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

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

The Missouri Ethics Commission has fined a citizen activist for failing to register as a legislative lobbyist.

Registration is required for legislative lobbying if an individual attempts to influence official action and is designated to act as a lobbyist by any person, business entity, or other entity. Ronald Calzone was never paid to communicate with legislators and has never been formally designated to lobby on behalf of any person or entity. The commission believes Calzone, who frequently shares his opinions with state legislators, has self-designated himself as a legislative lobbyist within the meaning of state law.

Calzone filed suit last week in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri claiming the commission is violating his first amendment rights absent a legitimate state interest. He also claims the word “designate” is unconstitutionally vague, facially and as-applied in his case.

National:

Insurers Give Big to Races Determining Their Regulators
Center for Public Integrity – Michael Mishak | Published: 10/20/2016

The insurance industry has pumped more than $6 million into political efforts to influence a dozen state races that determine who regulates the nation’s insurance companies. The giving is a critical part of a larger operation aimed at affecting the sleepy world of insurance regulation. A Center for Public Integrity investigation found a pattern of coziness between state insurance commissioners and the insurers they regulate, involving lavish dinners, corporate-backed trips to luxury resorts, and the implicit promise of industry jobs once commissioners leave office. Yet it starts with campaign contributions. Over the past decade, insurance companies and their employees were among the top political donors to commissioner candidates in at least six of the 11 states that elect regulators. And they are consistently among the top contributors to the two major political groups active in gubernatorial races.

Federal:

Brand Promotions Suggest Donald Trump Is Looking Past Election Day
New York Times – Maggie Haberman and Nick Corasaniti | Published: 10/26/2016

Time is running out on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, but his closing argument sounds as much about his business interests as his electoral ones. As Hillary Clinton and her surrogates fan out across the battleground states, Trump’s schedule has found plenty of room for self-promotion. His actions are a remarkable display of personal promotion by a presidential nominee, raising questions about whether Trump, who has lived by the mantra that “all publicity is good publicity,” is at least partly casting his eye past the 2016 race, and toward bolstering the brand that bears his name.

Clinton Sticks with Obama’s Strict Lobbying Rules – for Now
Politico – Anna Palmer and Andrew Restuccia | Published: 10/26/2016

Hillary Clinton’s campaign is limiting how federal lobbyists can work with the transition teams that are tasked with planning for the transfer of power at dozens of key agencies. The campaign’s policy operation, which is a separate entity from the transition team, continues to be the point of contact for companies, consultants, and lobbyists. It is an indication that Clinton is unlikely to abandon all of the lobbying restrictions imposed by President Obama. The transition operation’s ethics pledge mandates that transition officials recuse themselves from working on any issues on which they have lobbied in the past year. The rules also require transition staff who stay in the private sector to agree, for one year, not to appear before or seek to influence any federal agency they focused on during the transition.

For Some Conservative Female Pundits, This Election Has Been a Nightmare
Washington Post – Kelsey Snell | Published: 10/25/2016

In CNN’s green room, the conservative women saturating the cable network’s prime-time lineup this election season typically make small talk. But recently, the silence backstage can be deafening. Especially when the subject is Donald Trump and his behavior toward women. This painful debate plays out nearly every night in front of millions of viewers, and it has only gotten more graphic and personal since the release of a videotape depicting Trump boasting about groping women. For conservative women like S.E. Cupp, a Trump opponent, this election has become a nightmare. These women say they would rather be explaining why Hillary Clinton is a bad choice for president, but Trump is like an asteroid blocking out all of the sun that might shine in a normal election.

How Mega-Donors Helped Raise $1 Billion for Hillary Clinton
Washington Post – Matea Gold and Anu Narayanswamy | Published: 10/24/2016

Determined not to fall behind in raising money for her presidential bid, Hillary Clinton ramped up her appeals to rich donors and shrugged off restrictions that President Obama had imposed on his fundraising team. Even as her advisers fretted about the perception that she was too cozy with wealthy interests, they agreed to let lobbyists bundle checks for her campaign, including those representing some foreign governments, emails show. Top aides wooed major donors for super PACs, taking advantage of the leeway that campaigns have to legally collaborate with the groups on fundraising. The effort paid off. Together with the party and pro-Clinton super PACs, the Democratic nominee had amassed $1.14 billion to support her campaign by the end of September.

Judge Preserves Fattah Bribery Conviction, Overturns Other Parts of June Verdict
Philadelphia Inquirer – Jeremy Roebuck | Published: 10/21/2016

A federal judge rejected former U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah’s bid for a new trial, spurning arguments that a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision narrowing the legal definition of bribery would have changed the outcome of his case. U.S. District Court Judge Harvey Bartle III overturned Fattah’s convictions on four counts of fraud and falsifying records, but otherwise endorsed the jury’s conclusion that he had accepted bribes from wealthy supporter Herbert Vederman in exchange for official acts. The decision was one of the first to affirm a guilty verdict in a federal bribery case since the Supreme Court vacated the conviction of former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell, a ruling that legal experts feared would make prosecuting public corruption cases more difficult.

