National/Federal

2-Year Sentence for Hawaii Woman’s Trump Lobbying Scheme
MSN – Associated Press | Published: 1/18/2023

An American consultant was sentenced to two years in prison for an illicit lobbying effort to get the Trump administration to drop an investigation into the multibillion-dollar looting of a Malaysian state investment fund, and to arrange for the return of a Chinese dissident living in the U.S. Nickie Mali Lum Davis pleaded guilty in 2020 to one count of aiding and abetting in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Classified Documents Found at Pence’s Indiana Home
MSN – Jamie Gangel, Jeremy Herb, and Evan Perez (CNN) | Published: 1/24/2023

A lawyer for former Vice President Mike Pence discovered about a dozen documents marked as classified at Pence’s Indiana home and he has turned those classified records over to the FBI. The Justice Department’s National Security Division and the FBI have launched a review of the documents and how they ended up in Pence’s house. Pence asked his lawyer to conduct the search of his home out of an abundance of caution, and the attorney began going through four boxes, finding a small number of documents with classified markings.

Cyberthieves Jacked a U.S. Senator’s Campaign and Stole Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars
MSN – Dave Levinthal (Raw Story) | Published: 1/23/2023

Cyberthieves stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the campaign committee of U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and the FBI is investigating. It is the latest in a series of thefts from the political accounts of prominent politicians, party committees, trade associations, and advocacy groups representing all points across the political spectrum. Together, the money lost early in this decade has soared into the millions of dollars.

Dark Money Group Linked to Leonard Leo Is Dissolved
MSN – Heidi Przybyla (Politico) | Published: 1/20/2023

A “dark money” group tied to conservative judicial activist Leonard Leo was dissolved three days after Politico inquired about whether it helped to facilitate the multi-million-dollar sale of former White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway’s polling company. The BH Fund, which was formed in 2016 with an anonymous $24 million donation, has been a nerve center for distributing millions of dollars around Leo’s network of groups bolstering former President Trump’s Supreme Court picks.

Four Oath Keepers Convicted of Jan. 6 Seditious Conspiracy
Associated Press News – Michael Kunzelman and Alanna Durkin Richer | Published: 1/24/2023

Four members of the Oath Keepers were convicted of seditious conspiracy in the attack on the Capitol in the second major trial of far-right extremists accused of plotting to forcibly keep Donald Trump in power. It is another major victory for the Justice Department, which is also trying to secure sedition convictions against the former leader of the Proud Boys and four associates. It was one of the most serious cases brought so far in the sweeping January 6 investigation which continues to grow two years after the insurrection.

Judge Sanctions Trump, Habba Nearly $1 Million for ‘Completely Frivolous’ Clinton Suit
MSN – Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 1/20/2023

A federal judge ordered nearly $1 million in sanctions against Donald Trump and his attorney Alina Habba, calling the former president a “mastermind of strategic abuse of the judicial process.” U.S. District Court Judge Donald Middlebrooks said Trump’s sprawling lawsuit against Hillary Clinton and dozens of former Justice Department and FBI officials was an almost cartoonish abuse of the legal system. Trump continues to face peril in advancing criminal probes and civil lawsuits related to his effort to overturn the 2020 election and his retention of sensitive national security records at his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving office.

Justice Dept. Search of Biden Home in Wilmington Turns Up More Documents
MSN – Matt Viser and Tyler Pager (Washington Post) | Published: 1/21/2023

The Justice Department completed an extensive search of President Biden’s home in Wilmington and turned up additional classified documents, some of which date to his time in the U.S. Senate and others from his eight-year tenure as vice president. After being given full access to Biden’s home, the Justice Department took possession of six items. The department also took some of Biden’s handwritten notes from his vice-presidential years to further review them.

Lobbying Gold Rush May Persist Despite Divided Congress
Yahoo News – Karl Evers-Hillstrom (The Hill) | Published: 1/23/2023

K Street lobbying firms expect a historic earnings boom to continue, even as a divided Congress threatens to slow legislation to a crawl. The top firms reported massive earnings for the final three months of 2022, capping off a record-breaking year for K Street. The strong fourth-quarter performance, which defied election season norms, boosted hopes that corporations will continue to spend big on lobbyists in the new year.

Meta to Reinstate Donald Trump’s Facebook Account
MSN – Rebecca Kern (Politico) | Published: 1/25/2023

Meta will lift the ban on Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts after a suspension that lasted more than two years. The decision restores the former president’s access to a platform that he used to powerful effect as a campaigner and could potentially boost his faltering 2024 fundraising. But a Trump return could also lead to more election misinformation on the platform, Democrats warn, since Facebook has a policy of not fact-checking candidates. The company said Trump will have to abide by new rules if he decides to post again, but ultimately decided to reinstate him because the public deserves to hear from politicians.

Mystery Deepens Around George Santos’s $700,000 in Campaign Loans
Seattle Times – Michael Gold and Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) | Published: 1/24/2023

An updated campaign finance report raised new questions about the source of six-figure loans that U.S. Rep. George Santos gave his congressional campaign. In previous filings, the Santos campaign has reported he lent his own campaign more than $700,000. But in an update to a report originally filed in April 2022, the campaign unmarked a box that had originally indicated $500,000 of those loans came from Santos’s own personal funds. Experts said they were struggling to interpret the change, especially because in filings from later in 2022, the box marking “personal funds of the candidate” remains checked.

Students Want New Books. Thanks to Restrictions, Librarians Can’t Buy Them.
MSN – Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 1/22/2023

States and school districts nationwide have begun to constrain what librarians can order. At least 10 states have passed laws giving parents more power over which books appear in libraries or limiting students’ access to books. At the same time, school districts are passing policies that bar certain kinds of texts – most often, those focused on issues of gender and sexuality – while increasing administrative or parental oversight of acquisitions. School librarians said in the past they had wide latitude to choose the books they thought would best supplement the curriculum and stimulate students’ literary appetites.

Supreme Court Asks Biden Administration to Weigh in on Social Media Case
MSN – Robert Barnes and Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) | Published: 1/23/2023

The U.S. Supreme Court asked the Biden administration to weigh in on whether states may bar giant social media platforms from removing certain types of political speech, a major First Amendment case that could determine how the constitutional right to free speech applies to the marketplace of ideas on the internet. At stake is the constitutionality of state laws in Florida and Texas that would restrict platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube from blocking or limiting political speech, and require transparency in how such decisions are made.

Supreme Court Says It Can’t Determine Who Leaked Draft Dobbs Opinion
MSN – Robert Barnes and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 1/19/2023

The U.S. Supreme Court said it cannot identify the person who in the spring leaked a draft of the opinion that overturned Roe v. Wade, an inconclusive likely finale to what the justices declared “one of the worst breaches of trust” in the court’s history. Although the report did not indicate it was against the law to disclose the draft opinion, those interviewed were told they could be fired if they refused to answer or did not truthfully respond to questions. The report did not indicate clearly whether the justices themselves or others close to them were questioned.

