Elections North Carolina: “In North Carolina, Republicans Seek More Control Over Elections” by Michael Wines (New York Times) for Yahoo News Ethics California: “Former Baldwin Park City Attorney Acted as ‘Co-Conspirator’ in $70K Bribery Scheme, Indictment Alleges” by Jason Henry (Pasadena Star News) for Los Angeles Daily News Canada: “‘Insufficient Grounds’ for Full Probe into Ford Stag and Doe: Commissioner” by Allison Jones (Canadian Press) for Global News National: “Clarence Thomas Secretly Participated in Koch Network Donor Events” by Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott, and Alex Mierjeski for ProPublica National: “Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey Indicted on Federal Bribery Charges” by Perry Stein and Isaac Stanley-Becker (Washington Post) for MSN Florida: “With Half of Miami’s Elected Officials Under Investigation, the City’s History Is Repeating” by Charles Rabin (Miami Herald) for MSN Missouri: “Missouri Lawmaker Accused of ‘Unlawful’ Conduct in Push for Contract, Drawing FBI Scrutiny” by Jason Hancock for Missouri Independent Redistricting National: “In Three Southern States, a Legal Battle Over Political Maps” by Michael Wines (New York Times) for Yahoo News

National/Federal

Lobbyists Flirt with AI While Remaining Cautious of Its Promises

Bloomberg Government – Kate Ackley | Published: 9/8/2023

Lobbyists are scrambling to put their imprint on federal oversight of artificial intelligence (AI) and grappling with its influence on their own profession even as they predict robot-lobbyists will likely remain in the realm of science fiction. Some lobbyists say they are willing to embrace AI. They have begun to experiment with it to ease tedious and time-consuming tasks, such as legislative analysis, background research, and drafting client memos. Others, eyeing it with trepidation, say they are holding off to see how it evolves.

The Senate Dress Code Gets a Casual Overhaul

DNyuz – Robert Jimison (New York Times) | Published: 9/19/2023

In the tradition-bound halls of the U.S. Senate, customs die hard and rules can be next to impossible to change. But for the first time in centuries, lawmakers are no longer expected to suit up to conduct business on the Senate floor. Majority Leader Charles Schumer established a new dress code allowing members to take a more business-casual approach to their workwear.

Revolving Door Redux: The DEA’s recently departed No. 2 returns to a Big Pharma consulting firm

MSN – Joshua Goodman and Jim Mustian (Associated Press) | Published: 9/20/2023

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) recently departed second-in-command returned for a new stint with the consulting firm where he previously advised Purdue Pharma and a drug distributor fighting sanctions over suspicious painkiller shipments. Louis Milione retired from the DEA a second time this summer amid reporting on potential conflicts caused by his prior consulting for the pharmaceutical industry. Less than three months later, Milione again landed a plum job at Guidepost Solutions, a firm hired by some of the same companies he had been tasked with regulating when he returned to the DEA in 2021.

Democrats Rap FEC Gridlock That Republicans Say Is a Feature

MSN – Daniela Altimari (Roll Call) | Published: 9/20/2023

A recent hearing by the House Oversight Committee marked the first time in 12 years that members of the FEC have come before a congressional oversight panel. Democrats on the committee want changes to the makeup of the commission. The six-member panel is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, a breakdown that critics say has led to partisan gridlock and hampered the FEC’s ability to enforce the rules. The are also calls to improve transparency and modernize technology.

Did Sen. Bob Menendez and Wife Improperly Take Gold Bars from Corrupt Bank Exec?

MSN – Jonathan Dienst and Courtney Copenhagen (WNBC) | Published: 9/20/2023

Federal prosecutors are looking into whether an admitted felon helped arrange to give gold bars worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez or his wife in exchange for help. Investigators want to know if Menendez offered to contact the Justice Department to try to help that man who was accused of banking crimes. Those questions are now before a federal grand jury that is considering whether to hand up corruption charges against Menendez.

Lawmakers Are Spending Way More to Keep Themselves Safe. Is It Enough?

MSN – Greg Morton, Marianna Sotomayor, and Camila DeChalus (Washington Post) | Published: 9/18/2023

Candidates running for U.S. House and Senate offices increased campaign spending on security by more than 500 percent between the 2020 election and the 2022 midterms, a measure of the extraordinary rise in threats against elected officials in recent years and the country’s increasingly volatile political climate.  The steep increases came as changes in federal campaign finance rules made it easier to spend campaign dollars on security, a recognition of the nation’s changing threat outlook for elected officials. Lawmakers say more has to be done to help protect themselves and their staff from a dramatic rise in daily threats.

Red States Quit Nation’s Oldest Library Group Amid Culture War Over Books

MSN – Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 9/15/2023

The American Library Association is facing a partisan firefight unlike anything in its almost 150-year history. The once-uncontroversial organization, which says it is the world’s largest and oldest library association and which provides funding, training, and tools to most of the country’s 123,000 libraries, has become entangled in the education culture wars – the raging debates over what and how to teach about race, sex, and gender.

Unapologetic Ex-Ambassador Avoids Prison in Illicit Lobbying Case

MSN – Craig Whitlock (Washington Post) | Published: 9/16/2023

Richard Olson Jr., a former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, was sentenced to three years’ probation and a $93,350 fine for violating federal lobbying and ethics laws in a case that exposed a secret history of romantic liaisons and lavish gifts during his 34-year career as a diplomat. Olson, who pleaded guilty to two federal misdemeanors related to his consulting work in the Middle East, could have received up to six months behind bars under federal sentencing guidelines.

Prosecutors in D.C. Election Case Are Seeking a Partial Gag Order for Trump

NPR – Associated Press | Published: 9/15/2023

Federal prosecutors are seeking an order that would prevent Donald Trump from making “inflammatory” and “intimidating” comments about witnesses, lawyers, and other people involved in the criminal case charging the former president with scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Special counsel Jack Smith’s team said in a motion that such a “narrow, well-defined” order was necessary to preserve the integrity of the case and to avoid prejudicing potential jurors.

Alito Pauses Order Banning Biden Officials from Contacting Tech Platforms

Politico – Josh Gerstein and Rebecca Kern | Published: 9/14/2023

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito temporarily paused a lower-court order limiting Biden administration officials from contacting social media firms. Alito’s action followed an emergency filing from the Justice Department that asked the court to block an earlier injunction that would make it difficult for officials at the White House, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the FBI to respond to online posts that pose a danger to public health or safety. The Justice Department claims allowing the lower court ruling to stay in effect would “impose grave and irreparable harms on the government and the public.”

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Changes to Lobbying Rules Could Spell End to 50 Years of Free Trips to Israel for Canadian MPs, Senators

Globe and Mail – Steven Chase | Published: 9/17/2023

Changes to lobbying rules in Canada could spell an end to 50 years of free trips to Israel for Members of Parliament and senators. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, which funds the trips, says it is the group hardest hit by revisions to a code governing those who try to influence public officials. New rules for the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct went into effect on July 1 that restrict registered lobbyists in Ottawa from lobbying politicians who accept free trips from them.

Arizona – Arizona Senator Plans Probe into Gov. Katie Hobbs’ Payments to Campaign Security Guard

MSN – Stacey Barchenger (Arizona Republic) | Published: 9/19/2023

State Sen. T.J. Shope says he will investigate how Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs was able to hire a private security guard while she was the state’s top election official and a gubernatorial candidate last year without telling the public who paid the bill. The Arizona Republic reported that Hobbs’ campaign did not disclose payments to the individual on campaign finance reports. Shope suggested the cost of security could have exposed a loophole or violated state campaign finance laws that limit donation amounts and restrictions on funding from certain sources.

Arizona – Arizona Gov. Hobbs Leans on Lobbyists in New Administration: How does she prevent conflicts?

Yahoo News – Stacey Barchenger (Arizona Republic) | Published: 9/18/2023

Aides to Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs include nine former lobbyists, whose work histories could raise concerns about conflicts-of-interest. Governors in recent years have faced scrutiny over their connections to lobbyists and the challenge of avoiding ethical lapses. Former Gov. Doug Ducey faced criticism that he and his team played favorites with business, often at taxpayer expense. Hobbs’ administration has been criticized for being opaque since its earliest days, when her campaign staff created a “dark money” fundraising group to pay for the inauguration.

Arkansas – Arkansas Governor Tried to Keep More Records Private. The Pushback Was Swift.

DNyuz – Rick Rojas (New York Times) | Published: 9/14/2023

When Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders summoned Arkansas lawmakers to Little Rock for a special legislative session to cut taxes and ban the state from mandating Covid-19 vaccinations, she added one more request: overhaul the state’s Freedom of Information Act. Sanders called for changes that included limiting the release of records related to policymaking and discussions of legal strategy. But the pushback was swift, swelling beyond organizations representing news organizations and government transparency advocates to include conservatives and some of the governor’s own supporters.

Arkansas – Arkansas Launches New, ‘More Friendly’ Campaign Finance Disclosure Filing Portal

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette – Neal Earley | Published: 9/20/2023

The Arkansas Secretary of State’s office launched a new campaign finance disclosure and filing portal, billing it as a more user-friendly alternative. The office says the new reporting system will be easier to use for those searching its online campaign finance database and for candidates filing their reports.

