March 27, 2024 •
South Dakota Legislature Adjourns Sine Die
The 99th session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on March 26. Lawmakers convened for Veto Day but adjourned after only a few minutes because for the first time in nearly 70 years, there were no gubernatorial vetoes to consider. […]
The 99th session of the Legislature adjourned sine die on March 26.
Lawmakers convened for Veto Day but adjourned after only a few minutes because for the first time in nearly 70 years, there were no gubernatorial vetoes to consider.
Gov. Kristi Noem signed a total of 233 bills into law this legislative session while not vetoing a single one.
A bill to prohibit the use of a deepfake in a campaign ad if it does not include a disclosure passed the Senate but died in the House.
March 27, 2024 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Elections National: “Federal Officials Say 20 Have Been Charged for Threatening Election Workers” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN National: “No Labels, No Candidate: Rejections pile up as time runs short” by Rebecca Davis O’Brien and Reid Epstein (New […]
Elections
National: “Federal Officials Say 20 Have Been Charged for Threatening Election Workers” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “No Labels, No Candidate: Rejections pile up as time runs short” by Rebecca Davis O’Brien and Reid Epstein (New York Times) for Seattle Times
Ethics
New York: “N.Y. Judge Sets Firm April 15 Trial Date in Trump’s Historic Hush Money Case” by Shayna Jacobs and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) for MSN
Ohio: “Imprisoned Ex-Ohio Speaker Householder Hit with New Charges Alleging Misuse of Campaign Funds” by Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN
Rhode Island: “Former Top RI Official Ordered to Pay $5,000 Fine Over Infamous Philly Trip. What to Know.” by Katherine Gregg and Patrick Anderson (Providence Journal) for MSN
Texas: “Texas AG Ken Paxton Reaches Deal to End Securities Fraud Charges After 9 Years” by Juan Lozano (Associated Press) for MSN
Lobbying
Kansas: “In the Kansas House, When Lobbyists Ask for New Laws, Their Names Go on the Bills” by John Hanna (Associated Press) for Yahoo News
New York: “Adams Adviser Frank Carone Pulls Lobbying Registration as His Firm Reveals City, State Targets” by Chris Sommerfeldt for New York Daily News
March 26, 2024 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Wisconsin: “Prosecutors in 3 Wisconsin Counties Decline to Pursue Charges Against Trump Committee, Lawmaker” by Scott Bauer (Associated Press) for MSN Elections Arizona: “Deepfake Kari Lake Video Shows Coming Chaos of AI in Elections” by Reis Thebault (Washington Post) for MSN […]
Campaign Finance
Wisconsin: “Prosecutors in 3 Wisconsin Counties Decline to Pursue Charges Against Trump Committee, Lawmaker” by Scott Bauer (Associated Press) for MSN
Elections
Arizona: “Deepfake Kari Lake Video Shows Coming Chaos of AI in Elections” by Reis Thebault (Washington Post) for MSN
New Jersey: “Tammy Murphy Drops Out of U.S. Senate Race in Stunning Announcement” by Brent Johnson (NJ Advance Media) for MSN
Ethics
Florida: “Centners Downplay Ties to Arrested Miami Commissioner, Say They ‘Sprinkle Money Around'” by Tess Riski, Joey Flechas, and Sarah Blaskey (Miami Herald) for MSN
National: “Trump Media Merger Wins Investor Approval, Netting Trump a Potential Windfall” by Drew Harwell (Washington Post) for MSN
Pennsylvania: “Upgrades to PA Governor’s Mansion Bankrolled by Private Group That Won’t Disclose Donors, Full Cost” by Angela Couloumbis for Spotlight PA
Legislative Issues
National: “Rep. Mike Gallagher to Resign in April, Narrowing House GOP Vote Margin to 1” by Patrick Svitek and Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) for MSN
Lobbying
Georgia: “Georgia Election Official Seeking New Term Voted on Cases Involving His Lobbyist Clients” by Natalia Mittelstadt for Just the New
March 25, 2024 •
U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher Resigns
Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District Rep. Mike Gallagher announced his resignation effective April 19. The resignation does not trigger a special election under the statute because the effective date occurs after the second Tuesday in April. All of the state’s eight […]
Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District Rep. Mike Gallagher announced his resignation effective April 19.
The resignation does not trigger a special election under the statute because the effective date occurs after the second Tuesday in April.
All of the state’s eight U.S. House districts are up for election on November 5, with the primary election scheduled for August 13.
Republicans will hold a 217-213 majority in the U.S. House after Gallagher leaves the chamber.
