Missouri House District 140 Rep. Tricia Derges has been indicted on eight counts of wire fraud, 10 counts of illegal distribution of controlled substances, and lying to federal agents.

The newly elected Derges, who holds a special assistant physician license and runs multiple health clinics for low-income patients, began her first two-year term in office early last month.

She pleaded not guilty in her initial appearance.

The felony charges carry a possible prison sentence and fines.

A felony conviction would also bar Derges from running for public office in Missouri in the future.

If she resigns, Gov. Mike Parson must call for a special election.

On February 3, U.S. Senators Jon Tester and Ron Wyden reintroduced a bill to reverse a U.S. Treasury Department’s decision limiting IRS disclosure requirement of certain tax-exempt organizations engaging in political activities.

Senate Bill 215, the Spotlight Act, requires non-profit organizations engaging in political activity, such as donating to candidates and purchasing political ads, provide the IRS with the names and basic information of donors who contribute more than $5,000.

The bill repeals an IRS revenue procedure exempting certain tax-exempt organizations that are not 501(c)(3) organizations from the requirement to report the names and addresses of substantial contributors (persons who contribute more than $5,000 per year) on information returns that are filed with the IRS. The proposed legislation requires tax-exempt organizations falling under sections 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), and 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code (e.g., social welfare organizations, labor organizations, business leagues) to disclose the names and addresses of all substantial contributors on their returns. The bill also eliminates the authority of the IRS to provide exceptions to the disclosure requirements for tax-exempt organizations.

A version of the Spotlight Act was first introduced by the Senators in 2018

Campaign Finance

National: “Small Donors Ruled 2020; Will That Change Post-Trump?” by Krystal Hur for Center for Responsive Politics

Elections

Massachusetts: “Boston City Council Votes to Bypass Special Election for Mayor” by Staff for WBTS

Ethics

National: “Rep. Lauren Boebert’s Mileage Reimbursement ‘Raises Red Flags,’ Ethics Experts Say” by Jason Wingerter (Denver Post) for MSN

Florida: “Proud Boys and Black Lives Matter Activists Clashed in a Florida Suburb. Only One Side Was Charged.” by Tim Craig (Washington Post) for MSN

Missouri: “State Rep. Tricia Derges Indicted by Grand Jury, Accused of Faking Stem Cell Treatments” by Austin Huguelet (Springfield News-Leader) for MSN

New York: “Manhattan District Attorney Considering Prosecuting Stephen Bannon Following His Pardon by Trump in Federal Fraud Case” by Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) for MSN

Ohio: “Ex-Columbus City Hall Lobbyist, Franklin County Authority Member John Raphael Agrees to Bribery Plea” by Bill Bush (Columbus Dispatch) for MSN

Oregon: “Oregon Lawmakers: Rep. Diego Hernandez created a hostile workplace” by Lauren Drake for OPB

Legislative Issues

National: “House Adopts Fines for Lawmakers Who Don’t Comply with Metal Detectors” by Cristina Marcos for The Hill

Lobbying

Vermont: “Peddle Power: In a remote democracy, lobbyists adapt to remain relevant” by Kevin McCallum for Seven Days

The Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance (BECF) published revised contribution limits for 2021 and 2022.

The individual and corporate contribution limit to local and legislative state candidates remains unchanged at $1,600 per election.

The limit for statewide candidates increased from $4,200 to $4,300 per election.

PAC limits to local and legislative state candidates increased from $8,100 to $8,300 per election.

PAC limits to statewide candidates increased from $12,300 to $12,700 per election.

BECF adjusts contribution limits in January of each odd-numbered year based on the consumer price index

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation declaring a special election for the 79th Assembly District on June 8.

The seat was vacated by Shirley Weber who was appointed California Secretary of State.

The special primary election will be held on April 6.

Commissioners appointed Fabian Donate and Tracy Brown-May to seats in the Nevada Legislature, filling two vacant seats the day after the 2021 Legislature convened in Carson City.

Donate will represent Senate District 10, a seat vacated when Yvanna Cancela resigned to take a position in the administration of President Joe Biden.