California – Santa Clara Councilmembers File Ethics Complaint Against Group They Say Has Ties to Mayor Lisa Gillmor

East Bay Times – Grace Hase (Bay Area News Group) | Published: 9/18/2023

Three members of the Santa Clara City Council filed several ethics complaints against Stand Up For Santa Clara, a self-proclaimed “grass-roots watchdog organization” they claim is connected to Mayor Lisa Gillmor. Vice Mayor Kevin Park and council members Anthony Becker and Suds Jain filed complaints with the city and the California Fair Political Practices Commission claiming the group is a “political operation” and has failed to be transparent with its political spending or advertisements. The trio also filed a complaint with the IRS, questioning its non-profit status.

California – Your Guide to the LA Government Reforms on the Table after the City Hall Leaked Tape Scandal

LAist – Brianna Lee and Frank Stoltze | Published: 9/15/2023

Large-scale changes are rare at Los Angeles City Hall. But now there is more momentum than there has been in decades for three major reforms to how the city is governed. The proposals are the result of calls for reform after a secret recording was released last year that captured three city council members and a labor official using racist, homophobic, and other derogatory language while discussing ways to amass power in the city’s redistricting process.

California – Will Mickey Mouse Continue to Cast a Big Shadow Over Anaheim’s Election Campaigns?

Voice of OC – Noah Biesiada and Spencer Custodio | Published: 9/19/2023

In Anaheim, Disney is the political kingmaker – and somewhat of a policymaker. Yet residents rarely see the company’s influence discussed in public by city leaders. A recent report on corruption laid out a web of influence by Disney and other resort interests on City Hall policy making. In sworn affidavits, FBI agents also detailed a city largely controlled by Disneyland resort interests. This fall, council members are taking up a host of items designed to curb special interest influence.

California – How California Lobbyists Jam the Capitol for ‘High-Pressure’ Meetings to Sway Lawmaker Votes

Yahoo News – Lindsey Holden (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 9/14/2023

During the final days of the legislative session in California, lobbyists pack the Capitol rotunda in hopes of snagging some last-minute face time with Assembly members and senators as they cast their final votes for the year. Lobbyists began using the rotunda last year, once in-person activity at the Capitol resumed. Lobbyists are not allowed on the Assembly and Senate floors. The Assembly does not permit lobbyists to text members on the floor, although they can do so in the Senate.

Florida – Miami Commissioner Díaz de la Portilla Arrested on Bribery, Money Laundering Charges

MSN – Joey Flechas, Tess Riski, Sarah Blaskey, Jay Weaver, Charles Rabin, and Raisa Habersham (Miami Herald) | Published: 9/14/2023

Miami City Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla and William Riley Jr., an attorney and lobbyist, were arrested on corruption charges. They stand accused of laundering campaign money, failing to report political donations, and spending political funds on personal expenses. Díaz de la Portilla and Riley are accused of conspiring to launder $245,000 in political contributions in exchange for the commissioner’s support on a plan to build a sports complex in Miami.

Florida – State Arrests Former CFO of Disgraced Domestic Violence Coalition. More Arrests Expected.

MSN – Mary Ellen Klas (Miami Herald) | Published: 9/20/2023

After a three-year investigation, state officials arrested Patricia Duarte, the former chief financial officer of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, for her role in padding the books at the defunct taxpayer-funded organization to compensate herself and Tiffany Carr, the former chief executive officer. Carr was paid $7.5 million in taxpayer funds over three years. A series of stories in The Miami Herald revealed how Carr used her tight control of the coalition to inflate her compensation while domestic violence victims across the state were denied services.

Florida – DeSantis Sits on Florida Ethics Cases as He Vows to ‘Break the Swamp’

Orlando Sentinel – Skyler Swisher | Published: 9/19/2023

As Gov. Ron DeSantis vows to clean up Washington if elected president, dozens of ethics orders seeking to punish the misdeeds of Florida politicians have been languishing on his desk in Tallahassee. The governor has not signed an ethics order since January 28, 2021. Until he takes action, politicians and public employees will not have to pay thousands of dollars in fines, even if they settled their ethics cases and admitted wrongdoing.

Hawaii – This Hawaii Super PAC Says It’s Raising Money for Wildfire Victims – And Political Candidates Too

Honolulu Civil Beat – Allan Kew | Published: 9/18/2023

A progressive political organization is taking advantage of the Maui wildfires to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars that may go to support candidates instead of direct help for victims of the August fires. Our Hawaii Action has raised at least $684,000 through the newly created Maui Community Power Recovery Fund. The group’s fundraising website starts with a familiar pitch, asking donors to “Support Maui Fires: Relief, Recovery and Rebuilding.” The page later notes that money will go to political organizing and campaign operations.

Illinois – Chicago Inspector General’s Office Seizes Computers from City Treasurer’s Office

MSN – Gregory Pratt (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 9/19/2023

Investigators with the Chicago inspector general’s office seized computers from the treasurer’s City Hall offices as part of an investigation into allegations of misconduct against Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin. The move comes after the release late last month of a 2020 letter that laid out a series of accusations by two aides Conyears-Ervin had fired who said the treasurer misused taxpayer resources and abused the powers of her office.

Indiana – Egg Farmer John Rust Files Lawsuit to Face U.S. Rep. Jim Banks in Indiana’s 2024 Senate Primary

Indiana Capital Chronicle – Casey Smith | Published: 9/20/2023

Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Rust filed a lawsuit to get his name on the May 2024 primary ballot. He maintains that a current Indiana law blocking him from the ballot is unconstitutional. Because Rust does not qualify to run as a Republican based only on his primary voting history, he needs additional approval from his county party chairperson. Indiana Republican Party officials have said Jackson County Republican Party Chairperson Amanda Lowery had indicated she would not approve his candidacy.

Michigan – Michigan Marijuana Board Chair Bribed with Sex Worker, Prosecutors Say

Bridge Michigan – Lauren Gibbons | Published: 9/14/2023

Lobbyists offered a sex worker to Rick Johnson, Michigan’s former marijuana board chairperson and a onetime House speaker, as part of a bribe scheme to expedite approval of medical marijuana business licenses, prosecutors revealed. Using the code name “Batman” in reference to Johnson in messages, lobbyists provided the services of the sex worker, tickets to sporting events, and direct cash payments laundered through multiple limited liability companies in return for an edge during the application process, prosecutors said in a sentencing document.

Nevada – Commissioners Adopt ‘Watered-Down’ Lobbyist Policy

This Is Reno – Kristin Hackbarth | Published: 9/19/2023

Washoe’s Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt an ordinance requiring paid lobbyists to identify themselves when providing public comment at commission meetings. Commissioners had directed county staff to draft an ordinance to regulate lobbyists interacting with county policymakers. The policy was modeled after the city of Reno’s. The final ordinance is a stripped-down version of what was presented to commissioners in August, and it removes the requirement for lobbyists to register with the county.

New Jersey – New Jersey Seeks Dismissal of Election Watchdog’s Lawsuit Challenging Controversial Law

New Jersey Monitor – Dana DiFilippo | Published: 9/20/2023

The state Attorney General’s Office asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit New Jersey’s top election watchdog filed against Gov. Phil Murphy. Jeff Brindle accused the governor of orchestrating a legislative overhaul of the state’s campaign finance law last spring to oust him from his longtime job as executive director of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.

North Carolina – NC Lawmakers Could Have Full Discretion Over Public Records with New Budget Provision

MSN – Kyle Ingram and Dan Kane (Charlotte Observer) | Published: 9/20/2023

A provision in the draft state budget may give North Carolina lawmakers full discretion to determine which of their records are public, a move open government advocates said is a drastic reinterpretation of years of precedent in public records law. Legislators are already considered to be custodians of their own records, but current law only allows them to withhold records if they claim an exemption to the law, said Brooks Fuller, director of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition.

North Carolina – NC Speaker’s Campaign Has Paid His Law Firm Almost $70k for Rent, Watchdog Group Says

MSN – Travis Fain (WRAL) | Published: 9/18/2023

A watchdog group is calling on the State Board of Election to clarify North Carolina’s campaign finance rules and crack down on candidates who make money renting office space to their own campaign. The Campaign for Accountability flagged about $70,000 in payments that House Speaker Tim Moore’s campaign has paid on a building he owns, which also houses his law office.

Ohio – 3 Former Columbus Zoo Executives Indicted in $2.2M Corruption Scheme

ABC News – Associated Press | Published: 9/19/2023

Three former Columbus Zoo and Aquarium executives engaged in a pattern of corrupt activity that cost the facility more than $2.2 million, according to an indictment. Tom Stalf, who was the zoo’s president and chief executive officer; ex-Chief Financial Officer Gregory Bell, and Peter Fingerhut, its former marketing director “extorted, conspired, bribed and stole” while colluding with each other for over 10 years, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in announcing the 90-count indictment.

Ohio – Nearly 150 Now Say They Didn’t Agree to Use Their Names on Pro-Fracking Form Letters

MSN – Jake Zuckerman, Sean McDonnell, and Gretchen Cuda Kroen (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 9/16/2023

As a state board moves toward a decision on opening two state parks and two protected wildlife areas for fracking, its public comments are flush with nearly 150 letters under the names of people who say they did not authorize or send them. Those comments trace back to at least two different entities that wage advocacy and lobbying campaigns for the natural gas industry. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has vowed to investigate. The Consumer Energy Alliance has said it does not use names without permission and challenged the accuracy of the reporting.