Want a Presidential Appointment? Step 1: Oppo research on yourself
Politico – Sarah Wheaton, Nancy Cook, and Andrew Restuccia | Published: 10/24/2016

More than a dozen people who expect, or simply hope, to be tapped by Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump have already reached out to top lawyers for help in sifting through their finances and business dealings in anticipation of being nominated to a top post in the next administration. This need for private professional help – before an election is even over and the confirmation process has begun – has spawned a small yet influential cottage industry within big Washington, D.C law firms of professional vetters, who can charge anywhere from hundreds of dollars to as much as $1,000 per hour to sort through a potential nominee’s convoluted finances, tax returns, or even old arrest records.

What Drives Donald Trump? Fear of Losing Status, Tapes Show
New York Times – Michael Barbaro | Published: 10/25/2016

The intense ambitions and undisciplined behaviors of Donald Trump have confounded even those close to him, especially as his presidential campaign comes to a tumultuous end, and he confronts the possibility of the most stinging defeat of his life. But in the more than five hours of conversations – the last extensive biographical interviews Trump granted before running for president – powerful driving force emerges: his deep-seated fear of public embarrassment. The recordings reveal a man who is fixated on his own celebrity, anxious about losing his status, and contemptuous of those who fall from grace. They capture the visceral pleasure he derives from fighting, his willful lack of interest in history, his reluctance to reflect on his life, and his belief that most people do not deserve his respect.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – California Politician Shows Little Remorse, Gets Prison Time
Sacramento Bee – Brian Melley (Associated Press) | Published: 10/21/2016

Former California Sen. Ronald Calderon, once the most powerful member of a politically influential family, was sentenced to 42 months in prison after he pleaded guilty in a federal corruption case. Calderon admitted he had accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes in return for official favors. He took $12,000 worth of trips to Las Vegas from an undercover FBI agent who posed as the owner of a Los Angeles movie studio seeking his support for film tax credits, though the legislation never passed. The agent hired Calderon’s daughter for a $3,000 a month no-show job and paid $5,000 toward his son’s college tuition. Calderon also acknowledged helping a hospital owner maintain a health care fraud scheme in exchange for hiring his son each summer over three years.

California – The GOP Dead Zone: You won’t find any Republicans to vote for in L.A. County
Los Angeles Times – Javier Panzar | Published: 10/26/2016

When 818,000 voters in Los Angeles County fill out their ballots this election, they will find themselves in strange political territory: the only Republican names they will see will be presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate Mike Pence. In this GOP “dead zone” – spanning parts of five congressional districts, five state Assembly districts, and one state Senate district – not a single Republican candidate made it on to the November ballot. This scenario is the result of California’s relatively new, voter-approved primary system in which the two candidates who finish with the most votes in the June election go on to the general election, even if they are from the same party.

New Jersey – Bridgegate Offers Peek at Trenton’s ‘Political Shop’
MyCentralJersey.com – Dustin Racioppi | Published: 10/24/2016

Since the lane closings on the George Washington Bridge in 2013, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and the private investigators his office hired, have maintained the Intergovernmental Affairs department led by Bill Stepien did not become politicized until after he left and turned over duties to Bridget Anne Kelly, who is accused of working with other officials to block access to the bridge as political retribution. But testimony and evidence in Kelly’s trial have contradicted those assertions and showed Stepien and his staff regularly mixing politics with policy, raising questions of ethics violations in the governor’s office and suggesting instances of quid pro quo.

North Carolina – Protests and Storms Make North Carolina’s Election Year ‘a Bizarre Experience’
New York Times – Richard Fausset | Published: 10/25/2016

There may be no other state with as much to sort through, or as much at stake on November 8, as North Carolina. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are in a tight battle there, one of the most contested swing states. The governor’s race between Pat McCrory and his Democratic challenger, state Attorney General Roy Cooper, may be the closest in the country, as well as being a sort of referendum on the state’s sharp right turn in recent years. And control of the U.S. Senate could be determined by an equally close race between U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, an incumbent Republican, and his Democratic challenger, Deborah Ross.

Pennsylvania – Kathleen Kane, Former Pennsylvania Attorney General, Is Sentenced to Prison
New York Times – Jon Hurdle and Richard Pérez-Peña | Published: 10/24/2016

Former Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane was sentenced to 10 to 23 months in jail for illegally disclosing details from a grand jury investigation to embarrass a rival and lying about it under oath. She was also sentenced to eight years of probation by a Montgomery County judge who said Kane’s ego drove her to take down enemies and break the law. Kane feuded with Frank Fina, a former top state prosecutor. Seeking to undercut Fina, Kane leaked to The Philadelphia Daily News information about a grand jury investigation he had been involved in, a leak that would lead to the criminal investigation of her actions.

