National:

As Pot Comes Out of the Black Market, Regulators Face Scrutiny
Boston Herald; Associated Press –   | Published: 6/21/2017

Recent cases in Colorado and Washington are the first known instances of current or former marijuana regulators being accused of having improper dealings with the industry. The two recreational marijuana states are the nation’s oldest, approving legal weed in defiance of federal law in 2012. Watchdogs say the Colorado and Washington cases should spur states to beef up ethics commissions charged with monitoring conflicts-of-interest by government employees. Michigan, a medical-marijuana state, passed a 2016 law banning even relatives of its pot oversight board members from having any financial stake in the marijuana industry.

The Not-So-Bitter Rivalry of Dean Baquet and Marty Baron
Politico – Joe Pompeo | Published: 6/19/2017

The Washington Post’s Marty Baron and Dean Baquet of The New York Times are the two most important newspaper editors in America right now, at a time when the news media are tackling the most consequential story of the past 40 years. Donald Trump’s presidency has revved up the competition for news organizations far and wide; big and small; print, broadcast, and digital. In the process, he has sparked a resurgence of storied legacy outlets like The Times and The Post, each of which has struggled with changes in the news business while doomsayers augured its demise. As with the rest of the media, their “Trump bump” has been a boon in terms of scoops and subscribers.

Federal:

Despite Concerns About Blackmail, Flynn Heard C.I.A. Secrets
New York Times – Matt Apuzzo, Matthew Rosenberg, and Adam Goldman | Published: 6/20/2017

Senior U.S. intelligence officials knew as early as January that former national security adviser Michael Flynn could have been vulnerable to Russian blackmail. Despite officials’ knowledge of the risks associated with Flynn, he continued to sit in on meetings during which President Trump was briefed on sensitive intelligence. It is unclear whether CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who briefed Trump on intelligence while Flynn sat nearby, was aware of officials’ concerns about Flynn. Many of Trump’s political problems, including the appointment of a special counsel and the controversy over the firing of the FBI director, James Comey, can ultimately be traced to Flynn’s stormy tenure.

Trump Says He Did Not Tape Comey Conversations
New York Times – Mark Lander | Published: 6/22/2017

President Trump said he did not record his conversations with James Comey. the FBI director he fired amid the Justice Department’s probe into the Trump campaign’s possible ties to Russia. The president’s Twitter messages left open the possibility the conversations may have been taped without his knowledge. But they largely confirmed the suspicions of outsiders that Trump had been leveling a baseless threat at Comey when he wrote, “James Comey better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!” Some legal experts have said Trump’s threat could be used in an obstruction of justice case against him, since it could be interpreted as putting pressure on Comey not to discuss their conversations about the FBI’s Russia investigation.

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona: Axiom Partners Rename Lobbying Firm as Bribery Case Unfolds
Arizona Republic – Ronald Hansen | Published: 6/21/2017

A month after a federal bribery case shook Arizona’s lobbying community, the firm whose prominent exe features the same staff as Axiom Public Affairs, without lobbyist Jim Norton, said Kelsey Lundy, the firm’s managing partner. Once viewed as among the most politically connected lobbying firms in Arizona, Axiom’s run came crashing down after Norton’s may indictment in a case alleging he was a conduit for bribes paid by developer George Johnson to former Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce through his wife.

California: Lobbying Firm Fined $4,000 for Violating Gift Limit Buying Dinner for Former State Sen. Ronald Calderon
Los Angeles Times – Patrick McGreevy | Published: 6/19/2017

Mercury Public Affairs agreed to pay a $4,000 fine for violating the $10 gift limit on lobbying firms when it provided dinners worth $200 to former state Sen. Ronald Calderon and his wife. The violation was found by a random audit by the state Franchise Tax Board. In October, Calderon was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty in a public corruption case unrelated to the Mercury dinner.

Connecticut: Lobbyists, Corporate PACs Help Legislator Pay for His Travels as RNC Member
Hartford Courant – Jon Lender | Published: 6/17/2017

State Rep. John Frey travels all over the country for meetings he attends as one of Connecticut’s two members of the Republican National Committee (RNC). But Frey does not pay for any it – flights, dining, hotel rooms, and sometimes car service to and from the airport – because his costs are reimbursed by a political action committee he set up six years ago called Leadership Connecticut PAC. Its stated purpose is to support federal candidates for the U.S. House and Senate, but its main activities, arguably, have been to stage the annual fundraisers to sustain itself and to pay for the travels of Frey and Patricia Longo, his fellow RNC member until she retired last year.

Florida: The Miami Beach Mystery PAC Is Under State Investigation
Miami Herald – Nicholas Nehamas, Joey Flechas, and David Ovalle | Published: 6/20/2017

A corruption probe is underway into a controversial political group linked to Miami Beach commissioner and mayoral candidate Michael Grieco. At least one donor to the PAC has been subpoenaed by the Miami-Dade state attorney’s office, according to a defense attorney representing the donor. The list of donors to People for Better Leaders is stocked with Miami Beach vendors, lobbyists, and developers with business before the city. Investigators with the state’s corruption task force may be seeking to learn if those donations were a quid pro quo for Grieco’s political favor. Grieco may also have broken a city law that bans candidates and elected officials from asking vendors and lobbyists for donations, either directly or through a third-party.

Hawaii: What Honolulu Lobbyists Don’t Tell You
Honolulu Civil Beat – Anita Hofschneider | Published: 6/19/2017

Honolulu does not require lobbyists to provide any details about how they spend money. About 85 percent of the lobbyists who filed reports said they did not spend anything last year. Nearly three dozen registered lobbyists did not submit any reports, even though mandatory forms were due six months ago. Jan Yamane, who took over the city Ethics Commission last fall, said the current lobbying disclosure process is not working. “We need to debrief this thing, hit the reset button and completely overhaul this process,” Yamane said.

Illinois: Emanuel Friend, Alderman’s Husband Both Illegally Lobbied Mayor Via His Personal Email: Ethics board
Chicago Tribune – Bill Ruthhart | Published: 6/16/2017

A close friend of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, as well as the husband of a city council member, face fines for lobbying the mayor through his private emails but failing to register as lobbyists. Alan King, husband of Ald. Sophia King, and James Abrams are the latest targets of the reinvigorated city Board of Ethics. Under the law, Abrams could face a potential fine of more than $520,000. King could face a fine of more than $500,000. Board of Ethics Chairperson William Conlon has signaled the board is unlikely to hand out exorbitant maximum penalties. But Conlon argued the fine needs to be “enough to send a message.”

Kentucky: Ethics Panel Appeals Ruling That Allows Lobbyists to Give Gifts, Money to Lawmakers
Lexington Herald-Leader – Jack Brammer | Published: 6/21/2017

The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission will appeal a recent federal court ruling that allows lobbyists to give gifts and campaign donations to state lawmakers. “We thought it too important not to appeal,” said commission Chairperson George Troutman. A lawsuit filed by State Sen. John Schickel and two Libertarian political candidates argued the ethics laws violate their constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection by restricting their access to people who want to help them. State regulators countered that the laws were meant to prevent bribery at the Capitol. The Registry of Election Finance, the other defendant in the case, has yet to decide whether to appeal.

