Campaign Finance

National: “Women Reaching New Levels in Political Donations” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

National: “$1 Million Mystery Gift to Inauguration Traced to Conservative Legal Activists” by Robert Maguire for McClatchy DC

Idaho: “‘The Idahoan’ Ruled Exempt from Sunshine Law, Qualified as a ‘Newspaper’” by Betsy Russell for Idaho Press Tribune

New York: “U.S. Attorney Probing Major Donor to Gov. Andrew Cuomo” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Ethics

Missouri: “Case Against Greitens Is Dropped, for Now. Legislative Leaders Say Nothing’s Changed” by Bryan Lowry, Jason Hancock, Kelsey Landis, Allison Kite, and Steve Vockrodt for Kansas City Star

New York: “Energy Executive Admits Lying About ‘Low-Show Job’ for Percoco’s Wife” by Vivuian Wang and benjamin Weiser (New York Times) for WRAL

South Carolina: “S.C. Attorney General Candidate Voted for Medical Bills While Leading Physician Group” by Jamie Lovegrove for Charleston Post and Courier

Wisconsin: “Robin Vos, Other Wisconsin Lawmakers Billed Taxpayers $4,300 for One-Day Trip to Ohio” by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Campaign Finance

National: “Politicos Beware: Court ruling could prompt more transparent campaign spending” by Carrie Levine for Center for Public Integrity

Missouri: “Critics Say Governor’s Race Shows Need for Campaign Finance Reform” by Sarah Zimmerman (Associated Press) for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Ethics

National: “Trump, Schneiderman, Greitens and the Changing Shape of Sex Scandals” by Marc Fisher (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

Alaska: “Legislature Will Boot Ballot Measure If Governor Signs ‘Government Accountability’ Bill” by James Brooks for Juneau Empire

Maryland: “Baltimore Police Commissioner De Sousa Has Not Filed Some Mandatory Ethics Forms” by Ian Duncan for Baltimore Sun

New York: “Jury Finds Silver Guilty” by Benjamin Weiser (New York Times) for Albany Times Union

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Ethics Commission Votes to Sue Over Budget” by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman

Lobbying

National: “Cohen Referred Client with Kushner Ties to Lobbying Firm” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

National:

Tough Choices, and Criticism, for Emily’s List as Democratic Women Flood Primaries
New York Times – Sheryl Gay Stolberg | Published: 5/4/2018

Crowded Democratic primaries, many involving two or more women, have forced Emily’s List, one of the nation’s most powerful PACs, to make difficult choices that have spawned resentment around the nation. For Democratic women, no endorsement is as sought after or powerful as one conferred by Emily’s List, which functions as the political equivalent of the old-fashioned “Good Housekeeping” seal of approval for voters and potential donors. And Emily’s List has bold ambitions this year; its president, Stephanie Schriock, says her aim is to deliver the House to Democrats. So, its endorsement decisions are drawing scrutiny.

Federal:

EPA Pesticide Settlement Comes Under Scrutiny
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 5/8/2018

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to scale back a pesticide fine on Syngenta has raised eyebrows, highlighting the ethical land mines facing an administration filled with former lobbyist and business executives. Critics noted that Jeff Sands, who was a top EPA agricultural adviser at the time of the settlement, was previously a lobbyist for Syngenta. Sands said he was not involved in the decision to reduce the fine, and there is no evidence he worked on the settlement. Still, ethics experts said Sands’ connection to Syngenta illustrates the difficulties that arise from having so many former lobbyists serving in key positions.

‘I’m Crushing It’: How Michael Cohen, touting his access to President Trump, convinced companies to pay millions
MSN – Michael Kranish, Rosalind Helderman, Carolyn Johnson, and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 5/9/2018

New information shows how Michael Cohen quickly leveraged his role as President Trump’s personal attorney, developing a lucrative sideline as a consultant to companies eager for insight into how to navigate the new administration. The rapid flow of millions of dollars to Cohen shows the rush by corporations – unable to rely on the influence of K Street in dealing with a new, outsider president – to lock in relationships with Trump’s inner circle. Selling access is common in Washington, D.C., but investigators could probe whether Cohen promised specific government actions in exchange for payments, which could cause him legal trouble. If he spent large amounts of time speaking to government officials on behalf of clients, investigators could also explore whether he should have registered as a lobbyist.

