February 7, 2025 •
Kentucky Publishes Contribution Limit Adjustments

The Kentucky Registry of Election Finance published the new contribution limits effective January 1 on its website. Contribution limits for individuals and PACs increased from $2,100 to $2,200 to candidates per election and to PACs and contributing organizations per year. […]
The Kentucky Registry of Election Finance published the new contribution limits effective January 1 on its website. Contribution limits for individuals and PACs increased from $2,100 to $2,200 to candidates per election and to PACs and contributing organizations per year. The $2,200 contribution limit is not applicable to political issues committees.
February 7, 2025 •
Minnesota Special Election Scheduled for March 11, 2025

Gov. Tim Walz issued a writ of special election to fill the vacant seat in House District 40B following the resignation of Representative-elect Curtis Johnson after a district judge ruled the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) candidate did not meet the residency […]
Gov. Tim Walz issued a writ of special election to fill the vacant seat in House District 40B following the resignation of Representative-elect Curtis Johnson after a district judge ruled the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) candidate did not meet the residency requirement to serve the district. The special election will be held on Tuesday, March 11. If necessary, a special primary election will be held on Tuesday, February 25. The Minnesota Supreme Court canceled a previously scheduled date ruling Gov. Walz scheduled the election too soon. The decision left Republicans with a one-seat advantage in the chamber over the DFL, who were boycotting the session as a result. Wednesday evening DFL and Republican caucus leadership reached an agreement to organize the body. With a quorum for the first time, the House officially began the 2025-26 session Thursday, February 6, after a more than three-week DFL boycott and elected Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth as speaker.
February 7, 2025 •
President Trump Moves to Fire FEC Chairperson Ellen Weintraub

Ellen Weintraub, who has served as a Democratic member of the FEC since 2002, posted a letter signed by Donald Trump on social media that said she was “hereby removed as a Member of the Federal Election Commission, effective immediately.” […]
Ellen Weintraub, who has served as a Democratic member of the FEC since 2002, posted a letter signed by Donald Trump on social media that said she was “hereby removed as a Member of the Federal Election Commission, effective immediately.”
Weintraub, who is currently chairperson of the FEC, questioned the legal validity of the move and signaled her intent to fight the removal.
Her term expired in 2007, but under federal law, she is allowed to remain a commissioner until a replacement is confirmed by the Senate.
Weintraub voted to investigate the president over allegations involving violating rules barring coordination between Trump’s campaign and allied super PACs and accusations that Russia tried to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.
She also voted to investigate Trump for promoting some of his businesses, including hotels and golf courses, during the 2016 campaign, including at rallies.
February 7, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – February 7, 2025

National/Federal Ethics Pledges by Trump Cabinet Draw Questions and Skepticism DNyuz – Eric Lipton (New York Times) | Published: 2/1/2025 Publicly released letters lay out negotiated agreements between the members of the new administration and federal ethics officials. These letters, and associated […]
National/Federal
Ethics Pledges by Trump Cabinet Draw Questions and Skepticism
DNyuz – Eric Lipton (New York Times) | Published: 2/1/2025
Publicly released letters lay out negotiated agreements between the members of the new administration and federal ethics officials. These letters, and associated financial disclosures, illustrate the extraordinary wealth of President Trump’s cabinet picks, as well as the uncharacteristically large list of potential conflicts-of-interest with which they enter the government. Each signed letter is supposed to detail what decisions these officials can be involved in, and which they must stay away from, to avoid violating federal rules.
CBS to Hand Over Harris Interview After Trump, FCC Pressure. What to Know.
MSN – Annabelle Timsit (Washington Post) | Published: 2/2/2025
CBS News plans to provide the Federal Communications Commission with the transcript of a “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris that is at the heart of a lawsuit against the network filed by Donald Trump, the latest development in a battle that critics say is being used to target press freedom. The controversy over the interview, which was broadcast during the last few weeks of the presidential campaign, centers on Harris’s response in a conversation about Israel led by journalist Bill Whitaker.
