Campaign Finance

National: “Web of Elite Russians Met with NRA Execs During 2016 Campaign” by Peter Stone and Greg Gordon for McClatchy DC

Massachusetts: “Gov. Charlie Baker’s Campaign Paid for Emails Sent by Mass GOP” by Shira Schoenberg for MassLive.com

Ethics

National: “Judge in Emoluments Case Questions Defense of Trump’s Hotel Profits” by Sharon LaFraniere (New York Times) for WRAL

National: “Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Made at Least $82 Million in Outside Income Last Year While Serving in the White House, Filings Show” by Amy Brittain, Asley Parker, and Anu Narayanswamy (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

California: “Second Commissioner Resigns from California’s Political Watchdog Agency” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee

New Jersey: “On Key Votes, School Boards Bypass Conflicts of Interest. Is This in the Public Interest?” by Meghan Grant for Bergen Record

New York: “Sam Hoyt Sexual Harassment Decision Spurs Criticism of NY Ethics Board” by Joe Campbell for Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Lobbying

National: “Senators: Convicted Lobbyists Need to Disclose Their Record” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

National: “This Woman Is an Exceptionally Effective Capitol Hill Lobbyist. She Also Has Down Syndrome.” by Alioson Kline (Washington Post) for Fargo Forum

Campaign Finance

Alabama: “John Merrill Questions Alabama Ethics Commission’s Waivers of Fines” by Mike Cason for AL.com

Arizona: “Critics Slam Michele Reagan Over Election Funding Site ‘That Doesn’t Work’” by Dustin Gardiner for Arizona Republic

Colorado: “Judge Dismisses Campaign Complaint Against Denver Council President, Saying State Law Doesn’t Apply to City” by Jon Murray for Denver Post

Elections

National: “Court: States can purge voters who don’t vote or respond to warnings” by Richard Wolf for USA Today

Ethics

National: “Meet the Guys Who Tape Trump’s Papers Back Together” by Annie Karni for Politico

Florida: “Ousted Tallahassee City Manager Rick Fernandez Slapped with State Ethics Violations” by Jeff Burlew and Jeffrey Schweers for Tallahassee Democrat

Illinois: “Rauner Signs Ethics Overhaul Amid Harassment Allegations at the Capitol” by Monique Garcia for Chicago Tribune

Missouri: “Jean Peters Baker Declines to File Charges against Eric Greitens” by Steve Vickrodt, Bryan Lowry, and Allison Kite for Kansas City Star

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Ethics Commission Raises Fees to Stay in Operation” by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission voted Friday to increase lobbying and campaign finance fees to avoid a potential financial crisis.

Because the Legislature refused to give the agency any money from the general revenue fund, the commission could run out of money next fiscal year.

In the past, the commission was given an appropriation to use for operational expenses. It then used the money generated from fees to fund ethics investigations.

This year; however, the Legislature instructed the agency to use fees as its sole source of funding.

Commissioners claim lawmakers failed to fund the agency in retaliation for imposing strict ethics rules. The commission is expected to file suit with the Oklahoma Supreme Court to address the lack of funding.

All registration fees will increase $100 effective July 1.

Campaign Finance

Missouri: “Lawsuit Seeks to Block St. Louis County Charter Amendments from August Primary Ballot” by Jeremy Kohler for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Montana: “Governor Signs Executive Order Targeting Dark Money” by Corine Cates-Carney for Montana Public Radio

New York: “IDC-Independence Party Campaign Finance Deal Declared Illegal” by David Lombardo for Albany Times Union

Washington: “Why Google Won’t Run Political Ads in Washington State for Now” by Jim Brunner and Christine Clarridge for Seattle Times

Ethics

National: “Mueller Hits Manafort with New Obstruction of Justice Charges” by Josh Gerstein and Darren Samuelsohn for Politico

National: “Ex-Senate Aide Charged in Leak Case Where Times Reporter’s Records Were Seized” by Adam Goldman, Nicholas Fandos, and Katie Benner (New York Times) for WRAL

Arkansas: “Former Arkansas Lobbyist Pleads Guilty in Bribery Scheme” by Kelly Kissell (Associated Press) for WRAL

Illinois: “Speaker Madigan’s Chief of Staff Resigns Hours After Aide Accused Him of Repeated Sexually Inappropriate Comments” by Kim Geiger, Ray Long, and Monique Garcia for Chicago Tribune

Lobbying

National: “US Lifts Secrecy on Foreign Lobbying Opinions” by Chad Day and Eric Tucker (Associated Press) for Talking Points Memo

On June 8, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) Registration Unit released several years’ worth of advisory opinions previously unavailable to the public.