Russia’s 2016 Facebook Strategy Exposed in Trove of 3,500 Ads
Bloomberg.com – Anna Edgerton and Sarah Frier | Published: 5/10/2018

Democrats on the U.S. House Intelligence Committee released thousands of copies of Kremlin-linked Facebook advertisements used during the 2016 presidential election, a data dump that provides a greater understanding of a Russian company’s disinformation campaign across social media. The lawmakers released more than 3,500 Facebook ads purchased by the Internet Research Agency (IRA), a Russian firm with ties to the Kremlin. Over 11.4 million American users were exposed to these ads between 2015 and 2017. Special counsel Robert Mueller charged 13 Russian individuals and three Russian groups earlier this year for engaging in “information warfare” during the election, alleging they had used social media and other sophisticated measures to sow discord in the U.S.

‘Scam PACs’ Rake in Millions Under Guise of Charity
Politico – Maggie Severns and Scott Bland | Published: 5/6/2018

Some new PACs have feel-good names like Cops and Kids Together and Americans for the Cure of Breast Cancer. They have succeeded in raising millions of dollars from small donors in a matter of months, and spent most of it just as quickly, without supporting candidates or making a mark on a policy issue. Their activities show political groups often receive less oversight and get more leeway than charities, even though they have to disclose more details about their donations and spending. The FEC has said it is all but powerless to crack down on these so-called scam PACs.

Trump’s Appointees Pledged Not to Lobby After They Leave. Now They’re lobbying.
ProPublica – Derek Kravitz and Alex Mierjeski | Published: 5/3/2018

Days after taking office, President Trump signed an executive order requiring every political appointee to sign a pledge as a condition of taking office, agreeing not to lobby the agencies they had worked in for five years after they left government service. Nor would they lobby anyone in the White House or appointees across federal agencies for the duration of the administration. But at least eight former Trump officials have found ways around the pledge. ProPublica identified at least 184 people who have left the Trump administration. Of those, at least six former officials are now registered lobbyists and several others work at firms in roles that resemble lobbying in all but name.

From the States and Municipalities:

California: An Urgent Debate for California Republicans: How to get back in the game
New York Times – Adam Nagourney | Published: 5/6/2018

There may be no Republican candidate for governor or U.S. senator on the ballot this November in California. That dispiriting possibility is beginning to sink in for Republicans, against the backdrop of a divisive debate among its candidates and leaders on how the embattled party can become competitive again in a state where Ronald Reagan was elected twice as governor. It is no secret the GOP has been in a decline for 20 years in the state. Its challenges have been aggravated by the election of President Trump, as he has pushed tougher policies on such issues as immigration and the environment, running up against strong and often bipartisan sentiment in California. A field of Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate and governor is struggling against these headwinds as they seek to end a more than 10-year drought and elect a party member to statewide office.

Florida: Fox News Plays Kingmaker in Florida Governor’s Race
Politico – Matt Dixon | Published: 5/8/2018

Florida Republican primary voters are largely unfamiliar with U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis. Fox News is helping to change that. The little-known Republican, a vigorous defender of President Trump, is building a campaign around the president’s endorsement and a seemingly endless series of appearances on a news network favored by conservatives, an approach that has taken him from an asterisk in the polls to a top contender for the governorship in the nation’s largest swing state. TV Eyes, a television monitoring service, estimates those appearances equate to $7.1 million in what it calls “national publicity value” – a number that is likely smaller since the value only applies to Florida-specific exposure, but still represents a significant amount.

Hawaii: Why No One Wants to Blow the Whistle on Sexual Misconduct
Honolulu Civil Beat – Anita Hofschneider | Published: 5/3/2018

The recent resignation of a top Hawaii lawmaker who admitted to repeated sexual harassment only scratches the surface of a much deeper problem at the State Capitol, where the local tendency to “no talk stink” is compounded by fear of retaliation from people in power. The result – according to more than a dozen current and former lobbyists, staffers, and lawmakers – is a pervasive culture of silence around issues of sexual harassment. The difficulty speaking up is compounded by policies that discourage victims from filing complaints. Lawmakers are not planning to change these policies until at least next year, citing the need to do more research about the best way to improve them.

Missouri: County Council to Ask Voters to Restrict Campaign Donations
St. Louis Public Radio – Jo Mannies | Published: 5/9/2018

The St. Louis County Council approved a proposal to ask county voters on August 7 to set a $2,600 contribution limit for any county office and restrict contributions from entities bidding on county contracts. The ballot measure was aimed at county Executive Steve Stenger, who has repeatedly faced accusations during his term that donors to his campaign get favorable treatment by his administration. The ballot proposal also would restrict donations when the council is considering contracts.

