Elizabeth Bartz has seen it all. For 32 years, she has worked with corporations, trade associations, and professional firms to help them stay on top of the changes made to lobbying, political contributions, and procurement lobbying laws.

Now she will share her experiences and insights with attendees at the Professional Women in Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., on November 10 in the session “Been There, Done That: Words of Wisdom.”

A crowd favorite of the conference, this panel features women in senior government and public policy positions discussing their experiences in this arena.

This is the third year Elizabeth will be taking part in this panel. Joining her this year are Gloria Dittus, founder of Story Partners; Helen Holton, Baltimore City Council member; and former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu.

PWIA aims to provide training and networking opportunities to women in all areas of advocacy – from government relations to community activism.

“This conference will give women the opportunity to learn and network with other advocacy professionals, providing them with the tools they need to get a seat at the table and keep it,” Elizabeth said. “Through PWIA, all public policy professionals will learn to be better advocates for themselves and their organizations.”

National:

Election Maps Are Telling You Big Lies About Small Things
Washington Post – Lazaro Gamio | Published: 11/1/2016

November 8 is the Super Bowl for election maps, when red-and-blue geographical representations of the U.S. fill the front pages of news websites by night and newspapers the next morning. This kind of map is common in almost every election: 50 states (and the District of Columbia), two colors, one winner. Despite its ubiquity, it is profoundly flawed. These maps say only one thing – some states are bigger than others. In a presidential election, how much bigger the state of Wyoming is than New Jersey is not relevant to the outcome, which is based on how electoral votes are apportioned. If you chart the states by electoral votes, a more accurate picture of which states will elect Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton emerges.

Why Sexual Harassment Persists in Politics
New York Times – Sheryl Gay Stolberg | Published: 11/2/2016

It has been 25 years since Anita Hill testified against Clarence Thomas before an all-male Senate Judiciary Committee, and propelled the term sexual harassment into the national spotlight. Once again, the nation is debating gender roles, amid a presidential campaign that features a woman, Hillary Clinton, who stands a chance of becoming America’s first female president, against a man, Donald Trump, who has been caught on a recording bragging about kissing and groping women whenever he wanted. Politics and Legislatures, like many other environments, remain rife with sexual harassment – and young people, including men, are particularly at risk, and still reluctant to speak out.

Federal:

Abedin Tells Colleagues She’s in Dark About New Email Trove
Politico – Josh Gerstein | Published: 10/31/2016

Top Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin has told people she is unsure how her emails could have ended up on a device she viewed as her husband’s computer, the seizure of which has reignited the Clinton email investigation. A person familiar with the inquiry said Abedin was not a regular user of the computer, and when she agreed to turn over emails to the State Department for federal records purposes, her lawyers did not search it for materials, believing none of her messages to be there. That could be a significant oversight if Abedin’s work messages were indeed on the computer of her estranged husband, Anthony Weiner, who is under investigation for allegedly exchanging lewd messages with a 15-year-old girl. So far, it is unclear what – if any – new, work-related messages were found by authorities.

Evan Bayh’s Private Schedule Details Ties with Donors, Lobbyists
CNN – Manu Raju | Published: 11/1/2016

Former U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh is running to win back his seat in one of this year’s marquee races. His internal 2009 schedule obtained by CNN shows how he maneuvered behind the scenes during one of the most consequential periods of legislating on Capitol Hill. The schedule provides a rare account of how Bayh privately engaged with fundraisers, lobbyists, and donors who had a keen interest on issues. At times, his own campaign fundraiser was sitting in on his meetings with donors in his official Senate office, the schedule says, raising potential conflict-of-interest concerns. The schedule lays bare a reality of Washington, that well-connected donors often get a private audience with a powerful member of Congress, a luxury most Americans cannot afford.

For Democrats, Anthony Weiner Makes an Unwelcome Return
New York Times – Maggie Haberman and Alexander Burns | Published: 10/30/2016

Anthony Weiner – the name became almost a curse word among Democrats over the past few days as the disgraced former congressman unexpectedly surfaced in the final stretch of the presidential contest. Weiner, who lost his seat after repeated episodes in which he sent lewd messages to women, is now under federal investigation for allegedly sending sexual messages to a 15-year-old girl. In that inquiry, the FBI seized a laptop that contained thousands of messages belonging to Huma Abedin, Weiner’s estranged wife and a top aide to Hillary Clinton. FBI Director James Comey said investigators will now review those messages. “It’s like one of those ‘Damien’ movies – it’s like every time you think he’s dead, he keeps coming again,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton.

