Lobbying

“Lobbyists Celebrate Democratic Party’s New Embrace at Convention” by Jay Newton-Small for Time

California: “Judge Questions Private Talks Between Coastal Commissioners and Developer’s Consultants” by Dan Weikel for Los Angeles Times

Campaign Finance

“George Soros Rises Again” by Kenneth Vogel for Politico

California: “‘Behested Payments’ Add Another Layer of Money in Politics” by Tracy Wood for Voice of OC

Indiana: “Eric Holcomb’s Access to Mike Pence’s Campaign Cash Might Be Restricted” by Tony Cook for Indianapolis Star

Ethics

Texas: “Texas AG Took Gift While Investigating Company” by Associated Press for Texarkana Gazette

Elections

“Donald Trump Calls on Russia to Find Hillary Clinton’s Missing Emails” by Ashley Parker and David Sanger for New York Times

“Bill Clinton Praises His Wife’s Feminine Side” by Patrick Healy for New York Times

“Democrats Discreetly Turn Attention to Presidential Prospects of the Future” by Michael Shear for New York Times

Campaign Finance

“IRS Gives Opposite Rulings to Convention Committees” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA

California: “Campaign Cash: A Journey Through the Cal-Access Labyrinth” by Cosmo Garvin for Capitol Weekly

Connecticut: “U.S. Attorney Opens Probe of Malloy’s 2014 Campaign Fundraising” by Keith Phaneuf and Mark Pazniokas for CT Mirror

Ethics

“As Pick for No. 2, Tim Kaine Sees Gifts Come Under Scrutiny” by Eric Lipton and Steve Eder for New York Times

Massachusetts: “Supreme Court’s Corruption Decision Could Affect Mass. Cases” by Shelley Murphy for Boston Globe

New York: “N.Y. Lawmakers Seek to Strengthen State Bribery Law” by Matthew Hamilton for Albany Times Union

Elections

“DNC Turmoil Confirms Warnings: Hackers Are Targeting Campaigns” by Eric Geller for Politico

Louisiana: “Former KKK Leader David Duke, Citing Trump, Announces Senate Bid” by Elise Viebeck for Washington Post

Lobbying

“For Special Interests, the Real Party Is Outside the Convention” by Carrie Levine and Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity

California: “California Wants People to Prove They Are Not Lobbyists” by Alison Noon for KPCC

Connecticut: “CT GOP Delegates, This Meal Is Brought to You by …” by Mark Pazniokas for CT Mirror

Campaign Finance

Texas: “City Wins Lawsuit Despite Appearance of Loss” by Jo Clifton for Austin Monitor

Ethics

Connecticut: “Wade Fires Back at Critics” by Christine Stuart for CTNewsJunkie.com

Hawaii: “School Cleared in Ethics Case” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat

Maryland: “Del. Dan Morhaim, Advocate of Medical Marijuana, Draws Scrutiny for Role in Firm” by Pamela Wood and Erin Cox for Baltimore Sun

Pennsylvania: “Feds Charge Ex-Pa. Treasurer Hafer with Lying and Millionaire Donor with Fraud in Pay-to-Play Probe” by Mark Fazlollah, Craig McCoy, and Dylan Purcell for Philadelphia Inquirer

South Carolina: “Ethics Commission Narrows Governor’s Allowed Use of USC Football Tickets” by Maya Prabhu for Charleston Post & Courier

South Carolina: “Ethics Board Tells Candidates When It’s OK to Pay Family with Donations” by Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) for Aiken Standard

Elections

“Hillary Clinton Selects Tim Kaine, a Popular Senator from a Swing State, as Running Mate” by Amy Chozick, Alan Rappeport, and Jonathan Martin for New York Times

“DNC Chairwoman Will Resign in Aftermath of Committee Email Controversy” by Anne Gearan, Philip Rucker, and Abby Phillip for Washington Post

Texas: “Appeals Court Says Texas Voter-ID Law Discriminates Against Minorities” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Wisconsin: “Judge Issues Injunction, Allows Voters without IDs to Cast Ballots” by Patrick Marley and Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Campaign Finance

“Super PAC Spending Becoming More Bipartisan” by Llewellyn Hinkes-Jones for Bloomberg BNA

