March 20, 2017 •
Monday’s Government Relations and Ethics News You Can Use
Campaign Finance Democrats to Probe Gorsuch Views on Campaign Finance by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA Colorado: Colorado Democrats Propose Reforms to Shed More Light on Political ‘Dark Money’ by Brian Eason for Denver Post Iowa: $43 million in 4 […]
Campaign Finance
Democrats to Probe Gorsuch Views on Campaign Finance by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA
Colorado: Colorado Democrats Propose Reforms to Shed More Light on Political ‘Dark Money’ by Brian Eason for Denver Post
Iowa: $43 million in 4 Years: Exclusive analysis tracks Iowa campaign contributions by Jason Noble for Des Moines Register
New York: No Charges, but Harsh Criticism for Mayor de Blasio by William Rashbaum for New York Times
Ethics
Documents: Office of Government Ethics, Trump team reached détente by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity
New Mexico: Voters Will Decide Future of State Ethics Commission Proposal by Steve Terrell (Santa Fe New Mexican) for New Mexico Politics
Oklahoma: Conservative Oklahoma Senator Charged with Three Felonies after Child Prostitution Investigation by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman
Pennsylvania: Nutter Overruled His Inspector General to Spare a Key City Hall Adviser by David Gambacorda, Claudia Vargas, and Chris Brennan for Philadelphia Inquirer
South Carolina: Veteran State Sen. Courson of Columbia Suspended from Office after Misconduct Indictment by John Monk for The State
Legislative Issues
North Carolina: Judges Issue Split Ruling on NC Governor-Legislature Power Struggle by Anne Blythe (Raleigh News and Observer) for Charlotte Observer
March 17, 2017 •
News You Can Use Digest – March 17, 2017
Federal: Admiral, Seven Others Charged with Corruption in New ‘Fat Leonard’ Indictment Washington Post – Craig Whitlock | Published: 3/14/2017 A retired U.S. Navy admiral and eight other high-ranking officers were indicted in a bribery scandal in which prosecutors say […]
Federal:
Admiral, Seven Others Charged with Corruption in New ‘Fat Leonard’ Indictment
Washington Post – Craig Whitlock | Published: 3/14/2017
A retired U.S. Navy admiral and eight other high-ranking officers were indicted in a bribery scandal in which prosecutors say a foreign contractor traded luxury travel, lavish gifts, and prostitutes for inside intelligence. A total of 25 military officers and private-sector executives have now been prosecuted in one of the worst corruption scandals to hit the military in years. Prosecutors accused the officers of betraying the public trust for bribes from a well-connected military contractor in Singapore, Leonard Francis, known as “Fat Leonard.” The scheme cost the Navy “tens of millions of dollars” in overbillings to Francis’ firm, as he relied on sensitive and sometimes classified information the officers had given them to game the system, according to the indictment.
FEC Earning Congressional Attention – for the Wrong Reasons
Center for Public Integrity – Dave Levinthal | Published: 3/13/2017
The FEC, an agency of clashing commissioners, unhappy staffers, and key vacancies, may soon face a hearing by the Committee on House Administration, something the agency has not endured since 2011 when super PACs were still novel and the Citizens United decision was not yet two years old. A planned oversight hearing in 2014 never materialized. An oversight hearing is “both urgent and necessary” and should be conducted “sooner rather than later,” said Jamie Fleet, a spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Robert Brady, the committee’s ranking Democrat. The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration also appears to have increased appetite for reviewing FEC affairs. Although this committee has conducted FEC confirmation hearings, it has not specifically conducted an oversight hearing since 2004.
In a Fact-Challenged Era, Will Public Access to Federal Data Be the Next Casualty?
McClatchy DC – Stuart Leavenworth and Adam Ashton | Published: 3/12/2017
Since taking office, the Trump administration has made a series of moves that have alarmed groups with a stake in public access to information: historians, librarians, journalists, climate scientists, and internet activists, to name a few. Some are so concerned they have thrown themselves into “data rescue” sessions nationwide, where they spend their weekends downloading and archiving federal databases they fear could soon be taken down or obscured. Previous presidential transitions have triggered fears about access to government data, but not of this scope.
Prerequisite for Key White House Posts: Loyalty, not experience
New York Times – Sharon LaFraniere, Nicholas Confessore, and Jesse Drucker | Published: 3/14/2017
Every president comes into office with friends and hangers-on who sometimes have minimal experience in government. But few have arrived with a contingent more colorful and controversial than that of President Trump, whose White House is peppered with assistants and advisers whose principal qualification is their long friendship with Trump and his family. The influence of longtime Trump friends and associates, some of them with vague portfolios, comes as a leadership void has been created by the administration’s slow pace in filling top jobs in many agencies. It has also added to the confusion of a West Wing already legendary for its power struggles, while bewildering Washington policy hands.
