Campaign Finance

National: “Mystery Deepens Around George Santos’s $700,000 in Campaign Loans” by Michael Gold and Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) for Seattle Times

Maine: “House Speaker Calls on Waldoboro Lawmaker to Resign After He Was Indicted for Signature Fraud” by Steve Mistler for Maine Public Radio

Michigan: “Who Funded Michigan Campaigns? For Nearly Every Legislator, It Wasn’t the Folks They Ran to Represent.” by Simon Schuster for MLive

Minnesota: “Why Some Want to Make Public Spending on Political Campaigns in Minnesota Less Like Menards Rebates” by Peter Callaghan (MinnPost) for MSN

Elections

Georgia: “Fulton County DA Says Charging Decisions in Trump Investigation Are ‘Imminent’” by Holly Bailey (Washington Post) for MSN

Wisconsin: “2023’s Biggest, Most Unusual Race Centers on Abortion and Democracy” by Reid Epstein (New York Times) for DNyuz

Ethics

National: “US: Ex-FBI counterintelligence agent aided Russian oligarch” by Michael Sisak and Eric Tucker (Associated Press) for MSN

National: “Supreme Court Asks Biden Administration to Weigh in on Social Media Case” by Robert Barnes and Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) for MSN

Legislative Issues

New Mexico: “Proposal Aims to Keep Legislators from Drinking While on the Job” by Dan McKay for Albuquerque Journal

Lobbying

Nevada: “Nevada’s New Governor Vilified Lobbyist’s Influence in COVID Lab Scandal, Then Asked Him to Help with Budget” by Anjeanette Damon (Nevada Independent) for ProPublica

Campaign Finance

National: “Cyberthieves Jacked a U.S. Senator’s Campaign and Stole Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars” by Dave Levinthal (Raw Story) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “Refusal to Release Inaugural Donors Exposes Gap in Pa. Law” by Marc Levy (Associated Press) for MSN

Elections

Arizona: “Voter Fraud Unit in Arizona Will Shift Focus to Voter Rights” by Neil Vigdor (New York Times) for Las Vegas Sun

Ethics

National: “Students Want New Books. Thanks to Restrictions, Librarians Can’t Buy Them.” by Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Four Oath Keepers Convicted of Jan. 6 Seditious Conspiracy” by Michael Kunzelman and Alanna Durkin Richer for Associated Press News

National: “Classified Documents Found at Pence’s Indiana Home” by Jamie Gangel, Jeremy Herb, and Evan Perez (CNN) for MSN

Florida: “‘This Is Not Over.’ Judge Says DeSantis Was Wrong, but Declines to Restore Andrew Warren to Office” by Dan Sullivan and Sue Carlton (Tampa Bay Times) for MSN

Illinois: “Ethics Board Sends Lightfoot Campaign Complaints to Watchdogs” by A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) for MSN

New York: “Email Describes Hochul Meeting Before $637 Million Deal with Donor for Covid-19 Tests” by Chris Bragg for Buffalo News

Lobbying

Wyoming: “Bill Would Prohibit Former Legislators from Immediately Becoming Lobbyists with 2-Year Wait Period” by Leo Wolfson for Cowboy State Daily

Campaign Finance

New York: “City Council Passes New Disclosure Requirements for Spending to Influence Votes on Ballot Referendums” by Ethan Geringer-Sameth for Gotham Gazette

Elections

Ohio: “‘Clear as Mud’: Ohio’s new voting restrictions from GOP raise alarm” by Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Justice Dept. Search of Biden Home in Wilmington Turns Up More Documents” by Matt Viser and Tyler Pager (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Judge Sanctions Trump, Habba Nearly $1 Million for ‘Completely Frivolous’ Clinton Suit” by Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein (Politico) for MSN

California: “Ex-State Democratic Party Leader Who Helped FBI in Anaheim Probe Agrees to Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud” by Hannah Fry and Gabriel San Román (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

Florida: “Florida Blocks High School African American Studies Class” by Anthony Izaguirre (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

National: “Lobbying Gold Rush May Persist Despite Divided Congress” by Karl Evers-Hillstrom (The Hill) for Yahoo News

Pennsylvania: “Shapiro Bars Gifts from Lobbyists, Requires Ethics Training” by Capitolwire for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Q: Our organization is under the impression that we don’t have to register as lobbyists at the Federal level if we keep our lobbying activity isolated to our internal employees and don’t hire outside consultants.  I don’t think this is accurate.  Can you let me know the registration requirement for federal lobbying?

A: You are correct to be skeptical of this viewpoint.  Keeping lobbying activity isolated to in-house personnel does not impact the need to register.  Registration at the federal level is based on three criteria.  All three must be met in order to warrant registration, or, stated differently, registration is required when all three criteria are met.  The criteria are:

1. An organization spends or is expected to spend at least $14,000 on lobbying activity during a quarterly period;
2. An organization has at least one employee who spends 20% of their time engaged in lobbying activity; and
3. That same 20% employee makes more than one lobbying contact.

When considering whether the monetary threshold has been met, all expenses must be considered including, compensation and reimbursed expenses associated with lobbying activities of all employees (not just designated “government relations” employees), overhead, payments to outside lobbyists and the portion of any dues paid to outside membership organization that are allocated toward lobbying.  Likewise, when determining whether an individual employee meets the 20% standard, all time engaged in any activity that is intended to support lobbying contacts must be considered including background and prepatory work, research, strategy sessions and conversations inside and outside the organization.

Once your organization meets all three thresholds, registration with the House and Senate is required within 45 days.  As a federal registrant, quarterly activity reporting is required as well as semi-annual contribution reporting.

Campaign Finance

National: “Dark Money Group Linked to Leonard Leo Is Dissolved” by Heidi Przybyla (Politico) for MSN

Massachusetts: “E-mails Appear to Show Coordination Between Mass. GOP Chairman and Outside PAC, in Alleged Violation of State Law” by Emma Platoff (Boston Globe) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Supreme Court Says It Can’t Determine Who Leaked Draft Dobbs Opinion” by Robert Barnes and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) for MSN

California: “Former L.A. Councilmember Jose Huizar Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case” by Michael Finnegan and David Zahniser (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

Illinois: “Swept Into Office by Promises of Reform, Lightfoot Faces New Scrutiny on Ethics Record” by Heather Cherone for WTTW

Ohio: “Ohio’s Historic Corruption Case Tests Limits of Citizens United” by Alex Ebert for Bloomberg Law

Lobbying

National: “2-Year Sentence for Hawaii Woman’s Trump Lobbying Scheme” by Associated Press for MSN

Nebraska: “Watchdog Group Says State Capitol Bible Study Leader Should Register as Lobbyist” by Paul Hammel for Nebraska Examiner

The Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance has increased the lobbyist expenditure gift limit from $65 per event to $73.

The annual limit from lobbyist employers has also increased from $130 during a calendar year to $147.

The bureau is required by law to increase the limit every two years.

The law became effective January 16, 2023.

National/Federal

Billions at Stake as Online Fundraising Practices Turn Off Voters
MSN – Jessica Piper (Politico) | Published: 1/17/2023

Llyod Cotler, the founder of Banter Messaging, advises friends and family to write a check if they want to make political contributions and avoid online giving, lest their emails and phone numbers end up on lists that recirculate through the campaign world for eternity. That advice reflects a recognition among digital campaign staff that text and email programs have gone from innovative to out of hand, to the point that it is harming the campaign ecosystem. The rate of return on individual appeals is falling compared to a few years ago, as candidates and outside groups find themselves targeting the same pool of donors.

