Lobbying

Florida: “The Florida House Speaker Who Attacks Special Interests Spends Their Money Lavishly – and Won’t Apologize” by Adam Smith and Eli Zhang for Tampa Bay Times

New York: “JCOPE Tweaks Proposed Lobbying Regulations” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

South Carolina: “Lobbying Is Completely Unregulated in Most S.C. Cities, Leaving Room for Possible Corruption” by Abigail Darlington for Charleston Post and Courier

Campaign Finance

“Surge in Out-of-State Donors Fuels Dems in Special Elections” by Ben Wieder and Alex Roarty for McClatchy DC

“Federal Regulators Approve Narrow Facebook Ad Disclosure” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

“In Small Win for Democrats, the Final Tax Bill Will Not Include a Provision Allowing Churches to Endorse Political Candidates” by Heather Long for Washington Post

New Mexico: “Public Financing System Undercut by Budget Holes” by Andrew Oxford for Santa Fe New Mexican

Wyoming: “Did Lawmakers Accidentally Open the Flood Gates for Political Dark Money in Wyoming?” by Arno Rosenfeld for Casper Star-Tribune

Ethics

Michigan: “Businessman Gets 21 Months in Macomb Corruption Scandal” by Robert Snell for Detroit News

Texas: “Board’s Handling of Ethics Policy Called a ‘Mockery’ by Concerned Citizens” by Diane Smith for Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Wisconsin: “Judge Acknowledges He Shouldn’t Have Authorized Release of Ethics Probe Details” by Matthew DeFour for Wisconsin State Journal

Ethics

Montana: Judge Eases Rules on Ethics Complaints Confidentiality for Elected Officials by Phil Drake for Great Falls Tribune

North Carolina: Does A ‘Good Ol’ Boy’ Culture Pervade The North Carolina General Assembly? By Jeff Tiberii for KUNC

South Carolina: Corruption Probe Evidence Suggests Pervasive Pattern of Political Meddling by Powerful Quinns by Glenn Smith for Charleston Post and Courier

South Dakota: South Dakota Lawmakers to Train in Sexual Harassment Prevention by Dana Ferguson for Sioux Falls Argus Leader

West Virginia: WV House Leaders Back Bill Amending Ethics Act to Include Volunteers by Jake Zuckerman for Charleston Gazette

Lobbying

Executives of Springfield Nonprofit Linked to $1 Million in Illegal Political Activity by Harrison Keegan and Alissa Zhu for Springfield New-Leader

Utah: Salt Lake Hires Ex-Utah League of Cities and Towns Director by Katie McKellar for Deseret News

Virginia: Dorothy McAuliffe Put Aside Pomp as Hard-Lobbying Virginia First Lady by Laura Vozzella for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

Fallout from Allegations of Tea Party Targeting Hamper IRS Oversight of Nonprofits by Robert O’Harrow Jr. for Washington Post

Washington: Spokane City Council Passes Local Campaign Finance Reform Laws by Kip Hill for Spokane Spokesman-Review

Campaign Finance

US Senate Hopeful Opens Coffers to Bitcoin Donations by Chuck Raasch for St. Louis Dispatch

Ethics

Has Ivanka Trump Repeatedly Broken Ethics Laws Since Joining The White House? By Cristina Silva for Newsweek

Nevada Democrat, facing ethics probe, won’t seek re-election by The Associated Press for The New Jersey Herald

Canada: ‘Watch me, you’ll see,’ under fire, new ethics czar vows to let his record do the talking on Trudeau, Morneau investigations by Abbas Rana and Peter Mazereeuw for The Hill Times

Lobbying

With Billions at Stake in Tax Debate, Lobbyists Played Hardball by Kenneth Vogel and Jim Tankersley for The New York Times

Tax lobbying keeps on giving by Theodoric Meyer for Politico

Analysis: 2017 Has Been Nutty for K Street, but 2018 Could Be Insane by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Illinois: Lake Forest city manager: Nearly $200K spent lobbying without council OK by Daniel Dorfman for The Lake Forester

