Lobbying

“Lobbyists Have Raised $7 Million for Hillary Clinton. For Trump? Zero” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post

South Carolina: “Departing S.C. House Ethics Committee Chairman Accepts Government Affairs Consulting Job” by Maya Prabhu for Charleston Post and Courier

Campaign Finance

“States Can Bring Political ‘Dark Money’ into the Light” by Ann Ravel for Los Angeles Times

Illinois: “Who Is Funding Group Challenging Redistricting?” by Sophia Tareen (Associated Press) for WTOP

Missouri: “Who Made the Biggest Political Donation in Missouri History? Ask After the Election” by Kevin McDermott for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Ethics

“Accused of Sexual Harassment, Roger Ailes Is Negotiating Exit from Fox” by John Koblin and Jim Rutenberg for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “Kathleen Kane’s Staff Gives Job Interview to Son of Key Prosecution Witness Against Her” by Steve Esack for Allentown Morning Call

Elections

“‘Just Look Around’: A Hispanic delegate doesn’t see the party she’s rooting for” by Robert Samuels for Washington Post

“How Donald Trump Picked His Running Mate” by Robert Draper for New York Times

Ohio: “In Cleveland’s Public Square, Rights Are Exercised. Loudly.” by Dan Barry for New York Times

Lobbying

“UFC’s Payday Comes at the End of an Odyssey through Statehouses” by Richard Sandomir and Ken Belson (New York Times News Service) for Las Vegas Sun

New York: “De Blasio’s Nonprofits: Were they worth it?” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Campaign Finance

“In Choosing Mike Pence, Donald Trump Moves Closer to Big Donors” by Nicholas Confessore for New York Times

Colorado: “Denver Campaign Finance Reform Proposal Pulled from Ballot” by Claire Cleveland for Denver Post

Kentucky: “Corporations Can Now Make Political Donations in Kentucky” by Ryland Barton for WFPL

Ethics

Rhode Island: “Ethics Commission Adopts Moratorium on Complaints for 90 Days before General Election” by Ian Donnis for Rhode Island Public Radio

Elections

“How Melania Trump’s Speech Veered Off Course and Caused an Uproar” by Maggie Haberman and Michael Barbaro for New York Times

“Inside the GOP’s Shadow Convention” by Shane Goldmacher for Politico Magazine

Kansas: “ACLU Sues Kansas Over Voting Rule for State, Local Races” by Roxana Hegeman (Associated Press) for Philadelphia Inquirer

Virginia: “Virginia High Court Considers Whether McAuliffe Erred in Restoring Felons’ Voting Rights” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post

Lobbying

“Reluctant Lobbyists Descend on Cleveland” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Campaign Finance

“Clinton Pledges Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Ruling” by Benjamin Oreskes for Politico

“Mike Pence Used Campaign Funds to Pay His Mortgage – and it Cost Him an Election” by Rosalind Helderman, Tom Hamburger, and Alice Crites for Washington Post

“Why We Don’t Know Who’s Funding the Republican Convention” by Haley Sweetland Edwards and Chris Wilson for Time

New Jersey:”Watchdogs Cheer Disclosure of $1M Donor to Super PAC Linked to Fulop” by Terrence McDonald (Jersey Journal) for NJ.com

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Schools May Suspend Popular Fundraiser over Political Promo” by D.E. Smoot (Muskogee Phoenix) for Times Record

Ethics

Tennessee: “The Culture That Allowed Durham to Thrive” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Utah: “Prosecutors Seek to Drop All Charges Against Ex-A.G. Shurtleff; Swallow Prosecution Proceeding” by Jennifer Dobner for Salt Lake Tribune

Elections

“Donald Trump’s Ghostwriter Tells All” by Jane Mayer for New Yorker

Legislative Issues

“Paul Ryan Blasted for Picture of Congressional Interns with Few Minorities” by Christopher Brennan for New York Daily News

Lobbying

New York: “Jackson Lewis Lands 39-Member Wilson Elser Lobbying Group” by Christine Simmons for New York Law Journal

Campaign Finance

California: “Commerce Councilwoman Faces State’s Largest-Ever Penalty Against a Local Elected Official” by Adam Elmahrek for Los Angeles Times

