Campaign Finance

National: “Rep. Steve Chabot’s Ex-Treasurer Charged with Embezzling $1.4 Million from His Campaign” by Sabrina Eaton (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Florida: “Legislators Send DeSantis a Bill to Limit Citizen Initiatives. Is It Constitutional?” by Mary Ellen Klas (Miami Herald) for MSN

Florida: “Who’s Behind Grow United PAC, Which Funded Ghost Florida Senate Candidates? It’s a Mystery” by Mark Harper (Daytona Beach News-Journal) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “How a Steelers Owner Wrote Big Campaign Checks Days After $100 Million Investment from Pa.’s Largest Pension Fund” by John DiStephano for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

National: “Kamala Harris’ Influencer Niece Raises Concerns Among Some Ethics Experts” by Lucien Bruggeman (ABC News) for MSN

California: “Ex-Palmdale Mayor Pleads Guilty to Perjury in No-Show Job Corruption Scandal” by James Queally (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

Idaho: “Ethics Hearing: Idaho lawmaker accused of rape pleads Fifth” by Rebecca Boone for Associated Press News

Kansas: “Wichita City Officials Drop ‘Friends’ from Ethics Proposal, Back Away from Fines” by Chance Swaim (Wichita Eagle) for MSN

New York: “Chaim Deutsch Kicked Out of City Council After Pleading Guilty to Tax Fraud” by John Annese (New York Daily News) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “Federal Investigators Search Rudy Giuliani’s Apartment and Office” by William Rashbaum, Ben Protess, and Maggie Haberman for New York Times

Oregon: “Portland Business Alliance Violated City Lobbying Rules 25 Times, Auditor Finds” by Rebecca Ellis for OPB

Campaign Finance

California: “San Jose Mulls Major Changes to Campaign Finance Law” by Lloyd Alaban for San Jose Spotlight

New York: “Donovan’s Dad Discussed Mayoral Campaign Contribution Targets and Aided Super PAC, Records Show” by Greg Smith for The City

Elections

National: “New Census Numbers Shift Political Power South to Republican Strongholds” by Michael Scherer (Washington Post) for MSN

California: “Caitlyn Jenner Running for California Governor” by Carla Marinucci and Steven Shepard for Politico

Michigan: “Indicted Taylor Mayor Rick Sollars Ruled Ineligible for Ballot Over Outstanding Campaign Filings, Fees” by Christine Ferretti for Detroit News

Ethics

Hawaii: “Honolulu Bribery Scandal Prompts Permit Department Overhaul” by Jennifer Sinco Kelleher for Associated Press News

Missouri: “Missouri House Docks the Pay of St. Louis Lawmaker Who Was Censured After Ethics Investigation” by Jack Suntrup for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Washington DC: “D.C. to Pay $1.6M In Police Misconduct Lawsuit Filed After 2017 Inauguration Protests” by Colleen Grablick (DCist.com) for National Public Radio

Lobbying

National: “The Arcane Legislative Maneuver ‘Sucking Up All the Oxygen in D.C.’” by Theodoric Meyer for Politico

Campaign Finance

California: “How a Supreme Court Case About Nonprofit Donations Could Affect America’s Elections” by Madeleine Carlisle (Time) for Yahoo News

Elections

National: “Inside the Democratic Strategy to Expand Voting Rights State by State” by Liz Crampton for Politico

Arizona: “Election Conspiracies Live on with Audit by Arizona GOP” by Jonathan Cooper and Bob Christie for Associated Press News

Ethics

National: “Gaetz Probe Includes Scrutiny of Potential Public Corruption Tied to Medical Marijuana Industry” by Evan Perez, Paula Reid, Scott Glover, and David Shortell for CNN

National: “Clyburn Facing Potential $5,000 Metal Detector Fine” by Olivia Beavers and Rachel Bade for Politico

Alaska: “Alaska Lawmaker Blasted Airline for ‘Mask Tyranny.’ Now She’s Banned from the Only Flights to the Capital.” by Tim Elfrink (Washington Post) for MSN

New York: “New York’s Ethics’ Overhaul on a Slow Path to Reform, but Will It Get There?” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

South Carolina: “Fired SC Director ‘Tainted’ Process Giving Husband a $600K Contract, Report Says” by Maayan Schechter (The State) for MSN

Lobbying

Texas: “Texas Lawmakers, Lobby Firm React to Allegations That a Lobbyist Gave Date Rape Drug to Capitol Aide” by Cassandra Pollock for Texas Tribune

National/Federal

A Government Ethics Office Refused to Approve Kanye West’s Financial Disclosures from His Failed Presidential Campaign
MSN – Grace Panetta (Business Insider) | Published: 4/19/2021

The Office of Government Ethics refused to sign off on Kanye West’s financial disclosure forms from his failed 2020 presidential campaign. Observers said the unusual step is likely due to West not fully disclosing his wife’s income and assets. On the form, West claimed he was exempt from reporting Kim Kardashian West’s income by citing a law stating federal candidates can go without disclosing their spouse’s income sources if they have no knowledge of the income stream, it is not connected to their own economic activities, and they do not expect to derive a financial benefit from it.

As Some States Rush to Redistrict, Gerrymandering Fight Moves to Back Burner
MSN – Michael Macagnone (Roll Call) | Published: 4/15/2021

A handful of states are looking to jump the gun amid the wait for census data, putting efforts to change the way legislative maps get redrawn on the back foot and raising concerns about transparency. Because of delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic and decisions by the former Trump administration, Census Bureau officials will be late delivering decennial results. The agency has promised congressional apportionment data by the end of April, with redistricting data coming as late as the end of September. The delays present challenges to dozens of states, ranging from blown mapmaking deadlines to crammed primary schedules.

Big Spending on Personal Security Ignites Post-Jan. 6 Debate Over Members’ Budgets
Politico – Sarah Ferris and Daniel Payne | Published: 4/16/2021

More than one third of the 17 Republican lawmakers who voted to impeach or convict former President Trump used campaign funds to install security systems or hire private details within weeks of their votes, for a total of nearly $200,000 over the first three months of this year. Congressional spending on private security has surged among members of both parties since the deadly riot on January 6 amid a spike in death threats against lawmakers and their families. That spending, all revealed in recent campaign finance disclosures, spotlights a challenge many lawmakers are eager to tackle: how to update the strict rules that govern personal security costs for members of Congress.

Corporations Agree to Transparency on Climate Lobbying
MSN – Laura Weiss (Roll Call) | Published: 4/14/2021

The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, a coalition of socially responsible investors, announced its members made deals with the five companies to report publicly about their influence on climate policy and alignment with the Paris Agreement, which led to the withdrawal of shareholder proposals. Some of the companies will provide stand-alone climate lobbying reports that lay out direct and trade association activities, while others will include disclosures in sustainability reports. The group expects some of the disclosures to include that companies are changing their lobbying practices.

Election Objectors Leaned on Small Donors After Corporate PAC Backlash
Politico – Zach Montellaro, Theodoric Meyer, and Allan James Vestal | Published: 4/16/2021

Most House Republicans who objected to the certification of President Biden’s victory saw their small-dollar fundraising rise in the first three months of this year compared to the same quarter in 2019, in the latest indication that Republicans are not facing a major cash crunch three months after many corporate PACs vowed to stop giving to their campaigns. It is not clear how long the corporate PACs that paused the giving will remain dark or who they will support once they reopen for business.

Government Spends £66,000 on Lobbyists Register Run by Part-Time Boss
The Guardian – Jim Waterson | Published: 4/16/2021

The United Kingdom’s Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists was founded in 2014 following a series of scandals in the early part of David Cameron’s tenure as prime minister, with a pledge to increase transparency around lobbying activities. But its activities have been severely limited by the narrow powers and resources granted to it by the government compared with equivalent registers in countries such as the United States. The culture of lobbying the government has come under scrutiny following the revelations that Cameron privately lobbied leading government ministers on behalf of Greensill Capital.

Groups See New Openings for Digging Up Dirt on Trump
The Hill – Rebecca Beitsch | Published: 4/20/2021

Public interest groups determined to stay focused on the Trump administration say they have new openings for unearthing information now that the past government’s political appointees have departed. Various groups that flooded the government with Freedom of Information Act requests say the departures have greased the wheels of various agencies’ public records shops. Requests ranging from the pandemic response and the January 6 attack on the Capitol are moving forward, potentially aiding activists eager to bring new dirt to light.