Oregon – Portland Auditor Investigating Zenith Energy for Lobbying Violations

Street Roots – Jeremiah Hayden | Published: 9/15/2023

The Portland City Auditor’s Office is investigating Zenith Energy for potential violations of the city lobbying code. Confirmation of the investigation comes after it was reported that Zenith Energy and its public relations firm, Pac/West Communications, spent months courting city officials, their staff, and bureau staff to approve a land use permit in 2022.

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania Debuts Automatic Voter Registration, Joining 23 Other States and D.C.

MSN – Marisa Iati (Washington Post) | Published: 9/19/2023

Pennsylvania implemented automatic voter registration to ease the process of casting a ballot, joining 23 other states and the District of Columbia. Residents who are eligible to vote and who obtain or renew a driver’s license or identification card at the Department of Motor Vehicles now will be guided through the voter registration process by default. If they do not want to be added to the voter rolls, they have to actively opt out.

Pennsylvania – Democrats Again Secure One-Vote Pa. House Majority After Special Election Win

Spotlight PA – Stephen Caruso | Published: 9/19/2023

Democrats have again secured a one-vote majority in the Pennsylvania House, prevailing in an Allegheny County special election the party was widely favored to win. Lindsay Powell’s win will end a two-month tie in the 203-member lower chamber that has existed since state Rep. Sara Innamorato resigned to focus on her run for Allegheny County executive.

Pennsylvania – A Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Crack Down on Harrisburg’s ‘Revolving Door’ of Lobbyists

Spotlight PA – Stephen Caruso | Published: 9/19/2023

A new bill aims to slow the speed of the “revolving door” between public service and private sector lobbying, a threshold that Pennsylvania lawmakers and workers often cross once they leave state government. Current state law bars such officials and employees from lobbying their previous workplaces for a year. The new bill backed by members of both major parties would extend that pause by another year.

Tennessee – A Lawsuit Over Controversial House Sign Rules Is Over. The First Amendment Debate Is Not.

MSN – Angele Latham (Tennessean) | Published: 9/15/2023

A lawsuit over the Tennessee House’s ban on signs the August special legislative session may be coming to a close. But the First Amendment issues surrounding when government can limit speech in the name of order and decorum are not likely going away. Speaker Cameron Sexton has hinted the House may again take up the issue when the Legislature returns in 2024, a move likely to spark renewed debate about the boundaries of free speech.

Texas – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Acquitted on All 16 Articles of Impeachment

MSN – Zach Despart (Texas Tribune) | Published: 9/17/2023

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted by the state Senate on 16 charges of bribery, unfitness for office, and abuse of office. He was immediately reinstated, ending a suspension that began in May with his impeachment by the House. The votes sealed the failure of a risky gambit by House Republicans, who began in secret in the spring to investigate, and then purge, a leader of their own party. The results came after sustained pressure on senators from grassroots groups, conservative activists, and the leader of the state Republican Party, who vowed retribution at the ballot box if Paxton was convicted.

Texas – ‘My Vote Was Rejected’: Trial underway in Texas over new voting law

Yahoo News – Edgar Sandoval (New York Times) | Published: 9/19/2023

A trial is underway in Texas over the state’s sweeping election overhaul. Since it went into effect, critics have raised concerns the law would impede voters with disabilities, elderly voters, and voters who do not speak English. The federal trial provides an unusual opportunity to hear directly from voters who wanted to cast a vote but were not able to do so. Lawyers representing the state countered that the new rules prevent potential voter fraud and that voters seem to be adapting better with every passing election.

Wisconsin – Wisconsin Republicans Vote to Fire Elections Director, Who May Not Leave the Job.

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 9/14/2023

Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate voted to fire the state’s top nonpartisan elections official, whose allies responded by saying the lawmakers did not have the power to oust her. The Democratic governor’s administration plans to continue to pay Meagan Wolfe’s salary and make sure she maintains access to her office if she wants to continue as director of the state’s elections commission. The vote creates a dispute over who is in charge of overseeing elections in a state that is expected to play a critical role in next year’s presidential campaign and may have to redraw its legislative districts within months.

Campaign Finance Arkansas: “Arkansas Launches New, ‘More Friendly’ Campaign Finance Disclosure Filing Portal” by Neal Earley for Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Elections Pennsylvania: “Democrats Again Secure One-Vote Pa. House Majority After Special Election Win” by Stephen Caruso for Spotlight PA Ethics National: “Revolving Door Redux: The DEA’s recently departed No. 2 returns to a Big Pharma consulting firm” by Joshua Goodman and Jim Mustian (Associated Press) for MSN Florida: “State Arrests Former CFO of Disgraced Domestic Violence Coalition. More Arrests Expected.” by Mary Ellen Klas (Miami Herald) for MSN Illinois: “Chicago Inspector General’s Office Seizes Computers from City Treasurer’s Office” by Gregory Pratt (Chicago Tribune) for MSN Ohio: “3 Former Columbus Zoo Executives Indicted in $2.2M Corruption Scheme” by Associated Press for ABC News Legislative Issues National: “The Senate Dress Code Gets a Casual Overhaul” by Robert Jimison (New York Times) for DNyuz Lobbying Nevada: “Commissioners Adopt ‘Watered-Down’ Lobbyist Policy” by Kristin Hackbarth for This Is Reno

Campaign Finance Arizona: “Arizona Senator Plans Probe into Gov. Katie Hobbs’ Payments to Campaign Security Guard” by Stacey Barchenger (Arizona Republic) for MSN North Carolina: “NC Speaker’s Campaign Has Paid His Law Firm Almost $70k for Rent, Watchdog Group Says” by Travis Fain (WRAL) for MSN Elections Texas: “‘My Vote Was Rejected’: Trial underway in Texas over new voting law” by Edgar Sandoval (New York Times) for DNyuz Ethics California: “Will Mickey Mouse Continue to Cast a Big Shadow Over Anaheim’s Election Campaigns?” by Noah Biesiada and Spencer Custodio for Voice of OC Florida: “DeSantis Sits on Florida Ethics Cases as He Vows to ‘Break the Swamp'” by Skyler Swisher for Orlando Sentinel Lobbying National: “Unapologetic Ex-Ambassador Avoids Prison in Illicit Lobbying Case” by Craig Whitlock (Washington Post) for MSN Oregon: “Portland Auditor Investigating Zenith Energy for Lobbying Violations” by Jeremiah Hayden for Street Roots Pennsylvania: “A Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Crack Down on Harrisburg’s ‘Revolving Door’ of Lobbyists” by Stephen Caruso for Spotlight PA

Campaign Finance

Hawaii: “This Hawaii Super PAC Says It’s Raising Money for Wildfire Victims – And Political Candidates Too” by Allan Kew for Honolulu Civil Beat

Ethics

National: “Lawmakers Are Spending Way More to Keep Themselves Safe. Is It Enough?” by Greg Morton, Marianna Sotomayor, and Camila DeChalus (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Prosecutors in D.C. Election Case Are Seeking a Partial Gag Order for Trump” by Associated Press for NPR

National: “Alito Pauses Order Banning Biden Officials from Contacting Tech Platforms” by Josh Gerstein and Rebecca Kern for Politico

Texas: “Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Acquitted on All 16 Articles of Impeachment” by Zach Despart (Texas Tribune) for MSN

Lobbying

Arizona: “Arizona Gov. Hobbs Leans on Lobbyists in New Administration: How does she prevent conflicts?” by Stacey Barchenger (Arizona Republic) for Yahoo News

Canada: “Changes to Lobbying Rules Could Spell End to 50 Years of Free Trips to Israel for Canadian MPs, Senators” by Steven Chase for Globe and Mail

Ohio: “Nearly 150 Now Say They Didn’t Agree to Use Their Names on Pro-Fracking Form Letters” by Jake Zuckerman, Sean McDonnell, and Gretchen Cuda Kroen (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Elections

Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Republicans Vote to Fire Elections Director, Who May Not Leave the Job.” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

Arkansas: “Arkansas Governor Tried to Keep More Records Private. The Pushback Was Swift.” by Rick Rojas (New York Times) for DNyuz

Florida: “Miami Commissioner Díaz de la Portilla Arrested on Bribery, Money Laundering Charges” by Joey Flechas, Tess Riski, Sarah Blaskey, Jay Weaver, Charles Rabin, and Raisa Habersham (Miami Herald) for MSN

National: “Red States Quit Nation’s Oldest Library Group Amid Culture War Over Books” by Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Tennessee: “A Lawsuit Over Controversial House Sign Rules Is Over. The First Amendment Debate Is Not.” by Angele Latham (Tennessean) for MSN

Lobbying

California: “How California Lobbyists Jam the Capitol for ‘High-Pressure’ Meetings to Sway Lawmaker Votes” by Lindsey Holden (Sacramento Bee) for Yahoo News

National: “Lobbyists Flirt with AI While Remaining Cautious of Its Promises” by Kate Ackley for Bloomberg Government

Michigan: “Michigan Marijuana Board Chair Bribed with Sex Worker, Prosecutors Say” by Lauren Gibbons for Bridge Michigan

A state court has ruled the New York Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government violates the state’s constitution because it was formed without a constitutional amendment and it divests the governor of her authority.

The commission will need to suspend its work pending the outcome of any appeal.

While this matter works its way through the courts, the commission will continue to promote compliance with the state’s ethics and lobbying laws. 

