Republican State Rep. Bob Young sent a letter to Speaker of the House Jason Stephens saying he’s stepping down effective October 2.

Gov. DeWine and half of the Republicans in the Ohio House had called on the District 32 representative to resign following his second arrest in two months.

Under the Ohio Constitution, the vacancy will be filled by a majority vote of House members who are affiliated with the same political party as the person last elected to the vacant seat.

On September 8,  the Federal Election Commission (FEC) announced it was seeking public input on ways to improve its report filing processes and public website.

The FEC is interested in recommendations and comments regarding potential opportunities for improving the process for filing required disclosure reports and for improving the organization, substance, and how to best provide the public with easily accessible information on its website.

Comments must be in writing and submitted by email to publiccomment2023-14@fec.gov. The comment window will close 60 days after publication of the Notification of Request for Public Comment in the Federal Register.

Campaign Finance California: “Former Anaheim Mayor, Who Admitted to Corruption, Funds Legal Defense with Campaign Money” by Noah Biesiada for Voice of OC Indiana: “Campaign Finance Contributions on the Indiana Supreme Court Docket” by Whitney Downard for Indiana Capital Chronicle Elections Georgia: “Judge Denies Mark Meadows’s Effort to Move Georgia Case to Federal Court” by Amy Gardner (Washington Post) for MSN Ethics National: “5th Circuit Finds Biden White House, CDC Likely Violated First Amendment” by Cat Zakrzewski, and Joseph Menn (Washington Post) for MSN National: “Peter Navarro Convicted of Contempt for Defying Jan. 6 Panel Subpoena” by Paul Duggan (Washington Post) for MSN Michigan: “Michigan Ethics Board Finds State Arts Council Member Violated Conflict of Interest Rules” by Beth LeBlanc for Detroit News Lobbying Canada: “Doug Ford Recommends Possible Jail Time for Ontario Lobbyists Caught Breaking the Rules” by Katherine DeClerq for CTV Redistricting Ohio: “Ohio Will Use Congressional Map Previously Ruled Unconstitutional Again in 2024, as Court Dismisses Legal Challenges” by Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

National/Federal

AI Deepfakes in Campaigns May Be Detectable, But Will It Matter?

MSN – Jim Saska (Roll Call) | Published: 9/5/2023

Deepfake audio, authentic sounding but false recordings built from short snippets of a subject talking, have become extremely realistic, presenting the potential for underhanded political tactics. Artificial intelligence (AI) developers warn that the technology’s rapid development and widespread deployment risks undermining the foundations of representative democracy. Campaign attack ads have long used the most unflattering pictures of their opponents. But AI will supercharge the ability of campaigns, and their rogue supporters, to produce believable fakes.

Democrat Introduces Bill to Limit Defense Contractor, Foreign Government Influence on Pentagon

MSN – Brad Dress (The Hill) | Published: 8/29/2023

Rep. Andy Kim announced he reintroduced legislation that would limit the ability of major defense contractors and foreign governments to hire former Defense Department officials and influence the Pentagon as lobbyists. The Department of Defense Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act would impose a four-year ban on defense contractors hiring senior Pentagon officials and enact a similar ban on former Defense Department employees who managed their contracts.

Court Undoes Ruling Allowing DOJ Access to Scott Perry’s Phone

MSN – Rachel Weiner and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 9/5/2023

A federal appellate court blocked Justice Department access to the phone records of a Republican lawmaker as part of the investigation charging former President Trump with trying to undo the 2020 election results. The ruling stymies investigators who have been fighting to review thousands of documents from Rep. Scott Perry. U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell granted the special counsel access to most of the records nine months ago. Perry had argued the search would violate constitutional protection from criminal investigation for lawmakers engaged in “speech or debate.”

Project Veritas Audit Accuses ‘Untouchable’ Founder of Improper Spending

MSN – Will Sommer (Washington Post) | Published: 9/5/2023

An audit showed Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe covered personal expenses with funds from the donor-supported nonprofit whose self-described mission is investigative journalism. The Westchester County, New York, district attorney’s office is investigating O’Keefe. Before he left Project Veritas in February, under pressure from its board of directors, O’Keefe was surrounded by a “cult of personality” that enabled him to behave as if he were “untouchable,” the audit concluded.

Republicans Hired Way More Ex-Lobbyists as Congressional Staffers in the Last Year Than Democrats, Analysis Finds

MSN – Brian Metzger (Business Insider) | Published: 9/5/2023

Republicans on Capitol Hill have hired far more former lobbyists to work in their offices than Democrats in the last year, according to a new analysis. Legistorm found that 61 of the 91 former lobbyists who took jobs in partisan offices on Capitol Hill in the last year were hired by Republicans. But the problem of the “revolving door” is one that besets both political parties.

Enrique Tarrio, Proud Boys Leader on Jan. 6, Sentenced to 22 Years for Seditious Conspiracy

Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 9/5/2023

Enrique Tarrio, the national leader of the Proud Boys on January 6, 2021, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for masterminding a seditious conspiracy aimed at derailing the transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden. The sentence, the lengthiest among hundreds arising from the attack on the Capitol, is a reflection of prosecutors’ evidence that the Proud Boys, helmed by Tarrio, played the most pivotal role in stoking the violent breach of police lines and the Capitol itself.

Google to Require ‘Prominent’ Disclosures for AI-Generated Election Ads

Yahoo News – Davey Alba (Bloomberg) | Published: 9/6/2023

Google will make it mandatory for all election advertisers to add a clear and conspicuous disclosure starting in mid-November when their ads contain Artificial Intelligence generated content. Advertisers must include prominent language like, “This audio was computer generated,” on altered election ads across Google’s platforms. The policy does not apply to minor fixes, such as image resizing or brightening. The update will improve Google’s transparency measures for election ads, the company said.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Former CRT Chair Appointed as New Interim Federal Ethics Commissioner

Globe and Mail – Ian Bailey | Published: 9/1/2203

Konrad Winrich von Finckenstein, a former chairperson of Canada’s broadcasting regulator, has been named interim federal conflict-of-interest and ethics commissioner, after the government’s previous pick for the role resigned amid concern about the appropriateness of the appointment. Mario Dion, who stepped down as commissioner in February, said the vacancy has put investigations on hold. During Dion’s term, he found Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several cabinet ministers had broken ethics rules.

