January 19, 2022 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “How More Than $404 Million in Taxpayer Money Got Locked Away in a Forgotten Government Fund – and Lawmakers Won’t Spend It or Return It” by Dave Levinthal (Business Insider) for Yahoo News Massachusetts: “Lyft Makes Largest […]

January 18, 2022 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Tennessee: “Former Tennessee House Speaker Casada and Ex-Aide Subpoenaed Over Faith PAC” by Andy Sher (Chattanooga Times Free Press) for Yahoo News Elections Colorado: “Grand Jury to Investigate Election Tampering Allegations in Mesa County” by Saja Hindi (Denver […]

January 17, 2022 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “FEC Report Shows How National Party Committees Allegedly Blow Past Contribution Limits” by Isaac Stanley-Becker (Washington Post) for MSN California: “Tech Companies Spend Millions on California Political Gifts” by Don Thompson (Associated Press) for MSN Tennessee: “State […]

January 14, 2022 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – January 14, 2022

National/Federal Gaetz’s Ex-Girlfriend Appears Before Grand Jury in Sex Trafficking Probe Seattle Times – Matt Zapotosky (Washington Post) | Published: 1/12/2022 The ex-girlfriend of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz appeared before a federal grand jury investigating him for possible sex trafficking of […]

National/Federal

Gaetz’s Ex-Girlfriend Appears Before Grand Jury in Sex Trafficking Probe
Seattle Times – Matt Zapotosky (Washington Post) | Published: 1/12/2022

The ex-girlfriend of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz appeared before a federal grand jury investigating him for possible sex trafficking of a minor, a signal the probe remains active more than a year after it began. Investigators are exploring whether Gaetz paid for sex in violation of federal sex-trafficking laws and have been interested in his dealings with a 17-year-old girl, people familiar with the matter have said. The appearance of his ex-girlfriend before a federal grand jury is a potentially ominous sign for Gaetz.

Jerome Powell Says the Fed Will Tighten Trading Rules After an Ethics Scandal
New York Times – Jeanna Smialek | Published: 1/11/2022

Jerome Powell, chairperson of the Federal Reserve, told lawmakers at his nomination hearing that the central bank was making changes to rules surrounding financial trades to prevent the kind of eyebrow-raising transactions surrounding three top Fed officials. The Fed has come under fire for allowing officials to trade securities for their own portfolios in 2020, a year in which the Fed was actively saving many asset classes and markets. That included notable trades by two of the 12 regional reserve bank presidents and the Fed’s vice chair.

Judge Mulls Whether Trump’s Silence on Jan. 6 Could Amount to ‘Agreement’ with Rioters
MSN – Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 1/10/2022

Donald Trump’s hours of silence while a violent mob ransacked the Capitol – egged on by his own words and tweets – could be plausibly construed as agreement with rioters’ actions, a federal judge suggested. U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta made the analysis as he pressed Trump’s lawyers about their efforts to dismiss a series of lawsuits against the former president seeking to hold him financially liable for inciting the January 6 insurrection.

Justice Dept. Forms New Domestic Terrorism Unit to Address Growing Threat
MSN – Matt Zapotosky and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) | Published: 1/11/2022

The Justice Department is forming a new domestic terrorism unit. Matthew Olsen, head of the department’s National Security Division, announced the unit before the Senate Judiciary Committee, noting the number of FBI investigations of suspected domestic violent extremists – those accused of planning or committing crimes in the name of domestic political goals – had more than doubled since the spring of 2020. His testimony comes days after the anniversary of the riot at the Capitol, an event some lawmakers say showed the FBI underestimated the threat posed by domestic extremists and violence-prone members of far-right groups.

Kevin McCarthy Rejects Request by House Jan. 6 Committee for Information About Communications with Trump, Mark Meadows
MSN – Jacueline Alemany and Tom Hamburger (Washington Post) | Published: 1/12/2022

The House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol requested that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy voluntarily provide information about his communications with former President Trump and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Details of those conversations could provide the committee with further insight into Trump’s state of mind at the time, wrote U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, the panel’s chairperson. McCarthy said he will not cooperate, arguing in a statement that its “only objective is to attempt to damage its political opponents.”

Pence and Jan. 6 Committee Engage in High-Stakes Dance Over Testimony
Yahoo News – Michael Schmidt and Alan Feuer (New York Times) | Published: 1/10/2022

Since the House select committee investigating the assault on the Capitol was formed last summer, former Vice President Mike Pence’s lawyer and the panel have been talking about whether he would be willing to speak to investigators. But as Pence began sorting through a complex calculation about his cooperation, he is said to have grown disillusioned with the idea of voluntary cooperation. For the committee, Pence’s testimony would be an opportunity to establish how Donald Trump’s pressuring him to block the certification of the 2020 election helped inspire the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Rep. Jim Jordan Refuses to Cooperate with Jan. 6 Committee Investigating Capitol Attack
MSN – Annabelle Timsit (Washington Post) | Published: 1/10/2022

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan is refusing a request to be interviewed by the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob, calling it an “unprecedented and inappropriate demand.” Jordan declined to comply with the request to appear before the panel to discuss his communication with Trump on the day of the assault. Jordan previously said he could not recall how many times he spoke with Trump on January 6 but they spoke at least once.

Schumer Sets Up Final Senate Confrontation on Voting Rights and the Filibuster
MSN – Mike DeBonis (Washington Post) | Published: 1/12/2022

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer prepared Democrats for the final phase of a year-long push to pass voting rights legislation, sketching out legislative maneuvers that could launch debate on a pair of stalled bills and force a confrontation over the Senate’s rules in the coming days. The details of the next steps come as President Biden has launched his own aggressive push to convince his fellow Democrats to band together and overhaul the filibuster to overcome strict GOP opposition to voting rights bills.

The Battle to Prevent Another Jan. 6 Features a New Weapon: The algorithm
MSN – Steven Zeitchik (Washington Post) | Published: 1/6/2022

For many Americans who witnessed the attack on the U.S. Capitol last year, the idea of mobs of people storming a bedrock of democracy was unthinkable. For the data scientists who watched it unfold, the reaction was different: we have been thinking about this for a long time. The sentiment comes from a group working in a field known as unrest prediction. The group takes a promising if fraught approach that applies the complex methods of machine-learning to the mysterious roots of political violence. Centered on the developing world, its systems are slowly being retooled with a new goal: predicting the next January 6.

When Lobbyists and Legislators Socialize, Lobbyists Are More Likely to Get What They Want
MSN – Sara Sadhwani, Pamela Lopez, Christian Grose, and Antoine Yoshinaka | Published: 1/12/2022

Lobbying often takes place off Capitol Hill. Whether it is dinner at the Charlie Palmer steakhouse in Washington, or the hosting of public officials at receptions and bars, lobbying in social situations is a key tool of professional advocates. To explore the impact of social lobbying, researchers conducted an experiment in the California Legislature. They say they found interest groups are more likely to get what they ask for when they meet legislators or their staff socially. Much like everyone else, public officials are more easily persuaded in such settings.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Cyber Ninjas, the Firm Behind the Audit in Arizona’s Maricopa County, Says It’s Closing and Letting All Its Employees Go
Business Insider – Cheryl Teh | Published: 1/7/2022

Cyber Ninjas, the company behind the 2020 election audit in Maricopa County, Arizona, said it was closing and letting all its staff go as it faces staggering daily fines for refusing to turn over public record related to the audit. A judge in Arizona said Cyber Ninjas would be fined $50,000 a day if it did not immediately turn over the records. It is unclear how many employees Cyber Ninjas has on its payroll, though LinkedIn lists its company size as two to 10 employees.

California – Former High-Level Lawyer with L.A. City Attorney Agrees to Plead Guilty in DWP Scandal
MSN – Dakota Smith and David Zahniser (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 1/10/2022

A former high-level lawyer in Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer’s office agreed to plead guilty in the federal corruption probe of the Department of Water and Power (DWP) billing debacle, becoming the first staffer under Feuer to do so. Thomas Pierce agreed to plead guilty to one count of aiding and abetting extortion. In his plea agreement, Pierce admitted he threatened to fire one of the city’s outside lawyers unless that lawyer paid off a person who was threatening to reveal damaging information about city lawyers’ handling of the DWP case.

California – What’s Behind the ‘Great Resignation’ of California Lawmakers?
MSN – Ben Christopher (CalMatters) | Published: 1/10/2022

Propelled by approaching term limits, new district lines, and a raft of political opportunities outside the state Capitol, 14 California lawmakers have sought employment elsewhere. That does not include the seven members, all senators, who are barred from seeking reelection in 2022 by term limits. Some incumbents and lobbyists say this year’s changing of the guard has the potential to shake up the Capitol’s policy-making dynamic.

Colorado – Mesa County Clerk Who Embraced Conspiracy Theories Given 3 Days to Accept Election Security Oversight
Denver Post – Saja Hindi | Published: 1/12/2022

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold wants Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters to sign documents saying she will comply with election security protocols that place limits on what she can do before Peters can resume her duties as the county’s designated election official. In October, a judge barred Peters and Deputy Clerk Belinda Knisley from overseeing the 2021 election. Peters has been held up as a prominent figure among election conspiracy theorists who claim the 2020 election was stolen.