Suing Trump on Ethics? Good Luck Making Your Case
Politico – Isaac Arnsdorf and Darren Samuelsohn | Published: 3/9/2017
Many people – New York’s attorney general, law professors, and Washington restaurant owners among them – think President Trump is breaking laws by holding onto his businesses. But they are still searching for a successful courtroom strategy to force him to divest. The president is not bound by the main federal law against conflicts-of-interest. Legal experts have argued since Trump won the election, however, that he is violating the constitutional ban on accepting payments from foreign government and is putting federal agencies under his control in the impossible position of having to supervise his businesses. While the legal problems may be obvious, the responses are not. It is an area of law that has never before been tested because there has never before been a billionaire president intent on maintaining his commercial ties while in office.
From the States and Municipalities:
California – Garcetti Bans Private Meetings Between Developers and Planning Commissioners
Los Angeles Times – Emily Alpert Reyes | Published: 3/9/2017
City planning commissioners will be barred from meeting privately with developers looking to get a project approved under an executive directive signed by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. The possible influence of big developers on planning decisions was at the center of a heated battle in the recent election. Proponents of the now-defeated Measure S say the existing planning process follows a “pay-to-play” model that gives developers too much sway over what gets built in the city. The ban applies to members of the city’s Planning Commission and the Cultural Heritage Commission, as well as members of area planning commissions. They are prohibited from meeting or communicating privately with anyone about development plans unless they recuse themselves from the process.
Kentucky – Lawmakers Approve Flurry of Bills as End of Legislative Session Looms
Lexington Herald-Leader – Daniel Desrochers and Jack Brammer | Published: 3/14/2017
Kentucky lawmakers gave final approval to Senate Bill 75, which doubles the amount individuals and PACs can donate to a campaign, state executive committee, and caucus campaign committee, along with other changes to state campaign finance laws. Supporters of the bill said the legislation was necessary to increase the number of transparent donations and give regular people a chance to run for office against candidates funded by PACs. Opponents of argued that raising the limits created the wrong impression and the Legislature should curb ‘dark money” instead.
Minnesota – Does Being a Minnesota Legislator Mean Never Having to Say You’re Sorry?
MinnPost.com – Briana Bierschbach | Published: 3/16/2017
Critics say there is a systemic weakness in how the Minnesota Legislature polices its members, a process that rarely catches potential conflicts before they happen and seldom punishes lawmakers for engaging in unethical behavior. Many lawmakers have other sources of income outside their work at the Capitol, so legislators are sometimes asked to vote on policies that have the possibility of intersecting with their private lives. Over the last 30 years, there have been just 11 ethics hearings in the Minnesota House. Legislators were reprimanded or forced to apologize in four of those cases. Ethics hearings in the Senate have been more numerous, if not exactly frequent; between 1994 and 2017 there were 21 hearings. In just five of those cases were senators forced to apologize or leave a committee post.
New Jersey – N.J. Moves to Restore Election Watchdog
Philadelphia Inquirer – Andrew Seidman | Published: 3/13/2017
New Jersey’s election watchdog agency had two vacancies filled recently, which means it will once again be able to punish candidates who violate campaign-finance rules. The Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) has gone a full year without holding a meeting because of three vacancies on its four-member board, an unprecedented bout of paralysis since the agency’s founding in 1972. Without holding monthly meetings, the ELEC cannot vote on any matter, amend regulations, or punish those who violate the state’s campaign finance, lobbying, or “pay-to-play” restrictions.
New Mexico – Legislature Passes Campaign Finance Reform Years in The Making
New Mexico In Depth – Sandra Fish | Published: 3/14/2017
The New Mexico Legislature passed two campaign finance reform bills. Senate Bill 96 defines “coordination” in campaigns, and requires disclosure of independent spending up to 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a general election. It also doubles the donation limits for legislators to $5,000 for each primary and general election cycle. Senate Bill 97 refines and clarifies state law on public financing, which applies to judges and public regulation commissioners. Both bills now go to Gov. Susana Martinez.
New York – Preet Bharara Shunned Politics. His End Was Tinged by Them.
