Gov. Brian Kemp called for a special legislative session to begin November 29 due to the recent striking down of Georgia’s legislative and congressional voting maps by a federal judge.

The judge stated the maps violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and has set a deadline of December 8 for state lawmakers to draw new ones.

The maps will be redrawn to include multiple black-majority districts including two new districts for the Senate and five for the House.

 

Elections

Arizona: “Arizona Prosecutors Ask About 2020 Pressure Campaign by Trump Allies” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Hearings Begin as Trump Critics Attempt to Kick Him Off Ballots” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “This Conservative Appeals Court’s Rulings Are Testing the Supreme Court” by Robert Barnes and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) for MSN

Maryland: “Potomac Edison Faces Maryland Audit After Admitting It Charged Customers for FirstEnergy’s Bribes and Lobbying” by Dave Anderson for Energy and Policy

Lobbying

California: “Survey Says Residents Want More Information About Who’s Lobbying City Officials” by Jason Ruiz for Long Beach Post

Florida: “Florida Fights a Ruling That Halts Its Lobbying Restriction” by Jim Saunders (News Service of Florida) for WMNF

New York: “Noncompete Campaign Raises Lobbying Questions” by Joshua Solomon for Albany Times Union

Redistricting

Georgia: “Georgia’s Congressional Map Violates Voting Rights Act, Court Finds” by Zach Montellaro (Politico) for Yahoo News

National/Federal

Meadows Granted Immunity, Tells Smith He Warned Trump About 2020 Claims: Sources

ABC News – Katherine Faulders, Mike Levine, and Alexander Mallin | Published: 10/24/2023

Former President Trump’s final chief of staff in the White House, Mark Meadows, has spoken with special counsel Jack Smith’s team at least three times this year, including once before a federal grand jury, which came only after Smith granted Meadows immunity to testify under oath, according to sources familiar with the matter. The sources said Meadows informed Smith’s team that he repeatedly told Trump in the weeks after the 2020 presidential election that the allegations of significant voting fraud coming to them were baseless.

An Unsanctioned Coterie of Pro-Israel Quasi-Lobbyists Has Descended on D.C.

MSN – Hailey Fuchs and Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) | Published: 10/22/2023

An ad hoc group of donors, activists, and allies have moved swiftly to help Israel. They have leveraged their political clout, their relationships with lawmakers, and their fundraising networks to do so. Their goal is to shape how elected officials in the U.S. react to the crisis. But their work also underscores how much of the political fight around the nascent war is being done on the fly; and how much is being waged in unconventional theaters: college campuses, corporate boardrooms, K Street offices. and Capitol Hill restaurants.

New House Speaker Mike Johnson Faces Herculean Task of Uniting Republicans

MSN – Marianna Sotomayor, Amy Wang, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Theodoric Meyer, and Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) | Published: 10/25/2023

Rep. Mike Johnson, a lesser-known conservative who has been a devoted follower of former President Trump was elected as speaker of the House, reopening the chamber for legislative business after a 21-day paralysis because the fractious Republican conference could not coalesce around a single nominee. Johnson now faces the herculean task of uniting a deeply ideologically fractured conference that is tasked with averting a government shutdown in less than a month, sending supplemental aid to Israel and other foreign countries, and passing reauthorization bills before the end of the year.

Special Counsel Urges Judge to Crack Down Further on Trump’s Comments

MSN – Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) | Published: 10/25/2023

Special counsel Jack Smith argued that recent comments by Donald Trump show not only that a federal gag order should be reimposed, but the court should weigh stricter sanctions, including sending him to jail, if he keeps talking about witnesses in his case. The filing was one of four made by the special counsel’s office on a range of legal issues in preparation for Trump’s planned trial on charges he conspired to obstruct Joe Biden’s electoral victory. Trump’s public statements attacking prosecutors, court personnel, and others have raised alarms among judges who worry such broadsides might inspire someone to commit violence.

Clarence Thomas’s RV Loan Was Forgiven, Senate Committee Report Says

MSN – Robert Barnes and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 10/25/2023

Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Ron Wyden called on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to tell the panel whether he declared more than $250,000 of loan forgiveness on his tax filings. Wyden released a report that details a loan Thomas received from a friend, Anthony Welters, to buy a luxury Prevost Marathon motor coach in 1999. The report said Thomas made some interest payments on the $267,230 loan, but it was declared settled by Welters in 2008 without Thomas repaying a substantial portion, or perhaps any, of the principal.

Congressman Charged with Pulling False Fire Alarm in House Building

MSN – Peter Hermann and Clarence Williams (Washington Post) | Published: 10/25/2023

Rep. Jamaal Bowman was criminally charged with pulling a false fire alarm that forced the evacuation of the Cannon House Office Building as lawmakers scrambled to avert a government shutdown. Bowman was charged in a judicial summons, meaning he was not arrested. In an affidavit filed in court, authorities allege Bowman tried to open an emergency door and, when that failed, pulled a fire alarm and walked away and did not report his actions to police.

Elon Musk’s X Removes New York Times’ Verification Badge

MSN – Drew Harwell (Washington Post) | Published: 10/19/2023

The social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, removed the gold “verified” badge from the New York Times’ account amid ongoing complaints about the news organization from X owner Elon Musk. The badge was the only symbol distinguishing the Times’ 55-million-follower account from impostors amid two major global conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. The move further extends Musk’s attempts to use the social media company he bought with claims of defending free speech to undercut news organizations he dislikes.

Lawsuit Aims to Slam Shut Loophole That Lets Political Parties Skirt Campaign Finance Law

MSN – Kathleen Culliton (Raw Story) | Published: 10/23/2023

A loophole that allows political parties to bypass campaign finance limits now faces a new legal challenge from watchdog groups in Washington D.C. The Campaign Legal Center and OpenSecrets filed a lawsuit against the FEC, which they hope will create new disclosure rules for national political party committee accounts. The loophole links back to the 2014 “Cromnibus” and an amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act that allows parties to draw funds from “special purpose accounts,” according to the complaint.

Trump Files New Challenges to Federal Election Obstruction Case in D.C.

MSN – Spencer Hsu and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 10/24/2023

Donald Trump launched a multipronged legal attack on his federal prosecution for allegedly subverting the results of the 2020 election, saying his actions were protected by the First Amendment as political speech and arguing he cannot be tried in criminal court for trying to block Joe Biden’s victory after being impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate. While aspects of Trump’s case raise historic legal questions, the motions are fairly typical for criminal defendants trying to challenge the legal sufficiency of the charges against them.

Top Groups’ Lobbying Spending Drops in Divided Congress

MSN – Caitlin Reilly (Roll Call) | Published: 10/23/2023

Total spending on lobbying by the biggest interest groups fell in the first three quarters of 2023 compared to last year amid partisan gridlock in a divided Congress. The dip came as the steady clip of major laws that moved through the last Congress slowed to a trickle this session with Democrats controlling the Senate and Republicans the House, where GOP leadership has struggled to maintain control of its conference.

