Valentine’s Day was this week, and it’s a day officially designated for all things love – love for our partners, our families, our friends, our colleagues, our communities… What does it mean, however, to love “DEI-Style?”

For me, loving DEI-Style requires one to:

L – Learn:  Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and really take the time to learn the essence of someone in your circle; carve out the time and space needed to make a true, meaningful connection with this person!

O – Own:  Be willing to own your fears and unconscious biases and accept the fact that you are a work in progress!

V – Voice:  Be willing to use your voice as a tool for allyship, empowerment, and change!

E – Experience:  Be willing to experience the joys of connection, recognizing that through the highs and the lows, love should always be the constant!

Humans love in many ways and in many forms, and in light of our most recent Valentine’s Day, I invite you to think about how you love and what love really means to you – how are you loving DEI-Style?

Ohio: “Jurors Hear Tapes of GOP House Speaker, Lobbyist Dining with FBI Undercovers” by Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Campaign Finance

California: “Fresno Politicians Clash Over Campaign Money Rule That Critics Say Unfairly Protects Incumbents” by Melissa Montalvo (Fresno Bee) for MSN

Colorado: “10th Circuit Tosses GOP Challenge to Colorado’s Campaign Spending Limits” by Michael Karlick for Colorado Politics

Elections

National: “Election Deniers Face a Nationwide Wave of Pushback” by Amy Gardner, Patrick Marley, and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Prosecutors Seek Trump Lawyer’s Testimony, Suggesting Evidence of Crime” by Alan Feuer, Maggie Haberman, and Ben Protess (New York Times) for Seattle Times

Maryland: “Gov. Wes Moore Recuses Himself from Under Armour Contract Vote as Team Creates Blind Trust to Manage Financial Assets” by Sam Janesch (Baltimore Sun) for MSN

Montana: “Senate Confirms Gallus as State’s Top Political Cop” by Blair Miller (Daily Montanan) for Flathead Beacon

Texas: “Attorney General Ken Paxton Agrees to Apologize and Pay $3.3 Million to Whistleblowers in Settlement” by James Barragán for Texas Tribune

Legislative Issues

Arkansas: “GOP Lawmaker Booed for Asking Trans Doctor About Her Genitalia at Public Hearing” by LGBTQNation Staff for MSN

Tennessee: “After Wearing Traditional Garment on the House Floor, TN Lawmaker Told to Look for a New Career” by Adam Mintzer for WKRN

What are your areas of expertise?

I focus on the lobbying, campaign finance, and pay-to-play laws in the northeastern United States.

How long have you been with State and Federal Communications?

I have been with State and Federal for a year and a half.

How do you help our clients?

I keep our clients up-to-date on new and changing laws and regulations and provide information on how they can stay compliant in the region.

Ohio: “Householder Lawyers Go After Nuclear Lobbyist Following Damning ‘Black Ops’ Testimony” by Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “Donors to Political Committee Supporting Paul Vallas Are Secret, but Leadership Has Ties to Current Campaign” by A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) for MSN

Elections

Wisconsin: “Democrats Meddle Again in a G.O.P. Primary, This Time Down-Ballot” by Reid Epstein (New York Times) for DNyuz

Ethics

National: “Combating Disinformation Wanes at Social Media Giants” by Steven Lee Myers and Nico Grant (New York Times) for DNyuz

National: “Former FBI Agent’s Side Work Puts Bureau Under New Scrutiny” by Shane Harris, Rosalind Helderman, and Catherine Belton (Washington Post) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “Shapiro Sat Courtside at a Sixers Game with a Donor. His Campaign Called It a ‘Political Meeting.’” by Stephen Caruso for Spotlight PA

West Virginia: “WV Senate Passes Bills That Would Decrease Political Contribution Transparency” by Mike Tony for Logan Banner

Legislative Issues

National: “Pence to Fight Special Counsel Subpoena on Trump’s 2020 Election Denial” by Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein (Politico) for Yahoo News

Iowa: “‘Zoom Bombings’ Disrupt Iowa Senate Meetings with Profanity, Pornography and Racial Slurs” by Katie Akin (Des Moines Register) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

South Dakota: “South Dakota Lawmakers Want to Ban Spouses from Being Registered Lobbyists” by Annie Todd (Sioux Falls Argus Leader) for Yahoo News

Sen. Michael Rohl introduced Senate Bill 197 to prohibit spouses of current members of the Senate or House of Representatives from being employed as a registered private lobbyist.