Kentucky: Fired Lawyer to Get Settlement from Kentucky Over Her ‘Whistleblower’ Case About Sex Toys
Louisville Courier-Journal – Deborah Yetter | Published: 6/15/2017

Jacqueline Heyman, a former lawyer with the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet, reached a financial settlement with the state over her claim she was fired in 2015 after reporting two co-workers were running a “sex toy” business out of the office. Heyman began work as a supervising attorney with the department in April 2015. She was fired before she could successfully complete a six-month probation period and gain merit system job protection. Heyman said she discovered the extent of the online, adult product business when she found a box of such items under the desk of one of the employees. Heyman said she got little reaction after she reported it to her boss so she told the Executive Branch Ethics Commission. A week later, Heyman said she was fired with no explanation.

New York: New York Ethics Agency Hit with Harassment Lawsuit
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 6/20/2017

A former financial auditor at the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics alleges she was fired after reporting sexual discrimination by one of her supervisors to the agency’s leadership. Catherine Webb outlined her accusation in a recent civil lawsuit she filed against the commission in federal court. Webb alleges she was repeatedly subjected to abusive verbal conduct that was “severe, pervasive and frequent.”

North Carolina: Is North Carolina the Future of American Politics?
New York Times – Jason Zengerle | Published: 6/20/2017

Ever since 2010, when Republicans seized control of the North Carolina General Assembly for the first time in a century, and especially since 2012, when they took the governor’s mansion, the state’s politics have been haywire. “It’s more polarized and more acrimonious than I’ve ever seen,” said Carter Wrenn, a veteran GOP political consultant. “And I’ve seen some pretty acrimonious politics – I worked for Jesse Helms.”

Wisconsin: Supreme Court to Hear Potentially Landmark Case on Partisan Gerrymandering
Washington Post – Robert Barnes | Published: 6/19/2017

The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether judges can throw out legislative maps as being so partisan they violate the Constitution, taking up a case that could put a powerful new check on gerrymandering. The justices agreed to hear arguments on a Wisconsin map that a lower court said was designed to keep Republicans in control of the state Legislature even if they did not win a majority of the votes. The Supreme Court has never struck down a legislative map as being too partisan, or told challengers what standard they have to meet to win a lawsuit. The case, which the court will hear in the nine-month term that starts in October, could open the way for a new wave of election litigation.

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.

Becky is back with State Government and Ethics News You Can Use from around the country in this week’s video digest!

Federal:

After the Shootings, Calls for Unity Amid Recriminations and Finger-Pointing
Washington Post – Dan Balz | Published: 6/14/2017

From President Trump to congressional leaders of both parties to ordinary citizens came calls for prayers for the victims of the shootings that left House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and four others wounded, praise for the Capitol Police officers who prevented an even worse tragedy and, above all, words of reconciliation and unity. But barely on the edges of those remarks was another round of recriminations and a renewed debate about what has brought the country to a point of such division, what is to blame for what happened on that baseball field, and what, if anything, can be done to lower temperatures for more than a few minutes.

D.C. and Maryland Sue President Trump, Alleging Breach of Constitutional Oath
Washington Post – Aaron Davis | Published: 6/12/2017

The attorneys general of Maryland and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit alleging foreign payments to President Trump’s businesses violated the U.S. Constitution. Trump already faces a similar lawsuit, but the case from two state attorneys general could stand a better chance in court as the first government action over allegations Trump violated the Constitution’s so-called emoluments clause, which bars him from accepting gifts from foreign governments without congressional approval, by maintaining ownership over his business empire despite ceding day-to-day control to his sons. The complaint opens uncharted legal territory. No state has accused a president of violating the emoluments clauses of the Constitution.

Lobbyists’ Foreign Agent Filing Raises Questions
BuzzFeed.com – John Hudson | Published: 6/12/2017

Mercury Public Affairs – which was recently forced, alongside former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, to disclose lobbying on behalf of political interests in Ukraine – filed a disclosure in February on behalf of the Libertas Foundation. The filing lists a contract for $15,000 a month for work related to “Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia and Greece.” But the filing does not list a foreign agent, one of the key purposes of a Foreign Agents Registration Act disclosure. In the form’s entry for “Name of Foreign Principal” the filing only lists Libertas, which was incorporated in August, just one day before Mercury filed documents with Congress declaring the lobbying work. Normally that space would be filled by the name of a foreign government or entity, not a New York-based organization.

Special Counsel Starts Investigating Trump for Possible Obstruction of Justice, Officials Say
Washington Post – Devlin Barrett, Adam Entous, Ellen Nakashima, and Sari Horwitz | Published: 6/14/2017

What started as a probe of Russian interference of the 2016 election turned into a special counsel-led investigation of whether associated of Donald Trump colluded with Russia. Now the inquiry is reportedly examining whether Trump himself tried to obstruct justice. It was reported that the investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller is seeking interviews with current and recently resigned top intelligence officials, including Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and National Security Agency head Mike Rogers. Questions have been raised about whether Trump sought their help in squelching the FBI investigation led by James Comey, whom Trump fired. Coats and Rogers declined to answer questions about their interactions with the president on the Russia subject during a recent Senate hearing.

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona – What Happens When One of Your Financial Backers Is Indicted?
Arizona Republic – Ronald Hanson and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez | Published: 6/9/2017

The recent indictment of four political figures has forced an unwelcome decision on the numerous elected officials in Arizona they have lavished with campaign contributions over the years: what to do with the cash? So far their responses vary. Gov. Doug Ducey plans to keep nearly $14,000 in donations from those charged in the federal indictment alleging bribery intended to influence the Arizona Corporation Commission. Even as the governor sees no reason to distance himself from the situation, other elected officials said they plan to unload the money to avoid any “taint” from the felony case.

Florida – It’s the End for the Miami Beach Mystery PAC – a Political Whodunit
Miami Herald – Nicholas Nehamas and Joey Flechas | Published: 6/10/2017

A political committee raising funds from special interests will shut down and return its money to donors after being linked to Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Grieco. Since January, Grieco, a candidate for mayor, has offered shifting stories to explain his connection to People for Better Leaders, a PAC that raised $200,000 from local vendors, lobbyists, and developers. Raising special-interest money for PACs is a controversial, and potentially illegal, campaign tactic in Miami Beach, which has stricter campaign finance and ethics laws than the rest of Miami-Dade County. A law passed in 2016 prevents candidates and elected officials, and those acting on their behalf, from soliciting vendors and lobbyists to donate to PACs.

Illinois – Ethics Board Finds Two More Lobbying Violations Tied to Emanuel Emails
Chicago Tribune – Bill Ruthhart | Published: 6/13/2017

The Chicago Board of Ethics found two individuals violated the law by seeking to influence City Hall action without registering as a lobbyist. The new violations come as the ethics board has seen a sharp increase in potential cases after a Chicago Tribune report found Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s personal email accounts have served as a private avenue for lobbyists, corporate executives, and campaign donors who sought action from – or access to – the mayor. The board has determined probable cause for at least 12 other possible lobbying violations, and its review of those cases is ongoing. While the ethics board will notify the two violators, it has yet to make a final determination on how much they will be fined.

Michigan – How Bingo Games Led to $500K Fine for Mich. Democratic Party
USA Today – Kathleen Gray (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 6/9/2017

The Michigan Democratic Party agreed to pay a $500,000 fine after the FEC concluded the party under-reported cash contributions at past bingo fundraisers by $4.4 million and violated several campaign finance laws. The party inaccurately reported approximately 12,500 contributions from the game-of-chance fundraisers, which it had operated over nearly 14 years but shut down three years ago. The civil fine is among the largest ever levied by the FEC.

