National:

It’s a Steep Hill to Climb for Women Running for State Office
Center for Public Integrity – Kristian Hernandez | Published: 3/6/2018

Nearly 500 women have shown interest in running for Congress in this year’s midterm elections, twice as many as compared with the same time in 2016. More women have raised their hand to run for governor in 2018 than in the past seven years combined, and scores of women plan to run for attorneys general, legislative seats, and more. Women still have a long way to go before political offices reflect the U.S. population. But women’s success in politics might not be all about winning this year, said Kim Olson, the Democratic candidate for Texas agriculture commissioner. She said the elections might be as much about planting seeds that will one day grow and fill the gender gaps in the halls of Congress, governors’ mansions, and statehouses across the country.

Federal:

Companies Court Lawmakers with Charitable Giving, but Don’t Always Disclose the Funds
Center for Public Integrity – Carrie Levine | Published: 3/5/2018

By law, corporations and organizations that lobby the federal government must disclose certain charitable contributions to nonprofits, including ones such as the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation that are intimately tied to lawmakers. They also must disclose spending to “honor” lawmakers and high-level executive branch officials if the spending meets certain criteria. But an analysis found more than 20 companies and trade associations that have failed to disclose payments made to nonprofit groups aligned with government officials or aimed at honoring lawmakers they may want to influence. In every instance, other companies disclosed payments linked to the same events, though varying circumstances and exceptions to federal rules allow some omissions.

Companies, Nonprofits Put Brakes on Foreign Lobbying Bills
Roll Call – Kate Ackley | Published: 3/2/2018

A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation to strengthen enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The new bill indicates that momentum to revamp foreign lobbying disclosures persists as the Russia probe has kept concerns about international influences in the spotlight. But opposition remains. Representatives of foreign-owned businesses and multinational nonprofit organizations say they do not want the stigma of being defined as foreign agents. They are pushing for changes to separate legislation that passed the House Judiciary Committee but has not yet been scheduled for floor action.

Trump Spoke to Witnesses About Matters They Discussed with Special Counsel
MSN – Michael Schmidt and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) | Published: 3/7/2018

The New York Times reported the special counsel in the Russian election meddling probe has learned of two conversations in which President Trump asked witnesses about matters discussed with investigators. Trump told an aide that White House counsel Donald McGahn should issue a statement denying a report in January that said McGahn told investigators the president had once asked him to fire special counsel Robert Mueller. Trump also asked his former chief of staff, Reince Priebus, how his interview with the special counsel investigators had gone and whether they had been “nice.” The episodes demonstrate that even as the inquiry appears to be intensifying, the president has ignored his lawyers’ advice to avoid doing anything publicly or privately that could create the appearance of interfering with it.

What Swamp? Lobbyists Get Ethics Waivers to Work for Trump
CNBC – Associated Press | Published: 3/7/2018

President Trump and his appointees have stocked federal agencies with former lobbyists and corporate lawyers who now help regulate the industries from which they previously collected paychecks, despite promising as a candidate to drain the swamp in Washington. A week after his inauguration, Trump signed an executive order that bars former lobbyists, lawyers, and others from participating in any matter they lobbied or otherwise worked on for private clients within two years before going to work for the government. But records show White House counsel Don McGahn has issued at least 24 ethics waivers to key administration officials at the White House and executive branch agencies.

From the States and Municipalities:

Colorado: Colorado Rep. Steve Lebsock Is Expelled Following Harassment Complaints from Five Women
Denver Post – Brian Eason and Jesse Paul | Published: 3/2/2018

The Colorado House voted to expel Rep. Steve Lebsock after hours of emotional debate in which several members broke down in tears. Lebsock had been accused of harassing five women, including a fellow state legislator, a lobbyist, and a former staffer, in 11 separate complaints. Lebsock has denied the charges, even distributing a dossier that detailed personal information about his accusers. He is the second lawmaker in the nation to be removed from office over harassment allegations since the rise of the #MeToo movement.

