Campaign Finance

Maine: “Foreign Company’s Subsidiary Poured Millions into Influencing Maine Ballot Referendum” by Anna Massoglia for Center for Responsive Politics

Elections

National: “House Jan. 6 Committee Issues Subpoenas to 6 Top Trump Advisers, Including Pair Involved in Willard Hotel ‘Command Center’” by Jacqueline Alemany, Tom Hamburger, and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Big Bird Got ‘Vaccinated’ Against COVID-19, Drawing Outrage from Republicans” by Rachel Treisman for National Public Radio

National: “Pelosi Calls for Investigations of Gosar’s Video That Depicts Him Killing Ocasio-Cortez” by Felicia Sonmez and John Wagner (Washington Post) for MSN

Arizona: “Arizona Board with Close Ties to Landlord Group Oversees Constables Who Serve Eviction Writs” by Jessica Boehm, Catherine Reagor, and Ralph Chapoco (Arizona Republic) for Yahoo News

Colorado: “Denver’s Top Parking Enforcer ‘Fixed’ 21 of His Own Tickets” by Brian Maas for KESQ

Ohio: “Ohio Medicaid: It’s not a conflict if you only own stock in the parent company” by Marty Schladen for Ohio Capital Journal

Redistricting

Virginia: “Va. Senate Democrats Ask State Supreme Court to Disqualify Republicans’ Nominated Map Drawers” by Meagan Flynn and Teo Armus (Washington Post) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Colorado: “State Files Lawsuit Over Peters Campaign Fundraising” by Charles Ashby for Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

New Jersey: “‘This Sentence Will Go on Forever’: Morristown lawyer gets probation in corruption case” by Kevin Coughlin for Morristown Green

Ethics

National: “GOP-Appointed Judges Freeze Biden Vaccine Requirement After Federal Lawsuit” by Eli Rosenberg (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Igor Danchenko Arrested, Charged with Lying to FBI About Information in Steele Dossier” by Devlin Barrett and Tom Jackman (Washington Post) for MSN

California: “SoCal Public Officials Targeted in Broadening Federal Investigation into Pot Licensing” by Ruben Vives and Robert Lopez (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

Washington DC: “As Bowser Launches Reelection Bid, Her High-Profile Appointee Is Under Fire” by Paul Schwartzman (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “GOP Lobbyists Say Corporate America Is Coming Back into the Tent” by Hailey Fuchs (Politico) for Yahoo News

Indiana: “Ex-Indiana House Speaker Bosma Registers as Paid Lobbyist” by Associated Press for Yahoo News

Campaign Finance

National: “FEC Eases Federal Contractors-Turned-Political Donors’ Path” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg Government

New York: “Millions in Secret Ballot Spending Raises Legal Question” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Washington: “PDC: ‘Washougal Moms’ must register as political action committee” by Doug Flanagan (Camas-Washougal Post-Record) for The Columbian

Elections

National: “Voting Technology Firm Smartmatic Sues Newsmax and One America News, Alleging Defamation” by Annabelle Timsit (Washington Post) for MSN

New Jersey: “Surprise NJ Senate Winner Says Sorry Amid Scrutiny of Posts” by Associated Press for Yahoo News

Ethics

Florida: “Professors Sue University of Florida, Claiming Free Speech Restraints” by Lori Rozsa and Susan Svrluga (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

Europe: “Clash With Corruption Watchdog Has Boris Johnson Retreating, Again” by Stephen Castle for New York Times

National: “Pharmaceutical Industry Likely to Shatter Its Lobbying Record as It Works to Shape Democrats’ Spending Bill” by Yeganeh Torbati and Jonathan O’Connell (Washington Post) for MSN

National/Federal

A Year Out, Political Groups Prepare for What Could Be the Most Expensive Midterms Ever
MSN – Kate Ackley (Roll Call) | Published: 11/2/2021

Next year’s midterm elections, which will determine control of the House and Senate for the second half of President Biden’s first term, are on pace to shatter previous records, thanks largely to big money outside groups. Super PACs – more than a decade old, with an infrastructure and stream of donors to rival the political parties – and other outside organizations already have begun to invest heavily to influence the outcome of the 2022 elections. An infusion of millions of dollars into a race can upend the previous dynamics. Outside organizations will rely on polling and other cues for where to put their money.

At Least Seven Jan. 6 Rallygoers Won Public Office on Election Day
MSN – Amy Wang and Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 11/3/2021

At least seven people who attended the pro-Trump rally on January 6 in Washington, D.C. that preceded the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol were elected to public office on November 2. None were charged with crimes, and all denied being part of the pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol to stop the certification of President Biden’s electoral college win. The attack resulted in five deaths and left some 140 members of law enforcement injured.

Burr’s Brother-in-Law Called Stock Broker, One Minute After Getting Off Phone with Senator
ProPublica – Robert Faturechi | Published: 10/28/2021

After U.S. Sen. Richard Burr dumped more than $1.6 million in stocks in February 2020, a week before the coronavirus market crash, he called his brother-in-law, according to a new Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing. They talked for 50 seconds. Burr, according to the SEC, had material nonpublic information regarding the incoming economic impact of coronavirus. The very next minute, Burr’s brother-in-law, Gerald Fauth, called his broker. It was previously unknown that Burr and Fauth spoke that day, and their contact came just before Fauth began the process of dumping stock himself.

Cases Show Foreign Donors Secretly Funnel Money Through Straw Donors, Shell Companies, ‘Dark Money’
Center for Responsive Politics – Anna Massoglia | Published: 10/28/2021

Lev Parnas, a Soviet-born former business associate of Rudolph Giuliani, was recently convicted for campaign finance crimes. His case exposed the ways secret donors, including foreign nationals, can hide their identities from the American public while currying influence with politicians through straw donors, shell companies, and other forms of “dark money.” While Parnas’ case ended with a conviction, other prosecutions in similar cases are just beginning.

Foreign Nationals Can Finance Ballot Initiatives, FEC Affirms
MSN – Isaac Stanley-Becker (Washington Post) | Published: 11/3/2021

The FEC affirmed that foreign nationals can legally spend money on ballot measures in states that do not otherwise forbid the practice. Federal law prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions in connection with federal, state, or local elections but is silent on spending related to ballot initiatives. The decision is consistent with established interpretations of federal election law, campaign finance experts said. But it does not address whether certain types of ballot initiatives that explicitly involve a candidate or bear directly on elections, such as redistricting measures, might trigger the federal ban on foreign money, said FEC member Ellen Weintraub.

Gun Control Group Alleges Campaign Finance Violations in Lawsuit Against NRA
MSN – Mychael Schnell (The Hill) | Published: 11/2/2021

The gun control group Giffords filed a lawsuit against the National Rifle Association, alleging the advocacy group violated campaign finance laws by illegally contributing tens of millions of dollars to Republican U.S. Senate and presidential candidates, including Donald Trump in 2016, through shell corporations. “Over the past seven years, the National Rifle Association has engaged in an ongoing scheme to evade campaign finance regulations by using a series of shell corporations to illegally but surreptitiously coordinate advertising with at least seven candidates for federal office,” the complaint states.

‘Last Stop’ House Committee Takes Its Turn in the Limelight
MSN – Lindsey McPherson (Roll Call) | Published: 11/3/2021

After 13 committees spent countless hours in September preparing a $3.5 trillion-plus partisan budget reconciliation package, the House Rules Committee – “the most powerful committee that people haven’t heard of,” according to its chairperson, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern – is going to cut the measure almost in half. It is the panel’s job to tweak bills so they ultimately have the votes to pass. The committee has no original legislative jurisdiction, but the policy areas it can influence are endless.