New Mexico – Secretary of State Planning New Campaign Funding Rules
Albuquerque Journal – Dan Boyd | Published: 6/14/2017

New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver is proposing changes to campaign finance reporting rules for candidates and committees designed to provide more detailed and accurate disclosures of political contributions. Toulouse Oliver published proposed rules that address contributions to political committees that both coordinate with candidates and operate independently. Three public hearings on the rules will be held during July at Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe. The draft rules follow in the footsteps of legislation vetoed by Gov. Susana Martinez that would have made more information available about unlimited independent political donations.

New York – Uber Reaches $98K Settlement Over Millions in Unreported Lobbying
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 6/8/2017

Uber was fined $98,000 by the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics for underreporting about $6.3 million in lobbying spending. The fine covers activities in 2015 and 2016 when Uber successfully battled New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s attempt to limit its service in the city and pushed to expand upstate. The settlement says most of the underreporting was due to an oversight by a compliance firm that Uber used. Uber has been one of the top spenders on lobbying in recent years as it fought to operate across the state.

Ohio – Ohio Lobbyists Fail to Report $55,000 in Legislative Gifts for First 4 Months of 2017
Cleveland Plain Dealer – Jane Morice | Published: 6/7/2017

Lobbyists in Ohio failed to report about $55,000 in gifts, meals, and beverages for lawmakers during the first four months of this year, said a report from the legislative inspector general. The office follows statehouse calendars, social media, reservations, and tips to keep track of lobbying activity and compares it to submitted reports, Inspector General Tony Bledsoe said. All meals and beverages of any cost and all gifts of more than $25 must be reported.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Ethics Commission Hikes Fee $50 on All Filers
NonDoc.com – William Savage III | Published: 6/8/2017

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has raised the fees it charges. State party committees, PACs, campaign committees, lobbyists, the principals who hire lobbyists, state agencies, and their legislative liaisons will all pay $50 more for filing annual registrations with the commission. The fee hike will take effect on July 1 and is expected to generate enough to cover the cost of new software.

Pennsylvania – Ex-Pa. Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Lying to the FBI
Philadelphia Inquirer – Angela Couloumbis | Published: 6/9/2017

Former Pennsylvania Treasurer Barbara Hafer pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about whether an investment adviser funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to her after she left office. The maximum possible sentence for the felony offense is five years and a $250,000 fine. Federal prosecutors said Hafer denied in 2016 that she received money from asset manager Richard Ireland shortly after her term as treasurer ended in early 2005. In fact, a company tied to him had funneled $675,000 to her new company, Hafer and Associates, between 2005 and 2007, prosecutors said. Hafer is the second ex-state treasurer in three years to plead guilty to federal charges.

Vermont – Scott Calls New Ethics Law a Step to Restore Trust in Government
VTDigger.org – Dan Schwartz | Published: 6/14/2017

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott has signed into law a bill establishing a state ethics commission. The measure creates a five-member panel that reviews cases of unethical behavior. The commission would then have the power to send cases to the state attorney general’s office. The law also requires lawmakers to disclose sources of income above $5,000. Before the bill became law, Vermont was among five states without an ethics commission or code of conduct in state law for public officials.

Wisconsin – Supreme Court Could Tackle Partisan Gerrymandering in Watershed Case
Washington Post – Robert Barnes | Published: 6/11/2017

The U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to uphold a lower court’s finding that the Wisconsin redistricting effort in 2011 was more than just extraordinary, it was unconstitutional. Such a conclusion would mark a watershed moment for the way American elections are conducted. The Supreme Court has regularly tossed out state electoral maps because they have been gerrymandered to reduce the influence of racial minorities by depressing the impact of their votes. But the justices have never found a plan unconstitutional because of partisan gerrymandering – when a majority party draws the state’s electoral districts to give such an advantage to its candidates that it dilutes the votes of those supporting the other party.

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.

Ethics

“Jeff Sessions Testifies: Refuses to say whether he spoke to Trump about Comey’s handling of Russia investigation” by Sari Horwitz, Devlin Barrett, and Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post

“Religious Liberals Sat Out of Politics for 40 Years. Now They Want in the Game.” by Laurie Goodstein for New York Times

“COVFEFE Act Would Make Social Media a Presidential Record” by Joe Uchill for The Hill

Arizona: “Now Under Indictment, Gary Pierce Was Known for Unpopular Decisions as Utility Regulator” by Ryan Randazzo for Arizona Republic

Florida: “No Charges Filed in Mysterious Autism Charity Case” by Monique Madan for Miami Herald

Montana: “Anger Management but No Jail in Gianforte Body-Slam Saga” by Bobby Caina Calvan and Amy Beth Hanson (Associated Press) for KWWL

Oregon: “Oregon Bill Will Set Public Records Deadlines” by Hillary Borrud for Portland Oregonian

Elections

“Russian Cyber Hacks on U.S. Electoral System Far Wider Than Previously Known” by Michael Riley and Jordan Robertson for Bloomberg.com

Legislative Issues

“Senate Republicans Back Off Proposed Restrictions on Media” by Alexander Bolton for The Hill

South Carolina: “Lack of Guidance from South Carolina Lawmakers on Lieutenant Governor’s Role Clouds Start of 2018 Elections” by Maya Prabhu for Charleston Post and Courier

National:

How Donald Trump Shifted Kids-Cancer Charity Money into His Business
Forbes – Dan Alexander | Published: 6/6/2017

The Eric Trump Foundation apparently paid President Donald Trump’s businesses $1.2 million between 2007 and 2015 for expenses related to the foundation’s annual charity event at the Trump National Golf Club in Westchester County, New York, according to a report in Forbes. Eric Trump said the Trump Organization allowed his nonprofit foundation to use the golf course for free and covered most expenses for the golf tournament. But Forbes found IRS filings indicate otherwise. Forbes reported the Trump National Golf Club charged the Eric Trump Foundation tens, and later hundreds, of thousands of dollars each year for the one-day event, while donors were led to believe a much bigger portion of their money would go directly to the fundraiser’s chosen cause, children’s cancer research.

Federal:

James Comey Testifies: Former FBI director says he helped reveal details of conversations with Trump
Washington Post – Devlin Barrett and Ellen Nakashima | Published: 6/8/2017

Former FBI Director James Comey asserted that President Donald Trump fired him to interfere with his investigation of Russia’s role in the 2016 election and its ties to the Trump campaign. Comey accused the administration of spreading “lies, plain and simple” about him and the FBI in the aftermath of his abrupt firing. Comey also described intense discomfort about one-on-one conversations between him and the president, saying he decided he immediately needed to document the discussions in memos. Comey said he helped reveal details of his private conversations with Trump because he thought doing so would spur the appointment of a special counsel to investigate the administration.

Lobbyists, Industry Lawyers Were Granted Ethics Waivers to Work in Trump Administration
New York Times – Eric Lipton and Danielle Ivory | Published: 6/7/2017

New disclosures offer additional evidence that lobbyists and industry executives who can now shape policies benefitting their former clients and companies have been allowed to work in the Trump administration. The documents were released in response to a demand by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) for details on how the Trump administration is enforcing the ethics policies. One unexpected outcome was proof the Obama administration, despite a much touted promise to make all of its ethics waivers public, stopped providing them to the OGE. The “revolving door” cases in the Trump administration generally involve individuals who had been retained by for-profit clients, and then took up matters that could benefit these former clients.