Alabama – Federal Court Strikes Down Alabama’s Second Attempt to Avoid Adding Another Majority-Black Congressional District

Yahoo News – Ethan Cohen and Fredreka Schouten (CNN) | Published: 9/5/2023

A federal court blocked a newly drawn Alabama congressional map because it did not create a second majority-Black district, as the U.S. Supreme Court had ordered earlier this year. The three-judge panel ordered a special master to submit three proposed maps that would create a second Black-majority district by September 25. The judges wrote they were “not aware of any other case,” where a state Legislature had responded to being ordered to a draw map with a second majority-minority district, by creating which the state itself admitted did not create the required district.

Alaska – Two More Alaska Ballot Measures Pass Legal Muster, But Another Is Disqualified

Alaska Public Media – James Brooks (Alaska Beacon) | Published: 9/6/2023

Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom approved two ballot measures and disqualified a third from advancing into the signature-gathering phase. One of the two measures approved by Dahlstrom would reimpose limits on political contributions.  The state has been without donation caps limits since 2021, when the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Alaska’s prior limits after a lawsuit by Republican activists.

California – How a New City Council Map of L.A. Turned into a Political Brawl

DNyuz – Jill Cowan, Serge Kovaleski, and Leanne Abraham (New York Times) | Published: 9/4/2023

The redistricting battle in Los Angeles underscores how some big city leaders – often Democrats – have used gerrymandering for their political advantage, much the way Republican lawmakers have redrawn legislative lines to secure or expand their control over some statehouses. Similar fights have been waged in Boston, Miami, and Chicago. The conflict in Los Angeles became a national controversy after audio was leaked that revealed the racist language that politicians used behind closed doors to discuss where to draw district boundaries.

California – San Francisco Corruption: Ex-parole agent pleads guilty in bribery case

San Francisco Standard – Noah Baustin | Published: 8/31/2023

An ex-parole agent and local pop singer pleaded guilty to bribery charges in federal court, marking the latest development in a Justice Department investigation uncovering corruption in San Francisco City Hall. Prosecutors accused Ken Hong Wong of paying former San Francisco Public Works head Mohammed Nuru $20,000 to get someone an engineering job in his department. An investigation revealed the job recipient was Xulu Liu, a recent college graduate and Chinese national. Public Works hired Liu as an assistant engineer earning $46 an hour in September 2019, public records show. She left the job after two weeks.

California – San Jose Council Eases Transparency Rule

San Jose Spotlight – Jana Kadash | Published: 9/5/2023

The San Jose City Council changed three ethics rules that could affect how money is used to influence policy. Officials revised the city’s “revolving door” protocol for former employees, removed fees for late lobbying disclosures, and uncapped reimbursement amounts for personal loans candidates made to their campaigns. City Clerk Toni Taber said the city did not collect fines for late weekly filings before the council nixed the fees. A media review found lobbyists often do not fill out the forms properly even if submitted on time.

California – Anaheim’s Corruption Scandal Causes Residents to Demand Reforms

Voice of OC – Hosam Elattar | Published: 9/6/2023

Anaheim residents and local community groups are charting their own path for reforms in the wake of a corruption scandal that has entangled City Hall. Residents and activists decided to take matters into their own hands after seeing Anaheim City Council members largely ignored calls for reforms until their most recent meeting on the heels of the former mayor agreeing to plead guilty to public corruption charges.

Florida – DeSantis Names Moms for Liberty Co-Founder to Florida Ethics Panel

MSN – Andrew Atterbury (Politico) | Published: 9/6/2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Tina Descovich, a co-founder of the conservative parental rights group Moms for Liberty, to the Florida Commission on Ethics. The move gives the governor a staunch ally on the panel responsible for weighing complaints against public officials in the state, which recently saw one remember resign after a conflict-of-interest violation. Aside from organizing the parental advocacy group, Descovich is a former school board member and runs a political committee that helped some conservatives win local education elections in 2022.

Florida – Judge Says DeSantis’ Congressional Map Is Unconstitutional, Orders Lawmakers to Draw New One

Yahoo News – David Kihara and Gary Fineout (Politico) | Published: 9/2/2023

A judge ruled Gov. Ron DeSantis’s redrawn congressional districts in North Florida violate the state’s constitution and ordered the Republican-led Legislature to create a new map. The ruling is a rebuke to DeSantis, who previously vetoed the Legislature’s attempts to redraw Florida’s congressional maps and pushed lawmakers to approve his map that dismantled a seat formerly held by Rep. Al Lawson, a Black Democrat. The section violated is commonly referred to as the Fair Districts Amendment, which states that lawmakers cannot redraw congressional districts that “diminish” minority voters’ ability to elect someone of their choice.

Georgia – Efforts to Punish Fani Willis Over Trump Prosecution Are ‘Political Theater,’ Georgia Gov. Kemp Says

MSN – Jeff Amy (Associated Press) | Published: 8/30/2023

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp offered his strongest denunciation to date of efforts by his fellow Republicans to go after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, dismissing the moves as “political theater that only inflames the emotions of the moment.” Some Republicans in Washington and Georgia have been attacking Willis since even before she announced the indictment of Donald Trump for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election. Kemp said any calls for a special session to impeach Willis or defund her office were wrong and she had done nothing to merit removal.

Georgia – Judge Denies Kenneth Chesebro’s Request to Sever Georgia Charges from Sidney Powell

The Hill – Zach Schonfeld | Published: 9/6/2023

A state judge denied Kenneth Chesebro’s attempt to sever his charges in the Georgia election interference case from fellow Trump-aligned attorney Sidney Powell, saying he did not deem it necessary to do so to achieve a fair trial. But Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee did signal he has doubts about District Attorney Fani Willis’s broader desire to try all 19 co-defendants, including former President Trump, together.

Illinois – Chicago Treasurer Accused of Misconduct and Ethical Violations in Letter City Kept Secret for Years

Yahoo News – Gregory Pratt (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 9/5/2023

Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin used government workers to plan her daughter’s birthday party and be her personal bodyguard while she also pressured public employees to hold events benefiting political allies and repeatedly misused taxpayer resources, two former top aides alleged in a recently released letter the city fought for years to keep confidential. After Conyears-Ervin in 2020 dismissed employees Ashley Evans and Tiffany Harper, they shared a $100,000 settlement from the city. That settlement came after the letter was sent to the city’s top attorney and the Board of Ethics.