Missouri: Missouri Lawmakers Agree to Call Special Session to Consider Greitens’ Impeachment
Kansas City Star – Allison Kirte, Jason Hancock, and Bryan Lowry | Published: 5/3/2018

The Missouri General Assembly has taken the historic step of calling itself back into special session to decide whether to impeach Gov. Eric Greitens. The announcement comes as Greitens faces widespread calls to step down amid criminal charges. The governor faces a trial on a felony invasion-of-privacy charge for allegedly taking an unauthorized, nude photograph of a blindfolded woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair. Greitens was also charged with computer tampering stemming from allegations he used a veterans’ charity donor list to raise funds for his 2016 campaign for governor without the permission of the group, which he founded. The special session is set to begin on May 18, just days after the start of the governor’s criminal trial, and will last no more than 30 days.

New York: Eric Schneiderman, Accused by 4 Women, Quits as New York Attorney General
MSN – Danny Hakim and Vivian Wang (New York Times) | Published: 5/7/2018

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman resigned, stepping down hours after it was reported that four women accused him of physically assaulting them. The women said Schneiderman choked and repeatedly slapped them. Two of the women, Michelle Manning Barish and Tanya Selvaratnam, described patterns of emotional as well as physical abuse. Selvaratnam said Schneiderman warned her he could have her followed and her phones tapped. Both women said he threatened to kill them if they ended their relationships with him. Schneiderman denied abusing the women. For several years, his office has published a “Know Your Rights” brochure for victims of domestic violence.

New York: Furthering Split from Cuomo, Senate Passes Reform Bills
Gotham Gazette – Samar Khurshid | Published: 5/10/2018

The Republican-controlled New York Senate passed an extensive package of reforms, including bills that would increase oversight over state-funded economic development programs, prevent conflicts-of-interest, and improve transparency. In a rare gesture of bipartisanship, Senate Democrats volunteered to move many of the long-stalled bills from the Rules Committee to the floor. Taking aim at the governor’s office, one of the bills would prohibit executive agency appointees and members of their households from making campaign contributions to, or soliciting them for, the same executive who appointed them. Several of the bills have companion legislation in the Assembly and some have even been approved by that chamber. But it is unclear how the Assembly will vote on the entire package.

Ohio: Ohio Votes to Reform Congressional Redistricting; Issue 1 Could End Gerrymandering
Cleveland Plain Dealer – Rich Exner | Published: 5/8/2018

Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure that will reform the state’s redistricting process. The measure asked voters whether they wanted to amend the state constitution to require bipartisan support when drawing new congressional district lines. Any new maps would require three-fifths support in the state House and Senate, including support from at least half the members of the minority party. If Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature cannot agree on a map, a bipartisan commission would be assigned to draw new maps. Those maps would have to be approved with at least two votes from the minority party. If the bipartisan commission fails, the Legislature would be allowed to try to draw maps that earn support from one-third of the minority party or a four-year map with only majority support.

Oklahoma: Pruitt’s Coziness with Lobbyists Includes Secretly Buying a House with One
MSN – Hiroko Tabuchi and Steve Eder (New York Times) | Published: 5/3/2018

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt once purchased a house from a top lobbyist in Oklahoma with the help of a shell company. Two business associates involved in the 2003 purchase are now aides to Pruitt at the EPA: Kenneth Wagner is a senior adviser, and Albert Kelly runs the agency’s effort to redesign the Superfund program. According to The New York Times, the home, which was seen as a prime property because of its proximity to the Capitol, was purchased for $375,000 from a retiring telecommunications lobbyist. But that price was $100,000 less than the lobbyist, Marsha Lindsey, had paid for it just a year before. The shortfall was picked up by Lindsey’s company, SBC Oklahoma.

Campaign Finance

National: “Tough Choices, and Criticism, for Emily’s List as Democratic Women Flood Primaries” by Sheryl Gay Stolberg for New York Times

Elections

Virginia: “Virginia State Senator Walks Back Offer of Capitol Access in Exchange for Donation” by Patrick Wilson (Richmond Times-Dispatch) for Roanoke Times

Ethics

National: “Chao’s Interviews with Father Raise Ethical Flags” by Tanya Snider for Politico

Florida: “FBI Got Tax Records Last Year for Maddox-Related Firms” by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat

Missouri: “Activists Aim to Put Slate of Progressive Initiatives on Missouri Voters’ Ballots” by Allison Kite for Kansas City Star