District of Columbia: “Vincent Gray 2010 Campaign Chauffeur Sentenced to a Year’s Probation” by Keith Alexander for Washington Post

Indiana: “No Criminal Charges for Monarch Beverage in Campaign Contributions Investigation” by Jill Disis and Tony Cook for Indianapolis Star

Ethics

“U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield Broke House Rules, Committee Finds” by R.G. Dunlop for Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting

Florida: “Carrie Meek’s Daughter Involved in $5 Million Land Deal Through Mom’s Foundation” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald

New Jersey: “David Samson, Ally of Christie, Admits to Bribery Over Airline Route” by Patrick McGeehan for New York Times

Oregon: “Court Tosses Out Subpoena in Kitzhaber Investigation” by Andrew Selsky (Associated Press) for Everett Herald

Elections

“Donald Trump Officially Picks Mike Pence as His Running Mate” by Philip Rucker and Robert Costa for Washington Post

We are excited to debut our very first weekly News You Can Use Video Digest!

Campaign Finance

“Super PAC Spending Becoming More Bipartisan” by Llewellyn Hinkes-Jones for Bloomberg BNA

“Koch-Backed ‘Dark Money’ Groups Fined for Failing to Disclose Donors” by John Dunbar for Center for Public Integrity

California: “Oakland: Company laundered campaign donations to mayoral, council candidates” by Matthias Gafni for East Bay Times

New Jersey: “Jail for Birdsall Exec in Pay-to-Play Scheme” by Andrew Ford for Asbury Park Press

Ethics

South Carolina: “SC Supreme Court Rules for Pascoe, Against Wilson” by Tim Smith for Greenville News

Tennessee: “Jeremy Durham Had Sexual ‘Interactions’ with 22 Women, Report Says” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Elections

“Sidewire: The chatter site for political junkies who haven’t already maxed out” by Ben Terris for Washington Post

“Americans Really Dislike Trump, Clinton. So Why Aren’t Third Parties Doing Better?” by Danielle Kurtzleben for National Public Radio

“Justice Ginsburg Doesn’t Let Up on Trump, Who Fires Back” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Florida: “Florida Mosque Is Removed as a Polling Site after Complaints and Threats” by Mary Hui for Washington Post

Gov. Mark Dayton has reappointed Emma Greenman and Peggy Leppik to the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.

Both women have previously served as members of the board, but due to the appointment and confirmation process in Minnesota, both were required to step down from their positions when they were not confirmed by the Senate before the end of the 2016 legislative session.

After the governor’s appointment, board members are allowed to serve pending confirmation by the Legislature, so Dayton has effectively restored both to their positions, and the confirmation process will begin again during the next regular session of the Legislature.

Lobbying

“In Brussels and London, Lobbyists Retool for Brexit Unknowns” by Quentin Ariès and Kalina Oroschakoff for Politico

Pennsylvania: “Consulting Business Owned by Mike Fleck Fined $11,850 by State” by Emily Opilo for Allentown Morning Call

Campaign Finance

Colorado: “Political Consultant Files Legal Challenge to Stop Denver Campaign Finance Reform Proposal” by Jon Murray for Denver Post

Maine: “Top Legislators’ PACs Reap Thousands from Key Donors” by Colin Woodard for Portland Press Herald

Montana: “Review of Montana’s Political Party Committees Underway, Some Will Be Reclassified” by Troy Carter for Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Washington: “Supporters of Campaign Finance Measure Submit Signatures” by Rachel La Corte (Associated Press) for Yakima Herald

Ethics

California: “Beaumont, Stunned by Years of Alleged Corruption, Has Been ‘Turned Upside Down’” by Paloma Esquivel for Los Angeles Times

New Mexico: “Former Sen. Phil Griego to Face Trial on Nine Corruption Charges” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Virginia: “Crime Commission Attorney Named New Director of Va. Ethics Council” by Graham Moomaw for Richmond Times-Dispatch

Elections

“Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Struggle to Be Unifying Voice for Nation” by Patrick Healy for New York Times

Backers of Washington’s Initiative 1464 have submitted more than the required 326,000 signatures to appear on the November ballot.