Kentucky – Greenberg’s Wife Has Role in Administration. Louisville’s Nepotism Code Might Not Allow

MSN – Josh Ward (Louisville Courier-Journal) | Published: 9/5/2023

The spouses of presidents and governors often have formal positions, as well as aides and offices. That is not common at the municipal level. But the Louisville mayor’s office bucks that trend, and it may run afoul of the city’s anti-nepotism rules. Sources said Mayor Craig Greenberg’s wife has an office in Metro Hall, a city-issued email, and gives orders to staffers. The Louisville ethics code says, “a family member of the Mayor” or other elected official “shall not be employed by or appointed to a position with such elected official’s office.”

Louisiana – Gubernatorial Frontrunner Jeff Landry Facing Ethics Charge

MSN – Ian Auzenne (WWL) | Published: 9/2/2023

A 2021 plane flight taken by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, who is the leading Republican candidate for governor, is landing him in trouble with the state Board of Ethics. The board voted to charge Landry and Stanton Aviation with one count each of ethics violations. Landry is charged with accepting a gift in relation to his position as attorney general. Stanton Aviation is charged with providing a gift to Landry.

Maryland – Compliance Board Orders Baltimore Board of Ethics to Release Mosby Legal Defense Fund Donors; City Vows to Appeal

MSN – Emily Opilo (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 9/6/2023

The Baltimore Board of Ethics must release the list of donors to a legal-defense fund formed to benefit city council President Nick Mosby and former State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, Maryland’s Public Information Act Compliance Board ordered. The compliance board found the ethics panel violated the Public Information Act by redacting the names of more than 130 donors to the fund when it released the list in March. The ethics board argued the names constituted financial information.

Nevada – Assemblywoman Michelle Gorelow Won’t Run for Re-election Amid Scrutiny Over Nonprofit Ties

Nevada Independent – Jacob Solis | Published: 9/1/2023

Nevada Assemblyperson Michelle Gorelow will not run for re-election in 2024, a surprise move that comes after Gorelow had come under increasing pressure to justify taking a new position at a nonprofit that received hundreds of thousands of dollars in legislatively approved funding earlier this year. Separately, Assemblyperson C.H. Miller has come under fire for failing to disclose his employment by the Urban Chamber in a regular financial disclosure form ahead of a vote to give the nonprofit $100,000.

New York – State Gaming Official Voted on Rules Affecting Her Firm’s Client

Albany Times Union – Emilie Munson | Published: 9/1/2023

Over the course of about a year, New York Gaming Commissioner Marissa Shorenstein voted on multiple regulations with implications for a client of her employer, but the commission said her actions avoided any conflict-of-interest. Shorenstein worked as a principal at SKDK, a prominent public relations and lobbying firm that did work for the New York Racing Association, a not-for-profit corporation that operates three thoroughbred tracks in New York and is regulated by the Gaming Commission.

New York – Trump Accuser E. Jean Carroll Wins Liability Claims in Next Civil Case

MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 9/6/2023

E. Jean Carroll, the advice columnist who was awarded $5 million in damages at a civil sexual assault trial against former President Trump in May, won the majority of a related defamation case in a summary judgment decision. U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled the May verdict clearly proved disparaging comments Trump made about Carroll in 2019 were false. Those comments do not need to be aired again to prove liability to jurors in s civil defamation trial scheduled for January, Kaplan said.

Ohio – Sen. Sherrod Brown Bets a Progressive Can Still Win in Trump-Leaning Ohio

MSN – Camila DeChalus (Washington Post) | Published: 9/2/2023

Democrat Sherrod Brown has won three U.S. Senate terms in Ohio, once a key swing state that has shifted solidly to Republicans over the past two presidential elections with a personal appeal to working-class families and particularly union trades. Now facing a tough reelection challenge in 2024, Brown is wagering that by casting himself as a pro-labor, progressive populist, he can retain support from White working-class voters whose embrace of Donald Trump has propelled Ohio’s move to the right.

Ohio – The Catholic Church Will Campaign Against Ohio’s Abortion-Rights Amendment. What About the Separation of Church and State?

MSN – Andrew Tobias (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 9/3/2023

The Catholic Church in Ohio is gearing up for this November’s election in a manner that in some ways resembles a PAC. It is preparing to distribute literature to parishioners, deploy church leaders to political fundraisers, make direct campaign contributions, and have its priests preach from the pulpit in opposition to a ballot measure that would add legal protections for abortion to the state constitution. Brian Hickey, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Ohio, said he has heard from people who believe that churches and other religious organizations are not allowed to wade into politics under federal tax law. But that is not the case, Hickey said.

Oregon – Campaign Finance Complaint Filed Against Fire Union Stemming from Contributions for Columbia River Board Candidatesw

MSN – Maxine Bernstein (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 9/1/2023

The St. Helens Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 321 failed to properly report the source of a $6,000 contribution for the May election of three new Columbia River Fire & Rescue board members, according to a complaint to the state secretary of state’s office. The three union-backed candidates also never reported any contributions from the union, which paid for posters, mailers, and signs promoting their candidacy for a board seat, according to state records.

Pennsylvania – Inside Spotlight PA’s Fight to Unseal Lobbyist Communications with the Legislature

Spotlight PA – Angela Couloumbis | Published: 9/1/2023

A clause in Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law says that correspondence between a state lawmaker and a person seeking their help is off-limits to the public – unless that person is a lobbyist. But for years, the Legislature has summarily rejecting all requests for its emails, letters, or other forms of communications regardless of who was on the sending or receiving end. Spotlight PA put the lobbyist clause to the test by requesting from both the state House and Senate copies of communications between legislators and a narrow group of well-known lobbyists.

South Dakota – Legislator’s Conflict of Interest Puts Meaning of ‘Indirect’ Under Microscope

MSN – Mackenzie Huber (Sioux Falls Argus Leader) | Published: 9/5/2023

Former South Dakota Sen. Jessica Castleberry was found to have accepted over $500,000 in allegedly illegal indirect benefits from state government while serving as a legislator. The state constitution prohibits lawmakers from being interested “directly or indirectly” in contracts with the state or counties. In the handful of state Supreme Court cases and opinions dealing with the matter over the last 135 years, none has explicitly defined “indirect,” said Michael Card of the University of South Dakota.

