2022

Lobbyist Marianna Anaya issued an open letter detailing instances where she said she received unwanted sexual comments and advances from New Mexico Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto and called for him to resign. Anaya wrote she confronted Ivey-Soto about a groping incident. She said he acknowledged the incident but stopped short of accepting responsibility. Anaya also alleged in her letter that Ivey-Soto retaliated against her by holding up a voting rights bill in the Senate Rules Committee, which he chairs. Anaya also wrote he had consulted with other women who said they had “similar, or worse interactions” with Ivey-Soto.

New York – Donald Trump and Two of His Children Must Be Deposed by New York Attorney General, Judge Rules
MSN – Shayna Jacobs and Jonathan O’Connell (Washington Post) | Published: 2/17/2022

Former President Trump and two of his adult children must give depositions in a long-running civil investigation into the family’s business practices, a ruling that means the trio could face hours of uncomfortable questioning by investigators in the near future. Attorneys for Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump tried to get subpoenas for their testimony thrown out. They accused New York Attorney General Letitia James of trying to circumvent the legal process by seeking evidence for the civil matter that she could also use to build a criminal case against the former president and his business.

New York – Prosecutors in Trump Probe Quit After New DA Seems to Abandon Plan to Seek Indictment of Former President
MSN – Shayna Jacobs and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 2/23/2022

The two prosecutors leading the Manhattan district attorney’s criminal investigation into former President Trump and his business resigned amid a pause in their presentation of evidence to a grand jury, throwing the future of the inquiry into doubt. The prosecutors, Carey Dunne and Mark Pomerantz, submitted their resignations after the new district attorney, Alvin Bragg, indicated to them that he had doubts about moving forward with a case against Trump, sources said. The case centers on whether Trump and his business inflated the value of their assets to secure more favorable loans, insurance, and tax rates.

North Carolina – Cawthorn Insurrection Challenge to Re-election Handed a Setback
Bloomberg Law – John Holland | Published: 2/22/2022

Lawyers and voters behind a push to label U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn an insurrectionist, and therefore ineligible to run for re-election, cannot intervene in his federal lawsuit seeking to have the effort ruled unconstitutional. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Myers gave Cawthorn two procedural victories in his quest to block the North Carolina State Board of Elections from investigating the voters’ complaint that Cawthorn “engaged in insurrection or rebellion.” The larger question of whether state election officials can use the 14th Amendment to keep sitting members of Congress from seeking re-election remains and may ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

North Carolina – NC Political Maps Are Official and Election Can Begin, After Court Rulings
MSN – Will Doran (Charlotte Observer) | Published: 2/23/2022

One of the new maps for political districts that North Carolina lawmakers drew is still too skewed to be used in upcoming elections, a state court ruled. The judges overseeing the lawsuit ruled they would accept the newly redrawn versions of maps for the state House and Senate that lawmakers passed, but not the new congressional map. The judges had a group of outside experts draw a new congressional map for the state. An analysis of the map drawn by the outside experts shows it would have more safe seats for Democratic candidates, and fewer tossup seats, than the map the Republican-led Legislature had drawn.

North Dakota – North Dakota Ethics Panel to Further Revise Conflict of Interest Rules; PSC Members Share Views
Bismarck Tribune – Jack Dura | Published: 2/23/2022

The North Dakota Ethics Commission is writing the rules for conflicts-of-interest, including for members of certain boards to disclose conflicts and campaign donations when handling “quasi-judicial” proceedings. Such boards include the Public Service Commissioners and governor-led Industrial Commission, which make decisions usually involving companies in the energy and utility industries. Both boards have their own ethics policies. Chief in the ethics panel’s discussion was the role of a “neutral decisionmaker,” or a designated person to consult for determining whether a public official should recuse themselves from a decision.