The advisory opinions, covering the period from January 1, 2010, to the present, had been previously issued to individuals and lobbyists concerning registration and other issues falling under FARA. 49 advisory opinions concerning FARA have been issued by the DOJ since January 1, 2010.

Also included with the release of the advisory opinions are three additional letters sent in response to requests for general information.

Future advisory opinions will be made publicly available and posted on the DOJ’s website periodically.

The advisory opinions can be found here.

Federal:

A Courtside View of Scott Pruitt’s Cozy Ties with a Billionaire Coal Baron
MSN – Steve Eder, Hiroko Tabuchi, and Eric Lipton (New York Times) | Published: 6/2/2018

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt enjoyed special access for a University of Kentucky basketball game last December, scoring two of the best seats in the arena in a section reserved for season-ticket holders who had donated at least $1 million to the university. Pruitt and his son sat in seats belonging to Joseph Craft III, a billionaire coal executive who has engaged in an aggressive campaign to reverse the Obama administration’s environmental crackdown on the coal industry. Pruitt’s attendance at the game followed a year of regulatory victories for Craft, who maintains close ties to Pruitt even as he has lobbied the EPA on issues important to his company, Alliance Resource Partners.

Trade Groups in Turmoil in the Trump Era
Roll Call – Kate Ackley | Published: 6/7/2018

Trade associations, traditionally the backbone of K Street’s lobbying corridor, find themselves in the throes of disruption. These multimillion-dollar organizations are clamoring for ways to boost membership, and sometimes even keep their doors open, as they work to stay relevant amid the political and policy uncertainty of Washington during the era of President Trump. A number of high-profile, highly paid association chiefs have left or are on their way out, while some groups have lost significant members or are folding into other organizations, a sign that associations feel the dual storm of political turmoil and increasing pressure from their membership.

Trump Lawyer Payments Fuel AT&T Shareholders’ Push to Know More About Political Spending
Dallas Morning News – Melissa Repko | Published: 6/6/2018

Long before AT&T found itself under fire for hiring President Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen, some of the company’s shareholders sent up a warning: secrecy surrounding how it spends money in Washington, D.C. could put its reputation at risk. For five years, a group of shareholders has pushed AT&T to disclose how much it funds industry groups and tax-exempt organizations that engage in political activities. Companies are facing pressure from shareholders to reveal how they spend money to influence legislation on Capitol Hill. But those concerns took on new relevancy at AT&T when it became public that the company paid $600,000 to Cohen to advise on various matters.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama: An Alabama Sheriff Kept $750,000 Meant to Buy Food for Inmates. Voters Just Replaced Him.
Seattle Times – Eli Rosenberg (Washington Post) | Published: 6/6/2018

Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin, criticized for making money from the county jail’s food program, was defeated in a primary election. Alabama gives sheriffs money to feed each prisoner, and sheriffs got to pocket anything that is left over. It was reported that Entrekin pocketed more than $750,000 over the past three years from a source he identified as “food provisions,” according to ethics disclosures. It was also reported that Entrekin and his wife purchased a home for $740,000 in September.

California: Facebook Tried to Rein in Fake Ads. It Fell Short in a California Race.
MSN – Sheera Frenkel (New York Times) | Published: 6/3/2018

Facebook has faced difficulties as the company aims to prevent manipulation of its ad system in elections, especially as the midterms loom this November. While Facebook has introduced several measures to improve the transparency of political ads on its platform, some groups and individuals appear to be finding ways to flout the new restrictions, and company has not been able to catch them. That raises questions about whether there are other gaps.

Florida: Behind Florida’s Payments to Victims, Links to Lobbyists
Gainesville Sun – Gary Fineout (Associated Press) | Published: 6/4/2018

Of the $37.5 million in claims bills – payments to victims and families harmed by government actions – approved over the past two years, $16.9 million was awarded to victims represented by a lobbyist who is the brother of Florida’s outgoing House speaker, Richard Corcoran. Lobbying records show Michael Corcoran’ firm collected at least $89,000 in fees last year for its work on claims bills and is in line to receive tens of thousands more this year. During the 2013 and 2014 sessions, legislators did not approve a single claims bill, in part due to opposition by then-Senate President Don Gaetz, who said it seemed bills were passing based not on their substance, but the effectiveness of the lobbyists behind them.