District of Columbia: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser Says She Won’t Testify About Schools Chief’s Resignation
Washington Post – Peter Jamison | Published: 3/7/2018

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser said she will refuse to testify under oath to the city council about the circumstances of the resignation of the former chancellor of the public school system, setting up a showdown with lawmakers, the outcome of which could weigh on her re-election campaign. She said she would instead cooperate with a parallel investigation by the city inspector general’s office that is underway. Bowser demanded the resignations of Chancellor Antwan Wilson and the deputy mayor for education, saying she had just been notified the pair had transferred Wilson’s daughter to one of the city’s most desirable high schools, skipping a waiting list of more than 600 students, in violation of city policy. But Wilson said Bowser knew about the transfer four months ago and raised no objections.

Massachusetts: SJC May Be Option in ‘Union Loophole’ Case
Lowell Sun – Andy Metzger (State House News Service) | Published: 3/7/2018

The Supreme Judicial Court is considering whether Massachusetts can constitutionally bar corporations from making political contributions, while allowing labor unions and nonprofits to do so. James Manley, an attorney representing two Massachusetts businesses, said his clients simply want corporations to be on equal footing with other entities, and that federal law requires it. The plaintiffs would be somewhat satisfied if the court decided to rein in unions’ abilities to contribute politically, Manley told reporters.

New Mexico: Steve Pearce, State Move to Settle Lawsuit Over Gubernatorial Campaign Funds
Las Cruces Sun News – Andrew Oxford (Santa Fe New Mexican) | Published: 3/6/2018

New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce are moving to settle a dispute about access to campaign money that Pearce raised while in Congress and sought to use in his run for governor. Under the proposed agreement, the state would allow candidates to use donations collected while in federal office for state office campaigns. The contributions cannot be larger than what it is allowable under New Mexico law, and they must have been reported to the FEC. “Those conditions were included to prevent future federal-to-state transfers from becoming a loophole around New Mexico’s campaign finance laws,” said Joey Keefe, a spokesperson for the secretary of state’s office.

New York: As Jurors Decide Fate of Key Cuomo Ally, Political Verdict May Be In
New York Times – Jesse McKinley and Shane Goldmacher | Published: 3/6/2018

Federal prosecutors in the corruption trial of a former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo presented unflattering tales of how Cuomo conducts himself and how his administration has conducted the people’s business in Albany. The governor has not been accused of illegal acts, but the trial may well tarnish the well-groomed reputation of Cuomo, who is facing re-election in the fall. It may also complicate or undercut any national ambitions of Cuomo, which would need to take flight in places like Iowa and New Hampshire next year.

North Carolina: GOP’s 8-Member Elections-Ethics Board Struck Down. Is a Third Lawsuit on the Horizon?
Raleigh News and Observer – Anne Blythe | Published: 3/5/2018

A panel of state judges decided a recent North Carolina Supreme Court ruling favoring Gov. Roy Cooper means only a portion of a 2017 law combining the state ethics and elections boards is now struck down. Republicans at the General Assembly passed small changes related to the combined board’s membership and Cooper’s powers after the Supreme Court decision. Cooper’s lawyers had argued the Supreme Court ruling meant the judges should void the entire law. That would have opened the door to Cooper’s wishes. He wanted the law to revert to what it was before December 2016 – separate elections and ethics boards, and Democrats getting a majority of elections board seats.

Oregon: Multnomah County Political Spending Limits Unconstitutional, Judge Finds
Portland Oregonian – Gordon Friedman | Published: 3/6/2018

Multnomah County’s voter-approved limits on campaign contributions are an unconstitutional infringement on free speech, a county judge ruled. Judge Eric Bloch said the county and its voters cannot cap donations to candidates for county office at $500 per donor, force disclosure of the largest contributors to political mailers, or limit other types of spending. The limits are “impermissible” under the free speech guarantees within the Oregon Constitution, Bloch wrote, citing a related state Supreme Court opinion.

