May 29, 2015 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 29, 2015
National: Meet the ‘Dark Money’ Phantom Center for Public Integrity – Carrie Levine | Published: 5/26/2015 David Langdon is a behind-the-scenes player among the small army of lawyers working to keep secret the origins of millions of dollars flowing to candidates. […]
National:
Meet the ‘Dark Money’ Phantom
Center for Public Integrity – Carrie Levine | Published: 5/26/2015
David Langdon is a behind-the-scenes player among the small army of lawyers working to keep secret the origins of millions of dollars flowing to candidates. Langdon is also a legal soldier for conservative, often Christian, nonprofit organizations that together spend millions more to influence public policy and wield great influence among evangelical voters. Since the 2010 election cycle, at least 11 groups connected to Langdon or his firm have collectively spent at least $22 million on federal and state elections and ballot initiatives around the country.
Should We Pay Politicians More?
Politico – Kevin Hartnett | Published: 5/27/2015
The prime minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, makes $1.7 million a year, more than four times as much as the next highest paid national executive – Barack Obama, who earns $400,000 a year. In Singapore, the salaries are seen as an anti-corruption measure. In the U.S., the idea of paying elected officials like corporate chief executives is politically unthinkable. But Renee Bowen, an economist at Stanford, and Cecilia Mo, a political scientist at Vanderbilt, used a game-theory model to argue that when elected representatives are paid more, they are more invested in keeping their jobs, and more likely to pursue citizen-friendly policies.
Federal:
FEC Deadlocks on Wealthy Donor Giving Limits
Washington Times – Tom Howell, Jr. | Published: 5/21/2015
The FEC deadlocked on a proposal to write new rules in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s McCutcheon decision last year that struck down aggregate campaign finance limits, freeing wealthy Americans to contribute money to as many candidates and political parties as they want. Democrats on the FEC signaled they had been chastened by another effort last year to impose campaign finance rules on Internet videos, after 5,000 comments poured in to commissioners telling them to lay off Internet speech as they considered post-McCutcheon rules.
K Street’s Gains Felt at Boutique Firms, Too
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 5/27/2015
The surge in business on K Street during the first months of 2015 was not limited to Washington’s biggest lobby shops as many smaller lobby and law firms also saw gains. Smaller firms have long decried the standard practice of evaluating Washington’s top shops by earnings alone, arguing it puts them at a disadvantage by appearing to not keep up with their much larger counterparts. When looking at the figures posted by K Street for the first three months of the year, analysts instead ranked industry players on year-over-year increases in total and average per-client revenue, fees per lobbyist, and client retention rates.
Supreme Court to Weigh Meaning of ‘One Person One Vote’
New York Times – Adam Liptak | Published: 5/26/2015
The U.S. Supreme Court said it will decide an important “one person, one vote” case next term to determine whether states should consider total population – or only eligible voters – when drawing roughly equal legislative districts. A shift from using total population would have an enormous impact in states with large immigrant populations, where greater numbers are children or noncitizens. It would shift power from urban areas to more rural districts. The Supreme Court in 1964 ruled states must divide electoral districts population-wise so that political power is equally shared. But it did not specify whether total population or eligible voters was the standard to use.
From the States and Municipalities:
Arizona – Phone Records Show Close Contact between Regulator, APS and ‘Dark Money’
Arizona Republic – Ryan Randazzo | Published: 5/21/2015
Debates over solar energy, and a flood of money from non-profit groups into the campaigns for those who sought to regulate utilities, marked the 2014 Arizona Corporation Commission election. During that time, commission Chairperson Bob Stump sent more than 50 private text messages to an Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) executive and 46 to a political “dark money” organizer, according to a non-profit investigating the commission. Critics say regulators should not have such close contact with the utilities they oversee, and the utilities should not be participating in political campaigns, which could violate election laws and rules that prevent elected officials from campaigning with public resources. APS is widely believed to have contributed to groups that supported two Republicans in the Corporation Commission race, but utility officials will neither confirm nor deny such contributions.
Hawaii – Under Fire: Hawaii ethics director defends his strict ethical views
Honolulu Civil Beat – Ian Lind | Published: 5/27/2015
The Hawaii Ethics Commission is evaluating its executive director, Les Kondo, following complaints that he was going too far with ethics rules. House Speaker Joseph Souki sent a letter to the commission complaining about its “recent attempts to prohibit common and regular practices,” including receiving gifts, meals, and charitable fundraiser tickets of a certain value. Teachers also have been upset about a recommendation that educators who organize and chaperone educational trips should not get a free ride from tour companies. “It’s not my job to tell people what they want to hear or let them do what they want to do; it’s my job to do what’s right, not what’s popular,” Kondo told his colleagues.
Missouri – Lawmakers Fail to Ramp up Ethics Laws for Missouri Officials
Columbia Missourian – Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) | Published: 5/24/2015
Despite months of discussions and assurances from legislative leaders who said this year would be different, ethics reform fell apart in the last few weeks of the session. That means Missouri for at least another year will remain the only state with the trio of unlimited campaign contributions, uncapped lobbyist gifts, and no laws preventing legislators from leaving office and immediately becoming lobbyists. Lawmakers’ failure to pass ethics bills comes as the Capitol is under increased scrutiny after the House ended the legislative session in scandal. Former House Speaker John Diehl admitted to exchanging sexually suggestive text messages with a 19-year-old Capitol intern and resigned the last day of the session.
Montana – Court Reverses Ruling on Montana Campaign Contribution Limits
The Missoulian – Matt Volz (Associated Press) | Published: 5/26/2015
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals invoked the Supreme Court’s Citizen United decision to raise the bar for states to justify limiting campaign donations. States can limit contributions if they have a legitimate interest in doing so. But proving that interest has changed since the Citizens United decision that said corporations can spend unlimited amounts in elections, said the three-judge panel. Before Citizens United, states only had to show they aimed to curb the influence of big money on politicians. After Citizens United, states must show more specifically that their laws are stopping an exchange of money for political favors, according to the opinion. The ruling by the Ninth Circuit was made in a case that challenged Montana’s contribution limits as violating donors’ rights to free speech.