Connecticut – Top Prosecutor’s Fate Will Await Completion of Investigation, Judge Says
Connecticut Mirror – Mark Pazniokas | Published: 1/12/2022

The commission with the power to hire and fire top prosecutors in Connecticut is awaiting completion of an investigation of how Chief State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr. came to hire the daughter of a top state budget official while he lobbied the budget office for raises. Colangelo hired Anastasia Diamantis while he was lobbying her father, Kostantinos Diamantis, who was deputy secretary of the Office of Policy and Management before his firing. The state contracted with an outside attorney “to conduct a factual investigation on behalf of the Office of the Governor regarding possible improprieties by state employees and possibly others.”

Delaware – Jury Finds State Sen. Darius Brown Not Guilty of Misdemeanor Charges
Yahoo News – Xerxes Wilson (Delaware News Journal) | Published: 1/6/2022

A jury found Delaware Sen. Darius Brown not guilty of misdemeanor offensive touching and disorderly conduct. The trial saw a woman accuse Brown of hitting her in the head and throwing a glass that shattered in her proximity while they were at a restaurant. Senate President Pro Tempore David Sokola said regardless of whether Brown’s conduct was not criminal, “it remains clear” Brown has been involved in “multiple confrontations in public spaces” over the past year. Sokola said the Senate’s Rules and Ethics Committee will review allegations against Brown in the coming weeks.

Florida – Florida Officials Tried to Steer Education Contract to Former Lawmaker’s Company
Yahoo News – Lawrence Mower and Ana Ceballos (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 1/11/2022

The Florida Department of Education is under fire for trying to steer a multimillion-dollar contract to a company whose chief executive has ties to the state’s education commissioner. Records and interviews show that before the Education Department asked for bids, it was already in advanced talks with the company to do the work, subverting a process designed to eliminate favoritism. The company is MGT Consulting, led by former lawmaker Trey Traviesa, a longtime colleague of the state’s education commissioner, Richard Corcoran.

Florida – Florida Senate Accuses Lawyer Who Submitted Redistricting Map of Violating Rules
Miami Herald – Mary Ellen Klas | Published: 1/6/2022

The Florida Senate accused a staff attorney for the ACLU of Florida of misinformation after he appeared as a private citizen before a redistricting committee to present a map he had drawn but failed to identify his employer, which had no role in the submission. The Senate changed its rules this year regarding map submissions and now requires anyone who attempts to address legislators in a public meeting to submit a disclosure form that indicates if they are a lobbyist or getting expenses paid. The rules also prohibit lawmakers from considering maps submitted by the public unless a legislator explicitly requested the map in writing.

Florida – FPL Makes Unusual Public Attack on Miami Herald After Solar Power Coverage
MSN – David Ovalle (Miami Herald) | Published: 1/6/2022

Florida Power & Light (FPL) launched an unusual public attack on The Miami Herald and its senior Tallahassee reporter over coverage of the utility company’s lobbying on solar power policy, criticism the newspaper’s top editor called “unfair.” FPL published a piece on its own website criticizing the news organization for not publishing the entirety of an editorial written in response to a Miami Herald story co-authored by Mary Ellen Klas about the company’s role in preparing legislation affecting rooftop solar power generation in Florida. FPL’s post was titled: “Truth Matters: Why is the Miami Herald afraid to let its readers hear opposing voices?”

Georgia – Perdue Sues Over New Georgia Fundraising Law
Yahoo News – Joseph Coi (The Hill) | Published: 1/6/2022

David Perdue’s gubernatorial campaign filed a lawsuit challenging a state law that critics say gives Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp an advantage in the race. Last year, Kemp signed Senate Bill 221 into law, allowing those vying for governor, lieutenant governor, and party leadership roles to create “leadership committees” with no caps on individual campaign contributions. The law also does away with limits on when committees can raise money. Critics have argued it gives incumbent candidates an unfair advantage, as nonincumbent candidates must win a party primary before they can establish a leadership committee.

Idaho – Idaho Statehouse Security: Is the ‘people’s house’ a safe place for the people?
KPVI – Clark Corbin (Idaho Capital Sun) | Published: 1/9/2022

Political organizer Alicia Abbott worries that members of the public will not feel comfortable or safe at the Idaho Capitol, whether it is due to the anger or crowds or lack of COVID-19 protocols like masking and distancing. She is concerned that would rob people of their ability to participate in the legislative process and could limit the perspective of public testimony presented to lawmakers during bill hearings. Abbott is not the only one who is worried about the potential for violence and politics to clash.

Iowa – Republican Leadership Bars Journalists from Iowa Senate Floor, Worrying Press Advocates
MSN – Kim Bellware (Washington Post) | Published: 1/8/2022

Republican leaders in the state Senate told journalists they will no longer be allowed to work on the chamber floor, a change that breaks with a more than 140-year tradition in the Iowa Capitol. The move raised concerns among free press and freedom of information advocates who said it is a blow to transparency and open government that makes it harder for the public to understand, let alone scrutinize, elected officials. The new rule denies reporters access to the press benches near senators’ desks, a proximity that statehouse reporters said is crucial for the most accurate coverage.

Kentucky – Senate Bill Would Block State Contracts If Bidders’ Lobbyists Are Convicted of Crimes
Yahoo News – John Cheves (Lexington Herald-Leader) | Published: 1/10/2022

A Kentucky Senate bill would block state contracts from going to companies for five years after their lobbyists are convicted of crimes related to helping those companies win those contracts. If the language in Senate Bill 46 sounds specific, that is because the sponsor has in mind a particular contract and a particular lobbyist and particular crimes. Sen. Stephen Meredith said he objects to a $51.7 million contract renewal awarded by the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet in 2020 to Cannon Cochran Management Services.

Maryland – Howard County Council Member Outraged by Denial of Matching Campaign Funds, Calling It Political Manipulation
MSN – Katie Long (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 1/12/2022

A technicality in the law resulted in Howard County candidates being denied matching campaign funds this election season. To be eligible for up to $85,000 in matching funds, county council candidates must collect at least $10,000 from at least 125 donations. These funds are only available for candidates in contested races, meaning at least two candidates’ names must appear on the ballot. The rules also state the determination date for when a race is “contested” is six months prior to the state filing deadline. This language is what resulted in the withholding of funds from council member Deb Jung.

Michigan – Judge Tosses GOP Challenge to Exception for Recall Donations
MSN – David Eggers (Associated Press) | Published: 1/6/2022

A federal judge dismissed Republicans’ lawsuit challenging the ability of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s reelection campaign to collect excess donations under an exception for recall attempts, saying they lack the standing to sue. U.S. District Court Judge Janet Neff ruled state GOP Chairperson Ron Weiser and the party failed to show they had suffered a “concrete and particularized injury.” She also said they could have given unlimited amounts to recall committees opposing the Democratic governor but did not. Republicans said they would appeal.

Montana – Montana Conservation Voters Action Fund Facing Fine for Campaign Finance Violations
Helena Independent Record – Nolan Lister | Published: 1/12/2022

Montana Conservation Voters Action Fund is facing a fine for failing to file reports on its spending in municipal elections in Helena, Missoula, and Billings last year. As a registered political committee, the group is permitted to engage in these actions. But it failed to report its expenses as required. “Unfortunately, our vendor failed to submit the required reports related to our work …,” said Jake Brown, the organization’s political director.

New Mexico – New Mexico Ethics Commission to Consider Charges Against Dow
Yahoo News – Robert Nott (Santa Fe New Mexican) | Published: 1/10/2022

The general counsel for the State Ethics Commission recommended a public hearing to determine whether New Mexico Rep. Rebecca Dow, a GOP candidate for governor in the June primary, violated government conduct and financial disclosure rules in connection with her work for a nonprofit she founded, AppleTree Educational Center, a faith-based early childhood education provider. A complaint raised questions about whether Dow accurately disclosed details about her position and salary with AppleTree. It also said there is evidence she may have used her legislative position to advocate for the nonprofit.

New Mexico – Public Financing the Common Factor for Winners of ABQ Campaigns in 2021
Albuquerque Journal – Jessica Dyer | Published: 1/9/2022

Whether Republican or Democrat, incumbent or political newcomer, every candidate who won a position in Albuquerque’s municipal government during the 2021 election cycle had at least one thing in common: all ran for office on the city’s public financing system. But the program that has fueled so many recent election wins also continues to fuel controversy and doubt.

New York – Cuomo Lawyer Fires Warning at Ethics Agency
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 1/12/2022

An attorney representing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo notified New York’s ethics oversight panel that it is to preserve “all evidence and documentation” concerning its efforts to force Cuomo to repay $5.1 million in proceeds from a 2020 book deal. The letter appears to be a warning shot to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics that if the panel continues attempts to force Cuomo to repay the funds that he earned from writing the book, Cuomo will sue. Cuomo will also seek to dig into the panel’s own machinations.

New York – Eric Adams Cuts His Brother’s Duties After Giving Him Top Police Job
New York Times – Dana Rubenstein and William Rashbaum | Published: 1/12/2022

When Mayor Eric Adams named a Virginia parking administrator and retired police sergeant to a top position in the New York Police Department, he said the man had one qualification that no one else there possessed: he was the mayor’s brother. Bernard Adams, 56, a former police sergeant who retired from the force in 2006 after 20 years, has been given one of the most elite jobs in city government: overseeing the unit that will protect the mayor’s physical safety. The mayor’s fundraising tactics have, tested the boundaries of campaign finance and law, and the hiring has amplified concerns that Mayor Adams pays too little heed to ethics.

