July 21, 2020 •
Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder Arrested in $60M Bribery Case
House Speaker Larry Householder was arrested in connection with a $60 million federal racketeering case related to House Bill 6, Ohio’s new nuclear bailout law. FBI Agents assisted by the Perry County Sheriff’s Department made the arrest Tuesday morning at […]
House Speaker Larry Householder was arrested in connection with a $60 million federal racketeering case related to House Bill 6, Ohio’s new nuclear bailout law.
FBI Agents assisted by the Perry County Sheriff’s Department made the arrest Tuesday morning at Householder’s farm in Glenford.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio David DeVillers are expected to hold a press conference on the federal racketeering case Tuesday at 2:30 pm.
Householder, a farmer and businessman, has led the GOP-controlled Ohio House since January 2019.
He was previously House Speaker from 2001 to 2004.
However, he left due to term limits and returned to the House in 2017.
June 3, 2020 •
Republican Convention Will Not Be Held in North Carolina
After a prolonged standoff with the state’s Democratic governor, President Donald Trump says Republicans will seek another state instead of North Carolina to hold its August convention. Gov. Roy Cooper rejected a proposal for a full convention and insisted on […]
After a prolonged standoff with the state’s Democratic governor, President Donald Trump says Republicans will seek another state instead of North Carolina to hold its August convention.
Gov. Roy Cooper rejected a proposal for a full convention and insisted on scaling back the event due to uncertainty as to what the status of the COVID-19 pandemic will be in August.
Several other locations are expected to or have already expressed interest in hosting the event, but the GOP is still weighing its options for the event.
July 25, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying “For Special Interests, the Real Party Is Outside the Convention” by Carrie Levine and Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity California: “California Wants People to Prove They Are Not Lobbyists” by Alison Noon for KPCC Connecticut: “CT GOP […]
Lobbying
“For Special Interests, the Real Party Is Outside the Convention” by Carrie Levine and Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity
California: “California Wants People to Prove They Are Not Lobbyists” by Alison Noon for KPCC
Connecticut: “CT GOP Delegates, This Meal Is Brought to You by …” by Mark Pazniokas for CT Mirror
Campaign Finance
Texas: “City Wins Lawsuit Despite Appearance of Loss” by Jo Clifton for Austin Monitor
Ethics
Connecticut: “Wade Fires Back at Critics” by Christine Stuart for CTNewsJunkie.com
Hawaii: “School Cleared in Ethics Case” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat
Maryland: “Del. Dan Morhaim, Advocate of Medical Marijuana, Draws Scrutiny for Role in Firm” by Pamela Wood and Erin Cox for Baltimore Sun
Pennsylvania: “Feds Charge Ex-Pa. Treasurer Hafer with Lying and Millionaire Donor with Fraud in Pay-to-Play Probe” by Mark Fazlollah, Craig McCoy, and Dylan Purcell for Philadelphia Inquirer
South Carolina: “Ethics Commission Narrows Governor’s Allowed Use of USC Football Tickets” by Maya Prabhu for Charleston Post & Courier
South Carolina: “Ethics Board Tells Candidates When It’s OK to Pay Family with Donations” by Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) for Aiken Standard
Elections
“Hillary Clinton Selects Tim Kaine, a Popular Senator from a Swing State, as Running Mate” by Amy Chozick, Alan Rappeport, and Jonathan Martin for New York Times
“DNC Chairwoman Will Resign in Aftermath of Committee Email Controversy” by Anne Gearan, Philip Rucker, and Abby Phillip for Washington Post
Texas: “Appeals Court Says Texas Voter-ID Law Discriminates Against Minorities” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post
Wisconsin: “Judge Issues Injunction, Allows Voters without IDs to Cast Ballots” by Patrick Marley and Jason Stein for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
June 27, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying Rhode Island: “Raimondo Signs Bills on Lobbying, Insurance for Off-Label Drug Use, Teaching of Holocaust” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal Campaign Finance “RNC Fundraisers Hedge on Trump” by Kenneth Vogel and Alex Isenstadt for Politico Massachusetts: “House Passes Campaign […]
Lobbying
Rhode Island: “Raimondo Signs Bills on Lobbying, Insurance for Off-Label Drug Use, Teaching of Holocaust” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal
Campaign Finance
“RNC Fundraisers Hedge on Trump” by Kenneth Vogel and Alex Isenstadt for Politico
Massachusetts: “House Passes Campaign Finance Changes Aimed at Transparency, Special Elections” by Shira Schoenberg for MassLive.com
Ethics
“Justices Disclose Privately Paid Trips and Gifts” by Adam Liptak for New York Times
Arizona: “How Nearly $1 Million Disappeared from Surprise Coffers” by Jessica Boehm for Arizona Republic
California: “Orange County Finally Has an Ethics Commission – Now What?” by Jordan Graham for Orange County Register
Florida: “Audit Finds City Improperly Paid Lobbying Firm More Than $317,000” by Christopher Hong for Florida Times Union