How Politicians Hide Their Spending from the Public
Politico – Shane Goldmacher | Published: 11/2/2016

Donald Trump has leveraged an increasingly popular loophole for politicians seeking to outmaneuver the campaign finance system: routing their spending through consulting firms to obscure the ultimate destination of their dollars, keeping the public in the dark about facts as basic as who they are paying and how much they are paying them. Hillary Clinton has paid her digital firm more than $55 million through payments from her campaign and joint committee with the party, and provided no specifics on the firm’s ad-buying or other activities. At its most extreme, a candidate could theoretically hire a single firm to run their entire campaign and only disclose that one payment.

Sleeping Like the Enemy
Politico – Shane Goldmacher and Annie Karni | Published: 11/1/2016

Since the debut of her official campaign plane on Labor Day, there have been full weeks when Hillary Clinton has campaigned every day in swing states and returned to her home every night in between. In total, she has spent a little over half a dozen nights on the road. Instead of more efficient campaign trips, Clinton has prioritized ending her days in either her farmhouse in New York or her mansion in Washington. In a campaign of contrasts, it is one of the most striking similarities between Clinton and Donald Trump – two well-to-do New Yorkers who add hours of travel to their schedules, and thousands of dollars to their campaign expenses, in order to avoid sleeping in hotels.

The Residents in the Nerdiest Group House in Washington Want to Shake Up Washington’s Oldest Trade
Washingtonian Magazine – Michael Gaylord | Published: 10/30/2016

Since its debut, Quorum has cranked out the political charts and graphics that websites and blogs feast on. At the same time, the company has signed up a passel of heavy-hitter clients who pay into the six figures per year, with Covington & Burling, the United Nations Foundation, Toyota, the Podesta Group, the Club for Growth, and U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy among them. Quorum produces political intelligence for lobbyists and companies that monitor minute changes in policy. Its platform features bill tracking, social-media alerts, a searchable Congressional Record, and tools to connect and set up meetings with staffers.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – A $72-Million Apartment Project. Top Politicians. Unlikely Donors.
Los Angeles Times – David Zahniser and Emily Alpert Reyes | Published: 10/30/2016

Dozens of donors with direct or indirect connections to real estate developer Samuel Leung gave more than $600,000 to Los Angeles-area politicians as his $72-million project was being reviewed. Of those who donated, 11 said they did not give or do not remember doing so, raising questions about whether they were the true source of the money. Several donors said they could not recall basic information about their contributions, including why they gave and to whom. One donor said she was reimbursed for at least one conrtribution, a practice that is not permitted under the city’s ethics law.

Kentucky – Lobbyist Donations Aid Candidates Despite Law
Louisville Courier-Journal – Tom Loftus | Published: 10/31/2016

Those who lobby the General Assembly are forbidden by state law from making campaign contributions to candidates for the Kentucky House or Senate. But they are allowed to donate to state political parties, which this year have no higher priority than electing their candidates in the high-stakes races that will decide control of the House. And most major lobbyists are taking advantage of the opportunity.

Massachusetts – Law Firm ‘Bonuses’ Tied to Political Donations
Boston Globe – Viveca Novak (Center for Responsive Politics) and Andrea Estes | Published: 10/30/2016

The Thornton Law Firm in Boston commonly reimbursed the firm’s partners for their campaign contributions by awarding them bonuses. From 2010 through 2014, three partners donated nearly $1.6 million to Democratic Party fundraising committees and a parade of politicians. Over the same span, the lawyers received $1.4 million listed as “bonuses” in the firm’s records. Thornton said its donation reimbursement program was reviewed by outside lawyers and complied with applicable laws. Campaign finance experts said without reviewing the firm’s records, they cannot say the payback system breaks the law, but it raises numerous red flags.