New York – GOP Sues Over Law Letting Noncitizens Vote in NYC Elections
MSN – Marina Vileneuve (Associated Press) | Published: 1/10/2022

Republicans sued to prevent noncitizens from voting in New York City elections under a new local law that allows more than 800,000 noncitizens and “Dreamers” in New York City to vote in municipal elections as early as next year. They still cannot vote for president or members of Congress or in statewide elections. Republicans said the law violates the state constitution, which says, “every citizen shall be entitled to vote at every election” provided a citizen is at least 18 years old and a “resident of this state” and the locality for 30 days before an election.

New York – Hochul Moves to Scrap Much-Criticized Ethics Agency
Buffalo News – Tom Precious | Published: 1/7/2022

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed reforms for the Joint Commission on Public Integrity (JCOPE). She would get rid of the system by which JCOPE board members are selected. Board members are now chosen by the governor and legislative leaders. Hochul wants a rotating five-member panel of law school deans – or, more likely, their designees – from the 15 state-accredited law schools in New York. Hochul also would scrap the special voting system JCOPE can now employ in which a minority of members can end an investigation. The reconstituted agency would still be the reporting and enforcement entity of the lobbying industry in Albany.

New York – Hochul’s Taxpayer-Funded Air Travel May Violate Ethics Rules
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 1/6/2022

On October 4, Gov. Kathy Hochul flew from Albany to New York City on a state-owned airplane. She went to Brooklyn to sign a bill, then held three campaign-related events before flying back to Albany in the evening. Although a major part of the day was dedicated to Hochul winning a full term in November’s election, her campaign did not reimburse taxpayers for any portion of the day’s travel. During Hochul’s first 45 days in office, on at least three separate days, the governor’s use of state aircraft has raised questions about whether there has been any misuse of taxpayer resources, according to a review of public records.

North Carolina – North Carolina Court Declines to Toss Out GOP-Drawn House Map
Yahoo News – Ally Mutnick (Politico) | Published: 1/11/2022

A North Carolina trial court dealt a setback to Democrats when it declined to strike down Republican-drawn congressional and legislative maps that had been challenged as illegal partisan gerrymanders. The ruling is the latest in a flurry of litigation and court orders muddying North Carolina’s 2022 elections and leaving its political future for the next decade in limbo. The Democratic-aligned plaintiffs who brought the suit immediately said they will appeal to the state Supreme Court, where their party has a narrow majority.

Ohio – Campaign Finance Watchdog Sues FEC Over Ohio Dark Money Group
Ohio Capital Journal – Nick Evans | Published: 1/11/2022

Two years ago, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed an FEC complaint against an Ohio-based “dark money” group called Freedom Vote. Attorneys with the FEC investigated and demonstrated violations occurred but the commission deadlocked. CREW has filed a new complaint, this time against the FEC itself. That is because despite an overwhelming set of evidence, commissioners failed to act against Freedom Vote. The commission deadlocked last November on whether to move forward with any kind of punishment.

Ohio – Ohio’s House Bill 6 Scandal Widened in 2021, but More Is Yet to Come in 2022
MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 12/30/2021

Ohio’s House Bill 6 scandal took on a new dimension in 2021, with FirstEnergy Corp. paying a $230 million fine for bribing top state officials, lawmakers passing a partial repeal of the infamous energy law, and ex- House Speaker Larry Householder being kicked out of the Legislature. There is more to come in 2022, as Householder’s upcoming trial on a federal corruption charge, as well as multiple civil lawsuits, are likely to reveal even more scandalous details about the passage of the legislation.

Oregon – Secretary of State Rules Kristof Ineligible to Run for Oregon Governor
Yahoo News – Connor Radnovich (Salem Statesman-Journal) | Published: 1/6/2022

Former New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof cannot run for Oregon governor because he does not meet the residency requirements to hold office, the secretary of state’s office announced. The state constitution requires a candidate for governor to have been a “resident within this state” for three years prior to the general election. Evidence reviewed by elections officials showed Kristof was instead a resident of New York until late 2020 or early 2021.

Tennessee – Nashville Council Member Jonathan Hall Faces 14 Potential Campaign Finance Violations
MSN – Cassandra Stephenson (The Tennessean) | Published: 1/7/2022

Metropolitan Councilperson Jonathan Hall faces more than a dozen potential campaign finance violations that could lead to an audit or civil penalties. Hall failed to file multiple mandatory financial reports on time, or at all, during election cycles in 2018 and 2019, according to a letter sent from Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance Executive Director Bill Young. Of the financial reports that Hall’s campaign did file, some lack required donor and vendor information and itemization of expenses. Some contain unexplained discrepancies deemed “troubling” by Assistant District Attorney General Brian Ewald.

Washington – A Rural Washington School Board Race Shows How Far-Right Extremists Are Shifting to Local Power
Seattle Times – Hannah Allam (Washington Post) | Published: 1/8/2022

In recent years, far-right groups have been moving away from national organizing to focus on building grassroots support, harnessing conservative outrage to influence school boards and other local offices. That effort was stepped up after the attack on the U.S. Capitol left much of the militant right under federal scrutiny and in operational disarray. Eatonville, Washington, is among several rural, conservative parts of the West where members of self-styled militias are making inroads through what researchers call a mix of opportunism and intimidation.

Wisconsin – Supreme Court Clears Way for Liberal Group to Depose Assembly Speaker Robin Vos
Yahoo News – Patrick Marley (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) | Published: 1/11/2022

The Wisconsin Supreme Court ended Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’ attempt to avoid a deposition, setting the stage for him to take questions under oath over whether he has followed the state’s open records law. He sought to avoid answering questions from the liberal group American Oversight, which has been seeking records of a partisan review of the 2020 election ordered by Vos.

January 12, 2022 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Elections New York: “GOP Sues Over Law Letting Noncitizens Vote in NYC Elections” by Marina Vileneuve (Associated Press) for MSN Washington: “A Rural Washington School Board Race Shows How Far-Right Extremists Are Shifting to Local Power” by Hannah Allam (Washington […]

January 11, 2022 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance New Mexico: “Public Financing the Common Factor for Winners of ABQ Campaigns in 2021” by Jessica Dyer for Albuquerque Journal Ethics National: “Rep. Jim Jordan Refuses to Cooperate with Jan. 6 Committee Investigating Capitol Attack” by Annabelle Timsit […]

January 10, 2022 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Georgia: “Perdue Sues Over New Georgia Fundraising Law” by Joseph Choi (The Hill) for Yahoo News Michigan: “Judge Tosses GOP Challenge to Exception for Recall Donations” by David Eggers (Associated Press) for MSN Elections Oregon: “Secretary of State […]

January 7, 2022 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – January 7, 2021

National/Federal Bureau of Prisons Director to Resign After Scandal-Plagued Tenure During Pandemic MSN – Brian Pietsch and Matt Zapotosky (Washington Post) | Published: 1/6/2022 Michael Carvajal, the director of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons whose tenure at the agency was marred […]

National/Federal

Bureau of Prisons Director to Resign After Scandal-Plagued Tenure During Pandemic
MSN – Brian Pietsch and Matt Zapotosky (Washington Post) | Published: 1/6/2022

Michael Carvajal, the director of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons whose tenure at the agency was marred by scandals and pandemic-induced struggles, will resign after nearly two years in the top position. In November, U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to fire Carvajal after an investigation by the Associated Press found the Bureau of Prisons was a “hotbed of abuse, graft, and corruption [that] has turned a blind eye to employees accused of misconduct.”

Complaint Could Roil DOJ Foreign-Agent Prosecutions
Yahoo News – Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 12/31/2021

A new legal ethics complaint from a businessperson charged in a prosecution involving unregistered foreign lobbying threatens to roil two major cases in the Justice Department’s effort to crack down on foreign influence in the U.S. political system. The complaint was filed with the Justice Department on behalf of Nickie Lum Davis. The submission alleges Public Integrity Section Principal Deputy Chief John Keller acted unethically by negotiating a plea deal with Davis’ attorney at the time, Abbe Lowell, while Keller was investigating Lowell in a separate inquiry into what a judge called a “bribery for pardon” probe.

Ethics Investigators in Congress Increasingly Run into Walls
San Juan Daily Star – Luke Broadwater (New York Times) | Published: 12/30/2021

As U.S. House ethics investigators were examining four cases this fall detailing a sweeping array of improper financial conduct by lawmakers, they ran into an obstacle: two of the lawmakers under scrutiny refused to meet with them or provide documents. The investigators were not surprised. Over the past decade, fewer and fewer House members have been willing to cooperate with congressional investigations, a development that ethics experts warn could reduce accountability for misdeeds and erode trust in the institution of Congress.

Facebook Groups Topped 10,000 Daily Attacks on Election Before Jan. 6, Analysis Shows
Anchorage Daily News – Craig Silverman, Craig Timberg, Jeff Kao, and Jeremy Merrill (Washington Post) | Published: 1/4/2022

Facebook groups swelled with at least 650,000 posts attacking the legitimacy of Joe Biden’s victory between Election Day and the January 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol, with many calling for executions or other political violence. The barrage, averaging at least 10,000 posts a day, turned the groups into incubators for the baseless claims supporters of then-President Trump voiced as they stormed the Capitol, demanding he get a second term. Many posts portrayed Biden’s election as the result of widespread fraud that required extraordinary action, including the use of force, to prevent the nation from falling into the hands of traitors.