“Koch-Backed ‘Dark Money’ Groups Fined for Failing to Disclose Donors” by John Dunbar for Center for Public Integrity

California: “Oakland: Company laundered campaign donations to mayoral, council candidates” by Matthias Gafni for East Bay Times

New Jersey: “Jail for Birdsall Exec in Pay-to-Play Scheme” by Andrew Ford for Asbury Park Press

Ethics

South Carolina: “SC Supreme Court Rules for Pascoe, Against Wilson” by Tim Smith for Greenville News

Tennessee: “Jeremy Durham Had Sexual ‘Interactions’ with 22 Women, Report Says” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Elections

“Sidewire: The chatter site for political junkies who haven’t already maxed out” by Ben Terris for Washington Post

“Americans Really Dislike Trump, Clinton. So Why Aren’t Third Parties Doing Better?” by Danielle Kurtzleben for National Public Radio

“Justice Ginsburg Doesn’t Let Up on Trump, Who Fires Back” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Florida: “Florida Mosque Is Removed as a Polling Site after Complaints and Threats” by Mary Hui for Washington Post

Lobbying

“Lyft Agrees to $6,000 FPPC Fine for Not Reporting Lobbying Costs” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee

Campaign Finance

Florida: “Raising Money for the Mayor, and Making Money from His Administration” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald

New Jersey: “Jersey City Mayor, Councilman at Odds Over Planned Pay-to-Play Changes” by Terrence McDonald (Jersey Journal) for NJ.com

Washington: “Public Disclosure Commission Recommends Action Against Eyman” by Chris Winters for Everett Herald

Ethics

Pennsylvania: “A.G. Office: Philly lobbyist misused welfare grants to pay for line dancing lessons, other expenses” by Claudia Vargas and Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

Wisconsin: “Ex-AG Lautenschlager Named to Lead New Ethics Commission” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Elections

“Gay Political Power Reaching Record as U.S. Attitudes Shift” by Jeff Green for Bloomberg.com

“Bernie Sanders Endorses Hillary Clinton” by MJ Lee, Dan Merica, and Jeff Zeleny for CNN

“Dallas Shooting and Open-Carry Laws Loom Over Cleveland Convention Plans” by Yamiche Alcindor for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Louisiana: “Good Idea Gone Awry? How Term Limits Impact Sessions of Louisiana Legislature” by Mark Ballard for New Orleans Advocate

Lobbying

“In Brussels and London, Lobbyists Retool for Brexit Unknowns” by Quentin Ariès and Kalina Oroschakoff for Politico

Pennsylvania: “Consulting Business Owned by Mike Fleck Fined $11,850 by State” by Emily Opilo for Allentown Morning Call

Campaign Finance

Colorado: “Political Consultant Files Legal Challenge to Stop Denver Campaign Finance Reform Proposal” by Jon Murray for Denver Post

Maine: “Top Legislators’ PACs Reap Thousands from Key Donors” by Colin Woodard for Portland Press Herald

Montana: “Review of Montana’s Political Party Committees Underway, Some Will Be Reclassified” by Troy Carter for Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Washington: “Supporters of Campaign Finance Measure Submit Signatures” by Rachel La Corte (Associated Press) for Yakima Herald

Ethics

California: “Beaumont, Stunned by Years of Alleged Corruption, Has Been ‘Turned Upside Down’” by Paloma Esquivel for Los Angeles Times

New Mexico: “Former Sen. Phil Griego to Face Trial on Nine Corruption Charges” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Virginia: “Crime Commission Attorney Named New Director of Va. Ethics Council” by Graham Moomaw for Richmond Times-Dispatch

Elections

“Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Struggle to Be Unifying Voice for Nation” by Patrick Healy for New York Times

Lobbying

Missouri: “Andy Blunt Came to Washington – Was It Lobbying?” by Chuck Raasch for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Rhode Island: “Providence Landlords Face Pressure to Register as Lobbyists” by Dan McGowan for WPRI

Ethics

“US Rep. Corrine Brown Indicted After Fraud Investigation” by Jason Dearen and Curt Anderson (Associated Press) for ABC News

Alabama: “Mike Hubbard Sentenced to Four Years in Prison” by Kim Chandler (Associated Press) for Tuscaloosa News

Florida: “Court OKs Rivera Ethics Fine – But Will State House Speaker Impose It?” by Patricia Mazzei for Miami Herald