Pennsylvania: Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski Guilty on Most Charges in Pay-to-Play Trial; Must Leave Office
Allentown Morning Call – Peter Hall, Emily Opilo, and Daniel Patrick Sheehan | Published: 3/1/2018

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski was convicted of selling his office to campaign donors in a scheme meant to fuel his political ambitions. Jurors convicted him of 47 of the 54 charges he faced, a verdict that will force Pawlowski from office and end his tenure as leader of Pennsylvania’s third-largest city. Prosecutors said Pawlowski masterminded a plan to rig city contracts for legal, engineering, technology, and construction work, all in a bid to raise money for his statewide campaigns. Pawlowski ran for governor in 2014 and U.S. Senate in 2015, suspending the latter campaign days after the FBI raided City Hall.

Tennessee: Nashville Mayor Megan Barry Resigns from Office; ‘I love you, Nashville,’ she says
The Tennessean – Joey Garrison and Nate Rau | Published: 3/6/2018

Megan Barry resigned as Nashville’s mayor, weeks after admitting an affair with the police officer who ran her security detail. She announced her resignation shortly after she pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge related to the affair. Barry agreed to reimburse the city $11,000 and serve three years’ probation. The scandal drew attention to the overtime Sgt. Rob Forrest accrued while managing her detail. An affidavit detailed nude photos the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said appeared to be Barry taken on the phone of Forrest during city trips. Forrest pleaded guilty to property theft and was sentenced to three years of probation. He will reimburse the city $45,000 that was paid to him as salary and/or overtime during times when he was not performing his duties as head of the mayor’s security detail.

Texas: Talk About Big Bucks: Deer semen donations are fueling South Texas campaign
Dallas News – Jackie Wang | Published: 3/1/2018

A candidate in the race for a Texas House seat has received $87,500 in campaign donations, more than half of which is made up of deer semen. Ana Lisa Garza has received $51,000 in in-kind donations to her campaign, listed as individual donations of frozen deer semen straws. The containers are reportedly a common way for deer breeders in the state to donate to political campaigns. Garza’s campaign has valued the straws at $1,000 each. The group does not give the semen directly to the campaign, but accepts the straw donations and sells them at auction. Attorney Buck Wood said the donations technically were not “in-kind” since the money, not the semen, was given to the campaign.

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.

Coming to you again with the fastest 2 1/2 minutes in campaign finance, lobbying and political compliance news you can use in this weeks video digest.

National:

Sinclair Broadcast Group Solicits Its News Directors for Its Political Fundraising Efforts
Chicago Tribune – Paul Fahri (Washington Post | Published: 2/12/2018

Sinclair Broadcast Group is asking its executives – including the news directors at its many television stations – to contribute to its PAC. Sinclair is the largest station owner in the country, with 173 outlets. Major TV news outlets such as ABC, CBS, and CNN say they prohibit their journalists from contributing to political parties, candidates, or causes, and do not ask them to chip in to the company’s PAC. By contributing money to Sinclair’s lobbying efforts, news directors would be tacitly supporting the company’s agenda, potentially raising doubts about their stations’ impartiality and independence when reporting on controversial issues, said Lewis Friedland, a journalism professor at the University of Wisconsin.

Federal:

VA Chief Shulkin, Staff Misled Ethics Officials about European Trip, Report Finds
Tampa Bay Times – Lisa Rein (Washington Post) | Published: 2/14/2018

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, traveling on what he said was an “essential” trip to London and Copenhagen, improperly accepted tickets to the Wimbledon tennis tournament and brought his wife at taxpayer expense, according to an inspector general’s report. The scathing report says Shulkin and several top staff members made false and misleading statements both to justify the $122,334 trip and to defend it afterward. His chief of staff, Vivieca Wright Simpson, doctored an email to convince an agency ethics lawyer to approve a $4,300 flight for Shulkin’s wife, the report found.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alaska – Group Picks Alaska to Challenge Unlimited Campaign Donations
Bristol Herald-Courier – Becky Bohrer (Associated Press) | Published: 2/7/2018

A national group is focusing on Alaska in a bid to get the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit its Citizen United ruling. The decision paved the way for corporations and unions to make unlimited independent expenditures, and in Alaska, was viewed by state officials as likely rendering several provisions of state law prohibiting or limiting certain contributions unconstitutional. Equal Citizens wants to put that interpretation to the test but it could face an uphill battle. Lawrence Lessig, founder of Equal Citizens, said his group believes the Alaska Public Offices Commission sided with “what is a kind of conventional view among lawyers” that his group believes is incorrect. “What we’re trying to seek is clarification that the limits can be enforced,” Lessig said.