Fear, Anger and Trauma: How the Jan. 6 attack changed Congress
MSN – Paul Kane, Mariana Sotomayor, and Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) | Published: 1/3/2022

A year after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the House of Representatives can still look like a crime scene. Five metal detectors ring the outer doors to prevent weapons from getting onto the chamber floor. The trauma and fear from last year’s attack continue throughout the Capitol. Some lawmakers and staff continue to receive help from counselors to deal with post-traumatic stress. Shouting matches are common occurrences, with the potential for actual physical confrontation lingering. Interviews revealed a Congress that remains on edge and where worries about more violence are front of mind for many.

Garland: DOJ will hold those responsible for Jan. 6 riot accountable, whether they were present or committed other crimes
MSN – Matt Zapotosky and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) | Published: 1/5/2022

Attorney General Merrick Garland vowed to hold all those responsible for the January 6 riot accountable, whether they were at the Capitol or committed other crimes surrounding the day’s events, saying investigators are methodically building more complicated and serious cases and would prosecute people “at any level.” Garland’s remarks came as he faces pressure to do and say more about the investigation, and to focus more acutely on the actions of former President Trump and his associates.

GOP Election Reviews Face Battleground State Legal Tests
Yahoo News – Zach Montellaro (Politico) | Published: 1/6/2022

Republicans running partisan reviews of the 2020 election results and Democrats trying to stop them are barreling toward court showdowns in two key swing states. Republican-led legislative chambers in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are still forging ahead with investigations similar to earlier efforts in states such as Arizona, looking for evidence of fraud or other malfeasance in the vote. Election experts have warned that the reviews are a political vehicle for former President Trump and his followers to launder their conspiratorial beliefs about his loss into the mainstream under the guise of government investigation.

House Panel Asks Sean Hannity of Fox News to Cooperate in Jan. 6 Inquiry
New York Times – Michael Grynbaum and Luke Broadwater | Published: 1/4/2022

The House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has requested that Sean Hannity, the Fox News host, respond to questions about his communications with former President Donald Trump and his staff in the days surrounding the riot. The committee detailed a series of text messages between the conservative host and senior officials in the Trump White House, illustrating Hannity’s unusually elevated role as an outside adviser to the administration. The texts suggest Hannity was aware of, and concerned about, what Trump was planning for January 6, and bracing for a possible mass resignation of top White House lawyers as a result.

Jan. 6 Committee Slams Trump Bid for Supreme Court Detour on Records Subpoena
Courthouse News Service – Kelsey Reichmann | Published: 12/30/2021

The committee investigating the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol urged the Supreme Court to deny a last-ditch effort from former President Trump to block congressional oversight of his records from the day. The opposition brief notes it was Trump who invited his supporters to the nation’s capital for an event and then encouraged them to march on the Capitol building, after the failure of his other efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Pointing to the landmark 1977 case that forced disclosure of the Nixon tapes, the committee contends Trump has only personal disagreement with the accurate application of precedent by the lower courts.

Nonfungible Tokens the New Fad for Campaign Fundraising
MSN – Gopal Ratnam (Roll Call) | Published: 1/4/2022

Some candidates are offering nonfungible tokens (NFTs) as part of their campaign fundraising. NFTs are a type of digital asset that may include things like posters, book covers, and sports cards and are identified by a unique code. Unlike cryptocurrencies, NFTs cannot be used in commercial transactions. Just as candidates seeking to raise money have always tapped into the hype of new technologies, the fascination with NFTs may be driven by its novelty, said Josh White of Vanderbilt University. If candidates allow donors to pay for NFTs using cryptocurrency, then it could open the door to campaign contributions from unknown donors, White said.

PAC Giving Continues to Give Some Companies Pause
MSN – Kate Ackley (Roll Call) | Published: 1/5/2022

After the violent attack on the Capitol one year ago, dozens of corporate PACs made the unusual move of turning off their political donations. Most resumed their giving within months. But a few will withhold donations to the 147 Republican members of Congress who voted against certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the Electoral College, at least through the 2022 midterm election cycle. The companies may be relying on other avenues of political influence, such as outside lobbyists to build connections with those members and their aides.

They Stormed the Capitol. Now They’re Running for Office.
Politico – Brittany Gibson | Published: 1/5/2022

The Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol is remembered as one of the darkest and most shameful episodes in American history. But at least 57 individuals who played a role in that day’s events – either by attending the rally that preceded the riots, gathering at the Capitol steps, or breaching the Capitol itself – are now running for elected office. Rather than disqualifying them from public service, the events appear to have served as a political springboard for dozens of Republicans who will be on the ballot this year for federal, state, and local offices.

Twitter Permanently Suspends Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Personal Account Over Covid-19 Misinformation
Yahoo Finance – Yelena Dzhanova and John Dorman (Business Insider) | Published: 1/2/2022

Twitter permanently suspended U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s personal account for spreading COVID-19 misinformation. Only weeks after assuming office, Greene was stripped of her committee assignments, an extraordinary move taken by the Democratic-controlled House after Greene promoted a range of conspiracy theories and endorsed political violence on social media.

From the States and Municipalities

Alabama – 2-Week Campaign Fundraising ‘Blackout’ Starts Tuesday
Alabama Daily News – Mary Shell | Published: 1/6/2022

January 11 is the start of the legislative session in Alabama and a short “blackout” window in which candidates for state office cannot raise funds while lawmakers are meeting in Montgomery. In theory, the window keeps sitting legislators from accepting money while they are voting on bills. In practice, it now only covers about two of the possible 15 weeks of session. “It’s just stupid,” Rep. Mike Ball, chairperson of the House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee, said about the blackout.

Alaska – Alaska Legislative Ethics Committee Tells Eagle River Lawmaker to Stop Blocking Critics on Facebook
Anchorage Daily News – James Brooks | Published: 12/27/2021

An Alaska legislative ethics committee concluded Sen. Lora Reinbold violated state law by blocking a critic from commenting on her legislative Facebook page. In part because the Legislature has not updated its social media policies since 2011, the committee recommended no punishment. The complaint was filed by Rick Sinnott, a retired Fish and Game biologist who challenged Reinbold’s statements about COVID-19 but saw those comments removed and himself banned from her page.

Arizona – Arizona Secretary of State’s Online Signature-Gathering System Breaks After Redistricting
Tucson Sentinel – Jeremy Duda (Arizona Mirror) | Published: 1/5/2022

Voters who want to sign online petitions and the candidates who need those signatures to get their names on the ballot this November are being thwarted by a glitch in the Arizona secretary of state’s system caused by the redistricting process. In counties that are overseeing springtime municipal elections, the glitch likely will not be fixed until nearly the deadline for candidates to file signatures so they can appear on the ballot.

Arizona – GOP Officials in Arizona’s Largest County Confirm 2020 Election Was Secure in Rebuttal to Trump Claims
MSN – Rosalind Helderman (Washington Post) | Published: 1/5/2022

The November 2020 election in Arizona’s largest county was administered properly and not marred by fraud, the Republican-led local government concluded in a report. The document debunks, one by one, vague allegations of potential problems previously identified by the GOP-led state Senate and championed by former President Trump and his allies. Maricopa County officials said the rebuttal, released on the eve of the anniversary of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, was intended to highlight the ongoing dangers of unfounded claims of mass election fraud.

California – San Diego Publishes a Beginner’s Guide to Participating in City Lawmaking
San Diego Union Tribune – Morgan Cook | Published: 12/31/2021

Do you want to get involved in making and changing laws in San Diego, but are not sure how? There is a brochure for that. The city created “Making a Difference: A Beginners Guide to Affecting Municipal Laws in the City of San Diego” to help residents participate in local government. The pamphlet is available on the city clerk’s website. Included in the guide is information about lobbying rules, making public comments at council and committee meetings, and suggesting ballot proposals.

Colorado – Failed Colorado Congressional Candidates Still Have Lots of Campaign Money. Here’s Why.
Durango Herald – Jesse Paul and Sandra Fish (Colorado Sun) | Published: 12/28/2021

When U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado lost his 2020 reelection bid, his campaign still had $1.2 million in the bank. Nearly a year later, most of the money was still there. Gardner’s leftover campaign cash is not unusual, however. When a candidate ends a congressional bid, they can choose to close their accounts or keep the money with an eye toward the future and sometimes another campaign, which the dollars can be used toward. Political consultant Tyler Sandberg said there is no uniform reason campaigns keep their leftover cash. “But people don’t leave that money out there for no reason – there’s always a strategy behind it,” Sandberg said.

Delaware – New Law Could Give Campaign Finance Scofflaws a Big Break
MSN – Randall Chase (Associated Press) | Published: 12/27/2021

Delaware election officials have failed to act as mandated by law against candidates and committees who have not filed required campaign finance reports, but the scofflaws could escape liability under a new law that became effective January 1. Candidates and committees owed more than $623,000 in fines for failing to file campaign finance reports on time. The Department of Elections appears to have done little to collect the outstanding fines or to enforce the reporting requirements. The new law eliminates the mandatory $50 daily fine and instead says the commissioner “may” issue a citation.

Delaware – Sen. Darius Brown’s Criminal Trial Starts Wednesday After Misdemeanor Arrest in May
Yahoo News – Sarah Garland (Delaware News Journal) | Published: 1/5/2022

The trial of Delaware Sen. Darius Brown began in a case that has revealed inconsistencies in how lawmakers are treated and could end Brown’s legislative career. Delaware State Police charged Brown with offensive touching and disorderly conduct after police said the senator punched an acquaintance and threw a glass of water in a restaurant. In the General Assembly, Brown has faced multiple punishments for the arrest and a separate incident where he allegedly got into a verbal altercation with Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown. The Senate plans to conduct its first ethics inquiry in 35 years into Brown’s behavior.