Top Intelligence Official Told Associates Trump Asked Him If He Could Intervene with Comey on FBI Russia Probe
Washington Post – Adam Entous | Published: 6/6/2017

The nation’s top intelligence official told associates in March that President Trump asked him if he could intervene with then-FBI Director James Comey to get the bureau to back off its focus on former national security adviser Michael Flynn in its Russia probe. The events involving Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats show the president went further than just asking intelligence officials to deny publicly the existence of any evidence showing collusion during the 2016 election, as The Washington Post reported in May. The interaction with Coats indicates Trump aimed to enlist top officials to have Comey curtail the FBI’s probe.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama – Ethics Commission Declines to Make Site Consultants Register as Lobbyists
AL.com – Mike Cason | Published: 6/7/2017

The Alabama Ethics Commission rejected its staff’s opinion that site consultants for companies considering moving to the state are required under certain circumstances to register as lobbyists under the ethics law. Staff members said the companies who hire the consultants to scout locations and incentive opportunities from local governments would have to register as principals. The commission declined to vote on the recommendation after economic development officials said would hurt their recruiting efforts because companies place a high value on confidentiality when they are considering a new location.

Arizona – Corruption Case Snares Lobbyist at the Center of Arizona Power Politics
Arizona Republic – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Dan Nowicki | Published: 5/26/2017

Among the individuals named in a federal indictment was one who has touched almost every corner of Arizona power politics: lobbyist Jim Norton. A familiar figure for years at the Capitol, Norton was among Gov. Doug Ducey’s earliest political backers and a friend since college. His firm helped guide U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs to victory last November. He is also the business community’s leading voice at the statehouse. Prosecutors say Norton was “a conduit” for bribes that water-company owner George Johnson is accused of paying to former Arizona Corporation Commission Chairperson Gary Pierce. Authorities allege the money helped secure commission approval of higher rates for Johnson Utilities.

District of Columbia – D.C. Mayor Bowser Fined $13,000 for Illegal Campaign Contributions
Washington Post – Aaron Davis | Published: 6/7/2017

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser’s campaign committee was fined $13,000 for taking campaign donations over legal limits during her successful run for office three years ago. Bowser’s campaign kept over $11,000 in illegal contributions from 13 developers, contractors, and Sanford Capital, a landlord her administration has since been slow to fine for more than 1,000 housing-code violations. Some of the developers who contributed more than the legal limit to Bowser in 2014 were the same ones who went on to donate to a PAC that Bowser’s allies set up but later abandoned during her first year in office amid criticism from city council members that it was creating a perception of “pay-to-play” politics.

Florida – Someone Raised $200K from Miami Beach Bigwigs, But No One Will Say Why
Miami Herald – Nicholas Nehamas and Joey Flechas | Published: 6/5/2017

Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Grieco says he does not know a thing about a mysterious South Florida group that raised $200,000 from city bigwigs last year. But interviews with two of those donors suggest the PAC is raising money in his name, and that Grieco, who is running for mayor, solicited at least one contribution. Miami Beach lobbyists, vendors, and real-estate developers all appear on the list of donors to People for Better Leaders, exactly the type of power players whose contributions led to a public outcry during the last election cycle and, ultimately, to stricter campaign finance laws.

Kentucky – Judge Tosses Ethics Rules for Kentucky Lobbyists, Lawmakers
U.S. News & World Report – Adam Beam (Associated Press) | Published: 6/7/2017

A federal judge ruled Kentucky lawmakers can accept gifts from lobbyists and that lobbyists can make campaign contributions to candidates for the Legislature. The state law banning lobbyists giving gifts to lawmakers includes “anything of value,” which U.S. District Court Judge William Bertelsman said was too vague. State regulators said the laws were meant to prevent bribery at the Capitol. Most of the rules were enacted after “Operation BOPTROT,” a 1992 FBI probe that exposed 15 current or former legislators who sold their votes. Officials with the Legislative Ethics Commission and the Registry of Election Finance said they were reviewing the order and were considering an appeal.

Missouri – What You Need to Know about Missouri’s Evolving Campaign Finance Laws
Missouri Times – Travis Zimpfer | Published: 6/6/2017

On June 20, Missouri’s campaign finance laws will once again experience changes for the second time in roughly six months. The Missouri Ethics Commission updated their own primer on the constitutional amendment and how a recent decision by a federal judge that found many provisions of the law unconstitutional affected it. Commission Director James Klahr issued an advisory opinion that political party committees in the House and Senate are not bound to the $25,000 aggregate limit in accordance with the ruling.

North Carolina – US Supreme Court Affirms NC Legislative Districts as Racial Gerrymanders
Raleigh News and Observer – Anne Blythe | Published: 6/5/2017

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that struck down 28 state House and Senate districts in North Carolina because they violated the rights of black voters. But the justices rejected the court’s order to redraw the districts and hold a special election. The action by the justices sends the matter back to the lower court, which could order new districts in time for the regular cycle of elections in 2018.

Pennsylvania – A Philly Teacher’s Stunts Draw Interest from The Board of Ethics
Philadelphia Inquirer – Chris Brennan | Published: 6/5/2017

It looks as if George Bezanis, a Central High School social studies teacher who has used a billboard and a banner plane to protest the lack of a new union contract for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, will be butting heads with the city Board of Ethics. An attorney for the ethics board told Beznis the billboard and banner plane were “reportable lobbying under the city’s lobbying law.” Bezanis needed to register as a lobbyist, the attorney said in the message, or face a financial penalty.

South Carolina – Firms Named in SC Corruption Probe Have Hundreds of Millions at Stake
The State – Jamie Self and Avery Wilks | Published: 6/4/2017

South Carolina’s largest special interests know the time they spend working the state’s lawmakers at the Capitol is well spent. But was the help they got from one of the state’s most influential political families legal? Indicted Rep. Rick Quinn, whose father operates a political consulting empire, stands accused of voting and lobbying in the Legislature on behalf of special interests that, prosecutors allege, paid him through his direct-mail business and his father’s firm. He also is charged with failing to disclose accepting nearly $4.6 million he received from special interests that lobby the Legislature.  The companies that Quinn is charged with illegally helping are big fish in the pool of special interests vying for influence in Columbia.

Tennessee – Record $465,000 Fine Issued Against Jeremy Durham for ‘Egregious’ Campaign Finance Violations
The Tennessean – Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert | Published: 6/7/2017

The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance levied the largest fine it has ever imposed against former state Rep. Jeremy Durham for hundreds of campaign finance law violations. Among the findings in an audit were allegations Durham used campaign funds to improperly buy sunglasses, suits, and spa products, and inappropriately loaned thousands of dollars to his wife, a prominent Republican fundraiser and professional gambler. Registry members occasionally haggled over the individual amounts for each violation, trying to determine how egregious Durham’s actions were while also expressing a desire to use the penalties to prevent future wrongdoing. In total, the registry fined Durham $465,500 for more than 300 violations.