How the G.O.P. Is Creating Harsher Penalties for Protesters
Yahoo News – Reid Epstein and Patricia Mazzei (New York Times) | Published: 4/21/2021

There is a wave of new anti-protest legislation, sponsored and supported by Republicans, in the 11 months since Black Lives Matter protests swept the country following the death of George Floyd. The Minneapolis police officer who killed Floyd, Derek Chauvin, was convicted on murder and manslaughter charges. But while Democrats seized on Floyd’s death to highlight racism in policing and other forms of social injustice, Republicans responded to a summer of protests by proposing a raft of punitive new measures governing the right to lawfully assemble. GOP lawmakers in 34 states have introduced 81 anti-protest bills during the 2021 legislative session, more than twice as many proposals as in any other year.

‘I’m Still a Zero’: Vaccine-resistant Republicans warn that their skepticism is worsening
MSN – Dan Diamond (Washington Post) | Published: 4/20/2021

Public health officials are working to understand potential roadblocks in the campaign to inoculate Americans against the coronavirus. Among the most pressing questions are why so many Republican voters remain opposed to the shots and whether the recent decision to pause Johnson & Johnson vaccinations was a factor. Although more than half of U.S. adults have received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, more than 40 percent of Republicans have consistently told pollsters they are not planning to be vaccinated, a group that could threaten efforts to tamp down the virus’s spread, public health officials fear.

Just 12 Megadonors Accounted for 7.5% of Political Giving Over Past Decade, Says Report
MSN – Soo Rin Kim (ABC News) | Published: 4/20/2021

A dozen megadonors and their spouses contributed a combined $3.4 billion to federal candidates and political groups since 2009, according to a report produced by Issue One. The research shows the top 12 donors split equally between six Democrats and six Republicans. The list includes multiple Wall Street billionaires and investors, a Facebook co-founder, a shipping magnate, and the heir to a family fortune dating back to the Gilded Age. The study quantifies the intensifying concentration and increasing role of the super-rich in American politics following the loosening of restrictions on political spending by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Leadership PACs Are Often Overlooked. These Corny Names Can’t Be Ignored
MSN – Herb Jackson (Roll Call) | Published: 4/20/2021

If you won your seat in Congress by one of the narrowest margins ever – six votes – you cannot run away from it. And U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks showed she is owning her win in choosing the name for her leadership PAC, a fundraising committee that operates parallel to, and with more relaxed spending rules, than the one she will use to run for reelection. Showing some originality in an area of campaign finance where too many lawmakers rely on gimmicks, or even names that were taken before them, Miller-Meeks not only trumpeted her close win by choosing “Six Political Action Committee.” That is Six PAC if you are filling out checks.

Pompeos Violated Rules on Use of State Department Resources, IG Finds
Politico – Nahal Tusi | Published: 4/16/2021

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo violated federal ethics rules governing the use of taxpayer-funded resources when he and his wife, Susan, asked State Department employees to carry out tasks for their personal benefit more than 100 times, a government watchdog determined. Investigators uncovered scores of instances in which Mike or Susan Pompeo asked State Department staffers to handle tasks of a personal nature, from booking salon appointments and private dinner reservations to picking up their dog and arranging tours for the Pompeos’ political allies. Employees told investigators they viewed the requests from Susan Pompeo, who was not on the federal payroll, as being backed by the secretary.

The End of the Imperial Governorship
Politico – Nick Neidzwaidek | Published: 4/14/2021

Lawmakers across the country have proposed and, in many cases, passed measures to curtail the sweeping powers bestowed on their state executives. The tug-of-war between legislators and governors has the potential to shape the boundaries of gubernatorial authority for years to come and raises substantive questions of how much leeway the state leaders should have during prolonged crises. Debates over things like mask mandates and economic restrictions were frequent last year. But the conflict over the power of the executive transcends ordinary politics, playing out in states both red and blue, and even where one party controls both branches.

The GOP’s Big Bulk Book-Buying Machine Is Boosting Republicans on the Bestseller Lists
MSN – Michael Macagnone (Roll Call) | Published: 4/15/2021

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spent nearly $400,000 on bulk purchases of U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s book last year. It acquired 25,500 copies through two online booksellers, enough to fuel the book’s ascent up the bestseller lists. The NRCC said it gave away copies as incentives to donors. The NRCC was not the only outfit providing a boost to conservative authors. Four party-affiliated organization collectively spent more than $1 million during the past election cycle mass-purchasing books written by GOP candidates, elected officials. The purchases helped turn several volumes into bestsellers.

Third House GOP Lawmaker Issued $5,000 Metal Detector Fine
The Hill – Cristina Marcos | Published: 4/20/2021

A third Republican lawmaker, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, has been issued a $5,000 fine for failing to comply with a security screening before entering the House chamber. Rogers set off the metal detector stationed at one of the entrances to the chamber but continued walking. A Capitol Police officer then told Rogers he needed to go through additional security. “Maybe later, I have to vote,” Rogers replied, according to the police report.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Another Recology Exec Faces Charges of Bribing Mohammed Nuru
MSN – Megan Cassidy (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 4/20/2021

A former Recology vice president was charged with money laundering and bribery as part of an alleged attempt to increase San Francisco’s dumping fees to the waste management company, becoming the business’ second executive to be netted in the still-expanding City Hall corruption scandal. The case against John Porter comes to light as the company prepares to pay back nearly $100 million to San Francisco customers who were overcharged, and months after Paul Giusti, one of Porter’s subordinates, was charged with similar conduct.

California – How San Jose Mayor’s Ally Helped Bloom Energy Skirt a Natural Gas Ban
San Jose Spotlight – Sonja Herrera and Tran Nguyen | Published: 4/15/2021

Two weeks before San Jose passed a ban on natural gas for new commercial buildings, city officials introduced an exemption that benefited a local company, Bloom Energy, whose vice president is a friend to the mayor. Critics say the way they did it shows the stark difference in access granted to political insiders, as well as the extent to which city policy is swayed by special interests. “It’s politics. … We want everybody to have an opportunity to chime in, especially if you’re going to be directly impacted,” said Councilperson Raul Peralez. “In theory, it makes sense … in real practice, it’s not very fair.”

Florida – Dark Money Details Emerge as Former Florida State Senator and No-Party Candidate Head to Court
MSN – Ana Ceballos and Samantha Gross (Miami Herald) | Published: 4/14/2021

An alleged election scheme that stumped Florida’s political world is about to spill into court, as former state Sen. Frank Artiles is set to face trial in a public corruption case. Artiles is facing several felony charges for allegedly recruiting and paying Alexis Pedro Rodriguez, an auto-parts dealer, to run as a no-party candidate in Senate District 37 race to sway the outcome of the election. While prosecutors have charged Artiles and Rodriguez related to the scheme, the investigation is still open, and many questions remain on whether the case could expand to other 2020 Florida Senate races that also featured mysterious no-party candidates.

Florida – Matt Gaetz’s Scandal Puts a New Spotlight on Florida’s Male-Dominated Capital Culture
Bangor Daily News – Skyler Swisher (South Florida Sun Sentinel) | Published: 4/17/2021

Tallahassee has long been a perfect recipe for political scandal – a state capital that can take on a frat-house-like atmosphere removed from the watchful eyes of spouses and loved ones. Now, as U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz fights to save his career, scrutiny is once again being placed on the long-standing culture of Florida’s capital city where Gaetz got his start in politics. The pandemic has changed dynamics for the 2021 legislative session with COVID-19 safeguards keeping lobbyists away from the Capitol and toning down after-hours events. But a persistent cultural problem still exists, said Susan Glickman, who lobbies for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

Illinois – How Should Springfield Clean Up After the ComEd Scandal? Lawmakers’ Reform Plans Are Hazy
WBEZ – Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold | Published: 4/17/2021

Illinois lawmakers have yet to put up new ethical guardrails in response to the historic Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) bribery scandal that toppled ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan and led to a series of federal indictments. Given the nature of Madigan’s dramatic and forced departure, meting out some legislative consequences for the powerful utility company’s misconduct would be a logical response for Illinois lawmakers this spring. A pair of potential rewrites to state utility law give some prominence to ethics reforms related to the revelations in the ComEd probe, but nothing under consideration would seriously curb the outsized political influence ComEd has enjoyed for decades in Illinois.