Florida – Clearwater Art Exhibit Used Trash to Make a Point, Then Questions Arose
Yahoo News – Tracey McManus (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 1/4/2022

Citizens can visit nine locations throughout Clearwater to see garbage transformed into art. Lina Teixeira, a city council candidate, organized the exhibit, in which she and eight others created artwork using cigarette butts, plastic bottles, and other trash that had been collected during a community-wide cleanup. But the project also created an ethical mess. Teixeira received a $6,000 grant from the Downtown Development Board. She said her portion covered a fraction of her costs to install and market the exhibit. “As a city council candidate, does her request to use city facilities as display sites represent a conflict of interest?” Clearwater cultural affairs coordinator Chris Hubbard asked City Attorney David Margolis in an email.

Florida – Gov. Ron DeSantis Moves Jacksonville News Conference After Protest and Handcuffing of Community Leader
Yahoo News – Dan Scanlan (Florida Times-Union) | Published: 1/4/2022

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had to make new arrangements for his recent news conference in Jacksonville after a handful of people protested and refused to leave the Duval County Department of Health building. Activist Ben Frazier was detained by officers after being warned he was trespassing if he would not leave as asked. He was handcuffed and escorted from his motorized wheelchair to a patrol vehicle. The governor’s staff said the event was private and for credentialed media only.

Florida – Miami-Dade Prosecutors Target Prominent Political Consultants in Sham Candidate Case
Bakersfield Californian – Samantha Gross, Ana Ceballos, and David Ovalle (Miami Herald) | Published: 1/5/2022

Prosecutors appear to be targeting prominent Republican and Democratic operatives in Florida for potential criminal charges stemming from a 2020 Miami-Dade County election scheme marked by sham candidates. The criminal case is focused on whether former Sen. Frank Artiles paid an auto-parts dealer who shared the same surname as the Democratic incumbent more than $40,000 to run as a no-party candidate in the race for Senate District 37 to “confuse voters and influence the outcome” of the 2020 election, according to his arrest affidavit.

Hawaii – Former Solar Executive Will Head Ethics Commission
Honolulu Civil Beat – Stewart Yerton | Published: 1/3/2022

Robert Harris, a former Sierra Club director and corporate lawyer, was selected executive director and general counsel of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. For the past eight years, Harris has been the director of public policy at Sunrun, a solar energy company.

Illinois – As Federal Case Still Orbits Madigan, What’s Next for the ComEd Bribery Probe?
Bloomington Pantagraph – Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 1/3/2022

It is Illinois’ biggest federal corruption investigation in years, but the most remarkable thing about the Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) bribery probe in 2021 might be what did not happen. At the beginning of the year, Michael Madigan, the then-powerful House speaker whose grip on the General Assembly was exposed as “Public Official A” in the ComEd scandal and again in a postelection indictment of a key player and others alleging ComEd paid bribes to win his influence. With the grand jury investigation still open, 2022 is certain to bring more speculation over whether Madigan will ever be charged. He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

Indiana – These Special Interest Groups Spend the Most on Lobbying Indiana Lawmakers
Indianapolis Star – Tony Cook | Published: 1/3/2022

Special interests spent more than $115 million over the past five years on lobbying to influence the Indiana General Assembly. The biggest spenders have a deeply vested financial interest in what happens at the Capitol. The biggest spender was telecommunications giant AT&T. The phone and internet service provider spent more than $1.7 million on lobbying over the past five years.

Kentucky – Convicted Former Top KY Democrat Makes a Case for U.S. Supreme Court Consideration
Lexington Herald-Leader – Austin Horn | Published: 12/31/2021

A month after he reported to prison, prominent businessperson and former Kentucky Democratic Party chief Jerry Lundergan asked the U.S. Supreme Court to consider overturning his conviction for illegally funneling $200,000 to his daughter’s political campaign. The petition states the federal ban on corporate contributions is unconstitutional when applied to donations from a close family member, as Lundergan gave the money to his daughter Alison Lundergan Grimes in her 2014 challenge against U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.

Maryland – Omicron Scrambles Lawmakers’ Pre-Session Fundraisers
Maryland Matters – Josh Kurtz | Published: 1/3/2022

For Maryland lawmakers, there is always a fundraising scramble in early January leading up to the start of the General Assembly session, when a 90-day blackout on raising money kicks in for state legislators, the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and comptroller. According to lists of political events supplied by three Annapolis lobbying firms, at least 55 fundraisers for state lawmakers are on tap, including one hours before the annual legislative session begins on January 12. But COVID-19 has changed everything.

Michigan – Feds Demand Ex-Detroit Councilman Spivey Get Stiff Prison Sentence
Detroit News – Robert Snell | Published: 1/5/2022

Prosecutors said former Detroit City Councilperson André Spivey should spend more than three years in federal prison for pocketing more than $35,000 in bribes and sacrificing the best interests of city residents. They asked that Spivey be sentenced to 40 months for receiving bribes from a towing industry official who was seeking favors and trying to buy the council member’s vote. He received the money on eight separate occasions during a five-year period. Spivey is the highest-ranking person convicted in an ongoing crackdown on public corruption within city government and the police department.

Michigan – Ungerrymandered: Michigan’s maps, independently drawn, set up fair fight
MSN – Nick Corasaniti (New York Times) | Published: 12/29/2021

One of the country’s most gerrymandered political maps has suddenly been replaced by one of the fairest. A decade after Michigan Republicans gave themselves seemingly impregnable majorities in the state Legislature by drawing districts that heavily favored their party, a new independent commission approved maps that create districts so competitive that Democrats have a chance of recapturing the state Senate for the first time since 1984. The work of the new commission stands in contrast to the type of hyper-partisan gerrymandering that has swept much of the country, and it may highlight a potential path to undoing such gerrymandering.

New Mexico – Ethics Agency Calls for Firmer Disclosure Laws
Yahoo News – Dan McKay (Albuquerque Journal) | Published: 1/2/2022

The New Mexico Ethics Commission is recommending increased transparency requirements for lobbyists, such as disclosure of what bills they are working on and the provisions they are advocating for or against. State lawmakers, a handful of whom are married to lobbyists, would also have to disclose before voting if any family member lobbied on a bill. The commission is also proposing that lawmakers release more information about their sources of income and business relationships. the recommendations are designed to shed more light on potential conflicts at the Capitol.

New York – Hochul Charts New York’s Recovery in First State of State Speech
New York Times – Luis Ferré-Sadurní and Grace Ashford | Published: 1/5/2022

In her first State of the State address, Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined her vision for shepherding New York through its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, while vowing to open a new chapter of ethical, more transparent government. Hochul faces a contested Democratic primary in June, her first election since she unexpectedly ascended to the state’s highest job after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned in August. She positioned herself as a champion of good government, proposing to overhaul the state ethics commission.

New York – Internal Strife Engulfs New York’s Ethics Panel
Albany Times Union – Brendan Lyons | Published: 12/30/2021

The internal strife within the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) follows years of criticism by many lawmakers, and some commissioners, about its alleged unwillingness to pursue meaningful investigations of top government officials, including former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Gov. Kathy Hochul has suggested the panel needs to be disbanded and replaced by an ethics body whose members are not appointed by the governor or other top lawmakers.

New York – Over 4 Months, Hochul’s Office Discloses No Meetings with Lobbyists
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 12/28/2021

In the four months since Kathy Hochul became governor of New York, a public database, Project Sunlight, has not listed a single meeting between her administration and interests seeking to influence policymaking. Lobbyists themselves, however, reported having more than 200 instances of directly lobbying Hochul’s office on behalf of various interests in September and October that concerned regulations, rate making, and procurement – all topics covered by a 2011 disclosure law.

New York – Trump, Ivanka, Don Jr. Subpoenaed in New York AG’s Probe
Yahoo News – Michael Sisak (Associated Press) | Published: 1/3/2022

The New York attorney general’s office subpoenaed former President Trump and his two eldest children, Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr., demanding their testimony in an investigation into the family’s business practices. Attorney General Letitia James’ office said the subpoenas are part of a civil probe involving matters including “the valuation of properties owned or controlled” by Trump and his company. Lawyers for the Trumps filed court papers to block the subpoenas, accusing James of attempting to obtain testimony that could then be used against the Trumps in a parallel criminal investigation being overseen by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

North Dakota – AG Opinion Gives Clarification to North Dakota Ethics Panel
Bismarck Tribune – Jack Dura | Published: 12/30/2021

North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem concluded that a crucial section of the state constitution’s ethics amendment appears constitutional. His opinion gives clarification to the state Ethics Commission on its path in making rules for conflicts-of-interest. The language deals with state officials avoiding the appearance of bias and disqualifying themselves from “quasi-judicial” proceedings, such as members of the Public Service Commission, when campaign contributions create a perceived bias. It takes effect in 2022.

Ohio – From Pancaking and Coingate to ECOT and House Bill 6: 50 years of Ohio public corruption cases
Yahoo News – Laura Bischoff (Columbus Dispatch) | Published: 12/29/2021

Ohio is embroiled in the biggest public corruption case in state history and the largest open inquiry in any statehouse in the country. In June 2021, lawmakers expelled Larry Householder from his legislative seat, nearly a year after he was charged in a federal racketeering case. Householder, who was investigated by federal authorities two decades ago during his first stint as speaker, has pleaded not guilty. The racketeering case is expected to go to trial in 2022. But he is far from the first public official to be embroiled in scandal.