How Ron DeSantis’ Super PAC Is Taking Financial Pressure Off His Campaign

NBC News – Alec Hernández and Bridget Bowman | Published: 10/20/2023

With three months to go until the first contest of the Republican nominating race, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to lean heavily on Never Back Down for support across the early states, and his most recent campaign finance report demonstrates how the super PAC has helped cover costs that otherwise might have drained DeSantis’s own campaign treasury. Beyond playing an extensive role in the governor’s campaign schedule and travel, the super PAC is also responsible for a large door-knocking operation in Iowa and running a slew of voter coalitions supporting DeSantis.

Appeals Court Upholds Broad Use of Obstruction Law That Prosecutors Have Deployed Against Trump

Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 10/20/2023

Federal prosecutors avoided an appeals court ruling that could have upended their criminal prosecution of Donald Trump, but the legal battle will continue over a federal obstruction statute that has become a cornerstone of cases stemming from the storming of the Capitol. A panel of the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals ruled there are numerous ways for the government to prove January 6 defendants acted “corruptly” when seeking to obstruct Congress’ proceedings. A ruling that narrowly construed the meaning of “corruptly” could have derailed the prosecution of Trump on an obstruction charge.

Supreme Court to Decide if Biden Admin Illegally Bullied Social Media into Censoring Content

Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney and Rebecca Kern (Politico) | Published: 10/20/2023

The Supreme Court will determine whether the Biden administration violated the Constitution when it pressured technology companies to remove from their platforms what federal officials said was false or misleading content about the 2020 election and Covid-19. In taking the case, the justices also blocked the lower court’s injunction that would have barred many types of contact between federal officials and the social media giants. The action means administration officials can keep contacting social media companies for now while the justices weigh the case.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Sacramento Ethics Commission Dismisses Campaign Contribution Complaint after Investigation

Capital Public Radio – Kristin Lam | Published: 10/25/2023

The Sacramento Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint against mayoral candidate Flojuane Cofer and found she did not violate a campaign fundraising rule. Voting unanimously, the commission disagreed with part of an independent evaluator’s recommendation on how to deal with the complaint. The investigator found the city’s campaign contribution rules surrounding off-year elections are confusing.

California – Is Anaheim’s Fall of Reform Going to Freeze Over?

Voice of OC – Hosam Elattar | Published: 10/25/2023

Anaheim’s elected officials continue a rollout of reform proposals, but it is unclear how many overhauls will be made to a City Hall hit with one of the biggest corruption scandals in Orange County history. It comes as some Disney-backed city council members question if reforms are needed, like bolstering whistleblower protections, consequences for misconduct by elected officials, decreasing the city manager’s purchasing power, and overhauling lobbyist rules. The discussions come months after independent investigators alleged the city was essentially controlled by lobbyists and Disneyland resort interests.

Colorado – A New Law Has Stricter Regulations for Campaign Finance. What Does That Mean for Pueblo?

Pueblo Chieftan – Anna Lynn Winfrey | Published: 10/23/2023

A new law in Colorado imposes new requirements for how long campaign finance records are kept and sets contribution limits for municipal races. But as a home rule city, Pueblo has the jurisdiction to craft its own regulation on campaign finance. Because of the expected timing of a mayoral runoff race in January, after the bill goes into effect, the city council is expected to vote soon on an ordinance that would effectively freeze the current rules in place. Councilors could adopt more stringent requirements later, if desired.

Florida – Mayor Donna Deegan Approves No-Bid Contract for a Firm That Backed Her Campaign

MSN – David Bauerlein (Florida Times-Union) | Published: 10/24/2023

A company whose owner hosted a campaign event for Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan in January won a no-bid contract worth $300,000 for federal grant-writing, lobbying, and policy development after the city determined no other firm in the nation could provide all those services. The city typically requires competitive bidding, but the Professional Services Evaluation Committee recommended Deegan approve the one-year contract to Langton Consulting without seeking proposals from any other firms.

Florida – Florida Rule Would Limit Talk of ‘Social Issues’ at Public Universities

Yahoo News – Divya Kumar (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 10/23/2023

A proposed regulation aimed at restricting diversity programs and social activism at Florida’s public universities has stirred confusion, with some saying its broadly worded passages could limit free speech. The regulation, when approved, will determine how the state enforces the law pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that seeks to gut diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at colleges and universities.

Florida – Florida Ethics Panel Says County Commissioner Steele Can Resume Lobbying for Municipalities

Yahoo News – Dave Berman (Florida Today) | Published: 10/24/2023

Brevard County Commissioner Jason Steele was given the green light to resume his lobbying work. including for municipalities within the county, while he continues to serve as commissioner. The Florida Commission on Ethics approved an advisory opinion from its legal staff that said there currently is nothing illegal about Steele lobbying on behalf of clients, as long as he does not lobby before the county commission and does not use nonpublic information he obtained as a commissioner for his lobbying work.

Georgia – Trump Co-Defendant Kenneth Chesebro Pleads Guilty in Georgia Election Case

MSN – Holly Bailey and Amy Gardner (Washington Post) | Published: 10/20/2023

Kenneth Chesebro, a former lawyer for Donald Trump’s campaign, pleaded guilty to illegally conspiring to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia, striking a deal in which he will avoid jail time and agreed to provide evidence that could implicate other defendants, including Trump himself. Chesebro pleaded guilty to a single felony count of conspiracy to file false documents. The charge relates to his role organizing slates of pro-Trump electors to meet in seven states where Joe Biden had won.

Georgia – Jenna Ellis Becomes Latest Trump Lawyer to Plead Guilty Over Efforts to Overturn Georgia’s Election

Yahoo News – Will Weissert and Kate Brumback (Associated Press) | Published: 10/24/2023

Attorney and conservative media figure Jenna Ellis pleaded guilty to a felony charge over efforts to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia. Ellis, the fourth defendant in the case to enter into a plea deal, was a vocal part of Trump’s reelection campaign in the last presidential cycle and was charged alongside the Republican former president and 17 others. Ellis pleaded guilty to one felony count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings. She had been facing charges of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and soliciting the violation of oath by a public officer, both felonies.

Hawaii – Hawaii Budget Director’s Conflict of Interest: He owns HECO stock

Honolulu Civil Beat – Stewart Yerton | Published: 10/26/2023

Hawaii’s state budget and finance director is facing an ethical dilemma as Gov. Josh Green’s administration works to establish a fund for victims of the Maui wildfires. Luis Salaveria, who is playing a role in planning the fund that would benefit Hawaiian Electric Industries, also owns Hawaiian Electric stock. That should disqualify Salaveria from taking any official action that could affect the company, according to the state ethics code. But what, if anything, Salaveria plans to do to address the situation is unclear.

