August 31, 2017 •
Thursday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Lobbying “How to Get Rich in Trump’s Washington” by Nicholas Confessore for New York Times Oregon: “Marijuana Lobbyists Harvest Cash from Bankers, Accountants, Lawyers and Others” by Scott Thistle for Portland Press Herald Utah: “State Lawmaker Chosen to Head Utah […]
Lobbying
“How to Get Rich in Trump’s Washington” by Nicholas Confessore for New York Times
Oregon: “Marijuana Lobbyists Harvest Cash from Bankers, Accountants, Lawyers and Others” by Scott Thistle for Portland Press Herald
Utah: “State Lawmaker Chosen to Head Utah Technology Council Advocacy Group” by Lee Davidson for Salt Lake Tribune
Campaign Finance
Arizona: “Utility Regulators Consider Giving Service Territory to Campaign Donors” by Ryan Randazzo for Arizona Republic
Ethics
“DOJ Is Investigating Whether Uber Broke the Law Against Foreign Bribery” by Elizabeth Dwoskin for Washington Post
“Members of Congress Scoring Personal Loans from Political Supporters” by Nicholas Jahr and Ellen McCreary Ionas for Center for Public Integrity
Alaska: “New Ballot Initiative Targets Legislators’ Per Diem Pay” by James Brooks for Juneau Empire
New York: “State Worker Is Interrogated for Allegedly Letting Someone in the Building” by Rick Karlin for Albany Times Union
Procurement
Missouri: “KCI Contract Selection Delayed by Conflict of Interest Complaint against Justus” by Steve Vockrodt and Lynn Horsley for Kansas City Star
August 30, 2017 •
Wednesday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Lobbying “Exclusive: Bloomberg charity scrutinized by India for anti-tobacco funding, lobbying – documents” by Aditya Kalra for Reuters Campaign Finance Michigan: “Attorney: Michigan super PACs face ‘firestorm’ of fines” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News Montana: “Discounted Sale of US […]
Lobbying
“Exclusive: Bloomberg charity scrutinized by India for anti-tobacco funding, lobbying – documents” by Aditya Kalra for Reuters
Campaign Finance
Michigan: “Attorney: Michigan super PACs face ‘firestorm’ of fines” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News
Montana: “Discounted Sale of US Interior Secretary’s Motor Home Raises Questions” by Bobcaina Calvin (Associated Press) for ABC News
Ethics
California: “3 of 4 Colonies Corruption Defendants Found Not Guilty on All Charges” by Joe Nelson and Richard Deatley for San Bernardino Sun
Colorado: “Emails Raise Ethical Questions About Colorado Lawmaker. But He Says There’s Nothing to See.” by Jesse Paul for Denver Post
Idaho: “Lawmakers: Idaho ‘uniquely poised’ to stiffen campaign, lobbying disclosure requirements” by Betsy Russell for Spokane Spoesman-Review
Elections
“Top Trump Organization Executive Asked Putin Aide for Help on Business Deal” by Rosalind Helderman, Carol Leonnig, and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
North Carolina: “Court Weighs Legislature’s Stripping of Cooper’s Powers” by Emery Dalesio (Associated Press) for Ashville Citizen-Times
Redistricting
“The New Front in the Gerrymandering Wars: Democracy vs. math” by Emily Bazelon for New York Times
February 1, 2017 •
Wednesday Government Relations News Roundup
Lobbying “Is It Time for a Lobbyist Union? Juneau Representative Proposes 2.5 Percent Industry Tax” by Nathaniel Herz for Alaska Dispatch News “Richard Corcoran: Rick Scott’s ethics proposals not personal” by Jim Rusica for Florida Politics “Senate Committee Compares House […]
Lobbying
“Is It Time for a Lobbyist Union? Juneau Representative Proposes 2.5 Percent Industry Tax” by Nathaniel Herz for Alaska Dispatch News
“Richard Corcoran: Rick Scott’s ethics proposals not personal” by Jim Rusica for Florida Politics
“Senate Committee Compares House and Senate Bills on Lobbyist Gift Restrictions” by Benjamin Peters for Missouri Times