Kansas – Proposed Ethics Code Limits Gifts to Wichita Officials for the First Time in History
Wichita Eagle – Chance Swaim | Published: 4/16/2021

Wichita city leaders are considering overhauling their ethics code and for the first time setting a limit on gifts to city council members. The proposed rules would ban gifts worth more than $150 a year, establish an anonymous hotline for reporting ethics violations, and set up an appointed commission to review complaints. Violating the code could result in a fine between $100 and $1,000. Mayor Brandon Whipple has pushed for the reforms after ethical breaches led to several local officials leaving office in recent years and raised questions about the city’s bidding process.

Louisiana – Proposal to Shield Industry’s Groundwater Board Members from Ethics Charges Advances
New Orleans Advocate – Sam Karlin | Published: 4/20/2021

A proposal to exempt the industry members of the Capital Area Groundwater Commission from certain ethics laws after five members of the board were hit with conflicts-of-interest charges won support from a Senate panel over opposition from environmental advocates. At stake is whether five members of the board – those employed by the Baton Rouge Water Company, ExxonMobil, Georgia-Pacific, and Entergy – can sit on the board without running afoul of state ethics laws. The Louisiana Board of Ethics voted to bring charges against the members last year because they are employed by companies they regulate.

Louisiana – State Senator Casts Tie-Breaking Vote for Slidell Casino. His Wife Is One of the Lobbyists
Louisiana Daily News – Tyler Bridges (New Orleans Advocate) | Published: 4/19/2021

A controversial proposal to move a casino boat to Slidell cleared its first hurdle when a Senate committee chairperson, whose wife is a lobbyist for the measure, cast the tie-breaking vote. State Sen. Gary Smith’s wife is one of 19 lobbyists hired by Brent Stevens, the founder of P2E, the company that wants to move its shuttered casino. The extraordinary number of lobbyists has caught the attention of insiders who note it takes only 20 votes to approve legislation in the Senate. Before the hearing, Smith said he did not know his wife, a veteran lobbyist, was working on the issue.

Maryland – In Rebuke to Hogan, Maryland Statehouse Passes Ethics Bill
Washington Monthly – Eric Cortellessa | Published: 4/13/2021

Maryland lawmakers unanimously voted for more enhanced disclosure requirements for elected officials following a media report about Gov. Larry Hogan who, unbeknownst to legislators or the public, advanced road and highway infrastructure projects near properties owned by his real-estate firm, a move that can increase the value of those properties. Hogan has not yet said whether he will sign the bill into law, although that seems likely given there are more than enough votes to override a veto.

Massachusetts – Should DiMasi, and Other Federal Felons, Face a Ban on Lobbying Beacon Hill? The SJC Will Decide
MSN – Matt Stout (Boston Globe) | Published: 4/16/2021

The Supreme Judicial Court will rule on whether former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi and others guilty of federal corruption charges should be barred from lobbying state lawmakers, the governor, and other Massachusetts officials for 10 years after their conviction, even if their crimes are not directly cited in the state law. The question could be precedent-setting and has been at the center of a two-plus-year legal battle between Secretary of State William Galvin and DiMasi, who joined the lobbyist ranks in September after a Superior Court judge ruled the ban did not apply to him because the law only references state convictions, not federal ones.

Massachusetts – Wunderkind Ex-Mayor to Face Jurors in Fraud, Bribery Case
Associated Press News – Alanna Durkin Richer | Published: 4/18/2021

After he was elected mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts, at just 23 years old, it seemed Jasiel Correia’s political career had nowhere to go but up. But prosecutors now say he is a fraud and a thief. Correia heads to trial on charges he stole more than $230,000 from investors in a smartphone app he created to pay for things like a Mercedes and casino trips. As mayor, he is accused of convincing his chief of staff to give him half of her salary to keep her city job and extorting hundreds of thousands of dollars from marijuana businesses seeking to operate there.

Michigan – Benson’s Office Backs Unlock Michigan on Not Disclosing Donor Sources
Yahoo News – Craig Mauger (Detroit News) | Published: 4/14/2021

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson decided a nonprofit organization that is funded by secret donors and helped bankroll the Unlock Michigan campaign does not have to report where its contributions came from. The ruling is a boon for nonprofit groups that want to engage in campaigns in Michigan without having to file disclosures. A complaint argued because Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility made a series of contributions to Unlock Michigan, the group qualified as a ballot committee itself. Under that interpretation, the group would have to file its own disclosures about where $1.8 million came from.

Michigan – Michigan House Unveils Plan to Overhaul Ethics Policies Ranked Last in Country
Detroit News – Craig Mauger | Published: 4/20/2021

The Republican and Democratic leaders of the Michigan House revealed a plan to institute wide-ranging ethics reforms, targeting policies that have been ranked worst nationally for transparency. At least some of the bills are proposing fundamental changes for lobbying and disclosure laws, which have been agreed on by House members on both sides of the aisle. If all of them became law, they would alter how Lansing operates, providing additional oversight, de-emphasizing the so-called “lame duck” period, and changing the House process for deciding when bills take effect.

Michigan – Police Pulled Over a Michigan Lawmaker for Allegedly Driving Drunk. He Threatened to Call the Governor.
MSN – Teo Armus (Washington Post) | Published: 4/22/2021

For almost 50 miles, witnesses reported, a Chevy Tahoe with the vanity plate “ELECTED” was driving so recklessly that at least one person saw the car go the wrong way before it rolled into a ditch. Inside the vehicle, state police found Michigan Rep. Jewell Jones, whose blood alcohol level was allegedly more than double the legal limit. In the cupholder behind him was a semiautomatic handgun. “If you hit me, it’s going to be very bad for you. I’ll call Gov. [Gretchen] Whitmer right now,” Jones told the officers. “When I call Gretchen,” he allegedly continued, they would have to hand over their “IDs, badge numbers, everything.”

Michigan – Whitmer: Michigan will vet labor, environmental compliance of firms bidding on state jobs
MSN – Paul Egan (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 4/16/2021

Companies bidding on state government contracts will be vetted to try to ensure they are not committing payroll fraud, are paying fair wages and benefits, and have acceptable labor and environmental records, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. The new rules, which Whitmer said will implement an executive directive she issued in 2019, are in part a response to the 2018 repeal of Michigan’s “prevailing wage” law. which generally required firms to pay union wages and benefits for state government and school district jobs, following a voter initiative, Whitmer said.

Missouri – Eric Greitens Was Biggest Donor to Own Senate Campaign; State Filing Raises Red Flags
Yahoo News – Bryan Lowry (Kansas City Star) | Published: 4/16/2021

One donor accounted for more than half of the money raised so far by former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens’ U.S. Senate campaign: Eric Greitens. His total represents about a tenth of what was raised by Democrat Lucas Kunce during the first quarter of the 2022 cycle. Greitens still maintains a state campaign account with nearly $200,000 but is barred from using it for his Senate candidacy under state and federal campaign rules. Greitens’ state report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission raises some red flags.

Missouri – Missouri House Expels Lawmaker Accused by His Children of Sexual and Physical Abuse
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Jack Suntrup | Published: 4/21/2021

Days after rejecting state Rep. Rick Roeber’s letter of resignation, the Missouri House voted to expel the Kansas City-area Republican whose now-adult children testified he sexually abused them when they were minors. A House Ethics Committee report states Roeber sexually abused two of his children when they were nine and five, respectively, and attempted to abuse the children other times. The report also says Roeber physically and mentally abused his children. Roeber, according to the report, said the published allegations prior to the election were “a political hit.” He said at one point during the investigation “all my kids are Democrats.”

Montana – Bill Exempting Religious Groups from Campaign Reporting Gets Another Shot
Helena Independent Record – Sam Wilson | Published: 4/21/2021

A bill exempting religious nonprofits from Montana’s campaign finance reporting requirements won the Senate’s endorsement after an earlier version was tabled in the House. Sen. Bryce Bennett said political organizations could hide behind a tax-exempt status as a religious group and use that cover to avoid disclosing donors the way other political committees are required to in the state. Sen. David Howard rejected that argument, saying the federal government has strict requirements for religious organizations to maintain a tax-exempt designation.

New York – Eric Adams’ Campaigns and Nonprofit Reaped Big Bucks from Lobbyists and Developers Seeking Help
The City – Eric Green and Yoav Gonen | Published: 4/18/2021

Eric Adams, Brooklyn’s borough president and a top-tier candidate for mayor, will soon deliver a recommendation that could help determine whether a zoning plan that would add thousands of new residences to what was once a primarily manufacturing and working-class enclave lives, dies, or is significantly altered. A longtime lobbyist for real estate interests with major investments in the area sits on the board of a nonprofit Adams controls. Besides serving on the board, Ethan Geto, provides pro bono services for the fund and his firm created and manages the nonprofit’s website.