As DOJ Probes FBI’s Jan. 6 Work and Weighs Firings, Agents Told to Detail Roles
MSN – Perry Stein, Carol Leonnig, Jeremy Roebuck, and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 2/2/2025
FBI officials sent out a questionnaire to determine the involvement of thousands of FBI personnel in cases related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol. It came a day after the FBI’s acting director said the bureau would conduct a broad examination, at the request of the Justice Department, of anyone who touched the January 6 investigation. The survey and other moves prompted a team of high-profile lawyers to threaten legal action if FBI or Justice Department personnel are fired without due process.
Why the Supreme Court May Be Open to Trump’s Push for Expanded Power
MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 2/4/2025
Donald Trump’s rapid-fire efforts to expand presidential authority seem likely to prompt key test cases at the Supreme Court he helped shape, according to legal experts, with the conservative supermajority signaling in past rulings it may be open to landmark changes in the balance of power. Behind the seemingly scattershot array, analysts see a common goal: A decades-long effort by conservatives to boldly grow the power of the presidency through a principle that says the executive branch has sole authority to hire and fire agency employees and control their policies.
Elon Musk Shielded by Ethics Loophole as Trump ‘Special Government Employee’
MSN – Haisten Willis (Washington Examiner) | Published: 2/4/2025
Elon Musk may have a novel role within the Trump administration, but the title that allows him to serve in the government has drawn the ire of ethics watchdogs for decades. Musk’s status as a special government employee protects him from typical ethics disclosures, a loophole that has been used by administrations from both parties since the last century.
Md. FBI Site Pick Had Flaws but No Conflict of Interest, Report Finds
MSN – Aaron Weiner (Washington Post) | Published: 2/3/2025
The controversial selection of a suburban Maryland site for the future FBI headquarters was not the result of a conflict-of-interest, a federal inspector general who launched a review of allegations of such improprieties concluded. But a decision to weight the cost of development during the decision-making process in a way that benefited the Prince George’s County site was “not justified,” the inspector general’s report found.
Greenland Bans Foreign Political Funding as Trump Seeks Control
MSN – Kelsey Ables (Washington Post) | Published: 2/4/2025
Greenland passed a law banning foreign contributions to political parties, an assertion of self-governance amid concern over President Trump’s calls for the United States to acquire the island. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, whose officials have repeatedly emphasized it is not for sale. Donald Trump Jr. visited Greenland in January, generating global attention that “shows how susceptible Greenland may be to potential foreign political influence,” said Donald Rothwell, an expert on the law of the polar regions.
Republican Ire at USAID Finds an Unusual Target: Politico
MSN – Sarah Ellison, Clara Ence Morse, and Laura Wagner (Washington Post) | Published: 2/5/2025
Conservative attacks on the embattled U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) landed on an unexpected target when Elon Musk, right-wing influencers, elected Republicans, and the White House zeroed in on subscription money that federal government agencies paid for Politico Pro and other specialty subscription publications aimed at corporations and government entities. Musk and other Republicans claimed USAID alone had spent millions of dollars on Politico over the past 12 months. But that characterization is false.
Top Trump Prosecutor in DC Dropped Federal Case Against Capitol Rioter He Represented
MSN – Brad Heath, Sarah Lynch, and Andrew Goudsward (Reuters) | Published: 2/5/2025
As President Trump moved to free the people who attacked the U.S. Capitol, his newly appointed top prosecutor in Washington put his name on a request that a judge drop charges against one of them he represented as a defense attorney. Lawyers generally are prohibited from taking both sides in the same case and U.S. Justice Department regulations require lawyers to step aside from cases involving their former clients for at least a year.
Prosecutors Seek Dismissal of Campaign Finance Case Against Ex-Nebraska Congressman Fortenberry
MSN – Associated Press | Published: 1/29/2025
Federal prosecutors asked a judge to dismiss their case against a former member of Congress charged with lying to authorities about a foreign billionaire’s illegal $30,000 contribution to his campaign. The Nine U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had reversed Fortenberry’s conviction, ruling the case should not have been tried in Los Angeles. Fortenberry was subsequently charged with two counts: falsifying and concealing material facts and making false statements.
Democrats Elect Ken Martin, Head of Minnesota Party, as Next Chair
MSN – Patrick Svitek (Washington Post) | Published: 2/1/2025
Ken Martin, a longtime Democratic Party insider who leads the party in Minnesota, was elected to take over as chairperson of the Democratic National Committee after the party suffered devastating defeats in the November election, including losing the presidency to Donald Trump. The candidates for the job generally agreed that the Democratic Party needs to do more to appeal to working-class voters, to amplify their message in less traditional media settings, and to organize year-round. They mostly sought to avoid recriminations over the 2024 election.