New York Times – Benjamin Weiser, Ben Protess, Matthew Goldstein, and William Rashbaum | Published: 3/12/2017
The Trump administration fired U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara after he refused to follow a Justice Department order to resign immediately. The order, which also applied to 45 other holdover U.S. attorneys who served under the Obama administration, came only a few months after Donald Trump, then the president-elect, had asked Bharara to stay in the job. It was a sudden and highly politicized end to Bharara’s seemingly apolitical tenure, which was noted for prosecutions of powerful politicians of both parties. As he leaves office, Bharara’s prosecutors are reaching a critical juncture in an investigation into the campaign fundraising of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and are preparing to try a group of former aides and associates of Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a bribery and bid-rigging case.
South Dakota – After Promising to Replace, Did Lawmakers Deliver on IM22?
Sioux Falls Argus Leader – Dana Ferguson | Published: 3/11/2017
Citing flaws and objections to parts of the voter-backed Initiated Measure 22 (IM22), South Dakota legislators vowed to repeal and replace the ethics reform law with bills to address the concerns of voters who supported the expansive ballot measure. The Legislature followed through, passing eight bills aimed at creating lobbyist restrictions, allowing for investigation of wrongdoing in state government, and requiring more disclosure in campaign finance. But it did not approve a public campaign finance program, set lower contribution limits, or rule out certain gifts from lobbyists. And the bills aimed at filling the void left by IM22 received mixed reviews in Pierre as lawmakers ended the main part of the legislative session.
Texas – Texas Congressional Maps Are Struck Down for Discrimination
New York Times – Manny Fernandez | Published: 3/11/2017
A panel of federal judges ruled that Texas’s Republican-led Legislature gerrymandered some of the state’s congressional districts to stunt the growing influence of minority voters. The decision invalidated three congressional districts in south and west Texas and in the Austin area. Although a remedy was not prescribed, redrawing the districts will probably aid Latino and Democratic voters. The congressional redistricting plan was drawn by the Legislature in 2011, the same year a voter ID law was passed that a federal appeals court ultimately found discriminates against minorities. The combination of rulings could lead to Texas being required to have election changes approved in advance by federal officials. It and other states were freed from that requirement by a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2013.
Virginia – Virginia Lawmakers Are Accepting Drastically Fewer Gifts in Post-McDonnell Era, Data Shows
The Virginian-Pilot – Will Houp | Published: 3/9/2017
Both political parties in Virginia have drastically reduced what gifts they accept or report over the past three years. Lawmakers received $15,520 worth from May to October 2016, a 60 percent drop from that same six-month span in 2015. The average gift last year was $131; it was $195 two years ago. After former Gov. Bob McDonnell was convicted in 2014 on multiple counts of public corruption, lawmakers placed new limits on the value of gifts they can accept. And despite the U.S. Supreme Court overturning McDonnell’s conviction last year, many legislators are reluctant to accept anything that reaches the $50 threshold needed to report it.
State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.
March 16, 2017 •
Thursday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Lobbyists Scramble for Access in Trump Era” by Megan Wilson for The Hill Missouri: “Missouri House Votes for Local Lobbyist Gift Ban” by Associated Press for Southeast Missourian Campaign Finance Kentucky: “Lawmakers Approve Flurry of Bills as End of […]
Lobbying
“Lobbyists Scramble for Access in Trump Era” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
Missouri: “Missouri House Votes for Local Lobbyist Gift Ban” by Associated Press for Southeast Missourian
Campaign Finance
Kentucky: “Lawmakers Approve Flurry of Bills as End of Legislative Session Looms” by Daniel Desrochers and Jack Brammer for Lexington Herald-Leader
New Mexico: “Legislature Passes Campaign Finance Reform Years in The Making” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth
Ethics
“The Onion Struggles to Lampoon Trump” by Charles Bethea for New Yorker
“‘People Are Scared’: Paranoia seizes Trump’s White House” by Alex Isenstadt and Kenneth Vogel for Politico
“Trump-Era Republicans Unleash String of Inflammatory Comments” by Elise Viebeck for Washington Post
“Admiral, Seven Others Charged with Corruption in New ‘Fat Leonard’ Indictment” by Craig Whitlock for Washington Post
California: “OC Gets Its First Ethics Director, But No Recruitment Yet for Commission” by Nick Gerda for Voice of OC
Elections
“Prerequisite for Key White House Posts: Loyalty, not experience” by Sharon LaFraniere, Nicholas Confessore, and Jesse Drucker for New York Times
March 15, 2017 •
Kentucky Lawmakers Pass Campaign Finance Bill
The Kentucky Legislature passed a bill this week to double the limits on contributions from individuals and PACs to candidates, state executive committees, and caucus campaign committees. Senate Bill 75, according to supporters, provides greater transparency and will make it […]
The Kentucky Legislature passed a bill this week to double the limits on contributions from individuals and PACs to candidates, state executive committees, and caucus campaign committees.