National/Federal

Former FTX Crypto Executive Pleads Guilty to Making Millions in Illegal Campaign Contributions

Associated Press News – Jake Offenhartz | Published: 9/7/2023

A former top executive at the failed FTX cryptocurrency exchange pleaded guilty to making tens of millions of dollars in illegal campaign contributions and engaging in a criminal conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transfer business. Ryan Salame, the former co-chief executive of FTX Digital Markets, is the fourth high-ranking official at the company or its affiliates to plead guilty to criminal charges.

Judge Appears to Reject Trump Bid to Talk Classified Info at Mar-a-Lago

MSN – Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) | Published: 9/13/2023

After he was charged with mishandling national security papers, former President Trump asked to be allowed to discuss classified evidence in the case right where he allegedly had kept the documents: at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida home and private club.  The federal judge overseeing the case appeared to tell him no recently. U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon issued protective order granting prosecutors’ request for a set of rules about how classified information and documents should be handled in the case, rules that conform to the general practice of federal courts.

Court Sets Strict Limits on Jan. 6 Probe’s Access to Rep. Perry’s Phone

MSN – Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 9/13/2023

A federal appeals court barred special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation from recovering cellphone texts and other communications between U.S. Rep. Scott Perry and other lawmakers and staff about overturning the 2020 election on January 6, 2021, and ruled a judge must individually review roughly 2,000 documents to decide which, if any, fall outside lawmakers’ constitutional immunity from criminal investigation. The opinion, which the Justice Department could appeal, prolongs a secret dispute that has tied up the search of the conservative lawmaker’s phone data for more than a year.

Diamonds, Girlfriends, Illicit Lobbying: The fall of a former ambassador

MSN – Craig Whitlock (Washington Post) | Published: 9/9/2023

When Richard Olson Jr. retired from the State Department in 2016, he was lauded by colleagues for an illustrious career that included high-profile postings as the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. But previously undisclosed court records reveal the State Department’s inspector general investigated Olson for failing to report a $60,000 gift of diamond jewelry to his mother-in-law from the emir of Dubai. As part of a broader investigation, the FBI also questioned him about his extramarital affair with a journalist working in Pakistan while he was serving as the U.S. ambassador in Islamabad.

5th Circuit Finds Biden White House, CDC Likely Violated First Amendment

MSN – Cat Zakrzewski and Joseph Menn (Washington Post) | Published: 9/9/2023

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled the Biden White House, top government health officials, and the FBI likely violated the First Amendment by improperly influencing tech companies’ decisions to remove or suppress posts on the coronavirus and elections. The decision was likely to be seen as victory for conservatives who have long argued social media platforms’ content moderation efforts restrict their free speech rights. But some advocates also said the ruling was an improvement over a temporary injunction U.S. District Court Judge Terry Doughty issued in July.

Peter Navarro Convicted of Contempt for Defying Jan. 6 Panel Subpoena

MSN – Paul Duggan (Washington Post) | Published: 9/7/2023

Peter Navarro, a senior Trump White House aide and vocal election denier who has said he helped hatch a legislative scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential race, was found guilty of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the House committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol. With right-wing provocateur Stephen Bannon, who was found guilty of contempt of Congress, Navarro is the second high-ranking Trump official to be convicted in a criminal case related to efforts to undo President Biden’s victory at the polls.

As GOP Investigates Prosecutors, Experts Worry About Judicial Independence

MSN – Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) | Published: 9/9/2023

Probing investigators’ methods and scruples is a strategy that has been utilized by both political parties during tumultuous moments and is a well-worn tool for lawmakers seeking to give the appearance of oversight. The strategy has been effective in shaping public opinion of the investigations of Donald Trump after years of broadsides against the judicial system by Trump and his allies. But in the wake of 91 criminal charges against Trump, the party’s attacks on prosecutors threatens to degrade an important precedent that protects prosecutorial independence and the ability to fairly root out wrongdoing without partisan influence or gain.

What Ginni Thomas and Leonard Leo Wrought: How a justice’s wife and a key activist started a movement

MSN – Heidi Przybyla (Politico) | Published: 9/10/2023

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the 2010 Citizens United case transformed the world of politics. It loosened restrictions on campaign spending and unleashed a flow of anonymous donor money to nonprofit groups run by political activists. The conservative legal movement seized the moment with greater success than any other group, and the consequences have shaped American jurisprudence and politics in dramatic ways.

Kevin McCarthy Announces House Will Begin an Impeachment Inquiry into Biden

NBC News – Rebecca Kaplan, Summer Concepcion, and Sahil Kapur | Published: 9/12/2023

Speaker Kevin McCarthy directed three House committees to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden to seek bank records and other documents from the president and his son Hunter Biden. McCarthy’s decision represents a major reversal for the speaker after he had he would not open an impeachment inquiry without a vote of the full House. McCarthy faces criticism from across the GOP spectrum due to the lack of evidence implicating the president in Hunter Biden’s transgressions.

Constitutional Debate Over Trump’s Eligibility to Run More Extensive Than Realized

Politico – Zach Montellaro | Published: 9/6/2023

The idea of barring Donald Trump from seeking the presidency on grounds that it would violate the 14th Amendment may be an increasingly popular constitutional argument pushed by a segment of legal scholars and activists. But it turns out election officials have been discussing how to handle it for months. The legal theory argues Trump is constitutionally disqualified from running for president under the amendment’s “insurrection clause,” which states that anyone who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” after taking an oath of office to defend the Constitution is forbidden from holding public office.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Doug Ford Recommends Possible Jail Time for Ontario Lobbyists Caught Breaking the Rules

CTV – Katherine DeClerq | Published: 9/6/2023

Ontario Premier Doug Ford instructed the province’s attorney general to review legislation governing lobbyists and add increased penalties, including jail time, if they break rules. The request comes amid an integrity commissioner report that highlighted how certain developers with access to staff within the housing ministry were given an unfair advantage when it came to a development deal in Clarington. The government has committed to reviewing legislation governing lobbyists in the coming weeks.

Alabama – Alabama Asks US Supreme Court Again to Intervene in Redistricting Case

Yahoo News – Kim Chandler (Associated Press) | Published: 9/12/2203

Alabama asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let it keep Republican-drawn congressional lines in place as the state continues to fight a court order to create a second district where Black voters constitute a majority or close to it. Despite losing at the Supreme Court earlier this year in the redistricting case, the state is pursuing another appeal, hoping for a different result with the most recent Republican version of the map. Alabama asked the justices to stay a ruling issued by a three-judge panel that blocked the use of the latest districts in upcoming elections and directed a court-appointed special master to propose new lines for the state.

Alaska – Supporters of Effort to Repeal Ranked Voting in Alaska Violated Rules, Report Finds

Associated Press News – Becky Bohrer | Published: 9/13/2023

Backers of an effort to repeal ranked voting in Alaska violated state campaign finance rules, including by channeling money through a church-affiliated organization in a way that initially concealed the source of the contributions, a new report alleges. The report from the staff for the Alaska Public Offices Commission recommends penalties of $22,500 for Art Mathias, a leader of the repeal effort, and approximately $20,000 for the church-affiliated Ranked Choice Education Association among its findings.

California – Irvine Becomes Second Orange County City to Eye Tightening Lobbyist Rules

Voice of OC – Noah Biesiada | Published: 9/14/2023

After the corruption scandal kicked off in Anaheim last year, residents and activists throughout Orange County began asking questions about the impacts of lobbyists and if they wield outsized influence. It is a scandal that also touched on Irvine City Hall, where Mayor Farrah Khan’s former consultant Melahat Rafiei admitted to attempted bribery in 2018, forcing officials there to rethink their relationship with lobbyists. Now, new restrictions on lobbyists could be coming to after city council members voted to have city staff come back with proposals to strengthen the city’s disclosure rules.

California – Will Disney’s Representative Have to Register as a Lobbyist at Anaheim City Hall?

Voice of OC – Hosam Elattar | Published: 9/13/2023

The Anaheim City Council is considering beefing up the city’s lobbyist rules in the wake of the corruption scandal and may require government relations employees to register as lobbyists. It marked the first in a series of reform discussions set to take place over the next few months. An investigation detailed a loose network of lobbyists, with little enforcement of the city’s current rules and alleged multiple high-profile lobbyists violated the law by failing to report a host of meetings with officials. Currently, only contracted lobbyists are required to register with the city.

California – Former Anaheim Mayor, Who Admitted to Corruption, Funds Legal Defense with Campaign Money

Voice of OC – Noah Biesiada | Published: 9/7/2023

Former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu has been wrestling with public corruption allegations from the U.S. Department of Justice over the past year, which ended when he signed a plea agreement admitting to the charges. But he did not pay for his own legal defense, his campaign donors did, a total of $300,000 according to campaign finance disclosures. California Fair Political Practices Commission rules make no mention of elected officials being able to use the funds to defend themselves from criminal prosecution.

Connecticut – Supreme Court Hears Free Speech Arguments in Public Campaign Finance Case

CT News Junkie – Hugh McQuaid | Published: 9/13/2023

The publicly funded campaigns of former Sen. Joe Markley and then-Rep. Rob Sampson jointly criticized Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy in 2014, including one shared mailer, each paying half the cost. That campaign expenditure and similar ones ignited a free-speech fight that reached the state Supreme Court over whether restrictions on using public campaign funds conflicts with the First Amendment. At issue was whether Markley and Sampson’s criticism of Malloy, who was seeking reelection in 2014, was furthering their own campaigns or boosting the governor’s Republican challenger, Tom Foley.