Lobbying Firms Tied to Trump Report Wave of New Clients
Politico – Caitlin Oprysko | Published: 1/29/2025
Lobbying firms with close ties to President Trump have added new clients in droves since the election, with several disclosing close to two dozen so far, as companies, industry groups, and other organizations look for an in with the new administration. Some of the biggest winners have been firms whose owners have helped Trump from outside of the government, or whose current or former employees have more formal ties to the administration.
From the States and Municipalities
Yahoo News – Iris Samuels (Anchorage Daily News) | Published: 1/29/2025
The Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) fined Alaskans for Honest Elections, Alaskans for Honest Government, the Ranked Choice Education Association, and Arthur Matthias a combined total of almost $157,000. That comes after a prior penalty of more than $94,000. APOC imposed the maximum allowed fines, stating the respondents have “proven themselves shockingly poor at complying with their reporting obligations throughout their campaign.”
California – California Blesses Political Donors’ Strategy to Multiply Their Influence
MSN – Alexei Koseff (CalMatters) | Published: 1/31/2025
The Fair Political Practices Commission cleared the way for a new approach to raising and spending money in California elections. Political committees now have state regulators’ blessing to create an unlimited number of affiliated committees with different leaders, and then closely coordinate fundraising and candidate donations among them. That could exponentially increase their influence on campaigns.
California – State Senator Retains Key Role Over Fire Insurance Laws Despite Cannabis Corruption Probe
MSN – Anabel Sosa (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 1/30/2025
California Sen. Susan Rubio was reappointed as chairperson of the committee that oversees insurance-related legislation, a powerful position that went unoccupied for weeks while swaths of Los Angeles burned. Rubio’s reappointment as chair comes amid lingering questions about her role in an ongoing federal investigation into an alleged cannabis industry bribery scheme that dates back to her time on the Baldwin Park City Council and her 2018 campaign for state office.
California – Newsom Weakens Financial Disclosure Requirements for LA Officials as Relief Pours In
MSN – Kenneth Schrupp (The Center Square) | Published: 2/4/2025
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order for Los Angeles fire relief includes provisions creating a 60-day reporting extension for required ethics disclosures of behested payments or conflicts-of-interest for government officials in Los Angeles County. Transparency watchdogs say elected officials should disclose financial conflicts in real time to avoid corruption, while Republicans warn the measures will make politicians even less accountable as billions in state, and eventually, federal aid comes pouring in.
California – Oakland’s Tiny Government Watchdog Sparked an FBI Investigation. Why Is It Neglected?
MSN – Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) | Published: 2/5/2025
When federal prosecutors announced corruption charges against former Mayor Sheng Thao and her boyfriend, they gave a tip of the hat to the Oakland’s Public Ethics Commission for launching the investigation and federal prosecutors to allegations of bribery and conspiracy at City Hall. But in October, the commission’s enforcement chief, Simon Russell, quit his job. In a departing letter, Russell wrote he was burned out from long, exhausting hours, and he was upset and baffled that city officials had ignored his requests for more money and staff.
District of Columbia – D.C. Council Expels Trayon White Over Allegations He Took Bribes
MSN – Paul Schwartzman, Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) | Published: 2/4/2025
The District of Columbia City Council voted to expel council member Trayon White. His expulsion, the first imposed by the council in its 51-year history, forces White to immediately surrender his seat. Federal prosecutors allege White used his elected position to keep government contracts flowing to two companies, accepting envelopes with thousands of dollars in cash and lucrative kickbacks.
Hawaii – Bill To Close Pay-To-Play Loophole in Hawai’i Moves to Full House
Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 2/6/2025
State legislators are seeking to close a 20-year-old loophole that has allowed government contractors to donate to politicians despite a law that purports to ban such contributions. Last year, a media investigation found that people with ties to contractors contributed $24 million to campaigns and the donations often coincided with key decisions by lawmakers regarding the contracts.