Pennsylvania – Pa. Court Rules Against Former Pittsburgh Councilwoman Darlene Harris in Campaign Finance Case
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – Paula Reed Ward | Published: 12/28/2021

A state appellate court ruled former Pittsburgh City Councilperson Darlene Harris must pay fines levied against her for failing to file financial disclosure reports during her campaign in 2019. The Commonwealth Court found the $4,150 fine levied against Harris was not excessive and was properly authorized. The ordinance, enacted by the city in 2015, requires candidates for office to provide a campaign finance report on the first business day of each of three months leading up to Election Day.

Rhode Island – GOP Rhode Island Lawmaker Under Fire for Suggesting She Lost a Black Friend to Critical Race Theory
The Day – Timothy Bella (Washington Post) | Published: 12/29/2021

Rhode Island Rep. Patricia Morgan is facing backlash after suggesting critical race theory cost her a friendship. “I had a Black friend. I liked her and I think she liked me, too,” tweeted Morgan. “But now she is hostile and unpleasant. I am sure I didn’t do anything to her, except be White.” The tweet was met with criticism from state Republicans and Democrats who called her comments “ignorant and embarrassing.” Her message also spawned the hashtag #IHadAWhiteFriend, with commenters giving serious and satirical examples of the gap in shared experiences between Black and White people.

South Carolina – Eyeing Corruption Scandals, Gov. McMaster Puts Ethics on the Agenda for 2022
Greenwood Index-Journal – Avery Wilks (Charleston Post and Courier) | Published: 1/5/2022

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster wants to beef up a pair of watchdogs that investigate government misconduct, make the state’s scandal-scarred sheriffs attend ethics training, and shine more light on special interests that secretly influence city and county councils. The governor will package those proposals into his soon-to-be-unveiled executive budget, calling on lawmakers to spend some $3.4 million more per year on measures meant to repair South Carolinians’ faith in their government.

January 6, 2022 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “PAC Giving Continues to Give Some Companies Pause” by Kate Ackley (Roll Call) for MSN Ethics National: “Facebook Groups Topped 10,000 Daily Attacks on Election Before Jan. 6, Analysis Shows” by Craig Silverman, Craig Timberg, Jeff Kao, […]

January 5, 2022 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “Nonfungible Tokens the New Fad for Campaign Fundraising” by Gopal Ratnam (Roll Call) for MSN Colorado: “Failed Colorado Congressional Candidates Still Have Lots of Campaign Money. Here’s Why.” by Jesse Paul and Sandra Fish (Colorado Sun) for […]

January 4, 2022 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Pennsylvania: “Pa. Court Rules Against Former Pittsburgh Councilwoman Darlene Harris in Campaign Finance Case” by Paula Reed Ward for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Ethics National: “Twitter Permanently Suspends Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Personal Account Over Covid-19 Misinformation” by Brittany Shammas […]

January 3, 2022 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Delaware: “New Law Could Give Campaign Finance Scofflaws a Big Break” by Randall Chase (Associated Press) for MSN Kentucky: “Convicted Former Top KY Democrat Makes a Case for U.S. Supreme Court Consideration” by Austin Horn (Lexington Herald-Leader) for […]

December 24, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – December 24, 2021

National/Federal A Retired Colonel’s Unlikely Role in Pushing Baseless Election Claims MSN – Alan Feuer (New York Times) | Published: 12/21/2021 After President Biden’s inauguration, a former Army colonel with a background in information warfare appeared on a Christian conservative podcast […]

National/Federal

A Retired Colonel’s Unlikely Role in Pushing Baseless Election Claims
MSN – Alan Feuer (New York Times) | Published: 12/21/2021

After President Biden’s inauguration, a former Army colonel with a background in information warfare appeared on a Christian conservative podcast and offered a detailed account of his monthslong effort to challenge the validity of the 2020 vote count. Phil Waldron told a story that was almost inconceivable: how a cabal of bad actors, including Chinese Communist officials, international shell companies, and the financier George Soros, had conspired to hack into U.S. voting machines in a “globalist/socialist” plot to steal the election. The postelection period gave fringe players an opportunity to find an audience in the White House.

Black Lawmakers Threaten to Cut Off K St Unless It Diversifies
Yahoo News – Hailey Fuchs and Laura Barrón-López (Politico) | Published: 12/19/2021

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are calling on the lobbying industry to diversify its offices in Washington, D.C. or risk losing their support. K Street has found itself scrambling in recent years to up its representation of employees of color. But the threats from Black lawmakers to stop meetings with certain firms represents one of the most aggressive attempts to force K Street to change from within. The increasing power and sheer size of the Congressional Black Caucus in the Democratic Party makes it a formidable political force on and off Capitol Hill.

Democratic Push on Voting Rights Becomes More Urgent as Midterms Approach
MSN – Theodoric Meyer (Washington Post) | Published: 12/22/2021

Senate Democrats not only failed to push their social spending bill over the finish line before the Christmas holidays. They also fell short on another of the party’s top priorities this year: approving a landmark package of voting rights measures. While Democrats argue the changes are critical to safeguarding democracy, strategists in both parties say the package could also reshape the battle for control of the House next year, potentially bolstering Democrats’ chances of hanging onto their majority in a year when Republicans have the edge.

GOP Agrees to Pay Up to $1.6 Million of Trump’s Legal Bills in N.Y. Probes
MSN – David Fahrenthold and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 12/16/2021

The Republican Party agreed to pay up to $1.6 million in legal bills for former President Trump to help him fight investigations into his business practices in New York. Paying Trump’s legal bills is a highly unusual move, longtime party observers and members say, because the spending has nothing to do with promoting the GOP’s policy agenda or political priorities, dealing with ongoing party business or campaigning – and relates to investigations that are not about Trump’s time as president or his work in the White House.

House Jan. 6 Committee Requests Information from and Meeting with GOP Rep. Jim Jordan About His Contact with Trump
MSN – Felicia Sonmez and Eugene Scott (Washington Post) | Published: 12/22/2021

The House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob is seeking information from U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, one of former President Trump’s staunchest allies on Capitol Hill. Jordan has previously said he cannot recall how many times he spoke with Trump on January 6 but that they spoke at least once. In addition, a federal judge denied a motion by Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser, for a temporary restraining order against the select committee over subpoenas it has issued against him.

Judge Rejects Fox News Request to Dismiss Dominion Voting’s Defamation Lawsuit Over Election Claims
MSN – Timothy Bella (Washington Post) | Published: 12/17/2021

A judge rejected a request from Fox News to dismiss a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems over baseless claims made against the company during the 2020 presidential election, allowing the suit to move forward. Superior Court Judge Eric Davis said it was “reasonably conceivable” for the voting-machine company to have a defamation claim. Dominion claims some of its highest-profile on-air talent helped elevate false charges that the company had changed votes to favor Joe Biden over then-President Trump.

Lead Capitol Riot Charge Is Constitutional, Judges Find
MSN – Rachel Weiner (Washington Post) | Published: 12/20/2021

Three federal judges agreed that the most serious charge faced by those accused of participation in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, obstruction, is constitutional, a victory for the Justice Department and a blow to the defendants fighting those accusations. Without that felony charge, prosecutors would be left with only minor charges against many they view as playing a major role in the riot. The Justice Department has avoided charges of sedition, a rarely used law, and not all those accused of acting as key instigators were seen assaulting police officers.

Meadows Contempt Vote Poses Thorny Questions for DOJ
MSN – Rebecca Beitsch and Harper Neidig (The Hill) | Published: 12/20/2021

The House vote to hold Mark Meadows in contempt has presented the Department of Justice with the question of whether to prosecute the former White House chief of staff, forcing it to weigh the major legal and political consequences that could come with breaking from longstanding executive branch policy. The department’s stance has been to support testimonial immunity for the president’s close advisers when faced with congressional subpoenas. Charging Meadows with contempt would represent a departure from that historical trend and poses more complicated considerations for the department than its decision to prosecute Steve Bannon.

Proud Boy Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge in Capitol Riot
MSN – Rachel Weiner (Washington Post) | Published: 12/22/2021

A New York man who was a member of the Proud Boys pleaded guilty to obstructing Congress and conspiring to obstruct law enforcement during the January 6 riot. The plea to the felony charge is significant because Matthew Greene admitted coordinating with other New York-based members of the extremist group at the front of the Capitol mob, although there is no evidence that he entered the building. Greene is the first self-admitted member of the Proud Boys to plead guilty in a felony conspiracy case stemming from the riot.

Rep. Scott Perry Calls Jan. 6 Panel ‘Illegitimate,’ Refuses to Cooperate
MSN – Chris Marquette (Roll Call) | Published: 12/21/2021

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry Rep. said he would not cooperate with the January 6 select committee’s investigation, a move that forces the panel to grapple with how it will extract information it seeks from a sitting member of Congress. The panel said it was interested in the role Perry played in an unsuccessful attempt to install Jeffrey Clark as acting attorney general. Clark, a former assistant attorney general for environment and natural resources, met with Trump and other White House officials to consider ways the election results could be overturned.

Senate GOP Feels Another Trump Effect: The rise of celeb candidates
Yahoo News – Marianne Levine and Sarah Ferris (Politico) | Published: 12/23/2021

The most reliable springboard to the U.S. Senate used to be House experience – before Donald Trump vaulted from reality television to the White House. Some Republicans see his path as a blueprint for winning back the Senate. This campaign cycle, the GOP is coalescing around former football star Herschel Walker in Georgia and signaling an openness to surgeon and TV host Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania. Many in the GOP are welcoming the development.