Montana – Federal Judge Upholds Montana Campaign Disclosure Law
Montana Public Radio – Matt Volz (Associated Press) | Published: 11/1/2016

A federal judge upheld Montana’s campaign finance reporting and disclosure laws, rejecting arguments it unconstitutionally interferes with the free speech of groups that want to influence elections without revealing where they get their money or how they spend it. Montanans for Community Development, which had previously sued the state over its campaign finance laws, amended its lawsuit last year to challenge the Disclose Act. U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen knocked down each of the group’s arguments. Besides ruling the law serves an important government interest, the judge also rejected arguments it was overly burdensome to political committees and unconstitutionally vague on what constitutes a committee, expenditure, and contribution.

New York – Behind Closed Doors, Measures to Reform City’s Campaign Laws Raise Concerns
New York Times – Jim Dwyer | Published: 11/1/2016

Three years after elections revealed flaws in New York City’s campaign finance laws, the city council may be moving to fix some of the worst problems, but not without including a few changes that would benefit individual council members. Up to a dozen new bills are being shaped behind closed doors, and although no drafts have been released yet, word coming from the council has alarmed some of the city’s advocates for better and fairer elections.

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.

Campaign Finance

“How Politicians Hide Their Spending from the Public” by Shane Goldmacher for Politico

Connecticut: “Business, Labor Bet Big on Fight for Connecticut Capitol” by Mark Pazniokas for Connecticut Mirror

Montana: “Federal Judge Upholds Montana Campaign Disclosure Law” by Matt Volz (Associated Press) for Montana Public Radio

New York: “Behind Closed Doors, Measures to Reform City’s Campaign Laws Raise Concerns” by Jim Dwyer for New York Times

Ethics

“Why Sexual Harassment Persists in Politics” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg for New York Times

“Pentagon OKs General’s Rent-Free Living Courtesy of Defense Contractor” by Tom Vanden Brook for USA Today

“Podesta Paid $7,000 a Month by Top Donor” by Kenneth Vogel and Danny Vinik for Politico

Elections

“Sleeping Like the Enemy” by Shane Goldmacher and Annie Karni for Politico

Campaign Finance

“GOP Asks 11th Circuit to Toss Contribution Limits” by Ellen Robinson for Courthouse News Service

“Pro-Hillary Clinton Super PAC Accepted Illegal Contributions” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity

South Carolina: “State Senator Cleary Reprimanded, Fined by Ethics Committee” by Chloe Johnson for Myrtle Beach Sun News

Ethics

“Hatch Backers Hit up K Street for ‘Orrin Hatch Foundation’ Funds” by Anna Palmer and John Bresnahan for Politico

“Evan Bayh’s Private Schedule Details Ties with Donors, Lobbyists” by Manu Raju for CNN

Elections

“Election Maps Are Telling You Big Lies About Small Things” by Lazaro Gamio for Washington Post

“Donald Trump Used Legally Dubious Method to Avoid Paying Taxes” by David Barstow. Mike McIntire, Patricia Cohen, Susanne Craig, and Russ Beuttner for New York Times

“Abedin Tells Colleagues She’s in Dark About New Email Trove” by Josh Gerstein for Politico

“Investigating Donald Trump, F.B.I. Sees No Clear Link to Russia” by Eric Lichtblau and Steven Lee Myers for New York Times

Lobbying

“It’s About to Become a Very Busy Time for K Street Headhunters” by Cartherine Ho for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

“Behind the Retreat of the Koch Brothers’ Operation” by Kenneth Vogel for Politico

Washington: “State GOP Says PDC Chief Is Biased for Dems, Needs to Resign” by Jim Brunner for Seattle Times

Ethics

“Inside ‘Bill Clinton Inc.’: Hacked memo reveals intersection of charity and personal income” by Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

Elections

“FBI Agents Waited Weeks to Tell Comey About Emails Possibly Relevant to Clinton Probe” by Matt Zapotosky, Ellen Nakashima, and Rosalind Helderman for Washington Post

“Beneath Cheers at Donald Trump’s Rallies, Dark Fears Take Hold” by Ashley Parker and Nick Corasaniti for New York Times

“‘We Are in for a Pretty Long Civil War’” by Julia Ioffe for Politico

California: “Prop Prep: Californians tackle jumbo ballot with humor” by Katherine Seligman for CALmatters.org

Procurement

“Company Vying for Central Park Boathouse Contract Suing City, Claiming de Blasio Donor Was Granted the Deal Unfairly” by Ginger Adams Otis for New York Daily News

Lobbying Commissioner Karen Shepherd says her office is investigating Liberal Party fundraisers to see if they violate the Lobbying Act.