Ethics
“Trump Fires Acting Attorney General Who Defied Him” by Michael Shear, Mark Landler, Matt Apuzzo, and Eric Lichtblau for New York Times
“Two Applicants Seek to Replace Jon Motl as Commissioner of Political Practices” by Troy Carter for Bozeman Daily Chronicle
“Voters to Decide If Crooked State Pols Lose Pensions” by Matthew Hamilton for Albany Times Union
“In Letter, Justice Again Tries to Address Conflicts of Interest” by Andrew Brown for Charleston Gazette
Legislative Issues
“Don’t Like the Ballot Measure Voters Approved? Just Ignore It, Some Lawmakers Say.” by Alan Greenblatt for Governing
Redistricting
“Court to Wisconsin Republicans: Redraw election maps” by Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
January 26, 2017 •
Thursday Government Relations and Ethics News Roundup
Lobbying Florida: “Lee Clerk Wants Audit of County Lobby Logs” by Patricia Borns for The News-Press Pennsylvania: “Governor Fires Head of State Drug and Alcohol Office” by Angela Couloumbis and Karen Langley for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Texas: “Once-Dead Ethics Reforms Could […]
Lobbying
Florida: “Lee Clerk Wants Audit of County Lobby Logs” by Patricia Borns for The News-Press
Pennsylvania: “Governor Fires Head of State Drug and Alcohol Office” by Angela Couloumbis and Karen Langley for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Texas: “Once-Dead Ethics Reforms Could Curb Lobbying Tricks, Increase Disclosures and Punish Criminal Lawmakers” by J. David McSwane for Dallas News
Campaign Finance
California: “Contra Costa DA Slapped with $45,000 Fine as Criticism Builds” by Nate Gartrell for East Bay Times
Ethics
“An Early Test of Trump’s Ethics Pledge Is a Glittering New Foreign Tower” by Drew Harwell, Alan Freeman, and Jenny Peng for Washington Post
“White House, Trump Organization Name Ethics Advisers” by Bernard Condon and Chad Day (Associated Press) for WRAL
Utah: “Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes’ Name Dragged into the Criminal Case of Former A.G. John Swallow” by Jennifer Dobner and Tom Harvey for Salt Lake Tribune
Elections
“Trump Seeks ‘Major Investigation’ into Unsupported Claims of Voter Fraud” by Jenna Johnson and Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post
Legislative Issues
Nebraska: “Nebraska Lawmaker Quits After Unsavory Women’s March Tweet” by Grant Schulte (Associated Press) for ABC News
South Carolina: “South Carolina Lawmaker Accused of Beating His Wife Resigns” by Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) for ABC News
January 25, 2017 •
Wednesday Government Relations News Roundup
Lobbying “Lobbyists Expect Boom Times under Trump” by Megan Wilson for The Hill Campaign Finance “Condos, Donovan Tackle Campaign Finance Together” by Mark Johnson for VTDigger.org Ethics “Trump Is Said to Keep James Comey as F.B.I. Director” by Michael Schmidt […]
Lobbying
“Lobbyists Expect Boom Times under Trump” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
Campaign Finance
“Condos, Donovan Tackle Campaign Finance Together” by Mark Johnson for VTDigger.org
Ethics
“Trump Is Said to Keep James Comey as F.B.I. Director” by Michael Schmidt and Adam Goldman for New York Times
“Lawmakers Admonish Ethics Official Over Tweets About Trump” by Matthew Daley (Associated Press) for Business Insider
Colorado: “Colorado Ethics Commission Tells Aurora Councilwoman to Follow State Ethics Rules Because of Job” by Jon Murray for Denver Post
Kentucky: “Richie Farmer’s Girlfriend Drops Ethics Appeal” by Tom Loftus for Louisville Courier-Journal
Minnesota: “After Shocking Collapse, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton Announces He Has Prostate Cancer” by Samantha Schmidt and Lindsey Bever for Washington Post