Elections
“Who Does Donald Trump Listen to? Other Trumps.” by Mary Jordan and Jose DelReal for Washington Post
“Will Trump Swallow the GOP Whole?” by Mark Leibovich for New York Times
June 23, 2016 •
Thursday News Roundup
Lobbying California: “California Political Watchdog Targets ‘Shadow Lobbyists’” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee Maryland: “Here Are the Top Lobbyists in Maryland for the 2016 Legislative Session” by Ovetta Wiggins for Washington Post Oregon: “Post Uber, Portland Leaders Look to […]
Lobbying
California: “California Political Watchdog Targets ‘Shadow Lobbyists’” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee
Maryland: “Here Are the Top Lobbyists in Maryland for the 2016 Legislative Session” by Ovetta Wiggins for Washington Post
Oregon: “Post Uber, Portland Leaders Look to Strengthen Lobbying Rules” by Amelia Templeton for Oregon Public Radio
Campaign Finance
“The Next ‘Citizens United’ Is Coming” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity
District of Columbia: “Close Council Vote Rejects Campaign Contribution Reform” by Rachel Kurzius for DCist.com
Ethics
Colorado: “Colorado Supreme Court to Hear Case Challenging State Ethics Commission’s Role” by Joey Bunch for Denver Post
Elections
“Will Dominant Images of Conventions Be of Unity or Protest?” by Trip Gabriel for New York Times
Florida: “Marco Rubio Will Seek Senate Reelection, Reversing Pledge Not to Run” by Mike DeBonis, Ed O’Keefe, and Sean Sullivan for Washington Post
Florida: “Florida Lawmaker Wants to Give Away an AR-15” by Mike McPhate for New York Times
Legislative Issues
“House Democrats’ Gun-Control Sit-In Turns into Chaotic Showdown with Republicans” by David Herszenhorn and Emmarie Huetteman for New York Times
June 20, 2016 •
Monday News Roundup
Lobbying New York: “Lawyer Tapped as Board of Elections Commissioner Refuses to Give Up Lobbying, Raising Conflict of Interest Concerns” by Erin Durkin for New York Daily News Ethics “Trump, Clinton Money Awash in Conflicts of Interest” by Katy O’Donnell […]
Lobbying
New York: “Lawyer Tapped as Board of Elections Commissioner Refuses to Give Up Lobbying, Raising Conflict of Interest Concerns” by Erin Durkin for New York Daily News
Ethics
“Trump, Clinton Money Awash in Conflicts of Interest” by Katy O’Donnell for Politico
“Lawmakers Turned Over Gifts After Secretly Funded Trip to Azerbaijan” by Megan Wilson for The Hill
Alabama: “Impeachment Investigation of Alabama Governor Begins” by Associated Press for WTVC
Connecticut: “Ethics Panel to Rule If Wade Has Conflict in Anthem-Cigna Merger” by Mark Pazniokas for Connecticut Mirror
Rhode Island: “RI General Assembly Passes Ethics Reform Sponsored by Speaker, Senate President” by Christian Winthrop for Newport Buzz
South Carolina: “SC Supreme Court Hears Wilson-Pascoe Case” by Tim Smith for Greenville News
Elections
“Dozens of GOP Delegates Launch New Push to Halt Donald Trump” by Ed O’Keefe for Washington Post
May 25, 2016 •
Wednesday Government Relations News
Lobbying Missouri: “Impact of Missouri’s ‘Revolving Door’ Lobbyist Law Questioned” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star Campaign Finance “Despite Recommendations, FEC Won’t Pursue Charges that Murray Energy Coerced Campaign Donations from Employees” by Sabrina Eaton for Cleveland Plain Dealer […]
Lobbying
Missouri: “Impact of Missouri’s ‘Revolving Door’ Lobbyist Law Questioned” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star
Campaign Finance
“Despite Recommendations, FEC Won’t Pursue Charges that Murray Energy Coerced Campaign Donations from Employees” by Sabrina Eaton for Cleveland Plain Dealer
“NRA to Pay $15,000 for Breaking State Campaign-Finance Rules” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times
Virginia: “Officials: Federal prosecutors investigating Virginia Gov. McAuliffe” by Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post
Ethics
“Facebook Says an Investigation Found No Evidence of Bias in a News App” by Mike Isaac for New York Times
“NFL Tried to Influence ‘Unrestricted’ Research Gift, Congressional Report Says” by Rick Maese for Washington Post
Massachusetts: “Legislature Poised to Pass Public Records Measure” by Joshua Miller for Boston Globe
Elections
“Getting a Photo ID So You Can Vote Is Easy. Unless You’re Poor, Black, Latino or Elderly.” by Sari Horwitz for Washington Post
“Democrats Are Gay, Republicans Are Rich: Our stereotypes of political parties are amazingly wrong” by John Sides for Washington Post
“Reeling from 2016 Chaos, G.O.P. Mulls Overhaul of Primaries” by Jeremy Peters for New York Times
May 24, 2016 •
Tuesday Lobbying and Campaign Finance News Update
Lobbying Pennsylvania: “Pa. Officials, Lobbyists Split on How to Vet Business Propositions” by Brad Bumsted for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Campaign Finance “Key G.O.P. Donors Still Deeply Resist Donald Trump’s Candidacy” by Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns for New York Times Massachusetts: […]
Lobbying
Pennsylvania: “Pa. Officials, Lobbyists Split on How to Vet Business Propositions” by Brad Bumsted for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Campaign Finance
