Campaign Finance

Illinois: “Court Strikes Down Ban on Campaign Contributions from Medical Marijuana Licensees” by Jacob Huebert for Illinois Policy

Pennsylvania: “Judge Mid-Trial Dismisses All Charges in Pennsylvania Pay-to-Play Case” by Angela Couloumbis and Craig McCoy (Philadelphia Inquirer) for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Elections

“Senate Committee to Question Jared Kushner Over Meetings with Russians” by Jo Becker, Matthew Rosenberg, and Maggie Haberman for New York Times

Ethics

Maine: “Bangor City Council’s Ethics Watchdog Group Hasn’t Investigated a Violation in 20 Years” by Danielle McLean for Bangor Daily News

Maryland: “Maryland House Passes First Major Ethics Bill in Over a Decade” by Ian Duncan for Baltimore Sun

Oregon: “Lax Conflicts of Interest Rules Let Oregon Lawmakers Keep Quiet About Their Ties” by Gordon Friedman for Portland Oregonian

Legislative Issues

“Chairman and Partisan: The dual roles of Devin Nunes raise questions about House investigation” by Greg Miller and Karoun Demirjian for Washington Post

New Mexico: “Amending New Mexico’s Convoluted Constitution” by Anna Lande for KUNM

Lobbying

“Trump’s ‘Beachhead’ Teams Host Dozens of Former Lobbyists” by Ashley Balcerzak and Niv Sultan for Center for Responsive Politics

Campaign Finance

“Duncan Hunter Under Criminal Investigation for Ethics Violations” by Eric Lichtblau for New York Times

Elections

“One Rationale for Voter ID Debunked, G.O.P. Has Another” by Michael Wines for New York Times

Ethics

“Federal Agency Rules Trump’s D.C. Hotel Lease Is In ‘Full Compliance’” by Jonathan O’Connell for Washington Post

Florida: “Investigators Knocked Commissioners for VIP Treatment at MIA. Then Came the Funding Threat.” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald

New Mexico: “What Financial Disclosure Forms Don’t Require Reveal as Much as What They Do” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth

New York: “Albany’s Latest Scandal: 2 more are accused of corruption” by Jesse McKinley for New York Times

Lobbying

Iowa: “House Ethics Committee Admonishes Americans for Prosperity Lobbyist” by Brianne Pfannenstiel for Des Moines Register

Missouri: “Goodbye to All That? Missouri Lawmakers Dragging Feet on Lobbyist-Gift Ban” by Marshall Griffin for St. Louis Public Radio

Texas: “Liquor Regulators Partying on Taxpayers’ Tab” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

Campaign Finance

Massachusetts: “Construction Firm, Owner Pay $150,000 for Campaign Finance Violations” by Frank Phillips for Boston Globe

Pennsylvania: “Former Top Allentown Bureaucrat Francis Dougherty Pleads Guilty, Implicates Mayor” by Emily Opilo and Peter Hall for Allentown Morning Call

Ethics

“New Trump Hotels Face Political Fights, Ethics Questions” by Bernard Condon and David Koenig (Associated Press) for ABC News

“Betsy DeVos’s Hiring of For-Profit College Official Raises Impartiality Issues” by Patricia Cohen for New York Times

“Protesting at Lunchtime: Defying Trump becomes a Washington lifestyle” by Katie Rogers for Washington Post

Nebraska: “State Regulator’s Side Job Appears to Violate Oath of Office, Lawmaker Says” by Zach Pluhacek for Lincoln Journal-Star

Texas: “Dallas City Council Overhauls Ethics Rules; Mayor Mike Rawlings Lauds Changes as ‘Remarkable’” by Tristan Hallman for Dallas News

Elections

“FBI’s Russian-Influence Probe Includes a Look at Breitbart, InfoWars News Sites” by Peter Stone and Greg Gordon for McClatchy DC

Colorado: “Ex-Colo. GOP Leader Said Only Democrats Committed Voter Fraud. Now He’s Charged with Voter Fraud.” by Derek Hawkins for Washington Post

New York: “A Contest to Design New York City’s Next ‘I Voted’ Sticker” by Sarah Maslin Nir for New York Times

Lobbying

Missouri: “Greitens’ Reliance on ‘Dark Money’ Endangers Proposed Ban on Lobbyist Gifts” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Utility Regulators Vote 3-1 to Let APS Slide on Political Finance Records” by Ryan Randazzo for Arizona Republic