Hawaii – Hawaii Bribery Scandal Casts a Shadow Over Lahaina’s Ruins

Yahoo News – Blaze Lovell (New York Times) | Published: 10/25/2023

As Maui County recovers from the devastating wildfires that killed at least 99 people, millions of dollars will be spent on rebuilding critical infrastructure using a flawed contract-monitoring system that is marred by bribery and a lack of competition. A recent bribery case prompted some county officials to begin phasing out the use of sole-source contracts, but the practice is still in use in the county. That very little has changed since the bribery scandal was revealed could leave the door open for some contractors to take advantage of the disaster or for government money to be wasted.

Illinois – Illinois Lawmakers Banned Campaign Contributions from Red-Light Camera Companies – Then Accepted Them

Illinois Public Radio – Robert Herguth (Chicago Sun-Times) | Published: 10/20/2023

In May, the General Assembly passed a bill to ban campaign contributions from the red-light camera industry that has been embroiled in a bribery scandal still unfolding in federal court. Among those backing the bill was Illinois Senate President Don Harmon. Less than six weeks later, his campaign accounts accepted two contributions totaling $5,000 from Redspeed Illinois, a contractor operating red-light cameras in a number of Chicago-area municipalities. Bernadette Matthews, executive director of the state elections board, said the new law does not include penalties for violators.

Kentucky – Louisville Metro Councilman Anthony Piagentini Found in Violation of Ethics Rules

MSN – Eleanor McCrary (Louisville Courier Journal) | Published: 10/19/2023

Louisville Metro’s Ethics Commission found Councilperson Anthony Piagentini in violation of six ethics rules after he was accused of using his city position to land a $40 million grant for the Louisville Healthcare CEO Council, which then hired him. The commission also unanimously voted to recommend to the Metro Council that he be removed from his seat, but that decision ultimately lies with his 25 peers. Piagentini also received a penalty of $500 per violation.

Louisiana – Supreme Court Agrees with Delay on Drawing New Louisiana Congressional Map

MSN – Robert Barnes (Washington Post) | Published: 10/19/2023

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed with a delay on proceedings that could lead to creating a second congressional district in Louisiana where Black voters make up a large-enough share of the electorate to have a significant chance of electing their preferred candidate. The justices rejected requests by Black voters challenging a map passed by the state’s Republican-led Legislature to allow a lower court judge to proceed in coming up with a new map. The order indicates that once litigation over the issue is completed, the Legislature might get a chance to draw a revised map.

Maine – Inside Poland Spring’s Hidden Attack on Water Rules It Didn’t Like

Yahoo News – Hiroko Tabuchi (New York Times) | Published: 10/24/2023

When Maine lawmakers tried to rein in large-scale access to the state’s freshwater this year, the effort initially gained momentum. Then a Wall Street-backed giant called BlueTriton stepped in. Americans today buy more bottled water than any other packaged drink, and BlueTriton owns many of the nation’s biggest brands. Maine’s bill threatened the company’s access to the groundwater it bottles and sells. The legislation had already gotten a majority vote on the committee and was headed toward the full Legislature, when a lobbyist for BlueTriton proposed an amendment that would eviscerate the entire bill.

Massachusetts – Ryan and Stephanie Fattman Agree to Record Fines to Settle Campaign Finance Cases

Yahoo News – Kinga Borondy (Worcester Telegram & Gazette) | Published: 10/24/2023

The Massachusetts attorney general’s office reached a settlement with stated Sen. Ryan Fattman; his wife, Worcester Registrar of Probate Stephanie Fattman; and members of their campaign committees in the three-year probe into campaign finance irregularities. The settlements to be paid total hundreds of thousands of dollars, the largest amounts ever paid by candidate committees to the state to resolve cases.

Michigan – Financial Disclosures Proposed for Michigan Politicians Are ‘Pretty Weak,’ Advocates Say

MLive – Simon Schuster | Published: 10/25/2023

A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a package of legislation that details what state elected officials must include in Michigan’s first-ever financial disclosures. The legislation, while bringing specificity to some areas 2022’s Proposal 1 left vague, also leaves gaps in reporting, exempting public officials from having to disclose some of the very financial benefits that roiled state government in recent scandals. Nicholas Pigeon, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, called the bills “a mixed bag … that is pretty weak compared to the rest of the country.”

Michigan – After Campaign Finance Complaint Against Fouts, City Attorney Files Against Council Foes

MSN – Christina Hall (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 10/25/2023

The Warren city attorney filed state campaign finance complaints against three city council members for comments they made during a council meeting using city equipment, which was broadcast live and is on video on the city’s website. The complaints come days after the secretary of state’s office determined Mayor Jim Fouts may have violated the law by endorsing candidates during his State of the City address.

Missouri – Records Show Missouri House Speaker Charged State for Travel Already Paid for By His Campaign

Missouri Independent – Jason Hancock | Published: 10/23/2023

Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher filed an expense report to be reimbursed for a $1,199.60 plane ticket to the 2023 Uniform Law Commission conference. The House ultimately agreed to pay him the money. But the cost of the ticket did not come out of Plocher’s bank account. It came out of his campaign. Seven months earlier, “Plusher for Missouri” reported paying $1,199.60 for airfare to Hawaii for the conference. A review of Plocher’s expense reports over the years shows the Hawaii expense was not an isolated event.

New Hampshire – Breaking with Longstanding Tradition, Biden Won’t Appear on New Hampshire’s Primary Ballot

Yahoo News – Francesca Chambers (USA Today) | Published: 10/24/2023

President Joe Biden’s name will not be on the New Hampshire primary ballot. Biden has been tussling with the state for nearly a year over its historically early primary date and will not make the trip to Concord to file. In a break with centuries-old tradition, the incumbent president will not appear on the state’s Democratic primary ballot at all, with the national party pledging to discipline candidates who compete in unsanctioned primaries like the one New Hampshire plans to hold.

New Jersey – ‘Phantom Candidates’ in Tough N.J. Legislative Elections? Republicans Call for Investigation.

MSN – Brent Johnson (New Jersey Advance Media) | Published: 10/23/2023

Allegations about a “dark money” group pushing “phantom candidates” have invaded a pair of tense races for the New Jersey Legislature. Republican candidates in the second and fourth districts, two of the most competitive in this year’s elections, have asked top law enforcement officials to investigate a new nonprofit group with a Queens address that sent out campaign mailers to voters urging them to support independent or third-party “conservative” candidates.

New York – ‘A Well-Thought-Out Scheme’: Orange County lawmakers claim corruption with county’s contracts with IT company

Albany Times Union – Lana Bellamy | Published: 10/26/2023

New York Sen. James Skoufis alleges the Orange County government entered into illegal contracts with an information technology company in order to enrich the family of a top-ranking county official, and county administrators have attempted to cover up a larger corruption scheme. Skoufis laid out the case that contracts between the county and StarCIO totaling $823,000 were illegally procured and inflated to enrich Isaac Sacolick, the company’s proprietor and the brother-in-law of county Human Resources Commissioner Langdon Chapman.