March 25, 2024 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Trump’s Legal Fees Are Sky High. An Elaborate PAC Scheme Is Helping Pay Them – for Now” by Erin Mansfield and Zac Anderson (USA Today) for MSN Oregon: “Oregon Secretary of State Says It Needs More Money, Employees to Overhaul […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Trump’s Legal Fees Are Sky High. An Elaborate PAC Scheme Is Helping Pay Them – for Now” by Erin Mansfield and Zac Anderson (USA Today) for MSN
Oregon: “Oregon Secretary of State Says It Needs More Money, Employees to Overhaul Outdated Campaign Finance Filing System” by Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) for MSN
Pennsylvania: “Philly Ethics Board Looks to Tighten Rules After Jeff Brown Super PAC Scuffle” by Meir Rinde for Billy Penn
Elections
Louisiana: “How to Elect a Louisiana Sheriff: Runoff, recount, reversal, repeat” by Molly Hennessy-Fiske (Washington Post) for MSN
Wisconsin: “Former Milwaukee Election Official Convicted of Absentee Ballot Fraud” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
Florida: “In Public, Suarez Says He’s Not Ken Griffin’s Attorney. Under Oath, He Said Differently” by Sarah Blaskey and Alexandra Glorioso (Miami Herald) for MSN
National: “Former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel Faces Sharp Criticism After NBC Hiring” by Drew Harwell (Washington Post) for MSN
Lobbying
Wisconsin: “Robin Vos Slams Shadow Lobbying Effort on Electric Grid Construction Bill” by Jessie Opien (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) for MSN
March 22, 2024 •
News You Can Use Digest – March 22, 2024
National/Federal Supreme Court Rules Public Officials Can Sometimes Be Sued for Blocking Critics on Social Media Associated Press News – Mark Sherman | Published: 3/14/2024 A unanimous Supreme Court ruled public officials can sometimes be sued for blocking their critics on social […]
National/Federal
Supreme Court Rules Public Officials Can Sometimes Be Sued for Blocking Critics on Social Media
Associated Press News – Mark Sherman | Published: 3/14/2024
A unanimous Supreme Court ruled public officials can sometimes be sued for blocking their critics on social media. The court ruled in two cases involving lawsuits filed by individuals who were blocked after leaving critical comments on social media accounts belonging to school board members in Southern California and a city manager in Michigan. They are similar to a case involving Donald Trump and his decision to block critics from his personal account on Twitter. The justices dismissed the case after Trump left office.
Peter Navarro Begins 4-Month Jail Sentence for Contempt of Congress
DNyuz – Zach Montague and David Adams (New York Times) | Published: 3/19/2024
Peter Navarro, a trade adviser to Donald Trump, reported to federal prison, becoming the first senior Trump administration official to serve time over his role in the effort to subvert the results of the 2020 election. Navarro, who helped engineer Trump’s plans to stay in power after his electoral defeat in November 2020, was sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of Congress after defying a subpoena from the House select committee investigating the Capitol riot.
US Supreme Court Justices, Judges Face New Rules for Disclosing Free Trips
MSN – Nate Raymond (Reuters) | Published: 3/18/2024
U.S. Supreme Court justices and federal judges can no longer avoid disclosing the value of travel-related gifts they receive by classifying such free trips as “reimbursements” on their financial disclosure forms under new regulations now in effect. The rules follow revelations that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas had not disclosed luxury trips paid for by a wealthy benefactor.
Trump-Backed Candidate Bernie Moreno Wins Ohio Senate Primary
MSN – Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 3/19/2024
Bernie Moreno, a Republican endorsed by Donald Trump, advanced to a general-election matchup against U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in a contest that could determine control of the Senate. Democratic groups have spent money on ads on Moreno in recent weeks because some strategists view him as an easier opponent for Brown, who faced no challengers in the primary, to defeat in a general election.
Chinese Billionaire Pleads Guilty to Straw Donor
MSN – Jake Offenhartz (Associated Press) | Published: 3/18/2024
A Chinese billionaire pleaded guilty to violating U.S. election laws by funneling illegal straw donations to a New York City official, a member of the U.S. House, and a congressional candidate. Hui Qin admitted to using his fortune to recruit and reimburse people who made political donations on his behalf, beginning with a New York City race in 2021. Court papers filed do not identify the candidates backed by Qin. But there were only a handful of citywide races in New York that year, including the election of Mayor Eric Adams.
MSN – Molly Bohannon (Forbes) | Published: 3/20/2024
A super PAC affiliated with Sen. Ted Cruz reported receiving $215,000 in “digital revenue” from iHeartMedia, despite a spokesperson for the senator previously denying there was an ethical issue with the company producing his podcast. In 2022, shortly after Cruz and iHeartMedia entered a partnership in which the company markets and produces his podcast, the Campaign Legal Center asked the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate whether the deal violated a federal law barring senators from receiving gifts from registered lobbyists.
‘Very, Very Troubling’: Judges, lawyers flummoxed by Judge Cannon
MSN – Devlin Barrett and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 3/20/2024
Lawyers and former judges said they are baffled by an order issued by the federal judge overseeing Donald Trump’s pending trial on charges he mishandled classified documents, and believe her instructions suggest the case will not go to trial anytime soon. U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon ordered defense lawyers and prosecutors in the case to file submissions outlining proposed jury instructions based on two scenarios, each of which badly misstates the law and facts of the case, according to legal experts.
House Republican Divisions Over Governing Spill onto Campaign Trail
MSN – Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) | Published: 3/20/2024
The ideologically fractured House Republican conference has spent the past year debating what it takes to govern. Now that fight is spilling onto the campaign trail. Members from the far right and more traditional wings of the conference are campaigning against their colleagues in hopes of persuading primary voters to kick out incumbents and replace them with Republicans each group believes will better serve their political interests. The unusual interventions are a result of an ongoing intraparty dispute over what, or who, can bring about a “governing majority.”