New York – Mount Vernon Ethics Board Chair Arrested Over Campaign Threats
MSN – Jonathan Bandler (Rockland/Westchester Journal News) | Published: 4/21/2021

A lawyer trying to get on the Democratic primary ballot for the Mount Vernon City Council was arrested after allegedly threatening Councilperson Janice Duarte over her brother’s objections to his nominating petitions. Gregory Cannata, chairperson of the city’s Board of Ethics, was arraigned on two misdemeanor charges of third-degree attempted coercion after he was accused of threatening to ruin Duarte if her brother did not withdraw his objections.

Ohio – Cincinnati City Councilman Wendell Young Charged with Felony in ‘Gang of 5’ Texting Case
MSN – Sharon Coolidge and Kevin Grasha (Cincinnati Enquirer) | Published: 4/15/2021

Cincinnati City Councilperson Wendell Young was indicted on a single charge stemming from a three-year-old texting scandal. A grand jury charged Young with tampering with records, a third-degree felony punishable by up to three years in prison. The charges against Young mark the fourth time a sitting council member who was elected in 2017 has been charged with a crime. The texting scandal has cast a shadow over council since the texting among a majority of members occurred in 2018 during a battle over whether to fire the city manager.

Ohio – In Ohio, Utility and Fossil Fuel Influence Reaches Beyond Bailout Bill
Energy News Network – Kathiann Kowalski | Published: 4/19/2021

“Dark money” loopholes remain in Ohio law, despite a surgical repeal of part of the law at the heart of a $60 million corruption scandal. Meanwhile, more evidence has emerged in recent months, detailing the flow of money by groups engaged in the House Bill 6 scandal and showing close ties between current and former utility lobbyists and Gov. Mike DeWine, as well as various lawmakers. “We need to learn from our mistakes,” said Catherine Turcer, executive director of Common Cause Ohio, noting the House Bill 6 case is just the latest in a line of corruption scandals that have hit state politics in the past two decades.

Pennsylvania – Confined to Zoom No More, Activists Return to State Capitol to Hold Lawmakers to Account
Pennsylvania Capital-Star – Stephen Caruso and Elizabeth Hardison | Published: 4/20/2021

After being shut out for much of the last year, activists of all stripes are returning to the Pennsylvania Capitol. The building’s typical open-door policy allows citizens to attend rallies, knock on lawmakers’ doors, and sit in galleries to watch proceedings. But most advocacy groups curtailed their in-person activism last year, turning instead to Zoom or phone-banking campaigns. Michael Pollack, executive director of March on Harrisburg, said, “Lobbying over Zoom is very difficult. Legislators are able to avoid eye contact. … They are also able to orchestrate the conversation in a way so their staff can take the questions.”

Tennessee – Bill Ketron Penalized $135K for Campaign Finance Violations
Mufreesboro Post – Tayla Courage | Published: 4/16/2021

Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron was ordered to pay $135,000 by the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance after state auditors found hundreds of thousands of dollars unaccounted for in his campaign and PAC accounts. Ketron told the board the money was not missing but poor accounting just made it look that way. His daughter, who was the campaign’s treasurer, was sentenced to eight years of probation after pleading no contest to 15 counts accusing her of fraudulent insurance acts, forgery, theft, and impersonating a licensed professional. Ketron said he would check in with his daughter to make sure she was keeping up with filings and deadlines, and she reassured him she was attending to her duties as treasurer.

Washington – Tim Eyman Ordered to Pay $2.9 Million to Cover Washington Attorney General’s Legal Costs
The Chronicle – David Gutman (Seattle Times) | Published: 4/16/2021

Anti-tax initiative promoter Tim Eyman must pay almost $2.9 million to cover the legal fees and costs of Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s long-running lawsuit against Eyman for campaign finance violations, Thurston County Superior Court Judge James Dixon ruled. That sum is in addition to the $2.6 million civil penalty that Dixon previously imposed on Eyman for years of campaign finance violations the judge called “numerous and particularly egregious.” In granting the legal fees, Dixon gave a near-total victory to Ferguson in his nearly four-year case against Eyman.

West Virginia – Former ACT Lobbyist Won $500K from Lawsuit Against Former WV Schools Superintendent
Charleston Gazette-Mail – Ryan Quinn | Published: 4/15/2021

A former lobbyist for ACT Inc., the college entrance exam provider, was awarded $500,000 to settle his lawsuit against former state schools Superintendent Steve Paine and a current assistant superintendent. Lobbyist Jason Webb sued Paine, alleging the superintendent repeatedly discriminated against ACT’s attempt to win the statewide standardized testing contracts and, when Webb spoke up about it, threatened ACT with a loss of business if Webb did not relent.

Campaign Finance

National: “Just 12 Megadonors Accounted for 7.5% of Political Giving Over Past Decade, Says Report” by Soo Rin Kim (ABC News) for MSN

National: “A Government Ethics Office Refused to Approve Kanye West’s Financial Disclosures from His Failed Presidential Campaign” by Grace Panetta (Business Insider) for MSN

Ethics

National: “How the G.O.P. Is Creating Harsher Penalties for Protesters” by Reid Epstein and Patricia Mazzei (New York Times) for Yahoo News

Louisiana: “Proposal to Shield Industry’s Groundwater Board Members from Ethics Charges Advances” by Sam Karlin for New Orleans Advocate

Massachusetts: “Wunderkind Ex-Mayor to Face Jurors in Fraud, Bribery Case” by Alanna Durkin Richer for Associated Press News

Michigan: “Michigan House Unveils Plan to Overhaul Ethics Policies Ranked Last in Country” by Craig Mauger for Detroit News

Missouri: “Missouri House Expels Lawmaker Accused by His Children of Sexual and Physical Abuse” by Jack Suntrup for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Ohio: “Cincinnati City Councilman Wendell Young Charged with Felony in ‘Gang of 5’ Texting Case” by Sharon Coolidge and Kevin Grasha (Cincinnati Enquirer) for MSN

Lobbying

Louisiana: “State Senator Casts Tie-Breaking Vote for Slidell Casino. His Wife Is One of the Lobbyists” by Tyler Bridges (New Orleans Advocate) for Louisiana Daily News

Pennsylvania: “Confined to Zoom No More, Activists Return to State Capitol to Hold Lawmakers to Account” by Stephen Caruso and Elizabeth Hardison for Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Procurement

Michigan: “Whitmer: Michigan will vet labor, environmental compliance of firms bidding on state jobs” by Paul Egan (Detroit Free Press) for MSN

Campaign Finance

National: “Leadership PACs Are Often Overlooked. These Corny Names Can’t Be Ignored” by Herb Jackson (Roll Call) for MSN

Washington: “Tim Eyman Ordered to Pay $2.9 Million to Cover Washington Attorney General’s Legal Costs” by David Gutman (Seattle Times) for The Chronicle

Ethics

National: “‘I’m Still a Zero’: Vaccine-resistant Republicans warn that their skepticism is worsening” by Dan Diamond (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Big Spending on Personal Security Ignites Post-Jan. 6 Debate Over Members’ Budgets” by Sarah Ferris and Daniel Payne for Politico

California: “Another Recology Exec Faces Charges of Bribing Mohammed Nuru” by Megan Cassidy (San Francisco Chronicle) for MSN

Florida: “Matt Gaetz’s Scandal Puts a New Spotlight on Florida’s Male-Dominated Capital Culture” by Skyler Swisher (South Florida Sun Sentinel) for Bangor Daily News

Missouri: “Missouri House Member Faces Expulsion After Investigation Finds He Sexually, Physically Abused His Children” by Jaclyn Peiser (Washington Post) for MSN

New York: “Eric Adams’ Campaigns and Nonprofit Reaped Big Bucks from Lobbyists and Developers Seeking Help” by Eric Green and Yoav Gonen for The City

Lobbying

Europe: “Government Spends £66,000 on Lobbyists Register Run by Part-Time Boss” by Jim Waterson for The Guardian

Campaign Finance

National: “Election Objectors Leaned on Small Donors After Corporate PAC Backlash” by Zach Montellaro, Theodoric Meyer, and Allan James Vestal for Politico

National: “Democrats Aim to Revive a Campaign Finance Watchdog” by Carl Hulse for New York Times

Missouri: “Eric Greitens Was Biggest Donor to Own Senate Campaign; State Filing Raises Red Flags” by Bryan Lowry (Kansas City Star) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “Pompeos Violated Rules on Use of State Department Resources, IG Finds” by Nahal Tusi for Politico

Illinois: “How Should Springfield Clean Up After the ComEd Scandal? Lawmakers’ Reform Plans Are Hazy” by Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold for WBEZ

Kansas: “Proposed Ethics Code Limits Gifts to Wichita Officials for the First Time in History” by Chance Swaim for Wichita Eagle

Maryland: “In Rebuke to Hogan, Maryland Statehouse Passes Ethics Bill” by Eric Cortellessa for Washington Monthly

Ohio: “In Ohio, Utility and Fossil Fuel Influence Reaches Beyond Bailout Bill” by Kathiann Kowalski for Energy News Network

Lobbying

West Virginia: “Former ACT Lobbyist Won $500K from Lawsuit Against Former WV Schools Superintendent” by Ryan Quinn for Charleston Gazette-Mail

On April 19, a campaign finance bill in Ontario concerning contribution limits, political activities, and voting processes received Royal Assent.

