Lobbying

California: “Anaheim’s Lobbyist Sunshine Ordinance Will Be Largely Self-Enforced” by Thy Vo for Voice of OC

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “UConn Researchers Find Business, Labor Unions Aren’t Driving Super PACs” by Jack Kramer for CTNewsJunkie.com

Maine: “Lawmakers Make Case That Maine’s Initiative Process Is Being Gamed” by Scott Thistle for Portland Press Herald

Ohio: “BlackRock Executive’s Kasich Donation May Cost $37 Million” by Miles Weiss for Bloomberg.com

Ethics

“Congressional Aides Risk Conflicts with Stock Trades” by Maggie Severns for Politico

“Exclusive: OGE crafting a new advisory on legal defense funds” by Cristina Alesci for CNN

Maryland: “State Prosecutor Investigating Former Baltimore County School Supt. Dallas Dance” by Liz Bowie, Doug Donovan and Alison Knezevich for Baltimore Sun

New Jersey: “Paterson Mayor Joey Torres Pleads Guilty to Corruption Charges” by Joe Malinconico (Paterson Times) for Bergen Record

New York: “Dean Skelos Has Conviction Overturned; Prosecutors Will Pursue Retrial” Staff Report for Albany Times Union

Elections

“GOP Governors Launch a ‘News’ Website with a Mission to Get Themselves Elected” by Bill Barrow (Associated Press) for Business Insider

Alabama: “Moore Wins Republican Senate Primary, Dealing Blow to GOP Establishment” by Michael Scherer for Washington Post

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Strict ID Law Discouraged Voters, Study Finds” by Michael Wines for New York Times

Lobbying

“Skadden, Big New York Law Firm, Faces Questions on Work with Manafort” by Kenneth Vogel and Andrew Kramer for New York Times

Arizona: “116 Arizona Lobbyists Could Face Attorney General Investigation” by Alia Beard Rau for Arizona Republic

Maryland: “Maryland Lobbyist Pleads Guilty to Bribing Lawmaker to Help with Prince George’s Liquor Licenses” by Drew Gerber for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

“Fate Is Uncertain for House GOP’s Campaign Finance Riders” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA

New Mexico: “Did Gov. Susana Martinez Break SEC Rules in New Mexico Pension Deals?” by David Sirota, Josh Keefe, and Andrew Perez for International Business Times

Ethics

“Kushner Used Private Email to Conduct White House Business” by Josh Dawsey for Politico

“Anthony Weiner Gets 21 Months in Prison for Sexting with Teenager” by Benjamin Weiser for New York Times

Georgia: “Atlanta Ethics Board: No free Falcons tickets, suites for city workers” by Jaclyn Schultz for WAGA

New York: “Ethics Watchdog Gives Thumbs-Up to Cuomo Plane Trip, Scrutinizes Others” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Senator Defends Drug Companies Against Lawsuit Filed by State” by Randy Ellis for The Oklahoman

Pennsylvania: “Corruption Case Against Pa. Lawmaker Delayed for Years” by Angela Couloumbis and Craig McCoy for Philadelphia Inquirer

Elections

“Facebook to Turn Over Thousands of Russian Ads to Congress, Reversing Decision” by Craig Timberg, Carol Leonnig, and Elizabeth Dwoskin for Washington Post

Today, the writ for the October 30 general election for all 22 Legislative Assembly Members’ seats is being issued after the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut was dissolved on September 24.

The order for the writ and the dissolution of the 4th Legislative Assembly of Nunavut was made pursuant to a Proclamation issued by the Commissioner of Nunavut. The 5th Legislative Assembly will convene on a future date not yet determined.

The pre-election period for prospective candidates began on June 27 and ended on September 25. This election will be the first time Nunavummiut born after the creation of Nunavut, on April 1, 1999, and who are 18 will be eligible to vote.