South Dakota: “South Dakota Republicans Are About to Get Rid of the State’s First Independent Ethics Commission” by Amber Phillips for Washington Post
Elections
“Angry Democrats Study the Tea Party’s Playbook” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times
Legislative Issues
Massachusetts: “Legislative Leaders Aiming for 40 Percent Pay Hikes” by Frank Phillips for Boston Globe
January 24, 2017 •
Tuesday Government Relations and Ethics News Roundup
Lobbying Alaska: “As Clock Ticked Toward Session, Alaska Lawmakers Turned to Lobbyists for Cash” by Nathaniel Herz for Alaska Dispatch News New Mexico: “Loophole Cuts Lobbyist Spending Reporting” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth Ethics “After Ethics Review, […]
Lobbying
Alaska: “As Clock Ticked Toward Session, Alaska Lawmakers Turned to Lobbyists for Cash” by Nathaniel Herz for Alaska Dispatch News
New Mexico: “Loophole Cuts Lobbyist Spending Reporting” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth
Ethics
“After Ethics Review, Senate Postpones Committee Vote for Betsy DeVos” by Danielle Douglas-Gabriel for Washington Post
“We Rely on the Government for Lots of Data. What Happens to That in the Era of ‘Alternative Facts’?” by Mark Berman for Washington Post
“Liberal Watchdog Group Sues Trump, Alleging He Violated Constitutional Ban” by David Fahrenthold and Jonathan O’Connell for Washington Post
Pennsylvania: “Ex-Mayor Reed Admits Carelessness, Not Criminality, in Pleading Guilty to Stealing City Artifacts” by Matt Miller for Harrisburg Patriot-News
Rhode Island: “Gallison to Admit Stealing from a Friend, the Poor and a Disabled Client” by Tom Mooney for Providence Journal
Redistricting
“Supreme Court Won’t Review Texas Voter Law Found to Discriminate Against Minorities” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post
January 19, 2017 •
Thursday Government Relations News Roundup
Lobbying “The Trump Lobbying Purge That Wasn’t” by Maggie Severns and Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico Colorado: “Denver City Council Committee Stalls Vote Again on Ethics Changes” by Jon Murray for Denver Post Massachusetts: “Could Lobbying Rules Have Saved Boston from […]
Lobbying
“The Trump Lobbying Purge That Wasn’t” by Maggie Severns and Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico
Colorado: “Denver City Council Committee Stalls Vote Again on Ethics Changes” by Jon Murray for Denver Post
Massachusetts: “Could Lobbying Rules Have Saved Boston from Ill-Fated Grand Prix?” by Andrew Ryan for Boston Globe
Missouri: “House Passes HB 60 to Limit Lobbyist Gifts” by Benjamin Peters for Missouri Times
South Dakota: “Senators Reluctantly Allow Lobbyists to Stay” by Dana Ferguson for Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Campaign Finance
“SEC Settles with 10 Public Fund Money Managers Over Pay-to-Play Violations” by Hazel Bradford for Pensions & Investments
Ethics
South Carolina: “Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster Paying Off Ethics Penalties Before Becoming Governor” by Andy Shain for Charleston Post & Courier
Texas: “State Rep. Dawnna Dukes Indicted by Grand Jury” by Alex Samuels for Texas Tribune
Elections
Kansas: “Kobach Seeks Authority for Bifurcated Elections; Downplays Issue of Missing Registrations” by Peter Hancock for Lawrence Journal World
Legislative Issues
“How a Mother-in-Law Inspired a Bill to Protect Drivers” by Cleve Wootson Jr. for Washington Post
January 18, 2017 •
Wednesday Government Relations News Roundup
Lobbying Michigan: “From Lawmaker to Lobbyist. Should the State Slow Down the Revolving Door?” by Craig Mauger and Ted Roelofs for Bridge Magazine Campaign Finance California: “La Jolla Car Dealer Sentenced for Role in Funneling Illegal Contributions to San Diego […]
Lobbying