Ohio – Will Ohio Politicians Be Held in Contempt of Court for Failing to Pass District Maps?
MSN – Jessie Balmert (Columbus Dispatch) | Published: 2/23/2022

Members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission pleaded with the state Supreme Court not to punish them for failing to pass state House and Senate maps on time. Several Republicans on the commission had declared the task impossible after rejecting Democrats’ proposed maps. Commission members offered excuses to avoid being held in contempt of court, including that seven individuals could not be penalized for the panel’s collective failure to craft maps by February 17.

Oregon – Oregon Supreme Court Says No to Nick Kristof’s Governor Candidacy
OPB – Lauren Drake and Dirk VanderHart | Published: 2/17/2022

Nicholas Kristof, the former New York Times columnist who quit his job to run for Oregon governor, is officially out of the race. The Oregon Supreme Court ruled Kristof cannot legally vie for the governorship because he does not meet the state’s three-year residency requirement for the job. Kristof said the ruling ends his campaign and he will not fight the ruling any further. The decision will reshape the dynamics of the race to replace Gov. Kate Brown. In fundraising, Kristof has far outpaced the other two best-known Democratic primary candidates, former House Speaker Tina Kotek and state Treasurer Tobias Read.

Oregon – Supporters Ask Oregon Supreme Court to Overrule Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s Decision to Kill Contribution Limit Proposals
MSN – Hillary Borrud (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 2/16/2022

Oregon is one of five states that has no limits on campaign contributions. Reformers proposed limits in three potential ballot initiatives, but Secretary of State Shemia Fagan disqualified them from appearing on the November ballot. Supporters of the limits asked the Oregon Supreme Court to reverse Fagan’s decision, which would effectively end any chance of voters weighing in on contribution limits this year. Fagan said she had to disqualify the ballot proposals due to a 2004 court ruling that initiatives must include the complete text of the law at issue.

Pennsylvania – Doug Mastriano Said He’s Barely Spent Any Money Running for Governor. How Can That Be?
MSN – Andrew Seidman (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 2/21/2022

Pennsylvania Sen. Doug Mastriano built his political brand as an antiestablishment crusader – often directing his harshest criticism not toward Democrats, but at fellow Republicans in Harrisburg. Along with his support for former President Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, it has made him something of an icon among far-right activists. But Mastriano’s unusual expenditure report raises questions about his compliance with campaign finance laws. It underscores Mastriano’s challenge of harnessing the grassroots energy powering his candidacy to build a professional operation even as he shuns consultants and big donors.

Pennsylvania – Former Health Secretary Beam Takes Lobbying Job with UPMC, Raising Concern and Hope
Pennsylvania Capital Star – Stephen Caruso | Published: 2/22/2022

Former Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Alison Beam will become the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s (UPMC) next vice president of government affairs. Beam also served as a top staffer in the state Insurance Department. UPMC is the state’s largest private employer with vast interests, from health care policy to millions of dollars in government contracts at stake in Harrisburg. The hospital chain spent at least $474,000 lobbying lawmakers last year. Beam’s hire raised eyebrows among good government advocates, who highlighted it as a prime example of the “revolving door” between public service and the private sector.

Rhode Island – In Failed Bid to Unseat Cicilline, Republican Candidate Sought Help from Russian Intelligence
Yahoo News – Alex Kuffner (Providence Journal) | Published: 2/21/2022

H. Russell Taub, the onetime Rhode Island Republican congressional candidate who was imprisoned for defrauding political donors three years ago, illegally sought help from Russian intelligence in his failed bid to unseat U.S. Rep. David Cicilline in 2016, the FEC found. Taub violated federal campaign law “by knowingly soliciting, accepting, or receiving a prohibited in-kind foreign national contribution in the form of opposition research related to the candidate’s opponent,” the FEC concluded. Taub admitted wrongdoing as part of a settlement agreement but was excused from paying a $31,000 fine due to “financial hardship.”