Hawaii – 2 Honolulu Officials to Plead Guilty in Kealoha Payout, Avoiding Jail Time
Honolulu Civil Beat – Christina Jedra | Published: 2/3/2025
Former Honolulu officials reached agreements with the government to resolve federal charges that they improperly arranged a $250,000 payout to the city’s now-disgraced former police chief. The pleas likely mark the end of the road for the special public corruption unit whose findings rocked Honolulu for a decade.
Illinois – Illinois Governor Bans Jan. 6 Rioters Pardoned by Trump from State Jobs
MSN – Tobi Raji (Washington Post) | Published: 2/1/2025
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker directed the state’s hiring authority to block all those who participated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol from state employment. The order would apply to more than 50 people from Illinois who were given pardons or commutations by President Trump in one of the earliest acts of his second term and marks the latest effort by the blue state governor to push back against Trump.
Illinois – Mayor Johnson Outlines New Gift Policy After Critical Report from Inspector General
WBEZ – Fran Spielman | Published: 2/5/2025
Inspector General Deborah Witzburg accused Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson of accepting valuable gifts and failing to report them while denying internal investigators access to the room where the items are purportedly stored. Now, logs of the gifts that Johnson receives from visiting dignitaries and the public will be maintained and posted on the city’s website, along with a video of the “gift room” in the mayor’s City Hall office where those items are stored.
Kentucky – KY Legislative Lobbying Shatters Record, Topped $28 Million in 2024. Why Is Spending Up?
MSN – Austin Horn (Lexington Herald-Leader) | Published: 2/3/2025
Companies and organizations looking to influence the Kentucky Legislature are spending more and more to influence the decisions made and the laws passed in Frankfort. In 2024, companies and other organizations spent almost $28.2 million on lobbying efforts. That is up from 2023’s record of $25.5 million. Observers say more entities are learning just how important the state Legislature is. Combine that with the growing cost of doing business in general, the increase in size of the government, and the Republican caucuses’ penchant for ignoring Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, and you get a system that is grown steadily over the last three years.
Maine – Efforts to Expand Maine Clean Elections Reckon with Currently Inadequate Program Funding
Yahoo News – Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) | Published: 2/3/2025
Advocates and lawmakers seeking to stem the influence of money on elections in Maine are hoping to expand the state’s pioneering clean elections program. But during a public hearing on a reform proposal, it became clear they are running up against a funding landscape where the state’s current allocation is being drained faster than it is being replenished.
Maine – Maine Approves Rules to Restrict Utilities’ Lobbying, Prevent Costs from Being Passed to Customers
Yahoo News – Stephen Singer (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 2/5/2025
Maine regulators approved a set of rules restricting utility spending. The new rules forbid those expenses from being passed on to ratepayers. Utilities may not bill ratepayers for donations to political campaigns or parties, contributions to trade associations or business groups, or spending on lobbying or educational activities, except to inform customers about energy efficiency, conservation, and other measures.
Mississippi – MS Senate, House Advance Election, Campaign Finance Reforms by Deadline. See What Happened
MSN – Grant McLaughlin (Jackson Clarion Ledger) | Published: 2/4/2025
A Mississippi Senate committee, albeit against some opposition, advanced legislation to establish a 15-day early voting period, several bills to amend and add enforcement to campaign finance laws, and a bill to require online filing of campaign finance reports. The House Apportions and Elections Committee also advanced its own campaign finance l legislation earlier in the session.
Mississippi – Lumumba Files 3 Campaign Finance Reports After Having Not Done So Since 2021
Yahoo News – Charlie Drape (Jackson Clarion Ledger) | Published: 2/4/2025
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba filed three campaign finance reports after failing to do so for the last three years, even though state law requires them to be filed annually. Lumumba’s campaign finance reports are at the center of his federal indictment, which accuses him of accepting $50,000 in bribes from undercover FBI agents posing as real estate developers.
Montana – Senate Ethics Investigation into Former President Expected to Take All of February
Montana Free Press – Tom Lutey | Published: 2/3/2025
The ethics committee investigation into former Montana Senate leader Jason Ellsworth will take most of February, if not longer, to ensure hen is afforded time for a defense. Ellsworth is accused of splitting in two a $170,100 contract awarded to a business associate in order to avoid a state law requiring contracts of $100,000 or more to be competitively bid. The split contract, and questions about whether contractor Bryce Eggleston could do the work, are the foundation of the Senate’s case against its former leader.