New York: “Eric Schneiderman, Accused by 4 Women, Quits as New York Attorney General” by Danny Hakim and Vivian Wang (New York Times) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “Few Retiring Lawmakers Disclose Plans to Lobby” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

National: “EPA Pesticide Settlement Comes Under Scrutiny” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Campaign Finance

National: “‘Scam PACs’ Rake in Millions Under Guise of Charity” by Maggie Severns and Scott Bland for Politico

Elections

California: “An Urgent Debate for California Republicans: How to get back in the game” by Adam Nagourney for New York Times

Ethics

National: “Trump Is Said to Have Known of Payment to Stormy Daniels Months Before He Denied It” by Michael Shear, Maggie Haberman, Jim Rutenberg, and Matt Apuzzo (New York Times) for MSN

National: “Influential GOP Donors and Lobbyists Played Key Roles in Scott Pruitt’s Foreign Travel” by Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

Delaware: “Wilmington Ethics Commission Keeps Opinions Confidential” by Christina Jedra for Wilmington News Journal

Missouri: “Missouri Lawmakers Agree to Call Special Session to Consider Greitens’ Impeachment” by Allison Kirte, Jason Hancock, and Bryan Lowry for Kansas City Star

Washington D.C.: “Ethics Officials Examine D.C. Lawmaker’s Business Ties to Digital Sign Company” by Peter Jamison and Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post

Lobbying

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma Legislators Reject Ethical Rules Restricting When They Can Become Lobbyists” by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman

Campaign Finance

Missouri: Greitens Lied to State Ethics Commission, Took Charity Donor List, Report Says by Jack Suntrup and Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Elections

Wisconsin: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Is Sending 671,000 Families an Election-Year Check. Democrats Call It Bribery by Jeff Stein (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

Ethics

Hawaii: Why No One Wants to Blow the Whistle on Sexual Misconduct by Anita Hofschneider for Honolulu Civil Beat

Pennsylvania: Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski Co-Defendant Jim Hickey Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison by Peter Hall for Allentown Morning Call

South Carolina: Bills Target Corrupt SC Lawmakers, Lobbyists Who Use Their Posts for Profit by John Monk for The State

Lobbying

National: Trump’s Appointees Pledged Not to Lobby After They Leave. Now They’re Lobbying. By Derek Kravitz and Alex Mierjeski for ProPublica

California: Union, Lawyers Spar Over Wildfire ‘Shadow lobbying’ at California Capitol by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee

Oklahoma: Pruitt’s Coziness with Lobbyists Includes Secretly Buying a House with One by Hiroko Tabuchi and Steve Eder for New York Times

Campaign Finance

Ohio: “Mary Taylor’s $3 Million Campaign Loan Subject of State Legislator’s Elections Complaint” by Andrew Tobias for Cleveland Plain Dealer

Elections

California: “Crimes Are No Longer a Disqualification for Republican Candidates” by Michael Scherer (Washington Post) for San Francisco Chronicle

Georgia: “Georgia Governor Candidate Aims Gun at Teen in Campaign Ad. ‘Get Over It,’ He Tells Critics.” by Samantha Scxhmidt (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

Ethics

National: “Mueller Raised Possibility of Presidential Subpoena in Meeting with Trump’s Legal Team” by Carol Leonnig and Robert Costa (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

Maryland: “Maryland Schools Superintendent Rejects Verletta White as Baltimore County Schools Chief, Citing Ethics Lapse” by Liz Bowie and Doug Donovan for Baltimore Sun

Massachusetts: “Rosenberg Cited for ‘Failure of Judgment and Leadership’ in Blistering Ethics Report” by Matt Stout, Joshua Miller, and Yvonne Abraham for Boston Globe

New York: “NY Appeals Court Rejects de Blasio’s Bid to Shield Emails from Disclosure” by Andrew Denney for New York Law Journal

Oklahoma: “Chairman of Oklahoma Ethics Commission Accuses Legislators of Retaliation” by Nolan Clay for The Oklahoman

Washington D.C.: “Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theories Roil DC City Government” by Ashraf Khalili for Associated Press

Lobbying

National: “Lobbyist Helped Broker Scott Pruitt’s $100,000 Trip to Morocco” by Kevin Sullivan, Juliet Eilperin, and Brady Dennis (Washington Post) for Chicago Tribune

England: “Cabinet Office Searches for Lobbying Tsar Who Can ‘Command Respect’” by David Singleton for Public Affairs Now