Lobbying Firms Connected to Biden White House Are Flourishing Under New Administration
Yahoo News – Soo Rin Kim (ABC News) | Published: 11/3/2021

Lobbying firms with ties to President Biden and his administration are thriving, with some doubling and quadrupling their lobbying revenues from last year, disclosure filings show, but overall lobbying revenues have not increased much over the last year. Three firms led by former Biden aides and others with close ties to key members of the administration have brought in far more in lobbying revenues in just the first three quarters of 2021 than the amount they brought in during the entire previous year.

Perfect Attendance: Susan Collins racks up 8,000th vote in the Senate
MSN – Chris Cioffi (Roll Call) | Published: 11/1/2021

Even a global pandemic could not stop Susan Collins from keeping up her perfect U.S. Senate attendance, a consecutive voting streak that has stretched nearly a quarter-century. She reached the 8,000-vote mark recently, voting to confirm Elizabeth Prelogar to be U.S. solicitor general. Since her arrival in the chamber in 1997, Collins has not missed a single vote. Collins is still a couple of thousand votes away from breaking the record for longest streak ever, held by William Proxmire.

Senate Republicans Block Debate on a Third Major Voting Rights Bill
MSN – Mike DeBonis (Washington Post) | Published: 11/3/2021

Republican senators voted to block debate on the third major voting rights bill that congressional Democrats have sought to pass this year in response to the state-level GOP push to restrict ballot access following former President Trump’s false claims of a stolen 2020 election. Only one Republican, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, voted to advance it. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act seeks to empower the Justice Department and federal courts to review state election laws, restoring provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that have been struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Stunning Survey Gives Grim View of Flourishing Anti-Democratic Opinions
The Hill – Reid Wilson | Published: 11/1/2021

A recent poll from the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute paints a troubling portrait of a growing segment of the public that is increasingly unmoored from reality as it embraces conspiracy theories about child abduction and stolen elections. It found a deep divide between those who trust right-wing media outlets and the rest of the nation, and even a divide between those who trust Fox News and those who trust outlets like One America Network and Newsmax. Eighteen percent say they agree with the statement that America has gotten so far off track that “true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.”

Trump Campaign Payments for ‘Command Centers’ at D.C. Hotels Could Undermine Executive Privilege Claim in Jan. 6 Investigation
MSN – Jacqueline Alemany, Josh Dawsey, Emma Brown, and Tom Hamburger (Washington Post) | Published: 11/2/2021

More than $225,000 in Trump campaign payments went to firms owned by Bernard Kerik and Rudolph Giuliani, including more than $50,000 for rooms and suites at the Willard hotel in Washington, D.C. that served as a “command center” for efforts to deny Joe Biden the presidency in the days leading up to the attack on the Capitol on January 6. The fact that campaign funds were used to finance efforts to subvert Biden’s victory could complicate the Donald Trump’s ongoing attempt to use claims of executive privilege to shield documents and testimony from the congressional committee investigating the insurrection.

Trump Seeking to Block Hundreds of Pages of Documents from Jan. 6 Committee, Court Filing Shows
MSN – Amy Wang (Washington Post) | Published: 10/30/2021

Former President Trump is trying to withhold nearly 800 pages of documents from the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection. The filing was in response to and shed more light on a lawsuit Trump filed seeking to block the disclosure of records related to his whereabouts, communications, and activities that day. Exerting additional pressure on Trump, 66 former members of Congress, including 44 Democrats and 22 Republicans filed a brief opposing Trump’s attempt to shield documents from the select committee.

Two Democratic Senators Take Aim at ‘Zombie’ Campaigns
Yahoo News – Roger Sollenberger (Daily Beast) | Published: 11/4/2021

U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and Elizabeth Warren introduced legislation to prohibit former politicians from holding on to their campaign money forever. The bill would outlaw so-called zombie campaign accounts for any politician who does not file for the next election six months after they leave office and would require any former politician who wishes to register as a lobbyist to shut down their campaign account immediately.

UK Needs a Lobbying Regulator, Review Author Recommends
Financial Times – Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe | Published: 11/2/2021

The United Kingdom should create a regulator able to “impose severe sanctions” on individuals who break lobbying rules, the author of an independent review into the issue suggested. Nigel Boardman, who published a review into lobbying following a scandal involving former Prime Minister David Cameron, told the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee the lobbying industry needed to move away from “self-regulation.”

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – After Federal Court Ruling, Alaska Campaign Regulators Propose Higher Donation Limits
Anchorage Daily News – James Brooks | Published: 11/3/2021

The staff of the Alaska Public Offices Commission set the state’s campaign contribution limit at $1,500 from an individual to a candidate, now that the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has thrown out the previous $500 cap. A group would be limited to $3,000 in donations per candidate or group per year. Campaigns and candidates are required to follow the new caps until the commission votes on the proposal and could be subject to an official complaint and investigation if they violate its limits.

California – City Report: SF officials got free tickets to pricey outside Lands Fest through ethically questionable loophole
KQED – Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez | Published: 10/29/2021

According to a recent San Francisco Ethics Commission report, city officials have been given at least $430,950 in free tickets to the Outside Lands festival through a loophole, that although technically legal, is ethically dubious. The Recreation and Parks Department, which is the agency accepting the tickets from Another Planet Entertainment, which puts on the festival, is also in charge of the contract for the event space. That makes them a “restricted source” for officials involved in the contract, which means accepting any gifts from entities they are doing business with poses a potential conflict-of-interest.

California – How Local Independent Commissions Are Changing California Redistricting
CalMatters – Sameea Kamal | Published: 10/26/2021

California has a dozen new local independent commissions in this round of redistricting, a process that will create districts for elections from 2022 to 2030. These new panels are coming up with districts that in some places have never been redrawn, or have not been altered significantly, despite changing populations. Taking redistricting power away from officeholders could mean changes in representation and city priorities.

California – Is It Too Easy to Hold a Recall in California? Lawmakers Raise Changes After Newsom Victory
MSN – Lara Korte (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 10/29/2021

Both Democrats and Republicans said they are open to tweaking California’s 108-year-old recall laws, but they are far from consensus on what those changes should look like. Lawmakers gathered for the first formal discussion of the state’s recall process following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s victory against a recall. Democrats are concerned it is too easy to qualify a recall in California. Republicans said they are open to changing the recall in a way that makes it more efficient or conducts it in a better manner, but they are cautious about diluting an avenue of direct democracy.

Connecticut – A $375,000 Kentucky Derby Trip, Personalized Golf Balls and Luxury Swag Bags. Federal Jury Set to Determine When High-Priced Corporate Retreats Are Illegal Junketeering
MSN – Edmund Mahoney (Hartford Courant) | Published: 10/31/2021

Five former Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC) officials are on trial over their involvement in multiple trips that cost more than $800,000 in total. The men planned or participated in trips that sent scores of friends, family, colleagues, and customers on utility-paid trips to the Kentucky Derby and golf outings at The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia. The defendants say the travel was legal under state law. “The evidence … will prove that the five defendants used hundreds of thousands of dollars of money belonging to CMEEC … for their personal benefit …,” prosecutors wrote in a pre-trial memorandum.

Delaware – Can Delaware Lawmakers Legally Oust an Indicted State Auditor? State Law Isn’t Clear
WHYY – Mark Eichman | Published: 11/2/2021

The Delaware General Assembly has never voted to have the governor oust another elected official. As a result, there is some confusion about how the process works. After a grand jury indicted state Auditor Kathy McGuiness on fraud charges, resolving that confusion has taken on increased urgency. The felony charges accuse McGuiness of hiring her daughter to a no-show job, giving her 2018 campaign consulting firm an illegal state contract, and intimidating employees who complained.