New York – JCOPE’s New Guidance, or: You might be a lobbyist if …
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 5/27/2015
Proposed rules issued by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics said political consultants who take certain actions related to lobbying efforts must register, even if they do not directly ask lawmakers or agencies to act on bills or regulations. That could force firms that currently enjoy close relationships with New York lawmakers, and which simultaneously have clients with interests before those legislators, to start disclosing more interactions with them. Another provision directs firms who control the message and content of grassroots lobbying campaigns to register as lobbyists.
Oregon – Forget Fines – Oregon Prefers Warnings for Public Officials Guilty of Ethics Violations
Portland Oregonian – Nick Budnick and Laura Gunderson | Published: 5/26/2015
The Portland Oregonian found the state ethics commission has deliberately lightened up on those accused of abusing their public positions. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission has negotiated reduced penalties for every case it has handled involving a public official since 2008. “The commission is not one where we stand there looking to punish someone,” said Chairperson Kenny Montoya. Ron Bersin, the agency’s executive director, said the commission relies on education and training to keep public officials honest, but the panel hammers errant public officials when it is justified.
Tennessee – Ethics Panel Fading to Obscurity 10 Years after Tenn. Waltz
Albany Times Union – Erik Schelzig (Associated Press) | Published: 5/25/2015
May 26 marked the 10th anniversary of the arrest of five former lawmakers in the FBI’s sting operation called “Tennessee Waltz.” The case involved a scheme by state lawmakers to collect money in exchange for shepherding through bills on behalf of E-Cycle Management, which was an FBI front company. Following the scandal, lawmakers were spurred into trying to improve transparency and ethics in the statehouse. A decade later, most of those efforts have faded.
Texas – House Passes Ethics Bill, Senate Showdown Likely
Texas Tribune – Jay Root | Published: 5/26/2015
The Texas House approved an ethics bill that would force disclosure of “dark money” in campaigns. The legislation would also lower the amount lobbyists can spend to entertain state officials without disclosing the names of the politicians. But the House turned down an amendment to close a loophole that allows lobbyists to easily evade that disclosure by teaming up with other lobbyists to spend far more than the current $114, lowered to $50 in the House bill. The measure faces a showdown with the Senate over the details of their competing versions.
Vermont – Legislative Wrap: Lobbyist disclosure tops transparency effort
VTDigger.org – Erin Mansfield | Published: 5/22/2015
Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin is expected to sign Senate Bill 93, which increases the number of times per year that lobbyists and their employers must file expenditure reports from three to seven. Lobbyists are already required to register with the secretary of state’s office, but they only need to report spending once during the legislative session – April 25, when the session is almost over. The new law would require monthly reporting while lawmakers are in Montpelier. The bill also requires lobbying groups to disclose the name of the organization in ads and file a report within 48 hours of running an advertising campaign worth $1,000 or more.
Virginia – Conservative Group Paying Ken Cuccinelli’s Campaign
Washington Post – Rachel Weiner | Published: 5/26/2015
Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli won a legal victory against a conservative PAC he accused of duping campaign donors. Cuccinelli and the Conservative StrikeForce PAC reached a settlement that will prohibit the PAC from using a candidate’s name for future fundraising efforts against the candidate’s wishes. The PAC also agreed to pay Cuccinelli’s failed gubernatorial campaign $85,000 and give it exclusive rights to the PAC’s direct mail and email donor lists. Cuccinelli said the PAC used his name without his permission to mislead “thousands of innocent Americans” who thought they were helping his campaign.
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.
May 28, 2015 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying “K Street’s Gains Felt at Boutique Firms, Too” by Megan Wilson for The Hill Campaign Finance “Campaign Finance Watchdogs Push Justice Dept. to Investigate Jeb Bush’s PAC” by Ed O’Keefe for Washington Post “Arkansas AG Rejects Language for Campaign […]
Lobbying
“K Street’s Gains Felt at Boutique Firms, Too” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
Campaign Finance
“Campaign Finance Watchdogs Push Justice Dept. to Investigate Jeb Bush’s PAC” by Ed O’Keefe for Washington Post
“Arkansas AG Rejects Language for Campaign Finance Issue” by The Associated Press for Washington Times
Virginia: “Conservative Group Paying Ken Cuccinelli’s Campaign” by Rachel Weiner for Washington Post
Wisconsin: “Sen. Alberta Darling Fundraiser Called ‘Shakedown’ for Lobbyist Cash” by Mike Ivey for Capital Times
Ethics
New York: “Fired Aide Pays $4,000 in Sandy Scandal” by Casey Seiler for Albany Times Union
New York: “Judge Rules Larry Seabrook, Ex-New York Councilman, Must Forfeit His Pension” by Benjamin Weiser for New York Times
Texas: “House Passes Ethics Bill, Senate Showdown Likely” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune
Elections
“Rick Santorum Is Entering Republican 2016 Presidential Race” by Trip Gabriel for New York Times
Legislative Issues
“Members Living in Their Offices Rent-Free Adds Up” by David Hawkings for Roll Call
May 27, 2015 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying Georgia: “Legislators and Corporate Lobbyists Meet in Secret at Georgia Resort” by Brendan Keefe and Michael King for WXIA Vermont: “Legislative Wrap: Lobbyist disclosure tops transparency effort” by Erin Mansfield for VTDigger.org Campaign Finance “Meet the ‘Dark Money’ Phantom” […]
Lobbying
Georgia: “Legislators and Corporate Lobbyists Meet in Secret at Georgia Resort” by Brendan Keefe and Michael King for WXIA
Vermont: “Legislative Wrap: Lobbyist disclosure tops transparency effort” by Erin Mansfield for VTDigger.org