US: Ex-FBI counterintelligence agent aided Russian oligarch
MSN – Michael Sisak and Eric Tucker (Associated Press) | Published: 1/23/2023

A former high-ranking FBI counterintelligence official who investigated Russian oligarchs was indicted on charges he secretly worked for one, in violation of U.S. sanctions. The official was also charged in a separate indictment with taking cash from a former foreign security officer. Charles McGonigal, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s counterintelligence division in New York from 2016 to 2018, is accused in an indictment of working with a former Soviet diplomat-turned-Russian interpreter on behalf of Oleg Deripaska, a Russian billionaire they purportedly referred to in code as “the big guy” and “the client.”

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Voter Fraud Unit in Arizona Will Shift Focus to Voter Rights
Las Vegas Sun – Neil Vigdor (New York Times) | Published: 1/23/2023

Arizona’s new Democratic attorney general, Kris Mayes, is redirecting an election integrity unit her Republican predecessor created, focusing its work instead on addressing voter suppression. The unit’s former leader, Jennifer Wright, meanwhile, has joined a legal effort to invalidate Mayes’s narrow victory in the November election. Former Attorney General Mark Brnovich, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate last year, created the office to investigate voter fraud complaints in Arizona, a battleground state.

California – Ex-State Democratic Party Leader Who Helped FBI in Anaheim Probe Agrees to Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud
MSN – Hannah Fry and Gabriel San Román (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 1/19/2023

A California Democratic Party leader who was central to a wide-reaching corruption investigation in Anaheim involving the proposed sale of Angel Stadium agreed to plead guilty to attempted wire fraud. Melahat Rafiei was a well-known political consultant in Orange County. In late 2019, according to a plea agreement, Rafiei told a commercial cannabis company owner she would work to pass a marijuana related ordinance in Anaheim that would benefit the business in exchange for a payment of at least $300,000.

California – Former L.A. Councilmember Jose Huizar Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case
MSN – Michael Finnegan and David Zahniser (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 1/19/2023

Former Los Angeles City Councilperson José Huizar pleaded guilty to two federal charges stemming from a bribery and money laundering scheme in which he took more than $1.5 million in cash, gambling trips, and escorts in exchange for his support of a planned hotel project. Prosecutors said they will request a 13-year prison term. Huizar will also pay restitution of about $1.85 million. The plea deal came after developers were convicted of bribing Huizar and an array of other players at City Hall pleaded guilty to felonies.

Florida – Florida Blocks High School African American Studies Class
Yahoo News – Anthony Izaguirre (Associated Press) | Published: 1/19/2023

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration blocked a new Advanced Placement course on African American studies from being taught in high schools, saying it violates state law and is historically inaccurate. DeSantis has opposed what he calls liberal ideologies in schools, including lessons around critical race theory, which examines systemic racism and has become a frequent target of conservatives.

Florida – ‘This Is Not Over.’ Judge Says DeSantis Was Wrong, but Declines to Restore Andrew Warren to Office
MSN – Dan Sullivan and Sue Carlton (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 1/20/2023

Despite concluding Gov. Ron DeSantis violated the Florida Constitution and the First Amendment last year when he suspended Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren, a federal judge ruled he did not have the power to restore Warren to office. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle found DeSantis suspended Warren based on the allegation that the state attorney had blanket policies not to prosecute certain kinds of cases. Yet Hinkle concluded the U.S. Constitution prohibits a federal court from awarding the kind of relief Warren seeks – namely, to be restored to office.

Georgia – Fulton County DA Says Charging Decisions in Trump Investigation Are ‘Imminent’
MSN – Holly Bailey (Washington Post) | Published: 1/24/2023

An Atlanta-area district attorney investigating whether former President Trump and his allies broke the law when they sought to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia said charging “decisions are imminent.” Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis told a judge that a special grand jury report into the matter should remain sealed to protect the ongoing criminal investigation and the rights of potential “defendants” in the case. Willis’s comments came during a hearing on whether to release the final report of the special grand jury, which was formally dissolved after a roughly eight-month investigation into alleged 2020 election interference.

Idaho – Idaho Legislature Introduces Bill Creating Waiting Period Before Officials Can Become Lobbyists
Idaho Capital Sun – Clark Corbin | Published: 1/23/2023

Legislation in Idaho would prohibit lawmakers, executive branch employees, and other elected officials from registering as a lobbyist or lobbying during the next regular legislative session and for at least six months after leaving office. Although it had bipartisan support and similar “revolving door” provisions are common in most other states, the House State Affairs Committee had a tricky time with the bill.

Illinois – Ethics Board Sends Lightfoot Campaign Complaints to Watchdogs
MSN – A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 1/23/2023

The Chicago Board of Ethics decided more thorough investigations needed to be done before rendering judgment about whether Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s campaign violated city ethics rules when it solicited public school teachers to encourage students to help her reelection efforts. The board tasked the inspectors general for both City Hall and Chicago Public Schools to conduct investigations into the matter.

Illinois – Former Cook County Board of Review Employee Sentenced to 3 Months in Prison for Taking Bribes to Fix Tax Appeals
MSN – Adriana Pérez (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 1/24/2023

A former employee of the Cook County Board of Review was sentenced to three months in prison and at least one year of probation for taking bribes to fix tax appeals on more than two dozen properties. Unbeknownst to Barjaktarevic, an individual named in documents as “CS-1” was a confidential source operating at the direction of the FBI. Barjaktarevic told the source he would accept $2,000 to lower assessments for each commercial property, while he would charge $1,000 for each residential property, for a total cost of $43,000.

Illinois – Swept Into Office by Promises of Reform, Lightfoot Faces New Scrutiny on Ethics Record
WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 1/18/2023

Lori Lightfoot won every ward in her first bid for mayor after her campaign was fueled by promises that she alone could end the notion that placing Chicago government and integrity in the same sentence is an oxymoron at best, or a joke at worst. Lightfoot’s campaign for a second term has been weighed down by a growing amount of evidence that she has at times governed more like an old-school machine politician than a reformer. Lightfoot has said her administration has made strides in pushing back against corruption.

Maine – House Speaker Calls on Waldoboro Lawmaker to Resign After He Was Indicted for Signature Fraud
Maine Public Radio – Steve Mistler | Published: 1/24/2023

A newly elected member of the Maine House of Representatives was indicted for allegedly forging multiple signatures to obtain public funds through the state’s public campaign finance system. Rep. Clinton Collamore is accused of forging the signatures of more than two dozen people to receive financing for his successful legislative campaign through the Clean Election Act. According to the state’s ethics commission, he received more than $14,000 through the program.

Massachusetts – E-mails Appear to Show Coordination Between Mass. GOP Chairman and Outside PAC, in Alleged Violation of State Law
MSN – Emma Platoff (Boston Globe) | Published: 1/18/2023

Embattled Massachusetts Republican Party Chairperson Jim Lyons appears to have communicated directly with an outside PAC about digging up dirt on Gov. Maura Healey during last year’s election, according to emails. The emails follow accusations levied by the state GOP’s treasurer, who told party officials he believed the coordination between Lyons and the PAC violated state campaign finance laws and he would report the matter to state regulators. The treasurer, Pat Crowley, has previously clashed with Lyons over party finances.