Opposition members of Parliament argue the fundraisers are “pay to play” and violate Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ethic guidelines.

Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson stated the fundraisers do not violate the Conflict of Interest Act, but she believes the practice to be unsavory and is calling for changes to Canada’s laws to restrict the practice.

Lobbying

“Clinton Sticks with Obama’s Strict Lobbying Rules – for Now” by Anna Palmer and Andrew Restuccia for Politico

“Top Lobbyists 2016: Hired guns” by Staff for The Hill

“Top Lobbyists 2016: Corporate” by Staff for The Hill

Campaign Finance

“Trump Stops Holding High-Dollar Fundraisers That Were Raising Big Cash for the GOP” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

Pennsylvania: “City Council Staffers Scolded, Fined for Helping Boss Fund-Raise on City Time” by Tricia Nadolny for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

Michigan: “Trash Hauler Rizzo Tied to More Corruption Charges in Macomb County” by Tresa Baldas and Christina Hall for Detroit Free Press

Pennsylvania: “Kenney Amends Gifts Rules for His Staff” by Claudia Vargas for Philadelphia Inquirer

Elections

“Brand Promotions Suggest Donald Trump Is Looking Past Election Day” by Maggie Haberman and Nick Corasaniti for New York Times

“For Some Conservative Female Pundits, This Election Has Been a Nightmare” by Kelsey Snell for Washington Post

California: “The GOP Dead Zone: You won’t find any Republicans to vote for in L.A. County” by Javier Panzar for Los Angeles Times

North Carolina: “Protests and Storms Make North Carolina’s Election Year ‘a Bizarre Experience’” by Richard Fausset for New York Times

Lobbying

“K Street Gearing Up for Peak Busy Season” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post

“AT&T Set to Lobby for Merger with Deep Pockets and a Big Network” by Cecilia Kang and Eric Lipton for New York Times

Campaign Finance

“Republican Aaron Schock Fined for Excessively Soliciting Super PAC Funds” by Michael Beckel for Center for Public Integrity

Ethics

“Want a Presidential Appointment? Step 1: Oppo research on yourself” by Sarah Wheaton, Nancy Cook, and Andrew Restuccia for Politico

Massachusetts: “Federal Judge Questions DiMasi Codefendant’s Upcoming Release” by Milton Valencia for Boston Globe

New Jersey: “Bridgegate Offers Peek at Trenton’s ‘Political Shop’” by Dustin Racioppi for MyCentralJersey.com

Pennsylvania: “Is City Soda Tax Contract a Returned Political Favor?” by Claudia Vargas for Philadelphia Inquirer

Elections

“Why Struck-Down Voter ID Laws Trouble Would-Be Voters” by Michael Wines for New York Times

“Why the Justice Dept. Will Have Far Fewer Watchdogs in Polling Places” by Eric Lichtblau for New York Times

“What Drives Donald Trump? Fear of Losing Status, Tapes Show” by Michael Barbaro for New York Times

On Election Day, Berkeley voters will consider a measure to create a voluntary system of public financing for city elections.

Measure X1 seeks to allow candidates agreeing to limit their acceptance of contributions to $50 or less to qualify for matching funds from the city in the amount of $6 for every $1 raised from Berkeley residents.

Measure X1 was made possible by the recent passage of SB 1107, which allows any state or local government in California to provide for the public funding of elections.

