The Fort Wayne City Council passed another bill related to pay-to-play practices.

Similar to last year’s pay-to-play ordinance, the City Council overrode Mayor Tom Henry’s veto in a 7-2 vote.

The newly passed measure, prohibits business entities, with any officer, partner, or principal with more than 10 percent ownership who have donated more than $2,000 to a campaign of someone with ultimate responsibility for awarding city contracts, from bidding on city contracts.

State Sen. David Curtis resigned Saturday, the day after the General Assembly completed its chief annual work session.

Curtis lost his seat in the May primary to Ted Alexander in the Republican primary election.

Republican leaders in Lincoln, Gaston, and Iredell counties will have to select someone to fill the remainder of Curtis’s two-year term.

The North Carolina Legislature adjourned on June 29, 2018.

The Republican-controlled General Assembly spent most of the session passing budget adjustments and overrode eight of Gov. Roy Cooper’s 10 vetoes.

Senate Bill 655 was passed and signed by Gov. Cooper last week. The bill changes the date primary elections are held from May to March and is effective January 1, 2019.

The Legislature is sending a voter photo identification mandate to be decided by voters in November.

Lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene on November 27, 2018.

Ballots are being sent to Montana lawmakers to see if they would like to hold a special session this month to address concerns over ballot initiatives addressing mine regulations and tobacco taxes to extend the state’s Medicaid expansion program.

Some lawmakers have expressed concerns about the measures and would like to offer competing initiatives to give voters alternative policy choices.

The ballots are due July 15, and if the majority of lawmakers vote in favor, the special session would begin the following day.

Gov. Greg Abbott set the special election for House District 52 for November 6, 2018, the same day as the general election.

The seat was vacated by Larry Gonzales, who decided to retire early after previously announcing he would not seek another term.

House District 52 contains parts of Williamson County.

An unanticipated, overnight fight over a minimum wage hike prolonged the adjournment of Delaware’s Legislature until after 8 a.m. Sunday.

The $816.3 million bond bill passed along mostly party lines after a compromise had been reached that will allow workers under age 18 to be paid up to 50 cents below the minimum wage.

Other notable bills that passed include a $16.8 million tax decrease for casinos and $500 bonuses for current state employees and pensioners.

The next two-year session will convene in January.

The Vermont special session adjourned sine die on June 29.

Gov. Phil Scott called the special session after vowing to veto the budget bill passed last month to prevent tax rate increases.

On Monday, Scott announced his intention to let the third version of the budget bill become law without his signature to prevent a government shutdown on July 1.

Campaign Finance

National: Supreme Court Defeat for Unions Upends a Liberal Money Base  by Noam Scheiber (New York Times) for Seattle Times

Arizona: Clean Elections Commission to Sue, Says Arizona Lawmakers Are Misleading Voters by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star

Indiana: New Pay-to-Play Ban Approved by Rosa Salter Rodriguez for Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

Ethics

National: Emails Reveal Close Rapport Between Top EPA Officials, Those They Regulate by Juliet Eilperin (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

Arkansas: Arkansas Senators in New Panel on Ethics Get to Work by Michael Wickline for Arkansas Online

Missouri: Engineer Profits from City Projects and Sits on Panel to Vet Them. Is That a Problem? by Bill Turque for Kansas City Star

Ohio: Firm Hired to Investigate Lawmaker Also Donated to Him by Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) for Seattle Times

Lobbying

Virginia: Lobbying Firm to Va. Lawmakers: If you refuse Apco money, you won’t get any from us by Patrick Wilson for Richmond Times Dispatch

National:

Voting Machine Vendor Treated Election Officials to Trips to Vegas, Elsewhere
McClatchy DC – Greg Gordon, Amy Renee Leiker (Wichita Eagle), Jamie Self (The State), and Stanley Dunlap (Macon Telegraph) | Published: 6/21/2018

Election Systems and Software (ES&S), the nation’s largest voting equipment vendor, has sought to cement relationships with government officials, some of whom play roles in the award of millions of dollars in contracts. Ethics experts and election watchdogs say the company’s hospitality and hobnobbing with government officials is potentially corrupting. ES&S has for years invited state and local elections officials to serve on an “advisory board” that gathers twice annually for company-sponsored conferences. “It’s highly inappropriate for any election official to be accepting anything of value from a primary contractor …,” said Virginia Canter, chief ethics counsel for the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