Michigan – Who Funded Michigan Campaigns? For Nearly Every Legislator, It Wasn’t the Folks They Ran to Represent.
MLive – Simon Schuster | Published: 1/24/2023

When new district maps were finalized at the end of 2021, many incumbent state legislators and first-time candidates pivoted to appealing for votes from new communities they had not reached out to in the past. But did lawmakers rely on the people they hoped to represent to fund their campaigns? According to a new analysis of campaign finance records, the answer is largely no. PACs remain the dominant force in legislative fundraising, and their financial footprint has grown significantly over the last decade. PACs can donate 10 times as much as individuals, and many incumbent legislators create PACs as a means of wielding influence with their colleagues.

Minnesota – Why Some Want to Make Public Spending on Political Campaigns in Minnesota Less Like Menards Rebates
MSN – Peter Callaghan (MinnPost) | Published: 1/24/2023

In Minnesota, individuals can donate to politicians using tax dollars, but only a small percentage of residents use the system. The process is awkward. People contribute $50 and get a receipt. Then they must fill out a form, mail it in or file on a government website, and wait for two state agencies to verify their eligibility. Then they get a reimbursement check. Supporters of a new bill want to simplify the system and increase usage with “Democracy Dollars,” a program pioneered in Seattle.

Nebraska – Watchdog Group Says State Capitol Bible Study Leader Should Register as Lobbyist
Nebraska Examiner – Paul Hammel | Published: 1/20/2023

Arin Hess, the chaplain and president of Capitol Studies, holds Bible study sessions for Nebraska lawmakers and staff members during the legislative session. While Hess says he is merely maintaining a four-decade-long tradition of “serving civil servants with Scripture” at the Capitol, some watchdogs, along with at least one state senator, contend what happens at those studies amounts to lobbying and Hess should register as one. Common Cause Nebraska said his teachings have led to the introduction of bills and his work fits the definition of a lobbyist.

Nevada – Nevada’s New Governor Vilified Lobbyist’s Influence in COVID Lab Scandal, Then Asked Him to Help with Budget
ProPublica – Anjeanette Damon (Nevada Independent) | Published: 1/25/2023

During his contentious campaign to become Nevada governor, Joe Lombardo accused the Democratic incumbent of catering to the family of a donor and their lobbyist who helped an error-prone COVID-19 testing lab get licensed in the state. Shortly after he won the race, Lombardo turned to that same lobbyist for help in building the state budget, giving him access to confidential documents and putting him in a position that allowed him to advocate for state funding sought by his clients. Lobbyist Mike Willden’s name does not appear on the list of people Lombardo appointed to his transition team.

New Mexico – Proposal Aims to Keep Legislators from Drinking While on the Job
Albuquerque Journal – Dan McKay | Published: 1/23/2023

For some New Mexico legislators, drinking is part of the Capitol culture. At least a few have been known to keep alcohol in their offices. And it is common for lawmakers to head to dinner before a late-night floor session at restaurants serving alcohol. But Sen. Harold Pope Jr. said he has seen enough. The first-term legislator is proposing a Senate rule that would prohibit members of the chamber from drinking alcohol before committee meetings or floor sessions. They could not drink during the meetings either.

New York – City Council Passes New Disclosure Requirements for Spending to Influence Votes on Ballot Referendums
Gotham Gazette – Ethan Geringer-Sameth | Published: 1/18/2023

The New York City Council passed legislation that requires entities spending to influence voters in local referendums to disclose their funders. The bill would close a loophole in the city’s campaign finance law that watchdogs have decried for years. If signed by the mayor, independent expenditures of $5,000 or more would be subject to disclosure. It also requires ads for or against ballot questions to include a “paid for by” notice, including the names of up to three of its top donors

New York – Email Describes Hochul Meeting Before $637 Million Deal with Donor for Covid-19 Tests
Buffalo News – Chris Bragg | Published: 1/23/2023

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration used emergency authority to buy $637 million in coronavirus tests through a company owned by a major Hochul campaign donor. Hochul and her allies have insisted the governor did not have any direct involvement in the deal. The governor said her “only involvement” was directing her team to purchase as many tests as possible from any available sources. But an email from the company’s owner, Charlie Tebele, suggested he may have directly discussed Covid-19 tests with Hochul at a campaign fundraiser Tebele had thrown for the governor.

New York – Trump Withdraws Second Lawsuit Against New York Attorney General
MSN – John Wagner (Washington Post) | Published: 1/24/2023

Donald Trump withdrew a second lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James related to her office’s fraud probe of his business practices. No reason was given for the withdrawal. Trump first filed the lawsuit in federal court in Syracuse, claiming James was violating his rights and that of his company by pursuing a politically motivated investigation. After a judge in May found “no evidence” James had acted with bias, Trump appealed the ruling. The withdrawal of the appeal was the second time in five days that Trump had abandoned litigation against James, who is pursuing a $250 million against Trump.

Ohio – ‘Clear as Mud’: Ohio’s new voting restrictions from GOP raise alarm
MSN – Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 1/19/2023

Weeks after a Republican-backed voting law significantly reshaped Ohio’s election procedure, local officials, advocates, and voters are still making sense of the changes and how the alterations could restrict who might cast ballots in 2024. Legal challenges of the law could further complicate the situation: A federal lawsuit brought against Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose by groups representing the homeless, teachers, seniors, and veterans argues the restrictions are unconstitutional and suppress votes.

Ohio – Ohio’s Historic Corruption Case Tests Limits of Citizens United
Bloomberg Law – Alex Ebert | Published: 1/20/2023

Former House Speaker Larry Householder and ex-Ohio Republican Party Chairperson Matt Borges are on trial in what federal prosecutors have called the largest corruption case in the state’s history. Prosecutors allege Householder, Borges, and consultants Jeffrey Longstreth, Neil Clark, and Juan Cespedes accepted millions of dollars in “dark money” from FirstEnergy to pass legislation that included a $1 billion bailout for the utility’s nuclear power plants. The defense maintains the arrangement was politics as usual and protected by the U.S. Supreme Court in its Citizens United v. FEC decision and other precedent.

Pennsylvania – Refusal to Release Inaugural Donors Exposes Gap in Pa. Law
MSN – Marc Levy (Associated Press) | Published: 1/23/2023

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s refusal to disclose who paid for his inaugural bash exposed the gap in state law that lets governors escape the kind of transparency that is sometimes required elsewhere. Presidential inaugural committees are required by federal law to disclose donors who give over $200 to inaugural celebrations. States like Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey have such laws, as do cities including New York and Philadelphia, where city officials also cap the amount that an individual donor can give to an inauguration. Many other states have no such disclosure laws.

Pennsylvania – Shapiro Bars Gifts from Lobbyists, Requires Ethics Training
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Capitolwire | Published: 1/20/2023

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order barring staff under his jurisdiction from accepting gifts from lobbyists and requiring state officials to sign an ethics pledge and complete ethics training. Eric Fillman, chief counsel for the House Ethics Committee who will lead the ethics training, said the new gift ban is intended to provide a degree of reasonableness that will ensure lobbyists cannot use gifts to gain undue influence while at the same time ensuring state officials can accept modest gifts from members of the community.