Bill 254, the Protecting Ontario Elections Act, 2021, allows individuals to make contributions in an amount up to $3,300 per calendar year or campaign period to party and non-party candidates, leadership contestants, constituency associations, nomination contestants of a party or a constituency association of an independent member, and any one registered party. That amount will increase by $25 for each calendar year beginning on January 1, 2022.

Bill 254 enhances the law concerning collusion with third parties. Contributions from one third party to another third party for the purposes of political advertising are deemed as part of the expenses of the contributing third party.

Additionally, a third party is prohibited from trying to circumvent the rules and spending limits by splitting itself into two or more third parties, acting in collusion with another third party so that combined political advertising expenses exceed the applicable limit, and colluding with, including sharing information with, a registered party, registered constituency association, registered candidate, registered leadership contestant, or registered nomination contestant or any of their agents or employees for the purpose of circumventing the limit.

The Municipal Elections Act, 1996, is amended to provide that a registered third party may withdraw their registration by filing a written withdrawal in the clerk’s office during the time for filing a notice of registration.

The bill also allows independent members of the Assembly to endorse constituency associations, mandates the Chief Electoral Officer establish an advisory committee on voting equipment and vote counting equipment, and codifies certain administrative penalties.

Campaign Finance

Florida: “Dark Money Details Emerge as Former Florida State Senator and No-Party Candidate Head to Court” by Ana Ceballos and Samantha Gross (Miami Herald) for MSN

Michigan: “Benson’s Office Backs Unlock Michigan on Not Disclosing Donor Sources” by Craig Mauger (Detroit News) for Yahoo News

Tennessee: “Bill Ketron Penalized $135K for Campaign Finance Violations” by Tayla Courage for Mufreesboro Post

Ethics

National: “The GOP’s Big Bulk Book-Buying Machine Is Boosting Republicans on the Bestseller Lists” by Michael Macagnone (Roll Call) for MSN

Missouri: “Missouri House Rejects Rick Roeber’s Resignation, Buying Time to Finish Investigation” by Jeanne King and Jonathan Shorman (Kansas City Star) for MSN

Legislative Issues

National: “The End of the Imperial Governorship” by Nick Neidzwaidek for Politico

Lobbying

National: “Corporations Agree to Transparency on Climate Lobbying” by Laura Weiss (Roll Call) for MSN

California: “How San Jose Mayor’s Ally Helped Bloom Energy Skirt a Natural Gas Ban” by Sonja Herrera and Tran Nguyen for San Jose Spotlight

Massachusetts: “Should DiMasi, and Other Federal Felons, Face a Ban on Lobbying Beacon Hill? The SJC Will Decide” by Matt Stout (Boston Globe) for MSN

National/Federal

Asian American Super PAC Launches Operation to Improve Understanding of Fastest-Growing Electorate
MSN – Colby Itkowitz and Amy Wang (Washington Post) | Published: 4/11/2021

The AAPI Victory Fund super PAC, the top political organization representing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, announced the creation of a new nonprofit group aimed at developing a greater understanding of the nuanced population that has long been excluded from conversations about issues such as racial justice, economic disparity, and politics generally. But the coronavirus pandemic brought those issues to the forefront for Asian Americans, who have been subjected to racist slurs, perpetrated by former President Trump and other Republicans using derogatory and stigmatizing terms to describe the virus, such as the “Wuhan flu.”

Dem Pollsters Acknowledge ‘Major Errors’ in 2020 Polling
Politico – Steven Shepard | Published: 4/13/2021

A group of top Democratic Party pollsters acknowledged “major errors” in their 2020 polling –errors that left party officials stunned by election results that failed to come close to expectations in November. Five of the party’s biggest polling firms have spent the past few months working together to explore what went wrong last year and how it can be fixed. It is part of an effort to understand why, despite data showing Joe Biden well ahead of then-President Trump, and Democrats poised to increase their House majority, the party won the presidency, the Senate, and House by narrow margins.

Democrats Look to Boost Campaign Staff Diversity Ahead of Midterms
MSN – Bridget Bowman (Roll Call) | Published: 4/8/2021

Ensuring campaign staff and consultants are from a mix of races, ethnicities, genders, and sexualities has been a persistent problem for a Democratic Party that relies on a diverse coalition of voters to win elections, campaign operatives said in interviews. The dearth of diverse campaign staffers also affects Capitol Hill since operatives often transition to a lawmaker’s office after a successful campaign. Democrats are particularly concerned about a lack of staff diversity ahead of the midterms next year, when they will be defending razor-thin majorities in the House and Senate.

Ethics Panel Upholds Metal Detector Fines Totaling $15K Against Rep. Clyde
The Hill – Chriatina Marcos | Published: 4/12/2021

The House Committee on Ethics upheld two fines worth a total of $15,000 against U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde for failing to comply with security screenings to enter the House chamber. In his appeal, Clyde did not deny he evaded the metal detectors stationed outside the chamber as a security measure established in the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection. Instead, he maintained the fines are unconstitutional, arguing in part it violates the 27th Amendment that prohibits any law that changes lawmakers’ salaries before their next terms in office and have been selectively enforced. Clyde said he plans to challenge the fines in federal court.

Gaetz Faces House Ethics Probe; Federal Investigation Widens
Associated Press News – Eric Tucker, Michael Balsamo, and Lisa Mascaro | Published: 4/10/2021

The House Committee on Ethics announced an investigation into U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz as federal prosecutors probing sex trafficking allegations against him are also scrutinizing the actions of some of his political allies and fellow Florida Republicans as part of a broader public corruption inquiry. The FBI’s examination of a wide range of topics involving Gaetz and his associates exemplifies the breadth of the investigation. Gaetz, who has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, has retained two prominent attorneys while facing a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls.

How the Corporate Backlash to Georgia’s New Voting Law is Shaping Other Fights Around the Country Over Access to the Polls
MSN – Amy Gardner and Mike DeBonis (Washington Post) | Published: 4/11/2021

The conflagration in Georgia has spread into other states such as Texas, Florida, Michigan, and Arizona, where both business interests and voting rights activists buoyed by newfound momentum are rethinking how to challenge Republican-backed voting measures. More than 100 chief executives and corporate leaders took part in a recent online meeting to discuss ways to oppose state voting bills being considered across the country. Advocates hope to capitalize on the moment by not only blocking voting restrictions being considered in the states, but also building support for federal legislation that would enshrine new voting rights nationally.

NRCC Warns Donors Trump Will Find Out If They Opt Out of Monthly Donations
MSN – Colby Itkowitz (Washington Post) | Published: 4/8/2021

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) threatened donors it will tell former President Trump they are defectors if they opt out of giving recurring monthly funds to the campaign arm for the House GOP. After donating to the NRCC, donors are shown a yellow box with a small pre-checked box that warns: “If you UNCHECK this box, we will have to tell Trump you’re a DEFECTOR.” Left checked and the supporter will be agreeing to contribute every month. The tactic, criticized by campaign finance experts as deceptive, was also employed by the Trump campaign from September until the 2020 election to shore up its dwindling coffers.

Stinging Report Raises New Questions About Capitol Security
ABC News – Mary Clare Jalonick (Associated Press) | Published: 4/14/2021

As Congress pushes for a return to normalcy months after the riot at the Capitol, a damning internal report about the deadly siege is painting a dire picture of the Capitol Police’s ability to respond to threats against lawmakers. The full report casts serious doubt on whether the police would be able to respond to another large-scale attack. The Capitol Police said in a statement the siege was “a pivotal moment” in history that showed the need for “major changes” in how the department operates, but it was “important to note that nearly all of the recommendations require significant resources the department does not have.”