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: SEEC asks Malloy to keep campaign finance law out of future budget negotiations by Mike Savino for Record-Journal

Pennsylvania: Former candidate hopefuls face action from revamped Pittsburgh ethics board by Chris Potter for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Elections

Trump Pledges to Campaign for Moore if Strange Loses by Bridget Bowman for Roll Call

Ethics

Ethics experts say Trump administration far from normal by Rachael Seeley Flores for The Center for Public Integrity

Georgia: Georgia ethics panel will audit candidates in governor’s, mayor’s races by James Salzer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lobbying

Corey Lewandowski appears to be working with another lobbying firm by Theodoric Meyer and Daniel Lippman for Politico

Sprint hired Trump-connected lobbyist amid deal talks by Ginger Gibson and Diane Bartz for Reuters

New York: Keith Wright might have to give up job at lobbying firm by  Carl Campanile for New York Post

Utah: Former Utah House speaker named chief lobbyist for Mormon church by Lee Davidson for The Salt Lake Tribune

Coming to you this week from the Greek Festival in Akron, Ohio is Becky Campbell with News You Can Use Video Digest!

Lobbying

Maryland: “Maryland Lobbyist Charged in Bribery Scandal Linked to Prince George’s County Liquor Board” by Scott MacFarlane for WRC

Campaign Finance

Canada: “Taxpayers Would Give Millions to Political Parties in NDP Plan” by Lindsay Kines and Amy Smart for Times Colonist

California: “California Passes Bill to Track ‘Dark Money’ in Political Ads and Campaigns” by Jason Shueh for StateScoop

Kentucky: “Former Beshear Official Admits He Solicited Contributions from Fellow State Workers” by Sheldon Shafer for Louisville Courier-Journal

Ethics

“With a Picked Lock and a Threatened Indictment, Mueller’s Inquiry Sets a Tone” by Sharon LaFraniere, Matt Apuzzo, and Adam Goldman for New York Times

“Exclusive: US government wiretapped former Trump campaign chairman” by Evan Perez, Shimon Prokupecz, and Pamela Brown for CNN

Florida: “FPL Says Claim That Senator Used Lobbyist to Get Power Restored Is ‘Absurd’” by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald

Indiana: “Ethics Panel Forever Bans State Government Employee Who Hired Aunt, Sister, Stepdaughter” by Brian Slodysko (Associated Press) for Indianapolis Star

Kentucky: “Millions Go to Board Members of Lexington’s Farmland Conservation Program” by Beth Musgrave for Lexington Herald-Leader

Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Senator’s Medical Marijuana Moonlighting Role” by Steve Esack for Allentown Morning Call

Elections

“Democrats Mount Effort to Recruit Women as State Attorneys General” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times

“Facebook’s Openness on Russia Questioned by Congressional Investigators” by Carol Leonnig, Elizabeth Dwoskin, and Craig Timberg for Washington Post

On September 17, Elections Canada announced two by-elections for the House of Commons will be held on October 23.

The by-elections will be held for the electoral districts of Sturgeon River–Parkland in Alberta and the Lac-Saint-Jean in Quebec. Advance voting will run from the 13th to the 16th of October.

MP Rona Ambrose of Sturgeon River-Parkland resigned from politics in July.

MP Denis Lebel of Lac-Saint-Jean announced his retirement in June.

Several special elections have been called in Georgia to fill vacancies in the state legislature. The openings are in the following districts: House Districts 42, 89, and 119; and Senate Districts 6 and 39.

The general elections will take place on November 7, 2017. A special election, already set last month, for House District 117 will take place on the same day.

Reps. Stacey Evans (House District 42), Stacey Abrams (House District 89), and Sen. Hunter Hill (Senate District 6) resigned their seats to focus on their gubernatorial campaigns.

Rep. Chuck Williams resigned his House District 119 seat to become the director of the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Sen. Vincent Fort resigned from his Senate District 39 seat to run for mayor of Atlanta.

Special runoff elections, if necessary, will be held on December 5.