Florida: “Will Legislators Lift the Veil on ‘Dark Money’ in Florida Politics?” by Mary Ellen Klas (Miami Herald) for Bradenton Herald

Maine: “Lawmakers Propose Reeling Back Reporting Requirements” by Marina Villeneuve (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report

Ethics

“White House Installs Political Aides at Cabinet Agencies to Be Trump’s Eyes and Ears” by Lisa Rein and Juliet Eilperin for Washington Post

“FBI Director Comey Confirms Probe of Possible Coordination Between Kremlin and Trump Campaign” by Ellen Nakashima, Karoun Demirjian, and Devlin Barrett for Washington Post

“Fired U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara Said to Have Been Investigating HHS Secretary Tom Price” by Robert Faturechi for ProPublica

Nevada: “Nevada Assemblywoman Resigns from Consulting Job After Ties to Saudi Arabia Are Revealed” by Ben Botkin for Las Vegas Review-Journal

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma State Senator Faces Charges and Condemnation” by Matthew Haag for New York Times

Rhode Island: “R.I. Gov. Raimondo Goes After ‘Bad Actors’ with Slate of Reforms” by Patrick Anderson for Providence Journal

Elections

“Senators Ask Trump Adviser to Preserve Any Russia-Related Documents” by Maggie Haberman for New York Times

On March 17, a three-judge panel ruled that the North Carolina General Assembly overstepped its state constitutional authority when it adopted Senate Bill 4 establishing a bipartisan board to oversee elections and consider ethics complaints and issues.

The ruling held that lawmakers violated the separation of powers in trying to take control over appointments in the governor’s administration.

Prior to Senate Bill 4, the State Board of Elections and State Ethics Commission were separate entities and the governor had the power to appoint a majority from his own party to preside over elections. Lawmakers could appeal the decision.

Lobbying

“Lobbyists Scramble for Access in Trump Era” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Missouri: “Missouri House Votes for Local Lobbyist Gift Ban” by Associated Press for Southeast Missourian

Campaign Finance

Kentucky: “Lawmakers Approve Flurry of Bills as End of Legislative Session Looms” by Daniel Desrochers and Jack Brammer for Lexington Herald-Leader

New Mexico: “Legislature Passes Campaign Finance Reform Years in The Making” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth

Ethics

“The Onion Struggles to Lampoon Trump” by Charles Bethea for New Yorker

“‘People Are Scared’: Paranoia seizes Trump’s White House” by Alex Isenstadt and Kenneth Vogel for Politico

“Trump-Era Republicans Unleash String of Inflammatory Comments” by Elise Viebeck for Washington Post

“Admiral, Seven Others Charged with Corruption in New ‘Fat Leonard’ Indictment” by Craig Whitlock for Washington Post

California: “OC Gets Its First Ethics Director, But No Recruitment Yet for Commission” by Nick Gerda for Voice of OC

Elections

“Prerequisite for Key White House Posts: Loyalty, not experience” by Sharon LaFraniere, Nicholas Confessore, and Jesse Drucker for New York Times

Lobbying

“Icahn’s Ethanol Push Fuels Ethics Storm” by Eric Wolf for Politico

“N.J. Congressman Wants Details on Michael Flynn’s Lobbying Status” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

Campaign Finance

Texas: “Ethics Review Commission Weighs Campaign Finance Proposal” by Jack Craver for Austin Monitor

Washington: “House Speaker Hit with Campaign Finance Complaint in Growing Tug-of-War” by Walker Orenstein for The Olympian

Canada: “Political Donations in Canada: A guide to the ‘wild west’ vs. the rest” by Evan Annett and Tu Thanh Ha for The Globe and Mail

Ethics

“With Trump in White House, His Golf Properties Prosper” by Eric Lipton and Susanne Craig for New York Times

Illinois: “Chicago Aldermen Shouldn’t Take Free White Sox Tickets, Ethics Official Says” by John Byrne for Chicago Tribune

Illinois: “BGA Goes Back to Court to Gain Access to Emanuel’s Private Email” by Sun-Times Wire Service for WBBM

New Jersey: “N.J. Moves to Restore Election Watchdog” by Andrew Seidman for Philadelphia Inquirer

Elections

“With Trump in White House, Some Executives Ask, Why Not Me?” by James Stewart for New York Times

National:

Companies Lobbying Government Keep Spending Secret from Shareholders: Report
International Business Times – David Sirota | Published: 3/1/2017

A new report finds just 12 percent of publicly traded corporations in the S&P 500 disclose their lobbying expenditures to shareholders. Investors have increasingly called for corporate disclosure of both campaign contributions and lobbying. Some 90 percent of S&P 500 companies have board level policies regarding campaign contributions, compared to the 25 percent that have policies on lobbying. But those policies largely apply to the federal government. The study found disclosure at the state level is sparse. Five percent of S&P 500 corporations reveal which states they lobby in and two percent reveal aggregate lobbying costs.

