Lobbying

“Suddenly, ‘Schumerland’ Is the Place to Be” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Hawaii: “Tobacco-Free Coalition Cleared on Lobbying Charges” by Nancy Cook Lauer for West Hawaii Today

Texas: “Local Government, School Lobbying in Ethics Crosshairs” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

Campaign Finance

“Wealthy Donors on Left Launch New Plan to Wrest Back Control in the States” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

Kentucky: “Former Kentucky Lawmaker Pleads Guilty to Campaign Finance Violations” by John Cheves for Lexington Herald-Leader

Ethics

Georgia: “Common Cause Takes Advocacy Efforts to Georgia Voters” by Carlton Fletcher for Albany Herald

Missouri: “Though Petition Seeks His Ouster, Ferguson Mayor Says He Is Best Leader for City” by John Eligon for New York Times

Washington: “Residents Fight to Save Bothell Golf Course from Developers, Mayor” by Lynn Thompson for Seattle Times

Elections

“Marco Rubio Announces 2016 Presidential Bid” by Ashley Parker and Alan Rappeport for New York Times

“Hillary Clinton Starts to Detail Rationale for Run as Campaign Begins” by Amy Chozick for New York Times

Lobbying

“The Shadow Lobbyist” opinion piece by Tom Edsall in The New York Times.

Georgia: “New ethics law’s Jan. 1 start creates uncertainty for lobbyists, legislators” by Aaron Gould Sheinin in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

North Carolina: “NC elections board supports investigation on sweepstakes cash” by Michael Biesecker and Mitch Weiss (Associated Press) in the News & Observer.

Campaign Finance

“Donor Gets Jail Time for Illegal Contributions” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

“Does Stephen Colbert’s Endorsement of His Sister Violate Election Laws?” by Megan Wiegand in Slate.

Florida: “Common Cause: campaign finance ‘reform’ bill is a ‘farce’” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.

Florida: “Legislators send campaign finance and ethics bills to governor” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.

Ethics

“’Hacking’ Open Financial Disclosure Data” by Scott Detrow in KQED Public Media.

Alabama: “Former state senator Lowell Barron indicted on campaign finance, ethics charges” by Kim Chandler in Alabama Live.

Colorado: “San Francisco Considers Ethics Reforms” by Ryan Parker in the Denver Post.

Illinois: “State Sen. Trotter pleads guilty to misdemeanor” by Jason Meisner in the Chicago Tribune.

Government Tech and Social Media

“Get Ready for Mobile Only” by Joseph Marks in Nextgov.

Redistricting

Alaska: “Redistricting Board asks Supreme Court to clarify ruling” by Richard Mauer in the Anchorage Daily News.

Voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 65, a ballot measure that instructs the Colorado congressional delegation to propose, and the state legislature to ratify, an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to overturn Citizens United.

While the results are heralded by watchdog groups like Colorado Common Cause as a clear sign that Colorado voters want action on the issue of corporate political spending, the measure has no legal significance as it cannot force the state’s congressional delegation or legislature to take any action.

Common Cause Rhode Island released a statement asking the state to stop the redrawing of congressional districts.

For news coverage read “Common Cause calls for R.I. to stop redistricting process / Poll” by Philip Marcelo in the Providence Journal on December 13.

For more background information, read “New maps for Congress and state House of Representatives draw criticism” by Randal Edgar in the Providence Journal from December 12.

You can find Common Cause’s statement in “Common Cause calls for pause to redistricting process” on the Common Cause Rhode Island blog. Video coverage of the Rhode Island Redistricting Project meetings this week can be found here.