Florida – DeSantis Took Undisclosed Private Flights and Lodging Through Wealthy Donors

MSN – Isaac Arnsdorf and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 9/14/2023

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took at least six undisclosed trips on private jets and accepted lodging and dining in late 2018, according to documents that reflect his proclivity for luxury travel and leisure time with wealthy donors. The trips came during the period between DeSantis’s election and inauguration as governor. DeSantis did not report the flights or accommodations as gifts or campaign contributions, and it is unclear whether he used a separate legal option to personally reimburse for the flights at the cost of coach airfare.

Florida – After Years of Delay, State Dismisses Sexual Harassment Case Against Former Sen. Latvala

Yahoo News – Mary Ellen Klas (Miami Herald) | Published: 9/8/2023

Latvala, who resigned in 2018 after allegations he had sexually harassed a legislative aide and a former lobbyist. Both women continue to stand by their allegations that Latvala, one of the most powerful men in state government, had used his positional power over them to grope them, make inappropriate sexual comments, and make sexual advances. But neither wanted to continue with an ethics trial and said they were exhausted by the emotional turmoil and five-year wait for the state to mete out justice.

Georgia – Trump Won’t Be Tried with Powell and Chesebro Next Month in the Georgia Election Case, a Judge Rules

Associated Press News – Kate Brumback | Published: 9/14/2023

A judge ruled former President Trump and 16 others will be tried separately from two defendants who are set to go to trial in October in the case accusing them of participating in an illegal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia. Lawyers Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro had filed demands for a speedy trial. Trump and other defendants asked to be tried separately from Powell and Chesebro, with some saying they could not be ready by the October 23 trial date.

Georgia – Judge Denies Mark Meadows’s Effort to Move Georgia Case to Federal Court

MSN – Amy Gardner (Washington Post) | Published: 9/8/2023

A federal judge denied a request from former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to move the Georgia election-interference case against him from state to federal court, a shift he had sought on the grounds he was a federal officer at the time of the actions that led to his indictment. Meadows had hoped a move to federal court could lead to a dismissal of the case because h as a federal officer, he is immune from prosecution for acts taken in the course of his normal work.

Georgia – Georgia Special Grand Jury Recommended Charging Lindsey Graham in Trump Case

MSN – Holly Bailey (Washington Post) | Published: 9/8/2023

An Atlanta-area special grand jury that investigated alleged 2020 election interference in Georgia by Donald Trump and his allies recommended charging one of Trump’s closest associates, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, and 37 other people, a far larger group than a prosecutor ultimately charged. The final report by the special grand jury largely echoed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s theory of the case, alleging a sweeping criminal conspiracy to subvert Joe Biden’s legitimate election win in Georgia.

Illinois – Chicago Ethics Board Defends Handling of Melissa Conyears-Ervin Allegations, Refers Such Complaints to Inspector General

MSN – Gregory Pratt (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 9/11/2023

Less than a week after the release of a 2020 letter alleging city Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin abused her office, the head of the Chicago Board of Ethics said the board handles all such complaints properly by referring them to the city’s inspector general’s office, but it cannot do more unless it receives detailed findings from the inspector general. Under questioning for days about why the board has not acted on the letter even though it and the city Law Department received a copy in December 2020, Ethics Board Chairperson William Conlon defended the board’s actions while also declining to discuss any case specifically.

Illinois – Johnson Transition Leader Agrees to Pay $10,000 Fine for Violating Lobbying Regulation

WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 9/12/2023

One of the leaders of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s transition team will pay a $10,000 fine to resolve charges brought by the Chicago Board of Ethics that he violated the city’s lobbying regulations. Djavan Conway, who owns Conway Consulting Group, acknowledged he failed to terminate his registration as a City Hall lobbyist in January 2021. Conway’s failure to notify officials he was not lobbying in 2022 triggered daily fines of $1,000.

Indiana – Campaign Finance Contributions on the Indiana Supreme Court Docket

Indiana Capital Chronicle – Whitney Downard | Published: 9/7/2023

The Indiana Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that would determine whether the state’s election code prohibits or limits corporate contributions to PACs that engage in independent campaign-related expenditures. Attorney James Bopp said while his client, the Indiana Right to Life Victory Fund, has not been limited by the state’s campaign finance laws or restricted from making contributions, a “plain language” reading of statute could potentially harm PAC activities in the future.

Maryland – Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott Asks Ethics Board for Guidance on Keeping Campaign Separated from City Business

MSN – Emily Opilo (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 9/7/2023

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott requested guidance from the Board of Ethics on how to keep his campaign separate from city business as the race for mayor begins to heat up. Scott asked for written guidance and an in-person meeting between city ethics officials and Scott’s senior staff. Scott has made moves recently that have intermingled campaign and official duties.

Massachusetts – Attorney General in Settlement Negotiations with State GOP, Senator Over Alleged Campaign Finance Violations

MSN – Matt Stout (Boston Globe) | Published: 9/8/2023

State General Andrea Campbell’s office is negotiating a potential settlement with the Massachusetts Republican Party, its former leader, and a state senator, among others, over alleged campaign finance violations, signaling the years-long probe could be nearing a close. Campaign finance regulators first referred evidence to prosecutors in 2021 that then-state GOP Chairperson Jim Lyons, as well as state Sen. Ryan Fattman and Worcester County register of probate Stephanie Fattman, may have violated various campaign finance laws during the 2020 election, including those barring people from disguising the true source of donations.

Michigan – FOIA Friday: Private business ties raise calls for ethics reforms

Axios – Samuel Robinson | Published: 9/8/2023

Michigan Republicans are calling on House Democrats to move on legislation to bring financial disclosure requirements to lawmakers following a media investigation of state Rep. Angela Witwer. She has maintained a close relationship with the consulting firm she founded, The Detroit News found. The firm, Edge Partnerships, has worked with trade associations and agencies like the Michigan Department of Education, whose funding is set by lawmakers, including Witwer in her influential role as House Appropriations Committee chairperson.

Michigan – Michigan Ethics Board Finds State Arts Council Member Violated Conflict of Interest Rules

Detroit News – Beth LeBlanc | Published: 9/7/2023

A rarely used state ethics panel ruled an appointee to the Michigan Arts and Culture Council violated ethics policy by failing to recuse herself from several votes on grants for organizations she leads. The State Board of Ethics ruled Deborah Mikula violated two sections of the state ethics law related to conflicts-of-interest but did not violate two other provisions when she voted in favor of grants for the Michigan Library Association, where she serves as executive director, and the Cultural Advocacy Network of Michigan, where she once served as president.

New York – Judge Rules N.Y.’s Ethics Commission Is Unconstitutional in Cuomo Case

Albany Times Union – Brendan Lyons | Published: 9/11/2023

A state Supreme Court justice ruled that a commission created last year to enforce ethics rules for New York’s employees and elected officials violates the state’s constitution because it is too independent. The ruling was issued in a court battle in which former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has fought against the ethics commission’s efforts to investigate a $5 million deal he received for writing a book about his administration’s handling of the pandemic. The decision is expected to be reviewed by the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court.

New York – Ulrich, the Ex-NYC Building Commissioner, Indicted by Bragg in Sweeping Corruption Case

MSN – Joe Anuta, Jeff Coltin, and Emily Ngo (Politico) | Published: 9/13/2023

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg released a multi-count indictment of former city Department of Buildings Commissioner Eric Ulrich, accusing him of abusing his position and in his role as a former adviser to Mayor Eric Adams. Ulrich was among seven people charged in the wide-ranging indictment. “We allege that Eric Ulrich accepted or solicited more than $150,000 worth of bribes in less than two years by monetizing each elected and appointed role he held in New York City government,” Bragg said.

Ohio – Ohio Will Use Congressional Map Previously Ruled Unconstitutional Again in 2024, as Court Dismisses Legal Challenges

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 9/7/2023

Ohio will use the same congressional districts in 2024 that it used last year, as the state Supreme Court granted the dismissal of two legal challenges to the map the court previously deemed to be unconstitutionally gerrymandered in favor of Republicans. The plaintiffs in the lawsuits had sought the dismissal of their own cases, saying they do not want voters to be in limbo ahead of the election. They also fear that if the current map is thrown out, Republicans would draw an even more GOP-friendly map than the current one, under which Republicans hold 10 seats and Democrats hold five.

Ohio – Rep. Bob Young Resigns from Ohio House as He Faces Domestic Violence Charges

Yahoo News – Haley BeMiller (Akron Beacon Journal) | Published: 9/8/2023

State Rep. Bob Young announced his resignation from the Ohio House as he faces allegations of domestic violence and violating a restraining order. Young was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence and assault in July. He is accused of slapping his wife during a private party at his home following a fundraiser.

Oklahoma – Leaders Concerned About the Future of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission

Tulsa World – Randy Krehbiel | Published: 9/11/2023

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has six employees and a budget of about $820,000 a year, making it one of the smallest and least-funded state agencies. Its executive director is leaving at the end of the year and its online database will go dark during the middle of next year’s campaign season if something is not done soon. Commissioner Jarred Brejcha is confident the panel can handle the flood of money, much of it untraceable, pouring into races at every level. Others, including the exiting executive and a former commissioner, are not nearly as convinced.