Virginia – Campaign Finance Reform Advocates Put Pressure on Virginia General Assembly
OpenSecrets – Jimmy Clothier | Published: 1/25/2023

A coalition of grassroots organizations gathered at the Virginia General Assembly to urge state lawmakers to pass campaign finance reform. While lawmakers have already rejected some proposals, multiple bills that failed in prior legislative sessions advanced out of committee. Others are up for consideration in the coming days. Virginia’s laws governing political spending are among the least restrictive in the country, with virtually no limits on the amount of money state politicians can accept from donors, as well as loopholes that allow for the personal use of campaign funds.

Wisconsin – 2023’s Biggest, Most Unusual Race Centers on Abortion and Democracy
DNyuz – Reid Epstein (New York Times) | Published: 1/25/2023

Wisconsin will hold an election that carries bigger policy stakes than any other contest in 2023. The April race for a seat on the state’s evenly divided Supreme Court will determine the fate of abortion rights, gerrymandered legislative maps, and the governor’s appointment powers – and perhaps even the state’s 2024 presidential election if the outcome is again contested. The contest will almost certainly shatter spending records for a judicial election in any state. The seat is nonpartisan in name only. Indeed, the clash for the court is striking because of how nakedly political it is.

Wyoming – Bill Would Prohibit Former Legislators from Immediately Becoming Lobbyists with 2-Year Wait Period
Cowboy State Daily – Leo Wolfson | Published: 1/23/2023

The Wyoming Legislature is considering a bill that would prevent former state lawmakers from serving as lobbyists within two years after leaving elected office. Under House Bill 146, those who violate the waiting period could face up to $5,000 in fines. Rep. Scott Smith, who sponsored the bill, said his attention was drawn to the issue when he learned his opponent in last summer’s Republican primary, former Rep. Shelly Duncan, had become a lobbyist. Until Smith was sworn in this year, Duncan was the House District 5 representative.

Happy New Year!

Here we are now in 2023, and one of the many things that I want to continue to focus on is building connections!

One of the things that I love about working at State and Federal Communications is the multitude of opportunities that I get to meet and interact with our clients!  Not only do I get to assist them with their lobbying compliance needs, but I also get a chance to see them oftentimes at various conferences and events – great ways to continue to get to know them and develop relationships!  It’s awesome when I finally get to meet our clients in person (“putting faces to names”) — the familiarity of the interactions begins to stick, and (hopefully) a camaraderie will begin to grow over the course of time…

I believe the same can also be said for just meeting people in general!  I attend a good number of conferences and events throughout the year, and my goal for 2023 will be to make at least one (hopefully more!) connection [particularly with someone who does not look like me] everywhere I show up!  This isn’t always the “comfortable” thing to do putting yourself out there, but the personal rewards obtained from developing meaningful connections far outweigh the fight for me to try and stay in my comfort zone!

What’s your goals for 2023? Hopefully, they too will include making greater connections and forging stronger bonds! I will be sure to check in and let you know how it’s going!

Campaign Finance

National: “Mystery Deepens Around George Santos’s $700,000 in Campaign Loans” by Michael Gold and Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) for Seattle Times

Maine: “House Speaker Calls on Waldoboro Lawmaker to Resign After He Was Indicted for Signature Fraud” by Steve Mistler for Maine Public Radio

Michigan: “Who Funded Michigan Campaigns? For Nearly Every Legislator, It Wasn’t the Folks They Ran to Represent.” by Simon Schuster for MLive

Minnesota: “Why Some Want to Make Public Spending on Political Campaigns in Minnesota Less Like Menards Rebates” by Peter Callaghan (MinnPost) for MSN

Elections

Georgia: “Fulton County DA Says Charging Decisions in Trump Investigation Are ‘Imminent’” by Holly Bailey (Washington Post) for MSN

Wisconsin: “2023’s Biggest, Most Unusual Race Centers on Abortion and Democracy” by Reid Epstein (New York Times) for DNyuz

Ethics

National: “US: Ex-FBI counterintelligence agent aided Russian oligarch” by Michael Sisak and Eric Tucker (Associated Press) for MSN

National: “Supreme Court Asks Biden Administration to Weigh in on Social Media Case” by Robert Barnes and Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) for MSN

Legislative Issues

New Mexico: “Proposal Aims to Keep Legislators from Drinking While on the Job” by Dan McKay for Albuquerque Journal

Lobbying

Nevada: “Nevada’s New Governor Vilified Lobbyist’s Influence in COVID Lab Scandal, Then Asked Him to Help with Budget” by Anjeanette Damon (Nevada Independent) for ProPublica

Rep. Mike Glanton resigned this past week after serving 14 years in the state House.

Glanton was a Democrat who represented House District 75, which consists of Clayton County.

Gov. Brian Kemp set the special election for March 21. A runoff will be scheduled if necessary.

Campaign Finance

National: “Cyberthieves Jacked a U.S. Senator’s Campaign and Stole Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars” by Dave Levinthal (Raw Story) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “Refusal to Release Inaugural Donors Exposes Gap in Pa. Law” by Marc Levy (Associated Press) for MSN

Elections

Arizona: “Voter Fraud Unit in Arizona Will Shift Focus to Voter Rights” by Neil Vigdor (New York Times) for Las Vegas Sun

Ethics

National: “Students Want New Books. Thanks to Restrictions, Librarians Can’t Buy Them.” by Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Four Oath Keepers Convicted of Jan. 6 Seditious Conspiracy” by Michael Kunzelman and Alanna Durkin Richer for Associated Press News

National: “Classified Documents Found at Pence’s Indiana Home” by Jamie Gangel, Jeremy Herb, and Evan Perez (CNN) for MSN

Florida: “‘This Is Not Over.’ Judge Says DeSantis Was Wrong, but Declines to Restore Andrew Warren to Office” by Dan Sullivan and Sue Carlton (Tampa Bay Times) for MSN

Illinois: “Ethics Board Sends Lightfoot Campaign Complaints to Watchdogs” by A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) for MSN

New York: “Email Describes Hochul Meeting Before $637 Million Deal with Donor for Covid-19 Tests” by Chris Bragg for Buffalo News

Lobbying

Wyoming: “Bill Would Prohibit Former Legislators from Immediately Becoming Lobbyists with 2-Year Wait Period” by Leo Wolfson for Cowboy State Daily

Campaign Finance

New York: “City Council Passes New Disclosure Requirements for Spending to Influence Votes on Ballot Referendums” by Ethan Geringer-Sameth for Gotham Gazette

Elections

Ohio: “‘Clear as Mud’: Ohio’s new voting restrictions from GOP raise alarm” by Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Justice Dept. Search of Biden Home in Wilmington Turns Up More Documents” by Matt Viser and Tyler Pager (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Judge Sanctions Trump, Habba Nearly $1 Million for ‘Completely Frivolous’ Clinton Suit” by Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein (Politico) for MSN

California: “Ex-State Democratic Party Leader Who Helped FBI in Anaheim Probe Agrees to Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud” by Hannah Fry and Gabriel San Román (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

Florida: “Florida Blocks High School African American Studies Class” by Anthony Izaguirre (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

National: “Lobbying Gold Rush May Persist Despite Divided Congress” by Karl Evers-Hillstrom (The Hill) for Yahoo News

Pennsylvania: “Shapiro Bars Gifts from Lobbyists, Requires Ethics Training” by Capitolwire for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Q: Our organization is under the impression that we don’t have to register as lobbyists at the Federal level if we keep our lobbying activity isolated to our internal employees and don’t hire outside consultants.  I don’t think this is accurate.  Can you let me know the registration requirement for federal lobbying?