Pennsylvania – Kenney Amends Gifts Rules for His Staff
Philadelphia Inquirer – Claudia Vargas | Published: 10/27/2016

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney signed an executive order that expands restrictions on gifts to city employees working in the executive branch. His action updated the Executive Order on Gifts to specifically prohibit executive branch employees from receiving gifts from registered lobbyists. The new executive order creates some specific exemptions, including that employees can accept food, beverages, or entertainment at a reception open to the public for which no ticket or invitation is required. Another change is that a city employee may not receive a gift from a person who sought some action from that employee within the preceding 12 months. The order takes effect immediately.

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

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

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.

National:

Coke and Pepsi Give Millions to Public Health, Then Lobby Against It
New York Times – Anahad O’Connor | Published: 10/10/2016

Despite the fact that America has an obesity problem, fueled in part by the overconsumption of sugar, several prominent public health groups (including some that are government-run) have accepted money from soda companies in recent years. In a new study, researchers at Boston University School of Medicine report that between 2011 to 2015, 96 national health organizations accepted money from Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, or both companies. There has been increasing scrutiny in recent years of the soda industry’s influence over the public health debate, especially over soda’s link to obesity, and legislative efforts such as soda taxes and bans meant to curb its influence. The researchers looked at lobbying efforts by the companies and found both actively oppose legislation that targets soda and is designed to prevent obesity.

Gerrymandering Helped Republicans Take Control of Congress, but Now It’s Tearing Them Apart Over Trump
Los Angeles Times – Lisa Mascaro | Published: 10/11/2016

Across the country, Republicans in contested races face a terrible bind: they have to run from Donald Trump to hold onto swing votes, even if that angers some core supporters. But in secure, heavily conservative GOP districts, Republicans face the opposite pressure: to cleave fast to Trump, who remains popular despite statements that have alienated many voters. The crisis sparked by the Trump campaign has split the Republican Party in two, and ironically, the gerrymandering of districts that helped build the GOP congressional majority is now working to make that fracture worse.

Federal:

Donald Trump Finds Improbable Ally in WikiLeaks
New York Times – Patrick Healy, David Sanger, and Maggie Haberman | Published: 10/12/2016

Donald Trump, his advisers, and many of his supporters are increasingly seizing on a trove of embarrassing emails from Hillary Clinton’s campaign that WikiLeaks has been publishing – and that U.S. intelligence agencies said came largely from Russian intelligence agencies, with the authorization of “Russia’s senior-most officials.” The Trump campaign’s willingness to use WikiLeaks is a turnabout after years of bipartisan criticism of the organization for past disclosures of American national security intelligence and other confidential information. The accusation that Russian agents are now playing an almost-daily role in helping fuel Trump’s latest political attacks on Clinton raises far greater concerns, though, about foreign interference in a presidential election.

Filmmaker Says Lobbying Firm Tried to ‘Thwart’ Screening of Documentary Critical of Herbalife
Washington Post – Emily Heil | Published: 10/10/2016

The Washington, D.C. screening of a documentary scrutinizing controversial multilevel marketing company Herbalife had 173 empty seats because Herbalife’s lobbying firm bought them out. The documentary, Ted Braun’s “Betting on Zero,” focuses on activist investor Bill Ackman’s quest to portray Herbalife as a pyramid scheme and profit from shorting its stock. Ten staffers of Heather Podesta + Partners, which lobbies for Herbalife, bought half the tickets and never picked them up, according to organizers of the film festival. At $15 a seat, the ruse cost more than $2,500. The company paid the firm $70,000 last quarter, lobbying disclosures show.

Trump Reels as More Accusers Emerge
Politico – Louis Nelson | Published: 10/13/2016

Multiple women have come forward to accuse Donald Trump of uninvited kissing or groping. The stories, which have been told to different news organizations, come after Trump denied during the most recent presidential debate that he had ever sexually assaulted a woman. He has also denied the latest reports in The New York Times, The Palm Beach Post, and People, calling them fabrications and threatening lawsuits. The women who spoke to The Times, who are both supporters of Hillary Clinton, said they felt compelled to speak out after Trump said he had never done the things he was caught boasting about on a 2005 videotape.

WikiLeaks Hack Reveals Cozy Relationship between Clinton Campaign, Super PAC
The Hill – Jonathan Swan | Published: 10/10/2016

A top attorney for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign sent a memorandum to campaign aides teaching them how to legally communicate with a pro-Clinton super PAC, emails released by WikiLeaks show. While Clinton has claimed her campaign has nothing to do with the super PAC Priorities USA, a leaked email from the personal account of Clinton’s campaign chairperson, John Podesta, suggests differently. In the email, Clinton attorney Marc Elias outlined what is basically a strategy for steering large campaign donors to the super PAC without breaking the law.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alaska – Lobbyist Bankrolled PAC Run by State Lawmaker Is Legal, APOC Staff Says
KTUU – Austin Baird | Published: 10/10/2016

Lobbyists bankrolling a PAC run by a sitting state lawmaker, an unconventional approach to financing campaigns that started happening this year, is not a violation of state law, according to an Alaska Public Offices Commission staff opinion. The source of the cash is at the core of the complaint against the group run by Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, which alleges wrongdoing on three fronts centered around the fact that several lobbyists who live outside of LeDoux’s district contributed $500 apiece. Alaska law allows paid lobbyists to contribute to legislative campaigns but only to candidates running in their own district.