Pennsylvania – A Judge Ruled Against the Philly Ethics Board in Its Case Against Super PAC That Supported Mayoral Candidate Jeff Brown

MSN – Sean Collins Walsh (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 9/12/2023

Court of Common Pleas Judge Joshua Roberts dismissed a lawsuit filed by the city Board of Ethics that alleged mayoral candidate Jeff Brown illegally coordinated with For a Better Philadelphia, a super PAC. Roberts’ ruling neither rejected any of the facts laid out by the board nor challenged the board’s authority to regulate super PACs, which are allowed to accept unlimited donations but are prohibited from coordinating with campaigns. Instead, the judge focused on a debate over definitions that had been central to the case.

South Carolina – Former Richland Councilwoman Hit with $300K Ethics Fine. Here’s How She Can Cut It by 90%

Yahoo News – Bristow Marchant (The State) | Published: 9/8/2023

After years of failure to disclose her financial interests and campaign spending to the state, a former member of Richland County Council has been hit with a nearly $300,000 penalty by the South Carolina Ethics Commission. But commissioners gave former Councilperson Gwendolyn Kennedy a window to avoid paying most of her fine. The commission found Kennedy committed 134 separate violations of state ethics law and campaign disclosure requirements dating to her time on county council from 2016 to 2020. The commission reached its decision after an August 17 hearing, at which the commission order notes Kennedy did not appear.

Tennessee – Did Commissioner and Developer Break Rules on Property Sale? Ethics Committee Will Decide

Yahoo News – Allie Feinberg (Knoxville News Sentinel) | Published: 9/13/2023

The Knox County Ethics Committee is considering a complaint filed against a county commissioner and a well-known developer over whether a property sale violated the ethics code ethics code. Scott Davis of Mesana Investments transferred ownership of a plot of land to Commissioner Kyle Ward, who paid $10 for the land, which the county appraised for more than $50,000 earlier this year. The complaint alleges Ward accepted a gift of over $50,000, which violates the ethics code.

Texas – Texas AG Ken Paxton Won’t Lose State Pension – Even If Convicted at Impeachment Trial

MSN – Robert Garrett and Lauren McGaughey (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 9/13/2023

No matter how his impeachment trial turns out, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s state pension is not in jeopardy. Paxton is among an elite set of elected officials. Even if they are impeached, convicted, and booted from office, state legislators and statewide officeholders such as Paxton retain their pensions. Only judges, who are enrolled in a separate pension fund, lose these retirement benefits if they are impeached and removed.

Virginia – Candidate in High-Stakes Virginia Election Performed Sex Acts with Husband in Live Videos

MSN – Sarah Rankin and Denise Lavoie (Associated Press) | Published: 9/11/2023

A candidate in a high-stakes legislative contest in Virginia had sex with her husband in live videos posted on a pornographic website and asked viewers to pay them money in return for carrying out specific sex acts. Susanna Gibson, who is running for a seat in the House of Delegates in a district just outside Richmond, issued a statement in which it denounced the sharing of the videos as a violation of the law and her privacy. The contest will carry significant weight in determining the balance of power in the Virginia General Assembly.

Virginia – Youngkin Borrowed Altria’s Jet. No One Will Say Where He Went.

Virginia Public Media – Ben Paviour | Published: 9/11/2023

Gov. Glenn Youngkin flew on Altria’s private jet to and from an undisclosed location at an unknown time, according to campaign finance records. Neither his campaign committee nor Altria will say who else was on board or give any other details about the trip. It is one of a handful of times Youngkin has benefited from donors who have given him at least $365,000 worth of unspecified “flight services” as part of his political work. Altria is a major player in Virginia politics and the General Assembly.

Campaign Finance Connecticut: “Supreme Court Hears Free Speech Arguments in Public Campaign Finance Case” by Hugh McQuaid for CT News Junkie Pennsylvania: “A Judge Ruled Against the Philly Ethics Board in Its Case Against Super PAC That Supported Mayoral Candidate Jeff Brown” by Sean Collins Walsh (Philadelphia Inquirer) for MSN Elections Virginia: “Candidate in High-Stakes Virginia Election Performed Sex Acts with Husband in Live Videos” by Sarah Rankin and Denise Lavoie (Associated Press) for MSN Ethics National: “Judge Appears to Reject Trump Bid to Talk Classified Info at Mar-a-Lago” by Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) for MSN New York: “Ulrich, the Ex-NYC Building Commissioner, Indicted by Bragg in Sweeping Corruption Case” by Joe Anuta, Jeff Coltin, and Emily Ngo (Politico) for MSN Tennessee: “Did Commissioner and Developer Break Rules on Property Sale? Ethics Committee Will Decide” by Allie Feinberg (Knoxville News Sentinel) for Yahoo News Texas: “Texas AG Ken Paxton Won’t Lose State Pension – Even If Convicted at Impeachment Trial” by Robert Garrett and Lauren McGaughey (Dallas Morning News) for MSN Lobbying California: “Will Disney’s Representative Have to Register as a Lobbyist at Anaheim City Hall?” by Hosam Elattar for Voice of OC Illinois: “Johnson Transition Leader Agrees to Pay $10,000 Fine for Violating Lobbying Regulation” by Heather Cherone for WTTW

Campaign Finance

National: “Former FTX Crypto Executive Pleads Guilty to Making Millions in Illegal Campaign Contributions” by Jake Offenhartz for Associated Press News

Massachusetts: “Attorney General in Settlement Negotiations with State GOP, Senator Over Alleged Campaign Finance Violations” by Matt Stout (Boston Globe) for MSN

Virginia: “Youngkin Borrowed Altria’s Jet. No One Will Say Where He Went.” by Ben Paviour for Virginia Public Media

Elections

National: “Constitutional Debate Over Trump’s Eligibility to Run More Extensive Than Realized” by Zach Montellaro for Politico

Ethics

National: “Kevin McCarthy Announces House Will Begin an Impeachment Inquiry into Biden” by Rebecca Kaplan, Summer Concepcion, and Sahil Kapur for NBC News

New York: “Judge Rules N.Y.’s Ethics Commission Is Unconstitutional in Cuomo Case” by Brendan Lyons for Albany Times Union

Legislative Issues

Ohio: “Rep. Bob Young Resigns from Ohio House as He Faces Domestic Violence Charges” by Haley BeMiller (Akron Beacon Journal) for Yahoo News

Redistricting

Alabama: “Alabama Asks US Supreme Court Again to Intervene in Redistricting Case” by Kim Chandler (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Q: I heard New York has new ethics training requirements. What do I need to know to be compliant?

A: That is correct. The New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG) has expanded the ethics training requirements as part of the new Ethics Reform Act of 2022. All lobbyists (Principal, Individual, and In-House lobbyists), contractual clients, and beneficial clients listed on a submitted 2023-2024 Statement of Registration are required to take this new training in 2023 and certify completion of the training requirement on the Lobbying Application website. The training requirement is triggered by and applicable to those individuals and entities listed on a lobbyist or client Statement of Registration once the registration is submitted.

For the purposes of training compliance by organizations listed as a lobbyist or client, the Chief Administrative Officer of the organization is responsible for taking the training. Individuals associated with 2023-2024 registrations submitted on or before January 18, 2023, had an extended training due date of March 18, 2023. Those individuals associated with a 2023-2024 registration submitted after January 18, 2023, have 60 days from the registration submission date to complete and certify the training. Following completion of the initial training, individuals will be required to take a refresher training every three years.

Individuals may access the course through a hyperlink on the COELIG website or directly at https://lobbyingtraining.ethics.ny.gov/

Campaign Finance National: “What Ginni Thomas and Leonard Leo Wrought: How a justice’s wife and a key activist started a movement” by Heidi Przybyla (Politico) for MSN Elections Georgia: “Georgia Special Grand Jury Recommended Charging Lindsey Graham in Trump Case” by Holly Bailey (Washington Post) for MSN Ethics Florida: “After Years of Delay, State Dismisses Sexual Harassment Case Against Former Sen. Latvala” by Mary Ellen Klas (Miami Herald) for Yahoo News Illinois: “Chicago Ethics Board to Address Allegations Against Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin” by Gregory Pratt (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News Maryland: “Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott Asks Ethics Board for Guidance on Keeping Campaign Separated from City Business” by Emily Opilo (Baltimore Sun) for MSN National: “As GOP Investigates Prosecutors, Experts Worry About Judicial Independence” by Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) for MSN Oklahoma: “Leaders Concerned About the Future of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission” by Randy Krehbiel for Tulsa World South Carolina: “Former Richland Councilwoman Hit with $300K Ethics Fine. Here’s How She Can Cut It by 90%” by Bristow Marchant (The State) for Yahoo Ne

Campaign Finance California: “Former Anaheim Mayor, Who Admitted to Corruption, Funds Legal Defense with Campaign Money” by Noah Biesiada for Voice of OC Indiana: “Campaign Finance Contributions on the Indiana Supreme Court Docket” by Whitney Downard for Indiana Capital Chronicle Elections Georgia: “Judge Denies Mark Meadows’s Effort to Move Georgia Case to Federal Court” by Amy Gardner (Washington Post) for MSN Ethics National: “5th Circuit Finds Biden White House, CDC Likely Violated First Amendment” by Cat Zakrzewski, and Joseph Menn (Washington Post) for MSN National: “Peter Navarro Convicted of Contempt for Defying Jan. 6 Panel Subpoena” by Paul Duggan (Washington Post) for MSN Michigan: “Michigan Ethics Board Finds State Arts Council Member Violated Conflict of Interest Rules” by Beth LeBlanc for Detroit News Lobbying Canada: “Doug Ford Recommends Possible Jail Time for Ontario Lobbyists Caught Breaking the Rules” by Katherine DeClerq for CTV Redistricting Ohio: “Ohio Will Use Congressional Map Previously Ruled Unconstitutional Again in 2024, as Court Dismisses Legal Challenges” by Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

National/Federal

AI Deepfakes in Campaigns May Be Detectable, But Will It Matter?

