Lobbying

“A Year after Rocky Merger, Patton Boggs Aims to Re-Establish K Street Dominance” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post

Colorado: “Spend, Don’t Tell: Special interests influence lawmakers, but remain tight lipped” by Arthur Kane for Colorado Watchdog

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “Some Republicans Not Cashing Checks from Rauner” by Kurt Erickson and Joshua Maddox for Bloomington Pantagraph

Nebraska: “As Cost of Running for State Office Increases, Some Say It’s Time for a Fresh look at Campaign Spending” by Paul Hammel for Omaha World-Herald

Ethics

Georgia: “Gift Rules for State Employees Mostly Ignored, Observers Say” by Walter Jones (Morris News Service) for Savannah Morning News

New York: “Trial to Begin for Thomas Libous, New York Senator Whose Son Was Convicted” by Thomas Kaplan for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “FBI Raid on Reading City Hall Is Second in a Week” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

Wisconsin: “Vos: Time to ‘double down’ on GAB reform in wake of reported IRS links” by M.D. Kittle for Wisconsin Watchdog

Elections

“One of the Last In, Scott Walker Enters 2016 Presidential Race near the Top of the GOP Field” by Jenna Johnson for Washington Post