Wisconsin – Critics Deride Secrecy, Limits on Investigations by State Ethics Commission as It Nears 1-Year Mark
Wisconsin State Journal – Mark Sommerhauser | Published: 6/4/2017

Critics say it is difficult to assess the work of Wisconsin’s new ethics commission because much of what it does is kept secret. Current and former commissioners and other observers say they have seen some heartening signs from the six-member panel, which acts as the state’s watchdog of political campaigns and candidates, public officials, and those who seek to influence them. But critics say the commission is handcuffed by legal limits on what it can disclose about its efforts to enforce campaign finance, ethics, and lobbying laws. It also is much more limited than its predecessor, the Government Accountability Board, in its ability to investigate alleged violations of those laws.

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.

National:

The GOP Inherits What Trump Has Wrought
Washington Post – Karen Tumulty and Robert Costa | Published: 5/26/2017

President Trump – and specifically, his character and conduct – now dominate the national political conversation. The dynamic is shaping the contours of this year’s special congressional elections and contests for governor, as well as the jockeying ahead the 2018 midterm elections. When U.S. House candidate Greg Gianforte assaulted a reporter who had attempted to ask him a question, many saw not an isolated outburst by an individual, but the obvious, violent result of Trump’s charge that journalists are “the enemy of the people.” Nonetheless, Gianforte won Montana’s special election to fill a safe Republican seat.

Federal:

A Vocal Defender of Ethics Has Fans – and Foes
New York Times – Nicholas Fandos | Published: 5/30/2017

Ethics have been thrust to the forefront in President Trump’s Washington, where his own vast holdings and those of his asset-rich cabinet and advisers from businesses and lobbying firms have raised accusations of conflicts-of-interest. Office of Government Ethics Director Walter Shaub has emerged as one of the few voices from within the government willing to second-guess the president and his advisers. The confrontations have given Shaub, a self-effacing career bureaucrat, the reputation of a fighter. Admiring fans have put his face on T-shirts. He even has a Facebook fan group, with more than 1,000 likes.

Jared Kushner Now a Focus in Russia Investigation
New York Times – Matthew Rosenberg, Mark Mazzetti, and Maggie Haberman | Published: 5/29/2017

Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, was looking for a direct line to Vladimir Putin, a search that in mid-December found him in a room with a Russian banker whose financial institution was deeply intertwined with Russian intelligence, and remains under sanction by the U.S. Federal and congressional investigators are now examining what exactly Kushner and the Russian banker, Sergey Gorkov, wanted from each other. The banker is a close associate of Putin, but he has not been known to play a diplomatic role for the Russian leader. That has raised questions about why he was meeting with Kushner at a crucial moment in the presidential transition.

White House Details Ethics Waivers for Ex-Lobbyists and Corporate Lawyers
New York Times – Eric Lipton and Steve Eder | Published: 5/31/2017

The White House disclosed the ethics waivers given to appointees who work for President Trump and Vice President Pence, including four former lobbyists. The waivers exempt the appointees from certain portions of ethics rules aimed at barring potential conflicts-of-interest. Among the high-profile figures who received waivers: White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway, who were both permitted to engage with their former employers or clients. The details were made public after a dispute between the White House and the Office of Government Ethics, which had been pushing the Trump administration to stop granting such waivers in secret.

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona – Arizona Attorney General Investigating Phoenix Law Firm’s Falsified Lobbying Documents
Arizona Republic – Dustin Gardiner and Rob O’Dell | Published: 5/31/2017

The Arizona attorney general’s office is conducting a criminal investigation into a law firm that filed falsified documents with the city of Phoenix. Burch & Cracchiolo violated the city’s lobbying ordinance and filed falsified documents to make it appear it had complied, The Arizona Republic reported in January. The firm later withdrew those documents and said they were prepared by a non-attorney staffer. Although Phoenix did not prosecute anyone at Burch & Cracchiolo for not complying with lobbyist regulations, the issue of falsified documents is a separate legal matter. Filing false documents with a government agency can be a felony offense.

Arizona – Ex-Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce, Lobbyist Jim Norton Indicted
Arizona Republic – Ryan Randazzo | Published: 5/25/2017

Former Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce and Johnson Utilities owner George Johnson were indicted in federal court on bribery, conspiracy, and other charges. The indictment alleges Johnson and Pierce developed an elaborate scheme that paid Pierce over $30,000 and provided employment for his wife, who was also charged. In return, Pierce pushed through a rate increase for Johnson Utilities to pay for a personal tax debt that Johnson owed. Johnson allegedly used a lobbying firm to funnel money to Pierce. He also reportedly offered Pierce and the lobbyist, Jim Norton, “the opportunity to purchase land valued at approximately $350,000.”

Arizona – Phoenix: Tougher rules for paid lobbyists to take effect July 1
Arizona Republic – Dustin Gardiner | Published: 5/31/2017

The Phoenix City Council gave approval to an overhaul of the lobbying ordinance so it can prosecute paid lobbyists who flout rules requiring them to register, list their clients, and disclose gifts to officials. The existing law was adopted more than two decades ago but lacked language that explicitly said the city could prosecute those who do not comply. Under the new rules, which take effect July 1, lobbyists who do not file the required registration or expense-disclosure forms can face sanctions, including fines of up to $2,500, suspension from lobbying, and possible jail time for repeated offenses.

Kentucky – Bevin, Facing Ethics Complaint, Blasts Journalist Over Reporting About His Mansion
Lexington Herald-Leader – Allison Ross (Louisville Courier-Journal) | Published: 5/28/2017

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, facing an ethics complaint about the unusually low purchase price of the mansion he Is living in, took to Twitter to personally attack a journalist who has been reporting about the controversy. Bevin called Louisville Courier-Journal reporter Tom Loftus a “sick man” for allegedly being “caught sneaking” around Bevin’s home and property. The Courier-Journal rejected the claim that Loftus was “caught sneaking” around or that he was removed from the property. At the time Loftus visited the home, Bevin would not say whether he and his family lived there, nor had he responded to requests for details about the $1.6 million sale of the home to Anchorage Place, a limited-liability corporation whose ownership is unknown.

Massachusetts – Former Top Mass. Lawmaker Often Helped His Business, Family
Boston Globe – Andrea Estes | Published: 5/30/2017

Massachusetts Rep. Garrett Bradley has shown a pattern in his 16-year legislative career of taking actions in his official capacity that advanced his business interests, state records and interviews with other officials show. E-mails to and from Bradley show he helped his law firm get millions of dollars in legal work from the state retirement system in 2004, something Bradley’s own legal advisers later warned him against. Bradley also tapped his connections to help his sister and father-in-law get jobs, and two members of the Governor’s Council accused him of using political donations to help his wife get a judgeship. Ethics experts said Bradley’s conduct, at a minimum, looks bad, and some of it raises thorny legal questions.

Missouri – Missouri Pay-to-Play Allegations Heat Up Over New Links Between Lawmaker, Megadonor
Kansas City Star – Jason Hancock | Published: 5/25/2017

The relationship between the Missouri Senate President Ron Richard and an emissary for one of the state’s most prolific political donors is raising eyebrows in the statehouse. Richard has been dogged by “pay-to-play” allegations over a bill he sponsored that would benefit a company owned by Republican donor David Humphreys. Now, new details about Richard’s association with Paul Mouton, widely considered to be Humphreys’ eyes and ears in the Capitol, are rekindling the long-simmering accusations.