Supreme Court Opens New Frontier for Insurrection Claims That Could Target State and Local Officials
MSN – Morgan Lee and Nicholas Riccardi (Associated Press) | Published: 3/19/2024
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from a former New Mexico county commissioner who was kicked out of office after he was convicted of trespassing during the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The state judge who barred him from office did so on the grounds his actions violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The move came on the heels of an expected high court ruling that Section 3 cannot be used against federal officials or candidates until Congress writes a law outlining procedures to do so. The actions herald a new legal landscape as groups that pushed for Trump’s disqualification reboot efforts to target state and local officials linked to January 6.
Emails Show How a Right-Wing Group Steers GOP Leaders on Major Policy Issues
MSN – Daniel Medina and Bob Ortega (CNN) | Published: 3/18/2024
Tax laws allow donors to channel millions of dollars anonymously, through nonprofit foundations, to activist organizations that lobby for and work behind the scenes to enact legislation that reflects partisan goals. The Foundation for Government Accountability enjoys tax-exempt status as a charitable organization. It received more than $44 million from six conservative foundations tied to billionaire donors from 2013 through 2022. Those foundations have financed much of the push to tighten voting laws and spread election disinformation across the country since the 2020 election.
Election Laws Not Ready for Deepfakes, Experts Warn: ‘It’s the Wild West right now’
MSN – Jim Saska (Roll Call) | Published: 3/17/2024
Election law experts say there is little in the existing statutes to prevent artificial intelligence (AI)-powered bad actors, including meddling foreign powers, from unleashing campaign disinformation on an already saturated political landscape. While most commercial advertisers are prohibited from telling lies, there is nothing akin to truth-in-advertising laws for campaign ads because of the First Amendment’s heightened protection for political speech. Federal election laws do not currently regulate AI explicitly.
Supreme Court Likely to Reject Limits on White House Social Media Contacts
MSN – Ann Marimow and Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) | Published: 3/18/2024
The U.S. Supreme Court seemed prepared to reject a Republican-led effort to sharply limit the federal government from pressuring social media companies to remove harmful posts and misinformation from their platforms. A majority of justices from across the ideological spectrum expressed concern about hamstringing White House officials and other federal employees from communicating with technology companies about posts related to public health, national security, and elections the government deems problematic.
Kushner Developing Deals Overseas Even as His Father-in-Law Runs for President
Seattle Times – Eric Lipton, Jonathan Swain, and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) | Published: 3/15/2024
Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Donald Trump, confirmed he was closing in on major real estate deals in Albania and Serbia, the latest example of the former president’s family doing business abroad even as Trump seeks to return to the White House. Kushner’s plans in the Balkans appear to have come about in part through relationships built while Trump was in office. Kushner, who was a senior White House official, said he had been working on the deals with Richard Grenell, who served briefly as acting director of national intelligence under Trump.
Jan. 6 Defendant Got 2 Congressional Internships After She Allegedly Breached the Building
Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 3/18/2024
In the three years since the attack on the Capitol, Isabella DeLuca gained a right-wing following and burnished her résumé with two internships in the offices of GOP members of Congress. Now, the social media influencer has been criminally charged for storming the Capitol and helping to force the evacuation of the chamber. DeLuca stands apart from the other 1,300 people charged in the riot because she is the first known member of the mob who would take a position in Congress after her role in the insurrection.
From the States and Municipalities
Alaska – Ninth Circuit Denies Injunction to Block Disclosure Rules for Alaska Elections
Courthouse News Service – Alanna Mayham | Published: 3/15/2024
A voter-backed measure to enforce campaign finance disclosures in Alaska prevailed after a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a judge’s denial of a preliminary injunction that would have blocked the law. A lawsuit by political donors claimed a 2020 voter initiative enforced burdensome disclosure rules that could lead to retaliation for their open support.
Alaska – Alaska Judge to Expedite Ruling on Campaign Ethics Violations by Ranked Choice Voting Opponents
Yahoo News – Iris Samuels (Anchorage Daily News) | Published: 3/17/2024
A judge will rule months before the November election on the legality of a decision by state campaign regulators to punish opponents of Alaska’s voting system. The Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) ruled that leaders of an effort to repeal Alaska’s open primary and ranked choice voting system violated state law when they funneled their campaign money through an organization registered as a church in Washington state. APOC fined the leaders of the ballot effort more than $94,000.
California – Outgoing City Atty. Mara Elliott Says Ethics Commission Needs Greater Independence
Times of San Diego – JW August | Published: 3/14/2024
Outgoing City Attorney Mara Elliott said it is time to increase the San Diego Ethics Commission’s independence to conduct investigations and issue larger fines when warranted. She plans to ask the city council to consider a series of upgrades to the commission. Some would be a ballot measure; others would require council action that would change how the commission is constituted and funded.
California – Fresno County Loses Again; Must Pay Legal Fees for Lawsuit Against City Council Members
Yahoo News – Tim Sheehan (Fresno Bee) | Published: 3/15/2024
Fresno County was ordered to pay more than $72,000 in legal fees to two Fresno City Council members for their defense against the county’s unsuccessful lawsuit over campaign finance issues. The county sued Councilpersons Garry Bredefeld and Luis Chavez last year, both candidates for the county’s board of supervisors, after the pair announced their intentions to transfer money from their city council campaign committees to their campaigns for supervisor.