Louisiana: Louisiana Lawmakers Are Pushing Bills That Benefit Their Own Businesses. And It’s Perfectly Legal.
ProPublica – Rebekah Allen (New Orleans Advocate) | Published: 6/6/2018

Louisiana’s ethics laws allow legislators to write, advocate for, and cast votes on bills that would enrich themselves, their relatives, and their clients, as long as others in the same affected industry would benefit similarly. Regardless of the law, watchdogs say, such advocacy is troubling. If a lawmaker steps over the line while pushing a bill to benefit himself or herself, complaints can only be brought forward by other members of the Legislature, not the public at large. “Would you want someone on a jury who will gain financially depending on the outcome of a particular decision? It just shows the craziness of our system,” said Pearson Cross, a political science professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Missouri: In About-Face, New Missouri Gov. Parson Says He Won’t Accept Lobbyist Gifts
Kansas City Star – Jason Hancock | Published: 6/6/2018

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson will abide by an executive order signed by his predecessor last year that prohibits him from accepting any gifts from lobbyists. The ban extends to his taxpayer-funded staff as well. The announcement is an about-face for Parson, who was the only statewide elected official to take any lobbyist gifts in 2017. During his six years in the state Senate, Parson and his staff accepted more than $30,000 worth of lobbyist gifts. The order also prohibits staff members from lobbying the administration upon termination of their employment.

Oregon: Former Oregon First Lady Cylvia Hayes to File for Bankruptcy, Attorney Says
Portland Oregonian – Jeff Manning and Hillary Borrud | Published: 6/6/2018

Cylvia Hayes, Oregon’s former first lady, will file for bankruptcy, in part to get out from under about $125,000 in debts and penalties she accrued in her legal battle to keep her emails secret. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission found Hayes misused her position as first lady and a policy adviser to secure consulting contracts worth more than $200,000. Her lawyers and the commission are now trying to reach a settlement on the fines, which could run as much as $110,000.

South Carolina: Longtime Richland Sen. Courson Resigns, Enters Guilty Plea in Corruption Probe
The State – John Monk | Published: 6/4/2018

South Carolina Sen. John Courson pleaded guilty to a corruption charge and resigned his seat. He also agreed to cooperate in the investigation of corruption at the statehouse that has resulted in guilty pleas and resignations from three other lawmakers. Courson’s plea came as his trial was about to begin on charges of misconduct in office and converting campaign money for his personal use. He said he sent campaign contributions to his political consultant, Richard Quinn & Associates, who would give him a portion back to cover years of unpaid personal campaign reimbursements. State law does not allow candidates to do that. Courson also failed to itemize the reimbursements on his disclosure reports.

South Carolina
S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson Hasn’t Severed Ties to Controversial Quinn Family
Greenville News – Kirk Brown (Anderson Independent Mail) | Published: 6/4/2018

Despite years of negative publicity and withering criticism from political rivals, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has not cut his financial ties to the controversial Quinn family. As part of his bid for a third term, records show Wilson has made $117,000 in campaign expenditures since 2015 to Richard Quinn & Associates, Richard Quinn’s daughter, Rebecca Mustian, and her company, Spring Strategies. Those payments came while Richard Quinn, his firm, and his son, former state Rep. Rick Quinn, were at the center of a statehouse corruption probe. Mustian was not implicated in the investigation.

Washington: Facebook and Google Get Sued by Washington State Over Political Ads
Governing – Jim Brunner (Tribune News Service) | Published: 6/4/2018

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed campaign finance lawsuits against Google and Facebook, alleging the companies “failed to maintain legally required information on Washington state political advertising” placed online since 2013. Ferguson said companies that accept political advertising are required to keep tabs on who buys the advertising, and make that information available to the public. Collected information includes the name of the candidate or measure, dates the ads ran, who sponsored it, and the total cost spent. Once focused largely on television, campaigns have increasingly turned to online advertising in recent elections.

My employer makes corporate contributions in California.  We have not yet exceeded $10,000 in calendar year 2018.  The primary election and special elections are taking place, along with the general election in the fall.  If we decide to make contributions, when do we have a late contribution report due?

The California “Late Contribution Report” [Form 497], sometimes referred to as the “24-hour report” is due during the 90-day period preceding any election if all of the following criteria are met:

• The contribution is $1,000 or more, or multiple contributions aggregating $1,000 or more, to a single candidate, ballot measure committee, or political party.  This includes non-monetary and in-kind contributions…Read the full article

For more information, be sure to check out the “Registration and Reports Required” section of the U.S. Political Contributions Compliance Laws online publication for California. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Click here to read ALL Ask the Experts articles in full

The filing deadline to run for the Kansas Senate seat in District 13 passed setting up unopposed elections for both the Democratic and Republican primaries on August 7.

Incumbent state Sen. Richard Hilderbrand will run against the primary winners in the special election set for November 6.

Hilderbrand was appointed last year when former Sen. Jacob LaTurner accepted the position of state treasurer.

The winner of the special election will complete the remaining two years of LaTurner’s term.