Florida – Candidates Fail to Turn in Mandatory Financial Reports
MSN – Corbin Bolies (Fresh Take Florida) | Published: 10/30/2021

Scores of challengers running for Congress across Florida have failed to successfully file financial reports in Washington that would publicly reveal key details about their personal wealth, debts, and jobs, as required by the U.S. House. The missing paperwork means voters have few clues so far about where these candidates have earned their money, where they invested, or to whom they owe personal debts. Candidates’ explanations included reports being lost in the mail, forgetting they were due, technical glitches, and confusion over what Congress required.

Florida – Florida Blocks Professors from Testifying Against Voting Law Pushed by DeSantis
Politico – Gary Fineout and Marc Caputo | Published: 10/30/2021

The University of Florida blocked three professors from testifying on behalf of plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking to overturn the state’s new restrictive voting law. University officials asserted it was a conflict-of-interest for professors to testify in the lawsuit because they are state employees. It is a turnaround in university policy, which for years allowed professors to testify in lawsuits against the state, including one that unsuccessfully challenged the state law that restricted voting rights for convicted felons. Critics contend the action imperils academic freedom and raises concerns about the First Amendment.

Illinois – Ex-State Rep. Luis Arroyo Pleads Guilty in Bribery Case Tied to Sweepstakes Machines
MSN – Jason Meisner and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 11/3/2021

Former Illinois Rep. Luis Arroyo pleaded guilty in a bribery scheme involving a shadowy lobbying effort to expand the use of sweepstakes gaming machines. He acknowledged offering a member of the state Senate monthly payments of $2,500 to back a bill supported by a sweepstakes firm that hired Arroyo as a lobbyist. Prosecutors said Arroyo accepted $7,500 in bribes from James Weiss, the owner of sweepstakes firm Collage LLC, with the understanding he would vote for the legislation supported by Weiss and lobby members of the executive branch and the Illinois Senate.

Massachusetts – Michelle Wu Makes History as First Person of Color and Woman to Be Elected Boston Mayor
MSN – Joanna Slater and Adela Suliman (Washington Post) | Published: 11/3/2021

Democrat Michelle Wu is the first woman and person of color to be elected Boston mayor. The campaign largely focused on housing costs, education, and the city’s opioid crisis. But the race also highlighted Boston’s growing diversity, with all the leading candidates being women of color. It is the first time in nearly 200 years that the city’s next mayor will not be a White man.

Missouri – Many Redistricting Commissioners Have Close Ties to Lawmakers
Columbia Missourian – Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) | Published: 11/4/2021

The 40 people chosen to draw new legislative districts for Missouri include political consultants, former candidates, and political party officers. They have until January to design 163 Missouri House and 34 state Senate districts that would be used next year. The commissions are billed as independent, and members are prohibited from running for a legislative seat for four years. Many commissioners, however, have close ties to the state legislators whose districts they will be redrawing.

Montana – Legislative Counsel Requests AG’s Documents in St. Peter’s Dispute
Missoula Current – Arren Kimbeil-Sannit (Daily Montanan) | Published: 11/1/2021

A special counsel tasked with probing allegations that state officials in the Montana attorney general’s office harassed doctors at St. Peter’s Health in Helena have formally requested documents related to the incident. Democratic legislative leadership requested their counterparts in the majority investigate the allegations on the heels of media reports in which St. Peter’s said unnamed state officials threatened doctors at the hospital for not prescribing a COVID-19 patient ivermectin, an unapproved treatment for the virus. The patient, an activist in the Lewis and Clark County Republican Party politics, has since passed away.

New Jersey – Former Owner of Morristown Law Firm Admits Directing Bold Straw Donor Scheme
MSN – Lori Comstock (Morristown Daily Record) | Published: 10/27/2021

Attorney Matthew O’Donnell pleaded guilty to “pay-to-play” charges in connection with a bribery scheme in New Jersey. O’Donnell admitted his firm submitted proposals for legal services to municipalities but failed to disclose the firm made campaign contributions to officials in those locations. Using straw donors allowed the firm to donate to campaigns and evade laws that would otherwise disqualify them from winning contracts. He faces a maximum three-year prison sentence and will be required to pay restitution to the victims of the scheme. The plea also calls for him to be banned from doing any business in the state for 10 years.

New Jersey – Murphy Reelected New Jersey Governor by Razor-Thin Margin
Yahoo News – Matt Friedman (Politico) | Published: 11/3/2021

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has won reelection, defeating Republican Jack Ciattarelli in a closer-than-expected race. The contest eluded national coverage for most of the year, as both parties focused intensely on the close race for governor in Virginia. But Murphy’s small margin ultimately points to the same challenging political environment for Democrats, a year after winning the presidential election and with midterms looming.

New Jersey – N.J. Governor’s Race Fallout Could Claim Senate President Sweeney as Democrats Trail Key Legislative Races
MSN – Amanda Hoover and Brent Johnson (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 11/3/2021

New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney seems set to lose his seat his seat to Edward Durr, a truck driver who spent only $153 over the course of his campaign. Durr has never held elective office. He ran on a platform of limiting government, reducing taxes, and fixing the state’s roads, but he did not garner much attention during the campaign. A Sweeney loss would significantly change the landscape of state politics, giving rise to a new Senate president and likely shifting the dynamic between the Legislature and the governor’s office.

New Jersey – Voters with Disabilities Gain Political Clout in NJ as Ballots Become More Accessible
MSN – Gene Myers (Bergen Record) | Published: 11/2/2021

New Jerseyans with disabilities are enjoying a new era of political relevance thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, both the voting reforms it spurred and the inequities it laid bare. People with disabilities showed “large gains” in 2020’s voter turnout, said Steve Flamisch of Rutgers University’s Program for Disability Research. It is a community that historically has splintered into smaller populations, each lobbying for specific needs in areas such as hearing or vision loss or developmental disabilities without coalescing into a larger political bloc. That has left such voters out of initial discussions about public policy, necessitating after-the-fact fixes such as those found in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

New York – Hochul Outsources Fundraising to Albany’s Top Lobbyists
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 11/1/2021

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s campaign is outsourcing a significant portion of its fundraising to Albany’s top lobbying firms, including a few featuring partners that were key witnesses caught up in past corruption cases. Hochul’s fundraising practice is legal. Yet at her swearing-in ceremony in August, she had said one of her priorities was “changing the culture of Albany.” But as she seeks to win a full term as governor next year, her campaign fundraising tactics have accelerated a longstanding practice in Albany’s political culture.

New York – Inspector General to Begin Releasing Its Secret ‘Letter’ Reports
Albany Times Union – Brendan Lyons and Chris Bragg | Published: 11/2/2021

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s directive creating more “transparency” in state agencies will include having the state inspector general’s office begin posting the results of all its investigations online, including the letters the office has more frequently sent to many agencies in recent years to privately summarize its findings in controversial matters. It was reported that during the administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the inspector general’s office had been increasingly sending letters to agencies, rather than posting full reports on its website, to quietly handle matters ranging from sexual harassment to the alleged leak of confidential information to the governor.

New York – Sheriff Defends Filing of Criminal Complaint Against Cuomo
Yahoo News – Bobby Caina and Michael Hill (Associated Press) | Published: 10/29/2021

A sheriff defended his decision to file a criminal complaint against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo without consulting prosecutors or the accuser, a woman who says the Cuomo groped her late last year. Sheriff Craig Apple said he was confident in the strength of the case, which he said was based on witness interviews and voluminous records. A court summons requires Cuomo to appear for an arraignment on November 17, though that date could change. The one-page complaint filed in Albany City Court accuses Cuomo of forcible touching by putting his hand under a woman’s shirt on December 7.