FEC Dismisses GOP Complaint Over Gmail Spam Filter
MSN – Isaac Stanley-Becker (Washington Post) | Published: 1/17/2023

The FEC dismissed a complaint brought by Republican campaign groups arguing that Gmail spam filters disproportionately flagged GOP fundraising emails in a way that amounted to a prohibited in-kind contribution to Democrats. Google’s spam technology ignited a controversy last year, as GOP groups blamed the technology for a dip in fundraising.

Free Speech or Out of Order? As Meetings Grow Wild, Officials Try to Tame Public Comment.
MSN – Karin Brulliard (Washington Post) | Published: 1/17/2023

Across a polarized nation, governing bodies are restricting – and sometimes even halting – public comment to counter what elected officials describe as an unprecedented level of invective, misinformation, and disorder from citizens when they step to the microphone. As contentious social issues roil once-sleepy town council and school board gatherings, some officials say allowing people to have their say is poisoning meetings and thwarting the ability to get business done.

Garland Appoints Special Counsel to Review Biden Documents
Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney, Josh Gerstein, and Kelly Hooper (Politico) | Published: 1/12/2023

Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel, former U.S. attorney Robert Hur, to review the storage of sensitive documents discovered in spaces used by President Biden during the years preceding his return to the White House. Garland’s decision to place the probe under supervision of a special counsel ratchets up the legal stakes for Biden, who has stressed he takes the matter seriously while saying he was surprised to learn about the existence of the documents.

George Santos Pocketed $3,000 in Donations for Dying Dog, Veteran Alleges
MSN – Timothy Bella (Washington Post) | Published: 1/18/2023

U.S. Rep. George Santos is accused of pocketing $3,000 from a GoFundMe page he set up for a homeless veteran to help pay for surgery for the man’s dying service dog. After he realized he could not afford the thousands of dollars needed for the surgery, a veterinarian tech recommended U.S. Navy veteran Richard Osthoff get in touch with a man named Anthony Devolder, who ran a pet charity that could help his dog. Anthony Devolder was one of the aliases used by Santos before he lied about much of his biography to win a seat in the House.

GOP Congressman Linked to Jan. 6 Probe Assigned to House Committee Investigating Biden
MSN – Amy Wang and Azi Paybarah (Washington Post) | Published: 1/18/2023

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in favor of Donald Trump attracted the attention of the Department of Justice, which seized Perry’s cellphone as part of its investigation into the events leading up to the insurrection, when a pro-Trump mob overran the U.S. Capitol seeking to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s victory. That did not prevent Perry from being named to the powerful House Oversight and Accountability Committee, along with several other of Trump’s most controversial allies.

How Restaurant Workers Help Pay for Lobbying to Keep Their Wages Low
Yahoo News – David Fahrenthold and Talmon Joseph Smith (New York Times) | Published: 1/17/2023

Before starting a new job, many cooks, waiters, and bartenders pay $15 to a company called ServSafe for an online class in food safety. ServSafe doubles as a fundraising arm of the National Restaurant Association, the largest lobbying group for the food-service industry. The association has spent decades fighting increases to the minimum wage at the federal and state levels, as well as the subminimum wage paid to tipped workers. For years, the restaurant association and its affiliates have used ServSafe to create an arrangement with few parallels in Washington, where labor unwittingly helps to pay for management’s lobbying.

Statehouse Democrats Embrace an Unfamiliar Reality: Full power
Yahoo News – Mitch Smith (New York Times) | Published: 1/18/2023

Democrats will have control of the governorship and both legislative chambers in 17 states. That is still fewer than the 22 states where Republicans have full control, but it is a major comeback from a lost decade for state-level Democrats, who as recently as 2017 had sole control at only six Capitols. Slightly more people will now live in states with full Democratic control than in those with full Republican control. What remains untested, though, is whether Democrats can or will wield their newfound authority with the same unflinching force that Republicans exerted over the last decade.

Supreme Court Poised to Reconsider Key Tenets of Online Speech
DNyuz – David McCabe (New York Times) | Published: 1/19/2023

For years, giant social networks like Facebook and Twitter have operated under two crucial tenets. The first is that the platforms have the power to decide what content to keep online and what to take down, free from government oversight. The second is that the websites cannot be held legally responsible for most of what their users post online, shielding the companies from lawsuits over libelous speech, extremist content, and real-world harm linked to their platforms. Now the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to reconsider those rules.

The Speaker Vote Underscored How Money Is So Central to Politics Today
MSN – Tal Kopan (Boston Globe) | Published: 1/16/2023

Money is a regular part of leadership battles in Congress, where fundraising prowess is practically a job requirement, and there have long been debates about whether dedicated congressional campaign committees should spend to protect incumbent lawmakers from upstart challengers. But the deals cut during the vote for House speaker involved entities that legally are supposed to be separate from specific candidates and parties, specifically the Congressional Leadership Fund and a PAC related to Club for Growth.

Two States Still Observe King-Lee Day, Honoring Robert E. Lee with MLK
MSN – Meena Venkataramanan (Washington Post) | Published: 1/16/2023

As the country celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 16, two states observed a different holiday: King-Lee Day, which commemorates both King and Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Mississippi and Alabama mark King-Lee Day as a state holiday. Texas still celebrates Confederate Heroes Day on Lee’s actual birthday, January 19, and its state employees can take a paid holiday on both days. For many Black Southerners, these holidays are part of a broader effort to glorify the Confederacy, 158 years after its secessionist war effort went down in defeat.

What the Jan. 6 Probe Found Out About Social Media, But Didn’t Report
MSN – Cat Zakrzewski, Cristiano Lima, and Drew Harwell (Washington Post) | Published: 1/17/2023

The January 6 committee spent months gathering new details on how social media companies failed to address the online extremism and calls for violence that preceded the Capitol riot. The evidence they collected was written up in a 122-page memo that was circulated among the panel. But committee leaders declined to delve into those topics in detail in their final report, reluctant to dig into the roots of domestic extremism taking hold in the Republican Party beyond Donald Trump and concerned about the risks of a public battle with powerful tech companies.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Where Did Arizona Gov. Hobbs’ Inaugural Funds Come From?
KAWC – Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) | Published: 1/15/2023

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has been under pressure to release information on the sources of funds for the inaugural event since it was reported she was not fully disclosing the names of all the individuals or corporations paying for the celebration. She subsequently put a full list of the names in a booklet that was given out at the event and listed them on an inaugural web site. Now there is a report from the administration giving a full accounting of how much each has donated.

Arkansas – Former Legislator Wilkins Sentenced to a Year and a Day on Bribery Plea
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette – Dale Ellis | Published: 1/18/2023

Former Arkansas Sen. Henry Wilkins was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and ordered to pay $123,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to bribery. Wilkins was involved in a scheme that brought down a number of state legislators as well as executives of a nonprofit that provided Medicaid-funded counseling services to troubled youth and adults in Arkansas.

California – Deal or No Deal? A Corruption Case Spins Out of Control with a Judge’s Last-Minute Change of Heart
Los Angeles Times – Richard Winton | Published: 1/13/2023

For more than a decade, tax consultant Ramin Salari fought charges that he had bribed former Los Angeles County Assessor John Noguez in a “pay-for-play” conspiracy. Then Salari reversed course, agreeing to a deal with prosecutors that called for him to plead guilty to a single charge and pay more than $9 million in penalties in exchange for a sentence that spared him from time in prison. But things did not go according to plan. In weighing whether to approve the deal, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stephen Marcus refused, then relented, then refused again – throwing the long-running case against Salari, Noguez, and others into chaos.