He stated that the bill addresses two problems

• Preventing legislative spouses from having an advantage that other lobbyists and everyday people do not.
• Providing clarity about their role because legislative spouses tend to have more access to restricted areas and lawmakers.

The bill passed out of committee Monday and will next be discussed and voted on by the Senate.

Ohio: “Indicted Ohio Lobbyist Breaks Silence During Householder Trial Testimony” by Andrew Tobias and Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “Right After Landing a Big Deal with the CTA, Businessman Helps Lightfoot’s Reelection Effort” by Dan Mihalopoulos for WBEZ

New Mexico: “Lawmakers Seek to Close Big Transparency Gap” by Sarah Childress for New Mexico In Depth

Elections

National: “Trump Campaign Paid Researchers to Prove 2020 Fraud but Kept Findings Secret” by Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “After Helping Prince’s Rise, Trump and Kushner Benefit from Saudi Funds” by Michael Kranish (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Biden Fires Architect of the Capitol Over Alleged Abuses” by Lisa Mascaro and Colleen Long (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Florida: “The Rocky Path to the College Board’s A.P. Black Studies Course” by Anemona Hartocollis, Dan Goldstein, and Stephanie Saul (New York Times) for DNyuz

Maryland: “Judge Upholds Two Ethics Violations Against Nick Mosby, but Rules Council President Didn’t Take Money” by Emily Sullivan for Baltimore Banner

Lobbying

California: “Behind the Late Lobbying Disclosure That Earned Midway Rising a Fine for Breaking City Ethics Laws” by Andrew Keatts for Voice of San Diego

The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office has increased campaign contribution limits for the 2023-2024 election cycle.

An individual may now contribute $5,400 per election cycle to a candidate committee for statewide office and legislative office.

Additionally, an individual may contribute $6,650 per election cycle to a candidate committee for district, county, town, and city office.

Contribution limits for PACs have also increased. A PAC without Mega PAC status may contribute $5,400 per election cycle to a candidate for statewide office.

In contrast, a PAC with Mega PAC status may contribute $10,800 per election cycle to candidates for statewide and legislative office, and $13,300 per election cycle to candidates for district, county, town, and city office.

These increases are implemented by the secretary of state in January of odd-numbered years.

Ohio: “FBI Testimony Wraps in Householder, Borges Corruption Trial; Fundraiser to Testify Monday” by Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Hawaii: “‘Pay To Play’: Hawaii moves to expand the ban on contractor campaign donations” by Blaze Lovell for Honolulu Civil Beat

Ethics

National: “Free Speech vs. Disinformation Comes to a Head” by Steven Lee Myers (New York Times) for DNyuz

National: “Pence Receives Subpoena from Prosecutors Examining Trump’s Jan. 6 Role” by Josh Dawsey and Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Santos Was Charged with Theft in 2017 Case Tied to Amish Dog Breeders” by Jacqueline Sweet (Politico) for Yahoo News

Oregon: “Top OLCC Officials Kept Popular Booze – Including Pappy Van Winkle – for Themselves, Diverting It from Public” by Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Lobbying

New Mexico: “Ethics Board Fines Ex-Commissioner for Taking Lobbyist’s Contribution” by Jessica Dyer for Albuquerque Journal

New York: “Developer Seeks Aid from Adams’ Housing Commissioner After Scandal That Ensnared Both of Them” by Greg Smith for The City

Wyoming: “Wyoming State Rep. Says No Truth to Ethics Complaint” by Leo Wolfson for Cowboy State Daily

The Florida Legislature has ended its special session today, February 10.

Legislators passed bills supporting state control over Disney’s special district, migrant flights, and police election units.

The bills will now be sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis where it is expected he will sign the bills into law.

Lawmakers will now prepare for the start of their upcoming regular session on March 7.

Democrats control the state House after winning three special elections yesterday.

The single-seat majority represents the first time Democrats have controlled the House in over a decade.

Joe McAndrew, Abigail Salisbury, and Matt Gergely won elections in District 32, 34, and 35 and will serve until the end of 2024.