Brown-May will represent Assembly District 42, where Alexander Assefa resigned amid accusations of campaign finance irregularities.

Campaign Finance

National: “Nonprofit Tied to Amalgamated Bank Looks to Capture Corporate Donors Through New Fund Following Capitol Hill Riot” by Brian Schwartz for CNBC

North Dakota: “Bill Seeks More Transparency in Political Advertisements” by Dylan Sherman (North Dakota Newspaper Association) for Dickinson Press

Ethics

National: “An Emboldened Extremist Wing Flexes Its Power in a Leaderless G.O.P.” by Annie Karni and Sam Baker for New York Times

National: “Trump’s Actions Described as ‘a Betrayal of Historic Proportions’ in Trial Brief Filed by House Impeachment Managers” by Amy Gardner, Karoun Demirjian, and Colby Itkowitz (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Worth Township Trustee Pleads Guilty to Tax Charge Stemming from Ongoing Political Corruption Probe” by Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

Virginia: “Legislator Censured After Praising Capitol Rioters Files Suit against Virginia Senate” by Laura Vozzella (Washington Post) for MSN

Washington DC: “The Capitol Fence Meant D.C. Couldn’t Enact Laws. Vice President Harris’s Office Stepped In.” by Julie Zauzmer for Washington Post

Lobbying

Texas: “Should Cities’ Funds Be Used to Pay Lobbyists? Texas Bill Bids to Put a Stop to It” by Philip Jankowski for Austin American-Statesman

Redistricting

Indiana: “As Indiana’s Legislature Considers Redistricting This Year, Experts Look Back on the Impact of Gerrymandering” by Alexandra Kukulka (Post Tribune) for Chicago Tribune

The Guam Ethics Commission appointed Jesse John Quenga to serve as the first executive director.

Initially created in 1996 the commission had been inactive until holding its first meeting in 2019.

After a setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the commission will resume hiring a staff, finding office space, creating a website, and raising public awareness.

The commission hopes to submit proposals to the Legislature to amend ethics laws and create protocols to receive and process complaints by mid-year.

Today, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) published its price index adjustments for expenditure limitations and the federal lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold.

The lobbyist bundling disclosure threshold has increased for 2021 from $19,000 to $19,300. This threshold amount is adjusted annually. Federal law requires authorized committees of federal candidates, leadership political action committees (PACs), and political party committees to disclose contributions bundled by lobbyists and lobbyists’ PACs.

Additionally, the FEC published its adjusted Coordinated Party Expenditure Limits for political parties for 2021.

Today, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) published the 2021-2021 election cycle contribution limits, which have been indexed for inflation.

As required by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, the FEC must adjust certain contribution limits every two years. The individual and nonmulticandidate PAC contribution limit to federal candidates has increased from $2,800 to $2,900. This is applied to both primary and general elections, allowing for a total of $5,800 for a federal candidate.

The limits on contributions by individuals to national party committees has increased from $35,500 to $36,500 per calendar year. Therefore, individuals may now contribute $109,500 per calendar year to committees of a national political party for presidential nominating conventions, to committees of a national political party for preparation for and the conduct of election recounts and contests and other legal proceedings, and to committees of a national political party for the construction, purchase, renovation, operation, and furnishing of one or more buildings for party headquarters.

Last week, State and Federal Communications received the bronze award from the Healthy Business Council of Ohio (HBCO). In fact, it is the second year we have won this award. This is great since we have only had a formal wellness program for two years. The HBCO requested a photo of us with our plaque so I joined HR Generalist Anastasia Drescher and Director of HR Beth Mullen for our “Charlie’s Angels” photo.

Why is this important? Because I finally got it stuck in my head, I had to do something. I have been around for a long time and many might remember when I weighed 52 pounds more than I do today. In fact, I am finally down to my 1997 wedding weight, which is great, and NO I have not pulled out the dress to try it on!!

This did not happen easily.  It is something I have worked hard to do. It did help when we were told we were going to be grandparents.
I knew I wanted to be an active grandparent.