A: You are correct to be skeptical of this viewpoint.  Keeping lobbying activity isolated to in-house personnel does not impact the need to register.  Registration at the federal level is based on three criteria.  All three must be met in order to warrant registration, or, stated differently, registration is required when all three criteria are met.  The criteria are:

1. An organization spends or is expected to spend at least $14,000 on lobbying activity during a quarterly period;
2. An organization has at least one employee who spends 20% of their time engaged in lobbying activity; and
3. That same 20% employee makes more than one lobbying contact.

When considering whether the monetary threshold has been met, all expenses must be considered including, compensation and reimbursed expenses associated with lobbying activities of all employees (not just designated “government relations” employees), overhead, payments to outside lobbyists and the portion of any dues paid to outside membership organization that are allocated toward lobbying.  Likewise, when determining whether an individual employee meets the 20% standard, all time engaged in any activity that is intended to support lobbying contacts must be considered including background and prepatory work, research, strategy sessions and conversations inside and outside the organization.

Once your organization meets all three thresholds, registration with the House and Senate is required within 45 days.  As a federal registrant, quarterly activity reporting is required as well as semi-annual contribution reporting.

Campaign Finance

National: “Dark Money Group Linked to Leonard Leo Is Dissolved” by Heidi Przybyla (Politico) for MSN

Massachusetts: “E-mails Appear to Show Coordination Between Mass. GOP Chairman and Outside PAC, in Alleged Violation of State Law” by Emma Platoff (Boston Globe) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Supreme Court Says It Can’t Determine Who Leaked Draft Dobbs Opinion” by Robert Barnes and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) for MSN

California: “Former L.A. Councilmember Jose Huizar Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case” by Michael Finnegan and David Zahniser (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

Illinois: “Swept Into Office by Promises of Reform, Lightfoot Faces New Scrutiny on Ethics Record” by Heather Cherone for WTTW

Ohio: “Ohio’s Historic Corruption Case Tests Limits of Citizens United” by Alex Ebert for Bloomberg Law

Lobbying

National: “2-Year Sentence for Hawaii Woman’s Trump Lobbying Scheme” by Associated Press for MSN

Nebraska: “Watchdog Group Says State Capitol Bible Study Leader Should Register as Lobbyist” by Paul Hammel for Nebraska Examiner

The Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance has increased the lobbyist expenditure gift limit from $65 per event to $73.

The annual limit from lobbyist employers has also increased from $130 during a calendar year to $147.

The bureau is required by law to increase the limit every two years.

The law became effective January 16, 2023.

National/Federal

Billions at Stake as Online Fundraising Practices Turn Off Voters
MSN – Jessica Piper (Politico) | Published: 1/17/2023

Llyod Cotler, the founder of Banter Messaging, advises friends and family to write a check if they want to make political contributions and avoid online giving, lest their emails and phone numbers end up on lists that recirculate through the campaign world for eternity. That advice reflects a recognition among digital campaign staff that text and email programs have gone from innovative to out of hand, to the point that it is harming the campaign ecosystem. The rate of return on individual appeals is falling compared to a few years ago, as candidates and outside groups find themselves targeting the same pool of donors.

FEC Dismisses GOP Complaint Over Gmail Spam Filter
MSN – Isaac Stanley-Becker (Washington Post) | Published: 1/17/2023

The FEC dismissed a complaint brought by Republican campaign groups arguing that Gmail spam filters disproportionately flagged GOP fundraising emails in a way that amounted to a prohibited in-kind contribution to Democrats. Google’s spam technology ignited a controversy last year, as GOP groups blamed the technology for a dip in fundraising.

Free Speech or Out of Order? As Meetings Grow Wild, Officials Try to Tame Public Comment.
MSN – Karin Brulliard (Washington Post) | Published: 1/17/2023

Across a polarized nation, governing bodies are restricting – and sometimes even halting – public comment to counter what elected officials describe as an unprecedented level of invective, misinformation, and disorder from citizens when they step to the microphone. As contentious social issues roil once-sleepy town council and school board gatherings, some officials say allowing people to have their say is poisoning meetings and thwarting the ability to get business done.

Garland Appoints Special Counsel to Review Biden Documents
Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney, Josh Gerstein, and Kelly Hooper (Politico) | Published: 1/12/2023

Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel, former U.S. attorney Robert Hur, to review the storage of sensitive documents discovered in spaces used by President Biden during the years preceding his return to the White House. Garland’s decision to place the probe under supervision of a special counsel ratchets up the legal stakes for Biden, who has stressed he takes the matter seriously while saying he was surprised to learn about the existence of the documents.

George Santos Pocketed $3,000 in Donations for Dying Dog, Veteran Alleges
MSN – Timothy Bella (Washington Post) | Published: 1/18/2023

U.S. Rep. George Santos is accused of pocketing $3,000 from a GoFundMe page he set up for a homeless veteran to help pay for surgery for the man’s dying service dog. After he realized he could not afford the thousands of dollars needed for the surgery, a veterinarian tech recommended U.S. Navy veteran Richard Osthoff get in touch with a man named Anthony Devolder, who ran a pet charity that could help his dog. Anthony Devolder was one of the aliases used by Santos before he lied about much of his biography to win a seat in the House.

GOP Congressman Linked to Jan. 6 Probe Assigned to House Committee Investigating Biden
MSN – Amy Wang and Azi Paybarah (Washington Post) | Published: 1/18/2023

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in favor of Donald Trump attracted the attention of the Department of Justice, which seized Perry’s cellphone as part of its investigation into the events leading up to the insurrection, when a pro-Trump mob overran the U.S. Capitol seeking to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s victory. That did not prevent Perry from being named to the powerful House Oversight and Accountability Committee, along with several other of Trump’s most controversial allies.

How Restaurant Workers Help Pay for Lobbying to Keep Their Wages Low
Yahoo News – David Fahrenthold and Talmon Joseph Smith (New York Times) | Published: 1/17/2023

Before starting a new job, many cooks, waiters, and bartenders pay $15 to a company called ServSafe for an online class in food safety. ServSafe doubles as a fundraising arm of the National Restaurant Association, the largest lobbying group for the food-service industry. The association has spent decades fighting increases to the minimum wage at the federal and state levels, as well as the subminimum wage paid to tipped workers. For years, the restaurant association and its affiliates have used ServSafe to create an arrangement with few parallels in Washington, where labor unwittingly helps to pay for management’s lobbying.

Statehouse Democrats Embrace an Unfamiliar Reality: Full power
Yahoo News – Mitch Smith (New York Times) | Published: 1/18/2023

Democrats will have control of the governorship and both legislative chambers in 17 states. That is still fewer than the 22 states where Republicans have full control, but it is a major comeback from a lost decade for state-level Democrats, who as recently as 2017 had sole control at only six Capitols. Slightly more people will now live in states with full Democratic control than in those with full Republican control. What remains untested, though, is whether Democrats can or will wield their newfound authority with the same unflinching force that Republicans exerted over the last decade.