Florida – Is Miami City Manager’s Furniture Saga Under Ethics Review? Here’s What We Know
MSN – Ana Claudia Chacin (Miami Herald) | Published: 3/21/2024
Miami City Manager Art Noriega told colleagues in an email that he had “engaged” with the county ethics commission about matters pertaining to the potential conflict-of-interest involving the city’s business with Pradere Manufacturing, a furniture vendor owned by his in-laws that employs his wife. He said the matter was “under review.” Jose Arrojo, director of the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust, said he does not recall ever meeting with or speaking to Noriega about the matter.
Florida – Ethics Complaint Against Moms for Liberty Founder Is Tossed
MSN – Josh Fiallo (Daily Beast) | Published: 3/16/2024
A complaint that kept Mom for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich from being confirmed to the Florida Commission on Ethics was rejected by the state ethics panel. The man behind the complaint, political consultant and blogger Robert Burns III, said it was rejected because the commission cannot investigate one of its own members.
Georgia – Fani Willis Can Stay on Trump Georgia Case, but Only If Wade Steps Aside, Judge Says
MSN – Holly Bailey and Amy Gardner (Washington Post) | Published: 3/15/2024
The judge overseeing the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump and his allies ruled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis could continue with the prosecution but only if Nathan Wade, the lead prosecutor she appointed and had a romantic relationship with, exits the case. Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee said the defendants “failed to meet their burden” in proving Willis’s relationship with Wade was enough of a “conflict-of-interest” to merit her removal from the case. But the judge also found an “appearance of impropriety that infects the current structure of the prosecution team.”
Hawaii – House Panel Spikes Bill to Publicly Fund Hawaii Elections
Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 3/14/2024
The House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee rejected Senate Bill 2381, which would have set up a comprehensive system of public financing for all candidates seeking election to state and county offices beginning with the 2028 election year. But the bill did not include the $30 million estimated to be needed to fund the program, nor $200,000 to add staff to the state Campaign Spending Commission, which would be responsible for implementing the system.
Kentucky – Piagentini Keeps Council Seat Amid Ethics Controversy
MSN – Eleanor McCrary (Louisville Courier Journal) | Published: 3/18/2024
The Louisville Metro Council Court voted to keep embattled member Anthony Piagentini on the council after a lengthy misconduct trial. Piagentini was accused of using his position to land a $40 million grant for the nonprofit Louisville Healthcare CEO Council to receive federal American Rescue Plan money. He removed himself as a sponsor of the ordinance and did not vote on it, citing a conflict-of-interest. The day after the vote, he accepted a one-year consulting position with the organization.
Maryland – Mosby Legal-Defense Fund Donor List to Remain Secret Following Circuit Court Ruling
MSN – Emily Opilo (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 3/18/2024
Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill overturned a Public Information Act Compliance Board ruling that ordered the release of the names of donors to a legal-defense fund set up to benefit City Council President Nick Mosby and his wife. The board argued the donations were akin to campaign contributions, which are disclosable under Maryland law. Fletcher-Hill relied on a 2016 ruling that permitted the state comptroller to withhold specific financial information related to unclaimed funds.
Michigan – Prominent Lansing Fundraiser Arraigned on Campaign Finance Charges
Detroit News – Craig Mauger | Published: 3/21/2024
Heather Lombardini, one of the top Republican fundraisers in Michigan politics, was arraigned on charges that she violated campaign finance law and created a false document after officials began investigating. The state attorney general’s office has been scrutinizing the movement of about $2.7 million from two nonprofit organizations tied to state Senate Republicans to the Unlock Michigan ballot proposal campaign, which gathered signatures to diminish Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s emergency powers.
Michigan – Michigan Lawyer Who Claimed Election Fraud Arrested after Dominion Hearing
MSN – Rachel Weiner and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 3/18/2024
An attorney for former Overstock Chief Executive Officer Patrick Byrne was detained at the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., after defending her decision to disseminate internal documents from Dominion Voting Systems to revive debunked claims about the 2020 election. Stefanie Lambert was facing a bench warrant from a state court in Michigan, where she is accused of taking part in a conspiracy to tamper with voting machines in hopes of finding proof of fraud. She is simultaneously representing Byrne, who is being sued for defamation by Dominion over related falsehoods claiming the firm’s machines enabled vote tampering.
Michigan – ‘New Day in Lansing’ as Lawmakers Advance FOIA Bills, Introduce Transparency Measures
MSN – Arpan Lobo and Clara Hendrickson (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 3/14/2024
Legislation to expand Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act to include the governor’s office and state Legislature is advancing after members of the Senate Oversight Committee voted to report bills to the full Senate floor. There were concerns over some exemptions to open records requests that are currently in the legislation, like shielding the communications in the governor’s office for issuing pardons and criminal reprieves, and exemptions for communications between constituents and employees of the governor’s office or Legislature.
