Lobbying

“Lobbyists Have Raised $7 Million for Hillary Clinton. For Trump? Zero” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post

South Carolina: “Departing S.C. House Ethics Committee Chairman Accepts Government Affairs Consulting Job” by Maya Prabhu for Charleston Post and Courier

Campaign Finance

“States Can Bring Political ‘Dark Money’ into the Light” by Ann Ravel for Los Angeles Times

Illinois: “Who Is Funding Group Challenging Redistricting?” by Sophia Tareen (Associated Press) for WTOP

Missouri: “Who Made the Biggest Political Donation in Missouri History? Ask After the Election” by Kevin McDermott for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Ethics

“Accused of Sexual Harassment, Roger Ailes Is Negotiating Exit from Fox” by John Koblin and Jim Rutenberg for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “Kathleen Kane’s Staff Gives Job Interview to Son of Key Prosecution Witness Against Her” by Steve Esack for Allentown Morning Call

Elections

“‘Just Look Around’: A Hispanic delegate doesn’t see the party she’s rooting for” by Robert Samuels for Washington Post

“How Donald Trump Picked His Running Mate” by Robert Draper for New York Times

Ohio: “In Cleveland’s Public Square, Rights Are Exercised. Loudly.” by Dan Barry for New York Times

I was honored to be asked to speak at the Republican National Convention (RNC) as part of a panel on the Republican Leadership Initiative (RLI), which is the party’s 2016 program for grassroots campaigning and volunteer recruitment. I was asked to be on the panel because I am an RLI Fellow and also because of my past political activities, including interning for Senator Voinovich in Washington D.C., volunteering at the 2008 RNC, interning on Rob Portman’s 2010 Senate campaign, working as a field director for Romney for President in Florida, and working for multiple small, political businesses. Since the convention did not convene until the evening, there were breakout sessions and events scheduled during the day for delegates and guests to attend.

This official RNC event was held July 19 and took place at the brand new Hilton on Lakeside Drive. The program started with an in-depth look at the RLI. So far the program has over 20,000 applicants and is still accepting more participants. Then there was a question and answer period, and because of my previous experience, I was able to discuss how the RLI has improved Republican campaigning. In previous election cycles, staffers and volunteers were focused on two activities: phone calls and door-to-door.

This year, the RLI is teaching leadership skills, the latest campaign technology, the importance of voter registration, and how to build a volunteer network. By preparing staffers and volunteers, it creates a larger support system and it’s easier to become involved. Unfortunately, I cannot be as involved this election as I have in previous years, but the RLI allows me to stay invested and contribute as much as I can.

I’m thankful State and Federal Communications provided me with the ability to take the day for this wonderful experience. Overall, it was a great event, and it’s a day I will always remember.

On July 19, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted unanimously to bar people from filing ethics complaints 90 days before a general election. The commission still reserved the right to lodge its own internal complaints during the 90-day period.

With this rule, the commission believes it will prevent frivolous complaints, designed to influence elections, from being filed.

In 2016, the moratorium will begin August 10 and last until November 8, the date of this year’s general election.

State and Federal Communications is proud to sponsor WKSU’s coverage of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions!

Lobbying

“UFC’s Payday Comes at the End of an Odyssey through Statehouses” by Richard Sandomir and Ken Belson (New York Times News Service) for Las Vegas Sun

New York: “De Blasio’s Nonprofits: Were they worth it?” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Campaign Finance

“In Choosing Mike Pence, Donald Trump Moves Closer to Big Donors” by Nicholas Confessore for New York Times

Colorado: “Denver Campaign Finance Reform Proposal Pulled from Ballot” by Claire Cleveland for Denver Post

Kentucky: “Corporations Can Now Make Political Donations in Kentucky” by Ryland Barton for WFPL

Ethics

Rhode Island: “Ethics Commission Adopts Moratorium on Complaints for 90 Days before General Election” by Ian Donnis for Rhode Island Public Radio

Elections

“How Melania Trump’s Speech Veered Off Course and Caused an Uproar” by Maggie Haberman and Michael Barbaro for New York Times

“Inside the GOP’s Shadow Convention” by Shane Goldmacher for Politico Magazine

Kansas: “ACLU Sues Kansas Over Voting Rule for State, Local Races” by Roxana Hegeman (Associated Press) for Philadelphia Inquirer

Virginia: “Virginia High Court Considers Whether McAuliffe Erred in Restoring Felons’ Voting Rights” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post

The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Kansas secretary of state, Kris Kobach, over a temporary regulation tossing votes from individuals who registered at a state motor vehicle office.

The ACLU claims the regulation violates both Kansas law and the state constitution. The rule allows those who did not show proof of citizenship to cast ballots in federal, but not state, elections.

Federal law allows people to register to vote at local motor vehicle offices. The rule was approved by the State Rules and Regulations Board after providing less than a day’s notice for the meeting. Members of the secretary of state’s office stated they believe they were following state law requiring new voters to show proof of citizenship.

On July 18, the Alaska Legislature adjourned its fifth special session.

The Legislature failed to pass any deficit reduction measures the special session was called to address.