MSN – Jim Saska (Roll Call) | Published: 9/5/2023

Deepfake audio, authentic sounding but false recordings built from short snippets of a subject talking, have become extremely realistic, presenting the potential for underhanded political tactics. Artificial intelligence (AI) developers warn that the technology’s rapid development and widespread deployment risks undermining the foundations of representative democracy. Campaign attack ads have long used the most unflattering pictures of their opponents. But AI will supercharge the ability of campaigns, and their rogue supporters, to produce believable fakes.

Democrat Introduces Bill to Limit Defense Contractor, Foreign Government Influence on Pentagon

MSN – Brad Dress (The Hill) | Published: 8/29/2023

Rep. Andy Kim announced he reintroduced legislation that would limit the ability of major defense contractors and foreign governments to hire former Defense Department officials and influence the Pentagon as lobbyists. The Department of Defense Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act would impose a four-year ban on defense contractors hiring senior Pentagon officials and enact a similar ban on former Defense Department employees who managed their contracts.

Court Undoes Ruling Allowing DOJ Access to Scott Perry’s Phone

MSN – Rachel Weiner and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 9/5/2023

A federal appellate court blocked Justice Department access to the phone records of a Republican lawmaker as part of the investigation charging former President Trump with trying to undo the 2020 election results. The ruling stymies investigators who have been fighting to review thousands of documents from Rep. Scott Perry. U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell granted the special counsel access to most of the records nine months ago. Perry had argued the search would violate constitutional protection from criminal investigation for lawmakers engaged in “speech or debate.”

Project Veritas Audit Accuses ‘Untouchable’ Founder of Improper Spending

MSN – Will Sommer (Washington Post) | Published: 9/5/2023

An audit showed Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe covered personal expenses with funds from the donor-supported nonprofit whose self-described mission is investigative journalism. The Westchester County, New York, district attorney’s office is investigating O’Keefe. Before he left Project Veritas in February, under pressure from its board of directors, O’Keefe was surrounded by a “cult of personality” that enabled him to behave as if he were “untouchable,” the audit concluded.

Republicans Hired Way More Ex-Lobbyists as Congressional Staffers in the Last Year Than Democrats, Analysis Finds

MSN – Brian Metzger (Business Insider) | Published: 9/5/2023

Republicans on Capitol Hill have hired far more former lobbyists to work in their offices than Democrats in the last year, according to a new analysis. Legistorm found that 61 of the 91 former lobbyists who took jobs in partisan offices on Capitol Hill in the last year were hired by Republicans. But the problem of the “revolving door” is one that besets both political parties.

Enrique Tarrio, Proud Boys Leader on Jan. 6, Sentenced to 22 Years for Seditious Conspiracy

Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 9/5/2023

Enrique Tarrio, the national leader of the Proud Boys on January 6, 2021, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for masterminding a seditious conspiracy aimed at derailing the transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden. The sentence, the lengthiest among hundreds arising from the attack on the Capitol, is a reflection of prosecutors’ evidence that the Proud Boys, helmed by Tarrio, played the most pivotal role in stoking the violent breach of police lines and the Capitol itself.

Google to Require ‘Prominent’ Disclosures for AI-Generated Election Ads

Yahoo News – Davey Alba (Bloomberg) | Published: 9/6/2023

Google will make it mandatory for all election advertisers to add a clear and conspicuous disclosure starting in mid-November when their ads contain Artificial Intelligence generated content. Advertisers must include prominent language like, “This audio was computer generated,” on altered election ads across Google’s platforms. The policy does not apply to minor fixes, such as image resizing or brightening. The update will improve Google’s transparency measures for election ads, the company said.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Former CRT Chair Appointed as New Interim Federal Ethics Commissioner

Globe and Mail – Ian Bailey | Published: 9/1/2203

Konrad Winrich von Finckenstein, a former chairperson of Canada’s broadcasting regulator, has been named interim federal conflict-of-interest and ethics commissioner, after the government’s previous pick for the role resigned amid concern about the appropriateness of the appointment. Mario Dion, who stepped down as commissioner in February, said the vacancy has put investigations on hold. During Dion’s term, he found Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several cabinet ministers had broken ethics rules.

Alabama – Federal Court Strikes Down Alabama’s Second Attempt to Avoid Adding Another Majority-Black Congressional District

Yahoo News – Ethan Cohen and Fredreka Schouten (CNN) | Published: 9/5/2023

A federal court blocked a newly drawn Alabama congressional map because it did not create a second majority-Black district, as the U.S. Supreme Court had ordered earlier this year. The three-judge panel ordered a special master to submit three proposed maps that would create a second Black-majority district by September 25. The judges wrote they were “not aware of any other case,” where a state Legislature had responded to being ordered to a draw map with a second majority-minority district, by creating which the state itself admitted did not create the required district.

Alaska – Two More Alaska Ballot Measures Pass Legal Muster, But Another Is Disqualified

Alaska Public Media – James Brooks (Alaska Beacon) | Published: 9/6/2023

Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom approved two ballot measures and disqualified a third from advancing into the signature-gathering phase. One of the two measures approved by Dahlstrom would reimpose limits on political contributions.  The state has been without donation caps limits since 2021, when the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Alaska’s prior limits after a lawsuit by Republican activists.

California – How a New City Council Map of L.A. Turned into a Political Brawl

DNyuz – Jill Cowan, Serge Kovaleski, and Leanne Abraham (New York Times) | Published: 9/4/2023

The redistricting battle in Los Angeles underscores how some big city leaders – often Democrats – have used gerrymandering for their political advantage, much the way Republican lawmakers have redrawn legislative lines to secure or expand their control over some statehouses. Similar fights have been waged in Boston, Miami, and Chicago. The conflict in Los Angeles became a national controversy after audio was leaked that revealed the racist language that politicians used behind closed doors to discuss where to draw district boundaries.

California – San Francisco Corruption: Ex-parole agent pleads guilty in bribery case

San Francisco Standard – Noah Baustin | Published: 8/31/2023

An ex-parole agent and local pop singer pleaded guilty to bribery charges in federal court, marking the latest development in a Justice Department investigation uncovering corruption in San Francisco City Hall. Prosecutors accused Ken Hong Wong of paying former San Francisco Public Works head Mohammed Nuru $20,000 to get someone an engineering job in his department. An investigation revealed the job recipient was Xulu Liu, a recent college graduate and Chinese national. Public Works hired Liu as an assistant engineer earning $46 an hour in September 2019, public records show. She left the job after two weeks.

California – San Jose Council Eases Transparency Rule

San Jose Spotlight – Jana Kadash | Published: 9/5/2023

The San Jose City Council changed three ethics rules that could affect how money is used to influence policy. Officials revised the city’s “revolving door” protocol for former employees, removed fees for late lobbying disclosures, and uncapped reimbursement amounts for personal loans candidates made to their campaigns. City Clerk Toni Taber said the city did not collect fines for late weekly filings before the council nixed the fees. A media review found lobbyists often do not fill out the forms properly even if submitted on time.

California – Anaheim’s Corruption Scandal Causes Residents to Demand Reforms

Voice of OC – Hosam Elattar | Published: 9/6/2023

Anaheim residents and local community groups are charting their own path for reforms in the wake of a corruption scandal that has entangled City Hall. Residents and activists decided to take matters into their own hands after seeing Anaheim City Council members largely ignored calls for reforms until their most recent meeting on the heels of the former mayor agreeing to plead guilty to public corruption charges.

Florida – DeSantis Names Moms for Liberty Co-Founder to Florida Ethics Panel

MSN – Andrew Atterbury (Politico) | Published: 9/6/2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Tina Descovich, a co-founder of the conservative parental rights group Moms for Liberty, to the Florida Commission on Ethics. The move gives the governor a staunch ally on the panel responsible for weighing complaints against public officials in the state, which recently saw one remember resign after a conflict-of-interest violation. Aside from organizing the parental advocacy group, Descovich is a former school board member and runs a political committee that helped some conservatives win local education elections in 2022.

Florida – Judge Says DeSantis’ Congressional Map Is Unconstitutional, Orders Lawmakers to Draw New One

Yahoo News – David Kihara and Gary Fineout (Politico) | Published: 9/2/2023

A judge ruled Gov. Ron DeSantis’s redrawn congressional districts in North Florida violate the state’s constitution and ordered the Republican-led Legislature to create a new map. The ruling is a rebuke to DeSantis, who previously vetoed the Legislature’s attempts to redraw Florida’s congressional maps and pushed lawmakers to approve his map that dismantled a seat formerly held by Rep. Al Lawson, a Black Democrat. The section violated is commonly referred to as the Fair Districts Amendment, which states that lawmakers cannot redraw congressional districts that “diminish” minority voters’ ability to elect someone of their choice.