Campaign Finance
“Meet the ‘Dark Money’ Phantom” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity
“Push to Name Donors in Political Ads Hits FCC Roadblock” by Mario Trujillo for The Hill
Montana: “MT’s Campaign-Donor Limits Still Up in the Air” by Katherine Proctor for Courthouse News Service
Ethics
“Clinton Foundation Reveals Up to $26 Million in Additional Payments” by Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post
California: “California Fund Has Little Oversight” by The Associated Press for Contra Costa Times
Missouri: “Lawmakers Fail to Ramp up Ethics Laws for Missouri Officials” by Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) for Columbia Missourian
Oklahoma; “Former Oklahoma Legislators’ Bribery Convictions Upheld” by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman
Oregon: “Forget Fines – Oregon Prefers Warnings for Public Officials Guilty of Ethics Violations” by Nick Budnick and Laura Gunderson for Portland Oregonian
Tennessee: “Ethics Panel Fading to Obscurity 10 Years after Tenn. Waltz” by Erik Schelzig (Associated Press) for Albany Times Union
Elections
“Republicans Seek to Bridge Gap with Latinos in Colorado and Beyond” by Jack Healy for New York Times
Redistricting
“Supreme Court to Weigh Meaning of ‘One Person One Vote’” by Adam Liptak for New York Times
May 26, 2015 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying “At K Street’s No. 1 Lobby Shop, Ties to Clinton Run Deep” by Megan Wilson for The Hill California: “‘Stalking’ of Pro-Vaccine Lobbyists Prompts Warning from Doctors’ Group” by Jeremy White for Fresno Bee Kansas: “Records: Gov. Sam Brownback, […]
Lobbying
“At K Street’s No. 1 Lobby Shop, Ties to Clinton Run Deep” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
California: “‘Stalking’ of Pro-Vaccine Lobbyists Prompts Warning from Doctors’ Group” by Jeremy White for Fresno Bee
Kansas: “Records: Gov. Sam Brownback, aides still consult with ex-chief of staff, now a lobbyist” by Bryan Lowry for Wichita Eagle
Nevada: “Legislative ‘Cooling Off’ Lobbying Law Passes Nevada Senate” by Sandra Chereb for Las Vegas Review-Journal
Campaign Finance
“FEC Deadlocks on Wealthy Donor Giving Limits” by Tom Howell, Jr. for Washington Times
“Gyrocopter Pilot Indicted on Six Charges” by Jesse Byrnes for The Hill
“Rove’s Crossroads PAC Is No Longer G.O.P.’s ‘Big Dog;” by Eric Lichtblau and Maggie Haberman for New York Times
Arizona: “Phone Records Show Close Contact between Regulator, APS and ‘Dark Money’” by Ryan Randazzo for Arizona Republic
Ethics
New Jersey: “Christie Leaves Cowboys Tickets off His Disclosure Form” by Maddie Hanna and Andrew Seidman for Philadelphia Inquirer
South Carolina: “Pinson Given 5 Years in Prison” by John Monk for The State
May 22, 2015 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 22,2015
National: Albany Corruption Inquiry Hurts Arizona Company That Hired Dean Skelos’s Son New York Times – Susanne Craig | Published: 5/18/2015 Dean Skelos, then the leader of the New York Senate, and his son, Adam, were arrested on extortion, fraud, and […]
National:
Albany Corruption Inquiry Hurts Arizona Company That Hired Dean Skelos’s Son
New York Times – Susanne Craig | Published: 5/18/2015
Dean Skelos, then the leader of the New York Senate, and his son, Adam, were arrested on extortion, fraud, and bribe solicitation charges recently. The company at the center of the scandal is AbTech Industries, a small environmental firm based in Arizona. Prosecutors say AbTech hired Adam Skelos to gain influence in its attempt to win government work. The company’s stock has fallen more than 70 percent since the scandal was first reported. In recent weeks it has seen work suspended on a big contract in Nassau County. Separately, AbTech says the Corvais Group, a property management firm, canceled a partnership it had with it. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission has begun to scrutinize AbTech.
Federal:
‘Campaigns’ Aren’t Necessarily Campaigns in the Age of ‘Super PACs’
New York Times – Nicholas Confessore and Eric Lichtblau | Published: 5/17/2015
The 2016 contenders are exploiting loopholes and regulatory gray areas to transform the way presidential campaigns are organized and paid for. Their campaigns are intricate constellations of political committees, super PACs, and tax-exempt groups, engineered to avoid fundraising restrictions imposed on candidates and their parties after the Watergate scandal. Major costs of each candidate’s bid, from television advertising to policy development, are now being shifted to legally independent organizations that can accept unlimited contributions from wealthy individuals, corporations, and labor unions.
Critics Hear E.P.A.’s Voice in ‘Public Comments’
New York Times – Eric Lipton and Coral Davenport | Published: 5/18/2015
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy told a Senate committee in March that the agency had received more than one million comments about its proposed rule intended to protect the nation’s drinking water, and nearly 90 percent favored the agency’s plan. McCarthy is expected to cite those comments to justify the final rule. But critics say there is a reason for the overwhelming result: the EPA had a hand in manufacturing it. In a campaign that tests the limits of federal lobbying law, the agency orchestrated a drive to counter political opposition from Republicans and enlist public support in concert with liberal environmental groups and a grassroots organization aligned with President Barack Obama.
Hillary’s Speech Disclosures Come Under Fire
Politico – Josh Gerstein | Published: 5/20/2015
The Clinton Foundation said it will release details on nearly 100 speeches made by Hillary Clinton, her husband, Bill, and daughter Chelsea that ended up in the account of the global charity. Aides to the Clintons contend that when they delivered such speeches, the former president and former secretary of state were acting as officials of the Clinton Foundation, so the disclosure requirement for payments directed to charity by a government official, presidential candidate, or spouse do not apply. Several ethics lawyers told said they believe the Clintons’ speeches do not fall within the cited exception because there is little indication the addresses delivered across the U.S. and overseas had anything to do with the foundation.