Lobbying

“Lobbyist-Bashing Trump Was Once a Lobbyist” by Ben Schreckinger for Politico

Florida: “Lobbyist Watch: Broward tourism prez Ritter and her lobbyist spouse” by Brittany Wallman for South Florida Sun Sentinel

Campaign Finance

“How Mega-Donors Helped Raise $1 Billion for Hillary Clinton” by Matea Gold and Anu Narayanswamy for Washington Post

New Mexico: “Official: $1M needed for campaign finance info system” by Morgan Lee (Associated Press) for Albuquerque Journal

Ethics

“Judge Preserves Fattah Bribery Conviction, Overturns Other Parts of June Verdict” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

California: “California Politician Shows Little Remorse, Gets Prison Time” by Brian Melley (Associated Press) for Sacramento Bee

Illinois: “Cubs Yank World Series Ticket Offer to Chicago Aldermen” by Hal Dardick for Chicago Tribune

Mississippi: “Epps Painted as Aggressor in Miss. Prison Bribery Case” by Jeff Amy (Associated Press) for Hattiesburg American

New York: “Nassau County Executive Is Arrested in Bribery Scheme” by Vivian Yee, William Rashbaum, and Arielle Dollinger for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “Kathleen Kane, Former Pennsylvania Attorney General, Is Sentenced to Prison” by Jon Hurdle and Richard Pérez-Peña for New York Times

Lobbying

California: “Ethics Committee Chair Davis Vacationed with Alleged ‘Lobbyist’ Between Meetings with Her” by Caroline Schuk for Santa Clara Weekly

Campaign Finance

“Insurers Give Big to Races Determining Their Regulators” by Michael Mishak for Center for Public Integrity

Alaska: “APOC Says Anchorage GOP Rep. LeDoux Can Keep Her PAC and Raise Lobbyist Money” by Nathaniel Herz for Alaska Dispatch News

California: “Supervisor Mark Farrell Settles Ethics Fine for $25K, Commissioner Says He Lacks ‘Integrity’” by Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez for San Francisco Examiner

New York: “NYC Campaign Finance Board Chief Resigning to Focus on Day Job at Consulting Firm” by Erin Durkin for New York Daily News

Wisconsin: “Democrats Call for Laws to Regulate Campaign Coordination, Election-Related Issue Ads” by Matthew DeFour for Wisconsin State Journal

Ethics

“Anti-Semitic Posts, Many from Trump Supporters, Surge on Twitter” by Jonathan Mahler for New York Times

North Carolina: “Federal Authorities Conclude Probe of Governor in Prison Contracts Case” by Craig Jarvis, Ames Alexander, and Joseph Neff for Raleigh News & Observer

Elections

“At Third Debate, Trump Won’t Commit to Accepting Election Results If He Loses” by Karen Tumulty and Philip Rucker for Washington Post

“WikiLeaks’ Gift to American Democracy” by Jim Rutenberg for New York Times

See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!

Federal:

Companies Used Clinton Fundraisers to Lobby State Department
USA Today – Kevin McCoy | Published: 10/18/2016

While it is widely known that some companies and foreign governments gave money to the Clinton family’s foundations, perhaps in an effort to gain favor, one of the key parts of the puzzle has not been reported: at least a dozen of those same companies lobbied the State Department using lobbyists who doubled as major Clinton campaign fundraisers, according to a USA Today analysis. Those companies gave as much as $16 million to the Clinton charities. At least four of the lobbyists they hired are “Hillblazers,” the campaign’s name for supporters who have raised $100,000 or more for her current White House race.

Dems Use Loophole to Pump Millions into Fight for the House
Politico – Scott Bland | Published: 10/18/2016

The Democratic Party is directing millions of extra dollars to its House candidates this fall by way of a legal loophole that has helped them bypass the typical limits on coordinated spending between parties and candidates, all while linking some vulnerable Republicans to Donald Trump. Typically, FEC regulations limit parties to just $48,100 of spending in direct coordination with most House candidates. But under a decade-old precedent, candidates who word their television ads a certain way can split the cost of those ads with their party, even if that means blowing past the normal coordinated spending caps.

Do Campaign Ads Matter? Donald Trump Gives a Rare Chance to Find Out
New York Times – Lynn Vavreck | Published: 10/19/2016

Since June, there have been roughly 300,000 television commercials on behalf of presidential candidates. Most of them have been in Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina, but a small number have been on national networks. Eighty percent of the ads to date were run by or on behalf of Hillary Clinton, while only 18 percent were shown by or on behalf of Donald Trump. Nearly everywhere the race is competitive, Clinton has run far more ads. Trump prefers a different style of campaigning, with rallies and the free media coverage of them, along with his frequent Twitter posts. Fundraising has taken a back seat. This year is a chance to find out whether Trump’s method is a good substitute for a conventional ad campaign.