South Carolina: Lobbying is completely unregulated in most S.C. cities, leaving room for possible corruption by Abigail Darlington for The Post and Courier

Campaign Finance

Indiana: “Council Defeats Pay-to-Play Veto” by Dave Gong for Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

Ethics

“‘Fake News,’ Trump’s Obsession, Is Now a Cudgel for Strongmen” by Steven Erlanger for New York Times

Maryland: “General Assembly to Track Sexual Harassment Complaints Against Lawmakers” by Erin Cox for Baltimore Sun

Mississippi: “Moore Resigns Facing Sex Harassment Probe in House” by Geoff Pender for Jackson Clarion-Ledger

Missouri: “Former Jackson County Exec Sanders Used Disabled Friend to Run Illegal Kickback Scheme” by Mike Hendricks and Steve Vockrodt for Kansas City Star

Pennsylvania: “James Hickey, Co-Defendant of Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges” by Emily Opilo and Peter Hall for Allentown Morning Call

South Carolina: “Rep. Rick Quinn Pleads Guilty in S.C. Corruption Case in Deal That Drops Charges for Kingpin Father” by Seanna Adcox and Glenn Smith for Charleston Post and Courier

Texas: “This Texas Lawmaker Could Finish His Term from Jail” by Alana Rocha for Texas Tribune

Texas: “Fort Worth School Board President Says Relationship with Linebarger Firm ‘Not an Issue’” by Diane Smith for Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Elections

“Smith to Take Franken’s Senate Seat, Run in 2018” by Brian Bakst and Tim Pugmire for Minnesota Public Radio

Elections

Doug Jones Declared Victor in Alabama Race for Senate; Roy Moore May Seek Recount by Sean Sullivan, David Weigel, and Michael Sherer for Washington Post

Ethics

Trump Attacks Gillibrand in Tweet Critics Say Is Sexually Suggestive and Demeaning by Ashley Parker, John Wagner, and Ed O’Keefe for Washington Post

‘Journalism for Rent’: Inside the secretive firm behind the Trump dossier by Jack Gillum and Shawn Boburg for Washington Post

Florida: Women in Florida Politics Fear #MeToo Moments Will Backfire by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald

Pennsylvania: Ex-State Legislator Marc Gergely Sentenced to 18 Months House Arrest Stemming from Gambling Probe by Kate Giammarise for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Wisconsin: Dem and GOP Ethics Regulators Say Attorney General Brad Schimel Needs to Correct Inaccuracies in John Doe Report by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Lobbying

Liberals and Conservatives Agree: Ex-congressmen should put brakes on lobbying careers by Ashley Balcerzak for Center for Public Integrity

After Manafort’s Indictment, Firms Are Suddenly Registering Their Foreign Lobbying by Lachlan Markay for Daily Beast

For Female Lobbyists, Harassment Often Accompanies Access by Trip Gabriel and Julie Bosman for New York Times

Colorado: Sen. Tate’s Supporters Lobbied in Front of His Committee, Gave to His Campaign by Ashley Jefcoat for KUNC

Missouri: Lobbyist Play Part, Spend Cash in Jefferson City by Jason Hunsicker for Kirksville Daily Express

Pennsylvania: Ethics Complaint Filed Against Wolf Aide Who’s Married to Gas Industry Lobbyist by Marie Cusick for StateImpact Pennsylvania

Campaign Finance

Washington: PDC Complaints Becoming Weapons in Political Wars by Jim Camden for Spokane Spokesman Review

Lobbying

Canada: “Ethics, Lobbying Commissioners Can Work More Closely Together: Nominee” by Beatrice Britneff for iPolitics.ca

Kentucky: “Law Which Prohibits Legislators Accepting ‘Anything of Value’ from Lobbyists Has Been Ruled Unconstitutional by U.S. District Court Judge” by Don Weber for Spectrum News