From the States and Municipalities:
Arizona – Clean Elections Panel Advances New Dark-Money Spending Rules
Arizona Daily Sun – Bob Christie (Associated Press) | Published: 5/14/2015
The Arizona Clean Elections Commission voted to open up nearly a dozen proposed rule changes for public comment, including a contentious proposed rule change that would impose new criteria in determining whether a group’s primary purpose is electioneering. One rule would require outside groups to file reports if they spend more than $500 to advocate for or against a candidate or voter initiative. The reports would disclose spending and donors.
Arkansas – Fiscal 2016 Budget Cut Vexes Ethics Panel Chief
Arkansas Online – Spencer Willems | Published: 5/19/2015
During a monthly meeting of the Arkansas Ethics Commission, Director Graham Sloan said his staff will have less money than was budgeted this year and nearly a quarter less than was earmarked by legislators this past session. The cut, which Sloan said he learned of recently, would drop funding for the next fiscal year from about $900,000 to about $705,000, which is just under the commission’s current authorization for this year. Sloan said the cut comes at a point when the commission has never been busier and will cause his office to reduce staff and services.
California – Details Hidden On Legislative Lawyers Drafting Bills for Influential Groups
Capital Public Radio – John Meyers (CaliforniaReport.org) | Published: 5/20/2015
In California, so-called unbacked bills are draft laws with no guarantee of being introduced in either house of the Legislature. Capitol insiders portray the system as one with very few limits and in which legislative staffers sometimes submit proposals for vetting that their elected bosses would never publicly endorse. The process is also accessed by lobbyists, who seek the help of the government’s bill writing experts at the Office of Legislative Counsel. Insiders say these unpublicized bills may be held on to for any possible opening a lobbyist or interest group might see, including eleventh hour maneuvers before the Legislature adjourns.
Hawaii – Ban Upheld on Political Donations by Government Contractors
Honolulu Civil Beat – Nick Grube | Published: 5/20/2015
A federal appeals court panel on upheld Hawaii’s ban on political donations by state and county contractors. The three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also upheld the state law requiring PACs to register after spending more than $1,000 to influence an election, something officials said is necessary to follow the money during campaign season.
Louisiana – Lobbyists Pay for Louisiana Officials’ Trip, Recipients Don’t Disclose It
New Orleans Times-Picayune – Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Ben Myers | Published: 5/18/2015
Two lobbyists with the Black Alliance for Educational Options reported to the Louisiana Board of Ethics in 2011 that they had spent $1,400 apiece on the same 15 individuals. They included nine state and local elected officials, an executive-branch member, and a few staffers and spouses. None of the officials disclosed the expenses to the state. Public officials, like the lobbyists seeking to influence them, are subject to disclosure laws.
Maine – Senator Accepted Flight from J.D. Irving While Promoting Looser Mining Laws
The Sun Journal – Lance Tapley (Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting) | Published: 5/20/2015
Maine Sen. Thomas Saviello, who has worked to pass legislation allowing J.D. Irving to develop an open-pit mine in the state, accepted a free plane ride from the company’s lobbyists and did not report it to the state ethics commission. Saviello said he did not have to report the 2013 trip ride because its value was not more than $300, the threshold for reporting gifts from lobbyists, and because the purpose was fact-finding. The lobbyists involved also did not report the trip, as required by the ethics commission.
Missouri – Missouri House Speaker Resigns; Intern Breaks Silence
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Virginia Young | Published: 5/14/2015
Missouri House Speaker John Diehl resigned one day after the revelation of sexually suggestive text messages he exchanged with a 19-year-old legislative intern. The college student with whom Diehl had exchanged messages had been an intern for another House member. She no longer works at the Capitol, and Missouri Southern State University also removed its three other interns from Jefferson City. Republicans chose Rep. Todd Richardson as the next speaker.
Rhode Island – R.I. Secretary of State Gorbea Seeks Lobbying Changes
Providence Journal – Jennifer Bogdan | Published: 5/19/2015
Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea’s lobbying reform proposal was the subject of a recent hearing before the House Judiciary Committee. The proposal would increase the fines for violating the law from $2,000 to $5,000. Violators could also see their lobbying privileges suspended for up to three years. The bill also would reduced the frequency with which lobbyists have to file reports during the legislative session from monthly to quarterly.
Texas – Analysis: Ethics at center stage, hurting for attention
Texas Tribune – Ross Ramsey | Published: 5/18/2015
In his State of the State speech, Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott tried to put ethics reform high on the agenda for state lawmakers He added it to his list of five so-called emergency items that could get expedited treatment by lawmakers. But not a lot has changed. Reform is still possible, but the most significant changes being proposed still have not been considered by the House, much less by a committee that would have to reconcile the Senate and House versions of reform.
Wisconsin – Records Indicate Scott Walker Was Copied on Letter Promising Loan to Donor
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Jason Stein and Patrick Marley | Published: 5/18/2015
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s office was copied on a letter acknowledging his job creation agency would give a $500,000 loan to a campaign donor’s construction company, raising questions about his statements that he was not aware of the deal. It was reported that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. gave Building Committee Inc. (BCI) the unsecured, taxpayer-backed loan in 2011. The now-defunct company’s owner, William Minahan, gave Walker’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign $10,000, the maximum individual contribution allowed under state law. BCI never repaid the loan and did not use the money to create any jobs, according to The Wisconsin State Journal.
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.