California – Ex-San Jose Mayor’s Public Records Reforms Spark Alarm
San Jose Spotlight – Tran Nguyen | Published: 1/15/2023

In one of his last actions in office, former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo wants to reform how the city complies with transparency laws, a move experts say could limit the public’s access to the inner workings of City Hall. Liccardo, whose legacy as a council member and mayor is plagued by transparency-related lawsuits and violations, is calling for revising the city’s process for responding to public records requests, citing the need to cut down costs, reduce delays, and avoid errors. He also wants to explore changes to the city’s document retention policies.

Connecticut – They Make Money Videotaping Officials. Why and How Some CT Leaders Want to Stop Them
Middletown Press – Sandra Diamond Fox | Published: 1/16/2023

Public officials in Connecticut are considering ways to react legislatively to a growing group of people who consider themselves First Amendment rights activists and make money by creating YouTube videos of themselves walking into Town Halls and other public offices unannounced and taping them. While the YouTubers say they are defending the Constitutional rights of all and performing a service that helps the community, many officials and employees say the activists’ actions disrupt their workplaces. In local incidents, police have been called and sometimes officials or the YouTubers get arrested or into other legal trouble.

Florida – DeSantis Inauguration Sponsored by Companies He Loves to Bash
MSN – Isaac Arnsdorf (Washington Post) | Published: 1/18/2023

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has built his national profile, and possibly a future presidential run, on challenging major companies on controversial social issues. But some of those same companies and their lobbyists bankrolled his recent inaugural festivities. The donations underscore how DeSantis maintains corporate ties even while he works to burnish his image as taking on “woke” corporations.

Hawaii – Honolulu Permitting Inspector OK’d His Own Company’s Projects
Honolulu Civil Beat – Christina Jedra | Published: 1/18/2023

An inspector in the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) has been running an electrical company on the side for over a decade and has inspected and approved more than a dozen of his own projects, public records show. Arthur Suverkropp, a supervising electrical inspector, is also the head of K&A Electric. The company has applied for some 350 permits from DPP since 2007. Dawn Takeuchi Apuna, DPP’s director designate, said the department was unaware of the situation until The Honolulu Civil Beat contacted the office for comment.

Illinois – ACLU of Illinois Says Lightfoot Campaign Emails to Chicago Teachers May Violate Federal Law; CPS Inspector General Opens Investigation
WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 1/12/2023

The decision by Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s reelection campaign to send emails to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teachers asking them to encourage their students to earn class credit by volunteering to help Lightfoot win a second term as mayor may have violated federal law, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. The emails have also prompted responses from the Chicago Board of Ethics and the city’s inspector general and the CPS inspector general.

Maryland – Former Delegate Pleads Guilty to Misconduct in Office for Misusing State Funds to Pay for Middle River Cottage
Maryland Matters – William Zorzi | Published: 1/13/2023

Former Maryland Del. Richard Impallaria pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in office and agreed to pay the state $44,100 in restitution. Prosecutors said Impallaria paid his landlord with rental payments from the General Assembly for a “district office” that was outside his district and next door to a cottage he rented for personal use from the same landlord. They alleged Impallaria paid twice the rent on the “office” cottage, charging the full cost to the Legislature while rent on his personal cottage was simultaneously lowered to $0.

Maryland – Judges Can Attend Inauguration Gala for Md. Governor, Ethics Panel Rules
Maryland Daily Record – Madeleine O’Neill | Published: 1/12/2023

Judges can attend the swearing-in and inaugural festivities for Governor-elect Wes Moore as long as they follow certain guidelines, the Maryland Judicial Ethics Committee said in an opinion. Tickets to the gala can cost between $125 and $1,000, according to the event’s website. The ethics panel concluded it was permissible for judges to attend the event because tickets were available to all members of the public.

Massachusetts – Mass. GOP Chairman May Have Violated Campaign Finance Law, Party Treasurer Alleges, in Escalating Woes for State Republican Party
MSN – Emma Platoff (Boston Globe) | Published: 1/12/2023

Chairperson Jim Lyons seems to have coordinated with an independent PAC in apparent violation of campaign finance law, the state party treasurer told regulators. Treasurer Pat Crowley believes Lyons improperly coordinated with an outside spending group, the Mass Freedom Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee, in engaging an opposition research firm to dig up dirt on Gov. Maura Healey during last year’s race. The prospect of possible violations is the latest in a string of legal and financial challenges for the struggling state GOP.

Missouri – Missouri State Lawmakers Revise Their Dress Code for Women
Yahoo News – Eduardo Medina (New York Times) | Published: 1/16/2023

The Missouri House revised its dress code for female legislators and staff members, requiring them to wear a jacket, such as a blazer or a cardigan, and setting off a debate about policing the fashion choices of women. The updated code drew criticism from some Democratic lawmakers, who described the Republican-backed effort as sexist and pointless. Supporters said it was a small tweak that would help ensure professionalism inside the chamber.

Nebraska – Veteran Head of Political Accountability Commission to Retire in August
Nebraska Examiner – Paul Hammel | Published: 1/12/2023

Frank Daley Jr., who has been executive director of the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Commission since 1999, announced he will retire in August. Daley called his job “fascinating” but said he will be 69 by August and felt it was time to “look at something else.” Daley served as legal counsel for the commission prior to taking the executive director’s job. He is the fifth person to hold the job.

New Mexico – Election-Fraud Conspiracies Behind Plot to Shoot at New Mexico Democrats’ Homes, Police Say
MSN – Amy Gardner and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff (Washington Post) | Published: 1/17/2023

The arrest of a defeated candidate for the New Mexico Legislature on charges he orchestrated a plot to shoot up the homes of four Democratic officials in Albuquerque prompted widespread condemnation as well as accusations that the stolen-election rhetoric among supporters of former President Trump continues to incite violence. Albuquerque police said Solomon Peña, who lost a state House race in November by a nearly two-to-one margin but complained his defeat was rigged, hatched the plot. Police accused him of conspiring with four accomplices to drive past the officials’ homes and fire at them.

New York – NYC Council Bills Could Slow ‘Revolving Door’ Between City Hall and Lobbying Agencies
Gothamist – Brigid Bergin | Published: 1/18/2023

A new legislative package would make it harder for high-ranking New York City officials to cash in on lucrative lobbying jobs as soon as they leave public service. The two bills in the city council would increase the length of time and scope of lobbying restrictions that apply to certain former municipal employees and local elected officials. Currently, top former city officials like deputy mayors and commissioners face a two-year ban from lobbying and appearing before their former agency or branch of government.

Ohio – How Dark Money Groups Led Ohio to Redefine Gas as ‘Green Energy’
MSN – Maxine Joselow (Washington Post) | Published: 1/17/2023

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently signed legislation that legally redefines natural gas as “green energy.” Natural gas is a fossil fuel and a significant cause of climate change. The Empowerment Alliance, a “dark money” group with ties to the gas industry helped Ohio lawmakers push the narrative that that the fuel is clean, documents show. The American Legislative Exchange Council, another anonymously funded group whose donors remain a mystery, assisted in the effort. The legislation took an unusual path through the Ohio Senate, where it was an amendment to a bill focused on poultry purchases.

Ohio – How Sports Betting, Nuclear Bailouts and Undercover FBI Agents Collided in Ohio’s Historic Public Corruption Scandal
MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 1/15/2023

In 2019, two FBI agents and an informant sat for a meeting in the office of a lobbyist who they suspected was a crook. The gathering was organized to discuss influencing sports betting legislation in Ohio. But the conversation turned to Larry Householder, at the time the speaker of the state House. Householder will face trial soon in a public corruption case prosecutors have described as the largest in state history. In a case bogged down in the finer points of campaign finance and utility law, the FBI agents’ cloak and dagger approach yielded statements the government is using as express proof of a bribery scheme.