Federal:

New Emails Suggest Scott Pruitt Discussed Hiring a Friend of Lobbyist Landlord
MSN – Lisa Friedman and Hiroko Tabuchi (New York Times) | Published: 6/24/2018

The lobbyist whose wife rented Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt a room in a Capitol Hill condominium at a discounted rate lobbied Pruitt’s chief of staff to hire a family friend. The exchange is among several previously undisclosed interactions that show how J. Steven Hart, who served as chairperson of the law firm Williams & Jensen until earlier this year, sought to exert influence over decisions at the agency even as his spouse was renting Pruitt a $50-a-night room in an upscale condo blocks from the Capitol. Emails also appear to undermine initial arguments that Hart had not lobbied the EPA during Pruitt’s tenure.

The Latest Sign of Political Divide: Shaming and shunning public officials
MSN – Mary Jordan (Washington Post) | Published: 6/24/2018

Few laws expressly prohibit a business from refusing service to a customer because of political views. Civil rights lawyers said while there have been many cases in recent history involving establishments barring black people, women, or members of the LGBT community, shunning people for their political ideology or affiliation has been relatively uncommon – until now. And in a time of intense political division, social media is magnifying the confrontations. Many who disagree with the policies and tone of President Trump and his administration think silence is complicity. But others, even those who vehemently oppose the administration’s politics, do not agree with such aggressive pushback.

Who Should File as a Foreign Agent Is a Tough One to Figure Out
Bloomberg Government – Ken Doyle | Published: 6/26/2018

Until recently, advisory letters from the U.S. Department of Justice on the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) were kept confidential. Now that more than 50 of them have been made public, the trove of documents shows how complicated it is to hew to the law. Is there an easy explanation of who’s a foreign agent? “The short answer is no,” said attorney Jason Abel, who specializes in lobbying and ethics law at the firm Steptoe & Johnson. Legislation in the House would end an exemption from FARA for those who register as lobbyists with the House Clerk’s Office and Secretary of the Senate. It also would give the Justice Department new subpoena power to investigate possible FARA violations.

From the States and Municipalities:

California: California Lawmakers Approve Revamp of Sex Misconduct Policy
Sacramento Bee – Kathleen Ronayne (Associated Press) | Published: 6/25/2018

A committee of California lawmakers approved a new policy for how the Senate and Assembly will investigate sexual harassment complaints. Under the new rules, an investigative unit would look at all complaints, collect evidence, and interview witnesses. A panel of outside experts would determine whether allegations are substantiated and make recommendations on potential consequences. Aspects of the policy may require formal approval from the full Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown, which could take a vote on the matter by August, said Legislative Counsel Diane Boyer-Vine.

Colorado: Ethics Board Asks Councilman to Pull Bill That Could Allow Expensive Gifts Within City
Colorado Public Radio – Ben Markus | Published: 6/22/2018

In a letter to City Councilperson Kevin Flynn, the Denver Board of Ethics requested he withdraw an amendment designed to revise the city’s ethics code, calling it the “wrong solution.” Flynn’s amendment redefines parameters of Denver’s gift policy. It would allow exchanges of things like expensive flight tickets, jackets, and other items between city agencies and elected officials. A media investigation found Denver International Airport has provided more than $420,000 expensive international business class tickets and hotel rooms to the mayor’s office and city council for a variety of purposes, including fact finding trips before key airport contract votes. Outside ethics experts have called the practice into question.

Florida: Ethics Board Member: Report shows top-down ethical ignorance at City Hall
Tallahassee Democrat – Jeffrey Schweers | Published: 6/23/2018

The investigative report and audiotaped interviews produced as part of the state investigation of former Tallahassee City Manager Rick Fernandez point to a top-down culture of easy ethics at City Hall, said key members of the city’s ethics board. The Florida Commission on Ethics unanimously found probable cause that Fernandez misused his position to accept gifts. Bill Hollimon of Tallahassee’s Independent Ethics Board, said the records show an environment in which it was a common practice to attend Florida State football games in the luxury skybox of a local lobbyist, rub elbows with celebrity chefs, and chat with developers about their projects and what they need from the city.