New York – Former FDNY Chief Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Receive Bribes to Speed Up Building Inspections
MSN – Josephine Stratman (New York Daily News) | Published: 1/29/2025
Former New York Fire Department Chief Anthony Saccavino pleaded guilty to conspiring to accept thousands of dollars in bribes for speeding up inspections for businesses with matters before the department. Saccavino is accused of expediting fire inspections for building owners who could pay up in a scheme that saw him and his co-conspirators rake in nearly $200,000 in illegal kickbacks.
New York – Eric Adams’ 2021 Campaign Could Be on the Hook for $10 Million
MSN – Joe Anuta and Jeff Coltin (Politico) | Published: 2/3/2025
New York City election officials are raising the stakes in their audit of Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign, a move that could foreshadow the beleaguered mayor being forced to repay $10 million. The Campaign Finance Board informed Team Adams it was taking more time to complete an audit of his election effort after discovering bookkeeping irregularities and learning of an alleged straw donor scheme via the mayor’s federal criminal case.
New York – Mystery Donor Funds $10 Million Campaign Against Hochul Home Care Plan
New York Focus – Chris Bragg | Published: 2/4/2025
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is facing fierce opposition to her overhaul of a popular but pricey home care program that allows people with chronic medical issues to choose their own caregivers and pay them through Medicaid. The Alliance to Protect Home Care, a social welfare nonprofit, spent $10.6 million last year on a public relations campaign criticizing the reforms, the second-highest spending lobbying campaign in Albany that year. But it is unclear who is bankrolling the spending.
North Dakota – Bill Offers Immunity from Conflict Crimes to North Dakota Lawmakers If They Follow Ethics Rules
Yahoo News – Jeff Beach (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 1/31/2025
Legislation in North Dakota would give state lawmakers immunity from conflict-of-interest crimes if they disclose potential conflicts and follow legislative ethics rules. A separate bill seeks to overhaul how the North Dakota Ethics Commission handles complaints encountered opposition from the state attorney general’s office.
Ohio – Householder, Convicted of Racketeering, Tells Judges He’s Only Guilty of ‘Ordinary Politics’
MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 2/5/2025
While prosecutors said ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder orchestrated the biggest bribery scheme in state history, his lawyers told an appellate court that he is only guilty of “regular politics.” The arguments in Householder’s appeal came nearly two years after a jury convicted him of racketeering, predicated on a bribery scheme to pass a 2019 bailout of nuclear plants owned by a subsidiary of FirstEnergy. In exchange for the bailout, FirstEnergy funneled millions of dollars in campaign contributions from its subsidiary and the corporate parent.
South Dakota – Dakota First Action, Supporters Attack Bill to Reform ‘Unlimited’ Campaign Loan Loophole
Yahoo News – Dominik Dausch (Sioux Falls Argus Leader) | Published: 2/3/2025
The South Dakota House State Affairs Committee passed Senate Bill 12, which would require loans made by an individual to a candidate or political committee to count toward individual contribution limits. Brian Lewis, political director for Dakota First Action, said the bill was not meant to reform campaign finance law. He asserted the bill was instead a means of eking vengeance against Dakota First Action and its founder, Toby Doeden, for its recent political activities.
Texas – Critics Argue a Texas Court Ruling Jeopardizes Election Integrity
Houston Public Media – Natalie Weber | Published: 2/3/2025
A criminal case against Robbie Gail Charette, a candidate for a judicial seat in Washington County, for errors related to financial paperwork and political ads, could set a precedent that the Texas Ethics Commission has sole authority to enforce certain laws related to campaign finance, political advertising, and lobbyists. In practice, this means prosecutors must go to the commission before filing charges in these cases, at least for now.
Utah – Audit: Utah AG Reyes’ office lacked transparency and his involvement in the office was minimal
MSN – Emma Pitts (Deseret News) | Published: 2/1/2025
Former Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes’ office lacked sufficient transparency, Reyes’ direct involvement in the office was minimal, and there were concerns about potential conflicts-of-interest with nonprofit organizations, according to an audit. Common law allows the attorney general to govern with broad discretion. Because of this, “there is a lack of well-defined limitations on outside activities, such as nonprofit involvement, that the AG may pursue,” the report said. Consequently, the auditor general found potential conflicts to be a cause for concern that merits legislative attention.