Ohio – Military Families Frustrated as States Change Mail Ballot Timelines
Yahoo News – Julie Carr Smyth and Gary Fields (Associated Press) | Published: 1/15/2023

Ohio’s new election law significantly shortens the window for mailed ballots to be receive, despite no evidence the extended timeline has led to fraud or any other problems, and that change is angering active-duty members of the military and their families because of its potential to disenfranchise them. Republican lawmakers said during debate on the bill that even if Donald Trump’s claims that late-arriving ballots played a nefarious role in his reelection loss are not true, the skepticism they have caused among conservatives about the accuracy of election results justifies imposing new limits.

Ohio – Ohio House Republicans Push Ethics Reform Bill Ahead of Householder Corruption Trial
MSN – Andrew Tobias (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 1/18/2023

A group of Ohio House Republicans are calling for changing state ethics law to require greater disclosure from lobbyists and utility board nominees while restricting elected officials from holding corporate board positions, among other changes. The announcement comes days before former Speaker Larry Householder is scheduled to begin his trial on federal corruption charges. Bill supporters said the timing was somewhat coincidental.

Oklahoma – Campaign Watchdog Sees Evidence of Abuses but Lacks the Funding to Prosecute
Yahoo News – Ben Felder (Oklahoman) | Published: 1/13/2023

The Legislature has not given the Oklahoma Ethics Commission the money needed to prosecute cases of campaign finance law violations, said Ashley Kemp, the commission’s executive director. The ethics agency can seek civil penalties in District Court but taking a case to trial can be costly. Just one trial case can cost one-third of the agency’s budget, Kemp said.

Oregon – Shemia Fagan and Her Elections Director Disagreed About Disclosing Campaign Finance Violations. Here They Are.
Willamette Week – Nigel Jaquiss | Published: 1/18/2023

Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan and the elections director she forced out last year, Deborah Scroggin, disagreed whether the agency should publish a website disclosing campaign finance reporting violations. The Elections Division had worked on such a website for a year only to have Fagan’s management team repeatedly reject Scroggin’s pleas to let it go live. Willamette Week has published the cases with the 12 largest fines, for more than $2,000 each.

Pennsylvania – Driven by Election Deniers, This County Recounted 2020 Votes Last Week
Yahoo News – Trip Gabriel (New York Times) | Published: 1/15/2023

Under pressure from conspiracy theorists and election deniers, 28 employees of Lycoming County on January 10, 2023, counted – by hand – nearly 60,000 ballots from the 2020 presidential contest. It took three days and an estimated 560 work hours. The results of the recount – like earlier ones of the 2020 election in Wisconsin, Georgia, and Arizona – revealed no evidence of fraud. The numbers reported more than two years ago were nearly identical to the numbers reported last week. Forrest Lehman, the county director of elections, oversaw the recount but opposed it as a needless bonfire of time, money, and common sense.

Utah – The Office of the Lt. Gov. of Utah Is Considering Punishing Gene Davis for Using Campaign Funds to Fight Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
Local Today – Emily Anderson Stern (Salt Lake City Tribune) | Published: 1/14/2023

Former Utah Sen. Gene Davis used more than $10,000 of his campaign funds to pay legal fees to challenge allegations of sexual misconduct, a campaign finance report shows. Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson’s office said she was considering penalties for the spending. Davis’s campaign paid attorney Benjamin Grindstaff $10,837.50 in November. Grindstaff represented Davis when he was accused by a former intern and campaign worker of repeatedly touching her and behaving in a way that made her uncomfortable. State law has strict rules about how a candidate can use campaign funds.

Vermont – Campaign Finance Watchdog Files FEC Complaint Against Liam Madden for Funneling Donations Through Family
VTDigger.org – Sarah Mearhoff | Published: 1/18/2023

Nearly three months after failed congressional candidate Liam Madden described on the radio a self-funded scheme to inflate his campaign fundraising numbers, a campaign finance watchdog group has filed a complaint against Madden with the FEC. Asked by the show’s hosts to respond to critics’ scrutiny of Madden’s campaign finance filings, particularly a $5,300 donation reportedly made by his toddler son, Madden said he “drained” his wife’s business’s bank account, distributed roughly $25,000 among family members, then directed his family members to donate the money to his campaign.

Virginia – ‘A Missed Opportunity’: Virginia subcommittee on campaign finance reform has little to show after 2-year study
OpenSecrets – Jimmy Cloutier | Published: 1/13/2023

A Virginia legislative panel formed to study campaign finance reform failed to deliver its final report in yet another setback for advocates who say the cost of elections in the commonwealth is untenable. Virginia’s rules governing election spending are among the least restrictive in the country, with virtually no limits on the amount of money individuals and corporations can donate to state politicians. The General Assembly created the subcommittee almost two years ago to review potential reforms, including limits on donations and new disclosure requirements.

Virginia – Virginia Senate Panel Blocks Campaign Finance Reform Bills, Again
Virginia Mercury – Graham Moomaw | Published: 1/17/2023

Shortly after a Virginia Senate committee defeated legislation creating an across-the-board $20,000 cap on donations to candidates for the General Assembly and executive branch offices, the same panel voted down another bill that would have only banned political contributions from publicly regulated utilities like Dominion Energy. Senators warned of unintended consequences if Virginia were to move away from its unlimited, transparency-based campaign finance system to setting caps on how much money candidates can accept from one source.

Washington – Lawsuit Filed Over State Lawmakers’ Use of ‘Privilege’ to Deny Access to Public Records
The Olympian – Shauna Sowersby | Published: 1/11/2023

A new lawsuit challenges the use of “legislative privilege” by Washington lawmakers to withhold public records. Public records from multiple sources also showed lawmakers have invoked the privilege more frequently within the last year. In 2019, the state Supreme Court voted ruled in favor of The Associated Press’s lawsuit to reject “lawmakers’ assertion that they are not required to turn over daily schedules, emails, text messages, and other materials related to their work.”

Wyoming – Remote Participation Shut Out of Two Legislative Committees
WyoFile – Maggie Mullen | Published: 1/16/2023

Two legislative committee chairpersons closed the door on remote public testimony, limiting who can participate in the lawmaking process. Committee hearings are the only public opportunity to testify or otherwise formally weigh in on proposed legislation. Stakeholders can also call or email lawmakers directly, but such correspondence is not public record. The Legislature has benefited from additional public testimony made possible by Zoom in recent years, according to Sen. Chris Rothfuss. At the same time, he does not think the Legislature has the policy quite right.

Republican state lawmakers announced a new ethics bill titled the Ohio Ethics and Financial Disclosure Reform Act.

The bill would require all lobbying income to be reported and sourced directly to the clients they represent.

The bill would also prohibit elected officials from getting paid to serve on corporate boards unless the seat was held prior to taking office and the official has ownership in the corporation.

Nominees hoping to serve on the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will have to disclose any income, previous business relationships, or ties to entities regulated by the PUC.

The bill does not have a number and has not been formally introduced.