Republican Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Curb Protesting in at Least 17 States
Washington Post – Christopher Ingraham | Published: 2/24/2017

Since the election of Donald Trump as president, Republican lawmakers in at least 17 states have introduced or voted on legislation to curb mass protests in what civil liberties experts are calling “an attack on protest rights throughout the states.” From Virginia to Washington state, legislators have introduced bills that would increase punishments for blocking highways, ban the use of masks during protests, and, in at least once case, seize the assets of people involved in protests that later turn violent. The proposals come after a string of mass protest movements in the past few years, covering everything from police shootings of unarmed black men to the Dakota Access Pipeline to the inauguration of Trump.

Federal:

Barring Reporters from Briefings: Does it cross a legal line?
New York Times – Adam Liptak | Published: 2/28/2017

The White House blocked a number of media outlets from entering Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s office for a scheduled briefing, a highly unusual breach of relations between the White House and its press corps. Aides to Spicer allowed in reporters from only a handpicked group of news organizations that, the White House said, had been previously confirmed to attend. Organizations allowed in included Breitbart News, the One America News Network, and The Washington Times, all with conservative leanings. Reporters from Time magazine and The Associated Press, who were set to be allowed in to the briefing, chose not to attend in protest. The White House move came hours after Trump delivered a slashing broadside against the news media in a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Sessions Met with Russian Envoy Twice Last Year, Encounters He Later Did Not Disclose
Washington Post – Adam Entous, Ellen Nakashima, and Greg Miller | Published: 3/1/2017

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke twice with Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. last year, raising new questions about contact between Trump campaign officials and the Kremlin. Sessions, a former senator from Alabama, did not disclose the contact with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during his confirmation hearings, testifying under oath that he “did not have communications with the Russians.” The contacts are coming under scrutiny because Sessions endorsed Donald Trump early in his presidential bid. A spokesperson for Sessions confirmed the contact with Kislyak, saying the attorney general spoke on the phone with the ambassador in September. That conversation took place during the time when intelligence officials assert that Russia was interfering with the U.S. presidential election through a hacking and influence campaign.

Supreme Court Backs FEC Disclosure Rules
Bloomberg BNA – Kenneth Doyle | Published: 2/28/2017

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a requirement that forces groups to say who is paying for issue advertising directed at candidates in an approaching election. The justices affirmed a lower court decision in a case involving ads that mention candidates but do not call for the election or defeat of one. The Supreme Court has generally upheld disclosure requirements even as it has struck down limits on raising and spending money in political campaigns.

Trump Inspires Encryption Boom in Leaky D.C.
Politico – Andrew Restuccia and Nancy Cook | Published: 2/27/2017

In a capital worried about leaked information, many people are scrambling to cover their digital tracks. More than 70 workers from several federal agencies are using encrypted cellphone apps to arrange nighttime and weekend meetings at homes in the Washington, D.C. area to discuss their potential resistance to President Trump, said Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight. The surge in the use of scrambled-communication technology – enabled by free smartphone apps such as WhatsApp and Signal – could skirt or violate laws that require government records to be preserved and the public’s business to be conducted in official channels. Defenders of federal workers argue that interest in encryption has skyrocketed as career employees ponder how to respond to an administration they fear will break the law and punish dissent.

Who’s Watching Trump’s Ethics Watchdogs?
Politico – Darren Samuelsohn | Published: 2/25/2017

The lawyers tasked with policing Donald Trump’s potential conflicts-of-interest are grappling with an oversight system that is disjointed and ineffective. More than two dozen attorneys working inside and outside government have a part of Trump’s ethics portfolio, but no one individual has visibility into the full picture. The set up means that in some cases the lawyers are overlapping while other areas of potential conflict go uncovered entirely. Perhaps a bigger issue for the watchdog effort is that the lawyers who have the job of safeguarding either the White House or the president and his family business do not see the conflict issues as deserving the significant attention they have received since Trump’s election win last November.