May 21, 2015 •
Thursday New Roundup
Lobbying “Much of Northrop Grumman’s Washington Influence Flies under the Radar” by Peter Olsen-Phillips for Sunlight Foundation Maine: “Senator Accepted Flight from J.D. Irving While Promoting Looser Mining Laws” by Lance Tapley (Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting) for The […]
Lobbying
“Much of Northrop Grumman’s Washington Influence Flies under the Radar” by Peter Olsen-Phillips for Sunlight Foundation
Maine: “Senator Accepted Flight from J.D. Irving While Promoting Looser Mining Laws” by Lance Tapley (Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting) for The Sun Journal
Pennsylvania: “Pa. Officials Report More than $160K in Gifts, Travel in 2014” by Mark Scolforo (Associated Press) for Harrisburg Patriot-News
Rhode Island: “R.I. Secretary of State Gorbea Seeks Lobbying Changes” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal
Campaign Finance
“Partisanship Stalemates FEC, Says Report” by Ben Kamisar for The Hill
California: “LACMA Expansion, Ridley-Thomas, ‘Super PAC’ Intersect in Email Trail” by Robert Faturechi and Jack Dolan for Los Angeles Times
Ethics
North Carolina: “NC Senator’s Private Legal Work Mixes with State Policy” by Lynn Bonner for Charlotte Observer
Oregon: “Oregon House Passes Resolution to Create Impeachment Process for Governor” by Ian Kullgren for Portland Oregonian
Elections
Pennsylvania: “Jim Kenney Wins Philadelphia’s Democratic Primary for Mayor” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg for New York Times
Legislative Issues
California: “Details Hidden On Legislative Lawyers Drafting Bills for Influential Groups” by John Meyers (CaliforniaReport.org) for Capitol Public Radio
May 20, 2015 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying EU: “A Test of the EU’s Revolving Door” by James Panichi for Politico “Critics Hear E.P.A.’s Voice in ‘Public Comments’” by Eric Lipton and Coral Davenport for New York Times Louisiana: “Lobbyists Pay for Louisiana Officials’ Trip, Recipients Don’t […]
Lobbying
EU: “A Test of the EU’s Revolving Door” by James Panichi for Politico
“Critics Hear E.P.A.’s Voice in ‘Public Comments’” by Eric Lipton and Coral Davenport for New York Times
Louisiana: “Lobbyists Pay for Louisiana Officials’ Trip, Recipients Don’t Disclose It” by Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Ben Myers for New Orleans Times-Picayune
Maryland: “Maryland Changes Rules Again on Political Contribution Disclosure by Government Contractors; Lobbyist-Employers Also Affected” by Lawrence Norton, Ronald Jacobs, and Julie McConnell for Lexology
Campaign Finance
New Jersey: “N.J. Election Watchdog Gets New Member, but Remains Short-Staffed” by Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger
Wisconsin: “Records Indicate Scott Walker Was Copied on Letter Promising Loan to Donor” by Jason Stein and Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ethics
“Clinton Friend’s Libya Role Blurs Lines of Politics and Business” by Nicholas Confessore and Michael Schmidt for New York Times
Arkansas: “Fiscal 2016 Budget Cut Vexes Ethics Panel Chief” by Spencer Willems for Arkansas Online
Kansas: “Gov. Sam Brownback Also Used Private E-Mail Address to Communicate with Staff” by Bryan Lowry for Wichita Eagle
New York: “Albany Corruption Inquiry Hurts Arizona Company That Hired Dean Skelos’s Son” by Susanne Craig for New York Times
May 19, 2015 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying “American Chemistry Council Lied about Lobbying Role on Flame Retardants, Consultant Says” by David Heath for Center for Public Integrity Louisiana: “Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association Shells Out for Officials’ Stay at Resort” by Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Ben Myers for […]
Lobbying
“American Chemistry Council Lied about Lobbying Role on Flame Retardants, Consultant Says” by David Heath for Center for Public Integrity
Louisiana: “Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association Shells Out for Officials’ Stay at Resort” by Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Ben Myers for New Orleans Times-Picayune
Campaign Finance
“Guinta Apologizes, Maintains Innocence about Campaign Cash” by Holly Ramer (Associated Press) for Miami Herald
“‘Campaigns’ Aren’t Necessarily Campaigns in the Age of ‘Super PACs’” by Nicholas Confessore and Eric Lichtblau for New York Times
West Virginia: “W.Va. Election Commission Approves Changes for Nonpartisan Judicial Elections” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette
Wisconsin: “Supreme Court Declines to Hear Lawsuit Seeking to Block John Doe Probe” by Patrick Marley and Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ethics
Georgia: “Deal Bends Rules for Ga. Chamber’s Gala at the Capitol” by Walter Jones for Savannah Morning News
New York: “Capitol Scandals Raise Tough Questions for New York Governor” by David Klepper (Associated Press) for WRAL
Texas: “Analysis: Ethics at center stage, hurting for attention” by Ross Ramsey for Texas Tribune
Elections
“Clinton Is Banking on the Obama Coalition to Win” by Anne Gearan for Washington Post
May 18, 2015 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying Louisiana: “Lobbyists Spent $3 Million on Louisiana Officials, but Seldom Named Them” by Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Ben Myers for New Orleans Times-Picayune Louisiana: “Lobbyist Largess Extends to Officials’ Spouses, Children” by Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Ben Myers for […]
Lobbying
Louisiana: “Lobbyists Spent $3 Million on Louisiana Officials, but Seldom Named Them” by Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Ben Myers for New Orleans Times-Picayune
Louisiana: “Lobbyist Largess Extends to Officials’ Spouses, Children” by Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Ben Myers for New Orleans Times-Picayune
Rhode Island: “State of R.I. Drops 38 Studios Lobbying Cases” by Jennifer Bogdon for Providence Journal
Campaign Finance
“Avalanche of Big Money Headed Feingold’s Way in Senate Rematch” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today
Arizona: “State Agencies Spar over Political Contribution Reports Rules” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star
Arizona: “Clean Elections Panel Advances New Dark-Money Spending Rules” by Bob Christie (Associated Press) for Arizona Daily Sun
California: “San Diego Council Committee Gives Tentative OK To Revise Referendum Process” by City News Service for KPBS
Indiana: “Lawmakers Flock to Downtown Gambling Parlor for Fundraisers” by Tony Cook for Indianapolis Star
Wisconsin: “Special Prosecutor Intent on Pursuing Investigation in Possible Illegal Coordination by Scott Walker Campaign, but Major Legal Hurdles Remain” by Matea Gold and Jenna Johnson for Washington Post