Georgia – Efforts to Punish Fani Willis Over Trump Prosecution Are ‘Political Theater,’ Georgia Gov. Kemp Says

MSN – Jeff Amy (Associated Press) | Published: 8/30/2023

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp offered his strongest denunciation to date of efforts by his fellow Republicans to go after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, dismissing the moves as “political theater that only inflames the emotions of the moment.” Some Republicans in Washington and Georgia have been attacking Willis since even before she announced the indictment of Donald Trump for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election. Kemp said any calls for a special session to impeach Willis or defund her office were wrong and she had done nothing to merit removal.

Georgia – Judge Denies Kenneth Chesebro’s Request to Sever Georgia Charges from Sidney Powell

The Hill – Zach Schonfeld | Published: 9/6/2023

A state judge denied Kenneth Chesebro’s attempt to sever his charges in the Georgia election interference case from fellow Trump-aligned attorney Sidney Powell, saying he did not deem it necessary to do so to achieve a fair trial. But Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee did signal he has doubts about District Attorney Fani Willis’s broader desire to try all 19 co-defendants, including former President Trump, together.

Illinois – Chicago Treasurer Accused of Misconduct and Ethical Violations in Letter City Kept Secret for Years

Yahoo News – Gregory Pratt (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 9/5/2023

Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin used government workers to plan her daughter’s birthday party and be her personal bodyguard while she also pressured public employees to hold events benefiting political allies and repeatedly misused taxpayer resources, two former top aides alleged in a recently released letter the city fought for years to keep confidential. After Conyears-Ervin in 2020 dismissed employees Ashley Evans and Tiffany Harper, they shared a $100,000 settlement from the city. That settlement came after the letter was sent to the city’s top attorney and the Board of Ethics.

Kentucky – Greenberg’s Wife Has Role in Administration. Louisville’s Nepotism Code Might Not Allow

MSN – Josh Ward (Louisville Courier-Journal) | Published: 9/5/2023

The spouses of presidents and governors often have formal positions, as well as aides and offices. That is not common at the municipal level. But the Louisville mayor’s office bucks that trend, and it may run afoul of the city’s anti-nepotism rules. Sources said Mayor Craig Greenberg’s wife has an office in Metro Hall, a city-issued email, and gives orders to staffers. The Louisville ethics code says, “a family member of the Mayor” or other elected official “shall not be employed by or appointed to a position with such elected official’s office.”

Louisiana – Gubernatorial Frontrunner Jeff Landry Facing Ethics Charge

MSN – Ian Auzenne (WWL) | Published: 9/2/2023

A 2021 plane flight taken by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, who is the leading Republican candidate for governor, is landing him in trouble with the state Board of Ethics. The board voted to charge Landry and Stanton Aviation with one count each of ethics violations. Landry is charged with accepting a gift in relation to his position as attorney general. Stanton Aviation is charged with providing a gift to Landry.

Maryland – Compliance Board Orders Baltimore Board of Ethics to Release Mosby Legal Defense Fund Donors; City Vows to Appeal

MSN – Emily Opilo (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 9/6/2023

The Baltimore Board of Ethics must release the list of donors to a legal-defense fund formed to benefit city council President Nick Mosby and former State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, Maryland’s Public Information Act Compliance Board ordered. The compliance board found the ethics panel violated the Public Information Act by redacting the names of more than 130 donors to the fund when it released the list in March. The ethics board argued the names constituted financial information.

Nevada – Assemblywoman Michelle Gorelow Won’t Run for Re-election Amid Scrutiny Over Nonprofit Ties

Nevada Independent – Jacob Solis | Published: 9/1/2023

Nevada Assemblyperson Michelle Gorelow will not run for re-election in 2024, a surprise move that comes after Gorelow had come under increasing pressure to justify taking a new position at a nonprofit that received hundreds of thousands of dollars in legislatively approved funding earlier this year. Separately, Assemblyperson C.H. Miller has come under fire for failing to disclose his employment by the Urban Chamber in a regular financial disclosure form ahead of a vote to give the nonprofit $100,000.

New York – State Gaming Official Voted on Rules Affecting Her Firm’s Client

Albany Times Union – Emilie Munson | Published: 9/1/2023

Over the course of about a year, New York Gaming Commissioner Marissa Shorenstein voted on multiple regulations with implications for a client of her employer, but the commission said her actions avoided any conflict-of-interest. Shorenstein worked as a principal at SKDK, a prominent public relations and lobbying firm that did work for the New York Racing Association, a not-for-profit corporation that operates three thoroughbred tracks in New York and is regulated by the Gaming Commission.

New York – Trump Accuser E. Jean Carroll Wins Liability Claims in Next Civil Case

MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 9/6/2023

E. Jean Carroll, the advice columnist who was awarded $5 million in damages at a civil sexual assault trial against former President Trump in May, won the majority of a related defamation case in a summary judgment decision. U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled the May verdict clearly proved disparaging comments Trump made about Carroll in 2019 were false. Those comments do not need to be aired again to prove liability to jurors in s civil defamation trial scheduled for January, Kaplan said.

Ohio – Sen. Sherrod Brown Bets a Progressive Can Still Win in Trump-Leaning Ohio

MSN – Camila DeChalus (Washington Post) | Published: 9/2/2023

Democrat Sherrod Brown has won three U.S. Senate terms in Ohio, once a key swing state that has shifted solidly to Republicans over the past two presidential elections with a personal appeal to working-class families and particularly union trades. Now facing a tough reelection challenge in 2024, Brown is wagering that by casting himself as a pro-labor, progressive populist, he can retain support from White working-class voters whose embrace of Donald Trump has propelled Ohio’s move to the right.

Ohio – The Catholic Church Will Campaign Against Ohio’s Abortion-Rights Amendment. What About the Separation of Church and State?

MSN – Andrew Tobias (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 9/3/2023

The Catholic Church in Ohio is gearing up for this November’s election in a manner that in some ways resembles a PAC. It is preparing to distribute literature to parishioners, deploy church leaders to political fundraisers, make direct campaign contributions, and have its priests preach from the pulpit in opposition to a ballot measure that would add legal protections for abortion to the state constitution. Brian Hickey, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Ohio, said he has heard from people who believe that churches and other religious organizations are not allowed to wade into politics under federal tax law. But that is not the case, Hickey said.

Oregon – Campaign Finance Complaint Filed Against Fire Union Stemming from Contributions for Columbia River Board Candidatesw

MSN – Maxine Bernstein (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 9/1/2023

The St. Helens Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 321 failed to properly report the source of a $6,000 contribution for the May election of three new Columbia River Fire & Rescue board members, according to a complaint to the state secretary of state’s office. The three union-backed candidates also never reported any contributions from the union, which paid for posters, mailers, and signs promoting their candidacy for a board seat, according to state records.

Pennsylvania – Inside Spotlight PA’s Fight to Unseal Lobbyist Communications with the Legislature

Spotlight PA – Angela Couloumbis | Published: 9/1/2023

A clause in Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law says that correspondence between a state lawmaker and a person seeking their help is off-limits to the public – unless that person is a lobbyist. But for years, the Legislature has summarily rejecting all requests for its emails, letters, or other forms of communications regardless of who was on the sending or receiving end. Spotlight PA put the lobbyist clause to the test by requesting from both the state House and Senate copies of communications between legislators and a narrow group of well-known lobbyists.

South Dakota – Legislator’s Conflict of Interest Puts Meaning of ‘Indirect’ Under Microscope

MSN – Mackenzie Huber (Sioux Falls Argus Leader) | Published: 9/5/2023

Former South Dakota Sen. Jessica Castleberry was found to have accepted over $500,000 in allegedly illegal indirect benefits from state government while serving as a legislator. The state constitution prohibits lawmakers from being interested “directly or indirectly” in contracts with the state or counties. In the handful of state Supreme Court cases and opinions dealing with the matter over the last 135 years, none has explicitly defined “indirect,” said Michael Card of the University of South Dakota.

Texas – Judge Declares City Campaign Contribution Blackout Period Unconstitutional

Austin Monitor – Jo Clifton | Published: 9/1/2023

U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman declared an Austin regulation on campaign fundraising unconstitutional. The regulation prohibits candidates for city council seats from seeking or accepting campaign contributions more than a year before an election. The rule was enacted after another judge struck down a city regulation prohibiting candidates from raising money more than six months before an election.

Texas – A Conservative Push to Save Ken Paxton

Yahoo News – J. David Goodman (New York Times) | Published: 9/4/2023

With television ads, text messages, direct mail, and billboards, supporters of the embattled Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have embarked on an escalating campaign of political pressure, backed by hard-right billionaires, aimed at trying to sway the outcome of Paxton’s impeachment trial. The targets of their efforts are narrow: the 19 Republican members of the state Senate who will act as jurors in the trial and decide whether allegations of corruption and abuse of power are serious enough to warrant permanently removing and barring Paxton from office.

West Virginia – PSC Chooses Firm to Audit Mon Power and Potomac Edison Lobbying Expenses

Charleston Gazette-Mail – Mike Tony | Published: 9/5/2023

The West Virginia Public Service Commission chose Van Reen Accounting to audit Mon Power and Potomac Edison lobbying expenses in a review that will cover costs charged to the FirstEnergy subsidiaries related to the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history. The scope of the audit is to include lobbying and other costs of all FirstEnergy companies related to Ohio House Bill 6. That legislation was a billion-dollar bailout of FirstEnergy nuclear plants in Ohio.