Campaign Finance

National: “The Speaker Vote Underscored How Money Is So Central to Politics Today” by Tal Kopan (Boston Globe) for MSN

National: “FEC Dismisses GOP Complaint Over Gmail Spam Filter” by Isaac Stanley-Becker (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “DeSantis Inauguration Sponsored by Companies He Loves to Bash” by Isaac Arnsdorf (Washington Post) for MSN

Oregon: “Shemia Fagan and Her Elections Director Disagreed About Disclosing Campaign Finance Violations. Here They Are.” by Nigel Jaquiss for Willamette Week

Utah: “The Office of the Lt. Gov. of Utah Is Considering Punishing Gene Davis for Using Campaign Funds to Fight Allegations of Sexual Misconduct” by Emily Anderson Stern (Salt Lake City Tribune) for Local Today

Ethics

National: “Free Speech or Out of Order? As Meetings Grow Wild, Officials Try to Tame Public Comment.” by Karin Brulliard (Washington Post) for MSN

Arkansas: “Former Legislator Wilkins Sentenced to a Year and a Day on Bribery Plea” by Dale Ellis for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Hawaii: “Honolulu Permitting Inspector OK’d His Own Company’s Projects” by Christina Jedra for Honolulu Civil Beat

Legislative Issues

National: “Statehouse Democrats Embrace an Unfamiliar Reality: Full power” by Mitch Smith (New York Times) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

New York: “NYC Council Bills Could Slow ‘Revolving Door’ Between City Hall and Lobbying Agencies” by Brigid Bergin for Gothamist

Campaign Finance

National: “Billions at Stake as Online Fundraising Practices Turn Off Voters” by Jessica Piper (Politico) for MSN

Virginia: “Virginia Senate Panel Blocks Campaign Finance Reform Bills, Again” by Graham Moomaw for Virginia Mercury

Ethics

National: “What the Jan. 6 Probe Found Out About Social Media, But Didn’t Report” by Cat Zakrzewski, Cristiano Lima, and Drew Harwell (Washington Post) for MSN

Maryland: “Former Delegate Pleads Guilty to Misconduct in Office for Misusing State Funds to Pay for Middle River Cottage” by William Zorzi for Maryland Matters

New Mexico: “Ex-GOP Candidate Arrested in Shootings at Lawmakers’ Homes” by Rio Yamat (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

Washington: “Lawsuit Filed Over State Lawmakers’ Use of ‘Privilege’ to Deny Access to Public Records” by Shauna Sowersby for The Olympian

Lobbying

National: “How Restaurant Workers Help Pay for Lobbying to Keep Their Wages Low” by David Fahrenthold and Talmon Joseph Smith (New York Times) for Yahoo News

Ohio: “How Dark Money Groups Led Ohio to Redefine Gas as ‘Green Energy’” by Maxine Joselow (Washington Post) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Where Did Arizona Gov. Hobbs’ Inaugural Funds Come From?” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for KAWC

Elections

Ohio: “Military Families Frustrated as States Change Mail Ballot Timelines” by Julie Carr Smyth and Gary Fields (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Pennsylvania: “Driven by Election Deniers, This County Recounted 2020 Votes Last Week” by Trip Gabriel (New York Times) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “Two States Still Observe King-Lee Day, Honoring Robert E. Lee with MLK” by Meena Venkataramanan (Washington Post) for MSN

California: “Ex-San Jose Mayor’s Public Records Reforms Spark Alarm” by Tran Nguyen for San Jose Spotlight

Connecticut: “They Make Money Videotaping Officials. Why and How Some CT Leaders Want to Stop Them” by Sandra Diamond Fox for Middletown Press

Nebraska: “Veteran Head of Political Accountability Commission to Retire in August” by Paul Hammel for Nebraska Examiner

Legislative Issues

Missouri: “Missouri State Lawmakers Revise Their Dress Code for Women” by Eduardo Medina (New York Times) for Yahoo News

Campaign Finance

Massachusetts: “Mass. GOP Chairman May Have Violated Campaign Finance Law, Party Treasurer Alleges, in Escalating Woes for State Republican Party” by Emma Platoff (Boston Globe) for MSN

Virginia: “‘A Missed Opportunit’: Virginia subcommittee on campaign finance reform has little to show after 2-year study” by Jimmy Cloutier for OpenSecrets

Ethics

National: “More Classified Documents Found at Biden’s Wilmington Home, White House Says” by Tyler Pager, Carol Leonnig, and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) for MSN

California: “Deal or No Deal? A Corruption Case Spins Out of Control with a Judge’s Last-Minute Change of Heart” by Richard Winton for Los Angeles Times

Illinois: “ACLU of Illinois Says Lightfoot Campaign Emails to Chicago Teachers May Violate Federal Law; CPS Inspector General Opens Investigation” by Heather Cherone for WTTW

Maryland: “Judges Can Attend Inauguration Gala for Md. Governor, Ethics Panel Rules” by Madeleine O’Neill for Maryland Daily Record

Ohio: “How Sports Betting, Nuclear Bailouts and Undercover FBI Agents Collided in Ohio’s Historic Public Corruption Scandal” by Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Oklahoma: “Campaign Watchdog Sees Evidence of Abuses but Lacks the Funding to Prosecute” by Ben Felder (Oklahoman) for Yahoo News

National/Federal

At Proud Boys Trial, U.S. Aims to Win Another Seditious Conspiracy Case
MSN – Rachel Weiner (Washington Post) | Published: 1/9/2023

Henry “Enrique” Tarrio and four other members of his right-wing group Proud Boys are standing trial on charges of seditious conspiracy in a case that will test the limits of a rarely used law. Prosecutors will seek to convince a jury the riot at the U.S. Capitol was not the spontaneous outburst of a misguided mob but an assault on democracy galvanized by dedicated extremists. The strongest evidence against the Proud Boys comes from on and around January 6, as they discussed storming the Capitol and members of the group engaged in violence. The government’s challenge will be tying that to a broader political plot.

Attorneys Clash in E. Jean Carroll Defamation Case Against Trump
MSN – Keith Alexander (Washington Post) | Published: 1/10/2023

An appeals court heard arguments on whether Donald Trump was acting within his job as president when he denied a writer’s allegations that he sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s. Lawyers for E. Jean Carroll argued Trump acted as a private citizen when he denied raping Carroll, and therefore can be sued like anyone else. Trump’s lawyers and an attorney for the Justice Department countered that his responses were made as part of his job as president, which would effectively end Carroll’s case against him.

Here Are the K Street Lobbyists Closest to McCarthy
Yahoo News – Karl Evers-Hillstrom (The Hill) | Published: 1/11/2023

U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s ascension to speaker of the House could be a boon for a small group of lobbyists within his inner circle. He has relied on a small handful of lobbyists for advice and fundraising help. Now those allies are a hot commodity among corporate clients eager to make inroads with McCarthy, who is in lockstep with corporate America on economic policy but has chastised major companies for wading into social and political issues.

House Narrowly Approves Rules Amid Concerns About McCarthy’s Concessions
Seattle Times – Catie Edmondson (New York Times) | Published: 1/9/2023

House Republicans pushed through an overhaul of operating rules for the new Congress, overcoming the concerns of some rank-and-file members about concessions that Speaker Kevin McCarthy made to the hard right in the desperate and drawn-out process of securing his job. Taken together, the rules increase transparency around how legislation is put together. But they could also make it difficult for the House to carry out even its most basic duties in the next two years, such as funding the government, including the military, or avoiding a catastrophic federal debt default.

How Kevin McCarthy Survived the GOP Revolt to Become House Speaker
MSN – Isaac Arnsdorf, Mariana Sotomayor, Michael Scherer, and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 1/8/2023

Months of posturing and saber-rattling at last gave way to serious talks on changing how the new House would operate, which eventually led to Kevin McCarthy winning the speakership. What emerged was a deal that would secure McCarthy his prize only by diminishing it and putting the House on a collision course for more crises like the one just barely resolved, next time over funding the government or raising the debt limit.