Ethics
“George Stephanopoulos Discloses Gifts to Clinton Foundation” by Jeremy Peters and John Koblin for New York Times
California: “Kevin de León Called about Job for Daughter at Nonprofit He Helped with Bill” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times
Missouri: “Missouri House Speaker John Diehl Admits Sexually Charged Relationship with Intern” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star
Missouri: “Missouri House Speaker Resigns; Intern Breaks Silence” by Virginia Young for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
New York: “NY Assembly Requiring Proof for Albany Travel Expenses” by Michael Virtanen (Associated Press) for Albany Times Union
May 15, 2015 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 15, 2015
National: Amid Gridlock in D.C., Influence Industry Expands Rapidly in the States Washington Post – Reid Wilson | Published: 5/11/2015 A Washington Post review shows lobbyists reported spending at least $2.2 billion on activity aimed at influencing legislators in 28 states […]
National:
Amid Gridlock in D.C., Influence Industry Expands Rapidly in the States
Washington Post – Reid Wilson | Published: 5/11/2015
A Washington Post review shows lobbyists reported spending at least $2.2 billion on activity aimed at influencing legislators in 28 states where data was available during the 2013-2014 biennium, with virtually every state seeing dramatic growth over the last decade. At the same time, total spending on federal lobbying activities has fallen. Watchdog groups say state ethics laws have not kept up to date with the explosion in new spending. While most states make lobbying activity reports available online, some do not, and even some that do are not listed by subject area or sponsor. For practical purposes, that means citizens in many states would not be able to find just who is lobbying in support of or opposition to any given measure without combing through thousands of records.
The Great Democratic Crack-Up of 2016
New York Times – Robert Draper | Published: 5/12/2015
In many states, progressive groups have moved to promote what they hope will be populist candidates in the Elizabeth Warren mold while weeding out those judged to be ideologically tepid. Progressives believe Democrats lost their way by obsessing over what President Bill Clinton once termed “the vital center.” That fixation, they say, has rendered the party brand incomprehensible and raised the question as to what exactly Democrats stand for. Moderates believe the only remedy is for Democrats to refashion themselves as pragmatists who care more about achieving results than ideological purity. Observers say the problem is that neither wing can muster an entirely airtight case that theirs is the road map to electoral success.
Federal:
10 Members of Congress Took Trip Secretly Funded by Foreign Government
Washington Post – Scott Higham, Steven Rich, and Alice Crites | Published: 5/13/2015
Ten members of Congress and their aides accepted gifts and airfare to Azerbaijan that were secretly paid for by that country’s state-owned oil company, according to a report from the Office of Congressional Ethics given to The Washington Post. Expenses totaled more than $125,000, including airfare. The lawmakers were lavished with gifts ranging from crystal tea sets, silk scarves, and Azerbaijani rugs that were valued at between $2,500 and $10,000 each. The funding for the airfare and gifts was hidden through Texas-based nonprofits, which filed false statements saying they were paying for the trip.
Jeb Bush Leans on Nonprofit Group as He Prepares Likely Presidential Run
Washington Post – Ed O’Keefe and Matea Gold | Published: 5/12/2015
At least four people with expertise on energy issues, foreign affairs, and communications are working with Right to Rise Policy Solutions, a nonprofit advocacy group allied with Jeb Bush that can accept secret, unlimited donations from individuals and corporations. Bush’s reliance on the nonprofit as he prepares for a likely presidential bid puts him on untested legal ground, cloaking who is paying the salaries of his expected advisers. But a polarized FEC is unlikely to scrutinize the maneuver.
The New Office Politics: Funding boss’s political causes
The Times Record – Michelle Conlin and Lucas Iberico Lozada (Reuters) | Published: 5/11/2015
Employers are increasingly approaching workers to fundraise, lobby, and campaign in ways they never have before, according to a Reuters analysis of FEC filings and data compiled by the Business Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC). For years it was unions and trade associations that were the politically powerful workplace players, operating PACs. But since the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed for unlimited political spending by corporations, the number of companies engaged in this sort of activity – be it nudging employees to write letters, donate, campaign, or vote – has risen 45 percent to 7,317, according to BIPAC’s internal research.
From the States and Municipalities:
Indiana – Lawmakers Flock to Downtown Gambling Parlor for Fundraisers
Indianapolis Star – Tony Cook | Published: 5/13/2015
The Winner’s Circle in Indianapolis, an off-track betting facility, has hosted more than 30 fundraisers over the past two years for state lawmakers, helping them to rake in several thousand dollars over the course of a single afternoon. But the practice is raising questions about whether the events comply with a state ban on campaign contributions from casinos. Questions about the fundraisers are particularly relevant because the owner of the Winner’s Circle, Centaur Gaming, has lobbied intensely at the Capitol during the past two years for permission to have card games with live dealers at its two horse-track casinos in the state.
Louisiana – Lobbyists Spent $3 Million on Louisiana Officials, but Seldom Named Them
New Orleans Times-Picayune – Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Ben Myers | Published: 5/13/2015
Registered lobbyists in Louisiana reported a total of $2.9 million in expenditures between 2009 and 2014, which included nearly 30,000 disclosures. Almost 80 percent of expenses reported did not name which public official benefited, according to a review by The New Orleans Times-Picayune. Lobbyists are required to file monthly reports listing how much they spend on individuals, but they are free to pay for receptions and other group gatherings without disclosing the names of officials who attend. In some cases, those tabs were in the tens of thousands of dollars. The administrator for the Louisiana Board of Ethics, Kathleen Allen, said state laws do not provide a way to randomly audit the disclosures.