Ohio – Columbus Officials Looking to Prevent Another Issue 7-Type Measure from Getting on Ballot
MSN – Mark Ferenchik and Bill Bush (Columbus Dispatch) | Published: 11/3/2021

The defeat of Issue 7 in Columbus, a murky initiative to divert $87 million in taxpayer money to fund vague “green energy” programs with no oversight, may be unprecedented in the history of city elections. Although voters were not buying the shadowy petition and those behind it, city officials are already looking at ways to restrict future ballot initiatives from being able to redirect millions of tax dollars to a private, unregulated group to spend how it sees fit.

Pennsylvania – How Do Staffs at PSERS and SERS Pension Plans Play the Market? The Public Can’t Find Out
MSN – Craig McCoy and John DiStefano (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 11/1/2021

In California, public investment officers with power over billions of dollars in pension funds must disclose the stocks they own, their approximate cash value, when they bought them, when they sold, and any profits they made. Ohio requires public investment staff to disclose all their personal stocks. So does Florida. But in Pennsylvania, lenient laws mean scores of highly paid investment staffers and top public pension plan executives are required to reveal little or nothing about their personal stock trading.

Pennsylvania – Pa. House Mulling Gift Ban Bill, but Gov. Tom Wolf Says It Needs Strengthening. Here’s Why
Lebanon Daily News – J.D. Prose (Pennsylvania State Capital Bureau) | Published: 11/1/2021

Gov. Tom Wolf is urging the Pennsylvania Legislature to close a “loophole” in a gift ban bill that is moving forward in the House. House Bill 1009 prohibits elected officials and state employees from accepting lodging or sleeping accommodations, food and drinks, transportation, recreation, and entertainment collectively valued at more than $250 from registered lobbyists during a year. Wolf said it does not go far enough and should be strengthened to include gifts from businesses or people not registered as lobbyists in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania – Want to See Who’s Funding Local Candidates in Pa.? It’s Harder Than You’d Think
WHYY – Ethan Edward Coston (Spotlight PA) | Published: 11/2/2021

Hundreds of local races across Pennsylvania were decided on November 2 but determining who is bankrolled the candidates and how they spent that money can be onerous and time-consuming, a review found. Local candidates were required to file final pre-election campaign finance reports with their county by October 22. To test how easily and quickly the public could access this information less than two weeks before the election, Spotlight PA requested reports for school board candidates in nine counties.

Virginia – Republican Winsome Sears Projected to Win Lieutenant Governor’s Race
MSN – Antonio Olivo (Washington Post) | Published: 11/3/2021

Republican Winsome Sears was projected to win Virginia’s race for lieutenant governor, a victory that would make her the first woman in the state’s second-highest office and could tilt the closely split state Senate in her party’s favor on divisive issues such as abortion restrictions. The victory also would make Sears the first woman of color to hold a statewide office in Virginia, a milestone that was also possible for her opponent, Del. Hala Ayala, and that both candidates used to rally supporters in their bid to win the position that traditionally has been a launchpad for a run for governor.

Virginia – Youngkin Wins Virginia Governor’s Race, Jolting Democrats
MSN – Will Weissert and Sarah Rankin (Associated Press) | Published: 11/3/2021

Glenn Youngkin won the Virginia governor’s race, tapping into culture war fights over schools and race to unite former President Trump’s most fervent supporters with enough suburban voters to become the first Republican to win statewide office in 12 years. Youngkin’s defeat of Terry McAuliffe marked a sharp turnabout in a state that has shifted to the left over the past decade and was captured by Joe Biden last year by a 10-point margin. It is certain to add to the Democrats’ anxiety about their grip on political power heading into next year’s midterms.

Campaign Finance

National: “Gun Control Group Alleges Campaign Finance Violations in Lawsuit Against NRA” by Mychael Schnell (The Hill) for MSN

National: “Trump Campaign Payments for ‘Command Centers’ at D.C. Hotels Could Undermine Executive Privilege Claim in Jan. 6 Investigation” by Jacqueline Alemany, Josh Dawsey, Emma Brown, and Tom Hamburger (Washington Post) for MSN

Alaska: “After Federal Court Ruling, Alaska Campaign Regulators Propose Higher Donation Limits” by James Brooks for Anchorage Daily News

Elections

National: “At Least Seven Jan. 6 Rallygoers Won Public Office on Election Day” by Amy Wang and Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) for MSN

Massachusetts: “Michelle Wu Makes History as First Person of Color and Woman to Be Elected Boston Mayor” by Joanna Slater and Adela Suliman (Washington Post) for MSN

New Jersey: “N.J. Governor’s Race Fallout Could Claim Senate President Sweeney as Democrats Trail Key Legislative Races” by Amanda Hoover and Brent Johnson (NJ Advance Media) for MSN

Ethics

Illinois: “Ex-State Rep. Luis Arroyo Pleads Guilty in Bribery Case Tied to Sweepstakes Machines” by Jason Meisner and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Delaware: “Can Delaware Lawmakers Legally Oust an Indicted State Auditor? State Law Isn’t Clear” by Mark Eichman for WHYY

Lobbying

National: “Lobbying Firms Connected to Biden White House Are Flourishing Under New Administration” by Soo Rin Kim (ABC News) for Yahoo News

Redistricting

California: “How Local Independent Commissions Are Changing California Redistricting” by Sameea Kamal for CalMatters

Campaign Finance

National: “The FEC Affirmed That Foreigners Can Fund US Ballot Measures Because They’re Technically Not Elections” by Bryan Metzger (Business Insider) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “Want to See Who’s Funding Local Candidates in Pa.? It’s Harder Than You’d Think” by Ethan Edward Coston (Spotlight PA) for WHYY

Elections

New Jersey: “Voters with Disabilities Gain Political Clout in NJ as Ballots Become More Accessible” by Gene Myers (Bergen Record) for MSN

Virginia: “Youngkin Wins Virginia Governor’s Race, Jolting Democrats” by Will Weissert and Sarah Rankin (Associated Press) for MSN

Ethics

Connecticut: “A $375,000 Kentucky Derby Trip, Personalized Golf Balls and Luxury Swag Bags. Federal Jury Set to Determine When High-Priced Corporate Retreats Are Illegal Junketeering” by Edmund Mahoney (Hartford Courant) for MSN

Montana: “Legislative Counsel Requests AG’s Documents in St. Peter’s Dispute” by Arren Kimbeil-Sannit (Daily Montanan) for Missoula Current

New York: “Inspector General to Begin Releasing Its Secret ‘Letter’ Reports” by Brendan Lyons and Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Lobbying

Europe: “UK Needs a Lobbying Regulator, Review Author Recommends” by Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe for Financial Times

Campaign Finance

National: “A Year Out, Political Groups Prepare for What Could Be the Most Expensive Midterms Ever” by Kate Ackley (Roll Call) for MSN

Florida: “Candidates Fail to Turn in Mandatory Financial Reports” by Corbin Bolies (Fresh Take Florida) for MSN

Elections

California: “Is It Too Easy to Hold a Recall in California? Lawmakers Raise Changes After Newsom Victory” by Lara Korte (Sacramento Bee) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Stunning Survey Gives Grim View of Flourishing Anti-Democratic Opinions” by Reid Wilson for The Hill

Pennsylvania: “How Do Staffs at PSERS and SERS Pension Plans Play the Market? The Public Can’t Find Out” by Craig McCoy and John DiStefano (Philadelphia Inquirer) for MSN

Legislative Issues

National: “Perfect Attendance: Susan Collins racks up 8,000th vote in the Senate” by Chris Cioffi (Roll Call) for MSN

Lobbying

New York: “Hochul Outsources Fundraising to Albany’s Top Lobbyists” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Pennsylvania: “Pa. House Mulling Gift Ban Bill, but Gov. Tom Wolf Says It Needs Strengthening. Here’s Why” by J.D. Prose (Pennsylvania State Capital Bureau) for Lebanon Daily News