Top Bidder for Tribune Newspapers Is an Influential Liberal Donor
New York Times – Kenneth Vogel and Katie Benner | Published: 4/13/2021

Before he emerged as a potential champion of journalism with his bid for Tribune Publishing, the Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss created a political operation to advance progressive policy initiatives and the Democrats who support them. The Hub Project was started by one of Wyss’s charitable organizations partly to shape media coverage to help Democratic causes. Wyss and his charitable foundation are not mentioned on The Hub Project’s website, and his role in its creation has not been previously reported. As a newspaper publisher, Wyss would be in a role very different from that of a behind-the-scenes backer of progressive causes.

UK Lobbying Scandal Snares Ex-PM Cameron; Govt Starts Probe
Associated Press News – Danica Kirka | Published: 4/12/2021

The controversy over former British Prime Minister David Cameron’s lobbying on behalf of a now-bankrupt financial services firm deepened as the government launched an investigation that opponents immediately labeled a “cover-up.” The Conservative government announced plans for an independent inquiry into Greensill Capital after Cameron made his first comments on the scandal and two senior politicians called for new rules on contacts between business representatives and government officials. News reports revealed Cameron lobbied government officials on behalf of Greensill, which collapsed recently.

Canada

Canada – Complaint Filed Against Lobbyist for Ontario Developers
Canada’s National Observer – Steve Buist and Emma McIntosh | Published: 4/13/2021

A former Member of Parliament (MP) working for developers who could benefit if Highway 413 is built violated Ontario’s lobbying law, alleges a complaint by a watchdog group. Democracy Watch alleges former MP Peter Van Loan’s lobbying of Premier Doug Ford and Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney created a conflict-of-interest. Van Loan was chair of Mulroney’s unsuccessful campaign for the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservative (PC) Party. He is also a former president of the Ontario PC Party. Van Loan said he violated no rules and represents his clients as a lawyer.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – GOP Secretary of State Candidate Finchem Accused of Breaking Campaign Finance Law
Arizona Miror – Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Published: 4/14/2021

A watchdog group accused state Rep. Mark Finchem of violating Arizona campaign finance law by asking supporters to donate to his personal PayPal and Venmo accounts to pay the expenses for an election event. Finchem asked his followers on the social media platform Gab and encrypted messaging platform Telegram to donate to a PayPal account, which Finchem said was for the Make Arizona Safe Again PAC. Finchem is running for secretary of state in 2022, which would make him the top elections official in Arizona.

California – California Politicians Owe $2 Million in Campaign Fines, Don’t Get Punished
CalMatters – Laurel Rosenhall | Published: 4/14/2021

California has failed to collect $2 million in fines on a range of political players who filed late disclosure reports. The fines are owed by 26 state lawmakers and 21 Superior Court judges, as well as lobbyists, former legislators, losing candidates, ballot measure campaigns, Democratic and Republican clubs, and corporate and labor-backed PACs. About 300 of the penalties are less than $100, reflecting paperwork filed a few days late. But 45 of the fines are more than $10,000, and some are for violations more than a decade ago, raising questions about whether California is effectively enforcing its campaign finance law that is meant to promote transparency and prevent corruption.

Florida – Naples Ethics Commission Selects Miami-Dade Advocate as First Executive Director
MSN – Brittany Carloni (Naples Daily News) | Published: 4/14/2021

The Naples Ethics Commission selected the person it hopes to serve as the board’s first executive director. Commissioners chose to begin contract negotiations with Michael Murawski, the advocate in the enforcement unit for the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust. Murawski said he hopes to start in the new role by June 1. Sixty-two percent of voters in Naples approved a referendum last August that amended the city’s charter to establish an independent Ethics Commission and an Ethics Office and to set minimum requirements for the city’s ethics code.

Florida – Records Show Former Florida Tax Collector Joel Greenberg Doled Out Contracts to Politicians, Strategists Tied to Figures in State’s Political Scandals
MSN – Jason Garcia and Annie Martin (Orlando Sentinel) | Published: 4/13/2021

Records depict a Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office that, under Joel Greenberg, turned into a source of money for people either personally close to Greenberg or plugged into Republican politics. Auditors hired to probe Greenberg’s spending after he resigned last year found ample evidence of potential “misuse of taxpayer dollars” and a series of vague consulting contracts for which they found no evidence of work. The records also provide further details of Greenberg’s friendships with two figures buffeted by the controversies: U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and lobbyist Chris Dorworth. Greenberg told authorities he and Gaetz “had encounters with women who were given cash or gifts in exchange for sex,” according to media reports.

Florida – Search Warrant: Former Florida state senator had paperwork for no-party candidate in second Miami state Senate race
MSN – Samantha Gross and Ana Ceballos (Miami Herald) | Published: 4/8/2021

Former Florida Sen. Frank Artiles was in possession of campaign documents of two spoiler no-party candidates who ran in separate, competitive Miami-Dade County Senate races in 2020, according to a search warrant. Artiles is facing felony campaign finance related charges in connection with recruiting and paying an alleged spoiler candidate with the goal of swaying the Senate District 37 race. The 2020 election cycle drew three mysterious no-party candidates in contentious Senate races all won by Republicans. The candidates did no independent campaigning, had little to no public profiles, and their candidacies were all bolstered by similarly designed political mail advertisements that were paid for by $550,000 in untraceable funds.

Florida – Tampa Mayor Jane Castor Says Related Deal Doesn’t Contain Personal Conflicts.
MSN – Charlie Fargo (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 4/14/2021

A lucrative preliminary selection for the development of a prime parcel in Tampa had family ties to Mayor Jane Castor. Her nephew, Alex Castor, works for Related, the firm that won the initial nod to develop the 18-acres. And her partner, Ana Cruz, works as a lobbyist for Ballard Partners, a powerful national firm with offices in Tampa. Ballard was working for Related during the request-for-proposal process that ended in March. Jane Castor said Ballard’s participation in the process was above board and she said it did not have any impact on Related’s preliminary selection out of six finalists.

Hawaii – City Permits Employee Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribe to Expedite Project
Honolulu Civil Beat – Christina Jedra | Published: 4/7/2021

A Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) employee pleaded guilty to taking a bribe to expedite a local architect’s projects. Kanani Padeken, a building plans examiner, was one of five current and former DPP employees charged in a federal corruption probe. She pleaded guilty to honest services wire fraud in connection with her acceptance of at least $28,000 from architect William Wong between 2017 and 2020.

Hawaii – Ethics Board OKs Richards’ Vote: Councilman allowed to vote on Rodenhurst confirmation despite serving as a reference
West Hawaii Today – Nancy Cook Lauer | Published: 4/12/2021

It is not a violation of the ethics code for a Hawaii County Council member to serve as a reference for someone seeking a county job and then voting on that person’s confirmation, the Board of Ethics ruled. At issue was Councilperson Tim Richards’ endorsement of Public Works Director Ikaika Rodenhurst after being named in his official capacity as a reference for the position on Rodenhurst’s resume. A complaint asked the board to invalidate the vote that confirmed Rodenhurst because Richards did not recuse himself. Had Richards done so, Rodenhurst’s confirmation to the $132,577 position would have failed.

Illinois – Ethics Board Reduces Campaign Finance Fine Levied Against Ald. Austin From $145K to $5K
WTTW – Heather Cerone | Published: 4/12/2021

In January, the Chicago Board of Ethics voted to fine Ald. Carrie Austin $145,000 for accepting excessive campaign contributions. It was the first time the board levied the maximum fine allowed for violations of the city’s campaign finance law – three times the amount of the improper donations. The improper contribution was made by Benchmark Construction. The board fined the firm $5,000. The ethics board recently agreed to reduce Austin’s penalty to $5,000. Steve Berlin, executive director of the Board of Ethics, said the agency decided to reduce the fine by more than 96 percent “after considering the equities of the situation.”

Illinois – Longtime Precinct Captain for Indicted Ald. Edward Burke Pleads Guilty to Deceiving FBI in Corruption Probe
MSN – Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 4/13/2021

A longtime Chicago fire inspector and 14th Ward precinct captain, Rudy Acosta watched as a succession of his political mentors were hit with federal charges, including Ald. Fred Roti, the mob-connected leader of the old 1st Ward who went to prison for bribery and current Ald. Edward Burke, who is awaiting trial on racketeering charges. But it was Acosta’s work as a liaison for corrupt former Illinois Sen. Martin Sandoval that finally landed him in trouble. Acosta pleaded guilty to misleading the FBI in a series of interviews about its investigation into Sandoval and other elected officials.