Ripples from the ‘How Low Can They Go’ Campaign
New York Times – Patrick Healy and Farah Stockman | Published: 10/16/2016

For voters across party lines, the presidential race was already considered ugly and exhausting, dominated by two candidates many voters find deplorable. And yet it somehow managed to tip into something worse in recent days: a twilight zone of politics where sexual assault accusations have become consuming issues in the final weeks of the campaign. Among many Democrats, despair is setting in that the next president could be, in their minds, a sexual predator. Among many Republicans, disgust is widespread that the next president could be married to a man who was, as they see it, a serial adulterer at best. The election result now seems guaranteed to feel like a violation of the body politic for one half of the country or the other.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – How the Federal Government’s Bribery Case Against 2 Brothers Unraveled
Los Angeles Times – Joel Rubin | Published: 10/17/2016

Last October, FBI agents arrested Sukhbir Singh and his brother Jimmy Sandhu, the owners of a tow truck company. The men were charged with bribing a member of the Huntington Park City Council in an effort to buy his support for higher towing fees. The lead agent in the case laid out in court papers seemingly irrefutable evidence against the men: for more than a year, the council member had been working as an informant and secretly recorded his conversations with the brothers. The recordings appeared to show the men offering money in exchange for the councilperson’s vote. The case, however, was anything but open and shut. Since the arrests, the government’s case against Singh and Sandhu has all but unraveled.

Massachusetts
Federal Judge Asks: Is DiMasi benefiting from political connections?
Boston Globe – Milton Valencia and John Ellement | Published: 10/17/2016

The federal judge tasked with deciding whether to grant former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi early release from prison demanded to know if DiMasi is benefiting from political connections that have survived his corruption conviction. U.S. District Court Judge Mark Wolf ordered federal prosecutors and attorneys for DiMasi to provide him with more information justifying his early release from prison on compassionate grounds. Wolf expressed concern that releasing a state official convicted of corruption could be seen as prosecutors assisting a politically-connected individual, while lesser-known prisoners with similar health issues do not get the same relief.

Massachusetts
Lawmakers Weigh Call for Special Panel to Review Ethics Laws
Boston Herald; Associated Press | Published: 10/18/2016

A legislative committee held a public hearing on Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo’s resolution to create an 11-member Task Force on Integrity in State and Local Government. If approved, the task force would review the state’s conflict-of-interest and ethics rules, and campaign finance and lobbying laws. It would also look at the feasibility of extending state lobbying laws to cities and towns. DeLeo began floating the idea of the ethics panel after reports surfaced of a federal investigation into whether state Sen. Brian Joyce had used his official position to boost his private law practice.

Missouri
Amendment 2 Could Bring Campaign Donation Limits Back to Missouri
KWMU – Jason Rosenbaum | Published: 10/14/2016

There is a good chance that Missouri’s system of unlimited campaign contributions may be coming to an end. The ballot measure that would make the change, Amendment 2, has little organized opposition. And a prior ballot initiative in the 1990s that capped political donations passed without much trouble. But even if the measure passes and survives an expected court fight, opponents of the proposal say it may not actually stem the flow of money into Missouri politics. Instead, they contend it may steer a deluge of cash into other types of committees that would not be affected by the amendment.

New York – JCOPE Releases Draft Lobbying, Funding Regulations
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 10/13/2016

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) proposed new regulations for lobbying in New York. JCOPE is seeking public comments and plans to hold a hearing before it formally considers the proposal drafted by its staff. Changes that follow legislation enacted this year call for lowering the filing threshold for total lobbying expenditures from $50,000 to $15,000 and reducing the minimum contribution amount that requires source disclosure from $5,000 to $2,500. The draft rules would formally expand lobbying to include efforts such as setting up a meeting between a lawmaker and lobbyist, not just directly lobbying a lawmaker. They also clarify the definitions of “grassroots lobbying.”