Utah – Independent Reporter Sues Utah Legislature to Obtain Press Pass
Salt Lake Tribune – Sean Means | Published: 2/2/2025
Senior staff of the Utah Legislature defended their denial of press credentials to an independent reporter, arguing in a court filing that doing so does not violate the reporter’s First Amendment right to cover lawmakers. In his lawsuit, Bryan Schott demands state officials issue him a credential to cover this year’s Legislature, and that they no longer prohibit other journalists who write outside of “established” news outlets from receiving those same credentials. Schott argues he was denied a credential because of his reporting, to which the Legislature’s Republican leadership objected.
Virginia – Virginia Bill to Bar Corporate Donations to Campaign Funds Dies
Richmond Times-Dispatch – Dave Ress | Published: 2/4/2025
For the first time in years, a bill to rein in Virginia politicians’ wide open door for corporate contributions to their campaigns made it to the floor of a General Assembly chamber and died there in a minute, without a vote or debate. For decades, critics have argued this money gives special interests an inside edge when arguing for or against legislation. The bill would have barred any corporation from donating to any candidate, campaign committee, PAC, or political party committee.
Washington – Amazon Sues State Agency to Block Release of Company Records to Bezos-Owned Washington Post
MSN – Haleluya Hadero (Associated Press) | Published: 1/30/2025
Amazon is suing a Washington state agency to prevent the release of some company materials to The Washington Post, the newspaper which is owned by Jeff Bezos. The company asked the court to step in and block the release of documents that include “trade secrets” about Project Kuiper, an Amazon initiative to provide internet through satellites in space.
Wisconsin – Altered Image of Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidate in New Ad Raises Ethics Concerns
MSN – Scott Bauer (Associated Press) | Published: 2/4/2025
A new television attack ad in Wisconsin’s hotly contested Supreme Court race features a doctored image of the liberal candidate, a move her campaign claims could be a violation of a recently enacted state law. The winner of the high-stakes race on April 1 will determine whether the Wisconsin Supreme Court remains under a liberal majority or flips to conservative control.
February 6, 2025 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Mississippi: “MS Senate, House Advance Election, Campaign Finance Reforms by Deadline. See What Happened” by Grant McLaughlin (Jackson Clarion Ledger) for MSN National: “Greenland Bans Foreign Political Funding as Trump Seeks Control” by Kelsey Ables (Washington Post) for MSN Elections Wisconsin: “Altered Image […]
Campaign Finance
Mississippi: “MS Senate, House Advance Election, Campaign Finance Reforms by Deadline. See What Happened” by Grant McLaughlin (Jackson Clarion Ledger) for MSN
National: “Greenland Bans Foreign Political Funding as Trump Seeks Control” by Kelsey Ables (Washington Post) for MSN
Elections
Wisconsin: “Altered Image of Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidate in New Ad Raises Ethics Concerns” by Scott Bauer (Associated Press) for MSN
Ethics
California: “Newsom Weakens Financial Disclosure Requirements for LA Officials as Relief Pours In” by Kenneth Schrupp (The Center Square) for MSN
California: “Oakland’s Tiny Government Watchdog Sparked an FBI Investigation. Why Is It Neglected?” by Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) for MSN
National: “Elon Musk Shielded by Ethics Loophole as Trump ‘Special Government Employee'” by Haisten Willis (Washington Examiner) for MSN
Illinois: “Mayor Johnson Outlines New Gift Policy After Critical Report from Inspector General” by Fran Spielman for WBEZ
Lobbying
Maine: “Maine Approves Rules to Restrict Utilities’ Lobbying, Prevent Costs from Being Passed to Customers” by Stephen Singer (Portland Press Herald) for Yahoo News
February 5, 2025 •
Illinois 2025 Campaign Contribution Limits Published

State Flag of Illinois
The State Board of Elections published the new contribution limits summary sheet, which increases limits on January 1 of every odd-numbered year to reflect increases in inflation. The amount corporations and labor organizations may contribute in each election cycle increased […]
The State Board of Elections published the new contribution limits summary sheet, which increases limits on January 1 of every odd-numbered year to reflect increases in inflation. The amount corporations and labor organizations may contribute in each election cycle increased from $13,700 to $14,600 to any candidate committee; from $27,400 to $29,100 to any political party or legislative caucus committee; and from $27,400 to $29,100 to any PAC. The amount an individual may contribute in each election cycle increased from $6,900 to $7,300 to any candidate committee; from $13,700 to $14,600 to any political party or legislative caucus committee; and from $13,700 to $14,600 to any PAC. The amount PACs are limited to contributing to any candidate committee, political party committee, legislative caucus committee, or PAC each election cycle increased from $68,500 to $72,800.