Nebraska – Lawmaker Apologizes After Inserting Colleague’s Name into Book Rape Scene
MSN – Annie Gowan and Kelsey Ables (Washington Post) | Published: 3/19/2024
Nebraska Sen. Steve Halloran apologized for reading a sexually graphic passage during debate over an obscenity bill and inserting Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh’s name into the text, a moment that sparked widespread outrage and calls for his resignation from across the political spectrum. Kevin Smith, a professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, said lingering tensions over Cavanaugh’s strong stance against a bill banning gender-affirming care may have had “some emotional spillover” in the debate over the obscenity measure.
New Hampshire – Group Sues After Novel Biden Deepfake Urged Voters to Skip N.H. Primary
MSN – Tobi Raji (Washington Post) | Published: 3/17/2024
A voting advocacy group is suing a political consultant and companies behind an AI-generated robocall o President Biden that in January urged New Hampshire voters not to participate in the state’s presidential primary. The League of Women Voters of New Hampshire accuses campaign consultant Steve Kramer, Life Corp., and Lingo Telecom of voter intimidation and deception in violation of federal and state laws.
New Jersey – Primary Ballot in N.J. Is ‘Unconstitutional,’ State Attorney General Says
MSN – Azi Paybarah (Washington Post) | Published: 3/18/2024
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin’s office said the state’s unique way of displaying county-backed candidates for U.S. Senate and governor on primary ballots is “unconstitutional” and will not defend it in court, following a lawsuit filed by U.S. Rep. Andy Kim. The move is the latest twist in an already tumultuous Democratic nominating contest for a Senate seat in the reliably blue state. Kim and the state’s first lady, Tammy Murphy, are running in the June 4 primary for the seat held by embattled U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez.
New Mexico – How NM Will Enforce the New Deepfake Disclosure Law
Source New Mexico – Austin Fisher | Published: 3/20/2024
About one week after early voting in New Mexico’s primary elections begins, a new law will go into effect requiring campaigns and candidates to tell the public whenever they use false information generated by artificial intelligence in a campaign ad. The secretary of state’s office and the New Mexico Ethics Commission will investigate alleged violations. New Mexico is among eight states that have enacted similar legislation since 2019. Thirty-one more states are considering related bills.
New Mexico – Senator Sues Secretary of State in Dispute Over Campaign Donation to Student
Yahoo News – Daniel Chacón (Santa Fe New Mexican) | Published: 3/15/2024
Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino is taking New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver to federal court over what he contends is an unconstitutional provision in the state’s campaign finance law. The complaint alleges Toulouse Oliver “ambushed” the “good senator” over a $200 donation from his campaign to a high school student in Albuquerque. The secretary of state’s office says the contribution violated state law and it has been working to get Ortiz y Pino to comply by replacing the campaign funds with his own money.
New York – Trump’s Lawyers Say It Is Impossible for Him to Post Bond Covering $454 Million Civil Fraud Judgment
Associated Press News – Michael Sisak | Published: 3/18/2924
Donald Trump’s lawyers told a New York appellate court it is impossible for him to post a bond covering a $454 million civil fraud judgment in state Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit. while he appeals. Senior Assistant Solicitor General Dennis Fan wrote a full bond was necessary, in part, because Trump’s lawyers “have never demonstrated that Mr. Trump’s liquid assets, which may fluctuate over time, will be enough to satisfy the full amount of this judgment following appeal.”
New York – Judge Orders Delay in Trump Hush Money Trial Until at Least Mid-April
MSN – Shayna Jacobs and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) | Published: 3/15/2024
The judge overseeing the expected first criminal trial of Donald Trump, which was due to begin in March, has pushed it back until at least mid-April, saying lawyers need more time to review a fresh set of potential evidence and he wants to hear arguments about whether the material was handled properly. The scheduling twist is an outgrowth of the strange legal path that led to Trump being indicted last year on state charges of business records fraud for hush money paid to an adult-film actress.
New York – Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie Has Been Dating a Legislative Lobbyist
New York Focus – Chris Bragg | Published: 3/14/2024
Rebecca Lamorte is the legislative and communications director for the Greater New York Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust. She lobbies the Legislature on behalf of building trades and construction unions and their contractors, which the cooperative represents. She has been romantically involved with House Speaker Carl Heastie, apparently since at least last November. Heastie’s office has declined to acknowledge the relationship publicly, or to describe what steps the speaker has taken to avoid conflicts-of-interest.
Ohio – No Easter Vacation for Indicted FirstEnergy Lobbyist, Judge Rules
MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 3/18/2024
A judge said Mike Dowling, a FirstEnergy lobbyist charged with a sweep of bribery related crimes, cannot take a two-week trip to South Carolina to celebrate Easter. Dowling had asked Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross for leave from terms of his pre-trial bond, which require him to stay in Ohio, to travel by car to his second home from March 23 to April 4.
Pennsylvania – Lawmakers Want to Ban Public Agencies from Hiring Lobbyists
The Center Square – Anthony Hennen | Published: 3/13/2024
The Pennsylvania Game Commission was criticized for hiring a lobbyist, something no state agency had done for two decades. Now, though the commission announced it will no longer use a lobbyist, legislators want to ban the practice statewide. Such a ban would preclude public entities, from boroughs and townships to counties and state agencies, from using a lobbying firm to plead their case for more funding.