Arkansas – Former Arkansas Legislator Eddie Cooper Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement
KUAR – Wesley Brown | Published: 2/13/2018

Former Arkansas Rep. Eddie Wayne Cooper pleaded guilty to conspiring to embezzle more than $4 million from a nonprofit. Cooper pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle from Preferred Family Healthcare. Nonprofits that receive federal funds, such as Medicaid, are barred from direct lobbying efforts. From 2011 to 2017, Cooper received at least $387,501 from an Arkansas lobbying firm that received $3 million from Preferred Family. The nonprofit’s financial records show its payments were for “consulting services” when the real purpose of the payments was for lobbying and political campaign contributions, plea documents say. Cooper also received at least $63,000 in kickbacks in the conspiracy, according to his plea.

California – #MeToo Movement Lawmaker Investigated for Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Politico – Carla Marinucci | Published: 2/8/2018

A day after sexual harassment accusations against her became public, Assemblyperson Cristina Garcia said she is taking a voluntary, unpaid leave of absence while the allegations are investigated. But Garcia denied trying to grope a legislative aide and a lobbyist. Garcia is an outspoken leader of the #MeToo movement in California. She has called for male lawmakers accused of sexual harassment, assault, and misconduct to step down over the last several months and refused to work with them. She was one of 147 women who signed a letter drawing attention to problems at the Capitol in October.

Colorado – If You Can Pay $250, Colorado Lawmakers May Let You Skip Security at State Capitol
Denver Post – John Frank | Published: 2/8/2018

Legislation in Colorado would allow anyone to pay a $250 fee and submit fingerprints for a background check to obtain an identification card that allows entry to the Capitol and legislative buildings without going through a security screening. Senate President Kevin Grantham supports the measure, but it is expected to face opposition in the Democratic-led House, where leaders point to the Colorado State Patrol’s problems with the bill. A similar measure that applied only to lobbyists failed in 2010 after it became known as the “Lexus lane for lobbyists” bill. But the sponsors of the new bill dismiss questions about special access because any member of the public could apply for the card.

Maryland – Wife of 80-Year-Old State Senator Accompanies Him to Work Each Day. Some Say She Assists Him with Duties.
Washington Post – Ovetta Wiggins | Published: 2/11/2018

Since the January 10 start of Maryland’s legislative session, state Sen. Ulysses Currie’s wife has sat an arm’s length away from him in a reserved seat, Senate floor credentials dangling from a lanyard around her neck. Shirley Gravely-Currie’s presence has drawn attention not only to her husband’s diminishing health but also to the graying of the state Legislature and the delicate question of how long is too long to serve. As Americans live and work longer, it has become more common to see aging lawmakers on Capitol Hill or in statehouses across the country.

North Dakota – Amid Backlash, Gov. Burgum Reimburses Xcel Energy $37,000 for Super Bowl Tickets
Grand Forks Herald – John Hageman | Published: 2/7/2018

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said he reimbursed Xcel Energy $37,000 for Super Bowl tickets in an effort to “eliminate even the perception of any conflict.” Xcel said the governor met with Chief Executive Officer Ben Fowke and Chris Clark, president of Xcel Energy-Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, along with other company leaders in a suite at US Bank Stadium. Meanwhile, Burgum’s legal counsel is crafting an ethics policy covering North Dakota’s chief executive and his staff.

Oklahoma – New Lobbying Rule Gets Mixed Review from Lawmakers and Those Who Try to Influence Them
Tulsa World – Barbara Hoberock | Published: 2/11/2018

A proposed rule that would require elected officials in Oklahoma to wait two years before working as lobbyists is getting mixed reviews. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission approved the rule. It will take effect if the Legislature does not take any action by the end of the session. The proposal comes as more lawmakers are lobbying their former colleagues as a way to make a living after their terms have ended. Ethics Commission Executive Director Ashley Kemp said the rule would prohibit policymakers from using their positions to benefit themselves.