New York – Judge Fines Trump $10,000 for Second Violation of New York Gag Order

MSN – Shayna Jacobs and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) | Published: 10/25/2023

A New York judge fined Donald Trump $10,000 for violating a gag order in a business-fraud lawsuit and warned the former president the penalties will only get worse if he keeps breaking the rules set for the civil trial, in which he is accused of falsely inflating his property values. The five-figure fine came after New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron unexpectedly called Trump to the witness stand to explain, under oath, a comment he made outside the courtroom earlier in the day.

New York – Adams Campaign Contributors Plead Guilty to Straw Donor Conspiracy Charge

The City – George Joseph | Published: 10/24/2023

Shahid and Yahya Mushtaq, two brothers who run a construction company in Queens, each pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor conspiracy charge stemming from a straw donor scheme that aimed to generate illicit public matching funds for Eric Adams’ successful 2021 mayoral campaign. The brothers’ plea deals require them both to pay a $500 fine and complete 35 hours of community service.

New York – Who Paid for Gov. Hochul’s Israel Trip? Her Office Won’t Say.

The Gothamist – Jon Campbell | Published: 10/25/2023

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office will not say who pledged to pay for the governor’s recent visit to Israel, an arrangement the state’s ethics board has not yet approved, despite her trip to the Middle East last week. Hochul spent two days in Israel amid its war with Hamas, touring the country and meeting with dignitaries, along with victims and their families. Gubernatorial spokesperson Avi Small said the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government is still “in the final stages of reviewing this arrangement to ensure it fully complies with state ethics law.”

North Carolina – N.C. Republicans Pass Redistricting Map Expected to Flip 3 House Seats

MSN – Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff (Washington Post) | Published: 10/25/2023

The North Carolina General Assembly gave final approval to new congressional and state legislative district maps that would empower the state Republican Party for years to come. North Carolina’s 14 congressional seats are now evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. The new map would probably flip at least three of those seats to the GOP. Proponents say they are allowed to draw maps that favor political parties because of recent court precedent, and Republicans have the power to do so because they won more seats in both chambers of the Legislature.

Ohio – Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose Quietly Ordered Purge of Thousands of Inactive Voters Last Month

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 10/24/2023

Thousands of inactive Ohio voters were purged from the state’s voter rolls in September at the direction of Secretary of State Frank LaRose after some voters had already begun casting ballots in the November election. LaRose maintains he issued the directive because he’s required by federal and state election law to set rules and timelines for maintaining accurate voter registration lists. But a state lawmaker asked why he did not delay it until after the general election, as he did earlier ahead of the August special election on a proposed constitutional amendment to make it harder to pass future amendments.

Ohio – Mayor Pureval Removed from Cincinnati Southern Railway Campaign Ads After Conflict of Interest Questions

WCPO – Taylor Weiter and Dan Monk | Published: 10/19/2023

Commercials promoting the sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway no longer feature Mayor Aftab Pureval after a media investigation found connections between campaigns for the sale and Pureval’s re-election. Building Cincinnati’s Future and Friends of Aftab Pureval, the mayor’s re-election campaign, share the same treasurer, Jens Sutmoller.

Oklahoma – Phantom Attack Ads Target Oklahoma Candidate, Connected to Nationwide Dark Money Network

MSN – Clifton Adcock (The Frontier) | Published: 10/24/2023

Common Sense Conservatives spent money on a direct mail advertisement this fall against Baptist minister Dusty Deevers in a Republican primary for a seat in the Oklahoma Senate. Records show Common Sense Conservatives is one small piece of a larger, nationwide “dark money” network that conducts most of its operations out of Ohio, has been involved in numerous federal and state-level campaigns in other states including Oklahoma, and has ties to at least one bogus charity.

I have been reading a great deal lately about DEI practitioners being able to make the business case for why Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) should be part of the overall framework of any organization.

Businesses oftentimes tie success to a variety of factors — from rising profits to increased customer or client engagement — so is it any wonder why CEO’s would question how DEI initiatives stand to help their company’s bottom line? Rest assured – there are more than a few answers to this question…

An online article by Forbes that I discovered recently featured a number of its Business Development Council Members discussing why DEI is essential to business development success.  From leveraging the best talents to fostering innovation and increasing better customer and client engagement, the benefits of DEI become increasingly clear.

Read the full Forbes article here. 

The Legislature adjourned the special session on October 25 after authorizing a budget to ensure the continued operation of state government.

During the three-day session, 14 bills were passed to reconstruct the legislation that was invalidated by the state Supreme Court as unconstitutional for violating a single-subject requirement.

The bills included transfers from state government funds, K-12 education funding, a $125 million incentive program for the development of a fertilizer plant, a criminal penalty for supplying drugs resulting in overdose deaths and injuries, and effective dates for transitioning the state’s public employee pension plan to a 401(k)-style plan for new hires.

 

Elections

National: “Meadows Granted Immunity, Tells Smith He Warned Trump About 2020 Claims: Sources” by Katherine Faulders, Mike Levine, and Alexander Mallin for ABC News

New Hampshire: “Breaking with Longstanding Tradition, Biden Won’t Appear on New Hampshire’s Primary Ballot” by Francesca Chambers (USA Today) for Yahoo News

Ohio: “Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose Quietly Ordered Purge of Thousands of Inactive Voters Last Month” by Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Is Anaheim’s Fall of Reform Going to Freeze Over?” by Hosam Elattar for Voice of OC

Michigan: “Financial Disclosures Proposed for Michigan Politicians Are ‘Pretty Weak,’ Advocates Say” by Simon Schuster for MLive

Legislative Issues

National: “New House Speaker Mike Johnson Faces Herculean Task of Uniting Republicans” by Marianna Sotomayor, Amy Wang, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Theodoric Meyer, and Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “An Unsanctioned Coterie of Pro-Israel Quasi-Lobbyists Has Descended on D.C.” by Hailey Fuchs and Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) for MSN

Florida: “Florida Ethics Panel Says County Commissioner Steele Can Resume Lobbying for Municipalities” by Dave Berman (Florida Today) for Yahoo News

Procurement

Florida: “Mayor Donna Deegan Approves No-Bid Contract for a Firm That Backed Her Campaign” by David Bauerlein (Florida Times-Union) for MSN

Hawaii: “Hawaii Bribery Scandal Casts a Shadow Over Lahaina’s Ruins” by Blaze Lovell (New York Times) for Yahoo News

On Wednesday, October 25, the U.S. House of Representatives voted Rep. Mike Johnson as the Speaker of the House.

On October 3, a small contingent of Republican members of the House, unhappy with then Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s performance, were able to assemble eight of their party to vote for his removal.

In the interim, Rep. Patrick McHenry acted as temporary speaker of the house.

The Republican members of the House voted unanimously for Johnson, with 220 votes in his favor.

The candidate put forward by the Democrats, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, received 209 votes.