February 5, 2025 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Maine: “Efforts to Expand Maine Clean Elections Reckon with Currently Inadequate Program Funding” by Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) for Yahoo News South Dakota: “Dakota First Action, Supporters Attack Bill to Reform ‘Unlimited’ Campaign Loan Loophole” by Dominik Dausch (Sioux Falls Argus […]
Campaign Finance
Maine: “Efforts to Expand Maine Clean Elections Reckon with Currently Inadequate Program Funding” by Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) for Yahoo News
South Dakota: “Dakota First Action, Supporters Attack Bill to Reform ‘Unlimited’ Campaign Loan Loophole” by Dominik Dausch (Sioux Falls Argus Leader) for Yahoo News
Virginia: “Virginia Bill to Bar Corporate Donations to Campaign Funds Dies” by Dave Ress for Richmond Times-Dispatch
Ethics
Washington DC: “D.C. Council Expels Trayon White Over Allegations He Took Bribes” by Paul Schwartzman, Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Why the Supreme Court May Be Open to Trump’s Push for Expanded Power” by Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) for MSN
Montana: “Private Contractor Says He’s the One Who Split Controversial Contract, Not Former Senate President” by Tom Luty for Montana Free Press
Lobbying
Kentucky: “KY Legislative Lobbying Shatters Record, Topped $28 Million in 2024. Why Is Spending Up?” by Austin Horn (Lexington Herald-Leader) for MSN
New York: “Mystery Donor Funds $10 Million Campaign Against Hochul Home Care Plan” by Chris Bragg for New York Focus
February 4, 2025 •
Ontario Provincial Elections are February 27
Flag of Ontario
Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, has called for snap provincial elections to be held on February 27. On January 28, the 43rd Parliament of the Province of Ontario was dissolved. Ford has argued he needs a four-year mandate to fight […]
Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, has called for snap provincial elections to be held on February 27. On January 28, the 43rd Parliament of the Province of Ontario was dissolved.
Ford has argued he needs a four-year mandate to fight the tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.
On January 29 the issuance of writs for the general election were issued and February 27 was selected by the Lieutenant Governor as the date of Ontario’s next general election.
February 4, 2025 •
South Carolina Increases Lobbying Limits

The South Carolina Ethics Commission announced the adjusted spending limits for lobbyist principals on February 3. The limits increased from $70 per day and $560 per calendar year to $75 per day and $600 per calendar year. The limits are […]
The South Carolina Ethics Commission announced the adjusted spending limits for lobbyist principals on February 3. The limits increased from $70 per day and $560 per calendar year to $75 per day and $600 per calendar year. The limits are retroactively effective January 1. No lobbyist principal or person acting on behalf of a lobbyist principal may provide to a public official or a public employee the value of lodging, transportation, entertainment, food meals, or beverages exceeding the spending limits per public official or public employee.
February 4, 2025 •
Federal House of Commons Seat for Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke (British Columbia) Will Remain Vacant Until General Election

On February 3, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Stéphane Perrault, received official notice from the Speaker of the House of Commons that the seat for Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke (British Columbia) is vacant. After 14 years as a member of parliament, Randall […]
On February 3, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Stéphane Perrault, received official notice from the Speaker of the House of Commons that the seat for Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke (British Columbia) is vacant.
After 14 years as a member of parliament, Randall Garrison resigned from the seat in December because of health concerns.
Under the law, if a vacancy occurs less than nine months before the fixed date for a general election, no by-election is called and the seat remains vacant until the general election., which must take place by October 20, 2025. Therefore, no by-election will be held to fill this vacant seat.