Michigan: “From Lawmaker to Lobbyist. Should the State Slow Down the Revolving Door?” by Craig Mauger and Ted Roelofs for Bridge Magazine
Campaign Finance
California: “La Jolla Car Dealer Sentenced for Role in Funneling Illegal Contributions to San Diego Mayor’s Race” by Greg Moran for San Diego Union Tribune
Ethics
“Trump’s Cabinet Pick Invested in Company, Then Introduced a Bill to Help It” by Manu Raju for CNN
Arkansas: “North Little Rock Attorney Says No Ethics Violation in Dallas Cowboys Tickets Given to Police Officers” by Jake Sandlin for Arkansas Online
Iowa: “Kent Sorenson Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Role in Caucus Scandal” by Grant Rodgers for Des Moines Register
New Mexico: “Will Independent Ethics Oversight Catch On in 2017?” by Trip Jennings for New Mexico In Depth
Pennsylvania: “DA Williams Fined $62,0000 for Ethics Violations” by Claudia Vargas for Philadelphia Inquirer
Virginia: “Lengthy New Ethics Bill Targets Redskin Tickets Loophole” by Travis Fain for The Daily Press
Elections
“Rolling in the Red Carpet: Many Pennsylvania Avenue firms to ignore Trump parade” by Stephanie Mansfield for Washington Times
January 17, 2017 •
Tuesday Government Relations News Roundup
Campaign Finance “Corporations Open the Cash Spigot for Trump’s Inauguration” by Nicholas Fandos for New York Times New Mexico: “Leadership Shift Sparks Hope for Supporters of Campaign Finance Reform” by Sandra Fish for New Mexio In Depth Wisconsin: “Former Wisconsin […]
Campaign Finance
“Corporations Open the Cash Spigot for Trump’s Inauguration” by Nicholas Fandos for New York Times
New Mexico: “Leadership Shift Sparks Hope for Supporters of Campaign Finance Reform” by Sandra Fish for New Mexio In Depth
Wisconsin: “Former Wisconsin Judges Seek Rules on Campaign Donations” by Patrick Marley and Bill Glauber for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ethics
“Trump’s Administration Will Regulate Trump’s Businesses, Raising Prospect of Conflicts” by Rosalind Helderman, Drew Harwell, and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post
California: “Sweetwater School District Gets $8.2 Million in Settlement Over Pay-to-Play Scandal” by Greg Moran for San Diego Union Tribune
Colorado: “Colorado Ethics Commission Puts Denver, Aurora and Other Cities on Notice in Turf Battle Over Gift Rules” by Jon Murray for Denver Post
New Jersey: “Christie Selects Campaign Donor as New Ethics Watchdog” by Salvador Rizzo for Bergen Record
Canada: “Ethics Watchdog Opens Probe into Trudeau’s Vacation at the Aga Khan’s Island” by Alex Ballingall for Toronto Star
Elections
“‘Kompromat’ and the Danger of Doubt and Confusion in a Democracy” by Amanda Taub for New York Times
January 16, 2017 •
Monday Government Relations News Roundup
Lobbying Florida: “NRA’s Influence with Florida Lawmakers Is Powerful” by Steve Bousquet (Tampa Times) for Bradenton Herald Campaign Finance “Trump Tweet About L. L. Bean Underscores Potential Danger for Brands” by Daniel Victor for The New York Times California: “State […]
Lobbying
Florida: “NRA’s Influence with Florida Lawmakers Is Powerful” by Steve Bousquet (Tampa Times) for Bradenton Herald
Campaign Finance
“Trump Tweet About L. L. Bean Underscores Potential Danger for Brands” by Daniel Victor for The New York Times
California: “State Watchdog Agency Investigating after Times Report on Political Donations” by Emily Alpert Reyes and David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times
District of Columbia: “In a City Plagued by Pay-to-Play Politics, an Important Decision Looms for D.C.” by Aaron Davis for The Washington Post
Washington: “Lawmakers in Olympia Seek New Campaign-Disclosure and Ethics Rules” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times
Ethics
“After Trump Rebuke, Federal Ethics Chief Called to Testify Before House Lawmakers” by Lisa Rein, Tom Hamburger, and Mike DeBonis for The Washington Post