South Carolina – Former Richland County Recreation Chief Guilty of Ethics Violations, Ordered to Pay Nearly $36K
Charleston Post and Courier – Stephen Fastenau | Published: 2/16/2022

A former Richland County recreation director violated South Carolina ethics law by signing off on raises to family members who worked under him and must pay fines and restitution. James Brown III Brown must pay an $8,000 fine and $25,250 in forfeited salary increases related to promotions and raises Brown approved for family members during 2012 and 2013. There also was a $2,500 administrative fee. Brown resigned as head of the Richland County Recreation Commission in 2016 amid allegations of sexual harassment and nepotism.

Tennessee – Loopholes Let Lobbyists Flood Lawmakers with Campaign Contributions Despite Prohibition
WTVF – Phil Williams | Published: 2/17/2022

Before 2006, lobbyists could give political contributions directly to Tennessee lawmakers. But since that was outlawed, some lobbyists figured out they could create a PAC, put money into that PAC, and call it a contribution not from the lobbyist, but from the PAC, and get away with essentially the same thing. Some lobbyists show up at fundraisers with checks from their clients or from PACs operated by their clients, a practice known as “bundling.”

Washington DC – A Judge Just Handed Trump a Major Loss in the DC Attorney General’s Lawsuit Over Inauguration Funds as the Case Heads to Trial
Yahoo News – Jacob Shamsian (Business Insider) | Published: 2/15/2022

A judge reinstated the Trump Organization as a defendant in a lawsuit brought by the District of Columbia attorney general over whether former President Trump misused funds for his 2017 inauguration, reversing an earlier decision and handing a loss to Trump as the case heads to trial. Attorney General Karl Racine accused the Trump Organization, the Trump International Hotel in the city, and Trump’s 2017 presidential inaugural committee, which is a tax-exempt nonprofit, of using tax-free funds to improperly pay the family’s business and members of the Trump family.

Wisconsin – Milwaukee Ald. Robert Bauman’s Critical Comments Lead to $1.4 Million Jury Verdict in Defamation Case
Yahoo News – Alison Dirr and Bruce Vielmetti (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) | Published: 2/21/2022

Milwaukee Ald. Robert Bauman’s critical statements about a troubled housing facility in his district in 2007 have landed him on the losing end of a $1.4 million jury verdict, which if paid would be borne by city taxpayers. The jurors found Bauman made untrue statements about Tri-Corp Housing while criticizing its operation of West Samaria, a residential facility for low-income, cognitively disabled people. Tri-Corp argued Bauman, whose district included West Samaria, was liable for critical statements and press releases and for lobbying other officials to rule against the nonprofit in administrative hearings.

Wyoming – Legislation Could Ease and Restrict Voting
Wyoming Eagle Tribune – Maggie Mullins (WyoFile.com) | Published: 2/23/2022

Wyoming lawmakers put forward about a dozen election-related bills at the opening of the budget session. Five remain in play, including one that has garnered national attention, mostly for its implications on Wyoming’s congressional race. The four other bills propose changes to the handling of absentee ballots, campaign finance law, and what is required of political organizations in the state.

Campaign Finance

California: “DWP Commissioner Held Fundraiser for Councilmember Koretz in Violation of City Rules” by John Peltz for Knock LA

Elections

North Carolina: “Cawthorn Insurrection Challenge to Re-election Handed a Setback” by John Holland for Bloomberg Law

Ethics

National: “Ryan Zinke Broke Ethics Rules While Leading Trump’s Interior Dept., Watchdog Finds” by Anna Phillips and Lisa Rein (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Judge Allows Lawmaker Jan. 6 Lawsuits Against Trump to Proceed” by Todd Ruger (Roll Call) for MSN

New Mexico: “Lobbyist Accuses Dem Senator of Sexual Harassment, Calls for His Removal” by Andy Lyman for NM Political Report

New York: “Prosecutors Leading Trump Fraud Investigation in NY Resign” by William Rashbaum, Ben Protess, Jonah Bromwich, Kate Christobek, and Nate Schweber (New York Times) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “Big U.S. Law Firms Pitch Changes to DOJ ‘Foreign Agent’ Regulations” by Mike Scarcella for Reuters