Texas – Judge Declares City Campaign Contribution Blackout Period Unconstitutional

Austin Monitor – Jo Clifton | Published: 9/1/2023

U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman declared an Austin regulation on campaign fundraising unconstitutional. The regulation prohibits candidates for city council seats from seeking or accepting campaign contributions more than a year before an election. The rule was enacted after another judge struck down a city regulation prohibiting candidates from raising money more than six months before an election.

Texas – A Conservative Push to Save Ken Paxton

Yahoo News – J. David Goodman (New York Times) | Published: 9/4/2023

With television ads, text messages, direct mail, and billboards, supporters of the embattled Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have embarked on an escalating campaign of political pressure, backed by hard-right billionaires, aimed at trying to sway the outcome of Paxton’s impeachment trial. The targets of their efforts are narrow: the 19 Republican members of the state Senate who will act as jurors in the trial and decide whether allegations of corruption and abuse of power are serious enough to warrant permanently removing and barring Paxton from office.

West Virginia – PSC Chooses Firm to Audit Mon Power and Potomac Edison Lobbying Expenses

Charleston Gazette-Mail – Mike Tony | Published: 9/5/2023

The West Virginia Public Service Commission chose Van Reen Accounting to audit Mon Power and Potomac Edison lobbying expenses in a review that will cover costs charged to the FirstEnergy subsidiaries related to the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history. The scope of the audit is to include lobbying and other costs of all FirstEnergy companies related to Ohio House Bill 6. That legislation was a billion-dollar bailout of FirstEnergy nuclear plants in Ohio.

If you asked who the top 12 companies who donate to United Way Summit Medina (UWSM), you would be shocked to know State and Federal Communications ranks #12 and we have 12 leaders at the company. We also have 100% participation!!!

We have been involved with United Way since 1998 and we have G R O W N every single year. Shortly after our program started, I offered to match the contributions made by the staff, which was directed to our own United Way agency…I still do that every single year. Now I know every company cannot do that, but we are blessed and grateful we can help the best we can.

I want to introduce you to United Way Summit Medina because it really has done amazing things, especially in the past eight years when James Mullen moved, with his family, from the Nashville United Way as our new President and CEO.

Last month we held Knight at the Civic which is when we start our new campaign. We watched Dan Polletta’s Uncharitable, which is an amazing film about nonprofits in our country.

What I really want to talk to you about is our Bold Goals, which we talk about to everyone.

Bold Goal #1—Ready for Success by helping 65% of Akron Public School third graders reading at or above grade level.

Bold Goal #2—Youth Success in College and Career Readiness and Youth Opportunities and Success. This includes 90% of Akron Public Schoolers graduating in four years, with 60% college/career ready. In addition, helping 60% of Akron youth employed or active in extracurriculars.

Bold Goal #3—Financial Empowerment. We are helping financially empower 11,000 people in Summit County and 2,500 people in Medina County.

Bold Goal #4—Health Equity by reducing the Black infant mortality rates in Summit County to 6 per 1,000 births.

We have already updated these goals since their creation and now the goal is to reach these by 2028.

I know so many folks in state government affairs are asked to oversee their company’s United Way Campaign. I am always looking at signs when I travel to see how others encourage participation. At State and Federal Communications, I use our American Express points to thank employees for their participation. (Do not worry, these premiums do not account for more than 30% of the pledge received (more than $500).

If you are interested, I am happy to send you a copy of the United Way Summit Medina report for 2022. Just drop me a line and make sure I have your address.

There is so much United Way does in your community. Find out how you can help your United Way.

 

The San Jose City Council has approved changes to the city’s ethics rules.

Officials have lowered the city’s revolving door prohibition for former employees from two years down to one, removed fees for late lobbying disclosures, and uncapped reimbursement amounts for personal loans candidates made to their campaigns.

Elections

National: “AI Deepfakes in Campaigns May Be Detectable, But Will It Matter?” by Jim Saska (Roll Call) for MSN

Ohio: “Sen. Sherrod Brown Bets a Progressive Can Still Win in Trump-Leaning Ohio” by Camila DeChalus (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “San Francisco Corruption: Ex-parole agent pleads guilty in bribery case” by Noah Baustin for San Francisco Standard

National: “Democrat Introduces Bill to Limit Defense Contractor, Foreign Government Influence on Pentagon” by Brad Dress (The Hill) for MSN

New York: “State Gaming Official Voted on Rules Affecting Her Firm’s Client” by Emilie Munson for Albany Times Union

Texas: “A Conservative Push to Save Ken Paxton” by J. David Goodman (New York Times) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

West Virginia: “PSC Chooses Firm to Audit Mon Power and Potomac Edison Lobbying Expenses” by Mike Tony for Charleston Gazette-Mail

Redistricting

Alabama: “Federal Court Strikes Down Alabama’s Second Attempt to Avoid Adding Another Majority-Black Congressional District” by Ethan Cohen and Fredreka Schouten (CNN) for Yahoo News

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 678 into law on September 1.

Senate Bill 678 requires a person paid by a committee to post content online supporting or opposing a candidate or a ballot measure to include a disclaimer stating they were paid to make the post.

This bill targets “influencers” and follows California’s recent trend on curtailing social media’s influence on elections.

The bill will become effective January 1, 2024.

Campaign Finance

Oregon: “Campaign Finance Complaint Filed Against Fire Union Stemming from Contributions for Columbia River Board Candidatesw” by Maxine Bernstein (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Texas: “Judge Declares City Campaign Contribution Blackout Period Unconstitutional” by Jo Clifton for Austin Monitor

Elections

Ohio: “The Catholic Church Will Campaign Against Ohio’s Abortion-Rights Amendment. What About the Separation of Church and State?” by Andrew Tobias (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Ethics

Georgia: “Efforts to Punish Fani Willis Over Trump Prosecution Are ‘Political Theater,’ Georgia Gov. Kemp Says” by Jeff Amy (Associated Press) for MSN

Nevada: “Assemblywoman Michelle Gorelow Won’t Run for Re-election Amid Scrutiny Over Nonprofit Ties” by Jacob Solis for Nevada Independent

Lobbying

Pennsylvania: “Inside Spotlight PA’s Fight to Unseal Lobbyist Communications with the Legislature” by Angela Couloumbis for Spotlight PA

Redistricting

California: “How a New City Council Map of L.A. Turned into a Political Brawl” by Jill Cowan, Serge Kovaleski, and Leanne Abraham (New York Times) for DNyuz

Florida: “Judge Says DeSantis’ Congressional Map Is Unconstitutional, Orders Lawmakers to Draw New One” by David Kihara and Gary Fineout (Politico) for Yahoo News

On August 29, legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to impose stricter lobbying and revolving door restrictions on Department of Defense (DOD) employees and contractors.