“Key G.O.P. Donors Still Deeply Resist Donald Trump’s Candidacy” by Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns for New York Times
Massachusetts: “New Bill Would Rein in State GOP’s Fund-Raising” by Frank Phillips for Boston Globe
Ethics
Alabama: “One-Time Rising Star Hubbard to Stand Trial on Ethics Charges” by Mike Cason for AL.com
Colorado: “Audit: Colorado ethics commission rarely helps those filing complaints” by Joey Bunch for Denver Post
Hawaii: “Hawaii Lawmakers Again Balk at Ethics, Lobbying Reform” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat
Elections
“Why Democrats Are Set to Retake State Legislatures in 2016 (and It’s Not Just Trump)” by Amber Phillips for Washington Post
“Bernie Sanders Makes a Campaign Mark. Now, Can He Make a Legacy?” by Jonathan Mahler and Yamiche Alcindor for New York Times
Legislative Issues
Montana: “Term Limits Have Weakened Legislature, Some Observers Say” by Jayme Fraser for Helena Independent Record
Redistricting
Virginia: “Supreme Court Upholds Virginia Redistricting” by Richard Wolf for USA Today
July 7, 2014 •
Lawsuit Filed as McDaniel Challenges Cochran’s Runoff Victory
State Sen. Chris McDaniel is questioning the integrity of Mississippi’s GOP Senate primary runoff. McDaniel refuses to concede the election to U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran and claims some election activity was unfair, unethical, and illegal. Evidence suggests hundreds, if not […]
State Sen. Chris McDaniel is questioning the integrity of Mississippi’s GOP Senate primary runoff. McDaniel refuses to concede the election to U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran and claims some election activity was unfair, unethical, and illegal.
Evidence suggests hundreds, if not thousands, of voters crossed party lines between primary and runoff elections. Mississippians who voted in the Democratic primary illegally cast votes in the Republican primary runoff.
State election law experts speculate the election results will stand because it is impossible to assume all the irregular votes went to Cochran. Additionally, a strong public policy interest exists in accepting the finality of the runoff election; questioning the integrity of or redoing elections is a slippery slope.
Nevertheless, a conservative group known as True the Vote filed suit in federal court on Tuesday, July 1, against the Mississippi secretary of state and the Republican Party of Mississippi to challenge the results of the runoff.
June 25, 2014 •
Lankford Defeats Shannon in Oklahoma GOP Senate Primary
U.S. Rep. James Lankford defeated former Oklahoma Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon in Tuesday’s GOP Senate primary. In November, Lankford will face the Democratic nominee for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat. The seat became available after GOP Sen. […]
U.S. Rep. James Lankford defeated former Oklahoma Speaker of the House T.W. Shannon in Tuesday’s GOP Senate primary. In November, Lankford will face the Democratic nominee for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat.
The seat became available after GOP Sen. Tom Coburn announced plans to step down with two years remaining on his term due to a recurring cancer battle.
Lankford is expected to win the seat easily in the deep-red state; Republicans hold every statewide office and both state legislative chambers.
June 25, 2014 •
Beauprez Claims Victory in Colorado GOP Gubernatorial Primary
Bob Beauprez came out on top in the Colorado GOP gubernatorial primary on Tuesday. The former congressman accepted his party’s nomination after besting fellow candidates Tom Tancredo, Scott Gessler, and Mike Kopp in a four-way race. GOP strategists worried a […]
Bob Beauprez came out on top in the Colorado GOP gubernatorial primary on Tuesday. The former congressman accepted his party’s nomination after besting fellow candidates Tom Tancredo, Scott Gessler, and Mike Kopp in a four-way race.
GOP strategists worried a Tancredo tea-party victory would hurt the Republican ticket in November and seem satisfied with the establishment win. All four GOP primary candidates intend to work as a team to support the new Republican nominee as he battles to unseat Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper.
June 25, 2014 •
Cochran Defeats McDaniel in Mississippi GOP Senate Primary Runoff
In a tight race Tuesday, Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran secured the GOP Senate nomination with 50.8 percent of the vote. Cochran battled tea party candidate Chris McDaniel in a federal runoff after neither candidate carried enough votes in the June […]
In a tight race Tuesday, Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran secured the GOP Senate nomination with 50.8 percent of the vote. Cochran battled tea party candidate Chris McDaniel in a federal runoff after neither candidate carried enough votes in the June 3 primary to capture the nomination.
Although McDaniel’s campaign has not made a decision whether to challenge the results, Cochran’s win ends a somewhat bizarre and expensive political battle between the two candidates.
In November, Cochran will face Democrat Travis Childers; if elected, Cochran will serve a seventh consecutive Senate term.
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.