Official U.S. Capitol Tour Guides Told to Only Mention Jan. 6 If Asked
Yahoo News – Joe Heim (Washington Post) | Published: 1/5/2023

Visitors on official guided tours of the U.S. Capitol are peppered with facts about its rich history. But they probably will not hear a word about the January 6, 2021, attack by supporters of Donald Trump who were seeking to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral win. Guides have been told to only refer to January 6 if questioned on a tour, according to former tour guides and people familiar with the Capitol Visitor Center’s operations. It is a policy that in many ways reflects a country at odds with itself, unable to agree on fact and truth and reluctant to engage on the history of a day that threatened democracy.

Scandal-Hit EU Assembly Set to Move on Anti-Corruption Plan
Yahoo News – Lorne Cook (Associated Press) | Published: 1/11/2023

Spurred into action by a major corruption scandal, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola wants to prevent former lawmakers from lobbying on behalf of businesses or governments soon after they leave office and to make public the names of current members who break assembly rules. Metsola also seeks tougher checks on lobbyists and the public listing of any meetings that lawmakers may have with them. The plans were divulged a month after Belgian authorities arrested four people on charges of corruption, money laundering, and participation in a criminal organization.

Second Biden Search Yields Additional Classified Documents
MSN – Devlin Barrett, Matt Viser, Tyler Pager, and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 1/11/2023

President Biden’s personal lawyers discovered a small number of classified documents at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, an institute Biden started after serving as vice president. Legal representatives for the president then announced they found additional classified material at a second location. White House officials have said they are cooperating with the Justice Department and that Biden’s lawyers quickly handed over the documents to the National Archives and Records Administration.

The Mysterious, Unregistered Fund That Raised Big Money for Santos
DNyuz – Alexandra Berzon and Grace Ashford (New York Times) | Published: 1/12/2023

A month before George Santos was elected to Congress, one of his large campaign donors was asked to consider making another sizable contribution. The request came from a Republican loyalist on behalf of RedStone Strategies, which was described in an email to the donor as an “independent expenditure” group. The donor sent $25,000 to a bank account belonging to RedStone Strategies. But where the donor’s money went is unclear. The FEC said it had no evidence RedStone Strategies was registered as a political group, and there do not appear to be any records documenting its donors, contributions, or spending.

The New Soldiers in Propane’s Fight Against Climate Action: Television stars
DNyuz – Hiroko Tabuchi (New York Times) | Published: 1/11/2023

For DIY enthusiasts, Matt Blashaw is a familiar face, judging bathroom remodels or planning surprise home makeovers on popular cable television shows. He also has a strong opinion about how Americans should heat their homes: by burning propane. Less well known is Blashaw is paid by a fossil fuel industry group that has been running a furtive campaign against government efforts to move heating toward electricity made from cleaner sources. The Propane Education and Research Council has spent millions of dollars on “provocative anti-electrification messaging,” using influencers like Blashaw, according to the group’s internal documents.

Trump Campaign Officials Got Subpoena Asking New Questions About Jan. 6
MSN – Josh Dawsey, Devlin Barrett, and Rosalind Helderman (Washington Post) | Published: 1/11/2023

A wide-ranging subpoena sent to Donald Trump’s campaign officials in December shows new areas of investigative interest as part of the Justice Department’s extensive January 6 criminal probe, and lawyers say a grand jury focused on the day’s events and related fundraising has increased its activities in recent months. The document seeks more than two dozen categories of information and includes some questions that were not part of a series of similar subpoenas that were sent to several dozen people in September.

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – Wasilla Lawmaker Advised Not to Solicit Campaign Funds for Oath Keepers Trial Costs
Yahoo News – Sean Maguire (Anchorage Daily News) | Published: 1/6/2023

Staff at the Alaska Public Offices Commission advised Rep. David Eastman not to keep soliciting campaign contributions to pay his legal bills, saying that would run afoul of state law. Anchorage Superior Court Judge Jack McKenna ruled in December that Eastman was eligible to hold public office despite his membership in the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia group that had some members and leadership participate in the riot at the U.S. Capitol. Without being able to solicit campaign contributions, he can still accept donations to a separate legal fund, but as a sitting legislator, the law prohibits him from accepting monetary “gifts” worth $250 or more.

California – Lobbyist’s $1,100 Payment to El Monte Councilmember for Breast Augmentation Lawful, FPPC Rules
San Gabriel Valley Tribune – Jason Henry (Pasadena Star News) | Published: 1/8/2023

The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) found El Monte Councilperson Victoria Martinez Muela did not violate the law by accepting $1,100 for breast augmentation surgery from a friend, even though the friend’s employer had business before the city council. The FPPC determined the payment for the procedure did not constitute a “gift” under state law, would not have been subject to state limits, and did not qualify as reportable income, said Alex Rose, counsel for the agency’s enforcement division.

California – San Jose Lobbyists Skirt Transparency
San Jose Spotlight – Tran Nguyan | Published: 1/5/2023

A review of 2022 disclosure reports shows how some lobbyists failed to divulge details of their meetings with San Jose officials. San Jose adopted lobbying rules in 2007 to increase transparency at City Hall and allow the public a window into how lobbyists influence city business and policies. The ordinance requires lobbyists to submit weekly reports and disclose details, including who their client is, who they meet with, how they communicate, and the topic being discussed.

Colorado – ‘Laughable’: Is it too easy to get on the Denver mayoral ballot?
Denver Post – Joe Rubino | Published: 1/5/2023

It took Leslie Herod’s campaign less than 17 hours to collect the 300 verified voter signatures needed to get the mayoral hopeful on the ballot for Denver’s April 4 municipal election. The speed with which Herod hit the petition mark – turning in her signatures at 4:30 p.m. on the first day signature gathering was allowed – highlights a concern that has been rumbling beneath the surface of Denver elections: is it too easy for candidates and citizens’ initiative to get on the ballot?

Florida – DeSantis Inauguration Planned to Give Donors Special Treatment. They Got Long Lines, Few Seats
MSN – Mary Ellen Klas and Lawrence Mower (Miami Herald) | Published: 1/5/2023

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis proclaimed to a crowd of about 250 people at a candlelight dinner for donors that his swearing-in ceremony was “the most requested ticket” of any inauguration in state history. In fact, organizers sold more tickets than there were seats for the swearing-in, leaving numerous people, including the chief executive officer of Publix and the future speaker of the Florida House, without a place to sit. The treatment of the VIPs left some egos bruised. Many paid between $25,000 and $1 million for sponsorship packages that included seats to the VIP section for the swearing-in ceremony and tickets to the inaugural ball.

Georgia – Fani Willis, the Georgia Prosecutor Investigating Trump, Has Taken on Seemingly Untouchable Targets
MSN – Tom Hamburger, Matthew Brown, and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 1/9/2023

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is considering using Georgia’s racketeering statute in a politically treacherous investigation. The question is whether former President Trump conspired with his allies to break the law and attempt to overturn the 2020 election in the state. Willis finds herself at the center of an inquiry with the potential to make history and influence the course of the next presidential vote. A special grand jury convened as part of the investigation submitted a report that could include recommendations for charges.

