Lobbying

Missouri: “Body Camera Company Vying for St. Louis Contract Hires Alderman, Former Board Counsel as Lobbyists” by Celeste Bott for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Campaign Finance

“Why Some Campaign Contributions Get Returned” by Andrew Mayersohn for Center for Responsive Politics

Colorado: “A New Colorado School Board Campaign Finance Law Is Having Unintended Impacts on Big-Ticket 2018 Races” by Jesse Paul for Denver Post

Florida: “Who Gave Foreign Money to Grieco PAC? Prosecutors Are Asking This Norwegian Millionaire.” by Nicholas Nehamas and Joey Flechas for Miami Herald

New Mexico: “New Rule on Political Spending Takes Effect” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Ethics

“Trump Threatens NBC Over Nuclear Weapons Report” by Peter Baker and Cecilia Kang for New York Times

“Trump Transition at Times Broke Precedent on Ethics: GAO” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

“Undisclosed Deal Guaranteed Roy Moore $180,000 a Year for Part-Time Work at Charity” by Shawn Boburg and Robert O’Harrow Jr. for Washington Post

Georgia: “Atlanta Contractors Get Prison Time in Contract Bribery Case” by Associated Press for Chattanooga Times Free Press

Lobbying

“Ex-Lobbyists Swarm Trump Administration, despite ‘Drain the Swamp’ Pledge” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

California: “San Jose Politicians Can Soon Accept Gifts Up to $470, a Major Change in City Rules” by Ramona Giwarges for San Jose Mercury News

Illinois: “Ald. King Defends Husband Who Faces Fine for Lobbying Violation” by Hal Dardick for Chicago Tribune

Missouri: “Ethics Complaint Accuses Missouri Senate Leader’s Ally of Unregistered Lobbying” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “State Elections Watchdogs: No campaign cash for Ganim” by Brian Lockhart and Bill Cummings for Connecticut Post

Pennsylvania: “Philadelphians Could Be on the Hook for Political Campaign Expenses” by Claudia Vargas for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

Florida: “Using Ethics Loophole, Sen. Lauren Book Votes to Give Her Nonprofit $1.5 Million” by Francisco Alvarado for FloridaBulldog.org

New Mexico: “State Ethics Panel Is a Work in Progress” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

New York: “Lack of Reforms at NY Capitol Called ‘Pathetic’” by Joseph Spector for Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

Elections

“Obama’s Secret Struggle to Punish Russia for Putin’s Election Assault” by Greg Miller, Ellen Nakashima, and Adam Entous for Washington Post

A federal judge has put a temporary stop on a controversial part of a recently passed campaign finance bill. Senate Bill 571, which included significant changes in the state’s election law, contained a provision prohibiting the use of public resources by public entities such as schools and libraries in the 60 days before an election.

The provision was found to be unconstitutionally vague, as it did not clarify what was permissible. While several bills to fix the provision have subsequently been introduced, it is likely none of them will be passed by the upcoming March 8 election.