Kentucky: Kentucky Reviewing State Contract after Bribery Trial
Bowling Green Daily News – Adam Beam (Associated Press) | Published: 6/25/2018

An Illinois-based company’s million-dollar contract with Kentucky could be in trouble after one of its executives testified it paid a state lobbyist on a “success basis” during a recent federal bribery trial. Kentucky pays Cannon Cochran Management Services, Inc. (CCMSI) about $1 million a year to manage the state’s workers compensation claims. The company won the contract in 2005 and has kept it ever since. State officials recently renewed the contract for another two years. But that was before Jerry Armatis, CCMSI’s executive vice president for sales, testified during James Sullivan’s federal bribery trial. Armatis said how much money they paid Sullivan’s consulting firm depended on whether the company won a state contract.

Maine: Maine Ethics Panel Sharply Cuts Payments to Publicly Financed Candidates
Bangor Daily News – Michael Shepherd | Published: 6/27/2018

The Maine ethics commission moved to cut what could be final payments to taxpayer-funded political campaigns by nearly three-quarters if Gov. Paul LePage and Republican allies in the Legislature have their way in an ongoing dispute. The Clean Election program is in danger of being reduced to near ineffectiveness for the November election. LePage has refused to sign routine financial orders allowing the commission to increase the amount of already appropriated money that it can spend before June 30. House Republicans also have held up a bill fixing a legislative drafting error that would keep the fund from spending money as of July 1.

Minnesota: Meet the Donors Who Give to Both DFL and GOP Candidates in Minnesota
Minnesota Post – Peter Callaghan and Greta Kaul | Published: 6/26/2018

According to the most current campaign finance reports by four leading candidates for governor, five lobbying firms and/or their registered lobbyists show up on the donor lists of at least one Democratic Farmer Labor Party candidate and one Republican candidate. In addition to lobbyists and lobbying firms, at least 14 donors have given money to the campaigns of candidates from both political parties. Many of those donors, based on the information listed on disclosure reports, are associated with developers and contractors. Some lobbyists, as well as those in businesses that can be highly dependent on government regulation, need relationships with elected officials regardless of their parties. As a result, they are more likely to spread contributions across party lines than donors who are motivated by ideology.

New York: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: The Democrat who challenged her party’s establishment – and won
Washington Post – David Weigel | Published: 6/27/2018

U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley, once seen as a possible successor to Nancy Pelosi as Democratic leader of the House, suffered a shocking primary defeat on June 26. Crowley was defeated by a political newcomer, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a former organizer for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign, who had declared it was time for generational, racial, and ideological change. Ocasio-Cortez’s politics are substantially to the left of most of the party, and even Sanders. In her campaign videos and posters, she came out for universal Medicare, a federal jobs guarantee, free college tuition, and the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Ohio: Mike DeWine, Richard Cordray Donors Got Big Contracts from Ohio Attorney General’s Office
Cincinnati Enquier – James McNair (Ohio Center for Investigative Journalism) | Published: 6/26/2018

Ohio voters this year will choose between two candidates for governor: Attorney General Mike DeWine and his predecessor as attorney general, Richard Cordray. A review of records for the past 10 years found a strong correlation between the amount of campaign donations and the revenue received by law firms doing collection work for the attorney general’s office. Firms in the top quarter of contributors during DeWine’s tenure averaged 425 percent more revenue than those in the bottom quarter. During Cordray’s term, the top quarter of donors earned 156 percent more, on average, than the bottom quarter of contributors. Ohio does not screen and select collections contractors based on a formal scoring system. There is no competitive bidding process.

Texas: City Council Expands Campaign Disclosure Rules, Keeps Contribution Limits
Rivard Report – Iris Dimmick | Published: 6/21/2018

The San Antonio City Council approved a bill that will require anyone contributing $100 or more to a council member or mayoral campaign to disclose where they work and their title. Other measures require more frequent campaign finance reports and more contribution restrictions. The council rejected an ordinance that would have increased the donation limit for individuals.