If voters approve the measure, the initiative will require new campaign finance disclosures, limit contributions by lobbyists and government contractors, and impose a three-year waiting period on lobbying by former public officials and senior staff. I-1464 also seeks to create a publicly funded voucher system for contributions.

The Office of the Secretary of State must still validate the signatures before I-1464 will officially be added to the ballot.

Photo of the Washington State Capitol by Nikopoley on Wikimedia Commons.

Alaskan lawmakers have been busy strategizing how to continue campaign fundraising ahead of the July 11 special session.

State statute bans lawmakers from soliciting or accepting contributions in the capital city or any municipality where the Legislature is convened.

Despite calls by some lawmakers to hold the session in Anchorage due to a lodging shortage in Juneau, the formal legislative session will remain in Juneau allowing political fundraising to continue in Anchorage.

Photo of the chamber of the Alaska House of Representatives by L’Aquatique on Wikimedia Commons.

Federal:

Can Super PACs Be Put Back in the Box?
Washington Post – Matea Gold | Published: 7/6/2016

A powerhouse legal team representing a bipartisan group of members of Congress and candidates is unleashing a new effort to overturn the case that gave rise to super PACs, part of a new strategy to rein in the big money that has poured into campaigns since 2010. They are targeting a case decided by U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 2010: SpeechNow.org v. FEC. That decision permitted a conservative group to raise money beyond the contribution limits placed on traditional PACs because it planned to spend its funds independently of a candidate or party. In doing so, the appellate court paved the way for new political vehicles, later dubbed super PACs for their ability to accept unlimited amounts from individuals and corporations.

F.B.I. Director James Comey Recommends No Charges for Hillary Clinton on Email
New York Times – Mark Landler and Eric Lichtblau | Published: 7/5/2016

FBI Director James Comey said his agency is recommending that no charges be brought against Hillary Clinton in connection with her email use while secretary of State. “No reasonable prosecutor” would bring such a case, Comey said. But although the FBI is not recommending charges, Comey did strongly criticize Clinton’s handling of classified information in her email, calling is “extremely careless.” The announcement comes three days after FBI agents and Justice Department officials interviewed Clinton. The FBI has been seeking to determine whether Clinton or any of her aides had mishandled classified information in connection with her email. The inspector general of the intelligence agencies had said the emails contained information that was classified at the time they were sent but were not marked classified, and the information should never have been sent on an unclassified system.

Koch Brothers’ Plight Likened to That of Civil Rights Workers in the 1950s
Center for Public Integrity – John Dunbar | Published: 7/5/2016

Charles and David Koch and civil rights pioneers have faced threats and harassment from those who disagree with their views, and each is entitled to privacy when it comes to disclosing certain kinds of information to the government, a federal judge ruled. But the decision has been controversial; comparing the travails of billionaires to the violent threats endured by civil rights workers in the 1950s is more than a stretch, say some of those familiar with the case – it is offensive. The case represents just the latest front in an ongoing battle being waged by a range of mostly conservative groups attempting to keep donors to political nonprofits hidden from view. Many of the legal battles revolve around interpretation of a crucial civil rights case from 1958: NAACP v. Alabama.

Lockheed’s Top Government Affairs Official Not Registered as Lobbyist
Politico – Austin Wright and Jeremy Herb | Published: 7/3/2016

The top government affairs official at Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest defense contractor, has not registered as a lobbyist. The company maintains that Robert Rangel, its senior vice president for government affairs since early last year, is not required to disclose his efforts to influence Congress and the executive branch. He does not meet all the legal requirements outlined in the law that governs lobbying disclosures, Lockheed says, including the percentage of his time he actually spends trying to influence government officials. His decision not to register, however, goes against both company precedent and the practices of other top defense firms.

Special Interests Look to Influence Political Conventions – Discreetly
Center for Public Integrity – Carrie Levine | Published: 7/7/2016

Corporations, unions, and other special interests will spend tens of millions of dollars to bankroll festivities at the Democratic and Republican national conventions. Some high-profile companies and individual donors are scaling back on giving to the host committees as they want to distance themselves from controversies surrounding Donald Trump. Meanwhile, many special interests will participate in convention-related activities, but they have become more creative in how they influence conventioneers, or are refusing to discuss their convention plans. “They want to show up, they want to rub elbows with everyone at the conventions, they just don’t want the corporate name out there,” said Craig Holman, a lobbyist for Public Citizen who has tracked influence efforts at the conventions.