Campaign Finance

“State Lawmakers Blur Line Between Public, Personal Interests” by Ryan Foley (Associated Press) and Liz Essley Whyte for Center for Public Integrity

“Aide to U.S. Rep. Bob Brady Pleads Guilty in Probe of Payoff to 2012 Campaign Rival” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania: “Sands Shareholder Challenging Pennsylvania’s Ban on Casino Industry Political Giving” by Peter Hall and Steve Esack for Allentown Morning Call

Ethics

Alabama: “Birmingham Water Works Chair, Others Charged on Corruption Probe” by John Archibald for AL.com

California: “Matt Dababneh Will Resign from California Assembly After Sex Assault Allegation” by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee

Florida: “Flagler Prevails in Fight over ‘Malicious’ Ethics Complaints” by Matt Bruce for Daytona Beach News-Journal

Michigan: “Chuck Rizzo Sr. Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud Conspiracy in Macomb Trash-Hauling Probe” by Tresa Baldas and Ann Zaniewski for Detroit Free Press

Wisconsin: “John Doe Judge to Step Down Because of Tweets He Posted About the Case” by Patrick Marley and Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Elections

“For Trump Adviser at Center of Russia Probe, a Rapid Rise and Dramatic Fall in His Ancestral Land” by Griff White for Washington Post

Redistricting

“Supreme Court Will Take Up a Second Gerrymandering Case This Term” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

Democrat Doug Jones has raised and spent far more money than Roy Moore in bid for U.S. Senate seat by Brian Lawson for WHNT

Missouri: Former Jackson County executive Mike Sanders accused of using disabled man to pocket campaign donations by Dave D’Marko for Fox4KC

Rhode Island: Two lawmakers fined by R.I. Elections Board for campaign-finance breaches by Patrick Anderson for The Providence Journal

Ethics

House Ethics Committee To Investigate Blake Farenthold For Sexual Harassment Allegations by Shreesha Ghosh for The International Business Times

Ex-Ethics director to file second ethics complaint against Conway by John Bowden for The Hill

Rep. Trent Franks of Texas resigns amid Ethics investigation by Alan Fram for WJLA

Rep. Devin Nunes cleared of allegations that he disclosed classified information in Russia investigation by Sarah Wire for The Los Angeles Times

Lobbying

California: Backlash ripples through California politics after women denounce sexual harassment by Calmatters for The Press Enterprise

Canada: Premier’s chief of staff admits late filing, appears to break lobbying rules from Yahoo! News

Florida: Gubernatorial candidate Graham proposes reforms to prevent sexual harassment by Troy Kinsey for Spectrum News 9

Campaign Finance

Kentucky: Did Jeff Hoover Violate Campaign Finance Laws? It’s Unclear by Lisa Autry for WEKU

New Jersey: N.J. power broker DiVincenzo settles campaign-finance case for $20,000 by Andrew Seidman for The Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

Arizona: Arizona, tax money to be used for House ethics investigation by Howard Fischer for The Arizona Daily Sun

Florida: City introduces new ethics ordinances by Mariel Carbone for WCTV

Massachusetts: State Senate opens ethics inquiry into Stan Rosenberg by Joshua Miller for The Boston Globe

Vermont: Scott adds sexual harassment clause to code of ethics by Neal Goswami for WCAX

Lobbying

Lobbyists push GOP in last-minute scramble to save tax breaks by Theodoric Meyer, Aaron Lorenzo and Colin Wilhelm for Politico

Healthcare lobbyists not optimistic on changing GOP tax bill by Harris Meyer for Modern Healthcare

Campaign Finance

New York: Lawmaker’s business boosted by aide’s public campaign funds by Chris Bragg for The Albany Times Union

Ohio: Columbus City Council May Clear Up Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements by Adora Namigadde for WOSU

