September 25, 2018 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Why Are Corporations Pouring Millions into Shoo-In Governor Races?” by Sanya Mansoor, Liz Essley Whyte, and Joe Yerardi for Center for Public Integrity Elections National: “For Women on the 2018 Campaign Trail, ‘Sexism’ Is No Longer a […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Why Are Corporations Pouring Millions into Shoo-In Governor Races?” by Sanya Mansoor, Liz Essley Whyte, and Joe Yerardi for Center for Public Integrity
Elections
National: “For Women on the 2018 Campaign Trail, ‘Sexism’ Is No Longer a Forbidden Word” by Avi Selk (Washington Post) for Connecticut Post
Ethics
National: “DHS Secretary Says FEMA Head Won’t Lose Job Over Travel Investigation” by Associated Press for USA Today
National: “Rod Rosenstein Will Meet with Trump to Discuss His Fate” by Michael Shear, Julie Hirschfeld Davis, and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) for MSN
Minnesota: “MN Rep. Jim Knoblach Ends Campaign Ahead of MPR Abuse Allegations Story” by Nina Moini and Briana Bierschbach for Minnesota Public Radio
Lobbying
National: “Obama White House Counsel Gregory Craig Under Scrutiny by Prosecutors in Offshoot of Mueller Probe” by Tom Hamburger for Washington Post
Florida: “NRA Sway: For Florida officials, it’s always Hammer time” by Steve Contorno for Tampa Bay Times
Missouri: “St. Louis Aldermen Will Again Consider Banning Lobbyists from the Floor of Their Chambers” by Celeste Bott for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
September 24, 2018 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: Political Nonprofits Seek Answers After Court Decision Targeting ‘Dark Money’ by Michelle Ye Hee Lee for Washington Post Ethics National: Senate Judiciary Panel’s Top Democrat Calls for Delay in Kavanaugh Hearing After New Allegation by Karoun Demirjian, […]
Campaign Finance
National: Political Nonprofits Seek Answers After Court Decision Targeting ‘Dark Money’ by Michelle Ye Hee Lee for Washington Post
Ethics
National: Senate Judiciary Panel’s Top Democrat Calls for Delay in Kavanaugh Hearing After New Allegation by Karoun Demirjian, Amy Gardner, and Seung Min Kim (Washington Post) for MSN
National: Rod Rosenstein Suggested Secretly Recording Trump and Discussed 25th Amendment by Adam Goldman and Michael Schmidt (New York Times) for MSN
Iowa: Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Flights on Private Jets Not Improper, Ethics Panel Rules by David Pitt (Associated Press) for Des Moines Register
Missouri: Missouri Proposal to Reform Ethics Laws Is Back on the Ballot After Court Ruling by Alison Kite for Kansas City Star
New York: Percoco Sentenced to Six Years for Corruption by Robert Gavin for Albany Times Union
Lobbying
Canada: Ethics Committee Launches Review of Federal Lobbying and Conflict-of-Interest Laws by Bill Curry for The Globe and Mail
Alabama: Reform Panel to Vote on Changes to Alabama Ethics Law by Mike Cason for AL.com
September 21, 2018 •
News You Can Use – September 21, 2018
National: These State Lawmakers Are Running Unopposed, but Still Rake in Campaign Cash Center for Public Integrity – Sanya Mansoor, Liz Essley Whyte, and Joe Yerardi | Published: 9/19/2018 There are at least 26 legislative leaders in statehouses across America […]
National:
These State Lawmakers Are Running Unopposed, but Still Rake in Campaign Cash
Center for Public Integrity – Sanya Mansoor, Liz Essley Whyte, and Joe Yerardi | Published: 9/19/2018
There are at least 26 legislative leaders in statehouses across America who are collecting campaign donations despite running unopposed this year. The safe lawmakers represent an attractive prospect for lobbyists and power-seekers: the sure bet. Contributions to these influential politicians can buy face time and favor with those who set state legislative agendas, experts say. The money also compounds their power. Legislative leaders use their accounts to buy presents to thank supporters, for example, or give to fellow lawmakers’ campaigns to reward them for voting with their party.
Federal:
Foreign Lobbying Overhaul Loses Steam in Congress
Politico – Marianne Levine and Josh Gerstein | Published: 9/17/2018
Amid partisan clashes and pushback from foreign-owned companies, the push to strengthen the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) appears to be going nowhere as multiple bills have stalled. Foreign companies with American subsidiaries feared the changes would force their lobbyists to register as foreign agents, which would require them to disclose every meeting and phone call they made on behalf of overseas clients rather than under the less-restrictive disclosure rules for domestic lobbyists. “There’s these very fierce efforts to maintain the status quo,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, one of the lawmakers pushing to overhaul FARA.
Manafort Plea Deal Casts New Scrutiny on Lobbyists He Recruited
WRAL – Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 9/14/2018
Paul Manafort recruited the Podesta Group and Mercury Public Affairs to aide a pro-Russian nonprofit in Ukraine, an arrangement intended to obscure the identity of the ultimate beneficiary of the lobbying, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Relying on the word of the Ukrainian group, the firms initially registered their representation under congressional lobbying disclosure rules. Now, that work, and the decision not to disclose it under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, has turned the Podesta Group and Mercury, along with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, into subjects of interest in a series of probes. The new evidence was included in updated charges filed against Manafort in connection with his guilty plea. The evidence Robert Mueller’s team unveiled could help prosecutors in New York build cases against the firms.
Political Nonprofits Must Now Name Many of Their Donors Under Federal Court Ruling after Supreme Court Declines to Intervene
Chicago Tribune – Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Robert Barnes (Washington Post) | Published: 9/18/2018
The U.S. Supreme Court denied a request from a conservative political group to temporarily block a lower court ruling which would force it to disclose its donors. The request for a stay had initially been entered by Chief Justice John Roberts after Crossroads GPS disputed an earlier ruling that invalidated an FEC regulation allowing donors to remain anonymous. In the order from the full court, the justices refused to further delay the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia’s decision to invalidate the regulation. The original decision required “dark-money” groups that spend at least $250 in independent expenditures to report every donor who gave at least $200 in the past year.