Campaign Finance

Massachusetts: “Ryan and Stephanie Fattman Agree to Record Fines to Settle Campaign Finance Cases” by Kinga Borondy (Worcester Telegram & Gazette) for Yahoo News

New York: “Adams Campaign Contributors Plead Guilty to Straw Donor Conspiracy Charge” by George Joseph for The City

Oklahoma: “Phantom Attack Ads Target Oklahoma Candidate, Connected to Nationwide Dark Money Network” by Clifton Adcock (The Frontier) for MSN

Elections

Georgia: “Jenna Ellis Becomes Latest Trump Lawyer to Plead Guilty Over Efforts to Overturn Georgia’s Election” by Will Weissert and Kate Brumback (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “Trump Files New Challenges to Federal Election Obstruction Case in D.C.” by Spencer Hsu and Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN

Missouri: “Records Show Missouri House Speaker Charged State for Travel Already Paid for By His Campaign” by Jason Hancock for Missouri Independent

Lobbying

National: “Top Groups’ Lobbying Spending Drops in Divided Congress” by Caitlin Reilly (Roll Call) for MSN

Maine: “Inside Poland Spring’s Hidden Attack on Water Rules It Didn’t Like” by Hiroko Tabuchi (New York Times) for Yahoo News

Campaign Finance Colorado: “A New Law Has Stricter Regulations for Campaign Finance. What Does That Mean for Pueblo?” by Anna Lynn Winfrey for Pueblo Chieftan National: “Lawsuit Aims to Slam Shut Loophole That Lets Political Parties Skirt Campaign Finance Law” by Kathleen Culliton (Raw Story) for MSN National: “How Ron DeSantis’ Super PAC Is Taking Financial Pressure Off His Campaign” by Alec Hernández and Bridget Bowman for NBC News Elections National: “Appeals Court Upholds Broad Use of Obstruction Law That Prosecutors Have Deployed Against Trump” by Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein (Politico) for Yahoo News New Jersey: “‘Phantom Candidates’ in Tough N.J. Legislative Elections? Republicans Call for Investigation.” by Brent Johnson (New Jersey Advance Media) for MSN Ethics Florida: “Florida Rule Would Limit Talk of ‘Social Issues’ at Public Universities” by Divya Kumar (Tampa Bay Times) for Yahoo News New York: “Trump Fined $5,000 for Violating Gag Order, as Judge Threatens Jail for Future Violations” by Erica Orden (Politico) for MSN Ohio: “Mayor Pureval Removed from Cincinnati Southern Railway Campaign Ads After Conflict of Interest Questions” by Taylor Weiter and Dan Monk for WCPO

Gov. DeSantis called on the state Legislature to hold a special session to discuss further sanctions on Iran in response to Iran’s support of Hamas.

DeSantis wants to expand the number of industries on Florida’s existing scrutinized companies list and strengthen prohibitions against investing in companies that do business with states sponsoring terrorism.

The session is expected to convene on November 6 and adjourn on November 9.

A legislative panel is considering a bill to standardize local election dates.

The legislation would require all local elections to be held on one of three specific days in odd-numbered years.

These dates would fall in March, July, or November.

The purpose of the bill is to eliminate confusion caused by varying election dates across the state.

The bill passed the House earlier this year and will be considered in the Senate as early as next January when Legislature comes back into session.

Campaign Finance California: “City of Sacramento Campaign Contribution Rules Are Confusing, Independent Investigation Finds” by Kristin Lam for Capital Public Radio Illinois: “Illinois Lawmakers Banned Campaign Contributions from Red-Light Camera Companies – Then Accepted Them” by Robert Herguth (Chicago Sun-Times) for Illinois Public Radio Elections Georgia: “Trump Co-Defendant Kenneth Chesebro Pleads Guilty in Georgia Election Case” by Holly Bailey and Amy Gardner (Washington Post) for MSN Ethics National: “Supreme Court to Decide if Biden Admin Illegally Bullied Social Media into Censoring Content” by Kyle Cheney and Rebecca Kern (Politico) for Yahoo News National: “Judge Temporarily Lifts Narrow Gag Order on Trump in 2020 Election Interference Case” by Alanna Durkin Richer (Associated Press) for MSN Kentucky: “Louisville Metro Councilman Anthony Piagentini Found in Violation of Ethics Rules” by Eleanor McCrary (Louisville Courier Journal) for MSN National: “Elon Musk’s X Removes New York Times’ Verification Badge” by Drew Harwell (Washington Post) for MSN Redistricting Louisiana: “Supreme Court Agrees with Delay on Drawing New Louisiana Congressional Map” by Robert Barnes (Washington Post) for MSN

National/Federal

Gag Order on Trump in Election Case Leaves More Hard Questions

DNyuz – Charlie Savage and Alan Feuer (New York Times) | Published: 10/17/2023

U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan’s gag order against Donald Trump is the first major consequence of his life as a criminal defendant. But in some ways, the order raises more questions than it answers, including how the judge intends to enforce her restrictions. Chutkan ruled Trump’s pretrial attacks on potential witnesses and others threatened the integrity of the upcoming trial on charges stemming from his effort to subvert the 2020 election. She barred Trump from continuing to publicly berate special counsel Jack Smith and his team, court staff, or any “reasonably foreseeable witness.”

Trump Lawyer Acknowledged Political Agenda in Election Suit, Emails Show

DNyuz – Maggie Haberman and Luke Broadwater (New York Times) | Published: 10/8/2023

Kenneth Chesebro and other lawyers fighting to reverse then-President Trump’s election defeat were debating whether to file litigation contesting Joe Bidens victory in Wisconsin. Chesebro argued there was little doubt the litigation would fail in court as Trump continued to push his baseless claims of widespread fraud. But the “relevant analysis is political,” Chesebro argued. Trump has signaled one of his possible defenses is that he was simply acting on the advice of his lawyers. But Chesebro’s emails could undercut any effort to show the lawyers were focused solely on legal strategies.

Amazon’s Alexa Has Been Claiming the 2020 Election Was Stolen

MSN – Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) | Published: 10/7/2023

Amid concerns that the rise of artificial intelligence will supercharge the spread of misinformation comes a wild fabrication from a more commonplace source: Amazon’s Alexa, which declared the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Asked about fraud in the race, the popular voice assistant said it was “stolen by a massive amount of election fraud,” citing Rumble, a video-streaming service favored by conservatives. Alexa disseminates misinformation about the race even as Amazon promotes the tool as a reliable election news source to more than 70 million estimated users.

Pence Campaign Sputters Amid Money Troubles, Staff Cuts and Low Enthusiasm

MSN – Meryl Kornfield and Marianne LeVine (Washington Post) | Published: 10/19/2023

Four months after launching his presidential campaign with an embrace of traditional conservatism and a rejection of his former running mate Donald Trump, Mike Pence now stands at a difficult crossroads. Plagued by financial problems, low polling numbers, and a message that has not resonated with the party base, he has been forced to confront tough realities this fall about the future of his campaign.