On June 6th, State and Federal Communications’ Team Intern had a chance to visit the newest addition to the Goodyear blimp fleet. Upon arrival interns were split into two groups: one group would listen to the public relations speech first and the other would get a tour of the blimp hangar and photo gallery first, then they would switch.

During the public relations presentation, the speaker explained the blimp’s long history and how its purpose is split into three unique categories. The blimp is used to engage, spotlight, and reward.

The Goodyear Blimp is very recognizable, making it easy for it to engage with anyone who sees it in the sky.

It is also used to spotlight certain charities, events, or anniversaries. For example, the Goodyear Blimp was flown to a small tire store to mark its 45th anniversary of selling Goodyear tires.

Finally, the blimp has been involved in many rewarding opportunities, Goodyear once teamed up with NASCAR to give one veteran a huge surprise. They had informed the veteran he was getting a once in a lifetime ride in the Goodyear blimp but did not mention his favorite race car driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., would be dressed like a pilot inside waiting to surprise him.

The tour of the Goodyear Blimp hangar was next. Walking into the hangar was truly an experience, the sheer size of the blimp was beyond impressive. The new blimp was in the process of being built, so it was hanging from the ceiling as the crew continued to build and add the final components. It is the third blimp of Goodyear’s newest fleet. One of the blimp’s pilots said it will take two days to fill the blimp with enough helium to float and extra couple days to purify it. After it is built and filled, it will finally be ready for its first flight.

This experience was not only interesting but also benefited the interns. It allowed us to get out into the community and meet other professionals as well as gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the local culture.

Gov. Steve Bullock announced he will sign an executive order to further Montana’s goal of shedding light on dark money spending in elections.

The executive order applies to new contracts for goods over $50,000 and new services contracts over $25,000 and requires government contractors who have spent more than $2,500 in the past two years in elections to disclose their donations.

The executive order aims to shed light on contributions not otherwise required to be disclosed.

Gov. Bullock will sign the executive order into law on June 8, 2018.

On May 24, the New Hampshire Legislature adjourned its final full day in session.

The Legislature introduced a bill creating a full-time investigator position within the Department of Justice to enforce filing and disclosure requirements for election and lobbying laws, but it did not pass.

Recessed until the next call of the chair by the House and Senate, the legislative body may meet again for a veto session in the fall.

When lawmakers meet to organize in December for the 2019 legislative session, the 2018 session will be adjourned sine die.

Campaign Finance

National: “‘The Movement Now Transcends the Kochs.’ What David Koch’s Departure Means for the Political Network He Helped Build.” by James Hohmann and Amy Gardner for Washington Post

Alabama: “Ethics Commission Says Campaign Funds Can Pay Child Care” by Mike Cason for AL.com

Elections

California: “Democrats Poised to Claim Ballot Slots in Nearly All House Districts in California” by David Weigel, Mike DeBonis, David Fahrenthold, and Elise Viebeck for Washington Post

Ethics

National: “Scott Pruitt Enlisted an EPA Aide to Help His Wife Find a Job – with Chick-fil-A” by Juliet Eilperin, Brady Dennis, and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for MSN

Colorado: “Former Secretary of State Scott Gessler Loses Ethics Fight in Colorado Supreme Court” by Marianne Goodland (ColoradoPolitics.com) for Colorado Springs Gazette

Florida: “Sources: Ethics Commission prosecutor recommends charges against Fernandez” by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat

Louisiana: “Louisiana Lawmakers Are Pushing Bills That Benefit Their Own Businesses. And It’s Perfectly Legal.” by Rebekah Allen (New Orleans Advocate) for ProPublica

Lobbying

United Kingdom: “Most Charities Say Lobbying Act Has Made Their Work Harder, Says Report” by Liam Kay for Third Sector

Missouri: “In About-Face, New Missouri Gov. Parson Says He Won’t Accept Lobbyist Gifts” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed lawsuits against Facebook and Google for failing to comply with political advertising laws.

Under Washington law, commercial advertisers who provide political advertising during an election campaign must maintain documents and books of account that is open for public inspection.

The attorney general contends Facebook and Google have not released political advertising information sponsored through their online platforms when requested by members of the public.

If found guilty, the companies could face a penalty of $10,000 per violation for failing to maintain required information on political advertising sponsored in Washington state elections from 2013 through 2018.

State Sen. John Courson resigned from the South Carolina Legislature on Monday, June 4, after pleading guilty to willful misconduct and agreeing to cooperate with ongoing ethics investigations.

Courson, a former Senate president pro tempore who served 33 years in the state Legislature, was indicted last year on multiple corruption charges stemming from his conversion of campaign money for personal use.

A special election will be called to fill the District 20 seat.