Supreme Court Poised to Reconsider Key Tenets of Online Speech
DNyuz – David McCabe (New York Times) | Published: 1/19/2023

For years, giant social networks like Facebook and Twitter have operated under two crucial tenets. The first is that the platforms have the power to decide what content to keep online and what to take down, free from government oversight. The second is that the websites cannot be held legally responsible for most of what their users post online, shielding the companies from lawsuits over libelous speech, extremist content, and real-world harm linked to their platforms. Now the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to reconsider those rules.

The Speaker Vote Underscored How Money Is So Central to Politics Today
MSN – Tal Kopan (Boston Globe) | Published: 1/16/2023

Money is a regular part of leadership battles in Congress, where fundraising prowess is practically a job requirement, and there have long been debates about whether dedicated congressional campaign committees should spend to protect incumbent lawmakers from upstart challengers. But the deals cut during the vote for House speaker involved entities that legally are supposed to be separate from specific candidates and parties, specifically the Congressional Leadership Fund and a PAC related to Club for Growth.

Two States Still Observe King-Lee Day, Honoring Robert E. Lee with MLK
MSN – Meena Venkataramanan (Washington Post) | Published: 1/16/2023

As the country celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 16, two states observed a different holiday: King-Lee Day, which commemorates both King and Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Mississippi and Alabama mark King-Lee Day as a state holiday. Texas still celebrates Confederate Heroes Day on Lee’s actual birthday, January 19, and its state employees can take a paid holiday on both days. For many Black Southerners, these holidays are part of a broader effort to glorify the Confederacy, 158 years after its secessionist war effort went down in defeat.

What the Jan. 6 Probe Found Out About Social Media, But Didn’t Report
MSN – Cat Zakrzewski, Cristiano Lima, and Drew Harwell (Washington Post) | Published: 1/17/2023

The January 6 committee spent months gathering new details on how social media companies failed to address the online extremism and calls for violence that preceded the Capitol riot. The evidence they collected was written up in a 122-page memo that was circulated among the panel. But committee leaders declined to delve into those topics in detail in their final report, reluctant to dig into the roots of domestic extremism taking hold in the Republican Party beyond Donald Trump and concerned about the risks of a public battle with powerful tech companies.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Where Did Arizona Gov. Hobbs’ Inaugural Funds Come From?
KAWC – Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) | Published: 1/15/2023

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has been under pressure to release information on the sources of funds for the inaugural event since it was reported she was not fully disclosing the names of all the individuals or corporations paying for the celebration. She subsequently put a full list of the names in a booklet that was given out at the event and listed them on an inaugural web site. Now there is a report from the administration giving a full accounting of how much each has donated.

Arkansas – Former Legislator Wilkins Sentenced to a Year and a Day on Bribery Plea
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette – Dale Ellis | Published: 1/18/2023

Former Arkansas Sen. Henry Wilkins was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and ordered to pay $123,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to bribery. Wilkins was involved in a scheme that brought down a number of state legislators as well as executives of a nonprofit that provided Medicaid-funded counseling services to troubled youth and adults in Arkansas.

California – Deal or No Deal? A Corruption Case Spins Out of Control with a Judge’s Last-Minute Change of Heart
Los Angeles Times – Richard Winton | Published: 1/13/2023

For more than a decade, tax consultant Ramin Salari fought charges that he had bribed former Los Angeles County Assessor John Noguez in a “pay-for-play” conspiracy. Then Salari reversed course, agreeing to a deal with prosecutors that called for him to plead guilty to a single charge and pay more than $9 million in penalties in exchange for a sentence that spared him from time in prison. But things did not go according to plan. In weighing whether to approve the deal, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stephen Marcus refused, then relented, then refused again – throwing the long-running case against Salari, Noguez, and others into chaos.

California – Ex-San Jose Mayor’s Public Records Reforms Spark Alarm
San Jose Spotlight – Tran Nguyen | Published: 1/15/2023

In one of his last actions in office, former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo wants to reform how the city complies with transparency laws, a move experts say could limit the public’s access to the inner workings of City Hall. Liccardo, whose legacy as a council member and mayor is plagued by transparency-related lawsuits and violations, is calling for revising the city’s process for responding to public records requests, citing the need to cut down costs, reduce delays, and avoid errors. He also wants to explore changes to the city’s document retention policies.

Connecticut – They Make Money Videotaping Officials. Why and How Some CT Leaders Want to Stop Them
Middletown Press – Sandra Diamond Fox | Published: 1/16/2023

Public officials in Connecticut are considering ways to react legislatively to a growing group of people who consider themselves First Amendment rights activists and make money by creating YouTube videos of themselves walking into Town Halls and other public offices unannounced and taping them. While the YouTubers say they are defending the Constitutional rights of all and performing a service that helps the community, many officials and employees say the activists’ actions disrupt their workplaces. In local incidents, police have been called and sometimes officials or the YouTubers get arrested or into other legal trouble.

Florida – DeSantis Inauguration Sponsored by Companies He Loves to Bash
MSN – Isaac Arnsdorf (Washington Post) | Published: 1/18/2023

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has built his national profile, and possibly a future presidential run, on challenging major companies on controversial social issues. But some of those same companies and their lobbyists bankrolled his recent inaugural festivities. The donations underscore how DeSantis maintains corporate ties even while he works to burnish his image as taking on “woke” corporations.

Hawaii – Honolulu Permitting Inspector OK’d His Own Company’s Projects
Honolulu Civil Beat – Christina Jedra | Published: 1/18/2023

An inspector in the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) has been running an electrical company on the side for over a decade and has inspected and approved more than a dozen of his own projects, public records show. Arthur Suverkropp, a supervising electrical inspector, is also the head of K&A Electric. The company has applied for some 350 permits from DPP since 2007. Dawn Takeuchi Apuna, DPP’s director designate, said the department was unaware of the situation until The Honolulu Civil Beat contacted the office for comment.

Illinois – ACLU of Illinois Says Lightfoot Campaign Emails to Chicago Teachers May Violate Federal Law; CPS Inspector General Opens Investigation
WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 1/12/2023

The decision by Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s reelection campaign to send emails to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teachers asking them to encourage their students to earn class credit by volunteering to help Lightfoot win a second term as mayor may have violated federal law, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. The emails have also prompted responses from the Chicago Board of Ethics and the city’s inspector general and the CPS inspector general.

Maryland – Former Delegate Pleads Guilty to Misconduct in Office for Misusing State Funds to Pay for Middle River Cottage
Maryland Matters – William Zorzi | Published: 1/13/2023

Former Maryland Del. Richard Impallaria pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in office and agreed to pay the state $44,100 in restitution. Prosecutors said Impallaria paid his landlord with rental payments from the General Assembly for a “district office” that was outside his district and next door to a cottage he rented for personal use from the same landlord. They alleged Impallaria paid twice the rent on the “office” cottage, charging the full cost to the Legislature while rent on his personal cottage was simultaneously lowered to $0.