Campaign Finance

National: “Cases Show Foreign Donors Secretly Funnel Money Through Straw Donors, Shell Companies, ‘Dark Money’” by Anna Massoglia for Center for Responsive Politics

New Jersey: “Former Owner of Morristown Law Firm Admits Directing Bold Straw Donor Scheme” by Lori Comstock (Morristown Daily Record) for MSN

Elections

Florida: “Florida Blocks Professors from Testifying Against Voting Law Pushed by DeSantis” by Gary Fineout and Marc Caputo for Politico

Ethics

National: “Burr’s Brother-in-Law Called Stock Broker, One Minute After Getting Off Phone with Senator” by Robert Faturechi for ProPublica

National: “Trump Seeking to Block Hundreds of Pages of Documents from Jan. 6 Committee, Court Filing Shows” by Amy Wang (Washington Post) for MSN

California: “City Report: SF officials got free tickets to pricey outside Lands Fest through ethically questionable loophole” by Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez for KQED

New York: “Sheriff Defends Filing of Criminal Complaint Against Cuomo” by Bobby Caina and Michael Hill (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Redistricting

Colorado: “Democrats Backed a Commission to Draw Fair House Lines in Colorado. Now They Worry They Gave Up Their Power.” by Colby Itkowitz and Adrián Blanco (Washington Post) for MSN

National/Federal

Democrats Turn Down Top Lobbying Roles at Facebook as Scandals Pile Up
Yahoo News – Nihal Krishan (Washington Examiner) | Published: 10/27/2021

Facebook is reportedly struggling to hire Democrats for its lobbying shop in Washington, D.C. despite paying top dollar, a potential sign the social media behemoth is now deemed radioactive by many on the Left. The Biden administration and Democrats in Congress have threatened to go after Facebook with aggressive regulations, lawsuits, and investigations, and that appears to be making it an unattractive employer for top talent. Making matters worse, some senior Democratic lobbyists have left the company recently, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Ethics Panel Releases Reports on Malinowski, Kelly, Mooney and Hagedorn
MSN – Chris Marquette (Roll Call) | Published: 10/21/2021

The House Committee on Ethics released four reports into separate violations of ethics rules by four members of Congress, portraying what investigators suggested was a sweeping array of improper financial conduct. The allegations against three Republicans and one Democrat center on stock trades and the improper use of campaign funds, according to the Office of Congressional Ethics, which investigated the cases. All four cases will continue to be reviewed by the ethics committee.

Facebook Staff Complained for Years About Their Lobbyists’ Power
Yahoo News – Emily Birnbaum (Politico) | Published: 10/25/2021

Facebook’s lobbying and government relations shop, overseen by former Republican operative Joel Kaplan, regularly weighs in on speech-related issues, such as how to deal with prominent right-wing figures, misinformation, ads from former President Trump, and the aftermath of the George Floyd protests, according to internal documents. The dynamic is so prevalent, employees argued Facebook regularly ignored its own written policies to keep political figures happy, even overriding concerns about public safety. The disclosures come after years of internal and external grumbling at Facebook about the role played by Kaplan.

Fed to Ban Policymakers from Owning Individual Stocks, Restrict Trading Following Controversy
CNBC – Jeff Cox | Published: 10/21/2021

Responding to a growing controversy over investing practices, the Federal Reserve announced a wide-ranging ban on officials owning individual stocks and bonds and limits on other activities as well. The ban includes top policymakers such as those who sit on the Federal Open Market Committee, along with senior staff. Future investments will have to be confined to diversified assets such as mutual funds. The new rules replace existing regulations that, while somewhat restrictive, still allowed officials such as regional presidents to buy and sell stocks.

Five Points for Anger, One for a ‘Like’: How Facebook’s formula fostered rage and misinformation
MSN – Jeremy Merrill and Will Oremus (Washington Post) | Published: 10/26/2021

Five years ago, Facebook gave its users five new ways to react to a post in their news feed beyond the iconic “like” thumbs-up: “love,” “haha,” “wow,” “sad,” and “angry.” Facebook programmed the algorithm that decides what people see in their news feeds to use the reaction emoji as signals to push more emotional and provocative content, including content likely to make them angry. Facebook’s ranking algorithm treated emoji reactions as five times more valuable than “likes,” internal documents reveal. The theory was simple: posts that prompted lots of reaction emoji tended to keep users more engaged, and keeping users engaged was the key to Facebook’s business.

Florida Judge Rules Trump Can’t Skirt Twitter’s Terms Just Because He Was President, in Latest Legal Setback
MSN – Timothy Bella (Washington Post) | Published: 10/27/2021

A federal judge in Florida ruled Donald Trump’s status as a former president does not exclude him from following Twitter’s terms of service, the latest setback in his quest to get back on the social media platform after being banned this year. The judge granted Twitter’s motion to transfer the case from the Southern District of Florida to the Northern District of California, which is required by a clause in the company’s user agreement that all Twitter users sign. The case stems from Twitter permanently suspending Trump shortly after the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol that led to five deaths and injuries to hundreds of people.

Former Giuliani Associate Lev Parnas Is Convicted of Campaign Finance Crimes
National Public Radio – Associated Press | Published: 10/22/2021

A jury convicted a former associate of Rudy Giuliani of charges he made illegal campaign contributions to influence U.S. politicians and advance his business interests. Prosecutors accused Lev Parnas of using other people’s money to pose as a powerful political broker and get close to some of the nation’s leading Republican political figures. The case had drawn interest because of the involvement of Parnas and a former co-defendant, Igor Fruman, in Giuliani’s efforts to get Ukrainian officials to investigate Joe Biden’s son during the 2020 election.

House Votes to Hold Bannon in Contempt for Refusing to Comply with the Jan. 6 Subpoena
MSN – Felicia Sonmez, Marianna Sotomayor, and Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) | Published: 10/21/2021

The House voted to hold former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon in criminal contempt of Congress for his refusal to comply with a subpoena issued by the committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Bannon has argued he cannot respond to the subpoena because of executive privilege asserted by former President Trump. The matter now goes to the Justice Department, which will decide whether to pursue the matter. Legal experts have cast doubt on the merit of Bannon’s defense of his defiance of the subpoena.

Inside Facebook’s Struggle to Contain Insurrectionists’ Posts
Yahoo News – Alexandra Levine (Politico) | Published: 10/25/2021

In the hours leading up to the January 6 insurrection, engineers and other experts in Facebook’s Elections Operations Center were scrambling to thwart dangerous claims spreading across the platform, trying to detect false narratives of election fraud and squelch other content fueling the rioters. But much of what was happening across the social network that day fell into a bucket of problematic material Facebook has said it does not yet know how to tackle. Facebook had no clear playbook for handling some of the most dangerous material on its platform: content delegitimizing the U.S. elections.

Jan. 6 Protest Organizers Say They Participated in ‘Dozens’ of Planning Meetings with Members of Congress and White House Staff
Yahoo News – Hunter Walker (Rolling Stone) | Published: 10/24/2021

Two people who helped plan the pro-Trump rallies that took place in Washington, D.C., ahead of the Capitol riot on January 6 say members of Congress and the White House helped plan the protest that turned violent. Neither of the sources were identified, though Rolling Stone described one as a “rally organizer” and another as a “planner.” Rolling Stone reported the two are also talking to the House select committee investigating the insurrection. Both organizers also said Mark Meadows, who was serving as then-President Trump’s chief of staff, played a significant role in discussions regarding the protests ahead of January 6.