House Bill 5306, Department of Defense Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act of 2023:

• Imposes a four-year ban on certain large DOD contractors from hiring senior DOD officials and former DOD employees who managed their contract;
• Extends to four years the existing prohibition on former military generals lobbying the DOD and expands the restrictions to other senior officials; and
• Requires defense contractors to submit detailed annual reports to the DOD regarding former senior DOD officials who are subsequently employed by contractors and requires DOD to make those reports public.

Additionally, the legislation raises the recusal standard for DOD employees by prohibiting them from participating in any matter that might affect the financial interests of their former employer or direct competitor for four years and bans senior DOD officials from owning any stock in a major defense contractor that receives more than $100 million in revenue from DOD contracts.

The bill prohibits senior national security officials from working on behalf of foreign governments and prohibits military and civilian intelligence personnel from working on behalf of foreign governments or private entity that operates predominantly on behalf of a foreign government.

The bill also requires:

• Large defense contractors to submit a report of their lobbying activities, including who they’re meeting with, what they’re lobbying about, and what (unclassified) information they’re sharing;
• The secretary of defense to publish online copies of unclassified DOD contracts; and
• Military services to maintain public websites with the names, biographies, and any associated financial disclosures, as well as DOD Inspector General reports and command climate surveys, regarding all active and reserve component senior military officers.

Congressman Andy Kim, who introduced as the House companion bill to Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Senate Bill 2050, said in his press release the government needs “to prevent conflicts of interest, root out corruption, waste, and fraud so [military] officials can focus on the mission in front of them.”

Gov. Glen Younkin has called the General Assembly to reconvene for a special session.

The session will address the state budget and will take up issues such as tax relief and investments for local families and businesses.

The special session will begin on September 6.

The Commission on Governmental Ethics and Elections Practices published legislative summaries and updated guides to reflect legislation passed in 2023.

Effective October 25, the window to register as a lobbyist is decreased from 15 to 10 calendar days following triggering activities.

Penalties for lobbyist reporting violations will increase by $50 for each successive violation during a lobbying year.

Effective June 22, the ban on direct corporate contributions was reversed and now limited to $1,950 in any election for a gubernatorial candidate; $475 for a legislative candidate; $575 for a candidate for municipal office; and $975 in any election for any other candidate. 

National/Federal

A Lawmaker Hid One Key Fact as He Fought Checks on Gun Shops

DNyuz – Glen Thrush (New York Times) | Published: 8/25/2023

Rep. Andrew Clyde has been in Congress only since 2021, but he has quickly emerged as a vocal opponent of gun control, handing out dozens of AR-15 pins to exemplify his wide-ranging push to roll back federal firearms regulation. At a subcommittee hearing, Clyde grilled the director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives about a little-known program to monitor gun dealers found selling large numbers of weapons later traced to crimes. Clyde did not disclose one of two gun stores he owns in Georgia was placed in the monitoring program in 2020 and 2021.

Trump Gets March 4 Trial Date in Federal Case Over Efforts to Overturn 2020 Election

MSN – Sarah Wire (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 8/28/2023

Donald Trump will face trial on March 4, 2024, for four felony charges related to his alleged efforts to stay in power after he lost the 2020 election. U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan said her decision could not take into consideration the former president’s other responsibilities. Trump is again seeking the Republican nomination in 2024. The ruling means jury selection would begin a day before Super Tuesday, when California, Texas, and a dozen other states hold their presidential primaries.

Following Elon Musk’s Lead, Big Tech Is Surrendering to Disinformation

MSN – Naomi Nix and Sarah Ellison (Washington Post) | Published: 8/25/2023

Social media companies are receding from their role as watchdogs against political misinformation, abandoning their most aggressive efforts to police online falsehoods in a trend expected to affect the 2024 presidential election. Mass layoffs at Meta and other major tech companies have gutted teams dedicated to promoting accurate information online. An aggressive legal battle over claims the Biden administration pressured social media platforms to silence certain speech has blocked a key path to detecting election interference. Elon Musk has reset industry standards, rolling back strict rules against misinformation on X.

Trump Is Selling His Mug Shot on Shirts, Koozies and Bumper Stickers

MSN – Timothy Bella (Washington Post) | Published: 8/25/2023

Not long after Donald Trump was booked on felony charges alleging that he participated in a conspiracy to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia, his 2024 presidential campaign was selling merchandise featuring the first mug shot of a former American president. Other Republicans are also raising money off the mug shot. A committee for Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who is running for reelection in 2024, urged supporters to donate to WinRed, a small-donor fundraising platform for Republicans. “Today, ALL defense pledges will be flagged SPECIFICALLY for President Trump’s campaign,” the ad reads.

ChatGPT Breaks Its Own Rules on Political Messages

MSN – Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) | Published: 8/28/2023

OpenAI initially banned campaigns from using ChatGPT, its artificial intelligence-powered chatbot. But OpenAI then updated its website with a new set of rules limiting only what the company considers the riskiest applications. These rules ban campaigns from using ChatGPT to create materials targeting specific voting demographics, a capability that could be abused and spread disinformation. Yet ChatGPT can still be used to generate tailored political messages, an enforcement gap that comes ahead of the Republican primaries and amid a critical year for global elections.

Mitch McConnell Appears to Freeze Again While Talking with Reporters

MSN – Marisa lati and Paul Kane (Washington Post) | Published: 8/30/2023

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to freeze for more than 20 seconds while taking questions from journalists in an incident that mirrored another occasion when he abruptly stopped speaking in late July. A reporter asked him about running for reelection in 2026. After about seven seconds, an aide approached and asked the senator if he had heard the question. McConnell stared straight ahead, and the aide asked reporters to give them a minute.