Missouri: “Lobbyist Gift Ban Legislation Proceeds – with a Twist” by Katie Parkins and Sarah Kellog for Columbian Missourian

Canada: “Trudeau Government Proposes Major Changes to Elections Law” by Aaron Wherry for CBC

Florida: “FEC Plans Crackdown on Zombie Campaigns” by Christopher O’Connell for Tampa Bay Times

California: “Former Lobbyist Gets 4 Months in Prison for Role in Azano Campaign Finance Scandal” by Greg Moran for San Diego Union-Tribune

Ethics

National: “Senate Democrats Question the Role of a Former For-Profit College Lobbyist at the Education Department” by Danielle Douglas-Gabriel (Washington Post) for Seattle Times

National: “Trump-Allied House Conservatives Draft Articles of Impeachment Against Rosenstein as ‘Last Resort’” by Robert Costa, Sari Horwitz, and Matt Zapotosky (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Mueller Has Dozens of Inquiries for Trump in Broad Quest on Russia Ties and Obstruction” by Michael Schmidt (New York Times) for MSN

Arkansas: “Wilkins, Former Arkansas Legislator, Pleads Guilty to Bribery” by Jan Cottingham for Arkansas Business

Kentucky: “She Advised KY House GOP During Hoover Scandal. Now She’ll Advise the Investigators.” by Daniel Desrochers for Lexington Herald-Leader

Procurement

Missouri: “Auditor: Missouri highway patrol officials with ties to transportation firm steered it business” by Sky Chadde for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Campaign Finance

National: Did Diamond and Silk Commit Perjury? Or Is Campaign-Finance Language Often Confusing? by Philip Bump for Washington Post

California: Hackers Stole His Campaign Cash, Sacramento Lawmaker Says by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee

North Carolina: Steak Dinners, Travel, HOA Fees: How some NC legislators spend campaign donors’ money by Will Doran and Lynn Bonner for Charlotte Observer

Ethics

National: Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez Is ‘Severely Admonished’ by Ethics Committee, Ordered to Repay Gifts by Mike DeBonis for Washington Post

Florida: Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie Hid $335,000, Charges Allege by Skyler Swisher and Tonya Alanez for South Florida Sun Sentinel

Michigan: Michigan Lawmakers Voted on Bills Even After Admitting Conflicts of Interest by Kristian Hernandez for Center for Public Integrity

Legislative Issues

Minnesota: Minnesota House Leaders Unveil Major Changes to Sexual Harassment Policy, but Updates Won’t Make Process Any More Open to Public by Brianna Bierschbach for Minnesota Post

Lobbying

National: Democrats See Their Stock Rise on K Street by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Canada: MPs Defend Taking Trips Paid by Lobbyists, Foreign Governments, but Some Say the Practice Needs Review by Samantha Wright Allen for Hill Times

National:

For Politicians Scraping Bottom, a Scarce Resource: Impeachment Lawyers
New York Times – Alan Blinder | Published: 4/22/2018

There are only a handful of lawyers who have helped shepherd governors and lawmakers through the trauma of a possible impeachment. Despite the high stake, the nation’s statehouse impeachment bar is made of up just a few battle-tested lawyers who have improvised legal strategies largely on history and hunches. An impeachment, lawyers who have worked on such proceedings around the country agree, is a political process imbued with law, where electoral rivalries and ambitions uncomfortably share the stage with talk of traditions and procedures. Ross Garber, after representing besieged governors in Alabama, Connecticut, and South Carolina, has arguably become the nation’s leading practitioner of a subspecialty whose relevance can be a barometer of political rancor.

Federal:

Lobbyist Whose Wife Rented to Pruitt Lobbied EPA Despite Denials
Politico – Theodoric Meyer and Eliana Johnson | Published: 4/20/2018

The lobbyist whose wife rented Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt a room in a Capitol Hill condominium for $50 a night helped arrange a meeting at the agency related to restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Dennis Treacy, a former Smithfield Foods executive who now sits on the board of the Smithfield Foundation, first reached out to an official in EPA’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations to arrange the session as part of his role as the Chesapeake Bay Commission’s citizen representative. Subsequently, Williams & Jensen Chairperson J. Steven Hart – whose wife was then renting a room to Pruitt – called the administrator’s aides to encourage them to take the meeting.  Hart has said he is resigning from the firm over the matter.