Maryland – Judges Can Attend Inauguration Gala for Md. Governor, Ethics Panel Rules
Maryland Daily Record – Madeleine O’Neill | Published: 1/12/2023

Judges can attend the swearing-in and inaugural festivities for Governor-elect Wes Moore as long as they follow certain guidelines, the Maryland Judicial Ethics Committee said in an opinion. Tickets to the gala can cost between $125 and $1,000, according to the event’s website. The ethics panel concluded it was permissible for judges to attend the event because tickets were available to all members of the public.

Massachusetts – Mass. GOP Chairman May Have Violated Campaign Finance Law, Party Treasurer Alleges, in Escalating Woes for State Republican Party
MSN – Emma Platoff (Boston Globe) | Published: 1/12/2023

Chairperson Jim Lyons seems to have coordinated with an independent PAC in apparent violation of campaign finance law, the state party treasurer told regulators. Treasurer Pat Crowley believes Lyons improperly coordinated with an outside spending group, the Mass Freedom Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee, in engaging an opposition research firm to dig up dirt on Gov. Maura Healey during last year’s race. The prospect of possible violations is the latest in a string of legal and financial challenges for the struggling state GOP.

Missouri – Missouri State Lawmakers Revise Their Dress Code for Women
Yahoo News – Eduardo Medina (New York Times) | Published: 1/16/2023

The Missouri House revised its dress code for female legislators and staff members, requiring them to wear a jacket, such as a blazer or a cardigan, and setting off a debate about policing the fashion choices of women. The updated code drew criticism from some Democratic lawmakers, who described the Republican-backed effort as sexist and pointless. Supporters said it was a small tweak that would help ensure professionalism inside the chamber.

Nebraska – Veteran Head of Political Accountability Commission to Retire in August
Nebraska Examiner – Paul Hammel | Published: 1/12/2023

Frank Daley Jr., who has been executive director of the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Commission since 1999, announced he will retire in August. Daley called his job “fascinating” but said he will be 69 by August and felt it was time to “look at something else.” Daley served as legal counsel for the commission prior to taking the executive director’s job. He is the fifth person to hold the job.

New Mexico – Election-Fraud Conspiracies Behind Plot to Shoot at New Mexico Democrats’ Homes, Police Say
MSN – Amy Gardner and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff (Washington Post) | Published: 1/17/2023

The arrest of a defeated candidate for the New Mexico Legislature on charges he orchestrated a plot to shoot up the homes of four Democratic officials in Albuquerque prompted widespread condemnation as well as accusations that the stolen-election rhetoric among supporters of former President Trump continues to incite violence. Albuquerque police said Solomon Peña, who lost a state House race in November by a nearly two-to-one margin but complained his defeat was rigged, hatched the plot. Police accused him of conspiring with four accomplices to drive past the officials’ homes and fire at them.

New York – NYC Council Bills Could Slow ‘Revolving Door’ Between City Hall and Lobbying Agencies
Gothamist – Brigid Bergin | Published: 1/18/2023

A new legislative package would make it harder for high-ranking New York City officials to cash in on lucrative lobbying jobs as soon as they leave public service. The two bills in the city council would increase the length of time and scope of lobbying restrictions that apply to certain former municipal employees and local elected officials. Currently, top former city officials like deputy mayors and commissioners face a two-year ban from lobbying and appearing before their former agency or branch of government.

Ohio – How Dark Money Groups Led Ohio to Redefine Gas as ‘Green Energy’
MSN – Maxine Joselow (Washington Post) | Published: 1/17/2023

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently signed legislation that legally redefines natural gas as “green energy.” Natural gas is a fossil fuel and a significant cause of climate change. The Empowerment Alliance, a “dark money” group with ties to the gas industry helped Ohio lawmakers push the narrative that that the fuel is clean, documents show. The American Legislative Exchange Council, another anonymously funded group whose donors remain a mystery, assisted in the effort. The legislation took an unusual path through the Ohio Senate, where it was an amendment to a bill focused on poultry purchases.

Ohio – How Sports Betting, Nuclear Bailouts and Undercover FBI Agents Collided in Ohio’s Historic Public Corruption Scandal
MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 1/15/2023

In 2019, two FBI agents and an informant sat for a meeting in the office of a lobbyist who they suspected was a crook. The gathering was organized to discuss influencing sports betting legislation in Ohio. But the conversation turned to Larry Householder, at the time the speaker of the state House. Householder will face trial soon in a public corruption case prosecutors have described as the largest in state history. In a case bogged down in the finer points of campaign finance and utility law, the FBI agents’ cloak and dagger approach yielded statements the government is using as express proof of a bribery scheme.

Ohio – Military Families Frustrated as States Change Mail Ballot Timelines
Yahoo News – Julie Carr Smyth and Gary Fields (Associated Press) | Published: 1/15/2023

Ohio’s new election law significantly shortens the window for mailed ballots to be receive, despite no evidence the extended timeline has led to fraud or any other problems, and that change is angering active-duty members of the military and their families because of its potential to disenfranchise them. Republican lawmakers said during debate on the bill that even if Donald Trump’s claims that late-arriving ballots played a nefarious role in his reelection loss are not true, the skepticism they have caused among conservatives about the accuracy of election results justifies imposing new limits.

Ohio – Ohio House Republicans Push Ethics Reform Bill Ahead of Householder Corruption Trial
MSN – Andrew Tobias (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 1/18/2023

A group of Ohio House Republicans are calling for changing state ethics law to require greater disclosure from lobbyists and utility board nominees while restricting elected officials from holding corporate board positions, among other changes. The announcement comes days before former Speaker Larry Householder is scheduled to begin his trial on federal corruption charges. Bill supporters said the timing was somewhat coincidental.

Oklahoma – Campaign Watchdog Sees Evidence of Abuses but Lacks the Funding to Prosecute
Yahoo News – Ben Felder (Oklahoman) | Published: 1/13/2023

The Legislature has not given the Oklahoma Ethics Commission the money needed to prosecute cases of campaign finance law violations, said Ashley Kemp, the commission’s executive director. The ethics agency can seek civil penalties in District Court but taking a case to trial can be costly. Just one trial case can cost one-third of the agency’s budget, Kemp said.

Oregon – Shemia Fagan and Her Elections Director Disagreed About Disclosing Campaign Finance Violations. Here They Are.
Willamette Week – Nigel Jaquiss | Published: 1/18/2023

Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan and the elections director she forced out last year, Deborah Scroggin, disagreed whether the agency should publish a website disclosing campaign finance reporting violations. The Elections Division had worked on such a website for a year only to have Fagan’s management team repeatedly reject Scroggin’s pleas to let it go live. Willamette Week has published the cases with the 12 largest fines, for more than $2,000 each.

Pennsylvania – Driven by Election Deniers, This County Recounted 2020 Votes Last Week
Yahoo News – Trip Gabriel (New York Times) | Published: 1/15/2023

Under pressure from conspiracy theorists and election deniers, 28 employees of Lycoming County on January 10, 2023, counted – by hand – nearly 60,000 ballots from the 2020 presidential contest. It took three days and an estimated 560 work hours. The results of the recount – like earlier ones of the 2020 election in Wisconsin, Georgia, and Arizona – revealed no evidence of fraud. The numbers reported more than two years ago were nearly identical to the numbers reported last week. Forrest Lehman, the county director of elections, oversaw the recount but opposed it as a needless bonfire of time, money, and common sense.