Pennsylvania – Pa. Lawmakers Weigh Measures Exposing ‘Dark Money,’ Banning Ballot Drop Boxes
Yahoo News – Eric Scicchitano (The Daily Item) | Published: 3/20/2024
A bill in the Pennsylvania House seeking to shine light on “dark money” advanced out of committee and toward a floor vote, A dissenter to the proposal warned it could run afoul of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The bill was among four election-related proposals addressing either money or election security to move through committees in the House and Senate, getting closer to floor votes in the respective chambers.
Texas – U.S. Supreme Court Hears Texas Case on Politically Motivated Arrests
Yahoo News – William Melhado (Texas Tribune) | Published: 3/20/2024
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a Texas case in which a former council member sued the city of Castle Hills, arguing she was arrested in retaliation for criticizing the city manager. The question at the center of the case is whether people who criticize the government can sue local officials over retaliatory arrests. Several justices asked whether a lower court had too narrowly interpreted previous case law concerning the question.
Wisconsin – Trial Opens for Kimberly Zapata, Ex-Milwaukee Election Official Accused of Ordering Fake Military Ballots
MSN – Alison Dirr (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) | Published: 3/18/2024
As the trial of former Milwaukee Election Commission Deputy Director Kimberly Zapata opened, the jury heard significantly different narratives about her actions in the fall of 2022 from her defense attorney and the prosecutor. Zapata is accused of ordering three military absentee ballots under fake names and sending them to a Republican lawmaker who embraces conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. She is facing charges of misconduct in public office and three counts of making a false statement to obtain an absentee ballot.
March 21, 2024 •
Celebrating Women’s History Month
Without the contributions and activism of women throughout history, our lives would not look the same today. Social and political milestones helped give women autonomy and more opportunities, including winning the right to vote, access to reproductive healthcare, and women […]
Without the contributions and activism of women throughout history, our lives would not look the same today. Social and political milestones helped give women autonomy and more opportunities, including winning the right to vote, access to reproductive healthcare, and women holding leadership positions traditionally reserved for men. Life changing and lifesaving inventions, such as the car heater, feeding tube, and the home security system came from the minds of brilliant women, and who wouldn’t want to live in a world where Taylor Swift is smashing every record in the music industry?
Every March, we celebrate the accomplishments of these women and all the amazing women who came before us with Women’s History Month. The annual observance began as a week-long celebration in Santa Rosa, California. In 1978, the Education Task Force of Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women planned the first Women’s History Week, choosing the week of March 8 to coincide with International Women’s Day. Women’s History Week soon spread across the country as other communities and groups began hosting their own celebrations.
By February 1980, the week of March 8 was officially declared National Women’s History Week after the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women’s History Alliance) advocated for the week’s national recognition. In 1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, officially designating March as Women’s History Month.
Since then, women have continued to make strides and history in all fields, including politics and government affairs.
According to the Center for American Women in Politics, in 2024:
- 25% of United States Senators are women.
- 126 out of 435 seats are held by women in the United States House of Representatives.
- 12 women are serving as governors.
- 8% of mayors in United States cities are women.
- 99 Statewide Elective Executives are women.
- 2,424 women hold positions in statewide legislatures.
Women have always taken an active role in politics and advocacy, whether they were welcomed and recognized, or not. Some notable women in this arena include:
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton – A women’s rights activist and abolitionist, Stanton, along with several other women, convened the first women’s rights convention in Seneca, New York. At this convention, Stanton shared the Declaration of Sentiments, which called for major reforms to laws and practices that were oppressive to women. She also led the Women’s National Loyal League, which called for immediate emancipation during the Civil War. Additionally, Stanton fought for women’s suffrage through the National American Woman Suffrage Association.
- Sojourner Truth – In 1851 at the Ohio Women’s Convention in Akron, Sojourner Truth gave her famous speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?”, where she demanded equal rights and suffrage for all women, not just white women, and called for intersectionality between abolitionism and women’s suffrage. She spent her life fighting for Civil Rights, continuing to call for abolition, women’s suffrage, and other causes around the country. The bronze bust of Sojourner Truth lies in the United States Capitol Visitor Center, and is the first sculpture there to honor an African American.
- Anne Wexler – Anne Wexler was the first woman to own a lobbying firm. Wexler started her political career in the 1960s when she served on the Westport Zoning Board of Appeals and worked on the campaigns of John Fitzgerald, Eugene McCarthy, Joseph Duffy, and Jimmy Carter. She also worked in President Carter’s administration. In 1980, she established Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates, which took on clients such as General Motors and worked with the Australian government.
While once considered a “good old boys club”, the tides are changing in the field of government relations. In 2023, women made up almost 40% of registered lobbyists. Professional networks such as Black Girl Magic Network, Women in Government Relations (WGR), and Women in Government (WIG) are working to ensure that all women have a seat at the table.
As a proud woman-owned company, State and Federal Communications, Inc. also works to celebrate and elevate women in the government relations industry and in our community. We are long-time supporters of Women in Government, Women in Government Relations, ATHENA Akron, Akron Community Foundation’s Women’s Endowment Fund, and the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza in downtown Akron.
In our own company, led by President and CEO Elizabeth Bartz, 41% of our team members are women and hold positions in each department. Three of our top leadership positions are held by women: President and CEO Elizabeth Bartz, Vice President Amber Fish Linke, Esq., and Senior Advisor Jean Cantrell. Additionally, our Compliance Department is made up of 50% women and our Research Department is 33% women, taking on roles that have traditionally been done by men.