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona – Arizona House Passes Bills to Restrict Citizen Initiatives
Arizona Republic – Mary Jo Pitzl | Published: 2/23/2017

In an attempt to gain control over laws proposed by citizens, the state House approved a package of bills designed to rein in the century-old initiative process enshrined in the Arizona Constitution at statehood. Opponents say the moves would undercut the power of the people to shape laws, and run counter to the citizen initiative process, while proponents argue lawmakers need the flexibility to fix unforeseen problems that might arise from a ballot measure. The measures now move to the Senate for consideration.

California – Regulators Investigating SDG&E for Potential Lobbying Violations
San Diego Union-Tribune – Joshua Emerson Smith | Published: 2/23/2017

State regulators said they are investigating San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) efforts to influence the local adoption of government-run electricity programs, saying the company does not have permission to do so yet. Officials with SDG&E and its parent company, Sempra Energy, said the California Public Utilities Commission cleared their specially designated marketing division to lobby on community choice aggregation (CCA), a program that would give residents and businesses an alternative to SDG&E. After publicly lobbying on CCA before the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, officials with the SDG&E marketing arm, Sempra Services Corporation, said they have been meeting with lawmakers countywide on this issue. This lobbying caught the attention of the commission’s regulators. They said they are looking into the matter and violations could be subject to fines as high as $50,000 for each offense.

Colorado – How the Charities on Your Colorado Tax Form Used Connections, Money and Legislation to Earn the Coveted ‘Godsend’
Denver Post – Brian Eason | Published: 2/27/2017

Colorado’s charitable checkoff program became the nation’s first in 1977 and the state touts itself as a national leader for tax-season giving. The donations are collected when residents offer to donate portions of their tax refund or make contributions above the amount owed by filling out a supplemental form. But the official seal of approval by appearing on the form obscures uncomfortable realities. Most of the organizations receive no state oversight and won a spot with political clout. For groups that appear on the form, Sen. Lois Court said, “frequently it’s because there is a lobbyist available to help – that kind of knocks out those who can’t afford lobbyists.”

Florida – Rubio Is Asked to Leave Tampa Office Over Disruption from Weekly Protests
Tampa Bay Times – Tony Marrero | Published: 2/28/2017

The owner of Bridgeport Center has notified U.S. Mario Rubio’s office that it will not renew its lease in the Tampa office building. The reason is that demonstrations have become too disruptive to the other tenants and a costly expense for America’s Capital Partners, the building’s owner. A variety of progressive groups who oppose President Trump’s agenda have gathered at least once a week at the building, lining up on the sidewalk to wave signs and shout messages. Rubio’s seven statewide offices have been lightning rods for demonstrations. Gatherings in front of the Tampa office have surpassed 150 people.

Florida – Senator Seeks Probe into Whether Lobbyist Lisa Miller Posed as ‘Concerned Citizen’ During Call
Florida Today – Michael Malone | Published: 2/24/2017

State Sen. Kevin Rader is asking Gov. Rick Scott to investigate whether lobbyist Lisa Miller posed as a “concerned citizen” to mislead participants in a conference call with a company that rates Florida insurers. Miller has denied posing as someone named Mary Beth Wilson to praise Demotech, Inc. during the call. Demotech held the call to explain a change in its rating system and discuss the downgrade of some Florida insurance companies. Jeff Grady, president of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, first reported on his blog that “most industry professionals” believed the caller was Miller, of Lisa Miller & Associates. He did not name her, but posted a link to her lobbyist registration page, which identifies her as representing Demotech, among other clients.

Illinois – Six More Lobbyists Face Fines for Using Emanuel’s Private Emails
Chicago Sun-Times – Fran Spielman | Published: 2/27/2017

After hitting former Uber executive David Plouffe with a record $90,000 fine for emailing Mayor Rahm Emanuel without registering as a lobbyist, the Chicago Board of Ethics issued probable cause letters to five more unregistered lobbyists and the companies they represent. A sixth letter was issued to a registered lobbyist accused of failing to report a contact, as required by law. Ethics board Chairperson William Conlon did not identify the six lobbyists in question or their companies. He would only say the maximum fines are “substantial” and the names would be released after the accused have an opportunity to respond and exercise their right to an administrative hearing. Other sources said all six individuals had lobbied Emanuel through the private email accounts the mayor used to conduct public business.