Senate Candidates to Start Electronically Filing Campaign Finance Reports, Pending President Approval
Center for Responsive Politics – Kaitlin Washburn | Published: 9/19/2018
Federal lawmakers passed a bill that would require U.S. Senate candidates to file their campaign finance disclosures directly to the FEC, rather than on paper with the secretary of the Senate. The provision is part of a larger appropriations bill that now awaits President Trump’s signature. House of Representatives and presidential candidates have been electronically filing their disclosure reports since 2001. The Center for Public Integrity found numerous mistakes produced by the Senate’s archaic system. The investigation found errors in more than 5,900 candidate disclosures and were all traced back to the conversion of paper filings to electronic data.
Ted Cruz’s Campaign Marked a Fund-Raising Letter an Official ‘Summons.’ It Wasn’t Against the Rules.
WRAL – Liam Stack (New York Times) | Published: 9/17/2018
The FEC said U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s re-election campaign did not violate any regulations when it sent out a fundraising letter designed to look like a legal summons. “SUMMONS ENCLOSED –OPEN IMMEDIATELY,” is written across the front in capital letters. The envelope does state the letter is from a campaign and includes a return address for the Cruz campaign’s Houston post office box. FEC spokesperson Myles Martin said the relevant question was whether a mailing contains a disclaimer saying it came from a political campaign. Aside from that, Martin said, “the FEC’s regulations don’t speak to how candidates may choose to word particular solicitations to potential contributors.” Cruz is locked in an unexpectedly tight race against U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke.
From the States and Municipalities:
Georgia: Court Declines to End Paperless Voting in Georgia Before Midterms
Politico – Eric Geller | Published: 9/18/2018
U.S. District Court Judge Amy Totenberg ruled Georgia need not replace paperless voting machines before the midterm elections, dealing a blow to security activists even as the judge acknowledged the machines are not secure and continuing to use them may infringe on voters’ constitutional right to a free and fair election. Switching to paper at this late date, state and county officials argued, would throw the election into chaos and cause voter confusion. The case will now proceed and deal with the plaintiffs’ constitutional arguments, and Totenberg warned Secretary of State Brian Kemp that his concerns about a chaotic election s will “hold much less sway in the future.”
Illinois: U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Illinois Campaign Finance Limits
State Journal-Register (Associated Press) | Published: 9/13/2018
A federal appeals court upheld Illinois’ campaign contribution limits. The Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled the caps set in a 2009 law do not violate First Amendment free-speech rights. Illinois Liberty PAC had argued limits on individuals’ contributions should not be lower than those for corporations or unions.
Missouri: In Latest Legal Twist, Ethics Reform Question Back on Missouri Ballot
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Kurt Erickson | Published: 9/18/2018
A state appeals court put an ethics reform package back on the November ballot. The Missouri Western District Court of Appeals ruled that Amendment 1 can stay on the ballot pending future court decisions. The referendum asks whether voters want to tighten campaign contribution limits, ban lobbyist gifts, institute a two-year waiting period for lawmakers-turned-lobbyists, start a new redistricting system in 2020, and require lawmakers to adhere to the Sunshine Law.
Nevada: Las Vegas Judge Nullifies Results of Republican Election
Las Vegas Review-Journal – Ramona Giwargis | Published: 9/18/2018
Jason Burke defeated Mack Miller by 122 votes in the June 12 primary for a seat in the Nevada Assembly, but Clark County District Judge Jim Crockett signed an order that nullified the election, saying Burke did not file campaign finance reports on time. State law states an election may be contested if the winner was not eligible for office, illegal votes were cast, or valid votes were not counted. The secretary of state’s office said the failure to file campaign finance reports is not an automatic disqualifier.
New York: Watchdog’s Bark Silent for Cuomo
WRAL – Chris Bragg (Albany Times Union) | Published: 9/18/2018
When a sworn complaint is filed with New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), the law requires the agency to send any subject of such an ethics complaint a letter outlining possible legal violations and giving them 15 days to respond. Sworn complaints have been submitted requesting that JCOPE launch investigations Joseph Percoco’s possible use of government resources while he was managing Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2014 campaign, as well as the governor’s potential knowledge of those activities. But the Cuomo administration and campaign have not received a 15-day letter from JCOPE. David Grandeau, the state’s former top lobbying official, said that means there is “now no doubt that JCOPE is not following the law.”
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania’s Ban on Gambling Contributions Struck Down
PennLive.com – Marc Levy (Associated Press) | Published: 9/19/2018
U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia Rambo overturned Pennsylvania’s ban on political contributions from people involved in the gaming industry, ruling the law aimed at curbing the influence of casino interests was too broad. But the judge did not close the door on lawmakers reviving a similar prohibition that is narrower in scope and tailored to the purpose of fighting corruption. The U.S. Supreme Court, Rambo wrote, has ruled that preventing corruption, or the appearance of corruption, is the only appropriate reason to justify restrictions on political donations. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out the ban in 2009, which initially outlawed large campaign contributions from key parties in the gaming industry. Lawmakers responded by banning all donations.