Pennsylvania: “Former Health Secretary Beam Takes Lobbying Job with UPMC, Raising Concern and Hope” by Stephen Caruso for Pennsylvania Capital Star

Redistricting

Ohio: “Will Ohio Politicians Be Held in Contempt of Court for Failing to Pass District Maps?” by Jessie Balmert (Columbus Dispatch) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Michigan: “Millions Poured into Michigan Petition Drives. Their Funding Is a Mystery.” by Yue Stella Yu for Bridge Michigan

Pennsylvania: “Doug Mastriano Said He’s Barely Spent Any Money Running for Governor. How Can That Be?” by Andrew Seidman (Philadelphia Inquirer) for MSN

Rhode Island: “In Failed Bid to Unseat Cicilline, Republican Candidate Sought Help from Russian Intelligence” by Alex Kuffner (Providence Journal) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “The Long Crusade of Clarence and Ginni Thomas” by Danny Hakim and Jo Becker for New York Times

National: “Supreme Court Formally Denies Trump’s Request to Review the January 6 Committee’s Bid for White House Records” by Sonam Sheth, Brent Griffiths, and Oma Seddiq (Business Insider) for Yahoo News

Hawaii: “How Honolulu’s Ex-City Attorney Went from Obscurity to a Federal Indictment” by Christina Jedra for Honolulu Civil Beat

Nebraska: “Female Nebraska Lawmakers Call for Change Amid Photo Probe” by Grant Schulte (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

Massachusetts: “The Massachusetts State House Is Now Open to the Public, Nearly Two Years into the COVID Pandemic” by Alison Kuznitz for MassLive.com

Campaign Finance

Hawaii: “Corruption at The Hawaii Legislature Puts Campaign Donations in the Spotlight” by Kevin Dayton for Honolulu Civil Beat

New Mexico: “Appeals Court: Cowboys for Trump is a political committee” by Morgan Lee (Associated Press) for MSN

Elections

Oregon: “Oregon Supreme Court Says No to Nick Kristof’s Governor Candidacy” by Lauren Drake and Dirk VanderHart for OPB

Ethics

National: “National Archives Confirms Classified Material Was in Boxes at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Residence” by Matt Zapotosky (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Fed Overhauls Investment and Trading Rules Following Resignations of Top Officials” by Rachel Siegel (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Judge Cites ‘Common Sense,’ Legal Precedent in Denying Bid to Dismiss Counts in ComEd Bribery Probe” by Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

Wisconsin: “Milwaukee Ald. Robert Bauman’s Critical Comments Lead to $1.4 Million Jury Verdict in Defamation Case” by Alison Dirr and Bruce Vielmetti (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

Florida: “Confidential Records Leaked from Ex-Double-Dipping Collier Deputy Manager’s Office” by Rachel Heimann Mercader (Naples Daily News) for newsonedirect.com

U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn died at age 59 after a battle with cancer.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is expected to call a special election for District 1 on August 9, the date of the statewide primary elections.

Secretary of State Steve Simon said the filing period must end by March 15 and will be open for at least two weeks.

A special primary will be held May 24.

The special election will take place within the current district boundaries, not those established in the new state maps announced this week, and the winner of the special election will serve the remainder of Hagedorn’s term.

The November race for the seat will run on the standard election-year timetable within the newly redistricted boundaries for the term beginning January 2023.

The Honolulu Ethics Commission is proposing to lower the permissible value of gifts to city employees from $200 to $25.

Commissioners chose not to pursue a recommendation to require gift disclosure forms.

The debate comes amid increased scrutiny over ethics rules after two former Hawaii legislators pleaded guilty to accepting thousands of dollars in bribes. Federal prosecutors brought charges of honest services wire fraud after ex-Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English and ex-Rep. Ty Cullen failed to list the bribes on mandatory annual gift disclosures filed with the state.

The ethics commission plans to introduce its proposed legislation at the Honolulu City Council, giving council members the opportunity to review and possibly amend it.