California – State Lawmakers Got about $873,000 in Freebies Last Year, but the Gifts Can Be Difficult to Track
San Louis Obispo Tribune – Matt Fountain | Published: 10/8/2016

California lawmakers reported receiving about $873,000 in meals, entertainment, travel, and other gifts last year. Public officials across the state are required to file financial disclosure forms that are the public’s way of ensuring officials are making decisions based on the public interest and not their own financial gain. But the primarily paper-based system is inherently messy, with little consistency in how gifts are reported, making it cumbersome to verify some vague and incorrectly reported gifts. Legal loopholes regarding what constitutes free travel and degrees of separation between lobbyists and gift-giving render key aspects of the laws essentially toothless.

Hawaii – How Hawaii Companies Pay to Party It Up with Public Officials
Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 10/11/2016

Those attending and sponsoring the Hawaii Congress of Planning Officials included some of the most powerful business interests in the state who had the chance to hobnob with the kind of government officials who have influence on issues that affect them. State and county laws have strict rules about government officials receiving gifts, particularly if it appears those gifts could have an influence on their actions. But conferences like the recent three-day planning retreat on Kauai show how special interests are still able help pay to entertain an array of public officials.

Illinois – Chicago Politicians Warned on Use of Coveted Face-Value Cubs Playoff Tickets
Chicago Tribune – Hal Dardick | Published: 10/9/2016

Aldermen and city officials who take advantage of the Chicago Cubs’ offer to purchase playoff tickets at face value must accompany their guests to all games at Wrigley Field and be publicly announced to the crowd or risk violating the city’s ethics ordinance. Chicago Ethics Board Executive Director Steve Berlin noted the law prohibits city employees and elected officials from accepting gifts worth more than $50 and the difference between the face value of Cubs playoff tickets and the “commonly understood fair market value” exceeds that limit. But the ordinance does allow officials to attend events “in their official capacity,” he added. “It could be construed as a prohibited gift to the city official if they are not announced or if they give away or resell all tickets they purchased at this special price,” Berlin wrote.

Michigan – Secretive Funds Allow Michigan Lawmakers to Accept Corporate Cash
MLive.com – Craig Mauger (Michigan Campaign Finance Network) and Emily Lawler | Published: 10/11/2016

It is illegal for a corporation to give directly to a candidate’s campaign account in Michigan. But there is a difficult-to-trace and rarely discussed form of legal fundraising where many donations do not have to be disclosed. An investigation found at least 50 of Michigan’s House and Senate members, about one in three, are connected or have been connected to a nonprofit or administrative account. From 2013 to 2015, about $12.8 million flowed to more than 100 accounts connected to political parties, elected officeholders, and their consultants. Finding who runs these lawmaker-connected organizations, who gives to them, and what the contributions are used for can be extremely difficult.

Missouri – Aldermen Pass Legislation Limiting Campaign Contributions to $10,000 in St. Louis Elections
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Koran Addo | Published: 10/7/2016

Members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen passed a pair of reform bills, one intended to keep wealthy donors from unduly influencing local elections and the other meant to keep elected officials honest about the gifts they receive. The first bill would limit campaign contributions in city elections to $10,000 per election cycle. It also would the Municipal Officials and Officers Ethics Commission to investigate campaign finance violations. The board also passed a bill requiring elected officials to report within 30 days any gift or travel expense valued at $375 or more given to them or an immediate family member. Violating the reporting requirement would result in docked pay.

New York – At Graft Scandal’s Center, a Lobbyist with a Long History in the Cuomo Orbit
New York Times – Vivian Yee | Published: 10/7/2016

For New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the corruption scandal that threatens to inflict lasting harm on his political career and his family’s legacy is a betrayal of multiple dimensions. It is a betrayal of his plans to revitalize the economies in western and central New York, and of the Cuomos’ political self-image, built by his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, on clean, competent, accountable government. And if anyone made it all possible, it seemed to be one of their own: Todd Howe, who has implicated himself and helped federal prosecutors charge eight other Cuomo advisers and donors in a wide-ranging bribery scheme surrounding the governor’s office.

New York – Disclosure Law for Outside Income Often Ignored, Rarely Enforced
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 10/11/2016

The recent spate of corruption charges in New York has sparked calls for closer scrutiny of state officials’ outside jobs. But a law already on the books that addresses the issue does not appear to be rigorously enforced. A 2011 law requires lobbyists or their clients who pay a state employee more than $1,000 in a year to submit a form detailing the exact amount every six months. It also requires a description of the nature of the state employee’s outside work. Since the law was passed, only 24 lobbying clients and 11 lobbyists have submitted paperwork detailing the hiring of state officials. Joint Commission on Public Ethics spokesperson Walter McClure said he did not know of someone ever been fined for failing to file this kind of report.