You Can Draw Your Own Congressional District
Politico – Ally Mutnick | Published: 12/22/2021

In a quirk of the decennial redistricting season, state legislators, who are in charge of drawing new maps, can draw a district for themselves or for their friends. The process is already inherently self-interested as lawmakers routinely draw maps for the benefit of their party, but in some cases, these politicians are working in their literal self-interest. Such moves can spur accusations of foul play from political rivals, and do not always work out as expected. And with more scrutiny than ever on the process, these acts are possibly becoming harder to pull off.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Ex-S.F. Public Works Director Nuru Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charge
MSN – Michael Cabanatuan (Sam Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 12/17/2021

Mohammed Nuru, San Francisco’s former public works director whose tenure was ended by a federal corruption probe that snowballed into numerous prosecutions against city officials and contractors, pleaded guilty to honest services wire fraud. In the plea agreement, Nuru admitted to an extensive list of instances in which he accepted money, international trips, expensive jewelry and wine, and other goods and services from city contractors and developers in exchange for preferential treatment and confidential information about city business.

California – LA Commissioner Lobbied CAO to Support His Company’s $3 Million COVID-19 Testing Contract
Los Angeles Daily News – Scott Schwebke | Published: 12/16/2021

An embattled Los Angeles fire and police pensions commissioner who rejected allegations he improperly lobbied city officials to approve a $3 million COVID-19 testing contract for his company pitched his proposal directly to City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo, who signed off on the no-bid contract in September. Dr. Pedram Salimpour maintained he was not engaged in the review or vetting process for the testing contract awarded to PPS Health, which does business as Bluestone Safe. But more than a dozen emails obtained by the Southern California News Group paint a different picture of Salimpour’s efforts to win the contract for Bluestone.

Colorado – Hawaiian Fundraiser Prompts Campaign Finance Complaint against Attorney General
Colorado Public Radio – Bente Birkeland | Published: 12/22/2021

A complaint alleging Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser broke the state’s campaign finance laws will move forward, after the secretary of state’s office deemed it to be non-frivolous and said the allegations show one or more potential violations. The complaint argues Weiser failed to properly document a fundraiser he attended in Hawaii at the Waldorf Astoria Grand Wailea Maui Resort.

Colorado – Unite for Colorado Bankrolled Almost Every Major GOP Effort Last Year
ReInvestment News – Sandra Fish and Jesse Paul (Colorado Sun) | Published: 12/22/2021

A conservative political nonprofit that does not disclose its donors funded almost every major Republican political group and effort in Colorado last year, according to a tax document that for the first time reveals the breadth of the organization’s influence. The document also now ties Unite for Colorado to some of the state’s most well-known and active conservative political consultants and operatives. The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office recently fined Unite for Colorado $40,000 and ordered it to disclose its 2020 donors after it spent $4 million to support or oppose three statewide ballot initiatives.

Florida – Documents Show FPL Wrote Bill to Slow Rooftop Solar’s Growth by Hampering Net Metering
MSN – Mary Ellen Klas and Mario Ariza (Miami Herald) | Published: 12/20/2021

Rooftop solar power generation in Florida is still a nascent industry, but Florida Power & Light (FPL), the nation’s largest power company, is pushing to hamstring it by writing and hand-delivering legislation the company asked state lawmakers to introduce. FPL, whose work with “dark-money” political committees helped to secure Republican control of the state Senate in the 2020 elections, asked Sen. Jennifer Bradley to sponsor its top-priority bill: legislation that would hobble rooftop solar by preventing homeowners and businesses from offsetting their costs by selling excess power back to the company, an arrangement known as net metering.

Florida – Two Education Department Leaders Resign After Investigation, Conflict of Interest
Florida Politics – Jason Delgado | Published: 12/22/2021

Two Florida Department of Education employees resigned in November after an investigation unearthed a plan to pursue a state contract for a company they managed. Vice Chancellor of Strategic Improvement Melissa Ramsey and State Board Member Richard Tuck sent a proposal to the Education Department after it asked 25 vendors for quotes on a bid to take over operations at Jefferson County Schools. Ramsey and Tuck applied to the request under the banner of Strategic Initiative Partners, though not among the 25 vendors solicited by the department.

Illinois – ComEd Offers $21 Million Refund to Customers to Confront ICC Probes into Bribery Scheme. Watchdog Calls It ‘Chump Change.’
MSN – Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 12/17/2021

Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) is proposing a one-time $21 million refund to ratepayers for lobbying misconduct associated with its efforts to influence former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and advance its Springfield agenda. The amount of the refunds is mostly tied to pay and benefits received by former ComEd executives whose misconduct was outlined in the deal struck with federal prosecutors last year in which the utility agreed to pay a $200 million fine. Watchdog Abe Scarr called the proposed refund “chump change” for a company that is soon expected to collect $1 billion a year in profits and may not offer the credit until 2023.

Illinois – Cook County Ethics Ordinance Slated for Biggest Overhaul in 15 Years, but Some Experts Want More
MSN – Alice Yin (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 12/15/2021

Cook County supervisors approved changes to its ethics ordinance that some experts on best practices say falls short on eradicating “pay-to-play” politics. The bill would make strides in tightening up rules on sexual harassment and nepotism as well as bolstering powers of the body that enforces the code. But it would double the cap on political contributions from those who do business with the county. Ethics experts also raised concerns over how a two-year delay in passing a new ordinance allowed Springfield to preempt the county from enacting stricter rules, particularly around lobbying.

Kentucky – A Handful of Companies Dominate Road Work in Kentucky. The State Looks the Other Way.
Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting – Jacob Ryan and Jared Bennett | Published: 12/21/2021

Kentucky officials awarded nearly 2,300 road work contracts between 2018 and 2021. The transportation cabinet is exempt from following the state’s procurement code, instead following a bidding system experts say allows a few large companies to avoid competition for jobs. As a result, more than $2 billion in current work is controlled by a dozen companies, who often are the sole bidder on the contracts they are awarded. More than half of the 782 single-bid contracts were awarded for a price above the state estimate, whereas 85 percent of multiple-bid contracts were below state estimates.

Maryland – Baltimore County Council Greenlights Fair Election Fund with Spending Caps
Yahoo News – Taylor DeVille (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 12/20/2021

Candidates for local office in Baltimore County will now have a new financing tool at their disposal after the county council passed an amended bill authorizing a public financing program. The council amended the bill to impose caps on how much candidates using the fund may spend and to revise requirements for qualifying candidates. The legislation would require candidates for council and county executive to meet different eligibility qualifications and seeks to encourage candidates to ask more donors to give smaller amounts of money.

Maryland – Maryland’s New Congressional Map Draws First Legal Challenge
Yahoo News – Pamela Wood (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 12/22/2021

Maryland’s new map of congressional districts is facing its first legal challenge, a lawsuit brought by a dozen Republicans, including two who are hoping to be elected to Congress. In the lawsuit, they argue the new districts meander around the state in ways that divide communities to give Democrats an advantage at the ballot box. They are asking the state courts to throw out the new map and substitute a map drawn by a commission appointed by Gov. Larry Hogan, at least temporarily until the General Assembly can adopt a better map.

Michigan – FBI Arrests Retired Detroit Cop Amid Corruption Crackdown
Detroit News – Robert Snell | Published: 12/16/2021

FBI agents arrested a former Detroit Police detective in connection with a bribery, extortion, and fraud investigation targeting Detroit City Hall, law enforcement, and municipal towing operations. The arrest of Mike Pacteles marks the latest expansion of “Operation Northern Hook,” a broader FBI investigation of public corruption within Detroit city government. The investigation and prosecution led to criminal charges against four Detroit police personnel and former city Councilperson André Spivey, who pleaded guilty to bribery charges.

Michigan – Whitmer Campaign Complaints on Plane Flights, Fundraising Dismissed
Detroit News – Beth LeBlanc | Published: 12/21/2021

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer did not violate campaign finance laws when she accepted contributions above the state fundraising limit because she was facing recall efforts, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office said. But the Michigan Bureau of Elections said it would welcome a request to revisit and potentially revise the policy. Benson’s office also ruled Whitmer’s use of campaign funds to charter a private flight to visit her father in Florida this spring was not a campaign finance violation because it was for her physical safety.

Missouri – Free Speech Violation? Ex-Missouri Rep Sues Because He’s Banned from Being a Lobbyist
MSN – Jeanne Kuang (Kansas City Star) | Published: 12/17/2021

A former lawmaker is suing the Missouri Ethics Commission over the state’s two-year ban on lawmakers becoming lobbyists, arguing the law prohibits his freedom of speech and requesting it be blocked. Former Rep. Rocky Miller alleges his inability to register as a lobbyist to serve a prospective client was denying him income. He also argues that because the two-year restriction “bans (him) from saying certain things, backed by the threat of criminal prosecution,” it is unconstitutional.

New York – Attorney General Cites Problems with Ethics Panel’s Order to Cuomo
Albany Times Union – Brendan Lyons | Published: 12/16/2021

The state attorney general’s office sent a letter to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) contending the panel did not issue a valid order when it voted to have former Gov. Andrew Cuomo surrender the $5.1million he was paid to write a book last year about his administration’s early handling of the coronavirus pandemic. JCOPE had directed the governor to turn over the proceeds of his publishing deal to the attorney general’s office, which the panel said could then redistribute the funds according to law, including potentially returning the money to the publisher.