Hawaii: “Councilman Calls for Audit Amid Honolulu Ethics Commission Chaos” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat

Kentucky: “Ethics Complaint Challenges Bevin Executive Order” by Joseph Gerth for Louisville Courier-Journal

New York: “Fight Over Emails Yields New Details on Role of Outside ‘Agents’ for de Blasio” by J. David Goodman for New York Times

Texas: “Ken Paxton’s ‘Family Friends’ Help Foot Legal Bill, Disclosure Shows” by Jim Malewitz for Texas Tribune

Utah: “Are Utah Taxpayers Footing Bill for Land-Transfer Lawyers’ Lavish Travel?” by Brian Maffly for Salt Lake Tribune

Washington: “Ethics Panel Approves $10K Fine for Seattle Transportation Chief” by Daniel Beekman for Seattle Times

Elections

“Would Donald Trump Quit if He Wins the Election? He Doesn’t Rule It Out” by Jason Horowitz for New York Times

Ohio Sen. Kris Jordan recently introduced a bill to eliminate special elections in February and August.

His proposal is the result of historically low voter turnout in Ohio special elections. Fewer than 10 percent of residents usually participate in any special election, and an election can cost the state $4 to $6 million.

Lobbying

“Gov2Gov: The lobbying that falls under the radar” by Mike Maciag for Governing

Rhode Island: “Raimondo: Lobbying law makes rules ‘clear, simple, consistent and transparent’” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

Alabama: “Koch Brothers’ Plight Likened to That of Civil Rights Workers in the 1950s” by John Dunbar for Center for Public Integrity

Arizona: “Possible Hack Shuts Down Online Portal to Public Campaign Financing” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for East Valley Tribune

Minnesota: “Minnesota Campaign Watchdog Agency Director to Retire” by Rachel Stassen-Berger for St. Paul Pioneer Press

Ethics

“Is the Supreme Court Clueless About Corruption? Ask Jack Abramoff” by Carl Hulse for New York Times

Kentucky: “Lexington’s Ethics Act to Add Domestic Partners to Nepotism Ban” by Beth Musgrave for Lexington Herald-Leader

New York: “In Inquiry into Ex-Cuomo Aide, Disclosure Form Only Adds Mystery” by Vivian Yee for New York Times

South Carolina: “S.C. Ethics Commission Chief to Retire” by Avery Wilks for The State

Elections

“Nate Silver Is Happy to Be Wrong” by Glenn Thrush for Politico

Lobbying

Massachusetts: “Uber Proves Profitable for at Least One Group – Lobbyists” by Jim O’Sullivan for Boston Globe

Campaign Finance

“Pro-Hillary Group Takes $200K in Banned Donations” by Harper Neidig and Jonathan Swan for The Hill

Maine: “Maine Ethics Panel Aims to Close Loophole ‘You Could Drive a Truck Through’” by Darren Fishell for Bangor Daily News

New Jersey: “Proposed Pay-to-Play Reforms Pit Fulop Against Longtime Foes” by Terrence McDonald (Jersey Journal) for Newark Star-Ledger

Ethics

California: “Supervisors Approve Budget and Staffing Plan for Ethics Commission” by Nick Gerda for Voice of OC

California: “At the Corner of Power and Poverty” by Laurel Rosenhall for CALmatters

Massachusetts: “Grand Jury Indicts Second Official in Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s Administration” by Gintautas Dumcius for MassLive.com

New York: “Ethics Reform Brings Less Information About JCOPE Probes” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Oregon: “Lawmaker’s Actions Questioned by Portland Police Officer” by Gordon Friedman for Salem Statesman-Journal

Elections

Utah: “Two Transgender Candidates – Both Named Misty – Just Made History by Winning Primaries” by Amber Phillips for Washington Post

Lobbying

Rhode Island: “Raimondo Signs Bills on Lobbying, Insurance for Off-Label Drug Use, Teaching of Holocaust” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

“RNC Fundraisers Hedge on Trump” by Kenneth Vogel and Alex Isenstadt for Politico

Massachusetts: “House Passes Campaign Finance Changes Aimed at Transparency, Special Elections” by Shira Schoenberg for MassLive.com