Judge Says Peter Navarro Can’t Use Privilege as Defense in Contempt Case

MSN – Paul Duggan (Washington Post) | Published: 8/30/2023

A judge ruled Peter Navarro, a Trump White House adviser charged with criminal contempt of Congress, cannot argue to a jury that he was barred by executive privilege from providing testimony and documents to the House committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Navarro has continually asserted, without proof, that he defied the subpoena because Trump, in conversations with him, invoked executive privilege and instructed Navarro not to reveal any privileged information related to topics the committee was investigating.

Justice Thomas Says He Used Private Jet for Security Reasons after Dobbs Leak

MSN – Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 8/31/2023

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas reported three 2022 trips on the private jet of a Texas billionaire in a newly released financial disclosure form, and for the first-time detailed Harlan Crow’s purchase of three properties from the justice’s family years. Thomas said he opted to fly on Crow’s private plane for one of the trips on the advice of his security detail. The justices faced heightened security risks, Thomas noted, after the leak of the court’s majority opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Republican Women, Fearing Backlash on Abortion, Pivot to Birth Control

Yahoo News – Annie Karni (New York Times) | Published: 8/30/2023

Vulnerable U.S. House Republicans, especially those in politically competitive districts, are trying to reconcile their party’s hardline anti-abortion policies with the views of voters in their districts, particularly independents and women. While many of these GOP lawmakers have cast votes this year to limit abortion access – maintaining a stance that some Republicans concede hurt their party in last year’s midterm elections – others spent part of the congressional recess talking up their support for birth control access, which is broadly popular across the country and across party lines.

X to Allow Political Ads for the First Time Since 2019

Yahoo News – Rebecca Klar (The Hill) | Published: 8/29/2023

X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, will allow political ads heading into the 2024 election cycle for the first time since 2019. The update is the latest change since Elon Musk bought the platform in October. While allowing paid political ads back, the platform will enforce policies that aim to combat the spread of false information.

GOP Salivates at the Biggest Campaign Finance Win Since Citizens United

Yahoo News – Ally Mutnick and Zach Montellaro (Politico) | Published: 8/29/2023

Republicans are growing increasingly optimistic about their prospects in a little-noticed lawsuit that would allow official party committees and candidates to coordinate freely by removing current spending restrictions. If successful, it would represent a seismic shift in how tens of millions of campaign dollars are spent and upend a well-established political ecosystem for television advertising.

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – Report from Alaska Campaign Regulator Says Tshibaka-Linked Group Violated State Law

Yahoo News – James Brooks (Alaska Beacon) | Published: 8/26/2023

Staff for the Alaska Public Offices Commission recommended a $16,450 fine against Preserve Democracy, a group led by former U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka. Staffers concluded Preserve Democracy failed to register with the commission before campaigning in favor of a proposed ballot measure that would repeal Alaska’s ranked choice voting system.

Arkansas – Arkansas Lawmakers Question Whether Water Company Employees Acted as Lobbyists

Center Square – Kim Jarrett | Published: 8/30/2023

The Arkansas Ethics Commission will look at an email from some Central Arkansas Water Company employees and donations made by the company’s chief executive officer regarding whether they were lobbying. The Joint Performance Review Committee agreed to turn the matters over to the ethics panel after Sen. Dan Sullivan brought the committee an email from employees of the water company known as the Justice, Equity or Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

California – Longtime LA Politician Mark Ridley-Thomas Sentenced to 3 1/2 Years for Bribery

Courthouse News Service – Hillel Aron | Published: 8/28/2023

A federal judge sentenced longtime Los Angeles politician Mark Ridley-Thomas to three-and one-half years in prison. A jury found Ridley-Thomas guilty of bribery for soliciting favors for his son from the dean of the University of Southern California’s School of Social Work, in exchange for helping secure county contracts for the school. The dean, Marilyn Flynn, pleaded guilty to one count of bribery and was sentenced to three years of probation. But Ridley-Thomas maintained his innocence and the case proceeded to trial.

California – San Francisco DA Files New Corruption Charges in Probe with FBI

San Francisco Standard – Josh Koehn | Published: 8/29/2023

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins filed multiple felony charges against a former City Hall staffer, Lanita Henriquez, and Rudolph Dwayne Jones, the director of a community grant program for the city, alleging the two conspired to funnel public money into private contracts to enrich themselves. Henriquez allegedly approved 23 contracts in her official capacity with entities controlled by Jones in which she had financial interests.

California – San Francisco Corruption Scandal Forces New Ballot Measure for Voters

San Francisco Standard – Liz Lindqwister | Published: 8/25/2023

San Francisco ethics watchdogs have long urged the city to adopt tighter restrictions on gift-giving practices that have in the past opened the door for corruption. Now, the city will take the issue to voters. The Ethics Commission voted to place a package of anti-corruption measures on the March 5, 2024, ballot.  The measures introduce more explicit prohibitions on gift-giving and bribery and add more required ethics training for city officials.

California – Winds of Reform Spark in Anaheim Along with Council Tension During Corruption Probe Fallout

Voice of OC – Brandon Pho and Hosam Elattar | Published: 8/30/2023

After promising to reform a Disneyland resort-friendly City Hall, Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken sent her resort-backed colleagues the warning shot that some frustrated residents have waited nine months to hear. “My biggest fear is that we were going to hear from … people in the community that we should just … forget about … the problems that were outlined in (a city-commissioned corruption) report,” said Aiken. “I want you to know that I am absolutely not willing to do that.”

California – Is Anaheim a Cue for More Cities to Start Registering Lobbyists?

Voice of OC – Brandon Pho | Published: 8/29/2023

Anaheim has one of Orange County’s most robust online disclosures of registered lobbyists who are paid to sway elected officials on policy making. Yet even with those rules, an FBI corruption probe – and an independent investigation the city commissioned in response – found outsized influence by lobbyists who failed to properly register. Now, some are questioning what that means for other Orange County cities without such policies in place to help members of the public discover the activities of their community’s most influential interest groups.

Florida – Florida’s Affordable Housing Board Suspended Its Director. DeSantis Reinstated Him

MSN – Lawrence Mower (Miami Herald) | Published: 8/28/2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis reinstated Florida’s affordable housing director a month after he was suspended pending the outcome of an inspector general investigation. Mike DiNapoli was DeSantis’s pick to lead the corporation after its previous leader abruptly resigned in January, following the governor’s re-election. DiNapoli was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations he created a hostile work environment.