Campaign Finance

New Mexico: New Campaign Spending Rules to Take Effect by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

New York: Firm Uses Loophole to Secretly Donate $60G to de Blasio Campaign, Lobbying Records Show by James Fanelli for New York Daily News

Ethics

Mueller Gives White House Names of 6 Aides He Expects to Question in Russia Probe by Carol Leonnig, Rosalind Helderman, and Ashley Parker for Washington Post

Kentucky: Legislative Sex Harassment Case Spurs Call for Change in Kentucky’s Ethics Law by Jack Brammer for Lexington Herald-Leader

Elections

On Facebook and Twitter, a Hunt for Russia’s Meddling Hand by Scott Shane for New York Times

In Free-Range Trump, Many See Potential for a Third Party by Jeremy Peters for New York Times

Lobbying

Canada: Quebec’s Lobbyist Registry Best in Canada, Though All Struggle in Key Transparency Metrics: Study by Marco Vigliotti for The Hill Times

Virginia: Virginia Lawmakers Attend Fewest Lobbyist-Paid Entertainment Events Since McDonnell Case by Will Houp for Virginian-Pilot

Procurement

Illinois: Aldermen Take Another Stab at Relaxing Ethics Rules for Contractors by Fran Spielman for Chicago Sun-Times

 Becky is coming to you from the Content Marketing World 2017 conference in Cleveland, Ohio with this week’s News You Can Use Video Digest!

On September 25, the writ for the October 30 general election for all 22 Legislative Assembly Members’ seats will be issued.

The pre-election period for prospective candidates began on June 27 and will end on September 25.

This election will be the first time Nunavummiut born after the creation of Nunavut, on April 1, 1999, and who are 18 will be eligible to vote.

National:

Campaign Regulation Foes Targeting State-Level Restrictions
Center for Public Integrity – Ashley Balcerzak | Published: 8/31/2017

Having won significant battles at the federal level over campaign finance laws, political groups and libertarian nonprofits are now targeting state-level rules in district and appellate courts across the country. The effects could be wide-ranging. The most notable battles deal with when groups need to disclose their donors, and whether contribution limits trample on donors’ freedoms of speech and expression.

The New Front in the Gerrymandering Wars: Democracy vs. math
New York Times – Emily Bazelon | Published: 8/29/2017

Wisconsin Republicans tried hard to keep their legislative mapmaking process a secret, but they were not successful. In the first of two lawsuits brought by Democratic voters, three federal judges berated GOP leaders in 2012 for ‘‘flailing wildly in a desperate attempt to hide’’ their methods to assure Republican control of the state Legislature. A court ordered Republicans to turn over three computers. In 2016, a computer expert hired by the plaintiffs found spreadsheets that used a powerful new gerrymandering tool, based on sophisticated computer modeling.

Federal:

How to Get Rich in Trump’s Washington
New York Times – Nicholas Confessore | Published: 8/30/2017

Interests that have spent millions of dollars lobbying in Washington, D.C. were surprised by Donald Trump’s victory last November. By the end of his first 100 days in office, it seemed, Trump had not so much “drained the swamp” as enshrouded it in a fog of uncertainty. No previous president had changed his mind more often, or contradicted his cabinet so frequently, or permitted such ideological combat in the White House. Big corporations and trade associations did not quite know what to expect. But mostly, they did not know whom to contact. All of this inadvertently created an entirely new business model for Trump’s friends and former employees.

Members of Congress Scoring Personal Loans from Political Supporters
Center for Public Integrity – Nicholas Jahr and Ellen McCreary Ionas | Published: 8/29/2017

A review of financial disclosure forms filed by current members of the U.S. House and Senate reveals at least 19 have accepted loans from organizations or wealthy individuals instead of a bank or traditional financial institution. Often, these organizations and individuals rank among the lawmakers’ key political supporters. In two of these cases, the loans were made to members’ spouses. The loans range in value from $15,000 to $5 million. There is nothing illegal about such loans, even when the lender is also a campaign donor. But watchdog groups say such arrangements raise concerns about possible conflicts-of-interest.

Washington Lobbying Firms Receive Subpoenas as Part of Russia Probe
Washington Post – Carol Leonnig and Tom Hamburger | Published: 8/25/2017

Special counsel Robert Mueller issued grand jury subpoenas asking public relations and lobbying firms to provide records regarding their interactions with the consulting firms led by Michael Flynn, a former national security adviser to President Trump, and Paul Manafort, former chairperson of the Trump presidential campaign. The requests suggest Mueller’s investigators are looking closely at Manafort and Flynn, both of whom face possible legal jeopardy for allegedly failing to disclose foreign governments or parties may have been the beneficiaries of their consulting and lobbying work, as they seek potential links between Trump’s campaign and Russia.