New York – Hochul Ready to Rev Up Ethics Overhaul to Clean Up After Cuomo, Senate Ally Says
The City – Josepha Velasquez | Published: 12/15/2021

State Sen. Liz Krueger said she has been working with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office to revamp the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), an effort she expects the governor to announce in her annual State of the State address. Krueger is the sponsor of a bill that would replace the largely governor controlled JCOPE with a more independent government integrity commission that would have the power to initiate investigations and even remove non-elected officials from their jobs. Hochul has not yet hinted at her gameplan, which could include measures short of a total teardown.

New York – Lobbyists Helped Hochul Raise $10M. What Are They Getting Back?
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 12/23/2021

After becoming governor of New York in late August, Kathy Hochul has raised campaign money at among the fastest clips in state history – $10 million in three months. When major lobbying firms have sought to have fundraisers, the governor’s campaign has requested they commit to raise $250,000 for events where Hochul appears in person. The lobbying firms raise the money from their clients, who then attend the events. They are often exclusive to the lobbying firm and those clients, who gain a few minutes interacting with the governor.

North Carolina – Appeals Court: Rev. Barber removed from General Assembly in 2017 for his volume, not words
WRAL – Staff | Published: 12/21/2021

Former state NAACP leader Rev. William Barber’s defense that he used free speech during a 2017 protest at the Legislative Building is not relevant to his conviction for second-degree trespassing, and the verdict will stand, according to the court of appeals for North Carolina. Barber and others were charged with second-degree trespassing for refusing to leave the Legislative Building after they were told to go by General Assembly Police. Barber defended himself, saying the constitution says citizens have a right to assemble and instruct their lawmakers. But the appeals court ruled the case was not about free speech.

North Dakota – Environmental Group Calls Out Conflicts of Interest on North Dakota Energy Board as $160M Funding Approved
Fargo Forum – Adam Willis | Published: 12/20/2021

An environmental group is calling out a new arm of the North Dakota government for allegedly mismanaging its conflicts-of-interest when it convened to recommend more than $160 million in state funds for fossil fuel-sector grants and loans. The Dakota Resource Council raised concerns about the handling of conflicts on the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority in a letter sent to the state Ethics Commission and Gov. Doug Burgum, in which the organization asked for more stringent rules regulating such conflicts in the future.

Ohio – Cuyahoga County’s Consultant in Search for New Jail Is Also Listing Agent for Preferred Site
MSN – Kaitlin Durban (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 12/20/2021

Cuyahoga County’s real estate consulting firm, tapped to identify locations for the site of its new jail, is also the listing agent for one of the final properties under consideration. The relationship raises concerns about conflicts-of-interest in a multimillion-dollar project that members of a committee meant to oversee the process worry is now devolving into “chaos” and unilateral decisions that could undermine their work.

Ohio – Ex-Ohio Legislative Candidate Fined $50,000 for Failing to Report Campaign-Finance Expenses
MSN – Andrew Tobias (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 12/16/2021

The Ohio Elections Commission fined an ex-legislative candidate $50,000 for failing to report more than $290,000 in campaign-related expenses. Allen Freeman, a township trustee from Clermont County, tried to get the case dismissed after he liquidated his account, arguing that because the committee had been dissolved, it could not be found liable. But the commission found Freeman misstated his campaign finances by reporting spending just $14,000 on his failed 2020 campaign for state representative, even though public records show his campaign bought roughly $118,000 in television ads.

Ohio – Ohio Job and Family Services Employee Cut Off Relative’s Unemployment Benefits After Fight
MSN – Jessie Balmert (Columbus Dispatch) | Published: 12/16/2021

A Department of Job and Family Services employee cut off her relative’s unemployment benefits following a fight, according to an Ohio Inspector General’s report. Customer service representative Quenise Barnes improperly accessed a relative’s pandemic unemployment assistance 10 times in May and eventually cut off that person’s benefits. The relative reported a fight had occurred with Barnes on May 7 and she subsequently turned off the person’s benefits, citing “fraud.”

Oklahoma – The Jump from Political Staffer to Lobbyist Isn’t a Far One, at Least in Oklahoma
Yahoo News – Ben Felder (Oklahoman) | Published: 12/19/2021

It is not uncommon for elected officials in Oklahoma to become paid lobbyists once they leave office and there is no state law that prevents it. But there is also no ban on former state employees from becoming lobbyists, which is another pathway for public officials to take their knowledge to the private sector. The state Ethics Commission voted twice in recent years to establish “cooling off” laws that would ban public officials from moving straight into a lobbying job. But each time those rules were voted down by the state Legislature.

Oregon – Competing Measures Could Muddy Oregon’s Campaign Finance Debate
OPB – Dirk VanderHart | Published: 12/20/2021

After they came to an impasse over how Oregon should crack down on money in politics, left-leaning organizations are signaling they might just fight it out at the ballot box. Two groups that are often aligned filed dueling ballot measure proposals for how to place limits on the state’s permissive campaign finance laws. Six separate ideas for cracking down on political giving in the state have now been floated for the November 2022 ballot. Many, if not most, will die before they reach voters, but even two competing measures next year could create confusion that advocates have been hoping to avoid.

Oregon – How Much Did Interest Groups Shape Oregon’s New Legislative Districts? Here’s Why It’s Tough to Say
MSN – Hillary Borrud (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 12/16/2021

Lobbyists for unions and at least one industry-affiliated group used sophisticated data analysis to calculate how proposed legislative districts in Oregon would impact Democrats’ and Republicans’ chances in future elections and shared that information with lawmakers. Other outside groups did the same, according to testimony in a redistricting lawsuit, and practically none of that is required to be disclosed to the public. The lack of transparency around the forces at play in shaping how Oregonians’ votes will count during the next decade is a result of both how the state handles redistricting, and the state’s limited lobbying disclosure requirements.

Pennsylvania – ‘Glaring Giant Loophole:’ Philly Council members have to report who pays them, but not their spouses
MSN – Sean Collins Walsh (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 12/23/2021

Unlike lawmakers in other cities and states, as well as members of Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration, Philadelphia City Council members are not required to disclose their spouses’ sources of income. The issue of paying members’ spouses is expected to be central in the corruption trial of Councilperson Kenyatta Johnson. Prosecutors have accused him of accepting a bribe in the form of charter school consulting work for his wife in exchange for helping a group in his district secure a zoning change. The potential for Johnson to take official action to secure work for his wife also surfaced in the corruption trial this fall of Councilperson Bobby Henon.

South Carolina – Former Richland County Recreation Director Facing Ethics Charges Over Raises, Promotions
Charleston Post and Courier – Stephen Fastenau | Published: 12/16/2021

South Carolina’s Ethics Commission will decide whether a former Richland County recreation chief broke the law by signing off on family members’ raises and promotions. A hearing on the ethics charges was held after James Brown III was cleared of criminal charges related to his tenure. Brown, the head of the Richland County Recreation Commission until his resignation in 2016 amid allegations of nepotism and sexual harassment, faces six counts of violating state ethics laws meant to ensure public officials do not use their position for personal gain.

Texas – Former Houston Schools Trustee Kept a ‘Bribe Ledger’ Listing $20,000 in Illegal Payoffs, Feds Say
Houston Public Media – Paul DeBenedetto | Published: 12/17/2021

A former Houston Independent School District trustee and board president agreed to cooperate with the federal government for her role in an alleged scheme in which prosecutors say she kept a “bribe ledger” to keep track of $20,000 in payments from a contractor, part of an investigation that also led to the indictment of the district’s former chief operating officer. Rhonda Skillern-Jones used her role at the district to push for the hiring of a landscaping contractor who was later at the center of an alleged illegal kickback scheme.

Washington – Tim Eyman in Default, Assets to Be Sold to Satisfy $5.4 Million Debt
Seattle Times – David Gutman | Published: 12/23/2021

Tim Eyman, the serial initiative filer and conservative provocateur who owes the state of Washington more than $5 million after years of “particularly egregious” campaign finance violations, is in default and staring at the court-ordered sale of his assets. Eyman is under a court-ordered plan requiring him to make monthly $10,000 payments to pay down his fine and other fees. He has missed his last four monthly payments. A judge ordered his bankruptcy case shifted to Chapter 7, which means the court appoints a trustee who will be responsible for selling Eyman’s assets and distributing the proceeds to his debtors.

Wisconsin – ‘A Real Conflagration’: Wisconsin emerges as front line in war over the 2020 vote
MSN – Rosalind Helderman and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 12/16/2021

A legislative-backed investigation into the 2020 election results in Wisconsin headed by a former state Supreme Court justice has picked up steam in recent weeks. The inquiry makes little pretense of neutrality and is being led by figures who have shown allegiance to Donald Trump or embraced false claims of fraud. In a state that is likely to see some of the nation’s most competitive races in 2022 for governor and U.S. Senate, there are now multiple efforts underway to scrutinize how the last election was run, including a recommendation by a county sheriff to prosecute and jail state election officials.

December 23, 2021 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Colorado: “Unite for Colorado Bankrolled Almost Every Major GOP Effort Last Year” by Sandra Fish and Jesse Paul (Colorado Sun) for ReInvestment News Michigan: “Whitmer Campaign Complaints on Plane Flights, Fundraising Dismissed” by Beth LeBlanc for Detroit News […]

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News You Can Use Digest – January 14, 2022

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