Mulvaney Backlash May Drive Political Money Changes
Roll Call – Kate Ackley | Published: 4/26/2018

Mick Mulvaney, the White House budget chief and interim director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, told banking executives that as a member of Congress he always met with constituents, but never out-of-town lobbyists unless they gave him campaign money – part of an exhortation to the bankers to push their agenda on Capitol Hill. “If you’re a lobbyist who never gave us money, I didn’t talk to you; if you’re a lobbyist who gave us money, I might talk to you,” Mulvaney said at an American Bankers Association conference. Campaign finance watchdogs and their allied lawmakers are seizing on the dustup to advance both long-shot legislative changes as well as voluntary ones, such as lawmakers refusing donations from PACs or registered lobbyists.

From the States and Municipalities:

California: O.C. Anti-Corruption Task Force Collapsed Amid Infighting Between Federal and Local Investigators
Los Angeles Times – Adam Elmahrek and Richard Winton | Published: 4/17/2018

In the wake of a grand jury report declaring that misconduct was “actively festering” in local government, Orange County created a corruption task force. But nearly four years after it began, the operation quietly fell apart last year amid conflicts between local and federal investigators who had little to show for their work together, according to a Los Angeles Times investigation. Sources said federal agents harbored suspicions about supervisors in the district attorney’s office seeking information about separate FBI corruption probes. And officials clashed over separate inquiries into the mayor of Santa Ana. The end of the task force marks the latest setback in a county where attempts to target corruption have often run into apathy or outright resistance from political leaders.

Colorado: U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn Should Be Kept Off the 2018 Ballot, Colorado Supreme Court Rules
Denver Post – Jesse Paul, Mark Matthews, and John Frank | Published: 4/23/2018

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn cannot appear on the ballot in the 2018 Republican primary. The justices said Ryan Tipple, one of the petitioners Lamborn hired to collect the required signatures to qualify, was not a bona fide resident of Colorado, which is required by election law, making the signatures invalid. “We recognize the gravity of this conclusion, but Colorado law does not permit us to conclude otherwise,” the court said. Lamborn’s campaign indicated he would challenge the ruling in federal court.

Maryland: Baltimore City Council Bill Would Tighten Restrictions on Lobbyists, Require Forms Go Online
Baltimore Sun – Luke Broadwater | Published: 4/23/2018

Baltimore City Councilperson Zeke Cohen introduced a bill that would tighten restrictions on lobbyists. The Transparency in Lobbying Act would require lobbyists to identify who they are to city government officials and file quarterly disclosure reports. It also would require the ethics board to post the disclosure reports online within 30 days of their filing and consider a three-year ban for lobbyists who violate the law. Cohen said he has experienced frustration trying to figure out whom the lobbyists approaching him represent.

Michigan: Trash Titan Chuck Rizzo Gets 5½ Years: ‘I’ve let many people down’
Detroit Free Press – Tresa Baldas | Published: 4/23/2018

Fallen trash mogul Chuck Rizzo will spend 66 months in prison for bribing politicians and stealing money from the garbage-hauling firm he built into a regional powerhouse. Rizzo is one of the central figures in a widespread corruption scandal that ensnared Macomb County politicians, fellow businessperson Gasper Fiore, and Detroit police officers. Prosecutors said Rizzo bribed public officials in at least four communities to win lucrative contracts and embezzled $900,000 from his company and investors to line his own pockets.

Missouri: Greitens Charged with Second Felony After AG Investigation into Veterans Charity
Kansas City Star – Jason Hancock, Allison Kite, and Bryan Lowry | Published: 4/20/2018

Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens was indicted for illegally obtaining a donor list from a veterans charity he founded and using it to raise money for his 2016 campaign, a new blow to Greitens in a deepening political and sex scandal that has threatened his grip on the governor’s office. He was charged with one felony count of tampering with computer data in connection with the donor list. The charge dates back to actions prosecutors say took place in April 2015, when Greitens, a former Navy SEAL, was running for governor and serving on the board of directors for The Mission Continues. According to the charging document, Greitens directed an employee of the charity to take a list of donors from The Missouri Continues.

New Jersey: Video Shows Port Authority Commissioner Telling Cops: ‘You may shut the f— up!’
Newark Star-Ledger – Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 4/24/2018

A Port Authority of New York and New Jersey commissioner who abruptly resigned had been caught on camera delivering an expletive-laced tirade to police officers during a traffic stop. The Tenafly Police Department released the video showing Caren Turner attempting to leverage her influence, talking about who she knew, and complaining the police had “ruined” a holiday weekend with the stop of her daughter and three friends. The video also shows her becoming increasingly agitated with the responding officers and shouting an expletive at them. Turner resigned after the authority learned of the incident. She had chaired the agency’s ethics committee.