‘Threats of Violence’: School boards curb public comments to calm raucous meetings
MSN – Andrew Atterbury and Juan Perez Jr. (Politico) | Published: 10/26/2021

School leaders nationwide are beginning to eye ways to rein in public commentary at local meetings to quell raucous crowds over issues like mask mandates and critical race theory. The potential changes could add more strain between school boards and the public they serve, a domain that has emerged as a fierce culture war battleground amid the coronavirus. Parents across the nation are fighting for more control over what their children are learning in school, frustrations that have boiled over during the pandemic and are gaining support in the Republican Party.

Twitter Algorithms Amplify Conservative Content More Than That of the Political Left, Researchers Find
MSN – Taylor Telford (Washington Post) | Published: 10/24/2021

An internal evaluation of Twitter’s recommendation algorithms concluded they amplify right-leaning political content more than left-leaning content, undercutting allegations by many conservatives who contend they are being censored on the platform. The research is months in the making, part of Twitter’s promise to evaluate the underpinnings of its platform after the company was criticized for its role in the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol.

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – After Federal Court Action, Alaska Prepares to Remove Most Restrictions on Campaign Contributions
Yahoo News – James Brooks (Anchorage Daily News) | Published: 10/27/2021

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it will not re-examine a decision that overturned many of Alaska’s most important limits on campaign contributions. The order clears the way for those caps to be lifted later this fall, ahead of next year’s municipal and state races. Those limits were part of a 2006 ballot measure, but the federal judges ended almost six years of legal arguments by saying they unconstitutionally limit the free-speech rights of political donors.

California – California Sets New Rules for Mystery Donations Made on Behalf of Lawmakers
MSN – Melody Gutierrez (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 10/21/2021

California law requires that charitable donations of $5,000 or more requested by elected officials or their representatives, a practice known as behested payments, be disclosed to limit undue influence in government. But the identities of those who use so-called donor-advised funds to make those payments are often shielded in state and local disclosures. The Fair Political Practices Commission approved changes that will require elected officials to report the name of the person directing a behested payment through a donor-advised fund. When the contribution is made anonymously, the elected official must note that in disclosure filings.

California – Huizar Seeks to Gut Corruption Case, Says Alleged $1.5 Million in Gifts Were Not Bribes
Yahoo News – Michael Finnegan and David Zahniser (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 10/26/2021

Attorneys for former Los Angeles City Councilperson Jose Huizar readily admit that many of the allegations made against him in a wide-ranging corruption case are “distasteful.” Federal prosecutors have accused him of traveling on private jets, staying at luxury hotels, gambling at casinos in Las Vegas, and consorting with prostitutes – all paid for by businesspeople seeking to profit from the real estate boom in his district. But Huizar’s lawyers argued many of the steps he is accused of taking to help those businesspeople, such as setting up meetings and recommending consultants, were too informal to qualify as the type of “official acts” that meet the definition of bribery under federal law.

California – San Diego City Attorney, Mayoral Aides Met with Lobbyists Over Ash Street Litigation
San Diego Daily Tribune – Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 10/24/2021

One of San Diego’s highest profile lobbying firms met privately with City Attorney Mara Elliott, her top lieutenants, and two senior aides to Mayor Todd Gloria to resolve litigation over the ill-fated lease for the former Sempra Energy headquarters. The confidential discussions with Southwest Strategies lobbyists came at the same time the company was raising tens of thousands of dollars in political donations for Elliott, Gloria, and members of the city. Legal and political experts say the arrangement is unusual and questionable.

Colorado – New Redistricting Lobbying Complaint Targets Latino Advocacy Group
Denver Gazette – Evan Wyloge (Colorado Springs Gazette) | Published: 10/22/2021

Another complaint alleging failures to properly disclose redistricting lobbying activity was lodged with the Colorado secretary of state, this time targeting an influential Hispanic and Latino advocacy organization. The newest complaint takes aim at the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, and Research Organization, arguing their registered lobbyist has not properly disclosed his activities, and two other employees of the organization should have registered as lobbyists and disclosed their contact with redistricting commissioners as lobbying.

Colorado – No-Bid Contracts to Campaign Contributors, Top-Dollar PR Firms Among ‘Custodial Funds’ Spending in Colorado
Denver Gazette – Evan Wyloge (Colorado Springs Gazette) | Published: 10/21/2021

So-called custodial funds in Colorado are an example of government spending that has little to no oversight. The money can be used at the discretion of a state agency, as long as the spending qualifies under the purpose of the funds’ source, like spending $400 million received from settlements with drug companies on anti-drug addiction efforts. But there is no oversight step built into the process. Attorney General Phil Weiser directed about $250,000 to no-bid contracts for a handful of his campaign contributors or their firms from a pot of money controlled by his office that is intended to help protect consumers from fraud.

Connecticut – Former State Rep. DiMassa Allegedly Billed West Haven $100K for Lobbying the City ‘Wouldn’t Need,’ Documents Show
Stamford Advocate – Mark Zaretsky (New Haven Register) | Published: 10/26/2021

Former Connecticut Rep. Michael DiMassa, who was arrested on federal wire-fraud charges related to his use of COVID relief funds, allegedly claimed on invoices he submitted to the city of New Haven a company he formed that received $636,000 in federal money was involved in lobbying activities. The documents do not specify who would have done the lobbying for DiMassa’s Compass Investment Group and authorities allege none of the work for which invoices were submitted was done, and state law also prohibits any member of the Legislature from acting as a lobbyist.

Florida – Florida Ethics Commission Clears Ken Welch in 2018 Lobbying Controversy
Florida Politics – Kelly Hayes | Published: 10/27/2021

The Florida Commission on Ethics found no probable cause former Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch misused his position in 2018 when lobbying public officials on behalf of his wife. The commission cleared Welch less than two weeks before the St. Petersburg election in which Welch tops the ballot for mayor. The issue has dogged Welch’s mayoral campaign in some attack emails by a shadowy group that messaged voters highlighting the past controversy. The emails referenced a Tampa Bay Times editorial criticizing Welch for an “obvious conflict-of-interest.”

Florida – Florida Senate ‘Ghost’ Candidate Alex Rodriguez Faces Potential $20,000 Ethics Fine
MSN – Mark Harper (Daytona Beach Journal) | Published: 10/27/2021

Alex Rodriguez, the former “ghost” candidate who pleaded guilty in August in an election-fraud criminal case, has been levied a $20,000 fine. The Florida Commission on Ethics announced it approved a settlement agreement with Rodriguez for accepting money “from an individual based on the understanding he would change his party affiliation, qualify to run” in the 2020 Senate District 37 race, and file a false financial-disclosure form. Rodriguez ran as a no-party affiliation candidate in a tight contest between then-incumbent Sen. Jose Rodriguez and Republican Ileana Garcia. He was considered a “ghost” candidate because he did not campaign other than filling out the paperwork and paying the qualifying fee.

Georgia – Judge: State can’t pursue charges against Georgia’s Oxendine
MSN – Associated Press | Published: 10/24/2021

A judge is throwing out ethics charges against former Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, saying state officials waited too long to pursue action. Oxendine was accused of illegally using campaign funds from his failed 2010 gubernatorial campaign to buy a house and lease cars. He was also accused of accepting campaign contributions 10 times above the legal limit from insurance companies.

Iowa – Des Moines Schools’ Superintendent’s Wife Donated to School Board Candidate’s Campaign
MSN – Samantha Hernandez (Des Moines Register) | Published: 10/24/2021

Des Moines Public Schools’ Superintendent Tom Ahart’s wife donated $400 to a city School Board candidate’s campaign, a contribution that is legal but raises ethical questions, government watchdogs say. Jami Bassman Ahart donated to candidate Shelley Skuster, who is running to unseat Kim Martorano, who previously voted not to extend Ahart’s contract with the district. If elected, Skuster would be among those making decisions about Ahart’s future employment.