New York – Ex-Sterne Agee Executive Admits to N.Y. Pension Fund Bribes
Bloomberg.com – Christian Berthelson | Published: 5/30/2017

A former managing director at broker-dealer Sterne Agee & Leach pleaded guilty to bribing a former portfolio manager at New York state’s retirement fund in exchange for tens of millions of dollars’ worth of business. Deborah Kelley admitted that between 2014 and 2016, she paid bribes including entertainment, travel, and lavish meals to Navnoor Kang, former director of fixed income and head of portfolio strategy at the New York State Common Retirement Fund. She expensed the costs to Sterne Agee, while omitting that the money was spent entertaining Kang.

Pennsylvania – Lack of Gift Ban for Pa.’s Legislators Continues to Miff Critics
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Angela Couloumbis (Philadelphia Inquirer) and Karen Langley | Published: 5/28/2017

Critics often cite Pennsylvania as having the weakest gift regulations in the nation. Former legislators say lawmakers resist changes because they enjoy the perks of the job, including being entertained by lobbyists and others with an interest in state government. The gift-ban issue gained traction and urgency after a 2014 scandal that revealed some House members had accepted envelopes stuffed with cash from an undercover informant posing as a lobbyist for law enforcement. Both chambers clamored to change their rules to prohibit cash gifts, but the fervor to pass stronger bans dulled, and the issue got pushed to the legislative back-burner.

Texas – Ethics Reform Not Swept Under Rug, But Not Sweeping Either
Texas Tribune – Jay Root | Published: 6/1/2017

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott praised lawmakers for enacting a “very meaningful” ethics package that broadens transparency on public officials’ outside business dealings, and strips convicted legislators of their offices and retirement benefits. A compromise bill passed by the House and Senate gave Abbott legislative approval on three of the six major ethics bills he championed at the outset of the session. Three other Abbott-backed bills, as well as other ethics measures outside the governor’s reform agenda, died as the Legislature ended its regular session.

Texas – Texas Lawmaker Threatens to Shoot Colleague After Reporting Protesters to ICE
New York Times – Matthew Haag | Published: 5/29/2017

A chaotic scene erupted. on the last day of the legislative session in Texas when demonstrators in the House gallery began chanting in opposition to a new law that bans sanctuary cities. On the floor, Rep. Matt Rinaldi turned to several Democratic lawmakers and told them he had reported the protesters to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Rep. César Blanco said Rinaldi told him and others, “We are going to have them deported,” and then used an obscenity. The exchange led to a confrontation among lawmakers, with some pushing and pointing at one another. Rinaldi got into a face-to-face argument with Rep. Poncho Nevárez and threatened to shoot him. Legislators with licenses may carry concealed firearms in the Capitol, but it was not clear if Rinaldi was armed.

Washington – Citizen Watchdog Peppers Washington State with Campaign-Finance Complaints Against Dems
Seattle Times – Joseph O’Sullivan | Published: 5/30/2017

From his home office in Tenino, a small town about 15 miles south of Olympia – and the occasional coffee shop – Glen Morgan has launched a volley of campaign finance complaints against Democratic candidates and groups. As of May 23, the attorney general’s office has recorded 79 complaints for this year; Morgan filed 75 of those. Morgan argues his efforts keep government honest and highlight quirks in Washington’s disclosure laws he believes need changing.

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.

Lobbying

“White House Backs Down on Keeping Ethics Waivers Secret” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “Lack of Gift Ban for Pa.’s Legislators Continues to Miff Critics” by Angela Couloumbis (Philadelphia Inquirer) and Karen Langley for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Court: Former Attorney General Tom Horne’s rights violated in campaign case” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez for Arizona Republic

Missouri: “Candidate Spending Gets Little Scrutiny under Missouri Ethics Laws” by Ellen Cagle for Southeast Missourian

Washington: “Citizen Watchdog Peppers Washington State with Campaign-Finance Complaints Against Dems” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times

Ethics

“A Constitutional Puzzle: Can the president be indicted?” by Adam Liptak for New York Times

“Congress Expands Russia Investigation to Include Trump’s Personal Attorney” by Brian Ross and Matthew Mosk for ABC News

“How Michael Flynn May Have Run Afoul of the Law” by Charlie Savage for New York Times

Kentucky: “Bevin, Facing Ethics Complaint, Blasts Journalist Over Reporting About His Mansion” by Allison Ross (Louisville Courier-Journal) for Lexington Herald-Leader

Michigan: “Lawyer Is 7th Person Charged in Macomb County Corruption Probe” by Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press

Legislative Issues

Texas: “Texas Lawmaker Threatens to Shoot Colleague After Reporting Protesters to ICE” by Matthew Haag for New York Times

Lobbying

California: “Foes into Friends: Lobbyists make amends to lawmakers with ‘make-up money’” by Laurel Rosenhall for CALmatters.org

Illinois: “Ethics Board Rejects Watchdog Recommendation That City Officials Report Lobbying” by Hal Dardick for Chicago Tribune

Campaign Finance

Tennessee: “Bill to Increase Campaign Finance Audits Heads to Governor” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Ethics

“CNN Exclusive: Grand jury subpoenas issued in FBI’s Russia investigation” by Evan Perez, Shimon Prokupecz, and Pamela Brown for CNN

New Hampshire: “Lawmaker Behind Misogynistic Forum: ‘I’ve never hated women’” by Kathleen Ronayne (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report

New Jersey: “$25,000 Could Be Yours for Reporting N.J. Corruption” by Owen Proctor for Bergen Record

Pennsylvania: “Philly DA Williams Faces More Federal Corruption Charges” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

West Virginia: “W. Va. Reporter Arrested for ‘Yelling Questions’ at HHS Secretary” by Doug Stanglin for USA Today

Legislative Issues

“Why the IRS Puts White-Nationalist Groups in the Same Category as Orchestras, Planetariums and Zoos” by Max Ehrenfreund for Washington Post

National:

Guns and Religion: How American conservatives grew closer to Putin’s Russia
Washington Post – Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger | Published: 4/30/2017

A significant shift has been underway in recent years across the Republican right. On issues including gun rights, terrorism, and same-sex marriage, many leading advocates on the right who grew frustrated with their country’s leftward tilt under President Barack Obama have forged ties with well-connected Russians and come to see that country’s authoritarian leader, Vladimir Putin, as a potential ally. The attitude adjustment among many conservative activists helps explain one of the most curious aspects of the 2016 presidential race: a softening among many conservatives of their historically hardline views of Russia.

Federal:

Code Pink Protesters at Sessions Hearing Could Face Year in Prison
New York Times – Christopher Mele | Published: 5/3/2017

A jury convicted three Code Pink activists for disrupting Jeff Sessions’ confirmation hearing to be attorney general, including one who apparently laughed during the hearing. Desiree Fairooz, who dressed up as a pink version of Lady Liberty, was found guilty on charges of parading or demonstrating on Capitol grounds and disorderly conduct. Two other activists, Tighe Barry and Lenny Bianchi, were acquitted on a count of disorderly conduct but were convicted on two separate charges of parading or demonstrating during the hearing. Both men dressed up as Ku Klux Klan members, wearing white hooded robes, and stood up before the hearing started. All three could face up to a year in prison.