Oregon – Oregon Ethics Watchdog Says John Kitzhaber Misused His Office for Personal Gain
Portland Oregonian – Hillary Borrud | Published: 2/14/2018

Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber allegedly violated state ethics laws 11 times during his third and fourth terms, with the violations potentially carrying fines up to $55,000. An investigative report by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission staff outlines a suite of alleged violations. The commission is poised to vote on whether it agrees with its staff’s findings. According to the report, Kitzhaber used his office for financial gain, or to avoid financial problems, for former First Lady Cylvia Hayes and her consulting firm, 3EStrategies. Kitzhaber failed to follow laws to handle “potential conflicts-of-interest” when he took actions that may have impacted the consulting firm’s interests, ethics officials said.

Pennsylvania – Lobbyists Trying to Influence PA. State Government Will Have to Pay More If They Break the Rules
PennLive.com – Jan Murphy | Published: 2/14/2018

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed House Bill 1175, which requires lobbying disclosure reports to be filed electronically with the Pennsylvania Department of State. The new law also increases the daily maximum penalty for not filing reports by the quarterly deadline; doubles the maximum fine for not filing by the deadline; and requires the department to post all lobbying disclosure reports online within seven days of receiving the filing. The new penalties take effect immediately and the electronic filing requirement takes effect in 60 days.

South Carolina – Former S.C. House Majority Leader Rick Quinn Gets Probation in Misconduct Case
Charleston Post and Courier – Andrew Knapp and Glenn Smith | Published: 2/12/2018

Former South Carolina Rep. Rick Quinn will serve two years on probation instead of prison time after he pleaded guilty to misconduct in office. Circuit Court Judge Carmen Mullen also ordered Quinn to pay a $1,000 fine and perform 500 hours of community service. He is the third Republican lawmaker convicted in a statehouse corruption investigation. Mullen handed down the penalty over the objections of special prosecutor David Pascoe, who had questioned the validity of Quinn’s guilty plea while pushing for the former House majority leader to serve a year behind bars. Prosecutors accused Quinn of taking $4 million in unreported money from lobbyists. Quinn insisted his only crime was failing to report a lobbyist’s payments to his father’s political consulting firm.

Texas – Anti-Abortion Group Deletes State Senator’s Video After Questions of Legality Raised
Texas Tribune – Patrick Svitek and Jay Root | Published: 2/7/2018

An influential anti-abortion group abruptly deleted a Twitter video ad featuring Texas Sen. Bob Hall’s voice after reporters began asking if its paid messages adhered to laws restricting the use of corporate “dark money.” Texas Right to Life Committee also filed last-minute corrections to its December campaign finance reports indicating it had “inadvertently” attributed about $38,000 in radio ads to its corporate entity instead of its PAC. Texas Right to Life Committee is a politically active non-profit corporation that does not have to disclose its donors.

Utah – Taxpayers Reimbursed Former Lawmaker for Rooms Linked to Prostitution Allegations
St. George Daily Spectrum – David DeMille | Published: 2/12/2018

Taxpayer funds were used to pay for at least two hotel rooms that a former state lawmaker is alleged to have used to meet a prostitute last year, according to records found by a Utah House official. Rep. Jon Stanard resigned two days before British tabloid The Daily Mail published an article accusing him of meeting with the prostitute, and included screen shots of what appear to be text exchanges between the two setting up appointments and naming a price. Receipts from expense reports show Stanard was reimbursed about $225 for hotel room stays in Salt Lake City at two separate hotels in June and August of last year while he was attending legislative meetings, at locations and on dates that correspond with the text messages included in the article.

West Virginia – Democratic Candidate Turns House of Delegates Eviction Into $45k Fundraising Haul
Charleston Gazette-Mail – Jake Zuckerman | Published: 2/13/2018

A candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates was cut off and removed from a hearing on oil and gas drilling on private land. Lissa Lucas spoke about her opposition to the bill, and listed donations that state lawmakers have received from oil and gas companies. She was told during her testimony that she should not be making “personal comments” regarding members of the House Judiciary Committee. “I have to keep this short because the public only gets a minute and 45 seconds while lobbyists can throw a gala at the Marriott with whiskey and wine and talk for hours to the delegates,” Lucas added. In a twist of fate, rallying against corporate money in politics might have made Lucas the most effective fundraiser in the House this election cycle.