Michigan – Detroit Cops Accused of Pocketing Cash, Steering Towing Work, Offering to Leak Info
Detroit News – Robert Snell, George Hunter, and Oralandar Brand-Williams | Published: 10/27/2021

Two members of the Detroit Police Department, including an internal affairs lieutenant, were charged with bribery. The arrests are in connection with “Operation Northern Hook,” a broader FBI investigation of corruption within City Hall and municipal towing operations. Lt. John Kennedy and Officer Daniel Vickers conspired to accept bribes in exchange for steering towing work to an unidentified company, prosecutors alleged. The bribes included thousands of dollars in cash, cars, and new carpeting for Vickers’ home, according to the government.

Michigan – Feds Secure First Conviction in Taylor Mayor Bribery Scandal
Detroit News – Robert Snell | Published: 10/22/2021

Federal prosecutors secured the first conviction in a bribery case against Taylor Mayor Rick Sollars when a real estate developer admitted bribing Sollars with more than $53,000 in cash, appliances, home renovations, and gambling money. Shady Awad pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy almost two years after he was charged. Awad is the latest person convicted in a crackdown on public corruption in Metro Detroit. Since 2008, more than 100 individuals have been charged and there are ongoing FBI investigations targeting Detroit City Council members.

Mississippi – Brett Favre Repays $600,000 in Mississippi Welfare Fraud Case
New York Times – Michael Levensen | Published: 10/27/2021

Brett Favre, the Hall of Fame quarterback who was raised in Mississippi, paid the state back $600,000 he owed after he improperly received welfare money for speeches as part of an extensive fraud scheme. But Favre could still be sued if he does not pay the state the remaining $228,000 in interest he owes, said state Auditor Shad White. Mississippi had allowed millions of dollars in anti-poverty funds to be used in ways that did little or nothing to help the poor, with two nonprofit groups instead using the money on lobbyists, football tickets, religious concerts, and fitness programs for state lawmakers.

Missouri – Unexplained Exits Becoming the Norm for Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s Cabinet
Missouri Independent – Jason Hancock | Published: 10/25/2021

The October 12 departure of Sarah Steelman as commissioner of the Office of Administration marked the third time in six months that a member of Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s Cabinet was let go suddenly and without any public explanation. Just like the previous two – Former Health Director Randall Williams and ex-chief operating officer for the governor Drew Erdman – Steelman was asked to resign effective immediately, and her resignation letter is being withheld from public disclosure. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade said the moves are especially troubling now that they involve the state’s purchasing agency.

New Jersey – An Oath Keeper Was at the Capitol Riot. On Tuesday, He’s on the Ballot.
New York Times – Tracy Tully | Published: 10/27/2021

Edward Durfee Jr. is an active member of the far-right Oath Keepers militia who leads the group’s northern New Jersey region and was outside the Capitol during the January 6 insurrection. He is also running for the New Jersey Assembly as a Republican. Durfee said he did not enter the Capitol during the assault, and he condemned the violence that led to several deaths. But he wholeheartedly embraces the ideology of the Oath Keepers, an antigovernment group that pledges to support and defend its interpretation of the Constitution against all enemies.

New York – Rep. Espaillat Campaign Paid Thousands to Online Influencers Who Delivered Flattering Posts
The City – Claudia Irizarry Aponte | Published: 10/25/2021

Campaign committees for U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat have paid nearly $15,000 to bloggers for posting hundreds of flattering articles dating to his first run for Congress in 2016. The bloggers’ posts do not disclose their financial ties with the Espaillat campaign, exploiting a legal gray area as paid social media influencers play a growing role in campaigns nationally. Two of those bloggers have also received payments from four candidates for the New York City Council, classified in campaigns’ filings as “communications” or “advertising.” The council contenders also have reaped favorable articles written by the bloggers, without disclosure to readers of the payments.

Ohio – Bankruptcy Court Overseeing Energy Harbor Case Didn’t Pre-Approve $500K Political Donation
MSN – Laura Bischoff (Columbus Dispatch) | Published: 10/24/2021

Bankrupt and struggling for survival, FirstEnergy Solutions donated $500,000 to the Republican Governors Association in October 2018 as part of a political strategy recommended by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, a powerful law and lobbying firm. But the contribution, designed to help Mike DeWine, did not get prior approval from the federal bankruptcy court. FirstEnergy and FirstEnergy Solutions, which is now called Energy Harbor, have not provided a full disclosure of how much money it pumped into Ohio politics via “dark money” groups.

Ohio – Cincinnati City Council Approves Anti-Corruption Reforms
WXIX – Jennifer Edwards Baker | Published: 10/27/2021

Rocked by a corruption scandal that saw three members indicted on bribery charges last year, Cincinnati City Council approved two anti-corruption reform measures. One will prohibit council members from soliciting and accepting campaign contributions from those having a financial interest in city business while that business is pending before council. The other will create the position of ethics czar. This person will investigate ethics complaints, oversee a confidential whistleblower hotline, and in general support ethics, election, and campaign finance efforts.

Ohio – Sam Randazzo Overruled PUCO Commissioners, Staff to Help FirstEnergy, According to Company’s Ex-CEO
MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 10/21/2021

Former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Chairperson Sam Randazzo, whom FirstEnergy admitted to bribing, overruled other commissioners and staff to secure policies that benefitted the utility. Randazzo also succeeded in “burning” the final report of a PUCO-commissioned audit into a FirstEnergy customer charge the Ohio Supreme Court overturned the previous year. Critics are questioning whether that report contained information about whether FirstEnergy was improperly using money collected from customers to help pay a $60 million bribe to secure the passage of legislation favorable to the company.

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania Lawmakers Get Started on Bills Restricting Lobbyists
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Marc Levy (Associated Press) | Published: 10/25/2021

The Pennsylvania House began advancing a package of bills aimed at lobbying, including limiting gifts from lobbyists, and prohibiting lobbyists from trying to influence an elected official for whom they also worked as a campaign strategist. One of the centerpiece bills would bar state officials, including lawmakers, from letting a lobbyist pay for their transportation, lodging, recreation, or entertainment, and limiting gifts from lobbyists to $250 in value each year.

Tennessee – State Sen. Brian Kelsey, Nashville Club Owner Indicted in Campaign Finance Conspiracy
MSN – Rachel Wegner and Brinley Hineman (The Tennessean) | Published: 10/25/2021

A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging Tennessee Sen. Brian Kelsey and club owner Joshua Smith with violating multiple campaign finance laws as part of a conspiracy to benefit Kelsey’s 2016 campaign for Congress. Smith owns The Standard, an elite Nashville club that also operates its own state PAC. There, the investigators allege, they illegally funneled money into Kelsey’s campaign on one occasion at a private dinner through the club’s PAC. A watchdog group filed an FEC complaint saying Kelsey and others may have been involved in illegal straw donations, inappropriate coordination, and other possible wrongdoing.

Texas – Gov. Greg Abbott’s Pick for Top Texas Election Post Worked with Trump to Fight 2020 Results
Texas Tribune – James Barragán and Patrick Svitek | Published: 10/21/2021

Gov. Greg Abbott appointed John Scott, an attorney who briefly represented former President Trump in a lawsuit challenging the 2020 election results in Pennsylvania, as Texas’ new secretary of state. Scott would oversee election administration in Texas, a task complicated in by baseless claims of widespread election fraud from Republicans in the highest levels of government, fueled by Trump. Scott will eventually have to be confirmed by the Legislature, which is not scheduled to meet again until 2023. Until then, Scott will serve as interim secretary of state and will oversee next year’s statewide races, in which Abbott will run for reelection.