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

New York: “Lobbying Cuomo: How to get the governor on your side” by David Howard King for Gotham Gazette

Campaign Finance

Michigan: “Secretive Funds Allow Michigan Lawmakers to Accept Corporate Cash” by Craig Mauger (Michigan Campaign Finance Network) and Emily Lawler for MLive.com

Ethics

“Chelsea Flagged ‘Serious Concerns’ about Clinton Foundation Conflicts” by Kenneth Vogel for Politico

New York: “Disclosure Law for Outside Income Often Ignored, Rarely Enforced” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Elections

“Trump Faces a Slew of New Allegations of Sexual Assault” by David Graham for The Atlantic

“Gerrymandering Helped Republicans Take Control of Congress, but Now It’s Tearing Them Apart Over Trump” by Lisa Mascaro for Los Angeles Times

“Hillary Clinton, Paul Ryan and the Relationship That Could Shape Washington” by Robert Costa and Philip Rucker for Washington Post

“Group’s Tactic on Hillary Clinton: Sue her again and again” by Jonathan Mahler for New York Times

Florida: “Federal Judge Swipes at Scott’s Political ‘Poppycock,’ Extends Fla. Voter Registration Deadline” by Daniel Ducassi and Marc Caputo for Politico

Texas: “San Antonio Cops Face Discipline for Wearing ‘Make America Great Again’ Hats in Trump Video” by Derek Hawkins for Washington Post

Lobbying

California: “State Lawmakers Got about $873,000 in Freebies Last Year, but the Gifts Can Be Difficult to Track” by Matt Fountain for San Louis Obispo Tribune

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Legislator Wants Lawmakers Off Lobbyist Welfare” by Barbara Hoberock for Tulsa World

Campaign Finance

Missouri: “Aldermen Pass Legislation Limiting Campaign Contributions to $10,000 in St. Louis Elections” by Koran Addo for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Montana: “Can Motl Serve as State’s Campaign and Ethics Cop until 2019?” by Troy Carter for Bozeman Daily Chronicle

New York: “The New York City Campaign Finance Board and Its Scofflaws” by Samar Khurshid and Jarrett Murphy for Gotham Gazette

Ethics

Illinois: “Chicago Politicians Warned on Use of Coveted Face-Value Cubs Playoff Tickets” by Hal Dardick for Chicago Tribune

New York: “At Graft Scandal’s Center, a Lobbyist with a Long History in the Cuomo Orbit” by Vivian Yee for New York Times

Elections

“Leaked Speech Excerpts Show a Hillary Clinton at Ease with Wall Street” by Amy Chozick, Nicholas Confessore, and Michael Barbaro for New York Times

“Paul Ryan Won’t Defend or Campaign for Trump Ahead of Election” by Kelsey Snell and Juliet Eilperin for Washington Post

Lobbying

“Lobby Firm Hires Republican Who Resigned After Ethics Investigation” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Maryland: “Top Lobbyist Represents Winner of Controversial Medical Marijuana License” by Michael Dresser for Baltimore Sun

New York: “Ethics Panel Investigating de Blasio’s Nonprofit Is Said to Issue Broad Subpoena” by William Rashbaum for New York Times

Campaign Finance

Washington: “AG’s Office Files Election-Finance Complaint against Kim Wyman” by David Gutman for Seattle Times

Ethics

“Donald Trump Would Have Trouble Winning a Suit Over the Times’s Tax Article” by Adam Liptak for New York Times

Kentucky: “Democratic Party Insider Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Role in Kickback Scheme” by Bill Estep for Lexington Herald-Leader

Michigan: “11th Detroit Principal Gets 15 Months in Prison for Corruption” by Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press

Missouri: “Rowden Aims to Strengthen Ethics in Missouri Legislature” by Janie Matthews for Columbia Missourian

Tennessee: “New Calls for Probe over Staffer Firing in Jeremy Durham Report” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Elections

“Tim Kaine and Mike Pence Clash Sharply Over Their Running Mates” by Jonathan Martin and Patrick Healy for New York Times

Legislative Issues

North Carolina: “Indicted Senator Retains Role Running Committees” by Craig Jarvis for Raleigh News & Observer

Lobbying

“Want to be a ‘Foreign Agent’? Serve in US Congress First” by Joseph Schatz and Benjamin Oreskes for Politico

Florida: “Two Years Later, Curbelo Still Keeps List of Past Clients Secret” by Patricia Mazzei for Miami Herald

Campaign Finance

“They Gave to Trump’s GOP Rivals. Now 95% Are Sitting Out the General Election” by Seema Metha, Anthony Pesce, and Maloy Moore for Los Angeles Times