September 20, 2018 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “These State Lawmakers Are Running Unopposed, but Still Rake in Campaign Cash” by Sanya Mansoor, Liz Essley Whyte, and Joe Yerardi for Center for Public Integrity National: “Political Nonprofits Must Now Name Many of Their Donors Under […]
Campaign Finance
National: “These State Lawmakers Are Running Unopposed, but Still Rake in Campaign Cash” by Sanya Mansoor, Liz Essley Whyte, and Joe Yerardi for Center for Public Integrity
National: “Political Nonprofits Must Now Name Many of Their Donors Under Federal Court Ruling after Supreme Court Declines to Intervene” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Robert Barnes (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune
Elections
Kentucky: “Ethics Opinion Further Complicates a 2019 Campaign for Alison Lundergan Grimes” by Daniel Desrochers for Lexington Herald-Leader
Massachusetts: “Fans of Ranked Voting See an Opportunity in Massachusetts” by Katharine Seelye for New York Times
Ethics
National: “Trump-Proof Aspects of Manafort Deal Rankle Lawyers” by Josh Gerstein for Politico
National: “Christine Blasey Ford Wants F.B.I. to Investigate Kavanaugh Before She Testifies” by Peter Baker, Sheryl Gay Stolberg, and Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) for MSN
Arkansas: “1 Ethics Rule Ditched, 1 Backed; State Senators Reject Disclosure of Less Than $1,000 in Income” by Michael Wickline for Arkansas Online
Florida: “Adam Putnam Hired a Donor’s 27-Year-Old Son to a $91,000 Job. There’s a Publix Connection.” by Steve Contorno for Tampa Bay Times
Missouri: “In Latest Legal Twist, Ethics Reform Question Back on Missouri Ballot” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Missouri: “Former Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders Sentenced to 27 Months in Federal Prison” by Mike Hendricks and Steve Vockrodt for Kansas City Star
New York: “JCOPE Never Probed Cuomo – Is That Legal?” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
Lobbying
United Kingdom: “Harry Rich Appointed Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists” by Chloe Smith (MP) for GOV.UK
September 19, 2018 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Ted Cruz’s Campaign Marked a Fund-Raising Letter an Official ‘Summons.’ It Wasn’t Against the Rules.” by Liam Stack (New York Times) for WRAL Elections National: “Indicted Congressman Chris Collins Reverses Himself, Will Remain on November Ballot” by […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Ted Cruz’s Campaign Marked a Fund-Raising Letter an Official ‘Summons.’ It Wasn’t Against the Rules.” by Liam Stack (New York Times) for WRAL
Elections
National: “Indicted Congressman Chris Collins Reverses Himself, Will Remain on November Ballot” by Mike DeBonis for Washington Post
Georgia: “Federal Judge Denies Motion to Force Georgia to Adopt Paper Ballots in Midterm Election” by Ellen Nakashima for Washington Post
Ethics
National: “Embattled FEMA Chief Brock Long Facing Possible Criminal Investigation” by Nick Niroff and William Wan for Washington Post
National: “Trump’s Growing Legal Team Has a Problem: It’s operating partly in the dark” by Maggie Haberman and Michaek Schmidt for New York Times
National: “Hearing Set for Monday to Hear Kavanaugh and His Accuser” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Julie Hirschfeld Davis (New York Times) for WRAL
Florida: “City Attorney Sues Blogger for Libel. Is It ‘a Threat Designed to Silence?’” by Sarah Blaskey for Miami Herald
Lobbying
National: “Foreign Lobbying Overhaul Loses Steam in Congress” by Marianne Levine and Josh Gerstein for Politico
Maryland: “Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh Introduces New Ethics Reforms” by Chase Cook for Capital Gazette
September 18, 2018 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Canada: “Federal Liberals Violated Own Fundraising Rules” by Bill Curry and Tom Cardoso for The Globe and Mail Hawaii: “Following Campaign Cash in Hawaii Just Got Easier” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat Illinois: “U.S. Appeals Court […]
Campaign Finance
Canada: “Federal Liberals Violated Own Fundraising Rules” by Bill Curry and Tom Cardoso for The Globe and Mail
Hawaii: “Following Campaign Cash in Hawaii Just Got Easier” by Nathan Eagle for Honolulu Civil Beat
Illinois: “U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Illinois Campaign Finance Limits” by Associated Press for State Journal-Register
Montana: “Montana Green Party’s Ballot Benefactor May Remain Unknown” by Mary Beth Hanson (Associated Press) for Seattle Times
Ethics
National: “Alarm Grows Inside FEMA as Administrator Brock Long Fights for His Job” by William Wan and Nick Miroff for Washington Post
National: “Sen. Sasse Proposes Legislation to Address Congress’ Ethical Lapses” by Brent Martin for Hastings Tribune
Lobbying
National: “‘Robert Mueller’s Real Quest Here Is for the Truth’: How Paul Manafort’s plea brings the special counsel probe closer to its endgame” by Matt Zapotosky, Carol Leonnig, and Ashley Parker (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Manafort Plea Deal Casts New Scrutiny on Lobbyists He Recruited” by Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) for WRAL
Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Ethics Commission Adopts Rule Barring Legislators from Becoming Paid Lobbyists for Two Years” by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman
September 17, 2018 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: Chief Justice Roberts Halts Campaign Finance Ruling by Quint Forgey and Josh Gerstein for Politico Elections Arizona: Forged Voter Signatures Could Cost Former State Senate Candidate Mark Syms $50,000 by Dustin Gardiner Arizona Republic Ethics National: California […]
Campaign Finance
National: Chief Justice Roberts Halts Campaign Finance Ruling by Quint Forgey and Josh Gerstein for Politico
Elections
Arizona: Forged Voter Signatures Could Cost Former State Senate Candidate Mark Syms $50,000 by Dustin Gardiner Arizona Republic
Ethics
National: California Professor, Writer of Confidential Brett Kavanaugh Letter, Speaks Out About Her Allegation of Sexual Assault by Emma Brown (Washington Post) by Los Angeles Times
National: ‘Robert Mueller’s Real Quest Here Is for the Truth’: How Paul Manafort’s plea brings the special counsel probe closer to its endgame by Matt Zapotosky, Carol Leonnig, and Ashley Parker (Washington Post) MSN
Arkansas: Oren Paris III Sentenced to 3 Years for Kickbacks by Marty Cook and Lance Turner for Arkansas Business Journal
Florida: What Andrew Gillum’s Trip to New York City Means in the FBI Investigation by Lawrence Mower Tampa Bay Times
Missouri: Missouri Ethics Reform, Redistricting Initiative Tossed from November Ballot by Judge by Alison Kite Kansas City Star
Pennsylvania: Philly Board of Ethics Fines Former Nutter Aide for Misspending City Money by Claudia Vargas Philadelphia Inquirer
September 14, 2018 •
News You Can Use – September 14, 2018
National: Republicans Running for Governor Look for Success in Unlikely Places: Blue states Washington Post – Tim Craig | Published: 9/9/2018 Democrats are becoming concerned as moderate Republican candidates are proving to be resilient in unexpected places, even as much […]
National:
Republicans Running for Governor Look for Success in Unlikely Places: Blue states
Washington Post – Tim Craig | Published: 9/9/2018
Democrats are becoming concerned as moderate Republican candidates are proving to be resilient in unexpected places, even as much of the GOP shifts to the right. With 36 gubernatorial races on the ballot nationwide, Democrats are still expected to make gains in statehouses this year. But recent polls suggest Republicans Larry Hogan of Maryland, Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, and Phil Scot and of Vermont, all up for re-election this fall in states carried by Hillary Clinton in 2016, remain among the most popular governors in the country and are favored to win re-election. Their success in winning and governing as moderates is serving as a model for GOP candidates elsewhere, including in Rhode Island and Oregon, where officials in both parties say the governor’s race is competitive.