Maryland: “Democrat Michael Vaughn of Prince George’s Resigns from State Legislature” by Ovetta Wiggins for The Washington Post
Montana: “Republican Lawmakers Try to Cut Off Campaign Regulator’s Pay” by Matt Volz (Associated Press) for SF Gate
Tennessee: “House Lawmakers Must Disclose Political Junkets” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean
Texas: “Top House Republican Says Dark Money Debate Won’t Kill Ethics Reform” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune
January 12, 2017 •
Thursday Government Relations News Roundup
Lobbying Connecticut: “CT’s Largest Lobbying Firms Led by Women” by Patricia Daddona for HartfordBusiness.com Florida: “Brevard County Commissioners Reject Lobbying Rules” by Dave Berman for Florida Today Missouri: “Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley Announces New Ethics Policy” by Jason Hancock […]
Lobbying
Connecticut: “CT’s Largest Lobbying Firms Led by Women” by Patricia Daddona for HartfordBusiness.com
Florida: “Brevard County Commissioners Reject Lobbying Rules” by Dave Berman for Florida Today
Missouri: “Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley Announces New Ethics Policy” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star
Campaign Finance
California: “L.A. Politicians Propose Banning Campaign Contributions from Developers” by David Zahniser and Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times
California: “Ethics Watchdog Turns in Her Own Group” by Martin Wisckol for Orange County Register
Kentucky: “Report: Beshear officials shook down 16 workers” by Tom Loftus for Louisville Courier-Journal
Ethics
“How a Sensational, Unverified Dossier Became a Crisis for Donald Trump” by Scott Shane, Nicholas Confessore, and Matthew Rosenberg for The New York Times
“Trump Won’t Drop Business Ties” by Josh Dawsey and Darren Samuelsohn for Politico
Maryland: “Former Md. State Del. Will Campos Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes for Official Favors” by Lynh Bui and Arelis Hernandez for The Washington Post
North Carolina: “Cooper Expands Lawsuit Over Power Struggle with Legislature” by Craig Jarvis for Raleigh News & Observer
January 11, 2017 •
Wednesday Government Relations News Roundup
Lobbying Colorado: “Denver Council Approves Gift-Report Rules That Require More Frequency, Better Access” by Jon Murray for Denver Post Campaign Finance “Betsy DeVos, Trump’s Education Pick, Plays Hardball with Her Wealth” by Noam Scheiber for New York Times Alaska: “Group […]
Lobbying
Colorado: “Denver Council Approves Gift-Report Rules That Require More Frequency, Better Access” by Jon Murray for Denver Post
Campaign Finance
“Betsy DeVos, Trump’s Education Pick, Plays Hardball with Her Wealth” by Noam Scheiber for New York Times
Alaska: “Group Appeals Lawsuit Challenging Alaska Campaign Finance Laws” by Alex DeMarban for Alaska Dispatch News
California: “How This Former Aspiring Screenwriter Became One of California’s Campaign Finance Experts After Losing His Day Job” by Christine Mai-Duc for Los Angeles Times
Pennsylvania: “D.A. Candidate Donates $250,000 to Own Campaign, Triggering ‘Millionaire’s Provision’” by Jared Brey for Philadelphia Magazine
Ethics
“Trump’s Son-in-Law, Jared Kushner, to Join White House as Senior Adviser; No Formal Role for Ivanka Trump” by John Wagner and Ashley Parker for Washington Post
“House GOP Quietly Shields Lawmakers Records from Ethics Probes” by Eric Pianin (Fiscal Times) for Yahoo! Finance
Florida: “Opa-locka Politician Pleads Guilty to Bribery, as FBI Continues Corruption Probe” by Jay Weaver for Miami Herald
South Carolina: “Merrill Indictment Casts Pall Over Opening of SC Legislature” by Avery Wilks for The State