From the States and Municipalities:

California
3 of 4 Colonies Corruption Defendants Found Not Guilty on All Charges
San Bernardino Sun – Joe Nelson and Richard Deatley | Published: 8/28/2017

Developer Jeff Burum and two former San Bernardino County officials – former Supervisor Paul Biane, and Mark Kirk, former chief of staff for then-county Supervisor Gary Ovit – were found not guilty of bribery, conflict-of-interest, and improper influence in an alleged scheme to get county approval of a $102 million court settlement in favor of a developer. Prosecutors alleged Burum paid $400,000 in political contributions to the defendants and former Board of Supervisors Chairperson Bill Postmus, who later entered a plea bargain with prosecutors and testified at the trial. The money, investigators alleged, were actually bribes or payments for delivering the settlement.

Florida
FBI Arranged Outings for Gillum, Others During NYC Trip
Tallahassee Democrat – Jeff Burlew | Published: 8/25/2017

The FBI may have tried to entice Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum through one of his close friends to see a Broadway show, catch a Major League Baseball game, and stay at a New York City hotel as part of its investigation into alleged public corruption in Tallahassee. Gillum, who had room reservations elsewhere, will not say if he stayed at or visited the Millennium Hotel in Manhattan, where an FBI agent posing as a developer had arranged rooms for him and others. He also will not say if he attended “Hamilton” or went to the New York Mets game. Public officials such as Gillum are required to report gifts valued over $100, though there are exceptions.

Georgia
White Lawmaker Warns Black Attorney She May ‘Go Missing’ If Confederate Statues Are Threatened
Washington Post – Cleve Wootson Jr. | Published: 8/30/2017

Georgia Rep. Jason Spencer said a former Democratic lawmaker might “go missing” if she continues to criticize Confederate statues. Spencer originally posted a photo with a memorial for Confederate President Jefferson Davis, saying the statue was Georgia’s history and used the hashtag #DealWithIt in a Facebook post. That prompted a response from former state Rep. LaDawn Jones, who told Spencer to “put your hoods and your tiki torches away. We are no longer afraid.” Spencer then said those who criticize the state’s Confederate history “will go missing in the Okefenokee” because people in South Georgia “will not put up with it like they do in Atlanta.”

Idaho
Lawmakers: Idaho ‘uniquely poised’ to stiffen campaign, lobbying disclosure requirements
Spokane Spoesman-Review – Betsy Russell | Published: 8/28/2017

Idaho lawmakers are mulling several key changes to the state’s campaign finance and lobbying laws. A bipartisan working group met for a second time to hear possible recommendations from the state’s top lobbyists and Secretary of State Lawerence Denney. The goal is to have the panel submit suggestions to before the 2018 legislative session begins in January. Some of the proposals would place new reporting requirements on PACs, and require lobbyists to report their expenditures year-round, rather than just during the legislative session.

Iowa
Special Interest Groups Spend Big at Iowa Capitol
Des Moines Register – Brianne Pfannenstiel | Published: 8/24/2017

A Des Moines Register analysis showed special interest groups in Iowa paid lobbyists about $20.4 million last year in an effort to sway policy on issues ranging from Medicaid to workers’ compensation to legalized fireworks. The data provide a broad look at who is vying for influence at the Capitol during a year in which Republicans took control of the House, Senate, and governor’s office for the first time in nearly 20 years. With the new power dynamic, many groups may choose to “lobby up,” either to capitalize on their new opportunity or to fight perceived threats, said lobbyist Jim Carney.

Kentucky
Ethics Group Wants to Know What Led Mnuchin to View Eclipse in Kentucky
Washington Post – Drew Harwell and Beth Reinhard | Published: 8/24/2017

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is seeking records detailing the cost of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin’s recent trip to Kentucky in a government plane, saying it “seems to have been planned around the solar eclipse.” Mnuchin and his wife, Louise Linton, watched the eclipse from the lawn of Fort Knox in Kentucky, which was just outside the path of totality. It was Linton’s sharing of the expensive designer labels of her outfit as she stepped off the plane in Kentucky in an Instagram post and her subsequent rant against a commenter who criticized it that first raised eyebrows.

Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, Lobbyists Outnumber Lawmakers Seven-to-One
WWLP – Steve LeBlanc (Associated Press) | Published: 8/27/2017

There are now more than seven lobbyists for each of the 200 state lawmakers in Massachusetts. From 2006 to 2016, the number of active lobbyists jumped by about 1,000. A big part of the increase is due to a law that took effect in 2009 aimed at sharpening the definition of a lobbyist. Before the new law, an individual was not considered to be a lobbyist if he or she spent less than 50 hours lobbying, or received less than $5,000 in lobbying fees, during each six-month reporting period. The new law tightened that to 25 hours, or $2,500.

Michigan
Attorney: Michigan super PACs face ‘firestorm’ of fines
Detroit News – Jonathan Oosting | Published: 8/28/2017

Attorney Bob LaBrant asked Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson’s office to clarify state rules governing super PAC contributions in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2012 that opened the doors for unlimited but independent political spending as a form of free speech. Michigan has not updated its campaign finance laws to reflect the decision, and LaBrant argues a little-known state Bureau of Elections action in 2014 could lay the groundwork for a “firestorm” of complaints and fines that would cut across business, labor, conservative, and liberal donors.

Montana
Discounted Sale of US Interior Secretary’s Motor Home Raises Questions
ABC News – Bobcaina Calvin (Associated Press) | Published: 8/28/2017

U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s dormant congressional campaign committee recently sold a 2004 motor home at a steep discount to Montana Sen. Ed Buttrey. But a seemingly ordinary transaction between friends, when seen through the optics of stringent campaign finance laws, can raise a bevy of questions. After learning about the transaction, watchdogs are raising a $25,000 question: Why would Zinke’s campaign committee sell the Kountry Star Freightliner for half the price of its apparent $50,000 market value? The FEC prohibits political committees to sell assets, including campaign vehicles, below fair market value.

Washington
Is Olympia Lawyer the Democrats’ Champion in Complaint-Filing War?
Tacoma News Tribune – Melissa Santos | Published: 8/27/2017

A conservative activist has been taking aim at Democrats and liberal groups for the past year, filing at least 120 complaints saying they have broken Washington state’s campaign finance laws. Now, someone is turning the tables, saying conservative Glen Morgan and a group he leads have committed some of the same financial reporting violations. Walter Smith, an Olympia attorney, said he is concerned that the state’s campaign finance laws are being enforced unevenly due to the volume of complaints Morgan has filed against Democratic candidates in recent months.

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.

On October 2, a provincial byelection will be held in the Quebec City riding of Louis-Hébert for the Quebec National Assembly.

The election will be held to fill the vacant seat of former Member of the National Assembly Sam Hamad, who resigned in April to return to private life.

The election will fill the only remaining vacant seat in the National Assembly.

Lobbying

“Exclusive: Bloomberg charity scrutinized by India for anti-tobacco funding, lobbying – documents” by Aditya Kalra for Reuters

Campaign Finance

Michigan: “Attorney: Michigan super PACs face ‘firestorm’ of fines” by Jonathan Oosting for Detroit News

Montana: “Discounted Sale of US Interior Secretary’s Motor Home Raises Questions” by Bobcaina Calvin (Associated Press) for ABC News

Ethics

California: “3 of 4 Colonies Corruption Defendants Found Not Guilty on All Charges” by Joe Nelson and Richard Deatley for San Bernardino Sun

Colorado: “Emails Raise Ethical Questions About Colorado Lawmaker. But He Says There’s Nothing to See.” by Jesse Paul for Denver Post

Idaho: “Lawmakers: Idaho ‘uniquely poised’ to stiffen campaign, lobbying disclosure requirements” by Betsy Russell for Spokane Spoesman-Review

Elections

“Top Trump Organization Executive Asked Putin Aide for Help on Business Deal” by Rosalind Helderman, Carol Leonnig, and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

North Carolina: “Court Weighs Legislature’s Stripping of Cooper’s Powers” by Emery Dalesio (Associated Press) for Ashville Citizen-Times

Redistricting

“The New Front in the Gerrymandering Wars: Democracy vs. math” by Emily Bazelon for New York Times