Following the unsuccessful eight day session, it is expected that further work towards budget reforms will wait until after the November election.

Photo of the Alaska State Capitol by Jay Galvin on Wikimedia Commons.

Lobbying

“Reluctant Lobbyists Descend on Cleveland” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Campaign Finance

“Clinton Pledges Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Ruling” by Benjamin Oreskes for Politico

“Mike Pence Used Campaign Funds to Pay His Mortgage – and it Cost Him an Election” by Rosalind Helderman, Tom Hamburger, and Alice Crites for Washington Post

“Why We Don’t Know Who’s Funding the Republican Convention” by Haley Sweetland Edwards and Chris Wilson for Time

New Jersey:”Watchdogs Cheer Disclosure of $1M Donor to Super PAC Linked to Fulop” by Terrence McDonald (Jersey Journal) for NJ.com

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Schools May Suspend Popular Fundraiser over Political Promo” by D.E. Smoot (Muskogee Phoenix) for Times Record

Ethics

Tennessee: “The Culture That Allowed Durham to Thrive” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Utah: “Prosecutors Seek to Drop All Charges Against Ex-A.G. Shurtleff; Swallow Prosecution Proceeding” by Jennifer Dobner for Salt Lake Tribune

Elections

“Donald Trump’s Ghostwriter Tells All” by Jane Mayer for New Yorker

Legislative Issues

“Paul Ryan Blasted for Picture of Congressional Interns with Few Minorities” by Christopher Brennan for New York Daily News

Gov. Mark Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, and House Speaker Kurt Daudt have tentatively agreed to call a special legislative session during the third week of August.

The governor and lawmakers have met several times since the Legislature adjourned in late May to work through details of approving a tax bill and bonding bill.

While the three men were able to reach an agreement regarding the tax bill during a meeting last week, negotiations on the bonding bill must continue before the governor will announce a definitive date for the special session.

Photo of the Minnesota State Capitol by Jonathunder on Wikimedia Commons.

On July 16, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton announced she will “propose a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United” in her first 30 days in office if elected president.

The announcement, in a video created by Clinton, was played at Netroots Nation, a politically progressive conference held this past weekend in St. Louis, Missouri. In the video, Clinton says she will “appoint Supreme Court justices who understand that this decision was a disaster.”

Clinton has previously championed the establishment of a small-donor matching system for presidential and congressional elections.

Gov. Mike Pence is Donald Trump’s choice for vice president.

Trump announced his running mate on July 15, 2016, via Twitter. Pence submitted his withdrawal for re-election after one term as the governor on July 15, 2016.

The state GOP will meet on July 26 to vote on the party’s replacement gubernatorial candidate.

Lobbying

New York: “Jackson Lewis Lands 39-Member Wilson Elser Lobbying Group” by Christine Simmons for New York Law Journal

Campaign Finance

California: “Commerce Councilwoman Faces State’s Largest-Ever Penalty Against a Local Elected Official” by Adam Elmahrek for Los Angeles Times

District of Columbia: “Vincent Gray 2010 Campaign Chauffeur Sentenced to a Year’s Probation” by Keith Alexander for Washington Post

Indiana: “No Criminal Charges for Monarch Beverage in Campaign Contributions Investigation” by Jill Disis and Tony Cook for Indianapolis Star

Ethics

“U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield Broke House Rules, Committee Finds” by R.G. Dunlop for Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting

Florida: “Carrie Meek’s Daughter Involved in $5 Million Land Deal Through Mom’s Foundation” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald

New Jersey: “David Samson, Ally of Christie, Admits to Bribery Over Airline Route” by Patrick McGeehan for New York Times

Oregon: “Court Tosses Out Subpoena in Kitzhaber Investigation” by Andrew Selsky (Associated Press) for Everett Herald

Elections

“Donald Trump Officially Picks Mike Pence as His Running Mate” by Philip Rucker and Robert Costa for Washington Post

Elysabethe Anderson is an art history and visual communications & design major at Kent State University, with an expected graduation date of May 2017. Her hobbies include cycling, gardening, cooking, reading, and adventure.

Elysabethe was an exchange student in the Czech Republic for a year while in high school. One of the most memorable moments on that trip was when she took the train into Prague to visit the Natural History Museum in Saint Wenceslas Square.

After her graduation from Kent State University, Elysabethe plans on taking a year off from higher education before returning to pursue a master’s in printmaking at the Chicago Institute of Art. She would then like to move to Telluride, Colorado to study bookbinding and preservation at the American Academy of Bookbinding. She aspires to open a bookstore and illustrate children’s books

Elysabethe would describe herself as an “extroverted introvert” and values honesty, patience, and curiosity.

This summer, Elysabethe wants to drive to Pennsylvania to camp in the mountains, take a trip to a star preserve to sleep, star gaze, and read, to visit Canada, and to attend as many concerts as possible.

“If of thou fortune be bereft,

And in thy store two loaves are left.

Sell one, and with the dole,

Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.”

Untitled, John Greenleaf Whittier

“Cause when your pockets line with dollar bills, your heart forgets to eat.”

City in a Bottle, Shakey Graves

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