Viral Videos Are Replacing Pricey Political Ads. They’re Cheaper, and They Work.
MSN – Jeremy Peters and Sapna Maheshwari (New York Times) | Published: 9/11/2018
The wave of female, minority, and outsider candidates that is breaking cultural barriers and toppling incumbents in the Democratic Party is also sweeping aside a longstanding norm in campaigns: that the public image of politicians, especially women, should be upbeat and conventional. For many of these Democrats who were running against better-financed rivals, the breakthrough moment came after they got personal in relatively low-cost videos that went viral, reaching millions of people. Using documentary-style storytelling, candidates have found a successful alternative to the traditional model of raising huge sums of money that get spent on expensive television commercials.
Federal:
Activists Raised $1 Million to Defeat Susan Collins If She Votes for Kavanaugh. She Says It’s Bribery.
Washington Post – Eli Rosenberg | Published: 9/11/2018
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a centrist Republican, is seen as a swing vote in Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court. She has said she would not vote to confirm a nominee who was hostile to Roe v. Wade. So, a group of liberal activists in Maine created an unusual crowdfunding campaign to influence Collins: they raised money in the form of pledges they said they would give to whoever decided to challenge her re-election in 2020. Donors’ credit cards will only be charged if she votes to confirm Kavanaugh. At least one ethics expert said it may violate federal bribery statutes, which prohibit giving or offering anything of value to government officials in exchange for any acts or votes.
Campaigns, Parties Can Accept Free Service From Microsoft, FEC Says
Roll Call – Stephanie Aiken | Published: 9/10/2018
The FEC ruled Microsoft may offer special cybersecurity assistance to candidates without violating rules against corporate contributions. One watchdog group called it an unprecedented opening for corporations looking to influence lawmakers and skirt campaign finance laws. Federal election law prohibits companies from providing free services to lawmakers. But the FEC would make an exception in this case, it ruled, because Microsoft would be acting out of business interests and not trying to curry favor. The decision also noted Microsoft has promised to offer the services “on a non-partisan basis.” Opponents of the change said the exception was too broad.
In an Increasingly Diverse House, Aides Remain Remarkably White
WRAL – Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) | Published: 9/11/2018
U.S. House aides write federal policy, oversee the administration of government, and shape the public’s view of Congress. But the top staff members of the House are far less racially diverse than the country itself, or even the lawmakers who employ them. Approximately 14 percent of top staff members in the House are people of color. That compares with 38 percent of the country and 23 percent of the House. Of the 40 top Democratic and Republican aides who lead the staffs of committees, only six are nonwhite. “The House of Representatives cannot effectively create public policy that benefits all Americans if the people making policy decisions do not look like all of America,” said Spencer Overton, the president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, which released the study.
From the States and Municipalities:
California: Banning Man Wins $220,000 from State Political Watchdog Panel
Riverside Press-Enterprise – Craig Schultz | Published: 9/7/2018
Frank Burgess was awarded more than $200,000 in legal fees after a court found the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) violated his Constitutional protections related to a fine levied against him as a member of a nonprofit hospital board. Burgess was fined $5,000 by the FPPC for trying to convince other members of the San Gorgonio Hospital board to continue doing business with his son’s moving and storage company. Burgess argued that as a nonprofit board, members did not fall under the Political Reform Act. A Superior Court judge overturned the fine, agreeing with Burgess’s contention that he had been denied due process because he had no forewarning he was considered a public official.
California: Koch-Backed Charity Must Reveal Donor List to California Officials, Appeals Panel Rules
Connecticut Post – Michelle Ye Hee Lee (Washington Post) | Published: 9/11/2018
A federal appeals court ruled the charity Americans for Prosperity (AFP) Foundation, which is linked to billionaire Charles Koch, must disclose its donors to California officials. The foundation had argued the state’s rules requiring filing of the donor list violate the First Amendment by discouraging individuals from giving and by exposing them to threats and harassment. The case could test the ability of state agencies to compel nonprofits to disclose the identities of their donors, particularly ones that are tied to “social welfare” nonprofits, commonly referred to as “dark money” groups. One such group is Americans for Prosperity, the main political arm of the influential Koch network. AFP Foundation, a sister organization, is a charity that focuses on education and research.