So, I did three things:

1. Went back to WW,
2. Hired personal trainer and started yoga, and
3. Self-care.

WW—Let me make this clear:  I have been a WW member for a long time, but I took it more seriously in the last year and have lost almost 25 pounds since the pandemic. The program is easy to use with my iPhone and there are a variety of program choices.

Personal Training and Yoga—When we received the baby news in December 2018, it came with a yoga mat as my Christmas gift. I had just started Yoga Nidra and was using the studio’s mats. Even before COVID it was not a great idea. I attend a weekly program, Relax and Restore, to prepare for my busy weeks.  This is a program that deals with stretching and breathing. My legs and back stay on the floor. I also have personal trainer and meet with her twice a week for 45 minutes training with weights along with rowing, using the tread mill, and stretching so I can easily pick up my 25-pound grandson.

Self-Care—Last but not least, self-care is important. Though I do keep track daily of my weight, my sugar levels, oral care, flossing with my new Waterpik sonic-fusion flossing toothbrush (my Christmas gift to myself).  I also listen to the Calm App and read for 20 minutes. I am reminding you how important it is to have a PCP—primary care physician—and see the physician at least once a year. Now, at my age, my physician wants to see me twice a year. I also make sure I see my dentist twice a year—which is free with our dental insurance. There are other parts of our bodies we need to take care of, and I make sure those are done, too. At my age, I have had two colonoscopies, as caring for all parts of the body and preventative care is important. My suggestion is to schedule it for a Monday morning so you can drink the pre-procedure fluids on Sunday when you are home.  You will know what I am talking about the first time you schedule it. Plus, as we learned in our 2020 Wellness Program, sleep is important.  Where I used to settle for five hours a sleep, I have increased it to seven or eight hours a night.

I know I am not a model wellness person, but I am not done. As I persevere, I urge you to take the time to fit in planning for meal preparation in your house. We organize our plan every Friday night.  What else are we doing these days? Many people have treadmills in their home. Recently, John Chames put our treadmill in front of the family room television.  This is a great decision because we can be on it while watching the news or watching John’s favorite show, American Pickers.

Remember, you only have one body, take care of it.

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Voter Protection Act Blocking Bipartisan Bill” by Greta Forslund for Arizona Capitol Times

Ohio: “P.G. Sittenfeld’s PAC at Center of Corruption Case: ‘Secret slush fund’ or legal account?” by Paula Christian for WCPO

Utah: “What Do Special Interests Get for Providing $9 of Every $10 in Utah Legislators’ Campaigns?” by Lee Davidson (Salt Lake Tribune) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Secretive Ethics Panel Will Judge Hawley and Cruz” by Burgess Everett for Politico

National: “Biden Brother’s Law Firm Touts His Connection to the President, Creating an Early Headache for Administration” by Annie Linskey and Alice Crites (Washington Post) for MSN

Maryland: “Lawmakers, Governor Push Reforms at Maryland Environmental Service After Director’s Payout” by Pamela Wood for Baltimore Sun

Legislative Issues

Massachusetts: “Mariano Plans Look at Unregistered Advocacy Coalitions, House Rules Changes” by Katie Lannan (State House News Service) for Springfield Patriot-Ledger

Lobbying

National: “Trump-Tied Lobbyists’ Revenues Peaked in President’s Final Year” by Karl Evers-Hillstrom for Center for Responsive Politics

California: “San Diego Unified School District’s Federal Lobbying Efforts Come Under Scrutiny by Parent Group” by Kristen Taketa (San Diego Union Tribune) for La Jolla Light

Republican Adrian Dickey won the special election to fill the vacant Senate District 41 seat.

Dickey will fill the seat for the two years remaining in the four-year term of former Sen. Marianette Miller-Meeks.

Miller-Meeks resigned after winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The congresswoman was certified by Iowa as the winner by six votes out of nearly 400,000, and provisionally seated pending the outcome of a challenge by her Democratic opponent, Rita Hart.

Republicans have controlled the House, Senate, and governor’s office for five years.

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Capitol is closed to the public.

Members of the Senate can be contacted at http://w3.akleg.gov/senate.php.

Members of the House can be contacted at http://w3.akleg.gov/house.php.