Lewandowski’s Firm Appears to Offer Trump Meetings
Politico – Kenneth Voogel and Josh Dawsey | Published: 4/28/2017

A firm co-founded by Donald Trump’s original campaign manager Corey Lewandowski appears to have been pitching clients around the world by offering not only policy and political advice, but also face time with President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and senior members of their administration. The previously unreported firm, Washington East West Political Strategies, was created by Lewandowski and fellow Trump campaign veteran Barry Bennett, as well as an Azerbaijani oil executive and an American political consultant who works extensively in Russia, to prospect for political business in Eastern Europe. And Lewandowski and Bennett have created different firms with other partners to prospect in the Middle East, Canada, and Central America, Bennett said.

Top Ethics Officer Challenges Trump Over Secret Waivers for Ex-Lobbyists
New York Times – Eric Lipton | Published: 5/1/2017

The Office of Government Ethics (OGE) sent a letter to the White House and all executive branch agency heads asking for copies of any waivers the Trump administration may have granted to appointees exempting them from ethics rules.  The OGE’s director, Walter Shaub, said the Obama administration similarly granted waivers, but the prior administration’s waivers were given “under a narrow set of circumstances” and were posted publicly on the OGE’s website. The New York Times has reported that in at least two instances, the Trump administration “secretly issued” waivers exempting officials from ethics rules.

Trump Transition Staffers Head to K Street Despite Lobbying Ban
Politico – Theodoric Meyer and Michael Stratford | Published: 5/3/2017

Donald Trump barred people who worked on his transition from lobbying for six months afterward, but at least nine people who worked on transition have registered as lobbyists. Many are registered to lobby the same agencies or on the same issues they worked on during the transition. Because of the way the six-month lobbying ban was worded, the former staffers may not be violating it. Regardless, their trips from lobbying to government service and back run counter to Trump’s campaign promise to close Washington’s “revolving door.” They also raise questions about how rigorously the White House will enforce a separate five-year lobbying ban that applies to those serving in the administration.

While in White House, Trumps Remained Selling Points for ‘Very Special’ Philippines Project
Washington Post – Drew Harwell and Matea Gold | Published: 5/2/2017

Four months into President Trump’s tenure, his business relationship with a developer who is one of the Philippines’ richest and most powerful men has emerged as a prime example of the collision between the private interests of a businessperson in the White House and his public responsibility to shape U.S. foreign policy. The potential conflict first came into focus shortly before Trump was elected, when the Philippines’ president, Rodrigo Duterte, named the Trump Organization’s partner on a Manila real estate venture as his top trade envoy. Although promotional videos for Trump Tower in the Philippines were posted online in 2013, the continued presence of the president and his daughter, Ivanka, in marketing materials for the reflects the extent to which they remain key selling points even as they have vowed to distance themselves from their global real estate and branding businesses.

From the States and Municipalities:

Colorado – Colorado Supreme Court Hears Dispute on Whether Legal Fees Count as Political Donations
Denver Post – Tom McGhee | Published: 5/2/2017

The Colorado Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could decide whether free, or reduced-cost, legal services provided to political groups should be considered contributions under the state’s campaign finance law. In a case stemming from the 2012 University of Colorado Board of Regents race, the Court of Appeals ruled legal services must be treated like political contributions, which limit the amount a single donor can give. The high court has stayed that ruling to allow time for justices to hear the case.

Massachusetts – Regulator Sees ‘Evidence of Violations’ at Thornton Law Firm
Boston Globe – Andrea Estes | Published: 4/29/2017

State regulators are recommending that Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey open a criminal investigation of nine lawyers at Boston’s Thornton Law Firm as well as seven of their spouses, concluding the firm’s longtime practice of reimbursing lawyers for political contributions may have broken multiple laws. Michael Sullivan, director of the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance, said in a letter to Healey his office had concluded there is “evidence of violations” of campaign finance laws that require political contributions be made in the name of the actual donor. He said the firm as well as 16 individuals may have broken the law. Sullivan’s letter marked the first time that state officials sought criminal prosecution in a “straw donor” case.

Minnesota – Allegations Against Dai Thao Campaign Reveal Law’s Complexity
Minneapolis Star Tribune – Jessie Van Berkel and Eric Roper | Published: 5/2/2017

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will investigate allegations of a failed bribery solicitation by St. Paul City Councilperson Dai Thao. Media reports indicated Thao, who is running for mayor, pressured a lobbyist for “resources” before a council vote and his campaign manager later texted the lobbyist to say a campaign donation might get him to “rethink this issue.” Lobbyist Sarah Clarke rejected the offer, citing state bribery statutes. Minnesota law prohibits a public officer or employee from requesting benefits or reward with the understanding that it will influence their power or duties. In the past five years, however, only one public official or employee was convicted under the law.

Missouri – Missouri Governor to Pay Fee for Using Nonprofit Donor List
U.S. News & World Report – David Lieb (Associated Press) | Published: 4/29/2017

Gov. Eric Greitens was fined $1,000 by the Missouri Ethics Commission for violating the state’s campaign finance law. Greitens failed to disclose last year that his campaign obtained a donor list from The Mission Continues, a nonprofit he founded in 2007. Federal law prohibits charities like The Mission Continues from intervening in political campaigns on behalf of candidates. The IRS has ruled charities cannot give donor lists to politicians but can rent them at fair market value if made available to all candidates. The ethics panel said Greitens’ campaign should have disclosed receiving the donor list as an in-kind contribution from his campaign manager, Daniel Laub.

New York – City Pays for Mets Moment, Guided by Firm with Troubled Ties to de Blasio
New York Times – J. David Goodman | Published: 4/30/2017

Several hundred city workers, tourists, and passers-by gathered near the steps of City Hall as Mayor Dill de Blasio again marked the New York Mets’ 1986 World Series victory. The event offered Dwight Gooden, the former Mets pitcher whose battles with drug addiction caused him to miss the original festivities, a chance to relive the moment. The city paid for the event, which had been conceived as a scene for a television series in development, produced by the sports radio host Amy Heart. So how did Ms. Heart get the city not only to pay for the backdrop of a scene in a television pilot but also have the mayor take part? By enlisting the influential lobbying firm of James Capalino, a friend and longtime donor to de Blasio whose business skyrocketed with the mayor’s election.

South Dakota – South Dakota Ethics Bill Lost Teeth on Its Way to Becoming Law
Sioux Falls Argus Leader – Dana Ferguson | Published: 4/27/2017

Four retired judges will be appointed in the coming months to the new government accountability board, forming the nearest thing to a state ethics board that South Dakota has had in nearly four decades. Once convened, the panel will exist as a place for South Dakotans to bring concerns about government fraud, conflicts-of-interest, and other potential wrongdoing. The compromise bill creating the board cleared the Legislature in the wake of protests over lawmakers’ repeal of a major ethics and campaign finance law approved by voters in November. Critics said the new accountability board is at best a tepid step in the right direction and at worst a symbolic move to give lawmakers cover from criticism following the repeal of Initiated Measure 22.

Tennessee – Jeremy Durham Dismisses Campaign Finance Audit, Points Finger in Fiery Letter
The Tennessean – Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert | Published: 5/3/2017

Former Tennessee Rep. Jeremy Durham offered justifications for his actions in response to 690 possible campaign law violations leveled by election ethics officials. While denying essentially any wrongdoing, the 235-page response presented to state election finance officials points the finger at legislators, overly broad state laws, and human error. The allegations against Durham range from using campaign funds to improperly buy sunglasses, suits, and spa products to inappropriately loaning thousands of dollars to his wife, a prominent fundraiser, and a professional gambler.