Senate Bill 75, according to supporters, provides greater transparency and will make it easier for everyday citizens to compete with dark money while running for office.
Opponents, however, believe the focus should be on curbing dark money and adding more money to the equation will further erode public trust.
Nonetheless, the bill will now be sent to the governor for review.
March 15, 2017 •
Wednesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Icahn’s Ethanol Push Fuels Ethics Storm” by Eric Wolf for Politico “N.J. Congressman Wants Details on Michael Flynn’s Lobbying Status” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today Campaign Finance Texas: “Ethics Review Commission Weighs Campaign Finance Proposal” by Jack Craver […]
Lobbying
“Icahn’s Ethanol Push Fuels Ethics Storm” by Eric Wolf for Politico
“N.J. Congressman Wants Details on Michael Flynn’s Lobbying Status” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today
Campaign Finance
Texas: “Ethics Review Commission Weighs Campaign Finance Proposal” by Jack Craver for Austin Monitor
Washington: “House Speaker Hit with Campaign Finance Complaint in Growing Tug-of-War” by Walker Orenstein for The Olympian
Canada: “Political Donations in Canada: A guide to the ‘wild west’ vs. the rest” by Evan Annett and Tu Thanh Ha for The Globe and Mail
Ethics
“With Trump in White House, His Golf Properties Prosper” by Eric Lipton and Susanne Craig for New York Times
Illinois: “Chicago Aldermen Shouldn’t Take Free White Sox Tickets, Ethics Official Says” by John Byrne for Chicago Tribune
Illinois: “BGA Goes Back to Court to Gain Access to Emanuel’s Private Email” by Sun-Times Wire Service for WBBM
New Jersey: “N.J. Moves to Restore Election Watchdog” by Andrew Seidman for Philadelphia Inquirer
Elections
“With Trump in White House, Some Executives Ask, Why Not Me?” by James Stewart for New York Times
March 14, 2017 •
Tuesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Would-Be Trump Appointees Say ‘No Thanks’ Due to Lobbying Ban” by Ben Brody, Shannon Pettypiece, and Bill Allison for Bloomberg.com Oregon: “Gov. Brown Reverses Course, Says Former Lawmaker Will Not Lobby Legislators” by Saul Hubbard for The Register-Guard Campaign […]
Lobbying
“Would-Be Trump Appointees Say ‘No Thanks’ Due to Lobbying Ban” by Ben Brody, Shannon Pettypiece, and Bill Allison for Bloomberg.com
Oregon: “Gov. Brown Reverses Course, Says Former Lawmaker Will Not Lobby Legislators” by Saul Hubbard for The Register-Guard
Campaign Finance
“FEC Earning Congressional Attention – for the Wrong Reasons” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity
Ethics
Florida: “Corrupt Opa-locka Official Was a Prized Witness. He Was Rewarded with No Prison Time.” by Jay Weaver for Miami Herald
New Mexico: “Senate Yanks Real Estate Bill; Lawmaker Says Pay-to-Play Maneuver Exposed” by Andrew Oxford (Santa Fe New Mexican) for New Mexico Political Report
New York: “Preet Bharara Shunned Politics. His End Was Tinged by Them.” by Benjamin Weiser, Ben Protess, Matthew Goldstein, and William Rashbaum for New York Times
Utah: “Shurtleff Sues State for at Least $1.1M, Alleges Utah A.G. Sean Reyes Interfered in His Case” by Jennifer Dobner for Salt Lake Tribune
Elections
California: “Seeing Red: Membership triples for the Democratic Socialists of America” by Matt Pearce for Los Angeles Times
Legislative Issues
Minnesota: “Lawmakers Clash Over Ethics of Real ID Letter to the Editor” by Don Davis (Forum News Service) for St. Paul Pioneer Press
Redistricting
Texas: “Texas Congressional Maps Are Struck Down for Discrimination” by Manny Fernandez for New York Times
March 13, 2017 •
South Dakota Governor Signs IM 22 Replacement Measures
On March 10, Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed a series of bills aimed at replacing ethics and campaign finance laws after the repeal of Initiated Measure 22. Among the bills signed into law, Senate Bill 131 prohibits elected officers and officials […]
On March 10, Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed a series of bills aimed at replacing ethics and campaign finance laws after the repeal of Initiated Measure 22.
Among the bills signed into law, Senate Bill 131 prohibits elected officers and officials from lobbying in the two-year period after termination of service in the state government.
House Bill 1073 was approved to set a $100 annual cap on gifts from lobbyists to elected officials. House Bill 1073 also defines “gift” to exclude food, beverages, and entertainment.