Georgia – Mark Meadows, Former Trump Chief of Staff, Testifies in Georgia

MSN – Holly Bailey and Amy Gardner (Washington Post) | Published: 8/28/2023

Mark Meadows, Donald Trump’s final White House chief of staff, testified he helped question the 2020 presidential election results out of a federal interest in “free and fair elections” intended to build national trust in the outcome and bring on a peaceful transfer of power. Meadows, who along with Trump and 17 others was indicted in Atlanta, is seeking to move his case from state to federal court, claiming he was acting as a federal officer.

Georgia – Judge Rules Giuliani Defamed Georgia Election Workers, Orders Sanctions

MSN – Rachel Weiner (Washington Post) | Published: 8/30/2023

A federal judge ruled Rudy Giuliani is legally liable for defaming two Georgia election workers who became the subject of conspiracy theories related to the 2020 election that were amplified by Donald Trump in the final weeks of his presidency. Giuliani will still go to trial on the monetary damages he owes to Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea ArShaye Moss. But U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell has already ordered Giuliani to pay roughly $132,000 in sanctions between his personal and business assets for his failures to hand over relevant information in the case.

Hawaii – Ex-Maui Rep Pleads No Contest to Campaign Spending Violation

Honolulu Civil Beat – Kim Gamel | Published: 8/28/2023

Former Hawaii Rep. Kaniela Ing pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of missing a deadline for filing a campaign spending report. Ing was charged in February after the Campaign Spending Commission took the rare step of referring the case to prosecutors.

Illinois – Tim Mapes, Longtime Gatekeeper to House Speaker Michael Madigan, Found Guilty of Lying to Federal Grand Jury to ‘Protect the Boss’

Yahoo News – Jason Meisner and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 8/24/2023

A jury convicted a former chief of staff to longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan of lying under oath to a grand jury to protect his once-powerful boss who is scheduled to go on trial on multiple corruption charges next year. Tim Mapes, who served as Madigan’s chief of staff, was convicted of one count of perjury and one of attempted obstruction of justice. The verdict marked the conclusion of a criminal case that centered on relatively straightforward charges yet delved deeply into the behind-the-scenes political intrigue of the scandals that rocked Madigan’s office and ended his decades-long grip on power.

Kansas – How a Small-Town Feud in Kansas Sent a Shock Through American Journalism

MSN – Jonathan O’Connell. Paul Farhi, and Sofia Andrade (Washington Post) | Published: 8/26/2023

Marion County Police Chief Gideon Cody led officers on a raid of the Marion County Record’s offices and the home of its editor and publisher, seizing computers, servers, cellphones, and other files. The raid was so unusual, and so alarming in its implications for the news media, that it became an international story. Press-advocacy organizations condemned the raid as a breach of state and federal laws that protect the media from government intrusion. The response to the raid was heightened by the sudden death of the editor’s 98-year-old mother, who had railed at the officers sorting through her belongings at their home and collapsed a day later.

Louisiana – Louisiana First in the Nation to Vote on Banning Private Elections Funding

Bolts – Alex Burness | Published: 8/24/2023

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in 2020 donated some $350 million to a previously obscure nonprofit organization called the Center for Tech and Civic Life, which helps maintain and improve local election procedures and ballot access around the country. The money was used for a variety of purposes, including ballot processing equipment and improved pay for election workers. In the October 14 election, Louisianans will see a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban private or foreign money from being used for the purpose of conducting elections.

Michigan – How Trump’s Election Lies Left the Michigan G.O.P. Broken and Battered

Yahoo News – Nick Corasaniti (New York Times) | Published: 8/29/2023

The Michigan Republican Party is starving for cash. A group of prominent activists was hit with felony charges connected to a bizarre plot to hijack election machines. In the face of these troubles, suspicion and infighting have been running high. A recent state committee meeting led to a fistfight. The turmoil is one measure of the way Donald Trump’s lies about the 2020 election have rippled through his party.

New Jersey – ELEC Says Goodbye to Brindle, Begins Search for Replacement

New Jersey Globe – David Wildstein | Published: 8/29/2023

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission formally accepted Jeff Brindle’s retirement as executive director and will meet to discuss their search for his replacement. Brindle notified commissioners of his plans four weeks ago after heading the campaign finance agency since 2009. His decision came more than five months after Gov. Phil Murphy had sought to oust Brindle from his post over an email sent to a staffer last fall that mocked National Coming Out Day.

New York – Lobbying Topped $300 Million in N.Y. for First Time in 2022

Albany Times Union – Joshua Solomon | Published: 8/28/2023

Spending on lobbying in New York surged last year as the coronavirus pandemic subsided with a record $332 million spent to influence elected officials. The overwhelming majority of the money was spread across 60-plus firms and organizations that were paid at least $1 million in 2022 to lobby on state government matters.

New York – 3 Hosts of an Eric Adams Fund-Raiser Are Said to Face Indictment

DNyuz – William Rashbaum and Jonah Bromwich (New York Times) | Published: 8/28/2023

A few months before he was elected mayor of New York City, Eric Adams was feted at a $1,000-a-head fundraiser. Among the hosts was city Councilperson Eric Ulrich, whom Adams would eventually appoint as buildings commissioner. Now, at least four hosts of the event, including Ulrich, are under scrutiny, with several expected to face charges stemming from a bribery and organized crime investigation by the Manhattan district attorney’s office, according to several people familiar with elements of the inquiry. It is unclear whether the fundraiser is connected to the pending charges.

New York – Trump Asks to Dismiss Suit as A.G. Says He Inflated Worth by $2.2 Billion

DNyuz – Jonah Bromwich, Ben Protess, and William Rashbaum (New York Times) | Published: 8/30/2023

Before Donald Trump was indicted four times over, New York Attorney General Letitia James sued him, alleging his business and members of his family had fraudulently overvalued their assets. James will seek to bar him and three of his children from leading their family business to require him to pay a fine of around $250 million. James is arguing a trial is not necessary to find Trump inflated the value of his assets, fraudulently obtaining favorable loans and insurance arrangements. She said the fraud was so pervasive that Trump falsely boosted his net worth by between $812 million and $2.2 billion each year over the course of a decade.