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.

Federal:

Hero or Hired Gun? How a British Former Spy Became a Flash Point in the Russia Investigation.
Washington Post – Tom Hamburger and Rosalind Helderman | Published: 2/6/2018

Former British spy Christopher Steele wrote memos that came to be known as the dossier and has become the central point of contention in the political brawl raging around the Russia inquiry by special counsel Robert Mueller. Some consider Steele to be a hero, a latter-day Paul Revere who, at personal risk, tried to provide an early warning about the Kremlin’s unprecedented meddling in a U.S. campaign. Those who distrust him say he is merely a hired gun leading a political attack on President Trump.  Steele himself struggled to navigate dual obligations – to his private clients, who were paying him to help Clinton win, and to a sense of public duty born of his previous life.

Trump Picks New Federal Ethics Chief
Politico – Josh Gerstein | Published: 2/7/2018

President Trump nominated a new director for the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), several months after the previous director, Walter Shaub, resigned over frustration with the administration. Trump nominated Emory Rounds, a current associate counsel at the OGE, to head the independent agency. Rounds previously served as an ethics attorney at the Commerce Department and in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the U.S. Navy.

White House Officials Knew About Porter’s Abuse Allegations and Scrambled to Protect Him
CNN – Kaitlin Collins, Kevin Liptak, and Dan Merica | Published: 2/8/2018

President Trump’s staff secretary, Rob Porter, resigned after his two ex-wives accused him of physical and emotional abuse, with one presenting pictures of her blackened eye. Porter was the gatekeeper to the Oval Office, determining which policy proposals reached the president’s hands and screening the briefing materials his visitors shared with him. Sources said the allegations against Porter had contributed to a delay in granting him a permanent security clearance. Aides had been aware generally of accusations against Porter since late last year, White House advisers said.

From the States and Municipalities:

Arizona – Arizona House Expels Yuma Rep. Don Shooter After Sexual-Harassment Findings
Arizona Daily Star – Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) | Published: 2/1/2018

The Arizona House voted to expel a Republican lawmaker after a report ordered by legislative leaders of his own party showed he engaged in a pattern of sexual harassment toward women. Rep. Don Shooter is believed to be the first state lawmaker in the U.S. to be voted out of his seat since the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct began in the fall. Shooter was facing censure, House Speaker changed his mind after Shooter sent a letter to his colleagues asking that they delay the vote to consider whether there also are credible charges against Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, who was the first to level harassment charges against Shooter.

California – Oakland Asks District Attorney to Investigate Alleged Bribes by Cannabis Lobbyist
East Bay Times – Darwin BondGraham | Published: 2/2/2018

A man who Oakland City Council President Larry Reid says tried to bribe him to help obtain a cannabis dispensary permit also allegedly offered two businessmen assistance in getting a dispensary license in exchange for bags of cash. Developer Dorian Gray tried in January to give Reid an envelope he said had $10,000 in it, Reid said. Gray then approached the city official who oversees Oakland’s cannabis permit office and offered him a free trip to Spain to tour cannabis lounges there. The matter has been referred to the to the Alameda County district attorney’s office. The city’s Public Ethics Commission has opened its own investigation.

District of Columbia – D.C. Council Approves Fair Elections Act
Washington Times – Julia Airey | Published: 2/6/2018

The District of Columbia Council gave final approval to legislation authorizing publicly financed campaigns, clashing with Mayor Muriel Bowser, who vowed she would not fund the program. The voluntary system would allow qualified candidates to receive a base sum that varies by office, with a maximum of $160,000 for the mayoral contest as well as a five-to-one match on small donations. Supporters say the program will open local politics to new candidates, increase the power of small donors, and reduce the influence of wealthy campaign contributors. But critics including Bowser say the program, estimated to cost city taxpayers $5?million a year, will waste precious funds.