Massachusetts – Brian Joyce Thrives at the Edge of a Fuzzy Boundary
Boston Globe – Andrea Estes | Published: 5/3/2015
A review by The Boston Globe shows Brian Joyce, the assistant majority leader in the Massachusetts Senate, has frequently blurred the lines between his public duties and his private business. While other lawyer-legislators take pains to separate their two jobs, Joyce seems to freely mix the two. He aggressively seeks legal work from cities and towns that rely on the Legislature for funding, and he rarely discloses clients to the state Ethics Commission, which is required if a lawmaker sees potential for conflicts-of-interest in his votes.
Missouri – Free Food Fills Missouri Capitol’s Hallways as Ethics Bill Dies
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Virginia Young | Published: 5/13/2015
Missouri imposes no limits on lobbyist-provided meals or gifts, and that appears unlikely to change when the legislative session ends on May 15. An ethics bill has languished in a conference committee since early April. The sticking point is whether to impose a $25 cap on individual meals, tickets, and trips that legislators receive from lobbyists. The bill’s sponsor, Senate Majority Leader Ron Richard, opposes the cap, saying it could be easily circumvented. The committee appointed to iron out the differences has never met, though negotiators have traded drafts. They say they have resolved all issues in the bill except the gift limit.
Missouri – Missouri House Speaker John Diehl Admits Sexually Charged Relationship with Intern
Kansas City Star – Jason Hancock | Published: 5/13/2015
Missouri House Speaker John Diehl exchanged sexually charged text messages with a freshman college intern. He is married with three sons. Richard Miller, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Missouri Southern State University, said the school pulled its four interns out of the Capitol this spring after an unspecified incident.
Missouri – Republican Legislator Faces Ethics Complaint over Comments to Reporter about Gifts
PoliticMo – Eli Yokley | Published: 5/12/2015
An ethics complaint has been filed against Missouri Rep. Craig Redmon, who says he has helped other lawmakers hide lobbyist gifts from required public reporting. Redmon said he sometimes has told people to put under his name expenses that actually were made for others. He says that shields other legislators, particularly those concerned with reporting any lobbyist gifts. Progress Missouri said that practice would be deceptive and wrong. It is unclear whether lobbyists actually have reported expenses made on behalf of other lawmakers as if they were for Redmon.
New York – Dean Skelos, New York Senate Leader, Vacates Post
New York Times – Thomas Kaplan and Susanne Craig | Published: 5/11/2015
Dean Skelos resigned his leadership post in the New York Senate after his arrest on federal corruption charges and was quickly replaced by Sen. John Flanagan. Skelos, who intends to keep his legislative seat, became the latest leader to lose his grip on power in a state government marred by corruption. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver stepped down from his leadership position early this year. Skelos is fighting charges he used his position to extort payments for his son, who is also charged in the case. Both men say they are innocent.
New York – Scarborough Pleads Guilty Twice
Albany Times Union – Brendan Lyons | Published: 5/7/2015
New York Assemblyperson William Scarborough pleaded guilty to federal theft and fraud charges, admitting he submitted at least $40,000 in false expense vouchers for days he did not actually travel to Albany. In state court, Scarborough later pleaded guilty to grand larceny, admitting he took $38,000 in unauthorized cash withdrawals from his campaign fund for personal use. The felony convictions automatically remove Scarborough from the Assembly.
Rhode Island – State of R.I. Drops 38 Studios Lobbying Cases
Providence Journal – Jennifer Bogdan | Published: 5/13/2015
Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea is dismissing cases against three people accused of lobbying violations in the 38 Studios deal, including ex-Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. Former 38 Studios Director Thomas Zaccagnino and attorney Michael Corso had been ordered to file retroactive reports or face a fine. Corrente says both orders would likely be overturned in court because of procedural deficiencies in existing lobbying statutes. In the wake of the dismissal, Gorbea has proposed a new lobbying reform bill.
Virginia – Lobbyists Take Changes to Gifts Law in Stride
The Virginian-Pilot – Patrick Wilson | Published: 5/11/2015
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed a new law in April that caps gifts to public officials, including travel or meals, at $100. It also forbids officials from accepting more than $100 in a calendar year from any one lobbyist or company, although gifts valued at less than $20 do not count toward the limit. Getting comfortable with the new law will be an “evolving process” for many lobbyists, said Whitt Clement, a former delegate and state transportation secretary who lobbies for the firm Hunton & Williams.
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.
May 14, 2015 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying Missouri: “Free Food Fills Missouri Capitol’s Hallways as Ethics Bill Dies” by Virginia Young for St. Louis Post-Dispatch Missouri: “Republican Legislator Faces Ethics Complaint over Comments to Reporter about Gifts” by Eli Yokley for PoliticMo New York: “Group Supporting […]
Lobbying
Missouri: “Free Food Fills Missouri Capitol’s Hallways as Ethics Bill Dies” by Virginia Young for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Missouri: “Republican Legislator Faces Ethics Complaint over Comments to Reporter about Gifts” by Eli Yokley for PoliticMo
New York: “Group Supporting de Blasio’s Agenda Is Said to Draw Interest of Ethics Panel” by Michael Grynbaum and William Rashbaum for New York Times
Campaign Finance
“Obama Foundation Walks Fine Line in Efforts to Raise $500 Million” by Josh Gerstein for Politico
New York: “NY Assembly Votes for Closing Campaign Finance Loophole” by Michael Virtanen (Associated Press) for Bradenton Herald
Rhode Island: “Providence Rep. Almeida Admits to Personal Use of Campaign Funds” by Katie Mulvaney for Providence Journal
Ethics
“Former Energy Department Official Wins Huge Pay Raise after Moving to Firm with Deep Ties to DOE” by Douglas Birch and Alexander Cohen for Center for Public Integrity
“10 Members of Congress Took Trip Secretly Funded by Foreign Government” by Scott Higham, Steven Rich, and Alice Crites for Washington Post
South Carolina: “South Carolina May Get Small Ethics Reform Package This Year” by Jeffrey Collins (Associated Press) for Washington Times
Texas: “Powerful Republican Slams ‘Superficial’ Ethics Reform” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune
May 13, 2015 •
Philadelphia City Council Seeks Greater Transparency from Super PACs
City Council President Darrell Clarke introduced a measure to increase the transparency of money donated to city elections. With the mayoral race hitting its stride, independent expenditure PACs are making their presence known, donating millions to support their candidate of […]
City Council President Darrell Clarke introduced a measure to increase the transparency of money donated to city elections. With the mayoral race hitting its stride, independent expenditure PACs are making their presence known, donating millions to support their candidate of choice.