New York – Top Execs at Group That Paid for Mayor Adams’ $34K Israel Trip Have Business Interests Before His Admin

MSN – Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 8/25/2023

Two top executives at a philanthropic organization that bankrolled New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ recent trip to Israel have significant business and lobbying interests before his administration. The matter involves Marc Rowan and Eric Goldstein of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York. A spokesperson for the group said it spent $4,857 on Adams’ airfare, lodging, food, and other expenses related to his Israel visit.

North Carolina – A North Carolina Court Justice Wants to Block an Ethics Panel Probe, Citing Her Free Speech

MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 8/29/2023

A Democratic justice on North Carolina’s Republican-majority Supreme Court sued an ethics panel to block it from investigating her public comments about state courts and colleagues, saying the probe and other recent scrutiny violate her free speech rights. Associate Justice Anita Earls filed the federal lawsuit against the state Judicial Standards Commission. She wants a judge to declare the panel can no longer investigate her speech “on matters of public concern.”

North Carolina – How US Allowed Pandemic Relief to Go to NC Companies Involved in Politics and Lobbying

Yahoo News – Danielle Battaglia (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 8/31/2023

Many North Carolina firms involved in lobbying and politics landed Paycheck Protection (PPP) loans, then had them forgiven, at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The Small Business Administration has excluded those primarily engaged in lobbying or political activities from applying for agency loans. It was believed federal tax money should not be invested into those activities. When Congress authorized the PPP loans to help companies harmed by shutdowns as COVID-19 spread, those rules still applied. The rules allowed some firms in those industries to apply, but only if lobbying or political activity were not their “primary” lines of work.

Ohio – Ohio Abortion Rights Advocates Sue Over Ballot Language

Yahoo News – Jessie Balmert (Cincinnati Enquirer) | Published: 8/28/2023

The group pushing to enshrine abortion access in the Ohio Constitution filed a lawsuit challenging ballot language written by Republicans that reproductive rights advocates say is inaccurate and will confuse voters this fall. Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights asked the state Supreme Court to use the same ballot language they used to circulate petitions and collect signatures. If the court disagrees with that approach, advocates want “blatant inaccuracies” in the language fixed.

Oklahoma – Ryan Walters Ordered to Pay Oklahoma Ethics Commission Over Campaign Report Violations

MSN – Nolan Clay (Oklahoman) | Published: 8/28/2023

State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters was ordered to pay $7,800 to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission for filing campaign reports late 14 times during his run for office last year. Only one of the orders has become final, though it has not been paid. Walters is contesting the others. Dozens of other candidates have had trouble meeting filing deadlines but few to the same extent, records show. Most are fined less than $1,000.

Oregon – Oregon Ethics Watchdogs Launch New Probe into Former Secretary of State Fagan’s Travel

Oregon Capital Chronicle – Julia Shumway | Published: 8/25/2023

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted unanimously to investigate former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s travel while in office and whether she bilked the state out of thousands of dollars by bringing her family with her on state-funded trips and double-dipping with campaign funds. She is also facing scrutiny from state and federal prosecutors and the state ethics commission, which began a separate probe into her conduct in office, including her $10,000-per-month consulting job with cannabis entrepreneurs involved in an audit conducted by her office.

Oregon – Republican Senators, State Attorneys Seek Oregon Supreme Court Review of Anti-Walkout Law

Oregon Capital Chronicle – Julia Shumway | Published: 8/29/2023

Five Republican senators and attorneys representing the state are seeking a quick resolution from the Oregon Supreme Court on the senators’ challenge to a voter-approved law intended to block them from running for reelection after they ground the legislative session to a halt for six weeks. Voters frustrated with GOP lawmakers’ increasing reliance on quorum-blocking walkouts passed a constitutional amendment to bar any senator with more than 10 unexcused absences from serving another term. Ten conservative senators passed that point in May, and they stayed away for another month as they protested bills on abortion, transgender health care, and guns.

Texas – Judge Declares New Texas Law That Would Erode Cities’ Power to Enact Local Rules Unconstitutional

Texas Tribune – Joshua Fechter | Published: 8/30/2023

A new Texas law aimed at undermining the ability of the state’s bluer urban areas to enact progressive policies is unconstitutional, a Travis County judge. State District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble made the ruling just days before the law, which opponents nicknamed the “Death Star” bill, is slated to take effect. The Republican-backed law aims to stop local governments from enacting a wide range of policies by barring cities and counties from passing local ordinances that go further than what is allowed under broad areas of state law.

Texas – ‘This is Approved’: Top AG lawyers now represent their embattled suspended boss, and got taxpayer money while doing it

WFAA – Tanya Eiserer | Published: 8/29/2023

At the Texas Attorney General’s Office, they are some of Ken Paxton’s staunchest defenders: Solicitor General Judd Stone and general litigation chief Chris Hilton. Both played roles in fighting a lawsuit that alleged Paxton used his office to systemically benefit a friend and campaign donor. Once the House impeached Paxton, Hilton and Stone left the office to join the defense team for their former boss. Normally, it would be against internal ethics rules for a lawyer employed by the attorney general’s office to represent someone other than the state. But Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster waived those rules.

Wisconsin – Wisconsin Supreme Court Flips Liberal, Creating a ‘Seismic Shift’

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 8/27/2023

Liberal groups, long accustomed to seeing the Wisconsin Supreme Court as hostile terrain, quickly maneuvered for potential victories on a string of major issues after voters elected a liberal majority to the court. They filed lawsuits to try to redraw the state’s legislative districts, which heavily favor Republicans. The Democratic attorney general sought to speed up a case challenging a 19th-century law that has kept doctors from providing abortions in Wisconsin. The turnaround is the result of an April election  that became the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, with campaigns and interest groups spending more than $50 million.

Wyoming – Lawmakers Aim to Address Campaign Spending, Residency Requirements with New Bills

Casper Star Tribune – Maya Shimizu Harris | Published: 8/29/2023

Wyoming’s next legislative session will likely see a slate of bills that aim to improve transparency around campaign spending and tighten voter residency requirements. The proposed legislation attempts to address concerns ranging from the influence of private money in campaigns and elections to the question of how long someone should be required to live in Wyoming before they can vote in the state’s elections.