Maryland: “Company Run by David Trone Broke Campaign Contribution Limits, State Prosecutors Say” by Bill Turque for Washington Post

Ethics

Alabama: “Bentley Says Impeachment Committee’s Tactics ‘Frightening’” by Mike Cason for AL.com

Hawaii: “Caldwell Aide Works Campaign for Free but Gets City Contracts” by Nick Grube for Honolulu Civil Beat

Pennsylvania: “State Rep. Sims’ Travel, Speaking Fees Raise Questions” by Ryan Briggs for City & State Pennsylvania

Elections

“In Bruce Springsteen’s America, Many Turn Toward Donald Trump” by Nick Corasaniti and Giovanni Russonello for New York Times

California: “Ballot Selfie Bill by Assemblyman Levine Signed into Law” by Richard Halstead for Marin Independent Journal

Lobbying

“Evan Bayh’s Shadow Lobbying” by Maggie Severns and Isaac Arnsdorf for Politico

Tennessee: “Ex-Lobbyist Paid for Private Plane for Beth Harwell, Karl Dean” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert (The Tennessean) for WBIR

Campaign Finance

“Democrats Rake in Money, Thanks to Suit by Republicans” by Nicholas Confessore and Rachel Shorey for New York Times

California: “More California Cities Can Have Publicly Financed Election Campaigns” by Jeremy White for Sacramento Bee

Maine: “Maine Lawmakers Could No Longer Pay Themselves from PACs” by Marina Villeneuve (Associated Press) for Washington Times

Ethics

Alabama: “Roy Moore, Alabama Chief Justice, Suspended Over Gay Marriage Order” by Campbell Robertson for New York Times

California: “Upgrade to Campaign and Lobbying Database Approved” by Samantha Young for Techwire.net

Kentucky: “Political Consultant Is Second to Plead Guilty in State Corruption Probe” by Bill Estep for Lexington Herald-Leader

Nevada: “Political Firm Tied to Corruption Investigation of Las Vegas Councilman Ricki Barlow” by Jeff German for Las Vegas Review-Journal

Elections

“Memo to Obama Aides: Don’t prank Trump or Clinton on your way out” by Elise Viebeck for Washington Post

“How Donald Trump Set Off a Civil War Within the Right-Wing Media” by Robert Draper for New York Times Magazine

“Donald Trump Tax Records Show He Could Have Avoided Taxes for Nearly Two Decades, The Times Found” by David Barstow, Susanne Craig, Russ Buettner, and Megan Twohey for New York Times

National:

Big Business Continues Trend Toward Political Transparency
Center for Public Integrity – Dave Levinthal | Published: 9/28/2016

About one-in-10 of the nation’s largest companies volunteer almost no information about their political activity, according to a new study on corporate transparency. Across 24 categories, the study awards points to companies that, for example, voluntarily disclose contributions to certain nonprofit groups, publish policies that govern political expenditures from its corporate treasury, and reveal money spent to influence state-level ballot initiatives. The authors say there is a trend toward increased corporate political transparency, despite calls from prominent business groups for corporations to not reveal more information than what is legally required of them. But plenty of companies show little interest in revealing more about how they are attempting to influence politics.

For Cuomo and Christie, Parallel Paths to the Top, and Trouble When They Got There
New York Times – Vivian Yee | Published: 9/25/2016

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo were once lionized for relentlessly prosecuting bad behavior in government. Cuomo is now reeling after the arrest of one of his closest friends, confidants, and former aides, as well as the arrests of several other close advisers and donors in a bribery scheme, while a former top aide and a former political ally to Christie are on trial over their roles in the scandal that elevated a traffic jam on access lanes leading to the George Washington Bridge into a symbol of political payback. Neither governor is accused of breaking the law. But for two men who once prided themselves on managing spick-and-span administrations, claiming to have been blind to alleged acts of petty revenge and bribery at the highest levels of state government seems bad enough.

Republican Lawmakers Under Fire for Racially Insensitive Comments after Charlotte Unrest
Washington Post – Elise Viebeck | Published: 9/24/2016

Republican lawmakers are under increasing fire for racially insensitive comments after the fatal police shootings of black men sparked unrest in two states. Remarks by U.S. Reps. Robert Pittenger, Tim Huelskamp, and Steve King, along with the GOP nominee for vice president, Mike Pence, underscored to some observers Republicans’ tone-deafness on issues of race in a year of unprecedented attention to police bias against African-Americans. With the November elections barely six weeks away, the responses also seemed a sign of Republicans deepening alienation from black voters. The GOP rhetoric could help mobilize African Americans to oppose Republicans in a year when Hillary Clinton is relying on heavy black turnout to win the White House.