Sen. Bob Menendez Charged with Conspiring to Act as Foreign Agent

MSN – Shayna Jacobs and Isaac Stanley-Becker (Washington Post) | Published: 10/12/2023

Sen. Robert Menendez was charged in a superseding federal indictment with conspiracy by a public official to act as a foreign agent, intensifying the legal peril the veteran lawmaker faces as he continues to resist calls to resign. Menendez; his wife, Nadine Menendez; and an associate, Wael Hana, were charged with conspiring to have Sen. Menendez act as an illegal foreign agent on behalf of the Egyptian government while he was serving as a U.S. senator with access to sensitive intelligence as the former head of the Foreign Relations Committee.

Campaign of Rep. George Santos Refunds More Money Than It Raises

MSN – Azi Paybarah (Washington Post) | Published: 10/16/2023

The campaign of scandal-plagued U.S. Rep. George Santos reported refunding more money to donors than it raised during the past three months, raising questions about how seriously he is pursuing reelection. The paltry fundraising figures are not typical for incumbents running in swing districts at this point in the election cycle, particularly when multiple challengers have already announced campaigns.

Former IRS Contractor Pleads Guilty to Leaking Trump’s Tax Returns

MSN – Salvador Rizzo (Washington Post) | Published: 10/12/2023

A financial consultant who performed contract work for the IRS pleaded guilty to leaking confidential tax returns filed by the wealthiest Americans, including those of then-President Trump. Charles Littlejohn admitted he obtained thousands of individuals’ tax returns by accessing an IRS database, and then leaked the materials to the New York Times and ProPublica beginning in 2019. The news organizations showed how Trump and others employed strategies to slash their federal tax bills, in some cases down to zero.

Special Counsel Jack Smith Pulls Subpoena Over Pro-Trump Fundraising

MSN – Josh Dawsey, Perry Stein, and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) | Published: 10/17/2023

Special counsel Jack Smith withdrew a subpoena seeking records about fundraising by the PAC Save America, a group that is controlled by former President Trump and whose activities related to efforts to block the results of the 2020 presidential election have come under investigation. The move indicates Smith is scaling back at least part of his inquiry into the political fundraising work that fed and benefited from unfounded claims the election was stolen.

How Conservative Media Figures Helped to Fuel the GOP Speaker Chaos

MSN – Sarah Ellison and Will Sommer (Washington Post) | Published: 10/17/2023

Fox News host Sean Hannity’s extensive effort to personally whip up votes for U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan in his bid to be House speaker highlights the central role right-wing media has played in the drama over who will wield the speaker’s gavel. At each turn, conservative media figures such as Hannity and Stephen Bannon injected high-profile disruption into a process that normally plays out behind the scenes. A handful of backbench lawmakers have seized the opportunity to flex their power in a nearly evenly split chamber, creating drama but offering little direction.

Conservative Companies Create Parallel Economy as Polarization Thrives

Yahoo News – Julia Shapero (The Hill) | Published: 10/18/2023

As a growing number of businesses lean into their conservative values or credentials to appeal to consumers, some have suggested that a “parallel economy” is emerging. These political appeals have become increasingly important to American consumers amid growing political polarization, said Nailya Ordabayeva of Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business. As consumers’ politics have influenced their purchasing decisions, companies have sought to tap into these political identities, and these efforts are not unique to the right, Ordabayeva said.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Lavish Trip for Group of Conservative MPs in Ethics Spotlight

CBC – Elizabeth Thompson | Published: 10/16/2023

A pricey trip for a group of Conservative Members of Parliament sponsored by a special interest group and a Hungarian think-tank could soon come under the microscope by the House of Commons ethics committee. The trip to London took place last June and was sponsored by Canadians for Affordable Energy and the Danube Institute. Billed as an opportunity to discuss energy policy, the trip included thousands of dollars in flights, hotels, and ground transportation as well as a dinner at the Guinea Grill with $600 bottles of champagne that totaled an estimated $6,262.

Alaska – Alaska Attorney General Approves Free Legal Defense for Top Officials Accused of Ethical Lapses

Frontiersman – James Brooks (Alaska Beacon) | Published: 10/17/2023

The state of Alaska will provide legal representation for its governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general in ethics complaints filed against those top officials. Current policy allows the state to reimburse top officials for privately hired legal defense under certain circumstances, including in cases where the officials are exonerated. Assistant Attorney General Cori Mills said that is more expensive than using in-house counsel.

Arkansas – Arkansas Lawmakers OK Plan to Audit Purchase of $19,000 Lectern for Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders

MSN – Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) | Published: 10/12/2023

Arkansas lawmakers voted to audit the purchase of a $19,000 lectern for Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, delving into an unusual controversy that has prompted questions about the seemingly high cost of the item and claims the governor’s office violated the state’s open-records law. The executive committee of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee also voted to audit the governor’s travel and security expenditures that were retroactively shielded from public release under a new Freedom of Information Act exemption Sanders signed in September.

California – Orange Could Start Requiring Lobbyists to Register with the City

MSN – Michael Slaton (Orange County Register) | Published: 10/12/2023

The Orange City Council is exploring whether to start requiring lobbyists to register and report their actions to the city. The effort is largely to prevent impropriety and promote transparency, officials said, but was also inspired by the recent Anaheim corruption saga. The city council is creating an ad hoc committee to explore the proposed law and update campaign finance laws.

California – California Governor Vetoes Bill Requiring Independent Panels to Draw Local Voting Districts

MSN – David Lieb (Associated Press) | Published: 10/9/2023

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation that would have required dozens of his state’s largest cities, counties, and educational districts to use independent commissions to draw voting districts. California’s local redistricting methods came under scrutiny last year following a leaked recording of a private discussion among several Los Angeles City Council members. The officials, all Latino Democrats, used crude and racist comments while plotting to bolster their political power at the expense of Black voters.

California – San Francisco Homeowners Say They Were Duped into Paying a Now-Disgraced Building Inspector

San Francisco Standard – Michael Barba | Published: 10/17/2023

Manh Chau was renovating his dream house in San Francisco when his contractor, Kelvin Zeng, asked him to cut a check for $5,000. Zeng told him to write the name “Bernie Curran” on the check, according to Chau. What Chau did not know at the time was Bernie Curran was not a subcontractor as he had assumed. Curran was a senior building inspector who, just a day after Chau dated the check, inspected his house, court. Now, Curran is about to begin a stint in federal prison after pleading guilty in two separate criminal cases over his financial ties to various property owners in the city.

California – Anaheim Considers an Ethics Officer in Fallout of City Hall Corruption Scandal

Voice of OC – Hosam Elattar | Published: 10/18/2023

An ethics officer could soon start having some sort of oversight role in Anaheim in the aftermath of one of the biggest public corruption scandals to hit Orange County. City council members unanimously voted to create an ethics officer position and have staff come back with options to explore what exactly that person’s responsibilities will be. Creating an ethics officer position to oversee the city’s lobbyist registration and campaign finance was one of several recommendations that investigators made to the city in a report on the scandal.