South Dakota: “Krebs Offers Package to Replace SD Ethics Initiative Under Fire” by James Nord (Associated Press) for Sioux City Journal
Tennessee: “To Combat Sexual Harassment, Tennessee Lawmakers Required to Watch 15-Minute Video” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean
Vermont: “Hopes High for State Ethics Panel” by Neal Goswami for Rutland Herald
January 10, 2017 •
Tuesday Government Relations News Roundup
Lobbying “Trump Insiders Head for Big K Street Paydays” by Isaac Arnsdorf and Kenneth Vogel for Politico Indiana: “Tighter Rules Still Not Strict Enough for Some Lawmakers” by Maureen Hayden for Batesville Herald-Tribune Massachusetts: “City Hall Promised Lobbying Reform. Nothing […]
Lobbying
“Trump Insiders Head for Big K Street Paydays” by Isaac Arnsdorf and Kenneth Vogel for Politico
Indiana: “Tighter Rules Still Not Strict Enough for Some Lawmakers” by Maureen Hayden for Batesville Herald-Tribune
Massachusetts: “City Hall Promised Lobbying Reform. Nothing Happened.” by Mark Arsenault and Andrew Ryan for Boston Globe
Missouri: “Greitens Takes Over as Missouri Governor, Targets Lobbyists” by Summer Ballentine and David Lieb (Associated Press) for Yahoo! News
Campaign Finance
Arizona: “Cashier’s Checks, $3,000 in Cash, a Consultant and a Pastor” by Dustin Gardner and Rob O’Dell for Arizona Republic
Maryland: “Democrat Tapped for State House Charged with Illegal Donations, Won’t Be Sworn In” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post
Pennsylvania: “Calls Turn Developers into Donors for Peduto” by Rich Lord for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Ethics
“Russian Hackers Find Ready Bullhorns in the Media” by Max Fisher for New York Times
“Ethics Official Warns Against Confirmations Before Reviews Are Complete” by Ed O’Keefe and Sean Sullivan for Washington Post
“Jared Kushner, a Trump In-Law and Adviser, Chases a Chinese Deal” by Susanne Craig, Jo Becker, and Jess Drucker for New York Times
North Carolina: “Ethics Commission – Set to Become Elections Board – Secures Lawyers in Roy Cooper Lawsuit” by Colin Campbell for Raleigh News & Observer
January 9, 2017 •
Monday Government Relations News Roundup
Lobbying “Trump’s Twitter Feed Traumatizes Washington” by Eli Stoklos and Josh Dawsey for Politico Florida: “Taxpayers Will Keep Paying for Lobbyists in Tallahassee, Despite House Speaker, Who Calls It a ‘Disgrace’” by Steve Bousquet and Michael Auslen for Tampa Bay […]
Lobbying
“Trump’s Twitter Feed Traumatizes Washington” by Eli Stoklos and Josh Dawsey for Politico
Florida: “Taxpayers Will Keep Paying for Lobbyists in Tallahassee, Despite House Speaker, Who Calls It a ‘Disgrace’” by Steve Bousquet and Michael Auslen for Tampa Bay Times
New York: “Now a Lobbyist, Democratic Power Broker Faces Restrictions in New York Job” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette
Campaign Finance
“Libertarian Challenge to Contribution Limits Advances” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA
Florida: “Investigation: Florida elections loophole empowers special interests” by Lucas Daprile for TCPalm.com
Washington: “Seattle Voters Will Soon Get $100 in ‘Democracy Vouchers’ to Donate to Candidates” by Daniel Beekman for Seattle Times
Ethics
California: “City Council Embraces Transparency Provisions Pushed by New Mayor Steinberg” by Anita Chabria for Sacramento Bee
Maryland: “Federal Bribery Charges Filed over Prince George’s County Liquor Licenses” by Lynh Bui, Ann Marimow, and Arelis Hernandez for The Washington Post
Legislative Issues
“House Votes to Fine Members Up to $2,500 If They Take Videos in Chamber” by Erin Kelly for USA Today
South Carolina: “Grand Jury Indicts Rep. Chris Corley on Domestic Violence, Gun Charges” by Maya Prabhu for Charleston Post and Courier
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.