The Governor also signed House Bill 1076, establishing a government accountability board.
The Governor is expected to approve other pending Initiated Measure 22 replacement bills. The pending bills currently on the Governor’s desk include Senate Bill 54 to revise campaign finance limits and disclosure requirements and Senate Bill 171 to establish a government accountability task force to study campaign finance.
March 13, 2017 •
Monday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Gramm’s Border-Tax Crusade Would Help His Firm” by Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico Florida: “House Passes Six Year Ban on Lobbying for Former Lawmakers, Elected Officials” by Allison Neilson for Sunshine State News Virginia: “Virginia Lawmakers Are Accepting Drastically Fewer […]
Lobbying
“Gramm’s Border-Tax Crusade Would Help His Firm” by Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico
Florida: “House Passes Six Year Ban on Lobbying for Former Lawmakers, Elected Officials” by Allison Neilson for Sunshine State News
Virginia: “Virginia Lawmakers Are Accepting Drastically Fewer Gifts in Post-McDonnell Era, Data Shows” by Will Houp for The Virginian-Pilot
Campaign Finance
Canada: “RCMP to Investigate Political Donations in B.C.” by Ian Bailey, Kathy Tomlinson and Justine Hunter for The Globe and Mail
Pennsylvania: “McCord to Star in Trial Involving Pennsylvania Treasury Fees” by Marc Levy (Associated Press) for Philadelphia Inquirer
Ethics
“Suing Trump on Ethics? Good Luck Making Your Case” by Isaac Arnsdorf and Darren Samuelsohn for Politico
California: “Garcetti Bans Private Meetings Between Developers and Planning Commissioners” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times
Maine: “Official Now Says Rep. Tipping Likely Violated Maine Ethics Law” by Scott Thistle for Portland Press Herald
New Mexico: “NM House Backs Independent Ethics Panel” by Dan McKay for Albuquerque Journal
South Dakota: “SD Governor Signs into Law Bills to Replace Voter-Approved Ethics Measure” by Staff for KOTA
March 10, 2017 •
New Austin Campaign Finance Ordinance Under Consideration
After a 2016 federal court decision blocked Austin’s blackout period restricting candidate fundraising to only during the six months preceding an election, campaign finance regulation supporters in Austin’s Ethics Review Commission are pushing a new ordinance to limit the contribution […]
After a 2016 federal court decision blocked Austin’s blackout period restricting candidate fundraising to only during the six months preceding an election, campaign finance regulation supporters in Austin’s Ethics Review Commission are pushing a new ordinance to limit the contribution period and withstand the same type of legal challenges.
As the city appeals the 2016 ruling, candidates can raise money year-round.
The proposed ordinance, created by Council Member Leslie Pool, allows candidates to raise money for a full year before an election and to continue fundraising for a for up to six months after the election to pay off campaign debts.
The drafted ordinance is under review until the Commission meets again in April and aiming for action by the City Council by June.
March 10, 2017 •
NYCU Video Digest – March 10, 2017
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
March 10, 2017 •
News You Can Use Digest – March 10, 2017
Federal: ‘Big Candy’ Is Lobbying the Trump Administration. It’s Also Holding Events at Trump Hotels. Washington Post – Amy Brittain and Jonathan O’Connell | Published: 3/7/2017 The National Confectioners Association, which represents Hershey, Mars, and Jelly Belly, among other companies, […]
Federal:
‘Big Candy’ Is Lobbying the Trump Administration. It’s Also Holding Events at Trump Hotels.
Washington Post – Amy Brittain and Jonathan O’Connell | Published: 3/7/2017
The National Confectioners Association, which represents Hershey, Mars, and Jelly Belly, among other companies, is doing a lot of business with President Trump’s company. In addition to its gathering of 600 attendees for an industry conference at the Trump National Doral resort near Miami, the group has booked two upcoming meetings, in September and again in 2018, at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. At the same time, the organization is optimistic about scoring policy wins from the Trump administration. The matter illustrates a repercussion of Trump’s decision to retain ownership of his business during his time in the White House, that he can become financially intertwined with a special interest that is simultaneously seeking to influence policy decisions by his administration.
Ethics Questions Dogged Agriculture Nominee as Georgia Governor
New York Times – Eric Lipton and Steve Eder | Published: 3/7/2017
Sonny Perdue, who is awaiting confirmation to serve as President Trump’s agriculture secretary, became a target of frequent criticism that he was failing to honor his ethics pledge to reform state government during his eight years as Georgia governor. The criticism centers on the fact that, as Trump has, he continued to own or help run his family business ventures – four farming-related companies – while serving as governor. His confirmation is on hold as the Office of Government Ethics office must examine Perdue’s proposal to avoid conflicts while running the department, which may include selling off some of his farming assets. Before his tenure as governor ended in 2011, 13 complaints had been filed against Perdue with Georgia’s ethics commission, which on two occasions ruled he violated state ethics laws.