As we observe Women’s History Month, we continue to celebrate the contributions of women before us while making space for all women to succeed in the face of adversity. March may be over soon, but the achievements of powerful and trailblazing women will continue to live on.
Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP). 2024. “Women in Elective Office 2024.” New Brunswick, NJ: Center for American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University-New Brunswick. https://cawp.rutgers.edu/facts/current-numbers/women-elective-office-2024 (Accessed March 13, 2024)
March 21, 2024 •
Meet Our Expert – Jean Cantrell
As a seasoned government relations professional, State and Federal Communications, Inc., was thrilled to bring on Jean Cantrell as the company’s first senior advisor in January, 2022, with a particular focus on stakeholder management Because of her vast experience in […]
As a seasoned government relations professional, State and Federal Communications, Inc., was thrilled to bring on Jean Cantrell as the company’s first senior advisor in January, 2022, with a particular focus on stakeholder management
Because of her vast experience in the industry, President and CEO Elizbeth Bartz felt Jean’s insights and expertise would be valuable when it came to stakeholder outreach and management.
“I like to think I provide a bit of a fresh perspective. As a former State and Federal client, I had the opportunity to walk in our clients’ shoes,” Jean explained.
Jean was a former client when she worked at Dun & Bradstreet, a commercial data and analytics business. This was Jean’s first job in the government relations industry, where she began as the Administrator of the company’s political action committee. Twenty years later, Jean assumed the role as leader/head of government relations at Dun & Bradstreet.
“The bottom line is I had a spectacular mentor. I started in the proverbial mail room at the lowest rung of the ladder and worked my way up,” she said.
She leveraged her experience and moved to other GR positions for companies, like Circuit City, EDS (now HP), and Philips, where she started its first state government relations program.
Jean’s expertise extends beyond the workplace, too. She has been a volunteer with the Commission on Presidential Debates since 1988 and worked with the Commission to set up presidential debate watches on more than 500 college campuses. She has served in a number of leadership positions: President of both the Washington Area State Relations Group and the State Government Affairs Council, was Vice President of the NCSL Foundation, and co-chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Business Council.
Jean has two guiding philosophies when it comes to work and life: meet people “where they live” and leverage your knowledge and experience.
“If you’re working with a potential client, you want to understand what their pain points are, and avoid assuming they’re at Point A when they may be at Point B,” she explains.
She also suggests, “The other thing is use every resource at your disposal to be the best you can be in your job.”
Mentorship is also incredibly important to Jean. Because her mentor had so much to do with her success, Jean strives to intentionally pay it forward and enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with others.
March 21, 2024 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Chinese Billionaire Pleads Guilty to Straw Donor Scheme in New York and Rhode Island” by Jake Offenhartz (Associated Press) for MSN New Mexico: “How NM Will Enforce the New Deepfake Disclosure Law” by Austin Fisher for Source New Mexico Pennsylvania: “Pa. Lawmakers […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Chinese Billionaire Pleads Guilty to Straw Donor Scheme in New York and Rhode Island” by Jake Offenhartz (Associated Press) for MSN
New Mexico: “How NM Will Enforce the New Deepfake Disclosure Law” by Austin Fisher for Source New Mexico
Pennsylvania: “Pa. Lawmakers Weigh Measures Exposing ‘Dark Money,’ Banning Ballot Drop Boxes” by Eric Scicchitano (The Daily Item) for Yahoo News
Elections
New Hampshire: “Group Sues After Novel Biden Deepfake Urged Voters to Skip N.H. Primary” by Tobi Raji (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Cannon Tells Lawyers to Weigh If Trump Conduct Can’t Be Reviewed by Courts” by Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Jan. 6 Defendant Got 2 Congressional Internships After She Allegedly Breached the Building” by Kyle Cheney (Politico) for Yahoo News
Michigan: “‘New Day in Lansing’ as Lawmakers Advance FOIA Bills, Introduce Transparency Measures” by Arpan Lobo and Clara Hendrickson (Detroit Free Press) for MSN
New York: “Judge Orders Delay in Trump Hush Money Trial Until at Least Mid-April” by Shayna Jacobs and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) for MSN
Lobbying
National: “Super PAC Backing Ted Cruz Received $215,000 From iHeartMedia – Fueling Ethics Concerns After Podcast Deal” by Molly Bohannon (Forbes) for MSN
March 20, 2024 •
Alabama Special Election Scheduled
State Rep. John Rogers resigned from his House District 52 seat on March 13 after pleading guilty to federal conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges related to a grant program. A special primary election for House District 52 will be […]
State Rep. John Rogers resigned from his House District 52 seat on March 13 after pleading guilty to federal conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges related to a grant program.
A special primary election for House District 52 will be held on June 18 and a runoff on July 16, if necessary.
The general election is set for October 1.
March 20, 2024 •
Injunction Blocking Alaska Election Disclosure Rules Denied By The Ninth Circuit
A voter-backed measure, known as Ballot Measure 2, was recently upheld when the Ninth Circuit affirmed a federal judge’s denial of a preliminary injunction blocking it. The measure requires immediate disclosure of contributions aggregating to more than $2,000 per year. […]
A voter-backed measure, known as Ballot Measure 2, was recently upheld when the Ninth Circuit affirmed a federal judge’s denial of a preliminary injunction blocking it.