Florida – One Mystery Solved: Dolphins subsidiary partly behind Mayor Suarez’s $30k F1 weekend

Yahoo News – Sarah Blaskey and Joey Flechas (Miami Herald) | Published: 10/13/2023

A company tied to the Miami Dolphins and team owner Stephen Ross, a billionaire with business before the city, gave Mayor Francis Suarez a $3,500 Formula 1 ticket, a newly filed gift disclosure revealed. It is the latest in a drip-drip of information revealing the sources behind Suarez’s $30,000 Grand Prix weekend in May, which is at the center of an ongoing state ethics investigation into whether the mayor violated Florida gifts laws.

Georgia – Sidney Powell Pleads Guilty in Case Over Efforts to Overturn Trump’s Georgia Loss and Gets Probation

Associated Press News – Kate Brumback | Published: 10/19/2023

Lawyer Sidney Powell pleaded guilty to reduced charges over efforts to overturn Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election in Georgia, becoming the second defendant in the case to reach a deal with prosecutors. Powell, who was charged with violating the state’s anti-racketeering law, entered the plea just a day before jury selection was set to start in her trial. She pleaded guilty to six misdemeanors accusing her of conspiring to intentionally interfere with the performance of election duties.

Illinois – What Do Recent Illinois Corruption Trials Have in Common? State Rep. Bob Rita as a Witness.

Chicago Sun-Times – Robert Herguth | Published: 10/13/2023

Three recent public corruption cases in Illinois shared a common element: state Rep. Bob Rita as a prosecution witness. Rita has not found out yet whether he will be asked to testify in a fourth trial, that of former House Speaker Michel Madigan. Unlike some witnesses in the trials, Rita has neither been charged with any crime nor compelled to testify under a grant of immunity from prosecution. He has been subpoenaed to testify at the request of federal prosecutors about the Illinois General Assembly’s inner workings and Madigan;s close aides.

Illinois – Ald. Jim Gardiner Hit with $20,000 Fine for Ethics Violations

Yahoo News – A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 10/16/2023

The Chicago Board of Ethics fined Ald. Jim Gardiner $20,000 after he was accused of retaliating against a constituent and vocal critic by directing city staff to issue bogus citations that could have forced the man to pay more than $600 in fines. In all, the board said Gardiner violated the ethics code on 10 separate occasions. The city inspector general’s office has only successfully pursued a probable cause finding in 13 ethics investigations and Gardiner was the first who was a sitting city council member.

Louisiana – City Council Ousts Top Cantrell Aide for Breaking Campaign Finance Laws During Recall

New Orleans Advocate – John Stanton | Published: 10/17/2023

The New Orleans City Council ousted Gregory Joseph, Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s communications director and close advisor, for incompetence, neglecting his duties, and violating campaign finance laws, among other charges. In order to block Joseph from being rehired immediately after being fired, the council voted to suspend Joseph without pay from employment by the city for the remainder of Cantrell’s term.

Maine – State Ethics Director Recommends Against Investigating Senate President’s House Purchase

Yahoo News – Eric Russell (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 10/18/2023

The executive director of Maine’s ethics commission said he does not see sufficient grounds to investigate claims that Senate President Troy Jackson violated campaign finance laws in connection with his purchase of a house. Members could still vote to investigate Jackson, but they would be doing so against the recommendation of Jonathan Wayne. A complaint concerned Jackson’s purchase of a home in Augusta in 2019 while representing a district in Aroostook County. It questioned whether he violated the Legislature’s residency rules or falsely pledged to make the home his primary residence.

Maryland – 1776 Project PAC Fined $20,000 for Texts Sent to Carroll Voters on Behalf of Battaglia, Miller, Whisler

MSN – Thomas Goodwin Smith (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 10/12/2023

The 1776 Project PAC, which financially supported Tara Battaglia, James Miller, and Steve Whisler during the 2022 campaign for the Carroll County School Board, was fined $20,250 for failing to identify itself as having paid for 13,879 text messages sent to voters. Maryland law requires campaign messages sent on behalf of candidates to state who paid for the information to be distributed. This includes yard signs, pamphlets, and digital advertisements.

Massachusetts – Bill Aims to Expose ‘Dark Money’ at Town Meetings

Martha’s Vineyard Times – Staff | Published: 10/18/2023

A new bill was filed to counter the influence of what the sponsors are calling “dark money” in town meetings. Massachusetts campaign finance law requires disclosure for any group that receives contributions to oppose or promote a ballot question or influence an election. Candidates for state and local public offices must also follow strict requirements. But these disclosure and transparency requirements do not currently apply to groups seeking to influence issues addressed at town meetings, and do not appear before voters on the ballots, such as warrant articles.

Massachusetts – This Boston City Council Candidate Has More Than $100,000 in His Coffers. His Campaign Says He Didn’t Raise a Single Cent of It.

MSN – Danny McDonald (Boston Globe) | Published: 10/19/2023

John FitzGerald’s day job as a deputy director at the Boston Planning & Development Agency may hamstring him from personally raising funds for his city council bid, but it has not stopped his campaign from amassing $109,000, a hefty haul for this kind of race. State ethics law is clear: public employees cannot receive “directly or indirectly, any contribution or anything of value for any political purpose.” But they may run for office, as long as a committee is organized to raise money on their behalf. FitzGerald said he “never solicited a donation for his campaign.”

Massachusetts – Abhijit Das, Ex-Congressional Candidate, Convicted of Breaking Campaign

MSN – Ryan Mancici (MassLive) | Published: 10/14/2023

Abhijit Das, who ran for a U.S. House in Massachusetts, was convicted of violating the Federal Election Campaign Act and making false statements. Among the allegations was that Das inflated his fundraising numbers with a scheme “to solicit personal loans from friends and close associates in excess of the $2,700 legal limit,” prosecutors said. Das also used $267,000 of campaign funds to pay debts for his hotel business relating to vendors.

Massachusetts – Mass. Gets Top Grade for 2020 Redistricting

Salem News – Christian Wade | Published: 10/16/2023

The home state of “gerrymandering” received a top ranking from Common Cause for its once-every-decade legislative redistricting process. Massachusetts got an “A-” grade, tied with California in the highest-in-the nation ranking. Massachusetts got high marks for having a strong coalition of voting access groups participating in the redistricting process, increasing minority representation in the state Legislature, and holding regular public hearings to discuss changes.

Michigan – Michigan Democrats Vowed Transparency Reforms. Now, They Say Maybe Next Year

Bridge Michigan – Jonathan Oosting | Published: 10/18/2023

Michigan is poised to end the year the same way it began, as one of only two states to fully exempt both the governor’s office and Legislature from public, which the Legislature must finalize by the end of this year under a ballot measure voters approved in 2022. But Democrats are punting on other promised transparency reforms until at least next year, including expansion of the Freedom of Information Act and tighter lobbying rules.

Michigan – Two Lobbyists Get Prison Time for Michigan Medical Marijuana Corruption Scheme

Detroit Free Press – Arpan Lobo | Published: 10/18/2023

Brian Pierce, a former lobbyist who pleaded guilty to participating in a corruption scheme in Michigan’s now-defunct medical marijuana licensing agency, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Vincent Brown, the other lobbyist to plead guilty in the scheme, was sentenced to 20 months in prison. They both pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bribery, after the federal government accused them of providing $42,000 in cash bribes and other benefits to former House Speaker Rick Johnson during his time as chair of the former Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board.