Elections

Georgia: More elections scheduled for January to fill state Senate and House seats by Mark Niesse for The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Minnesota: Special elections set to replace departed Minnesota lawmakers accused of sexual harassment by Erin Golden for The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Ethics

Obama’s Ethics Chief: Trump Lawyer’s Claim The President Can’t Face Obstruction Charge is “Baloney” by Harriet Sinclair for Newsweek

Conyers Won’t Seek Re-election in Wake of Harassment Claims, Relative Says by Yamiche Alcindor for The New York Times

Manafort Associate Has Russian Intelligence Ties, Court Document Says by Kenneth Vogel for The New York Times

Massachusetts: Rosenberg steps down as ethics probe begins by Christian Wade for The Salem News

Lobbying

Former Podesta, BGR lobbyists start new firm by Theodoric Meyer for Politico

Procurement

Govt flags new IT hardware procurement marketplace by Leon Spencer for ARN

Campaign Finance

Trump Gives Rich Donors Massive Tax Cuts, Then Asks Them for Campaign Donations by Summer Meza for Newsweek

Wisconsin: Southern Door County joins push for campaign finance reform by Liz Welter for Green Bay Press-Gazette

Ethics

Bush ethics lawyer: Trump lawyer should be disbarred if he wrote Flynn firing tweet by Jacqueline Thomsen for The Hill

Ethics panel asks for details of past harassment cases against serving lawmakers by Cristina Marcos for The Hill

Georgia: Atlanta ethics office investigates airport conflict of interest issue by Kelly Yamanouchi for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Texas: Denton City Council to meet with ethics attorney by Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe for Denton Record-Chronicle

Texas: Laredo politicians undergo ethics training at TAMIU by Maria Salas for LMT Online

Lobbying

New Excise Tax Targets Big-Money Nonprofit Executives by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

Analysis: More than 6,000 lobbyists have worked on taxes in 2017 by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Lobbying

Nevada: “Nevada Senator Wants to Close Tax Deduction Loophole for Lobbyists” by Gary Martin for Las Vegas Review-Journal

New York: “JCOPE Chair: Lobbying regulations will carry force of law” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Campaign Finance

“Voters Lose Protest of Campaign-Contribution Ceilings” by Daniel Staples for Courthouse News Service

California: “San Francisco Eyes Stricter Reporting of Politician-Linked Donations” by Aaron Mendelson for KPCC

Indiana: “Council OKs Bill Limiting Contributions” by Dave Gong for Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

New Mexico: “Pearce Wins Court Order on Campaign Cash” by Dan Boyd and Dan McKay for Albuquerque Journal

Ethics

“Inside the White House, Michael Flynn Pushed Proposal from Company He Said He Had Advised” by Greg Jaffe, Carol Leonnig, Michael Kranish, and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

“Conyers Scandal Highlights Divisions, Generational and Gender” by Yamiche Alcindor and Sheryl Gay Stolberg for New York Times

California: “California Legislature’s Handling of Sexual Harassment Complaints Blasted at Hearing” by Katy Murphy for San Jose Mercury News

Idaho: “Unanimous Idaho Legislative Panel Backs Financial Disclosure for All Candidates, Elected Officials” by Betsy Russell for Spokane Spokesman-Review

Michigan: “Michigan Political Culture Has a History of Sexual Harassment, Now Hopes for Change” by Emily Lawler for MLive.com

West Virginia: “WV Chief Justice Has Court Employees Remove Missing Couch from His House” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette

Lobbying

Nevada: “Nevada Senator Wants to Close Tax Deduction Loophole for Lobbyists” by Gary Martin for Las Vegas Review-Journal

New York: “JCOPE Chair: Lobbying regulations will carry force of law” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Campaign Finance

“Voters Lose Protest of Campaign-Contribution Ceilings” by Daniel Staples for Courthouse News Service

California: “San Francisco Eyes Stricter Reporting of Politician-Linked Donations” by Aaron Mendelson for KPCC