Federal:

D.C. Circuit Decision Limiting Political Ad Disclosure Will Stand
Bloomberg BNA – Kenneth Doyle | Published: 9/28/2016

A federal appellate panel ruling that limits disclosure requirements for groups sponsoring political ads will stand, as the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said it will not review the decision. The long-running litigation challenged as too lax current FEC disclosure rules for ‘electioneering communications” – targeted television and radio ads that refer to a federal candidate in the final weeks before an election. The FEC rules in most circumstances do not require disclosure of those funding such ads. A three-judge panel of the District of Columbia Circuit issued a ruling that contended a broader FEC disclosure rule would violate free speech rights. The panel acknowledged previous court decisions supporting disclosure but suggested such rulings conflicted with other precedents giving broad First Amendment protection to political speech.

New Debate Strategy for Donald Trump: Practice, practice, practice
New York Times – Patrick Healy, Ashley Parker, and Maggie Haberman | Published: 9/28/2016

Even as Donald Trump’s advisers publicly backed him after the first presidential debate and praised his performance, they were privately awash in second-guessing about why he stopped attacking Hillary Clinton on trade and character issues and instead grew erratic, impatient, and subdued as the night went on. In interviews, seven campaign aides and advisers to Trump expressed frustration and discouragement over their candidate’s performance. Advisors plan to more rigorously prepare him for the next debate; whether he is open to practicing meticulously is a major concern, however, according to some of these advisers and others close to Trump.

Will ‘Saturday Night Live’ Take Down Trump?
Politico – Shane Goldmacher | Published: 9/29/2016

While Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton argue over who won the first presidential debate, inside 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the winner in the all-important satirical showdown is still being scripted. That is where the cast and crew of “Saturday Night Live” gathered to watch the debate, and it is where they are still sketching out portrayals that will shape how Americans see their presidential candidates. Historically, SNL’s political satire has penetrated the national consciousness. It was Will Ferrell as George W. Bush who coined “strategery,” and it was Tina Fey as Sarah Palin who claimed, “I can see Russia from my house.” The skewering tradition dates all the way back to Chevy Chase’s 1976 portrayal of President Gerald Ford as a klutz. In 2000, Al Gore’s own advisers made him watch Darrell Hammond’s stilted impersonation of his debate performances to show Gore how poorly he was coming off to others.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama – Ala. PAC-to-PAC Transfer Ban Upheld by Appeals Court
Montgomery Advertiser – Brian Lyman | Published: 9/28/2016

A federal appeals court upheld Alabama’s ban on money transfers between PACs. The three-judge panel ruled the law did not prevent the Alabama Democratic Conference (ADC), which sued to overturn it, from raising the funds to support its activities. State lawmakers passed the ban in order to restrict donors’ ability to hide contributions by shuffling them through multiple PACs. After the law passed, the ADC created two separate bank accounts, one dealing with independent expenditures and the other for political contributions. Attorneys for the state argued Alabama’s interests were promoting transparency and preventing corruption. The ADC said because it kept its expenditures in separate bank accounts, and because the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision said independent expenditures do not create the appearance of corruption, the state had no compelling interest in its accounts tied to campaign expenditures.

California – Ex-LAPD Sergeant Defends Himself Against Ethics Charge Over Controversial Stop of ‘Django Unchained’ Actress
Los Angeles Times – Kate Mather | Published: 9/26/2016

A judge heard arguments over whether a Los Angeles police sergeant violated city ethics rules by leaking a recording of his controversial encounter with actress Daniele Watts to the media. No one questions whether Parker released the recording – he has admitted that in interviews with reporters, at a Police Commission meeting, and again while testifying in court. Instead, the case hinges on whether that recording was confidential and thus, whether Parker violated city rules by making it public. Ethics officials allege he did just that, accusing Parker of unlawfully sharing confidential information without authorization and doing so to “create a private advantage for himself.” Sergio Perez, the Ethics Commission’s director of enforcement, accused Parker of releasing the tape because he faced criticism over the encounter.

Illinois – Donation Lifts Fundraising Caps in Illinois Comptroller Race
State Journal-Register – Sophia Tareen (Associated Press) | Published: 9/26/2016

A $260,000 donation to Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger’s campaign has lifted the caps on political contributions and guarantees a big-money race between the incumbent and challenger Susana Mendoza. The loan is from Munger’s husband, attorney John Munger. State campaign finance law limits contributions, but it also says if a candidate or family member gives more than $250,000 to his or her own race, the limits come off for all candidates.

Mississippi – Hosemann Launches ‘Searchable’ Campaign Finance Reports
Hattiesburg American – Geoff Pender (Jackson Clarion-Ledger) | Published: 9/27/2016

Mississippi is becoming the last state to allow electronic filing of campaign finance reports, a step toward easier public access to information about who is spending money to influence elections. The National Institute on Money in State Politics says all 49 other states already had either mandatory or voluntary electronic filing of finance reports. The Mississippi secretary of state’s staff has scanned candidates’ paper forms and posted them online for years. But those documents are not searchable and it is burdensome to calculate, for example, how much money a group or person gives to multiple candidates. Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said he will ask the Legislature to make electronic filing mandatory for statewide and district candidates starting in 2020, after the current four-year term.