Minnesota – For Local Officials with Family Ties, Transparency Counts
Minnesota Public Radio – Brandt Williams | Published: 2/24/2017

Minneapolis City Council member and mayoral hopeful Jacob Frey got married last July, and his wife is a lobbyist. Sarah Clarke works for Hylden Advocacy and Law, which lobbies state and local governments, including Minneapolis. governments, including Minneapolis. In March of last year, the firm represented an industry group which opposed a proposed prohibition on plastic carry-out bags. Frey was one of 10 council members who voted to approve the ban. But Frey initially neglected to note his wife’s employment on a form he and other Minneapolis elected officials have to file every January. The so-called statement of economic interest form requires city officials to disclose any outside sources of compensation, along with that of their spouses or domestic partners.

New Jersey – A $500 Contribution to Republicans Costs Paving Company $7M
NJ.com – Dave Hutchinson (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 2/27/2017

A court upheld the decisions of two New Jersey agencies to rescind two contracts totaling about $7 million to a paving business and ban the company from any state contracts through the remainder of Gov. Chris Christie’s second term because of its $500 contribution to Somerset County Republicans. The court found that the donation disqualified Della Pello Paving from receiving state contracts under the state’s “pay-to-play” law, which bars state contracts exceeding $17,500 to a business that contributed more than $300 during the preceding 18 months to the governor, a candidate for governor, or any state or county political party committee.

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

“Judge Backs Blind FEC Eye on Campaign-Finance Violations” by Tim Ryan for Courthouse News Service

New Jersey: “A $500 Contribution to Republicans Costs Paving Company $7M” by Dave Hutchinson (NJ Advance Media) for NJ.com

Elections

Texas: “Justice Department Changes Its Position in High-Profile Texas Voter-ID Case” by Sari Horwitz for Washington Post

Ethics

“From K Street to Congo: Abramoff’s new adventure” by Anna Palmer, Jake Sherman, and John Bresnahan for Politico

“Who’s Watching Trump’s Ethics Watchdogs?” by Darren Samuelsohn for Politico

New York: “The F.B.I. Questioned de Blasio. Hours Later, This Man Was Fired.” by William Rashbaum, William Neuman, and J. David Goodman for New York Times

Texas: “Political Corruption Trial Kicks off in Dallas” by David Lee for Courthouse News Service

West Virginia: “WV Lawmakers Pass Nepotism Ban” by Eric Eyre for Charleston Gazette

Legislative Issues

“The DNC Isn’t Enough: Democrats demand more leadership changes” by Gabriel Debenedetti and Edward-Isaac Dovere for Politico

Lobbying

Colorado: “How the Charities on Your Colorado Tax Form Used Connections, Money and Legislation to Earn the Coveted ‘Godsend’” by Brian Eason for Denver Post

Campaign Finance

“U.S. Top Court Rejects Challenge to Political Ad Disclosure Rules” by Andrew Chung (Reuters) for U.S. News & World Report

West Virginia: “WV House Bill Requires Fundraiser Reports During 60-Day Session” by Eric Eyre for Charleston Gazette

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Ethics Commission Records Taken in John Doe Leak Probe” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Elections

“Democrats Elect Thomas Perez, Establishment Favorite, as Party Chairman” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times

Ethics

“Trump Inspires Encryption Boom in Leaky D.C.” by Andrew Restuccia and Nancy Cook for Politico

Minnesota: “For Local Officials with Family Ties, Transparency Counts” by Brandt Williams for Minnesota Public Radio

Washington: “Ethics Board Fines Puyallup Lawmaker $5,000 over Facebook Posts” by Melissa Santos for The News Tribune

Lobbying

Florida: “Senator Seeks Probe into Whether Lobbyist Lisa Miller Posed as ‘Concerned Citizen’ During Call” by Michael Malone for Florida Today

Illinois: “Six More Lobbyists Face Fines for Using Emanuel’s Private Emails” by Fran Spielman for Chicago Sun-Times

New York: “Reform Groups Call on Wright to Drop Dual Role” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

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

Lobbying

Arizona: “Lobbyist Pushes Arizona School-Choice Bill That Could Benefit His Family” by Yvonne Wingett and Rob O’Dell for Arizona Republic

Florida: “Document Suggests Former State Sen. Thrasher Violated Lobbying Ban as FSU Chief” by Arek Sarkissian for Naples Daily News

Massachusetts: “Online Lottery Could Yield Windfall for Private Companies” by Sean Murphy for Boston Globe

Campaign Finance

“Democratic Member to Quit Election Commission, Setting Up Political Fight” by 2017 Eric Lichtblau for New York Times