Texas – Texas Abortion Law Model Could Spread to Guns, Free Speech, Supreme Court Is Told
MSN – Todd Ruger (Roll Call) | Published: 10/28/2021

The U.S. Supreme Court faces arguments that a novel enforcement scheme Texas created for its abortion law could be used by states to neutralize other constitutional rights related to guns, protests, campaign finance, and more. The warning comes from not only the Justice Department and the abortion providers that have challenged the law but also constitutional scholars, states, former prosecutors, and law enforcement officials and a California-based nonprofit group that pushes for gun rights.

Texas – Texas GOP Lawmaker Launches Investigation of Books on Race and Sexuality Used in School Districts
MSN – Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 10/27/2021

A Texas Republican lawmaker launched an investigation into some of the state’s school districts’ libraries, demanding in a letter that educators say whether their schools own books named in a list of 850 titles, many of which cover issues of race and sexuality. Rep. Matt Krause, who is running for state attorney general, sent the letter as part of his role as chairperson of the House Committee on General Investigating. Sarah Spurrier, a high school social studies teacher, said she does not teach critical race theory in her classes, because that is a concept she first heard of this summer, when it became a conservative talking point.

Texas – Texas GOP Lt. Gov. Patrick Offered $25,000 for Election-Fraud tips. The First Payout Was for a Republican’s Illegal Vote.
MSN – Julian Mark (Washington Post) | Published: 10/22/2021

Three days after the 2020 presidential election was called for Joe Biden, and as then-President Trump took to Twitter and falsely claimed tens of thousands of votes were cast illegally, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said he would reward a minimum of $25,000 to tipsters who uncovered credible instances of voter fraud. Now Patrick has given out his first reward to Eric Frank, a Democratic poll worker from Pennsylvania whose tip led to the recent conviction of a registered Republican who cast a second vote in his son’s name last November.

Virginia – An Army of Poll Watchers – Many Driven by GOP’s ‘Election Integrity’ Push – Turns Out Across Virginia
MSN – Meagan Flynn and Shawn Boburg (Washington Post) | Published: 10/27/2021

In Virginia, the Republican Party’s “election integrity” push has driven an influx of election observers in this year’s gubernatorial race. In some trainings, prospective poll watchers have been taught to see themselves as a bulwark against election fraud. But while many registrars said they welcomed the poll watchers’ commitment to transparency, some tactics have made election officials uneasy because it is clear former President Trump’s claims of mass voter fraud have driven much of the interest, said Fairfax County General Registrar Scott, creating a created a sense among some staff members the observers do not trust them.

Virginia – Virginia’s Redistricting Commission’s Failure to Transcend Partisanship Has Lessons for Other States, Critics Say
MSN – Meagan Flynn (Washington Post) | Published: 10/25/2021

Last year, Virginia voters approved a bipartisan commission to take politics out of redistricting. This year, blowing past deadlines to deliver new state and congressional maps, the Virginia Redistricting Commission failed to reach agreement on any maps, with time running out to reconvene. It marks a stunning departure from the type of redistricting overhaul voters sought when they approved the commission. While voters and advocates hoped to end gerrymandering, instead what they got was a stalemate, as commissioners gridlocked along party lines almost every step of the way.

Cincinnati City Council voted unanimously to approve two ordinances addressing corruption in city government.

Ordinance 0415-2021 prohibits City Council members from soliciting campaign contributions from developers who have an interest in any ordinance before the council.

The ordinance will be effective when council appropriates funding to establish the administrative staffing and enforcement needs imposed by the ordinance.

Emergency Ordinance 0413-2021 is effective immediately and establishes a new position of ethics and good government counselor within the Department of Law to support ethics, election, and campaign finance transparency.

The ordinance transferred $375,000 from the general reserve for weather-related events to fund the position and to buy software to implement a program to make campaign finance disclosures more transparent.

Campaign Finance

Alaska: “After Federal Court Action, Alaska Prepares to Remove Most Restrictions on Campaign Contributions” by James Brooks for Anchorage Daily News

Ohio: “Bankruptcy Court Overseeing Energy Harbor Case Didn’t Pre-Approve $500K Political Donation” by Laura Bischoff (Columbus Dispatch) for MSN

Elections

Florida: “Florida Senate ‘Ghost’ Candidate Alex Rodriguez Faces Potential $20,000 Ethics Fine” by Mark Harper (Daytona Beach Journal) for MSN

New Jersey: “An Oath Keeper Was at the Capitol Riot. On Tuesday, He’s on the Ballot.” by Tracy Tully for New York Times

Virginia: “An Army of Poll Watchers – Many Driven by GOP’s ‘Election Integrity’ Push – Turns Out Across Virginia” by Meagan Flynn and Shawn Boburg (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Five Points for Anger, One for a ‘Like’: How Facebook’s formula fostered rage and misinformation” by Jeremy Merrill and Will Oremus (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “‘Threats of Violence’: School boards curb public comments to calm raucous meetings” by Andrew Atterbury and Juan Perez Jr. (Politico) for MSN

Michigan: “Feds Charge Detroit Cops in Towing Scandal as Corruption Probe Widens” by Robert Snell and George Hunter for Detroit News

Ohio: “Cincinnati City Council Approves Anti-Corruption Reforms” by Jennifer Edwards Baker for WXIX

Lobbying

Connecticut: “Former State Rep. DiMassa Allegedly Billed West Haven $100K for Lobbying the City ‘Wouldn’t Need,’ Documents Show” by Mark Zaretsky (New Haven Register) for Stamford Advocate

Speaker of the House Scott Bedke announced the Idaho Legislature will reconvene November 15 to address Federal Covid-19 rules for employers and consider an ethics complaint against Rep. Priscilla Giddings.

Normally, only Idaho’s Governor has the power to call a special session.

Instead of adjourning, the house called for an extended recess, a maneuver that allows the house to return to the regular session.

The Covid-related bill being considered would make it a misdemeanor for state or local government employees to implement President Biden’s Covid-19 rules in Idaho.

The Legislature will also consider censoring and removing Rep. Giddings from the House Commerce and Human Resources Committee.

The ethic complaint stems from Rep. Giddings sharing the name and picture of a 19-year-old legislative staffer who accused former Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger of sexual misconduct.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

Campaign Finance

Iowa: “Des Moines Schools’ Superintendent’s Wife Donated to School Board Candidate’s Campaign” by Samantha Hernandez (Des Moines Register) for MSN

New York: “Rep. Espaillat Campaign Paid Thousands to Online Influencers Who Delivered Flattering Posts” by Claudia Irizarry Aponte for The City

Ethics

National: “Fed to Ban Policymakers from Owning Individual Stocks, Restrict Trading Following Controversy” by Jeff Cox for CNBC

California: “Huizar Seeks to Gut Corruption Case, Says Alleged $1.5 Million in Gifts Were Not Bribes” by Michael Finnegan and David Zahniser (Los Angeles Times) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

National: “Facebook Staff Complained for Years About Their Lobbyists’ Power” by Emily Birnbaum (Politico) for Yahoo News

Colorado: “New Redistricting Lobbying Complaint Targets Latino Advocacy Group” by Evan Wyloge (Colorado Springs Gazette) for Denver Gazette

Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Lawmakers Get Started on Bills Restricting Lobbyists” by Marc Levy (Associated Press) for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Redistricting

Virginia: “Virginia’s Redistricting Commission’s Failure to Transcend Partisanship Has Lessons for Other States, Critics Say” by Meagan Flynn (Washington Post) for MSN

Connecticut State Rep. Michael DiMassa resigned following his indictment for stealing $636,000 in federal funds.

The governor is expected to call a special election to fill the vacant seat in the 116th Assembly District for the remainder of the term ending December 2022.