Colorado: Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission on Uncertain Course
Colorado Springs Gazette – Marianne Goodland | Published: 9/10/2018
Critics say the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission’s (IEC) structure, staffing, and funding make it impossible for the public to have any confidence that ethics issues – whether it is investigations into potential violations, training for government employees, or guidance – are handled in a logical or even timely manner. The monthly commission meetings focus on complaints and advisory opinions. But most of the meetings are conducted in executive sessions behind closed doors. During those sessions, commissioners decide which complaints are frivolous and then will make public what they have decided. Between 2008 and 2017, the IEC received 196 complaints. All but 20 were dismissed as frivolous, out of the IEC’s jurisdiction, or withdrawn. Whether those complaints were truly frivolous will never be known.
Iowa: Iowa Governor Flew to Game on Vendor’s Plane
Associated Press – Ryan Foley | Published: 9/12/2018
Gov. Kim Reynolds received approval from Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board Director Megan Tooker to fly with her family to Iowa State’s bowl game last year free of charge on the jet of a state vendor. Reynolds accepted the trip as a campaign donation from Sedgwick’s chief executive officer, who says he reimbursed his company for the plane’s use. The governor’s office said “bona fide campaign events” would take place during the half-day trip. Tooker said in December the governor could accept the flight, although Tooker now says she was unaware the airplane was owned by Sedgwick. Tooker also says she does not know what campaign activity Reynolds engaged in during the trip, which would be required for the flight to be considered an allowable campaign contribution instead of an illegal gift.
Kentucky: What’s Bevin Hiding? Worker Who Got $215K Raise Is His Old Army Buddy
Louisville Courier-Journal – Tom Loftus and Morgan Watkins | Published: 9/12/2018
When Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin wanted a new state chief information officer, he did not do a national search – he hired an old Army buddy and longtime business associate last October at a salary that now leads the nation for similar state. Some state lawmakers were stunned when it was reported Bevin gave Charles Grindle a $215,000 pay raise, an unusual 134 percent increase after less than a year on the job. Neither Bevin nor Grindle have responded to requests for information about their relationship and any role it might have played in Grindle’s hiring and rapid increase in pay. A former official of the Commonwealth Office of Technology said Grindle spoke openly about his long friendship with Bevin and that he had worked for Bevin in an unspecified capacity before going on the state payroll.
Maryland: Baltimore Ethics Board Rejects Mayor Pugh’s Request for Sweeping Exemption from Fundraising Rules
Baltimore Sun – Ian Duncan | Published: 9/7/2018
The Baltimore Board of Ethics rejected Mayor Catherine Pugh’s request to be exempted from rules that bar city employees from raising money for charitable causes without prior approval. Pugh was seeking a waiver so she could solicit funds from private donors that would help pay for her administration’s social programs and other community initiatives. The board said it was unwilling to grant a blanket exception to Pugh, who could still seek waivers on a case-by-case basis. Pugh;’s office said she needed the new fundraising powers to bolster the city’s existing budget. Board member Stephan Fogleman said he was concerned the waiver the mayor sought would have made it difficult for the public to know what she was raising money for.
Michigan: Why This U-M Regent Just Returned Thousands in Campaign Donations
Detroit Free Press – Matthew Dolan and David Jesse | Published: 9/13/2018
Wealthy alumni who have sway over the University of Michigan’s $11billion endowment have given thousands in campaign donations to members of the university’s governing board. A review of state records shows two members of the university’s elected Board of Regents accepted in total nearly $30,000 in contributions from donors associated with funds receiving university investments. In addition, a family who helps guide the university’s investment strategy gave more than $29,000 to the board’s longest-serving member. To critics, some of the donations could pose a conflict-of-interest. Regent Andrea Fischer Newman pledged to return thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from three wealthy businesspeople who help control millions of dollars in university investments.
Missouri: Court Affirms Major Blow to Missouri Amendment Restricting Campaign Donations
St. Louis Public Radio – Jason Rosenbaum | Published: 9/10/2018
A federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that Missouri’s ban on donations from one PAC to another is unconstitutional. The Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled the ban on PAC-to-PAC giving violates committees’ right to free speech. The appeals court ruled the Missouri Ethics Commission failed to show PAC-to-PAC contributions would breed corruption because the groups are not controlled by a candidate and operate independently from any party running for political office. The decision permanently stops the commission from enforcing the ban.
Ohio: Ethics Panel Imposes Stricter Rules on Ohio Lawmaker Travel
WOSU – Jo Ingles | Published: 9/11/2018
The Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee said lawmakers and their employees cannot accept travel expenses from lobbyists unless those result from participation in a panel, seminar, or speaking engagement or were incurred at a meeting of a national organization of which any state agency is a dues paying member. When it comes to sharing rides with lobbyists for personal travel, starting immediately, lawmakers must reimburse the cost of their travel within a week.
Washington: Washington AG to Press for $18 Million Fine Against Foodmakers
Capital Press – Don Jenkins | Published: 9/6/2018
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said his office will seek to restore an $18 million fine against the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), which an appeals court overturned recently. The court upheld GMA’s conviction and left in place a $6 million judgment for shielding the names of food and beverage companies that contributed to a campaign against a GMO-labeling initiative in 2013. The court ruled, however, that a lower court judge erred by finding that GMA intentionally broke the law and tripling the penalty. Even at $6 million, the fine would be the largest campaign finance penalty in U.S. history.