Hawaii – Commission Fines Cayetano Campaign, Super PAC Over Josh Green Attack Ads
Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 1/11/2023

The Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission fined gubernatorial candidate Vicky Cayetano’s campaign and her super PAC, Victory Calls. Commission staff found probable cause the campaign improperly coordinated with the PAC to run a print ad in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser attacking Gov. Josh Green, who at the time was a gubernatorial candidate and Cayetano’s opponent in the Democratic primary. The commission voted to fine the campaign and Victory Calls $1,000 jointly for the print ad, meaning either the PAC or the campaign can pay the fine.

Hawaii – Proposal Would Increase Public Funding for Hawaii Campaigns
Yahoo News – Dan Nakaso (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) | Published: 1/10/2023

State Sen. Karl Rhoads plans to introduce legislation this year to help county, state, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs candidates raise more campaign money through public funds to ease their reliance on lobbyists and private donors with the goal of promoting “clean elections.” The proposal follows the guilty pleas of Sen. J. Kalani English and Rep. T.J. Cullen on bribery and corruption charges that led to calls for ethics and fundraising reform that largely did not materialize last year but did lead to a ban on fundraising while the Legislature is in session and to the creation of a House commission on legislative conduct.

Illinois – Ex-U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez Allegedly Lobbied Speaker Michael Madigan for ComEd Board Appointment for Juan Ochoa, According to New Filing
Yahoo News – Jason Meisner and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 1/11/2023

Federal prosecutors revealed new evidence they intend to use against four people accused in an alleged bribery scheme between Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) and then-House Speaker Michael Madigan. Former McPier chief executive Juan Ochoa is expected to testify he enlisted the help of a member of Congress in 2017 to help repair his tattered relationship with Madigan and ultimately secure a lucrative position on ComEd’s board of directors. Sources said the member is ex-U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez. The trial promises to be the biggest corruption trial in Illinois since ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich was convicted in 2011.

Illinois – Lightfoot Campaign Asks CPS Teachers to Encourage Students to Help Her Win Reelection in Return for Credit
WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 1/11/2023

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s reelection campaign sent an email to Chicago Public Schools teachers asking them to encourage their students to volunteer to help Lightfoot win a second term as mayor and earn class credit. The message was sent to teachers’ official work email accounts. As mayor, Lightfoot appoints not only the superintendent of the Chicago Public Schools but also the members of the city Board of Education. Chicago’s ethics ordinance prohibits the use of public resources, including email accounts, for non-official purposes.

Kansas – Prominent Kansas Senate Republican to Pull Double Duty as Kris Kobach Adviser, Legislator
MSN – Andrew Bahl (Topeka Capital Journal) | Published: 1/11/2023

State Sen. J.R. Claeys will serve as a senior adviser to Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, a move that is not unprecedented but has brought concerns about a potential conflict-of-interest. There is nothing in the rules preventing Claeys, who also served as Kobach’s campaign manager during the 2022 election cycle, from simultaneously serving in a state agency. Legislators, both current and past, have worked for executive branch agencies and Kansas Board of Regents institutions, among other day jobs.

Kentucky – Pfizer Gives $1 Million to Republican Party of Kentucky to Expand Its Headquarters
Kentucky Lantern – Tom Loftus | Published: 1/9/2023

In what may be the largest political contribution ever given to a political party in Kentucky, the drug maker Pfizer Inc. gave $1 million last month to the building fund of the state Republican Party. A report filed by Republican Party of Kentucky Building Fund listed the $1 million from Pfizer along with five other big corporate contributions in the final quarter in 2022 totaling $1.65 million. That is an extraordinarily large haul for the fund which had raised only $6,000 during the first three quarters of last year.

Louisiana – Former Louisiana Democrats Chair, State Senator Gets Prison Time for Wire Fraud
Louisiana Illuminator – Greg La Rose | Published: 1/11/2023

Former state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson was sentenced to 22 months in prison after admitting she used money from her campaign and the Louisiana Democratic Party to support a gambling addiction. Peterson was accused of pilfering $147,000 from her campaign and party coffers through a series of payments to close political allies.

Massachusetts – SJC Rules DiMasi’s Federal Corruption Convictions Do Not Disqualify Him, or Others, from Lobbying on Beacon Hill
MSN – John Element (Boston Globe) | Published: 1/5/2023

Secretary of State William Galvin misinterpreted Massachusetts law when he denied former House Speaker Sal DiMasi’s registration as a lobbyist in 2019, the state’s highest court ruled. The Supreme Judicial Court said amendments to ethics laws enacted by state legislators in 2009 specified that only state corruption convictions could be used to prevent someone from registering as a lobbyist for 10 years after being convicted. DiMasi was convicted in federal court of fraud and extortion for taking bribes while in office.

Massachusetts – The Latest Challenge for the Beleaguered Massachusetts State GOP: Tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid bills
MSN – Emma Platoff (Boston Globde) | Published: 1/10/2023

Fresh off an electoral defeat in the November midterms. the Massachusetts Republican Party now appears to have mounting financial and legal problems, too – a pile of overdue bills, much of that money owed to an opposition research firm that party leaders hired last year to dig up dirt on Maura Healey during her run for governor. As of late December, the state GOP owed at least $86,000 to at least two outside vendors hired for election-related services, bills that were late by more than two months. Republican sources, including one familiar with the party’s direct mail process, estimated the debt far exceeds that amount.

New Mexico – Democratic Officials’ Homes, Offices Shot Up in New Mexico
Associated Press News – Susan Montoya Bryan and Morgan Lee | Published: 1/6/2023

The homes or offices of five elected Democratic officials in New Mexico, including the new attorney general, have been hit by gunfire over the past month, and authorities are working to determine if the attacks are connected. Nobody was injured in the shootings. Federal officials have warned about the potential for violence and attacks on government officials and buildings, and the Department of Homeland Security has said domestic extremism remains a top terrorism threat in the U.S. Local officials have also faced an increasing number of threats in recent years.

New York – Lawmaker’s Victory May Cost Him Coveted Manhattan Apartment
DNyuz – Luis Ferré-Sadurní (New York Times) | Published: 1/6/2023

Democrats in the New York Assembly had been considering whether to expel a Republican member because of evidence suggesting he lived in Manhattan, not in the South Brooklyn district he was recently elected to represent. But the efforts to remove Assemblyperson Lester Chang were seen as politically contentious. So Democratic leaders decided they would not try to remove Chang. But even though Mr. Chang will keep his seat, he may be at risk of losing something equally precious: his rent-stabilized apartment in Manhattan.

New York – Rensselaer County’s Former GOP Elections Commissioner Admits Voter Fraud
Albany Times Union – Robert Galvin | Published: 1/11/2023

Jason Schofield, Rensselaer County’s former elections commissioner, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of voter fraud charges, admitting he fraudulently filed absentee ballots in 2021 using the personal information of at least eight voters without their permission. The plea is part of a broader, ongoing investigation by the U.S. Justice Department that led to the guilty plea of ex-Troy City Council Member Kimberly Ashe-McPherson. The probe is examining the election activities of several top county officials.

New York – Trump Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg Sentenced to Five Months in Jail
MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 1/10/2023

Longtime Trump Organization finance chief Allen Weisselberg, who pleaded guilty to 15 counts including tax fraud, conspiracy, and grand larceny, was sentenced to serve five months in jail. Authorities had promised Weisselberg a steeply reduced sentence in exchange for testifying against the Trump Organization. He had faced up to 15 years in prison. The company was convicted of tax crimes. Donald Trump was not charged with wrongdoing.