Texas – How the Federal Case Against John Wiley Price Fell Apart
Dallas News – Jennifer Emily, Gromer Jeffers Jr., and Kevin Krause | Published: 4/28/2017

Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price was found not guilty of bribery and six other counts by a federal jury that considered whether he was abusing his public office to collect about $1 million in secret profits over a decade. The jury deadlocked on four tax-related counts and the judge declared a mistrial on those charges. Price is likely the most well-known politician to ever be prosecuted by the federal government in Dallas. His confrontational style and focus on the issues of race and economic equality have made him a controversial figure, but his constituents have re-elected him for three decades. The acquittal is a surprising defeat for the U.S. Justice Department and FBI, who have spent a decade investigating and prosecuting Price.

Vermont – House Passes Ethics Commission Bill with Some Reluctance
VTDigger.org – Mark Johnson | Published: 5/2/2017

The Vermont House passed a bill creating a state ethics commission, overcoming objections about a requirement that lawmakers disclose their spouses’ sources of income. The legislation also prevents lawmakers from becoming lobbyists within a year of leaving their seats, and restricts holders of no-bid state contracts of $50,000 or more from making campaign contributions to certain candidates. A conference committee will have to iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions before the legislation goes to Gov. Phil Scott.

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.

Lobbying

“New Registration Details Manafort’s Lobbying for Group with Pro-Russia Ties” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

Campaign Finance

Massachusetts: “Regulator Sees ‘Evidence of Violations’ at Thornton Law Firm” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe

Missouri: “Missouri Governor to Pay Fee for Using Nonprofit Donor List” by David Lieb (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report

Washington: “Washington State Senators Tap Surplus Campaign Money for Food, Clothes, Furnishings” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times

Ethics

“Ethics Rules Waivers for Trump’s Team to Get Federal Scrutiny” by Bill Allison for Bloomberg.com

Florida: “Hooters ‘Calendar Girl’ and Playboy ‘Miss Social’ Were Artiles’ Paid Consultants” by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald

Florida: “Miami Firm Involved in Anti-Hazing Program Did Not Detail Use of $1 Million from State” by Arek Sarkissian for Naples Daily News

Illinois: “Byrd-Bennett Sobs While Trying to Explain Corruption, Gets 4 1/2 Years in Prison” by Jason Meisner and Juan Perez Jr. for Chicago Tribune

Elections

“Guns and Religion: How American conservatives grew closer to Putin’s Russia” by Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

Legislative Issues

North Carolina: “North Carolina Judges Back Governor Over Election Changes” by Emery Dalesio (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report

The bill prohibits former lobbyists from participating in a case, contract, or other specific matter as a public official or employee for one calendar year after the termination of their registration if the former regulated lobbyist previously assisted or represented another party in the matter.

Additionally, the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller and treasurer are prohibited from lobbying legislative matters for one calendar year after leaving office.

The bill requires a regulated lobbyist who serves on a board or commission and is disqualified from participating in a specific matter to file a statement of recusal with the board or commission describing the circumstances of the conflict.

The bill will become effective October 1, 2017.

Lobbying

Maine: “Maine Ethics Watchdog: Tighten lobbying limits for ex-legislators” by Michael Shepherd for Bangor Daily News

Campaign Finance

“It Was Huge: Trump inaugural drew slew of top-dollar checks” by Julie Bykowicz and Nancy Benac (Associated Press) for ABC News

“Ivanka Trump’s Global Reach, Undeterred by a White House Job” by Danny Hakim and Rachel Abrams for New York Times

California: “Real Estate Investor Fined $17,000 Over Excess L.A. City Council Campaign Donations” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times

Montana: “Montana House Rejects Bill to Raise Campaign Contributions” by Associated Press for U.S. News & World Report

Ethics

Illinois: “Independent Contractor Exemption Suffers Surprise Council Defeat” by Fran Spielman for Chicago Sun-Times

New Jersey: “Ex-Passaic Mayor Alex Blanco Gets 27 Months in Prison” by Richard Cowan and Kaitlin Kanzler for Bergen Record

Texas: “TABC Chief Will Resign after Agency Used Your Tax Dollars to Travel to Booze Industry Conferences” by Dagney Pruner for Dallas News

Elections

Georgia: “Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, Narrowly Misses Outright Win in Georgia House Race” by Jonathan Martin and Richard Fausset for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Florida: “Miami Lawmaker Apologizes on Senate Floor for Using Racial Slur” by Patricia Mazzei, Steve Bousquet, and Kristin Clark for Miami Herald

Campaign Finance

“Bipartisan Bill Would Restructure FEC to End Gridlock” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA

District of Columbia: “More Contributions to D.C. Council Member Cannot Be Tracked to Source” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post

Ethics

“With Trump Appointees, a Raft of Potential Conflicts and ‘No Transparency’” by Eric Lipton, Ben Protess, and Andrew Lehren for New York Times

Alabama: “Judicial Ethics Complaint Filed Against Judge Who Ordered Halt to Bentley Impeachment Hearing” by Kent Faulk for AL.com

California: “Oakland Ethics Panel Slams Lax Oversight of Free Warriors, Raiders and A’s Tickets” by Mark Hedin for East Bay Times

Legislative Issues

Nevada: “Republican Lawmaker Spent Two Weeks as ‘Legislative Advocate’ for Business Group” by Riley Snyder for Nevada Independent

Lobbying

Illinois: “Emanuel Still Fielding Emails on City Matters Via Private Account” by Fran Spielman for Chicago Sun-Times

Missouri: “Decrease in Lobbyists’ Gifts Hasn’t Limited Influence at the Missouri Capitol” by Sky Chadd for Columbia Missourian

Tech and Social Media

“Social Media Is Not Contributing Significantly to Political Polarization, Paper Says” by Jonah Engel Bromwich for New York Times

Lobbying

Missouri: “Limit on Lobbyist Gifts Clears Missouri Senate Committee” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Campaign Finance

California: “Anti-Pot Group Faces Campaign Finance Violations from Its Work Opposing Marijuana Legalization in California” by Patrick McGreevy for Los Angeles Times

New York: “Investigations into De Blasio Spurred City Reform, Renewed Calls for State Changes” by Samar Khurshid for Gotham Gazette

Ethics

“Secret A.T.F. Account Paid for $21,000 Nascar Suite and Las Vegas Trip” by Matt Apuzzo for New York Times

Michigan: “Michigan Sen. Bert Johnson Indicted by Grand Jury” by Paul Egan and Kathleen Gray for Detroit Free Press

South Carolina: “New SC Ethics Law Does Not Go Far Enough, Critics Say” by Avery Wilks for The State

Elections

Texas: “Federal Judge Says Texas Voter ID Law Intentionally Discriminates” by Manny Fernandez for New York Times

Legislative Issues

Oklahoma: “LGBTQ Group’s Capitol Visit Prompts Mass Email About ‘Cross-Dressers in the Building’” by Randy Krehbiel for Tulsa World

Procurement

California: “Feds: Well-known Oakland contractors conspired to cheat government” by Malaika Fraley for East Bay Times