September 13, 2018 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Three-Quarters of the Secret Money in Recent Elections Came from 15 Groups” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today National: “Activists Raised $1 Million to Defeat Susan Collins If She Votes for Kavanaugh. She Says It’s Bribery.” by […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Three-Quarters of the Secret Money in Recent Elections Came from 15 Groups” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today
National: “Activists Raised $1 Million to Defeat Susan Collins If She Votes for Kavanaugh. She Says It’s Bribery.” by Eli Rosenberg for Washington Post
California: “Koch-Backed Charity Must Reveal Donor List to California Officials, Appeals Panel Rules” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee (Washington Post) for Connecticut Post
Elections
National: “Viral Videos Are Replacing Pricey Political Ads. They’re Cheaper, and They Work.” by Jeremy Peters and Sapna Maheshwari (New York Times) for MSN
National: “Trump Signs New Order to Sanction Countries That Meddle in U.S. Elections” by Deirdre Shesgreen for USA Today
Ethics
California: “Fair Political Practices Commission Begins Accepting Electronic Payments for Penalties” by the Staff for The Times-Herald
Iowa: “Iowa Governor Flew to Game on Vendor’s Plane” by Ryan Foley for Associated Press
New Jersey: “Murphy’s AG Vows to Go After Crooked Cops and Politicians with New Corruption Unit” by S.P. Sullivan (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger
Virginia: “The Cyclist Who Flipped Off Trump’s Motorcade Is Running for Public Office” by Jenna Portnoy for Washington Post
September 12, 2018 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Campaigns, Parties Can Accept Free Service From Microsoft, FEC Says” by Stephanie Aiken for Roll Call Alaska: “Realtors PAC Probably Getting Big Break on Fines for Campaign Finance Violations” by Amy Armstrong for Anchorage Press Washington: “Judge […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Campaigns, Parties Can Accept Free Service From Microsoft, FEC Says” by Stephanie Aiken for Roll Call
Alaska: “Realtors PAC Probably Getting Big Break on Fines for Campaign Finance Violations” by Amy Armstrong for Anchorage Press
Washington: “Judge Boosts Contempt Fines Against Tim Eyman in Campaign-Finance Lawsuit” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times
Elections
National: “In Hollywood, There’s a Nerdy New Hobby: Flipping the House” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee for Washington Post
Ethics
National: “In an Increasingly Diverse House, Aides Remain Remarkably White” by Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) for WRAL
Colorado: “Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission on Uncertain Course” by Marianne Goodland for Colorado Springs Gazette
Lobbying
Michigan: “Lobbyist: Hawaii junket for Lansing lawmakers was ‘hard work’” by Paul Egan for Detroit Free Press
Ohio: “Ethics Panel Imposes Stricter Rules on Ohio Lawmaker Travel” by Jo Ingles for WOSU
September 11, 2018 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Dem Super PACs Keep Getting Bigger as Candidates Turn on PAC Money” by Maggie Severns for Politico California: “How Eight Elite San Francisco Families Funded Gavin Newsom’s Political Ascent” by Seema Mehta, Ryan Menenzes, and Maloy Moore […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Dem Super PACs Keep Getting Bigger as Candidates Turn on PAC Money” by Maggie Severns for Politico
California: “How Eight Elite San Francisco Families Funded Gavin Newsom’s Political Ascent” by Seema Mehta, Ryan Menenzes, and Maloy Moore for Los Angeles Times
Florida: “Bank Closes Candidate’s Campaign Account Because of Medical Marijuana Ties – Again” by Samantha Gross for Miami Herald
Missouri: “Court Affirms Major Blow to Missouri Amendment Restricting Campaign Donations” by Jason Rosenbaum for St. Louis Public Radio
Elections
National: “Republicans Running for Governor Look for Success in Unlikely Places: Blue states” by Tim Craig for Washington Post
National: Democrats Embrace Liberal Insurgents, Demanding New Face for Party” by Alexander Burns (New York Times) for MSN
Ethics
Nevada: “LVCVA Gift Card Scandal Attracts Nevada Ethics Scrutiny” by Jeff German for Las Vegas Review-Journal
New York: “Cuomo Often Takes Taxpayer-Funded Planes and Helicopters, Far More Than Other Big State Governors” by Shane Goldmacher for New York Times
September 10, 2018 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance California: “Banning Man Wins $220,000 from State Political Watchdog Panel” by Craig Schultz for Riverside Press-Enterprise Washington: “Washington AG to Press for $18 Million Fine Against Foodmakers” by Don Jenkins for Capital Press Ethics National: “Papadopoulos Sentenced to […]
Campaign Finance
California: “Banning Man Wins $220,000 from State Political Watchdog Panel” by Craig Schultz for Riverside Press-Enterprise
Washington: “Washington AG to Press for $18 Million Fine Against Foodmakers” by Don Jenkins for Capital Press
Ethics
National: “Papadopoulos Sentenced to 14 Days in Jail” by Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein for Politico
Arkansas: “Accomplice in Kickback Scheme Involving State Grants Gets 6 Years in Prison; House Arrest Plea Rejected” by Doug Thompson for Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Maryland: “Baltimore Ethics Board Rejects Mayor Pugh’s Request for Sweeping Exemption from Fundraising Rules” by Ian Duncan for Baltimore Sun
New Mexico: “Rio Arriba Official Is Facing 4 Felony Charges” by Edmundo Carrillo for Albuquerque Journal
South Carolina: “Statehouse Probe Offered Fixes to SC Ethics Laws. But a Judge Needs to Unseal Them.” by Andy Shain for Charleston Post and Courier
Lobbying
Arizona: “‘Women … Were Warned About Him:’ Phoenix lobbyist resigns after harassment complaints” by Jessica Boehm for Arizona Republic
September 7, 2018 •
News You Can Use – September 7, 2018
National: Cities Take Aim at the Spiraling Costs of Local Elections CityLab – Sarah Holder | Published: 9/4/2018 Several of the nation’s largest cities – including Portland, Denver, and Baltimore – are attempting to overhaul their campaign finance systems by […]
National:
Cities Take Aim at the Spiraling Costs of Local Elections
CityLab – Sarah Holder | Published: 9/4/2018
Several of the nation’s largest cities – including Portland, Denver, and Baltimore – are attempting to overhaul their campaign finance systems by reducing contribution limits or establishing public financing projects that make each donated dollar go further, or both. Candidates, especially those running for the first time against incumbents, are hopeful the measures will level the playing field. Jo Ann Hardesty, who is running for the Portland City Council this November, said the reforms would help her and others focus on running, not campaigning: “It will force me not to spend so much time on the phone trying to raise money, and it means that regular people can run and serve.”