The Lobbying Reform That Enriched Congress
Politico – Isaac Arnsdorf | Published: 7/3/2016

In the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal, Democrats seized on the chaos to retake both chambers of Congress, promising voters they would change what they called a “culture of corruption.” Their attempt to make good on that promise, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, was embraced by both parties as a historic breakthrough. But critics say the result of the law is very nearly the opposite of what the American public was told it was getting at the time. Not only did the lobbying reform bill fail to slow the “revolving door,” it created an entire class of professional influencers who operate in the shadows.

From the States and Municipalities:

Connecticut – Anthem-Cigna Controversy Exposes Gaps in Ethics Rules
Connecticut Mirror – Mark Pazniokas | Published: 7/5/2016

Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Katharine Wade’s refusal to recuse herself from ruling on the Anthem-Cigna merger has provoked a reappraisal of state ethics regulators, who heavily rely on the self-reporting of public officials, and an ethics code that may be clearer to lawyers than lovers of English. Wade, a former Cigna vice president of government affairs, in February did not try to hide the fact that her staff was reviewing Anthem’s application to acquire Cigna for $54 billion. “On behalf of the Department, I signed a contract with an independent economist to assist Department staff in their review of the Anthem Form A application. Presently, there are no Cigna matters before me,” Wade wrote to the Office of State Ethics. Wade declined recently to say what basis she concluded there were no Cigna matters before her under the meaning the state ethics code, given that she already has asserted her intention to rule on the merger.

Massachusetts – Senate Slow to Embrace DeLeo Ethics Panel
Lowell Sun – Matt Murphy (State House News Service) | Published: 7/7/2016

Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo’s efforts to jumpstart a review of the state’s ethics, campaign finance, and lobbying laws has hit a roadblock in the Senate, where leaders so far have refused to go along out of concern the broad scope of the speaker’s proposed review would lead to a dead end. DeLeo had offered a resolve that would have created a joint task force of the House, Senate, and Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration to review the state’s complex ethics laws. The House referred the speaker’s proposal to a joint committee, but so far the Senate has refused to admit the bill, leaving open the possibility that the House could choose to work with the governor alone on the review.

Michigan – Unions Win Injunction Blocking Michigan Fundraising Law
Detroit News – Jonathan Oosting | Published: 7/1/2016

A U.S. District Court Judge granted a preliminary injunction against a law passed by the Michigan Legislature last year that would make it easier for corporations to deduct money from employees’ paychecks for their own PACs while forbidding them from making similar deductions on behalf of labor unions. It is the second preliminary injunction from a federal judge against a provision of the law, which also prohibited local government officials from distributing information about ballot proposals, a restriction dubbed a “gag order” by critics.

Minnesota – Lobbying in Minnesota: Spending has nearly doubled since 2002
St. Paul Pioneer Press – Rachel Stassen-Berger | Published: 7/4/2016

Special interest groups have spent $800 million lobbying government officials in Minnesota over the last 13 years. The St. Paul Pioneer Press review also found the amount of annual spending has doubled and the number of lobbying clients has tripled. Business interests have dominated the spending annually, making up about half of the lobbying expenditures every year since 2002. Utilities have spent the most, followed by the health industry. Spending or the lack thereof does not always translate to influence, however. Good lobbyists, say lobbyists and lawmakers alike, know that. “Lobbyists don’t write laws … lobbyists write ideas. Lobbyists write suggestions,” said Tom Lehman, who has been a lobbyist for 26 years.

New York – Agency Clears Mayor de Blasio and Nonprofit of Campaign Finance Violations
New York Times – Vivian Yee | Published: 7/6/2016

The New York City Campaign Finance Board determined a nonprofit closely linked to Mayor Bill de Blasio did not spend money to bolster the mayor’s re-election bid, but the board said the group’s spending raised serious policy issues. The board said Campaign for One New York’s 2014 spending was not campaign-related, primarily because it occurred so far from the mayor’s re-election race in 2017. Yet the board appeared to find much that was troublesome, if not illegal, in the behavior of the nonprofit, which has amassed millions of dollars in donations to push for City Hall initiatives. The board also clarified rules governing nonprofit advocacy groups that are affiliated with politicians.