Kansas – Kansas Fight Shows How Election ‘Reforms’ May Favor One Side
Associated Press News – John Hanna and Andy Tsubasa Field | Published: 4/14/2021

Charley Crabtree was looking to help voters in nursing homes get absentee ballots delivered on time last year, so he picked up about 75 from at least 10 locations in his hometown of Lawrence. Republicans who control the Kansas Legislature want to make what he did a crime punishable by up to six months in jail. Republican lawmakers said they are protecting the integrity of the state’s elections by making it less likely that ballots will go missing or get altered. Democrats describe the measure that cleared the Legislature as an attack on get-out-the-vote efforts helping elderly, disabled, and poor voters.

Kansas – Records: Kansas lawmaker’s blood alcohol twice legal limit
Associated Press News – Margaret Stafford | Published: 4/8/2021

A powerful Kansas lawmaker accused of drunken driving had a blood alcohol level that was twice the legal limit and taunted the Highway Patrol officer who arrested him for allegedly speeding the wrong way on an interstate. Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop faces five counts, including a felony fleeing to avoid arrest and a misdemeanor driving under the influence charge. Suellentrop refused to take a breathalyzer test and was taken to a Topeka hospital. At one point, he called the arresting officer “donut boy,” according to the affidavit, and said the events were “all for going the wrong way.”

Massachusetts – A Senator Donated $137,000 to the State GOP. The Party Then Spent That Same Amount Aiding His Wife’s Campaign
MSN – Matt Stout (Boston Globe) | Published: 4/9/2021

State Sen. Ryan Fattman last year donated $137,000 to the Massachusetts Republican Party. The party then spent similar amounts helping another candidate: the senator’s wife. There are no limits on what the senator can donate to the party, or what the party can spend in helping another candidate. But the donations fall within the time frame in which state regulators say the Fattmans and others may have violated campaign finance laws, including those barring people from disguising the true source of money. Ryan Fattman also may have broken a rule that says candidates cannot make contributions to a political committee “on the condition or with the agreement or understanding” that the funds must then be sent to someone else.

Missouri – Missouri GOP State Lawmaker Rick Roeber Resigns Amid Allegations He Abused His Children
Yahoo News – Austin Huguelet (Springfield News-Leader) | Published: 4/13/2021

A Missouri lawmaker accused of sexually and physically abusing his children they were younger submitted his resignation. State Rep. Rick Roeber said he is leaving because he and his fiancée are preparing to move out of state to be closer to their extended families, including his ailing mother. Roeber’s announcement came as fellow lawmakers investigating the allegations against him appeared close to publishing damaging conclusions. Republican leaders, including the ethics panel chair, told the Jackson County prosecutor they had “information that needs to be forwarded to the proper authorities in your jurisdiction.” They also expressed concerns about the safety of a minor who regularly interacts with Roeber.

Montana – House Endorses Repeal of PAC Money Limits for Legislative Candidates
Helena Independent Record – Sam Wilson | Published: 4/14/2021

Montana would lose its status as arguably the nation’s most restrictive when it comes to campaign finance limits under a bill that passed a preliminary vote in the House. Senate Bill 224 would substantially hike maximum contributions from individuals and political committees to candidates for legislative and statewide offices, while eliminating limits on some campaign contributions and raising the threshold for which a contribution must be reported to the Commissioner of Political Practices.

Montana – State Supreme Court Quashes GOP Subpoena Seeking Internal Judiciary Emails
Missoula Current – Mike Dennison (MTN News) | Published: 4/12/2021

In an escalating political battle between Republican leadership at the Legislature and the state’s judiciary, the Montana Supreme Court quashed a subpoena that lawmakers used to obtain a cache of internal e-mails from the judiciary. The high court blocked any further release of the e-mails until it could rule on whether the legislative subpoena is proper. The subpoena is the latest twist in Republican efforts alleging some Montana judges are improperly taking sides on political issues, including a new law that gives Gov. Greg Gianforte more power to appoint judges.

New Jersey – ‘It’s Probably the Worst Day of My Life.’ Law Partner of Informant in N.J. Corruption Sting Pleads Guilty.
MSN – Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 4/13/2021

An attorney at the center of a straw donor scheme that helped steer taxpayer dollars toward a now-shuttered law firm pleaded guilty to tampering with public records. Elizabeth Valandingham admitted she submitted fake proposals for government contracts and falsified campaign finance reports to further the scheme. Valandingham must forfeit her law license, pay a $75,000 penalty, and will be disbarred from any public contracts for 10 years. Valandingham and an unnamed co-conspirator recruited family members and friends to act as straw donors, giving political donations in towns where the firm sought contracts. Valandingham and her co-conspirator then illegally refunded the donations.

New Jersey – Plan to Improve Legislators Financial Disclosure Now Stalled for Nearly 15 Months
New Jersey Globe – Nikita Biryukov | Published: 4/10/2021

A plan to update financial disclosures filed by New Jersey lawmakers remains stalled nearly 15 months after Senate President Steve Sweeney announced plans to raise income reporting thresholds. Lawmakers are required to disclose their finances under the legislative code of ethics, not by statute. While state law requires the Legislature adopt a code of ethics, it does not specify that code include provisions on financial disclosure. It is not clear that legislators are willing approve new disclosure rules before filings for 2020 come due on May 15.

New Mexico – Gov.’s Campaign Settles with Ex-Spokesman
Yahoo News – Dan McKay and Dan Boyd (Albuquerque Journal) | Published: 4/13/2021

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s gubernatorial campaign paid at least $62,500 as part of a settlement with a former staff member, James Halloran, who accused her of sexual mistreatment during a staff meeting. The five monthly payments of $12,500 are outlined in a campaign finance report filed by Lujan Grisham’s campaign. They are listed as legal expenses, with one payment a month from November through March.

New York – Andrew Yang’s Mayoral Campaign Is Being Run by a Lobbying Firm
City & State New York – Jeff Colton | Published: 4/14/2021

Tusk Strategies, a lobbying firm that is regularly hired by clients to advocate on issues being considered by elected officials in New York, is providing staff members for Andrew Yang’s bid to become the city’s next mayor. Other leading mayoral clients also have registered lobbyists consulting on their campaigns. Up until now, Yang’s mayoral campaign has been fully funded by private donors. But he has opted into the city’s public matching funds program, and the Campaign Finance Board is expected to approve a payment of more than $4 million in public funds to Yang, money that would help pay for Tusk Strategies’ services.

New York – ‘Bond Girl’ Talk and Groping: Albany’s toxic culture for women
New York Times – Sydney Ember, J. David Goodman, and Luis Ferré-Sadurni | Published: 4/12/2021

Sexual misconduct is a defining part of the culture of government in Albany, and so endemic it has continued even after scandals took down a governor, Eliot Spitzer, and several members of the state Assembly. It has been thrown into sharp relief by allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo from multiple current and former aides who have accused him of sexual harassment and, in one case, groping during an encounter in the Executive Mansion. Yet the allegations, which Cuomo has denied, also suggest a new generation of women in Albany will not remain silent or tolerate behaviors that many men there saw as normal.

New York – Cuomo, Top Aides Worked on COVID Book Alongside Publisher’s Reps at Executive Mansion
MSN – Jon Campbell and Joseph Spector (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) | Published: 4/14/2021

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gathered his inner circle at the Executive Mansion on two occasions last summer to critique and fact-check the manuscript of what would become the governor’s best-selling book, “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons Learned for the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Cuomo at one point had his top aides and advisers work alongside two representatives of The Crown Publishing Group, his publisher, according to sources. Cuomo received approval from ethics regulators to pursue the book but it was contingent on the governor not using state resources or personnel on the project, which would be a violation of state Public Officers Law.

New York – Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Government Staff Did Work on ‘Super PAC’s’ Poll
Finger Lakes Times – Chris Bragg (Albany Times Union) | Published: 4/12/2021

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s recent book deal is not the only instance where his office mixed private activities and government staff. Emails show in 2019, Cuomo’s top aide, Melissa DeRosa, did work related to campaign polling in the early morning and stretching into the afternoon of a Tuesday. She also instructed lower-level staff to perform a task related to the poll. A 1992 ethics opinion said campaigns must be run on an employee’s own time and no state resources of any kind can be used in the furtherance of the campaign. In this instance, Cuomo’s staff work was related to an outside campaign spending group, which was using the Cuomo campaign’s own pollster.