Indiana: “Council OKs Bill Limiting Contributions” by Dave Gong for Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

New Mexico: “Pearce Wins Court Order on Campaign Cash” by Dan Boyd and Dan McKay for Albuquerque Journal

Ethics

“Inside the White House, Michael Flynn Pushed Proposal from Company He Said He Had Advised” by Greg Jaffe, Carol Leonnig, Michael Kranish, and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

“Conyers Scandal Highlights Divisions, Generational and Gender” by Yamiche Alcindor and Sheryl Gay Stolberg for New York Times

California: “California Legislature’s Handling of Sexual Harassment Complaints Blasted at Hearing” by Katy Murphy for San Jose Mercury News

Idaho: “Unanimous Idaho Legislative Panel Backs Financial Disclosure for All Candidates, Elected Officials” by Betsy Russell for Spokane Spokesman-Review

Michigan: “Michigan Political Culture Has a History of Sexual Harassment, Now Hopes for Change” by Emily Lawler for MLive.com

West Virginia: “WV Chief Justice Has Court Employees Remove Missing Couch from His House” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette

Ethics

Top Trump Staffers Failed to File Financial Reports on Their Way Out the Door by Anita Kumar and Ben Wieder for Sacramento Bee

Alabama: A Woman Approached The Post with Dramatic – and False – Tale About Roy Moore. She Appears to Be Part of Undercover Sting Operation. by Shawn Boburg, Aaron Davis, and Alice Crites for Washington Post

California: Adelanto Councilman’s Bribery Case Latest in Long History of City Corruption by Joe Nelson for San Bernardino Sun

District of Columbia: D.C. Deputy Mayor Used Employees for Babysitting, Inspector General Finds by Peter Jamison for Washington Post

Florida: Florida Paid Millions Settling Harassment Cases by Gary Fineout (Associated Press) for Wichita Eagle

Missouri: Effort to Change How Missouri Elects Local Lawmakers Faces Challenges, Experts Say by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

New York: Capital Region Ethics Boards Defunct, or Work in Secret by Lauren Stanforth for Albany Times Union

South Dakota: Ex-Lawmaker Accused of Harassment by Lobbyist: ‘She can go to hell’ by Dana Ferguson for Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Lobbying

Foreign Lobbying Law Open to Exploitation by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Idaho: Idaho Hasn’t Changed Its $10 Lobbyist Registration Fee Since 1974… by Betsy Russell for Spokane Spokesman-Review

Elections

Gerrymandering Opponents Turn to Ballot Initiatives to Redraw Lines by Reid Wilson for The Hill

Lobbying

New Mexico: “Toulouse Oliver Calls for Sexual Harassment Training for NM Lobbyists” by Laura Paskus for New Mexico Political Report

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “Campaign Finance Laws Changed in New Budget” by Ken Dixon for Connecticut Post

Louisiana: “Corruption Figure’s Donations to Cantrell Campaign Questioned” by David Hammer for WWL

Pennsylvania: “U.S. Rep. Bob Brady’s Emails Searched as FBI Probe Nears Critical Point” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

“A Split from Trump Indicates That Flynn Is Moving to Cooperate with Mueller” by Michael Schmidt, Matt Apuzzo, and Maggie Haberman for New York Times

“Congress Returns to Intense Pressure to End Secrecy Over Sex Harassment” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Yamiche Alcindor for New York Times

“Congressman on Tape Tells Woman He Would Report Her to Capitol Police Because She Could Expose His Secret Sex Life” by Mike DeBonis and Elise Viebeck for Washington Post

Massachusetts: “Ethics Commission Investigating Altered State Police Report” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe

Minnesota: “2 Minnesota Lawmakers Accused of Sexual Harassment Step Down” by Maggie Astor for New York Times

Elections

“In Tax Debate, Gift to Religious Right Could Be Bargaining Chip” by Kenneth Vogel and Laurie Goodstein for New York Times