North Carolina: “Fletcher Hartsell, a Former NC Senator, Pleads Guilty in Misuse of Campaign Funds” by Anne Blythe and Craig Jarvis for Raleigh News & Observer

Ethics

“Flynn in FBI Interview Denied Discussing Sanctions with Russian Ambassador” by Sari Horwitz and Adam Entous for Washington Post

California: “Ex-Palm Springs Mayor and 2 Developers Charged with Corruption Involving $375,000 in Bribes” by Richard Winton for Los Angeles Times

Georgia: “Unease Spreads in Atlanta as a City Contracting Scandal Brews” by Richard Fausset for New York Times

Minnesota: “Mondale, Kelm-Helgen Leave U.S. Bank Stadium Panel in Wake of Luxury Suite Flap” by Rochelle Olson for Minneapolis Star Tribune

Ohio: “Former Councilwoman Mills Pleads Guilty, Fined $250 for Ethics Misdemeanor” by Rick Rouan for Columbus Dispatch

Oregon: “Two Years after Kitzhaber Resignation, Ethics Reform a Political Challenge for Oregon Lawmakers” by Gordon Friedman for Portland Oregonian

Tennessee: “Schmoozing, Boozing and a Quiet Resignation: Mark Lovell’s 100 days on Capitol Hill” by Joel Ebert and Mark Boucher for The Tennessean

On February 16, several campaign finance bills were introduced in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

Introduced as a private member’s bill by British Columbia’s New Democratic Party Leader John Horgan, the “Get Big Money Out of Politics Act” legislation bans union and corporate donations to political campaigns, allows only individuals normally residing in British Columbia to make political contributions, and restricts the premier and cabinet ministers from outside income.

Member of the Legislative Assembly Vicki Huntington’s bill, “Cash for Access Elimination Act, 2017,” prohibits members of the Executive Council and their employees from attending fundraising functions, personally soliciting political contributions, or attending or inviting individuals and organizations to attend fundraising functions. Huntington also submitted to the Assembly the “Election Finance Amendment Act, 2017,” which bans corporate and union donations, caps political donations at $1,500 a year, and allows them to be received only from British Columbians. The Local Elections Campaign Financing Act is also amended by this bill.

Additional bills introduced yesterday include the “Banning Publicly-funded Campaign Advertisements, 2017,” which bans government advertising during the four months preceding a general election, the “Fairness in Financing Local Government Elections Act, 2017,” which amends the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act to eliminate union and corporate donations in municipal election campaigns, and the “Fixed Fall Election Amendment Act, 2017,” which amends the Constitution Act to move the general election from May to October.

Lobbying

Oregon: “Oregon Measure Would Require More Disclosure from Lobbyists” by Chris Lehman for KUOW

South Carolina: “Unlimited No More: House votes to cap lobbyist gifts” by Dana Ferguson for Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Vermont: “Scott Administration Discourages Fraternizing with Lawmakers, Lobbyists” by Neal Goswami for Vermont Press Bureau

Campaign Finance

Kentucky: “More Money? No Problem. Senate Committee Passes Bill to Increase Contribution Limits” by Daniel Desrochers for Lexington Herald-Leader

Missouri: “Campaign Contribution Law Bans Corporation Donations to All Candidates” by Benjamin Peters for Missouri Times

Ethics

“The New Political Battleground: Your restaurant receipt” by Maura Judkis for Washington Post

“Ethics Watchdog Says Conway’s Endorsement of Ivanka Trump Products Is ‘Clear Violation’” by Richard Pérez-Peña for New York Times

“Who is Donald McGahn, the Fiery Lawyer at the Center of Virtually Every Trump Controversy?” by Matt Zapotosky and Sari Horwitz for Washington Post

“Flynn Departure Erupts into a Full-Blown Crisis for the Trump White House” by Karen DeYoung, Abby Phillip, and Jenna Johnson for Washington Post

New Jersey: “N.J. Election Agency Could Soon Fill Key Posts” by Salvador Rizzo for Bergen Record

South Dakota: “Candy-Filled ‘Gift’ Watches to Legislators Cause Uproar” by Bob Mercer for Rapid City Journal

Elections

“Trump Campaign Aides Had Repeated Contacts with Russian Intelligence” by Michael Schmidt, Mark Mazzetti, and Matt Apuzzo for New York Times

Legislative Issues

“Andrew Puzder Withdraws Nomination for Labor Secretary” by Ed O’Keefe and Jonnelle Marte for Washington Post