The measure requires immediate disclosure of contributions aggregating to more than $2,000 per year.
The decision stems from a previous injunction that was filed back in 2022, by political donors against enforcement of the measure, claiming the initiative’s burdensome disclosure rules would lead to retaliation against them for their political activity.
Chief Judge Mary H. Murguia held the district correctly concluded the plaintiffs argument of first amendment issues was likely to fail and affirmed the lower courts decision.
March 20, 2024 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance New Mexico: “Senator Sues Secretary of State in Dispute Over Campaign Donation to Student” by Daniel Chacón (Santa Fe New Mexican) for Yahoo News Elections Michigan: “Michigan Lawyer Who Claimed Election Fraud Arrested after Dominion Hearing” by Rachel Weiner and Patrick Marley […]
Campaign Finance
New Mexico: “Senator Sues Secretary of State in Dispute Over Campaign Donation to Student” by Daniel Chacón (Santa Fe New Mexican) for Yahoo News
Elections
Michigan: “Michigan Lawyer Who Claimed Election Fraud Arrested after Dominion Hearing” by Rachel Weiner and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Trump-Backed Candidate Bernie Moreno Wins Ohio Senate Primary” by Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) for MSN
Wisconsin: “Trial Opens for Kimberly Zapata, Ex-Milwaukee Election Official Accused of Ordering Fake Military Ballots” by Alison Dirr (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Peter Navarro Begins 4-Month Jail Sentence for Contempt of Congress” by Zach Montague and David Adams (New York Times) for DNyuz
National: “US Supreme Court Justices, Judges Face New Rules for Disclosing Free Trips” by Nate Raymond (Reuters) for MSN
Kentucky: “Piagentini Keeps Council Seat Amid Ethics Controversy” by Eleanor McCrary (Louisville Courier Journal) for MSN
Maryland: “Mosby Legal-Defense Fund Donor List to Remain Secret Following Circuit Court Ruling” by Emily Opilo (Baltimore Sun) for MSN
Nebraska: “Lawmaker Inserts Colleague’s Name into Rape Scene During Book Ban Debate” by Kelsey Ables (Washington Post) for MSN
March 19, 2024 •
Honoring a Pioneer in Women’s History
March is always a great month for me! Not only is it the month of my birth, but it’s also the month that boasts the arrival of Spring and the observance of National Women’s History Month! I want to shine […]
March is always a great month for me! Not only is it the month of my birth, but it’s also the month that boasts the arrival of Spring and the observance of National Women’s History Month!
I want to shine a light on the first woman ever to be elected to the United States Congress — Jeannette Rankin! Rankin, a Montana politician and a lifelong pacifist, was elected to Congress in 1916, and went on to become an influential leader in the women’s suffrage movement. While serving in Congress, Rankin was the only member to cast a vote against participation in both world wars, and in 1968, Jeannette Rankin led a protest march in Washington, DC. The “Jeannette Rankin Peace Brigade” consisted of some “…5,000 feminists, pacifists, radicals, and students” to protest the Vietnam War. Rankin died in 1973 at the age of 72, and at the time of her death, she was considering another run for Congress (again, in protest of the Vietnam War).
I encourage you to read more about the life of Jeannette Rankin, as well as to research other powerful women who deserve to be recognized and whose stories need to be told! Wishing you a wonderful, enlightening March!
March 19, 2024 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Alaska: “Ninth Circuit Denies Injunction to Block Disclosure Rules for Alaska Elections” by Alanna Mayham for Courthouse News Service National: “Election Laws Not Ready for Deepfakes, Experts Warn: ‘It’s the Wild West right now’” by Jim Saska (Roll Call) for MSN Elections […]
Campaign Finance
Alaska: “Ninth Circuit Denies Injunction to Block Disclosure Rules for Alaska Elections” by Alanna Mayham for Courthouse News Service
National: “Election Laws Not Ready for Deepfakes, Experts Warn: ‘It’s the Wild West right now'” by Jim Saska (Roll Call) for MSN
Elections
New Jersey: “Primary Ballot in N.J. Is ‘Unconstitutional,’ State Attorney General Says” by Azi Paybarah (Washington Post) for MSN
New Mexico: “Supreme Court Rejects Appeal by Former New Mexico County Commissioner Banned for Jan. 6 Insurrection” by Morgan Lee, Nicholas Riccardi, and Mark Sherman (Associated Press) for Yahoo News
Ethics
National: “Kushner Developing Deals Overseas Even as His Father-in-Law Runs for President” by Eric Lipton, Jonathan Swain, and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) for Seattle Times
National: “Supreme Court Likely to Reject Limits on White House Social Media Contacts” by Ann Marimow and Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) for MSN
Florida: “Ethics Complaint Against Moms for Liberty Founder Is Tossed” by Josh Fiallo (Daily Beast) for MSN
New York: “Trump’s Lawyers Say It Is Impossible for Him to Post Bond Covering $454 Million Civil Fraud Judgment” by Michael Sisak for Associated Press News
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.