North Dakota – As Lawmakers Return to Bismarck, Lobbyists Fill the Capitol
Grand Forks Herald – Jeremy Turley (Forum News Service) | Published: 1/6/2023

Lobbyists are sure to be present wherever laws are made, and the North Dakota Capitol is no exception. For each of the state’s 141 lawmakers, there are more than two registered lobbyists, and their numbers are expected to grow as the Legislature’s four-month session unfolds. Lobbyists, whether paid or not, are a vital piece of the Capitol ecosystem, according to policymakers and political scientists.

North Dakota – Bill Would Add 9,000 State Employees to North Dakota Ethics Panel’s Jurisdiction
Jamestown Sun – Jack Dura (Bismarck Tribune) | Published: 1/6/2023

North Dakota’s Ethics Commission is asking the state Legislature to expand the panel’s oversight authority to include thousands of state employees. Senate Bill 2048 includes several changes requested by the commission, such as extending the time frame to notify an accused person of an ethics complaint and adding criteria for who can make complaints. The bill also would add about 8,960 executive branch employees to the ethics panel’s jurisdiction over “public officials.”

Ohio – Ex-Ohio Governor Candidate Joe Blystone Fined $105K, Can’t Run for Office for 5 Years
Yahoo News – Jessie Balmert (Cincinnati Enquirer) | Published: 1/5/2023

Joe Blystone, who unsuccessfully challenged Gov. Mike DeWine in the Republican primary election last May, will pay a $105,000 fine and not run for office for five years as part of a settlement with the Ohio Elections Commission. The $105,000 fine is what is left in Blystone’s campaign account minus $75,000 placed in reserve for a pending lawsuit. The case stemmed from a slew of campaign finance violations committed by Blystone.

Oklahoma – After Dark Money Flooded Elections, Oklahoma GOP Chair Wants Changes to Help Political Parties
Tulsa World – Carmen Forman | Published: 1/11/2023

After millions of dollars in “dark money” flowed into Oklahoma elections last year, the state Republican Party chairperson is seeking reforms. A.J. Ferate asked the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to consider updating campaign finance rules so political parties can raise more money and provide additional assistance to state candidates. Corporations and other entities can contribute unlimited sums of money to influence elections through groups that do not have to report their donors. Political parties have to report their campaign fundraising and spending.

Pennsylvania – DA Larry Krasner’s Impeachment Trial Gets Indefinitely Postponed by the Pa. Senate
MSN – Ellie Rushing (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 1/11/2023

The Pennsylvania Senate voted to indefinitely postpone the impeachment trial of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. A Commonwealth Court ruling to dismiss the articles of impeachment as legally insufficient, the future of the trial – and the timeline for when, or even if, it resumes – remains uncertain. Judge Ellen Ceisler said the articles did not sufficiently demonstrate Krasner failed to perform his duties or acted with an improper or corrupt motive, a standard required under the state constitution to impeach a public official.

Rhode Island – As Judge Caprio Moves On, Questions About ‘Caught in Providence,’ and the Profits, Are Raised
Yahoo News – Katherine Gregg (Providence Journal) | Published: 1/9/2023

In 2015, The Rhode Island Ethics Commission gave the chief judge of Providence Municipal Court, Frank Caprio, its blessing to expand his “Caught in Providence” television show into wider markets. Caprio told the commission that “he has never and will never accept financial compensation of any kind from the broadcast of these Municipal Court proceedings.” But the judge’s brother, David Caprio, chair of the state’s higher education board, recently acknowledged he has made a little more than $100,000 a year from the broadcast, which he did not list on his ethics-disclosure filing.

South Carolina – South Carolina US House District Ruled Racial Gerrymander
Yahoo News – James Pollard and Jeffrey Collins (Associated Press) | Published: 1/5/2023

Federal judges ordered South Carolina lawmakers to draw new congressional maps, ruling the U.S. House district lines of a seat flipped by Democrats four years ago were intentionally redrawn to split Black neighborhoods to dilute their voting power. The state used the maps in this past November’s midterm elections after the Republican-dominated state Legislature redrew the lines following the 2020 U.S. Census. With Republicans holding a thin margin in the House, any change to competitive districts has a chance to alter the balance of power after the 2024 elections.

Utah – The Utah Executive Ethics Committee Has Been Understaffed for 2 Years
Local Today – Emily Anderson Stern (Salt Lake Tribune) | Published: 1/11/2023

After major scandals that led to the FBI investigating a Utah attorney general and lieutenant governor, the Legislature passed a bill establishing an ethics committee to review complaints against the state’s executive branch. But for nearly two years, the Executive Ethics Committee operated with fewer than half its legally required members and has limited public avenues to file a grievance against Utah’s top officials.

Washington – Seattle Ethics Committee Restricts Collection of Democracy Vouchers
Real Change – Guy Oron | Published: 1/11/2023

The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission amended the city’s democracy voucher program, limiting the ability of paid campaign staffers to collect vouchers, a move campaigns say could reduce the impact of the system. The program allocates four $25 vouchers to eligible Seattle residents who can donate them to candidates. Previously, staff could collect replacement forms from potential donors. That made it easy for supporters to give their vouchers immediately to a campaign. Now, supporters must turn in a replacement form to a volunteer or to the city directly, either by mail or online.

Washington – Sutherland to Pay $2.5K to Settle Ethics Violation Complaint
Everett Herald – Jerry Cornfield | Published: 1/6/2023

State Rep. Robert Sutherland will pay $2,500 to settle a complaint alleging he violated Washington’s ethics law when he berated and swore at a House security official and then bragged about it at a political rally hours later on the Capitol campus. Sutherland and Sean Hartsock, the chamber’s director of security, became embroiled in a heated exchange when the lawmaker sought access to a building he had been barred from entering because he had not taken a required COVID test.

West Virginia – W.Va. Journalist Let Go After Reporting on Abuse Allegations
Yahoo News – Leah Willingham (Associated Press) | Published: 1/7/2023

West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) reporter Amelia Ferrell Knisely said she was told to stop reporting on the Department of Health and Human Resources after leaders of the agency “threatened to discredit” the network. She then learned her position was being eliminated. Knisely had reported about alleged abuse of people with disabilities within the state agency. She said her news director told her the order came from WVPB Executive Director Butch Antolini, former communications director for Gov. Jim Justice. The governor has tried to eliminate funding for WVPB and was accused of appointing partisan operatives to its board.

Campaign Finance

Hawaii: “Proposal Would Increase Public Funding for Hawaii Campaigns” by Dan Nakaso (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) for Yahoo News

Oklahoma: “After Dark Money Flooded Elections, Oklahoma GOP Chair Wants Changes to Help Political Parties” by Carmen Forman for Tulsa World

Washington: “Seattle Ethics Committee Restricts Collection of Democracy Vouchers” by Guy Oron for Real Change

Elections

New York: “Rensselaer County’s Former GOP Elections Commissioner Admits Voter Fraud” by Robert Galvin for Albany Times Union

Ethics

National: “Attorneys Clash in E. Jean Carroll Defamation Case Against Trump” by Keith Alexander (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Biden Aides Find Second Batch of Classified Documents at New Location” by Carol Lee and Ken Dilanian for NBC News

Illinois: “Ex-U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez Allegedly Lobbied Speaker Michael Madigan for ComEd Board Appointment for Juan Ochoa, According to New Filing” by Jason Meisner and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

Europe: “Scandal-Hit EU Assembly Set to Move on Anti-Corruption Plan” by Lorne Cook (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

National: “The New Soldiers in Propane’s Fight Against Climate Action: Television stars” by Hiroko Tabuchi (New York Times) for DNyuz

National: “Here Are the K Street Lobbyists Closest to McCarthy” by Karl Evers-Hillstrom (The Hill) for Yahoo News