The bill, while unable to limit these contributions, seeks to increase disclosure of the source of PAC funds by moving the first report from 11 days before a primary election to six weeks before the primary and every two weeks thereafter. This requirement would apply to donations of $5,000 or more on communications mentioning a candidate in any way.
Though the bill was introduced too late to apply to the primary on May 19, Clarke is hoping the changes will be in effect prior to the general election in November.
May 13, 2015 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying “Amid Gridlock in D.C., Influence Industry Expands Rapidly in the States” by Reid Wilson for Washington Post Florida: “Legislators Approve Water Farming Funding after Copter Rides, Donations” by Craig Pittman and Michael Van Sickler for Tampa Bay Times Florida: […]
Lobbying
“Amid Gridlock in D.C., Influence Industry Expands Rapidly in the States” by Reid Wilson for Washington Post
Florida: “Legislators Approve Water Farming Funding after Copter Rides, Donations” by Craig Pittman and Michael Van Sickler for Tampa Bay Times
Florida: “Voters Won’t Get Say on Lifting Gift Ban” by Brittany Wallman for South Florida Sun Sentinel
New Mexico: “Lobbyists, Groups Spend Large on New Mexico Lawmakers” by Sandra Fish (New Mexico In Depth) for Las Cruces Sun-News
Texas: “Wendy Davis Fined $5,000 for Ethics Violation” by Terri Langford for Texas Tribune
Virginia: “Lobbyists Take Changes to Gifts Law in Stride” by Patrick Wilson for The Virginian-Pilot
Campaign Finance
“Bill Shuster Aided Virgin Islands – Then Asked for Cash” by Anna Palmer, Jake Sherman, and John Bresnahan for Politico
“Jeb Bush Leans on Nonprofit Group as He Prepares Likely Presidential Run” by Ed O’Keefe and Matea Gold for Washington Post
Montana: “New Campaign Finance Law Praised, but Some Say It Needs to Be Toughened” by Charles Johnson for The Missoulian
New York: “The New Office Politics: Funding boss’s political causes” by Michelle Conlin and Lucas Iberico Lozada (Reuters) for The Times Record
Ethics
Nebraska: “Common Cause Files Complaints on Activity Surrounding Niobium Bill” by Joanne Young for Lincoln Journal-Star
“Bill Clinton’s Lucrative Speeches Got Fast Approval at State” by Lisa Lerer and Stephen Braun (Associated Press) for Fresno Bee
“Politics Is a Dirty Business. It Should Stay That Way.” by Chris Cillizza for Washington Post
New Jersey: “Report: Christie racked up $82,594 bill at sports stadium” by Karey Van Hall for Politico
Ohio: “Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic Resigns: The Big Story” by John Harper (Northeast Ohio Media Group) for Cleveland Plain Dealer
Vermont: “Vermont Lawmaker Accused in Sex-for-Rent Scheme” by Paris Achen, Zach Despart, and Adam Silverman (Burlington Free Press) for USA Today
Virginia: “Appeals Judges Pepper McDonnell Defense with Skeptical Questions” by Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post
Elections
“Study: State elections becoming less competitive” by Reid Wilson for Washington Post
“The Great Democratic Crack-Up of 2016” by Robert Draper for New York Times
Legislative Issues
New York: “Dean Skelos, New York Senate Leader, Vacates Post” by Thomas Kaplan and Susanne Craig for New York Times
May 11, 2015 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying Illinois: “In Illinois Capitol, Lobbying Is a Growing Business” by Kurt Erickson for Quad City Times Nevada: “Bill Imposes Cooling-Off Period for Ex-Lawmakers” by Sandra Chereb for Las Vegas Review-Journal Vermont: “House Oks Bill Limiting Lobbyist Contributions during Session” […]
Lobbying
Illinois: “In Illinois Capitol, Lobbying Is a Growing Business” by Kurt Erickson for Quad City Times
Nevada: “Bill Imposes Cooling-Off Period for Ex-Lawmakers” by Sandra Chereb for Las Vegas Review-Journal
Vermont: “House Oks Bill Limiting Lobbyist Contributions during Session” by Erin Mansfield for VTDigger.org
Campaign Finance
“Hillary Clinton Embraces a ‘Super PAC,’ Trying to Erode a Republican Edge” by Maggie Haberman and Nicholas Confessore for New York Times
“The FEC’s ‘Non-Partisan’ Whistleblower” by Tarini Parti for Politico
Ethics
Florida: “Politicians Send Millions to Charity of Lobbyist’s Daughter” by Francisco Alvarado (BrowardBulldog.org) for Miami Herald
Indiana: “Expanded Disclosure, Ethics Rules Now Law” by Olivia Covington for WFYI
Massachusetts: “Brian Joyce Thrives at the Edge of a Fuzzy Boundary” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe
New York: “Scarborough Pleads Guilty Twice” by Brendan Lyons for Albany Times Union
Texas: “Government Contract Disclosure Bill Advances” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune
West Virginia: “‘Trinkets’ Defined as Ethics Commission Prepares for New WV Law” by Joel Ebert for Charleston Daily Mail
Legislative Issues
Hawaii: “Hawaii Lawmakers Quietly Dole Out Millions of Dollars in Grants” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat
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