New York – In Inquiry into Ex-Cuomo Aide, Disclosure Form Only Adds Mystery
New York Times – Vivian Yee | Published: 7/5/2016

Two companies listed in a financial disclosure form from 2014 belonging to Joseph Percoco, who for many years was New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s closest aide, seem to be at the heart of a sprawling federal investigation encircling Cuomo’s administration. One firm, Chris Pitts LLC, is named for a minor Democratic activist in rural Connecticut who, until recently, lived with his sister and got around town in an aging Chevrolet. The other, COR Development Company, is one of the most prominent real estate developers in central New York. In an investigation with few signposts for those outside the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, Percoco’s disclosure is the nearest thing to a map key. Yet the connection between the Percoco and COR and Chris Pitts LLC. is not as straightforward as the black and white of an official form might imply.

New York – JCOPE Shut Down in Lobbying Reform
Queens Chronicle – Michelle Kraidman | Published: 6/30/2016

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) in February approved an advisory opinion that required paid consultants, who “controlled the delivery” of a message to editorial boards encouraging them to support positions that were favorable to a client, to register as lobbyists. They also would have had to report their contacts with media outlets’ opinion writers. That led to great opposition as accredited media sources, and several public relations and consulting firms sued JCOPE, arguing the new regulations were unconstitutional. Now, a statement released by the governor’s office announced that the agreed-upon legislation for an ethics reform plan does not include what JCOPE had originally recommended. “[The agreement] explicitly excludes communications with journalists, including editorial boards, from the definition of lobbying and exclude these communications from lobbying regulation,” the statement said.

Rhode Island – Raimondo: Lobbying law makes rules ‘clear, simple, consistent and transparent’
Providence Journal – Jennifer Bogdan | Published: 7/6/2016

In a ceremonial signing of lobbying legislation, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo described the changes as making the rules “clear, simple, consistent, and transparent.” The legislation, which goes into effect on January 1, clarifies who is a lobbyist and what constitutes lobbying. The penalty for failure to register is a fine of up to $50,000 and revocation of lobbyist registration for up to three years. Lobbyists will also be required to file monthly public reports of their activities from January to June and quarterly reports from July to December. The reports must include all compensation received, all expenditures made, and “all money and anything of value provided or promised to any legislative or executive branch official” in excess of $250.

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.

The Multnomah County Charter Review Committee voted Wednesday to add a campaign reform ballot measure to the November ballot.

Voters will decide whether the county should amend its charter to limit campaign contributions from individuals to $500 per person per cycle for county races. The measure would also require candidates to disclose their five largest contributors on political advertisements.

Jersey City Councilman Michael Yun has proposed changes to the city’s pay-to-play laws.

The changes would broaden the laws to include the city’s autonomous agencies as well as restrict some vendors from contributing to city elected officials seeking higher office. The proposal would also extend the ban on no-bid city contracts, from one year to four years, for those who contribute more than $300 to a candidate.

Yun, a longtime critic of Mayor Steve Fulop, claims the changes are meant to close loopholes in the current law and not to target Fulop. In the past, Fulop’s donors have received large contracts with the city Municipal Utilities Authority, an autonomous agency not bound by current pay-to-play rules. Fulop is also rumored to be considering a 2017 gubernatorial run.

Yun submitted his proposal to corporation counsel for review and hopes to receive initial approval from council at its July 13 meeting.

Photo of Jersey City by David Jones on Wikimedia Commons.

An attempt to place an initiative on the November ballot to overhaul state campaign finance and ethics regulations has failed.

The Keep Idaho Elections Accountable campaign, chaired by Democrat Holli Woodings, failed to collect the 48,000 signatures needed, coming up roughly 6,000 short. The initiative would have changed contribution limits, created stricter penalties for violations, and prohibited lobbyists from giving gifts valued at more than $50.

The group collected 79,000 signatures, but many were disqualified due to a lack of a current address.