Texas: Supreme Court Upholds Texas Voting Maps That Were Called Discriminatory
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Adam Liptak (New York Times) | Published: 6/25/2018

The U.S. Supreme Court handed a victory to Texas Republicans by reviving electoral districts drawn by the state Legislature that had been thrown out by a lower court for diluting the influence of black and Hispanic voters. The court’s conservative majority ruled the challengers had not done enough to show the Republican-led state Legislature acted with discriminatory intent when it adopted new electoral maps in 2013 for state legislative and congressional seats. The court did rule, however, that one of the state Legislature districts was unlawful.

West Virginia: House Votes to Consider Impeachment of Loughry, Possibly Other Supreme Court Justices
West Virginia Record – Chris Dickerson | Published: 6/26/2018

The West Virginia House of Delegates voted to begin an impeachment investigation into members of the state Supreme Court. The investigation will target Supreme Court Justice Allen Loughry, who was indicted on federal corruption charges, but may also involve other justices. House Resolution 201 empowers the Judiciary Committee to investigate the court and draw up proposed articles of impeachment if committee members decide that path is warranted. But how long the investigation may take is up in the air.

The Maine Ethics Commission will be rolling out a new campaign finance reporting system for candidates, party committees, political action committees, and ballot question committees.

The lobbyist reporting system will remain the same. However, for those individuals who use the same login credentials to access both the campaign finance system and lobbyist system, the login will remain the same, but the reporting systems will be separate.

As a result of the upgrade, both the lobbyist reporting system and campaign finance system will be inaccessible starting at 6:00 p.m. June 28 until the morning of July 2.

This month, the San Antonio City Council approved substantial changes to the campaign finance and ethics codes.

The new ordinance requires additional campaign finance reports and disclosure of the name and title of anyone contributing $100 or more to a council member or mayoral campaign.

In the same council meeting, an ordinance increasing campaign contribution limits by 50% did not pass as a result of a tied vote.

The new disclosure and reporting rules will go into effect starting on July 1, the beginning of the next campaign cycle.

The passed changes are not yet available online but are anticipated by the City Clerk to be available this week.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission filed suit in the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday, asking the court to require the Legislature and Gov. Mary Fallin to increase the agency’s funding.

Lawmakers refused to provide the commission with any money from the state’s general revenue fund, leaving it with insufficient funding to complete its constitutional duties.

Earlier this month, the commission increased registration fees for lobbyists and political committees in an effort to increase revenue. Despite doing so, the fiscal year appropriation remains insufficient by more than $2 million.

Campaign Finance

National: “Kicking and Screaming Toward Senate 2.0” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Maine: “Maine Ethics Panel Sharply Cuts Payments to Publicly Financed Candidates” by Michael Shepherd for Bangor Daily News

Maine: “Major Political Donors Must Disclose Sources Under New Maine Law” by The Associated Press for Maine Public Radio

Minnesota: “Meet the Donors Who Give to Both DFL and GOP Candidates in Minnesota” by Peter Callaghan and Greta Kaul for Minnesota Post

Ohio: “Mike DeWine, Richard Cordray Donors Got Big Contracts from Ohio Attorney General’s Office” by James McNair (Ohio Center for Investigative Journalism) for Cincinnati Enquier

Ohio: “Appeals Court Says Ohio’s Rules on Judicial Campaigns Are Constitutional” by Eric Heisig for Cleveland Plain Dealer

Elections

National: “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: The Democrat who challenged her party’s establishment – and won” by David Weigel for Washington Post

Ethics

New Hampshire: “Hassan Intern Caught on Video Swearing at Trump Won’t Be Fired” by Paul Feely and David Solomon for Manchester Union Leader

Missouri: “Klahr Leaving Ethics for Veterans Commission” by Bob Watson for News Tribune

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Watchdog Agency Accuses Legislators of Starving It” by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman

Lobbying

National: “Who Should File as a Foreign Agent Is a Tough One to Figure Out” by Ken Doyle for Bloomberg Government

Redistricting

Virginia: “Court Rules Virginia Legislative Districts Unconstitutional” by Denise Lavoie and Alan Suderman (Associated Press) for Seattle Times

Missouri Ethics Commission Director James Klahr is leaving his post to become deputy director of the Veterans Commission.

After four years as executive director, Klahr’s last day at the Ethics Commission is July 5.

State law allows the director to serve only one six-year term; his term was set to expire September 2019.