February 4, 2025 •
It Is Time to Step Up

On January 20, 2025, the 47th President of the United States was sworn into office…And, there has not been a quiet day since. I am not taking this political at all. You can agree or not agree. Regardless of your […]
On January 20, 2025, the 47th President of the United States was sworn into office…And, there has not been a quiet day since.
I am not taking this political at all. You can agree or not agree. Regardless of your side, it is time to step up and make sure you have facts before spouting opinions.
On my personal Facebook page, I usually write, “My page, my opinion.” I have my beliefs and have no problem conveying them to my community. If anyone does not agree they can certainly have their own post.
But, people, there are changes being made and, just this week, it seemed to affect many people. On Wednesday, I received emails from the Greater Akron Chamber and the Akron Urban League concerned about the federal grants they both might not receive.
It will involve all of us opening our pocketbooks to help organizations we support just a little more. More than ever, public universities will ask for your support to help provide scholarships to students if work-study programs are cut. If the order includes the Older Americans Act, it “would halt service to millions of vulnerable seniors who have no other means of purchasing or preparing meals,” Meals on Wheels said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch. “The lack of clarity is creating chaos for Meals on Wheels providers not knowing whether they should be serving meals today.”
It is a lot to comprehend, but we can get through this, as we always do. I can do without ordering more clothes, which would make my husband incredibly happy, if it helped to make contributions to nonprofit organizations in need of assistance.
Let us step up and help our brothers and sisters where needed. This is our way of showing the country we can get through all the changes being made not only on a federal level but also in all our states.
Thank you.
Elizabeth Z. Bartz
@elizabethbartz
February 4, 2025 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance New York: “Eric Adams’ 2021 Campaign Could Be on the Hook for $10 Million” by Joe Anuta and Jeff Coltin (Politico) for MSN Ethics National: “CBS to Hand Over Harris Interview After Trump, FCC Pressure. What to Know.” by Annabelle Timsit (Washington […]
Campaign Finance
New York: “Eric Adams’ 2021 Campaign Could Be on the Hook for $10 Million” by Joe Anuta and Jeff Coltin (Politico) for MSN
Ethics
National: “CBS to Hand Over Harris Interview After Trump, FCC Pressure. What to Know.” by Annabelle Timsit (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “As DOJ Probes FBI’s Jan. 6 Work and Weighs Firings, Agents Told to Detail Roles” by Perry Stein, Carol Leonnig, Jeremy Roebuck, and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) for MSN
New York: “Former FDNY Chief Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Receive Bribes to Speed Up Building Inspections” by Josephine Stratman (New York Daily News) for MSN
Texas: “Critics Argue a Texas Court Ruling Jeopardizes Election Integrity” by Natalie Weber for Houston Public Media
Washington: “Amazon Sues State Agency to Block Release of Company Records to Bezos-Owned Washington Post” by Haleluya Hadero (Associated Press) for MSN
Legislative Issues
California: “State Senator Retains Key Role Over Fire Insurance Laws Despite Cannabis Corruption Probe” by Anabel Sosa (Los Angeles Times) for MSN
Utah: “Independent Reporter Sues Utah Legislature to Obtain Press Pass” by Sean Means for Salt Lake Tribune
February 3, 2025 •
Vermont Increases Contribution Limits

Flag of Vermont
The state’s Elections Division increased contribution limits to adjust for inflation. Under the revised limits, contributions per election cycle are capped at $5,180 for statewide candidates and PACs; $1,290 for state House candidates; and $1,940 for state Senate candidates.
The state’s Elections Division increased contribution limits to adjust for inflation. Under the revised limits, contributions per election cycle are capped at $5,180 for statewide candidates and PACs; $1,290 for state House candidates; and $1,940 for state Senate candidates.
February 3, 2025 •
Maine Increases Contribution Limits

The Commission on Governmental Ethics and Elections Practices raised contribution limits based on adjustments to the consumer price index. Individuals, PACs, and corporations may now contribute up to $2,075 per election to gubernatorial candidates; $500 per election to legislative candidates; […]
The Commission on Governmental Ethics and Elections Practices raised contribution limits based on adjustments to the consumer price index. Individuals, PACs, and corporations may now contribute up to $2,075 per election to gubernatorial candidates; $500 per election to legislative candidates; and $600 per election for municipal candidates. The next adjustment to contribution limits is expected to occur in 2027.
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