Iraq’s Lobbyists Mobilized after Travel Ban, Documents Reveal
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 3/7/2017
Lobbyists for the Iraqi government were in contact with Trump administration officials and lawmakers ahead of the decision to remove the country from the travel ban. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, a law and lobby firm, sent letters to senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense James Mattis, requesting the officials meet with Iraq’s new ambassador, Fareed Yasseen, and Naufel Alhassan, the deputy chief of staff to Iraq’s prime minister. The letters came about two weeks after President Trump signed an executive order temporarily banning individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iraq, from entering the U.S.
From the States and Municipalities:
Arkansas – Ex-Arkansas Senator Indicted by U.S.; 2 Others Accused in Kickbacks Case
Arkansas Online – Doug Thompson | Published: 3/3/2017
Former Arkansas Sen. Jon Woods and two others were named in a federal indictment alleging corruption involving state funds intended for economic development in a case in which another former state lawmaker has already pleaded guilty. Woods of Springdale is charged with mail and wire fraud in the 13-count indictment that also names Oren Paris III and Randell Shelton, Jr. The indictment alleges Woods and former Rep. Micah Neal directed the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District to distribute hundreds of thousands of dollars from the state’s general improvement fund that is intended for economic development to specific, unnamed entities. Neal pleaded guilty in January to arranging kickbacks with a then-unnamed former state senator. Neal said he received $38,000 from funds awarded to two entities by the district.
California – California Lawmakers Report Accepting $518,000 in Gifts, Including Travel and Expensive Meals
Los Angeles Times – Patrick McGreevy, Melanie Mason, and Chris Megerian | Published: 3/2/2017
Three years after Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would have severely restricted gifts to public officials – limiting their value to $200 per giver, and banning amusement park and sports tickets – veteran lawmakers continue to rake in such gifts, many from special interest groups seeking favors from state government. The flood of 2,312 gifts totaling $518,000 to 114 lawmakers is troubling to former state Sen. Sam Blakeslee, who tried unsuccessfully four times to pass a bill that would have prohibited gifts from interests that employ lobbyists. “I believe these gifts are corrosive to the public trust and create an appearance of an unhealthy intimacy between legislators and moneyed interests,” said Blakeslee.
Colorado – Denver Council Approves New Ethics Rules, Including $300 Gift Limit
Denver Post – Jon Murray | Published: 3/6/2017
The Denver City Council adopted a series of changes to the ethics code that, for the first time, puts a monetary cap on the value of meals and event tickets council members and other city officials can accept from people over whom they have decision-making authority. That cap replaces a loose four-item limit that does not set a maximum value. Critics argued it was vulnerable to abuse. The new ordinance also creates an independent body to establish the list of people who are eligible to be appointed to the Denver Board of Ethics. It also expands the list of family members in the conflict-of-interest rules who cannot benefit from contracts or official action, among other provisions.
Maryland – Former Md. Del. Michael Vaughn Charged with Selling His Vote in Bribery Scheme
Washington Post – Linh Bui | Published: 3/8/2017
A federal grand jury indicted Former Maryland Del. Michael Vaughn on charges he took bribes to support a liquor license bill in the General Assembly and misused his campaign finance account. Vaughn is accused of accepting more than $10,000 in cash bribes from liquor store owners in exchange for his support of a 2015 bill that allowed some businesses in Prince George’s County to sell liquor on Sundays. With that bill passed, authorities say Vaughn worked during the 2016 session to block legislation that would have created more licenses to protect the liquor store owners. The indictment also alleges Vaughn siphoned money from his campaign account and used it for his personal benefit. He allegedly filed fraudulent campaign finance reports to cover up how he was using the money.
Massachusetts – Healey Hands Thornton Law Case to Independent Prosecutor
Boston Globe – Andrea Estes | Published: 3/4/2017
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey will appoint a special prosecutor and recuse herself from any investigation into alleged campaign finance violations by Boston’s Thornton Law Firm, whose lawyers donated to her political campaign. The Office of Campaign and Political Finance said it has evidence the firm, a major Democratic funder, illegally reimbursed the firm’s partners and their spouses for up to $175,000 in campaign contributions. Thornton officials have said they did nothing wrong and the reimbursements, termed “bonuses” in the firm’s payroll records, were not really bonuses at all, but the partners’ own money, taken out of each’s equity in the firm.