Twitter Will Begin Labeling Political Ads About Issues Such as Immigration
Chicago Tribune – Tony Romm (Washington Post) | Published: 8/30/2018
Twitter announced it would begin labeling political advertisements as part of a new effort to increase transparency on its platform. The company said it will move to identify electioneering ads, which the FEC defines as ads promoting a specific candidate or a party within 30 days of a primary election and 60 days of a general election. Such labeling would include some kind of signifier, like a purple dot noting the tweet is prompted by a political account, according to a potential mockup the company included in a post announcing the changes.
Federal:
Company Using Foreign Workers Botches U.S. Senate Campaign Finance Records
Center for Public Integrity – Rosa Cima | Published: 9/5/2018
Unlike those running for the presidency and House, U.S. Senate candidates do not file campaign finance reports electronically. They file on paper, which must then be converted to electronic documents in a process that involves two government agencies, three private companies, and countless low-paid workers, many of them overseas, and some who may be hostile toward American interests. This document conversion process often spits out bogus, yet official public records that mislead the public and obscure who is funding Senate campaigns. An investigation found errors in more than 5,900 candidate disclosures representing over $70 million, all of them traceable to the U.S. government’s conversion of paper into electronic data.
Former Manafort Associate Reveals Illegal Foreign Payment to Trump’s Inauguration
Politico – Kyle Cheney and John Meyer | Published: 9/1/2018
W. Samuel Patten pleaded guilty to failing to register as a foreign agent for a Ukrainian political party. He also admitted to lying to the U.S. Senate intelligence committee during its investigation into Russian election interference and of participating in a scheme to circumvent the ban on foreign donations to President Trump’s inaugural committee by lining up a straw purchaser to pay $50,000 for tickets to the inauguration. This is the first time the Justice Department has publicly charged a person for helping a foreigner secretly funnel money into a Trump political event. The case was referred by special counsel Robert Mueller to the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. Patten’s plea agreement requires him to cooperate with the special counsel’s probe.
From the States and Municipalities:
Arkansas: Former Sen. Woods Sentenced to More Than 18 Years in Prison
talkbusiness.net – Jeff Della Rosa | Published: 9/5/2018
Former Arkansas Sen. Jon Woods was sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison forhis involvement in a widespread kickback and bribery scheme. He also was ordered to pay $1.6 million in restitution. Woods was convicted in schemes involving Ecclesia College and AmeriWorks, a nonprofit company. He received kickbacks on $350,000 in state General Improvement Fund grants he directed to Ecclesia and $275,000 in grants he sent to AmeriWorks. Prosecutors did not specify how much money Woods received in kickbacks because all but a $40,000 wire transfer was paid in cash.
California: As the Legislative Year Ends, the #MeToo Movement Shows Its Influence
Los Angeles Times – Melanie Mason | Published: 9/3/2018
The #MeToo campaign launched a discussion about a culture of fear and retaliation at the Capitol in Sacramento, which women said had discouraged them from reporting pervasive harassment and allowed it to go unpunished. When the Legislature reconvened in January, two members had already resigned amid accusations of sexual misconduct and complaints had been lodged against three others. Lawmakers passed more than a dozen bills addressing workplace sexual harassment by the close of the two-year session. Experts said these measures could make California a national leader on the issue. The Legislature also spent months developing a new process for handling its own investigations of inappropriate behavior.
Illinois: State Farm Pays $250 Million, Ducks Trial Over Allegations It Tried to Rig Illinois Justice System
Chicago Tribune – Tim Bross, Margaret Cronin Fisk, and Jef Feeley (Bloomberg) | Published: 9/5/2018
State Farm reached a $250 million preliminary settlement in a class-action lawsuit claiming the insurance company funneled money to the campaign of Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier in 2004. In the 2005 case of Avery v. State Farm, Karmeier cast the deciding vote to reverse a $1 billion judgment against State Farm for its use of aftermarket car parts in repairs. The class-action lawsuit sought nearly $10 billion from State Farm. The plaintiffs alleged the company covertly supported Karmeier’s campaign to secure his win and reversal of the Avery decision. The suit claimed millions of dollars were funneled through donations to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which then sent the money to a PAC and the Illinois Republican Party for use in Karmeier’s campaign.
Kentucky: Father of Alison Lundergan Grimes Indicted in Campaign Finance Conspiracy
McClatchy DC – Daniel Desrochers and Bill Estep (Lexington Herald-Leader) | Published: 8/31/2018
The father of Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes was indicted for illegally funneling nearly $200,000 to his daughter’s 2014 U.S. Senate campaign to pay for various services. Gerald Lundergan used funds from his own company to pay for “audio-video production, lighting, recorded telephone calls, and campaign consulting between July 2013 and December 2015,” the Justice Department said in a press release. Lundergan and the campaign vendor to whom he made the payments, who was also indicted, concealed their arrangement from officials on the campaign, causing it to file financial records to the FEC, according to the indictment.
Massachusetts: SJC Upholds Massachusetts’ Ban on Corporate Campaign Contributions
MassLive.com – Shira Schoenberg | Published: 9/6/2018
The Supreme Judicial Court upheld Massachusetts’ ban on corporate campaign donations, finding the prohibition does not violate First Amendment rights and can help prevent actual and perceived corruption. The law bans corporations from giving directly to candidates or establishing PACs but allows them to make unlimited independent expenditures, with certain disclosure requirements. The plaintiffs argued the law violates their right to free speech and unfairly applies to corporations but not to other entities like unions and nonprofits. Chief Justice Ralph Gants wrote it would be “unrealistic for a court to require the Legislature to wait for evidence of widespread quid pro quo corruption resulting from corporate contributions before taking steps to prevent such corruption.”