Ethics

“Justices Disclose Privately Paid Trips and Gifts” by Adam Liptak for New York Times

Arizona: “How Nearly $1 Million Disappeared from Surprise Coffers” by Jessica Boehm for Arizona Republic

California: “Orange County Finally Has an Ethics Commission – Now What?” by Jordan Graham for Orange County Register

Florida: “Audit Finds City Improperly Paid Lobbying Firm More Than $317,000” by Christopher Hong for Florida Times Union

Elections

“Who Does Donald Trump Listen to? Other Trumps.” by Mary Jordan and Jose DelReal for Washington Post

“Will Trump Swallow the GOP Whole?” by Mark Leibovich for New York Times

Lobbying

California: “California Political Watchdog Targets ‘Shadow Lobbyists’” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee

Maryland: “Here Are the Top Lobbyists in Maryland for the 2016 Legislative Session” by Ovetta Wiggins for Washington Post

Oregon: “Post Uber, Portland Leaders Look to Strengthen Lobbying Rules” by Amelia Templeton for Oregon Public Radio

Campaign Finance

“The Next ‘Citizens United’ Is Coming” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity

District of Columbia: “Close Council Vote Rejects Campaign Contribution Reform” by Rachel Kurzius for DCist.com

Ethics

Colorado: “Colorado Supreme Court to Hear Case Challenging State Ethics Commission’s Role” by Joey Bunch for Denver Post

Elections

“Will Dominant Images of Conventions Be of Unity or Protest?” by Trip Gabriel for New York Times

Florida: “Marco Rubio Will Seek Senate Reelection, Reversing Pledge Not to Run” by Mike DeBonis, Ed O’Keefe, and Sean Sullivan for Washington Post

Florida: “Florida Lawmaker Wants to Give Away an AR-15” by Mike McPhate for New York Times

Legislative Issues

“House Democrats’ Gun-Control Sit-In Turns into Chaotic Showdown with Republicans” by David Herszenhorn and Emmarie Huetteman for New York Times

Campaign Finance

“Donald Trump Starts Summer Push with Crippling Money Deficit” by Nicholas Confessore and Rachel Shorey for New York Times

Ethics

Pennsylvania: “Fattah Convicted of Federal Corruption Charges” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ohio: “Ethical Conflicts, Nepotism Mar Charity” by Dan Horn and Sharon Coolidge for Cincinnati Enquirer

Oklahoma: “Former State Senate Leader Mike Morgan Resentenced” by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman

Elections

“The Kochs’ Powerful Operation Isn’t Aimed at Helping Trump – But It Might Anyway” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

“What Do This Season’s Political Books Tell Us About the Election?” by Sam Tanenhaus for New York Times

“Trump’s Performance Raises Hard Question: Who’d want to be his VP?” by Eli Stokols and Burgess Everett for Politico

North Carolina: “Appeals Court Considers North Carolina’s Controversial Voting Rules” by Ann Marimow for Washington Post

Lobbying

Oklahoma: “Legislators, State Officials Accept More Gifts from Interest Groups” by Trevor Brown for Oklahoma Watch

Campaign Finance

“Wall Street Donors Seek to Block Warren VP Pick” by Ben White for Politico

Montana: “Judge Rules Wittich Can Remain in Office after Taking Illegal Campaign Contributions” by Matt Volz (Associated Press) for Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Wisconsin: “As the Government Accountability Board Ends, What’s the Future for Wisconsin Campaign Finance Regulation?” by Katelyn Ferral for Capital Times

Ethics

Connecticut: “Attorney Gets Reprimand for Drafting Rowland Consulting Contract” by Michelle Tuccitto Sullo for Connecticut Law Tribune

New York: “New York Lawmakers Leave Albany Without Big Ethics Reforms” by David Klepper (Associated Press) for Albany Times Union

New York: “3 New York Police Department Commanders Are Arrested on Corruption Charges” by William Rashbaum and Joseph Goldstein for New York Times

Elections

“Courts, Judges Become Top Political Targets in 2016 Elections” by Dave Helling for Kansas City Star

“Donald Trump Fires Embattled Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski” by Philip Rucker, Jose DelReal, and Sean Sullivan for Washington Post

Ohio: “John Kasich Vetoes Republican-Backed Voting Bill” by Darrel Rowland for Columbus Dispatch