New Jersey – David Samson Avoids Jail in United Airlines Bribery Scandal
NJ.com – Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 3/6/2017
David Samson, a former attorney general of New Jersey and longtime friend of Gov. Chris Christie, avoided prison time during his sentencing for pressuring executives of United Airlines into operating a weekly flight to South Carolina for his personal convenience. Instead, he was ordered to serve one year of home confinement. Samson had pleaded guilty to bribery, admitting he had used his power as chairperson of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to coerce United into running the route even though it was not profitable. He had threatened to block the construction of a hangar that United needed at Newark Liberty International Airport if the airline did not provide the service. The route ended in Columbia, near one of Samson’s homes.
Ohio – Special Report: Politicians allowed freebies, favors under Ohio ethics laws
Dayton Daily News – Laura Bischoff | Published: 3/2/2017
Ohio’s ethics laws, which date to the Watergate scandal, exist to hold those in government accountable. The law covers 590,000 people, including 10,300 key officials who must file annual financial disclosure statements. State Ethics Commission Executive Director Paul Nick said Ohio has a track record for enforcement that is equaled by only a handful of other states. Ohio is not shy about who it goes after either: the list of public officials who have been caught violating ethics laws includes then-Gov. Bob Taft. Others say the laws themselves keep government clean and its officials honest. But a Dayton Daily News investigation found loopholes in Ohio’s system for policing unethical activity.
Tennessee – Exclusive: Jeremy Durham may face $7 million in state penalties
The Tennessean – Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert | Published: 3/8/2017
Former Rep. Jeremy Durham may face almost $7 million or more in state fines as a result of at least 690 violations of Tennessee’s campaign finance law. The information, contained in a “show cause” notice issued by the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance, also provides for the first time the names of prominent campaign donors and business owners who gave Durham thousands of dollars that the former lawmaker never reported on his campaign disclosures. The report also details nearly $76,000 in improperly disclosed campaign expenditures, on everything from Florida restaurants and airplane tickets to flowers and a Yankee Candle purchase. Among these findings are many of the more than $10,000 in illegal purchases Durham made that were included in a state audit.
Utah – Complaints Accuse Utah Lawmaker of Bullying, Berating School Officials in Front of Students
Salt Lake Tribune – Benjamin Wood | Published: 3/7/2017
Students who visit the Capitol during the legislative session get a civics lesson on state history and government, and, for at least one group of Utah County fifth-graders, a front-row view to rancorous politics. That is what Jenna Wood described in a letter to Senate President Wayne Niederhauser after witnessing an “agitated” Sen. Howard Stephenson threatening to sue Alpine School District administrators during a confrontation in the Capitol Rotunda with several of her daughter’s Foothill Elementary School classmates nearby. In a separate letter, Alpine Superintendent Sam Jarman complained about the incident and alluded to other confrontations with Stephenson, noting the most recent meeting was notable for occurring in a public place.
Utah – Jury Acquits John Swallow of All Charges
Deseret News – Dennis Romboy and McKenzie Romero | Published: 3/2/2017
Former Utah Attorney General John Swallow was acquitted of bribery and evidence tampering charges in one of the highest-profile scandals in state history. Jurors found Swallow not guilty of nine counts that also included obstruction of justice, falsifying government documents, and misuse of public funds. He had faced one to 30 years in prison. Prosecutors accused Swallow of hanging a virtual “for sale” sign on the door to the state’s top law enforcement office by taking campaign donations and gifts like beach vacations from fraudsters and businesspeople in exchange for favorable treatment. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said it was a complex case where jurors were asked to consider matters that were not black and white but “various shades of gray.”
Washington – Ferguson Delivers the Laundry Bill: Grocery Manufacturers told to pay $1.1 million
Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Joel Connelly | Published: 3/1/2017
A Thurston County Superior Court judge ordered the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) to pay $1.1 million in legal fees after it violated Washington’s campaign finance disclosure laws. Those fees are on top of the $18 million in fines the food industry trade group was ordered to pay in November. State Attorney General Bob Ferguson sued the GMA in 2013, claiming it failed to register and report its political committee that opposed voter Initiative 522. The initiative would have required labeling of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, in food sold to consumers. Judge Anne Hirsch said the group “intentionally violated” state disclosure laws in its efforts to oppose the initiative.
State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.