New York: Mayoral Charter Revision Commission Puts Three Questions on November Ballot
Gotham Gazette – Samar Khurshid | Published: 9/5/2018
The charter revision commission created by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio voted to put three questions on the ballot in November. If approved by voters, the proposals would significantly reduce campaign contribution limits in city elections, create a new agency to civically engage the public, and apply term limits and appointment reforms to community boards. One proposal would reduce contribution limits for public financing participants as well for those who do not join the program. It would also increase the matching ratio to eight-to-one for the first $250 raised by a citywide candidate and for the first $175 raised for all other seats.
North Carolina: Court Won’t Force North Carolina Redistricting This Year
Politico – Josh Gerstein | Published: 9/4/2018
A panel of three federal judges ruled North Carolina’s current congressional map can be used in the 2018 midterms, despite previously ruling the map is a partisan gerrymander. The judges said there was “insufficient time” for the court to approve a new map in time for the elections that are two months away. Both the plaintiffs and the defendants in the case had asked that a new map not be imposed on the state for the current election cycle.
North Carolina: Justice Dept. Demands Millions of North Carolina Voter Records, Confounding Elections Officials
New York Times – Richard Fausset and Michael Wines | Published: 9/5/2018
Federal prosecutors issued subpoenas demanding that millions of North Carolina voter records be turned over to immigration authorities by September 25. The subpoenas threatened to sow chaos in the state’s election machinery, while renewing the Trump administration’s discredited claims of widespread voting by illegal immigrants. The subpoenas were issued a week after federal officials announced that 19 noncitizens in North Carolina had been charged with casting illegal votes in the 2016 election. Critics say those arrests hardly constitute a wave of voter fraud worthy of such a broad demand for documents. And they raised concerns about privacy: among the prosecutors’ demands are millions of secret ballots cast by absentee and early voters whose identities could be easily traced.
Pennsylvania: Ex-Reading Mayor Vaughn Spencer Guilty on All Counts
Allentown Morning Call – Peter Hall | Published: 8/30/2018
A jury convicted former Reading Mayor Vaughn Spencer on 11 counts related to a “pay-to-play” scheme in which federal prosecutors said he traded public works contracts for campaign contributions and bribed the city council president to repeal a law limiting how much campaign money he could accept. The jury heard witnesses testify that Spencer and his campaign staff tied the award of public works contracts to donations from engineering firm executives to Spencer’s re-election campaign. His former chief of staff and campaign fundraiser also testified about Spencer’s role in making a “forgivable loan” to the wife of council President Francisco Acosta to ensure he followed through on legislation to repeal or suspend the city’s campaign reporting law.
Texas: Beto O’Rourke Dreams of One Texas. Ted Cruz Sees Another Clearly.
WRAL – Matt Flegenheimer (New York Times) | Published: 8/31/2018
A blue Texas has seemed both inevitable and impossible, the central political contradiction in a state defined by them. Any breakthrough, Democrats have long believed, would be borne of demographics and triangulation: focus on the cities, with their surging Hispanic populations and creeping cosmopolitanism. Edge to the middle a bit to bring in wary moderates. And impress upon voters just how extreme the incumbents had become. U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke has resolved to ignore basically all of this in his campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. O’Rourke has defined the philosophy with a line borrowed from Jim Hightower, a prominent activist who was once Texas agriculture commissioner: “The only thing you’ll find in the middle of the road are yellow lines and dead armadillos,” O’Rourke said.
Virginia: Citing Fraud, Judge Orders Candidate Off the Ballot in Virginia Congressional Race
Danbury News Times – Gregory Schneider (Washington Post) | Published: 9/5/2018
A judge ordered an independent candidate in a key congressional contest in Virginia removed from November’s ballot, citing invalid signatures gathered with assistance from staffers for the incumbent Republican. The effort to put Shaun Brown on the ballot as an independent candidate, which could have siphoned votes from the Democratic nominee, Elaine Luria, was boosted by U.S. Rep. Scott Taylor’s campaign staffers. Taylor had said he knew staff members were collecting signatures for Brown, but he did not direct the effort.
September 5, 2018 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “Cities Take Aim at the Spiraling Costs of Local Elections” by Sarah Holder for CityLab Kansas: “Feds: Sen. Hutchinson stole campaign funds; spent money on cruises, jewelry and Netflix fees” by Wesley Brown for talkbusiness.net Kentucky: “Father […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Cities Take Aim at the Spiraling Costs of Local Elections” by Sarah Holder for CityLab
Kansas: “Feds: Sen. Hutchinson stole campaign funds; spent money on cruises, jewelry and Netflix fees” by Wesley Brown for talkbusiness.net
Kentucky: “Father of Alison Lundergan Grimes Indicted in Campaign Finance Conspiracy” by Daniel Desrochers and Bill Estep (Lexington Herald-Leader) for McClatchy DC
Wisconsin: “Secret Cash Aided Politicians Who Rewrote Wisconsin Law to Block Claims of Lead-Poisoned Children” by Pawan Naidu (Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism) for Wisconsin Public Radio
Elections
Illinois: “Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Says He Won’t Run for Re-Election Next Year” by Bill Ruthhart for Chicago Tribune
Ethics
National: “Democrats, Eyeing a Majority, Prepare an Investigative Onslaught” by Nicholas Fandos (New York Times) for MSN
National: “As the Legislative Year Ends, the #MeToo Movement Shows Its Influence” by Melanie Mason for Los Angeles Times
New York: “How a Cuomo Donor Spent $25M in Public Funds It Didn’t Need” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
Legislative Issues
National: “Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl Will be John McCain’s Successor in the U.S. Senate” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Maria Polletta (Arizona Republic) for USA Today
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