Utah – The Office of the Lt. Gov. of Utah Is Considering Punishing Gene Davis for Using Campaign Funds to Fight Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
Local Today – Emily Anderson Stern (Salt Lake City Tribune) | Published: 1/14/2023

Former Utah Sen. Gene Davis used more than $10,000 of his campaign funds to pay legal fees to challenge allegations of sexual misconduct, a campaign finance report shows. Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson’s office said she was considering penalties for the spending. Davis’s campaign paid attorney Benjamin Grindstaff $10,837.50 in November. Grindstaff represented Davis when he was accused by a former intern and campaign worker of repeatedly touching her and behaving in a way that made her uncomfortable. State law has strict rules about how a candidate can use campaign funds.

Vermont – Campaign Finance Watchdog Files FEC Complaint Against Liam Madden for Funneling Donations Through Family
VTDigger.org – Sarah Mearhoff | Published: 1/18/2023

Nearly three months after failed congressional candidate Liam Madden described on the radio a self-funded scheme to inflate his campaign fundraising numbers, a campaign finance watchdog group has filed a complaint against Madden with the FEC. Asked by the show’s hosts to respond to critics’ scrutiny of Madden’s campaign finance filings, particularly a $5,300 donation reportedly made by his toddler son, Madden said he “drained” his wife’s business’s bank account, distributed roughly $25,000 among family members, then directed his family members to donate the money to his campaign.

Virginia – ‘A Missed Opportunity’: Virginia subcommittee on campaign finance reform has little to show after 2-year study
OpenSecrets – Jimmy Cloutier | Published: 1/13/2023

A Virginia legislative panel formed to study campaign finance reform failed to deliver its final report in yet another setback for advocates who say the cost of elections in the commonwealth is untenable. Virginia’s rules governing election spending are among the least restrictive in the country, with virtually no limits on the amount of money individuals and corporations can donate to state politicians. The General Assembly created the subcommittee almost two years ago to review potential reforms, including limits on donations and new disclosure requirements.

Virginia – Virginia Senate Panel Blocks Campaign Finance Reform Bills, Again
Virginia Mercury – Graham Moomaw | Published: 1/17/2023

Shortly after a Virginia Senate committee defeated legislation creating an across-the-board $20,000 cap on donations to candidates for the General Assembly and executive branch offices, the same panel voted down another bill that would have only banned political contributions from publicly regulated utilities like Dominion Energy. Senators warned of unintended consequences if Virginia were to move away from its unlimited, transparency-based campaign finance system to setting caps on how much money candidates can accept from one source.

Washington – Lawsuit Filed Over State Lawmakers’ Use of ‘Privilege’ to Deny Access to Public Records
The Olympian – Shauna Sowersby | Published: 1/11/2023

A new lawsuit challenges the use of “legislative privilege” by Washington lawmakers to withhold public records. Public records from multiple sources also showed lawmakers have invoked the privilege more frequently within the last year. In 2019, the state Supreme Court voted ruled in favor of The Associated Press’s lawsuit to reject “lawmakers’ assertion that they are not required to turn over daily schedules, emails, text messages, and other materials related to their work.”

Wyoming – Remote Participation Shut Out of Two Legislative Committees
WyoFile – Maggie Mullen | Published: 1/16/2023

Two legislative committee chairpersons closed the door on remote public testimony, limiting who can participate in the lawmaking process. Committee hearings are the only public opportunity to testify or otherwise formally weigh in on proposed legislation. Stakeholders can also call or email lawmakers directly, but such correspondence is not public record. The Legislature has benefited from additional public testimony made possible by Zoom in recent years, according to Sen. Chris Rothfuss. At the same time, he does not think the Legislature has the policy quite right.

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Republican state lawmakers announced a new ethics bill titled the Ohio Ethics and Financial Disclosure Reform Act.

The bill would require all lobbying income to be reported and sourced directly to the clients they represent.

The bill would also prohibit elected officials from getting paid to serve on corporate boards unless the seat was held prior to taking office and the official has ownership in the corporation.

Nominees hoping to serve on the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will have to disclose any income, previous business relationships, or ties to entities regulated by the PUC.

The bill does not have a number and has not been formally introduced.

Campaign Finance

National: “The Speaker Vote Underscored How Money Is So Central to Politics Today” by Tal Kopan (Boston Globe) for MSN

National: “FEC Dismisses GOP Complaint Over Gmail Spam Filter” by Isaac Stanley-Becker (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “DeSantis Inauguration Sponsored by Companies He Loves to Bash” by Isaac Arnsdorf (Washington Post) for MSN

Oregon: “Shemia Fagan and Her Elections Director Disagreed About Disclosing Campaign Finance Violations. Here They Are.” by Nigel Jaquiss for Willamette Week

Utah: “The Office of the Lt. Gov. of Utah Is Considering Punishing Gene Davis for Using Campaign Funds to Fight Allegations of Sexual Misconduct” by Emily Anderson Stern (Salt Lake City Tribune) for Local Today

Ethics

National: “Free Speech or Out of Order? As Meetings Grow Wild, Officials Try to Tame Public Comment.” by Karin Brulliard (Washington Post) for MSN

Arkansas: “Former Legislator Wilkins Sentenced to a Year and a Day on Bribery Plea” by Dale Ellis for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Hawaii: “Honolulu Permitting Inspector OK’d His Own Company’s Projects” by Christina Jedra for Honolulu Civil Beat

Legislative Issues

National: “Statehouse Democrats Embrace an Unfamiliar Reality: Full power” by Mitch Smith (New York Times) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

New York: “NYC Council Bills Could Slow ‘Revolving Door’ Between City Hall and Lobbying Agencies” by Brigid Bergin for Gothamist

Campaign Finance

National: “Billions at Stake as Online Fundraising Practices Turn Off Voters” by Jessica Piper (Politico) for MSN

Virginia: “Virginia Senate Panel Blocks Campaign Finance Reform Bills, Again” by Graham Moomaw for Virginia Mercury

Ethics

National: “What the Jan. 6 Probe Found Out About Social Media, But Didn’t Report” by Cat Zakrzewski, Cristiano Lima, and Drew Harwell (Washington Post) for MSN

Maryland: “Former Delegate Pleads Guilty to Misconduct in Office for Misusing State Funds to Pay for Middle River Cottage” by William Zorzi for Maryland Matters

New Mexico: “Ex-GOP Candidate Arrested in Shootings at Lawmakers’ Homes” by Rio Yamat (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

Washington: “Lawsuit Filed Over State Lawmakers’ Use of ‘Privilege’ to Deny Access to Public Records” by Shauna Sowersby for The Olympian

Lobbying

National: “How Restaurant Workers Help Pay for Lobbying to Keep Their Wages Low” by David Fahrenthold and Talmon Joseph Smith (New York Times) for Yahoo News

Ohio: “How Dark Money Groups Led Ohio to Redefine Gas as ‘Green Energy’” by Maxine Joselow (Washington Post) for MSN