Mississippi – Black Voters Fuel Democratic Hopes in Deep-Red Mississippi

Yahoo News – Nick Corasaniti (New York Times) | Published: 11/17/2023

Just three years ago, Mississippi had an election law on its books from 1890 constitutional that was designed to uphold “white supremacy” in the state. The law created a system for electing statewide officials that drastically reduced the political power of Black voters. Voters overturned the law in 2020. This summer, an appeals court threw out another law that had permanently stripped voting rights from people convicted of a range of felonies. Now Mississippi is holding its first election for governor since those laws fell, the contest is improbably competitive in this deep-red state, and Black voters are poised to play a critical role.

Nevada – Nevada Lawmakers Funded Nonprofits; How and Why a Firestorm of Controversy Followed

Nevada Independent – Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren | Published: 10/15/2023

Several Nevada Democrats have found themselves in the political crosshairs for helping pass two bills in the final days of the legislative session that awarded $110 million in state funds to their nonprofit employers and dozens of other community groups. Lawmakers with connections to the organizations they voted to fund noted guidance they received from the Legislature’s legal division, which maintained the votes are not a conflict-of-interest because the legislation affects the average Nevadan just as much as lawmakers.

New Hampshire – A 15-Year-Old Known for Tough Questions Was Kicked Out of a GOP Event

MSN – Jonathan Edwards (Washington Post) | Published: 10/16/2023

Quinn Mitchell is not a journalist, political strategist, or even a voter. He is a 15-year-old high school freshman who, despite his age, has become a fixture on the New Hampshire presidential campaign circuit. His consistent presence and pointed questions at town halls and rallies led former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to describe him as “America’s most famous political teenager.” Quinn was recently kicked out of the state GOP’s First in the Nation Leadership Summit after a volunteer accused him of being a Democratic operative.

New Jersey – The Real Estate Tycoon Whose Fingerprints Are on the Menendez Indictment

DNyuz – Elise Young and Tracey Tully (New York Times) | Published: 10/16/2023

Fred Daibes, the real estate tycoon at the center of an international scandal threatening the career of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, has found his way out of more than one tough spot over the course of his tumultuous life. In 2018, federal indictment accusing him of scheming to defraud a bank he had founded threatened to upend his real estate empire and carried the risk of a lengthy prison term. It was then, prosecutors say, that he turned to a longtime ally for help: Sen. Menendez. What followed would form the basis for federal charges that Daibes, Menendez and his wife, and two other businesspeople are now facing.

New York – Can New York’s Mayor Speak Mandarin? No, but with AI He’s Making Robocalls in Different Languages

ABC News – Anthony Izaguirre (Associated Press) | Published: 10/17/2023

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been using artificial intelligence (AI) to make robocalls that contort his own voice into several languages he does not actually speak, posing new ethical questions about the government’s use of the rapidly evolving technology. The mayor said the robocalls have gone out in languages such as Mandarin and Yiddish to promote city hiring events. They have not included any disclosure that he only speaks English, or the calls were generated using AI.

Ohio – Ohio’s Redistricting Process Gets an ‘F’ from National Group

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 10/12/2023

Ohio’s redistricting process received a failing grade from Common Cause, which deemed the state;s congressional and legislative maps to be “unmitigated disasters” overall. The report noted how Ohio residents last year voted on the state’s congressional delegation and most of the state Legislature using district lines that were found to be unconstitutionally gerrymandered by the state Supreme Court.

Oklahoma – Ethics Commission Job Posting Redone, Legislature Asked to Triple Budget

NonDoc – Michael McNutt | Published: 10/16/2023

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission voted to extend the search for its next executive director after the state’s attorney general claimed the search “process has been irreparably flawed and must be started anew.” Commissioners also approved a budget request for the 2025 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2024. The request, more than three times the amount the agency received this year, will be presented to the Oklahoma Legislature for consideration during next year’s regular session.

Pennsylvania – The Ethics Board Is Appealing a Ruling That Dismissed Its Case Against a Super PAC That Backed Jeff Brown for Mayor

MSN – Sean Collins Walsh (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 10/19/2023

The Philadelphia Board of Ethics appealed a court ruling that dismissed its high-profile lawsuit against the super PAC that backed Jeff Brown’s unsuccessful campaign for mayor. The board in April sent shockwaves through the mayor’s race when it sued For A Better Philadelphia, which spent millions of dollars to boost Brown as he sought the Democratic nomination. The board accused the super PAC of illegally coordinating with Brown because he raised money for the group in the months leading up to the launch of his campaign in November 2022.

Texas – El Paso City Council Advances Plan for Broader Political Contribution Reporting

MSN – Adam Powell (El Paso Times) | Published: 10/13/2023

The El Paso City Council advanced a plan that would increase transparency around political contributions but stopped short of acting on a proposed cap on donations. The council voted direct city staff to draft an ordinance that would require disclosure of donors who contributed $500 or more and might benefit from council actions.

West Virginia – DOT Head Claims No Conflict of Interest from Agency Contracts with Firm Employing His Son Before State Lawmakers

Charleston Gazette-Mail – Mike Tony | Published: 10/17/2023

West Virginia Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Jimmy Wriston suggested there is no conflict-of-interest nor appearance of one stemming from the relationship between his agency and a firm the agency contracts with that employs his son. Wriston signed two contracts for the Division of Highways to pay over $25.7 million to the firm, Michael Baker International. At the time, Wriston was deputy commissioner of the Division of Highways. Gov. Jim Justice named Wriston DOT secretary and DOH commissioner in October 2021.

Campaign Finance National: “Special Counsel Jack Smith Pulls Subpoena Over Pro-Trump Fundraising” by Josh Dawsey, Perry Stein, and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) for MSN Elections National: “Trump Lawyer Acknowledged Political Agenda in Election Suit, Emails Show” by Maggie Haberman and Luke Broadwater (New York Times) for DNyuz Ethics California: “Anaheim Considers an Ethics Officer in Fallout of City Hall Corruption Scandal” by Hosam Elattar for Voice of OC Louisiana: “City Council Ousts Top Cantrell Aide for Breaking Campaign Finance Laws During Recall” by John Stanton for New Orleans Advocate Michigan: “Michigan Democrats Vowed Transparency Reforms. Now, They Say Maybe Next Year” by Jonathan Oosting for Bridge Michigan Michigan: “Ex-Lobbyist Gets 24 Months in Prison in Michigan Medical Marijuana Bribery Scheme” by Arpan Lobo for Detroit Free Press National: “Conservative Companies Create Parallel Economy as Polarization Thrives” by Julia Shapero (The Hill) for Yahoo News West Virginia: “DOT Head Claims No Conflict of Interest from Agency Contracts with Firm Employing His Son Before State Lawmakers” by Mike Tony for Charleston Gazette-Mail