March 9, 2017 •
Thursday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “‘Big Candy’ Is Lobbying the Trump Administration. It’s Also Holding Events at Trump Hotels.” by Amy Brittain and Jonathan O’Connell for Washington Post Campaign Finance “GOP Commissioner: Trump poised to revamp election agency” by Rudy Takala for The Hill […]
Lobbying
“‘Big Candy’ Is Lobbying the Trump Administration. It’s Also Holding Events at Trump Hotels.” by Amy Brittain and Jonathan O’Connell for Washington Post
Campaign Finance
“GOP Commissioner: Trump poised to revamp election agency” by Rudy Takala for The Hill
Maryland: “Baltimore County Bill to Ban Developer Donations Fails” by Pamela Wood for Baltimore Sun
Tennessee: “Exclusive: Jeremy Durham may face $7 million in state penalties” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean
Ethics
“Ethics Questions Dogged Agriculture Nominee as Georgia Governor” by Eric Lipton and Steve Eder for New York Times
Alabama: “Alabama’s Governor Was Recorded Having a Sexually Explicit Conversation. Is Impeachment Next?” by Amy Wang and Amber Phillips for Washington Post
New Jersey: “Mayor of Paterson, N.J., Is Indicted in Corruption Probe” by Nick Corasaniti for New York Times
New York: “For Years, City Spent $300 an Hour Looking for $5,000” by Jim Dwyer for New York Times
Virginia: “For First Time, Va. Legislators’ Reports Showing Their Gifts and Stocks Are Now Online” by Patrick Wilson for Richmond Times-Dispatch
Legislative Issues
Utah: “Complaints Accuse Utah Lawmaker of Bullying, Berating School Officials in Front of Students” by Benjamin Wood for Salt Lake Tribune
March 8, 2017 •
Wednesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Top K Street Campaign Donors Already Writing Checks for 2018” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call “Iraq’s Lobbyists Mobilized after Travel Ban, Documents Reveal” by Megan Wilson for The Hill South Dakota: “Senate OKs Limit on Gifts Officials Can […]
Lobbying
“Top K Street Campaign Donors Already Writing Checks for 2018” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call
“Iraq’s Lobbyists Mobilized after Travel Ban, Documents Reveal” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
South Dakota: “Senate OKs Limit on Gifts Officials Can Get from Lobbyists” by the Associated Press for U.S. News & World Report
Campaign Finance
Canada: “British Columbia: The ‘wild west’ of fundraising” by Kathy Tomlinson for The Globe and Mail
Connecticut: “SEEC Makes Pitch to Strengthen Campaign Laws” by Jack Kramer for CTNewsJunkie.com
Kentucky: “Plan to Double Limit on Campaign Donations Heads to Kentucky House” by John Cheves for Lexington Herald-Leader
Ethics
California: “Ex-Stockton Mayor Stole Money Meant for Disadvantaged Kids, Prosecutors Allege” by Darrell Smith for Sacramento Bee
Colorado: “Denver Council Approves New Ethics Rules, Including $300 Gift Limit” by Jon Murray for Denver Post
New Mexico: “New Hope in House for Independent Ethics Commission” by Dan Mckay for Albuquerque Journal
Utah: “1 of Every 4 Bills in Legislature Poses Potential Conflict-of-Interest for Sponsors” by Lee Davidson for Salt Lake Tribune
March 7, 2017 •
Tuesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Campaign Finance Florida: “Orlando Airport Contractors Helped Fund Board Member’s Campaign” by Beth Kassab for Orlando Sentinel Massachusetts: “Healey Hands Thornton Law Case to Independent Prosecutor” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe Ethics “A Conspiracy Theory’s Journey from Talk Radio […]
Campaign Finance
Florida: “Orlando Airport Contractors Helped Fund Board Member’s Campaign” by Beth Kassab for Orlando Sentinel
Massachusetts: “Healey Hands Thornton Law Case to Independent Prosecutor” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe
Ethics
“A Conspiracy Theory’s Journey from Talk Radio to Trump’s Twitter” by Peter Baker and Maggie Haberman for New York Times
“Trump Sons, Planning Expansion of Family Business, Look to Leverage Campaign Experience” by Jonathan O’Connell, David Fahrenthold, and Matea Gold for Washington Post
Maine: “Maine House Rejects Call for Ethics Review of PAC Payments to Democrat” by Scott Thistle for Portland Press Herald
Maryland: “Maryland House Reprimands Democrat Over Medical Marijuana Business Ties” by Fenit Nirappil and Aaron Gregg for Washington Post
New Jersey: “David Samson Avoids Jail in United Airlines Bribery Scandal” by Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) for NJ.com
Ohio: “Special Report: Politicians allowed freebies, favors under Ohio ethics laws” by Laurie Bischoff for Dayton Daily News
West Virginia: “Some of Justice’s Companies Put in Blind Trust” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette
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