New York – Preet Bharara Wields Ax in Albany Corruption Scandal
Albany Times-Union – Chris Bragg and Mathhew Hamilton | Published: 9/22/2016

Federal corruption charges were levied against two former close aides to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a senior state official, and six other people, in a blow to the governor’s innermost circle and a repudiation of the way his prized upstate economic development programs were managed. The charges against the former aides, Joseph Percoco and Todd Howe, and the state official, Alain Kaloyeros, were the culmination of a long-running federal investigation into the Cuomo administration’s efforts to lure jobs and businesses to upstate New York’s limping economy by furnishing billions of dollars in state funds to developers from Buffalo to Albany.

North Carolina – Sen. Fletcher Hartsell Accused of Money Laundering, Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud
Raleigh News & Observer – Anne Blythe | Published: 9/27/2016

North Carolina Sen. Fletcher Hartsell was indicted on multiple counts related to fraudulent campaign fundraising and expenditures. The charges in federal court escalate the legal woes for Hartsell nearly three months after a county grand jury indicted him in state court on allegations he certified three campaign finance documents as correct, while knowing they were not. The federal indictment alleges he spent campaign money on a trip to South Carolina with his wife’s choir, on haircuts, tickets to the musical “Jersey Boys,” his granddaughter’s birthday party, and getting his driver’s license renewed, among other things.

Rhode Island – Councilman’s Proposal to Reform Providence Lobbying Ordinance Hits Roadblock
WPRI – Dan McGowan | Published: 9/26/2016

Providence Councilperson Sam Zurier wants to amend the city’s existing lobbying ordinance to force members of what he considers “financially active” organizations to register as lobbyists, a plan he acknowledges is designed to force members of the Providence Apartment Association to wear badges in City Hall and file quarterly reports with the clerk’s office. But several members of the Ordinance Committee said they are concerned the proposal would deter other community groups from participating in city government, even though the policy focuses on organizations whose members make campaign contributions to the mayor or city council.

Tennessee – Voucher Advocate Hosted Tennessee Lawmakers at Seaside Condo
The Tennessean – Joel Ebert and Dave Boucher | Published: 9/26/2016

In 2014, five state legislators went on an undisclosed vacation with Mark Gill, one of the leaders of the pro-voucher Tennessee Federation for Children. In 2016, all five lawmakers who went to Gill’s condominium co-sponsored legislation to allow vouchers in Tennessee. As Gill is not a registered lobbyist, he is legally allowed to host in this manner due to a loophole in the law. House Speaker Beth Harwell said such trips need to be disclosed, but she is likely to face pushback from legislators like Rep. Andy Holt, who attended the event, “There’s a time and a place for transparency, but my rights as a U.S. citizen didn’t end when I became a lawmaker,” said Holt.

Virginia – In Virginia’s Capital, a Political ‘Bad Boy’ Upends Race for Mayor
Washingtpn Post – Paul Schwartzman | Published: 9/28/2016

Everyone in Richmond knows about Joe Morrissey Myrna Watson, as do many across Virginia, having read salacious stories three years ago about the then-55-year-old state lawmaker who went to jail for cavorting with his 17-year-old receptionist. Warren is now Morrissey’s wife, and she has become a centerpiece of his unlikely quest to become Richmond’s next mayor. Morrissey’s career includes more than a few headline-grabbing stories, including an eight-year disbarment that prevented him from practicing law until 2011, two fistfights that resulted in jail time, and brandishing an unloaded AK-47 during a gun debate in the House of Delegates. Yet polls show Morrissey with an imposing lead over six opponents. One candidate dropped out recently, citing concern that the size of the field would split the vote and ensure Morrissey’s victory.

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

EU: “Lobbying to Face Greater Scrutiny in European Commission Proposals” by Jennnifer Rankin for The Guardian

Campaign Finance

“Democratic Convention Committee Obliterated Fundraising Goal” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity

“D.C. Circuit Decision Limiting Political Ad Disclosure Will Stand” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA

Alabama: “Ala. PAC-to-PAC Transfer Ban Upheld by Appeals Court” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser

Mississippi: “Hosemann Launches ‘Searchable’ Campaign Finance Reports” by Geoff Pender (Jackson Clarion-Ledger) for Hattiesburg American

North Carolina: “Sen. Fletcher Hartsell Accused of Money Laundering, Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud” by Anne Blythe for Raleigh News & Observer

Ethics

New York: “JCOPE Chief: Staff to pay ‘closer attention’ to disclosures in wake of scandal” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times-Union

Elections

“New Debate Strategy for Donald Trump: Practice, practice, practice” by Patrick Healy, Ashley Parker, and Maggie Haberman for New York Times

Virginia: “In Virginia’s Capital, a Political ‘Bad Boy’ Upends Race for Mayor” by Paul Schwartzman for Washington Post