Ohio – Anti-Riot or Anti-Protest? Four Ohio Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Demonstrators
MSN – Anna Staver (Columbus Dispatch) | Published: 4/12/2021

The protests around Ohio last year were organized because people wanted change, especially in policing procedures, from their elected officials. But bills introduced by Republicans were not what they had in mind. These bills would increase the number of arrestable offenses at protests and enhance penalties for crimes committed during demonstrations that turn violent. Supporters of the four bills say the changes are necessary to protect first responders and peaceful protesters from “the lawlessness” of last summer’s demonstrations. Opponents describe them as photocopies of bills from other states and claim their true purpose is to intimidate people who protest controversial issues like police misconduct.

Ohio – Ohio Elections Commission Votes to Prosecute Newburgh Heights Mayor Over Campaign-Finance Violations
MSN – Andrew Tobias (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 4/8/2021

The Ohio Elections Commission voted to refer Newburgh Heights Mayor Trevor Elkins for prosecution over his misuse of roughly $134,000 in campaign funds to cover his personal expenses. Commissioners said they needed to make a tough statement on what they viewed as a precedent-setting case. The commission also voted to fine Elkins’ campaign $5,000 and to impose a $500 fine on his campaign treasurer, Bernadette Weaver.

Ohio – Shontel Brown Approved Major Contract, Then Contractor Backed Her Campaign
The Intercept – Matthew Cunningham-Cook and Sam Allard | Published: 4/14/2021

When Shontel Boyd was running for her seat on Cuyahoga County Council in 2014, she responded to questions about her links to the family of a major contractor by promising to “recuse herself from county contracts with ties to Mark Perkins as necessary.” Perkins, Brown’s partner, has longstanding ties to the general contractor Perk. But Brown in 2017 voted to give a $7 million contract to Perk. One of the firm’s owners then helped organize a fundraiser that bankrolled a significant portion of her reelection campaign. In total, she has approved more than $17 million to Perk and has received $13,000 in campaign donations from the Perkins family and Perk’s current owners, the Cifani family.

Texas – As Legislator and Real Estate Mogul, Gates Seeks to Disband Management Districts
Houston Chronicle – Jasper Scherer | Published: 4/13/2021

Before state Rep. Gary Gates was elected to the Texas House, the real estate executive launched a petition drive to disband the Southwest Management District, one of 39 special districts across Houston that collect taxes from commercial property owners to fund extra police patrols, sidewalk improvements, and other local services. He filed a bill that would make it easier to dissolve most management districts, including two he has targeted. Legislators commonly have a hand in bills that affect their livelihoods, but they rarely are reprimanded for doing so, said Andrew Cates, an expert in Texas ethics laws.

Utah – Utah Lawyer Calls State Bar Membership Unconstitutional
Courthouse News Service – Amanda Pampuro | Published: 4/13/2021

Utah lawyer Amy Pomeroy sued the state bar association, claiming it spent mandatory dues on political and ideological speech she disagrees with in violation of her First and 14th Amendment rights. The Utah State Bar mandates membership to practice law. Annual fees cost $425 plus a contribution to the “client security fund.” The bar currently allows members to apply for a rebate of their dues if they do not wish to fund lobbying efforts for public policy issues, but Pomeroy claimed the links she was provided with were dead ends. Pomeroy contends the state bar does readily provide information on what portion of the funds are spent on lobbying efforts and for what causes.

Washington DC – How White Fears of ‘Negro Domination’ Kept D.C. Disenfranchised for Decades
Washington Post – Meagan Flynn | Published: 4/14/2021

Historians released a report describing how race played a role in decisions to continue disenfranchising District of Columbia residents for decades. The report, “Democracy Deferred: Race, Politics, and D.C.’s Two-Century Struggle for Full Voting Rights,” brings to the surface a trove of overtly racist ideas about the city’s incapability to govern itself dating from Reconstruction, when Black men gained the right to vote, through the civil rights movement, when it finally won limited home rule. At the heart of the resistance to granting suffrage was a fear of Black political power.

Campaign Finance

California: “California Politicians Owe $2 Million in Campaign Fines, Don’t Get Punished” by Laurel Rosenhall for CalMatters

Ohio: “Shontel Brown Approved Major Contract, Then Contractor Backed Her Campaign” by Matthew Cunningham-Cook and Sam Allard for The Intercept

Elections

Washington DC: “How White Fears of ‘Negro Domination’ Kept D.C. Disenfranchised for Decades” by Meagan Flynn for Washington Post

Ethics

National: “Top Bidder for Tribune Newspapers Is an Influential Liberal Donor” by Kenneth Vogel and Katie Benner for New York Times

National: “Capitol Police Told to Hold Back on Riot Response on Jan. 6, Report Finds” by Luke Broadwater for New York Times

Florida: “Records Show Former Florida Tax Collector Joel Greenberg Doled Out Contracts to Politicians, Strategists Tied to Figures in State’s Political Scandals” by Jason Garcia and Annie Martin (Orlando Sentinel) for MSN

Missouri: “Missouri GOP State Lawmaker Rick Roeber Resigns Amid Allegations He Abused His Children” by Austin Huguelet (Springfield News-Leader) for Yahoo News

New York: “Cuomo, Top Aides Worked on COVID Book Alongside Publisher’s Reps at Executive Mansion” by Jon Campbell and Joseph Spector (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) for MSN

Utah: “Utah Lawyer Calls State Bar Membership Unconstitutional” by Amanda Pampuro for Courthouse News Service

Lobbying

New York: “Andrew Yang’s Mayoral Campaign Is Being Run by a Lobbying Firm” by Jeff Colton for City & State New York

Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill revising campaign finance reporting deadlines for municipal candidates and political committees.

House Bill 71 amends the reporting dates for a political committee participating in odd-year municipal elections to the 30^th of June, July, August, September, October, and November of the election year.

The bill became effective when signed on April 8.

Campaign Finance

New Jersey: “Morris County Lawyer Admits Falsifying Records as Part of Straw Donor Scheme” by Terence McDonald (Bergen Record) for MSN

Elections

National: “Dem Pollsters Acknowledge ‘Major Errors’ in 2020 Polling” by Steven Shepard for Politico

Ethics

National: “Ethics Panel Upholds Metal Detector Fines Totaling $15K Against Rep. Clyde” by Christina Marcos for The Hill

Illinois: “Longtime Precinct Captain for Indicted Ald. Edward Burke Pleads Guilty to Deceiving FBI in Corruption Probe” by Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) for MSN

Missouri: “Missouri Legislators Investigating Rick Roeber Ask Prosecutor to Ensure ‘Safety’ of Child” by Jason Hancock (Missouri Independent) for Kansas City Star

New York: “‘Bond Girl’ Talk and Groping: Albany’s toxic culture for women” by Sydney Ember, J. David Goodman, and Luis Ferré-Sadurni for New York Times

Ohio: “Anti-Riot or Anti-Protest? Four Ohio Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Demonstrators” by Anna Staver (Columbus Dispatch) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Montana: “State Supreme Court Quashes GOP Subpoena Seeking Internal Judiciary Emails” by Mike Dennison (MTN News) for Missoula Current

Campaign Finance

National: “Asian American Super PAC Launches Operation to Improve Understanding of Fastest-Growing Electorate” by Colby Itkowitz and Amy Wang (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Ethics Board Reduces Campaign Finance Fine Levied Against Ald. Austin From $145K to $5K” by Heather Cerone for WTTW

Massachusetts: “A Senator Donated $137,000 to the State GOP. The Party Then Spent That Same Amount Aiding His Wife’s Campaign” by Matt Stout (Boston Globe) for MSN

Elections

National: “How the Corporate Backlash to Georgia’s New Voting Law is Shaping Other Fights Around the Country Over Access to the Polls” by Amy Gardner and Mike DeBonis (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Gaetz Faces House Ethics Probe; Federal Investigation Widens” by Eric Tucker, Michael Balsamo, and Lisa Mascaro for Associated Press News

New Jersey: “Plan to Improve Legislators Financial Disclosure Now Stalled for Nearly 15 Months” by Nikita Biryukov for New Jersey Globe

New York: “Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Government Staff Did Work on ‘Super PAC’s’ Poll” by Chris Bragg (Albany Times Union) for Finger Lakes Times

Lobbying

Europe: “UK Lobbying Scandal Snares Ex-PM Cameron; Govt Starts Probe” by Danica Kirka for Associated Press News