New York – Lobbyist Todd Howe: $85,000 from Cor Development was a bribe, not a loan
Syracuse.com – Tim Knauss | Published: 10/17/2016

A lobbyist with ties to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a novel argument why he should not be forced to repay a company $85,000: it was meant to be a bribe, not a loan. Cor Development is suing its former lobbyist Todd Howe for the money. Howe has already pleaded guilty for his role in a massive “pay-to-play” scandal involving a number of the governor’s upstate economic development initiatives that led to the arrest of nine Cuomo associates or donors. Among those arrested were two top Cor executives.

Ohio – Former Red-Light Camera Exec Sentenced for Role in Bribery Scheme
Columbus Dispatch – Rick Rouan | Published: 10/19/2016

Karen Finley, the former chief executive officer of Redflex Traffic Systems, was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison for her role in a bribes-for-contracts scheme in Ohio. Investigators said Finley was part of a scheme to funnel $70,000 in bribes through campaign contributions to elected officials in Columbus and Cincinnati to bring red-light cameras to the cities. Lobbyist John Raphael was the middleman in the scheme, according to investigators. Finley and others provided the campaign contributions to Raphael by paying him false invoices for “consulting services,” they said, and Raphael then made personal contributions to the campaigns of elected officials or to the state and local Democratic parties.

South Dakota – National Groups Spar over South Dakota Ballot Measure
Center for Public Integrity – Liz Essley Whyte | Published: 10/13/2016

South Dakotans in November will be asked to vote on a measure that would initiate public financing of campaigns, expand disclosure of political donors, and creating an ethics commission to police legislators’ behavior. Both sides in the debate are planning to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get what they want. But neither side hails from South Dakota. It is a twist on the notion that all politics is local. When it comes to statewide ballot measures, most politics is actually national.

Tennessee – Mark Cate, Former Bill Haslam Top Aide, Registers as Lobbyist
The Tennessean – Dave Boucher and Nate Rau | Published: 10/15/2016

The day after The Tennessean published an August investigation into the activities of Mark Cate, Gov. Bill Haslam’s former chief of staff, Cate registered with the state as a lobbyist. The investigation noted Cate’s relationship with several prominent entities and the services he provided during a one-year waiting period, during which elected officials and high-ranking staff members are not allowed to serve as lobbyists. Cate denied lobbying for those companies. In one case, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. (CVC) said Cate was helping with legislation, then later clarified he was not lobbying. Cate has since registered as a lobbyist for the CVC and eight other companies.

Texas – Plagued by Corruption Allegations, Dallas County Now Has Formal Purchasing Rules
Dallas Morning News – Naomi Martin | Published: 10/18/2016

Dallas County commissioners approved a new purchasing manual that leaders hope will strengthen the county’s contracting process, which has long been plagued by allegations of political meddling. Overhauling the troubled purchasing department has taken years. A 2009 outside report first identified 25 shortcomings in the county’s process for managing its hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of contracts. Commissioner John Wiley Price was indicted in 2014 on federal charges of rigging bids and taking kickbacks, charges he denies, but that highlighted the lack of official oversight.

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.

Lobbying

“Clinton Has Been Unclear on Curbing Lobbyist Influence” by Annie Linskey for Boston Globe

Campaign Finance

“Dems Use Loophole to Pump Millions into Fight for the House” by Scott Bland for Politico

“Do Campaign Ads Matter? Donald Trump Gives a Rare Chance to Find Out” by Lynn Vavreck for New York Times

New York: “Federal Inquiry into Mayor de Blasio Is Said to Focus on Whether Donors Got Favors” by William Rashbaum for New York Times

Ohio: “Former Red-Light Camera Exec Sentenced for Role in Bribery Scheme” by Rick Rouan for Columbus Dispatch

Ethics

“Clinton and Trump Transitions Must Follow Strict Ethics Rules, Groups Say” by Elise Viebeck for Washington Post

Connecticut: “Former Mayor Eddie Perez Has Corruption Convictions Vacated” by David Owens for Hartford Courant

Massachusetts: “Lawmakers Weigh Call for Special Panel to Review Ethics Laws” by The Associated Press for Boston Herald

Elections

“At Third Debate, Trump Won’t Commit to Accepting Election Results If He Loses” by Karen Tumulty and Philip Rucker for Washington Post

Procurement

Texas: “Plagued by Corruption Allegations, Dallas County Now Has Formal Purchasing Rules” by Naomi Martin for Dallas Morning News