New York: Former de Blasio Fundraiser Facing Criminal Charges for Straw Donations in 2013 Mayoral Election
New York Daily News – Molly Newman, Shayna Jacobs, and James Fanelli | Published: 4/19/2018

Thirteen suspects and nine companies, including a major donor to New York City Mayor Bill de Blaio, were accused of rigging public works contracts and abusing the campaign finance system. Husam Ahmad, the founder of construction firm HAKS, was one of several figures linked to the company accused of paying off a Department of Environmental Protection employee to gain unfair access to information about city water system projects. Ahmad was a major contributor and fundraiser for de Blasio’s 2013 campaign and was in turn appointed to the board of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.

New York: JCOPE Passes Sweeping New Lobbying Regulations
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 4/24/2018

The New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) approved new rules that overhaul the state’s lobbying law. A major provision will create more disclosure around so-called grassroots lobbying in which well-funded interest groups seek to sway public and elected official opinions through campaign-style efforts. The rules also include an explicit requirement that lobbyists disclose the names of the lawmakers they attempt to influence. The regulations, however, face possible legal action. David Grandeau, the state’s former top lobbying official, said the Legislature never passed a law authorizing JCOPE to broadly reinterpret New York’s lobbying rules.

Ohio: How One GOP Heiress Influenced the Ohio House – and Its Leader’s Demise
Cincinnati Enquirer – Jessie Balmert | Published: 4/23/2018

Cliff Rosenberger was just 33 years old in 2014, when he was chosen to replace Ohio Speaker Bill Batchelder. Rosenberger did not have years of policy experience or a political pedigree, but he did have wealthy Republican donor Virginia Ragan’s money and Batchelder’s support. Ragan’s bankroll helped construct the Republican-controlled Ohio House that Rosenberger built. In the end, Ragan’s money also helped to destroy Rosenberger’s political career. The FBI is investigating Rosenberger’s many trips as a lawmaker and his lavish lifestyle generally, including a condominium he rented from Ragan.

Ohio: Questions Raised About Campaign Contributions and Influence at Columbus City
Columbus Dispatch – Doug Caruso and Rick Rouan | Published: 4/22/2018

Real-estate developers, unions, and some wealthy individuals who do business with the city contributed millions of dollars to the campaigns of elected officials in Columbus. City officials raised about $8.4 million from nearly 5,000 donors disclosed on reports filed from mid-2014 through 2017, but more than 60 percent of that money came from less than four percent of the contributors, according to an analysis. These large donations have prompted critics to question what influence that money leverages in City Hall. Many of the largest donors lobby for zoning changes and compete for contracts. They negotiate with the city on union deals or seek tax incentives. More than half of the 20 largest contributors are developers or linked to companies with business interests throughout the city.

Washington: Washington’s Lottery Deputy Director Ousted After Ethics Investigation
Seattle Times – Rachel LaCorte (Associated Press) | Published: 4/20/2018

Jim Warick, deputy director of Washington’s Lottery, was fired following an investigation into ethics complaints that found he and other lottery employees accepted drinks and food from a vendor who had a contract with the agency, and several employees likely got free hotel rooms during a work trip that coincided with the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. Both state law and the Lottery’s own code of ethics prohibit using their positions to secure special privileges or to accept most gifts. Lottery employees fall under a section of the law that subjects them to greater restrictions than other state employees, and under an ethics advisory opinion, those employees may not accept food when a vendor sponsors a presentation.

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

Campaign Finance

National: “If a Parent’s Day Job Is Running for Congress, Can the Campaign Pay for Child Care?” by Danielle Kurtz for Minnesota Public Radio

Maryland: “Baltimore City Council to Consider Public Financing of City Elections” by Ian Duncan for Baltimore Sun

Montana: “Former State Legislator Finally Pays $70K Fine for Campaign Finance Violations” by Ed Kemmick for Missoula Current

Ohio: “How One GOP Heiress Influenced the Ohio House – and Its Leader’s Demise” by Jessie Balmert for Cincinnati Enquirer

South Dakota: “A 6-Year-Old Gave $1,000 to Paul TenHaken – and It’s Legal” by Joe Sneve for Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Elections

National: “U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn Should Be Kept Off the 2018 Ballot, Colorado Supreme Court Rules” by Jesse Paul, Mark Matthews, and John Frank for Denver Post

Ethics

California: “O.C. Anti-Corruption Task Force Collapsed Amid Infighting Between Federal and Local Investigators” by Adam Elmahrak and Richard Winton for Los Angeles Times

Michigan: “Trash Titan Chuck Rizzo Gets 5½ Years: ‘I’ve let many people down’” by Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press

Lobbying

National: “Protesters Target NRA Lobbyist’s Home and Wife’s Business” by Rachel Weiner for Washington Post

New York: “JCOPE Passes Sweeping New Lobbying Regulations” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times

Campaign Finance

Missouri: “Greitens Charged with Second Felony After AG Investigation into Veterans Charity” by Jason Hancock, Allison Kite, and Bryan Lowry for Kansas City Star

Ohio: “Questions Raised About Campaign Contributions and Influence at Columbus City Hall” by Doug Caruso and Rick Rouan for Columbus Dispatch

Pennsylvania: “Philadelphia Tries Again on Campaign Finance Reforms” by Ryan Briggs for City & State Pennsylvania

Elections

National: “Democratic Party Sues Russia, Trump Campaign and WikiLeaks Alleging 2016 Campaign Conspiracy” by Tom Hamburger, Rosalind Helderman, and Ellen Nakashima for Washington Post

New Mexico: “Past Gubernatorial Candidate Insists He Wasn’t Paid to Leave Race” by Dan McKay for Albuquerque Journal

Ethics

National: “For Politicians Scraping Bottom, a Scarce Resource: Impeachment Lawyers” by Alan Blinder for New York Times

Washington: “Washington’s Lottery Deputy Director Ousted After Ethics Investigation” by Rachel LaCorte (Associated Press) for Seattle Times

Lobbying

National: “Lobbyist Whose Wife Rented to Pruitt Lobbied EPA Despite Denials” by Theodoric Meyer and Eliana Johnson for Politico

Canada: “Facebook Agrees to Join Federal Lobbyist Registry” by Bill Curry for The Globe and Mail

Maryland: “Baltimore City Council Bill Would Tighten Restrictions on Lobbyists, Require Forms Go Online” by Luke Broadwater for Baltimore Sun

Campaign Finance

National: Pruitt’s Capitol Hill Condo Fallout Hits a Republican Senator by Ari Natter for Bloomberg.com

Elections

National: Manafort Suspected as ‘Back Channel’ to Russia, U.S. Says by David Voreacos for Bloomberg.com

Ethics

National: EPA Inspector General to Probe Pruitt’s Use of Security Detail on Personal Trips by Brady Dennis for Washington Post

Michigan: Ex-Detroit Deputy Police Chief Celia Washington Gets 1 Year in Prison for Bribery by Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press

Missouri: Judge Refuses to Dismiss Criminal Case Against Greitens by Robert Patrick and Joel Currier for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

New York: Former de Blasio Fundraiser Facing Criminal Charges for Straw Donations in 2013 Mayoral Election by Molly Newman, Shayna Jacobs, and James Fanelli for New York Daily News

Lobbying

Canada: Democracy Watch to File Lobbying Complaint About Facebook Exec by Beatrice Britneff for iPolitics.ca

Florida: Citizens Decry City of Tallahassee’s In-House Football Ticket Probe as a ‘Whitewash’ by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat

Campaign Finance

Indiana: Indiana GOP Locked Senate Candidate Todd Rokita Out of Donor Database Over Likely Ethics Violation by Brian Slodysko (Associated Press) for Indianapolis Star

Missouri: Hawley Says Probe into Greitens, Charity Indicates Potential Felony by Governor by Lindsay Wise (McClatchy), Jason Hancock, and Bryan Lowry for Kansas City Star

Montana: Dark Money Group Pays $30K Fine for Breaking Montana Campaign Finance Law by John Adams (Montana Free Press) for Montana Current

Ethics

National: Watchdog: EPA broke law building Pruitt’s secure phone booth by Alex Guillén and Anthony Adragna for Politico

Arizona: Don Shooter Seeks $1.3 Million from House Speaker, Ducey’s Chief of Staff Following Removal by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Dustin Gardner for Arizona Republic

Illinois: U.S. Supreme Court Again Rejects Hearing Rod Blagojevich’s Appeal by Jason Meisner for Chicago Tribune

Lobbying

Florida: Proposal on November Ballot Would Toughen Lobbying Rules by Lloyd Dunkelberger (News Service of Florida) for Bradenton Herald

Kansas: Gov. Colyer Signs Sweeping Executive Branch Transparency Measure by Hunter Woodall for Kansas City Star