Florida – FBI Lays Out Case for Bribery, Mail Fraud in Search Warrant
Tallahassee Democrat – Jeff Burlew | Published: 2/5/2018

An FBI search warrant lays out a “pay-to-play” scheme where Tallahassee City Commissioner Scott Maddox allegedly received tens of thousands of dollars in payments from clients seeking to do business with the city through his friend and business associate Paige Carter-Smith, owner of the lobbying firm Governance Services. Among the firm’s clients were Uber and FBI undercover agents posing as developers and a medical marijuana entrepreneur. The warrant says Maddox sold Governance Services to Carter-Smith between 2010 and 2012. After the sale, Maddox denied keeping an interest in the company, but continued his control of the firm and profited from its work.

Florida – Tallahassee Commission Adopts Broad New Ethics Rules
Tallahassee Democrat – Jeffrey Schweers | Published: 2/3/2018

The Tallahassee City Commission adopted an ethics reform ordinance that includes a ban on elected or appointed officials soliciting gifts from vendors, lobbyists, or tenants of city property, prohibits elected or appointed officials from accepting any gifts totaling over $100 in any calendar year, and a requires elected officials to file their financial disclosure forms and quarterly gift forms with the city treasurer-clerk. An ethics complaint filed at the same time with any law enforcement agency or the Florida Commission on Ethics will be put on hold until the other agency concludes its investigation.

North Carolina – Lobbyist Charged with Felonies After Investigation of Bail Bonds Advocacy
Raleigh News and Observer – Colin Campbell | Published: 2/7/2018

Raleigh attorney and lobbyist Mark Bibbs was indicted on 10 charges, including obstruction of justice, perjury, and lobbying without registering. Prosecutors said Bibbs lobbied legislators on behalf of a bail bonds company without properly registering and then lied under oath about his actions to the North Carolina secretary of state’s lobbying compliance investigators. Investigators spent months looking into Bibbs’ work in 2016 on behalf of NC Bail Academy, Rockford-Cohen Group, All American Bail Bonds, and Cannon Surety. A complaint about Bibbs’ activities was filed by Robert Brawley, a former state lawmaker who was a partner in the Cannon Surety business.

North Carolina – Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Stanford Professor’s Election Districts for Wake and Mecklenburg
Raleigh News and Observer – Anne Blythe | Published: 2/6/2018

The U.S. Supreme Court partly granted a request from North Carolina Republicans to block a voting map drawn by a federal court. That court had interceded after finding a map drawn by state lawmakers for the General Assembly had relied too heavily on race and had violated state laws. The Supreme Court’s order, which was brief and gave no reasons, partly blocked that decision while the justices consider whether to hear an appeal in the case.

South Carolina – SC Special Prosecutor Wants to Toss Out Quinn’s Guilty Plea If He Won’t Admit Crime
The State – John Monk | Published: 2/5/2018

Special prosecutor David Pascoe said when former South Carolina Rep. Rick Quinn pleaded guilty to misconduct in office in December, he did so without actually admitting to any crime. Therefore, Pascoe in said in court filings, Quinn should revise his guilty plea. Pascoe wants him to make it clear he intended to commit a crime when he failed to report that a business he was associated with received nearly $30,000 from the University of South Carolina. Quinn’s crime was failure to disclose that payment, Pascoe says, adding it was legal for the business to take the university’s money.

Tennessee – Mayor Barry Recommended City Job for Daughter of Officer with Whom She Had Affair
The Tennessean – Anita Wadhwani | Published: 2/6/2018

Within months of taking office, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry recommended the adult daughter of the head of her security detail – the man with whom she later admitted to having an affair – be hired for a job in the city’s legal department. The daughter got the job. The position as an entry-level city attorney was the first newly created job in Nashville’s legal department in two years. It was not part of the existing budget. Barry approved the new job opening and no other candidate was considered. Ethics experts say that whether the mayor made the recommendation to hire the woman during her romantic relationship, or in its prelude, her involvement in a hiring decision may constitute a misuse of her office.

Virginia – Dozens of Virginia Churches Have Been Donating Cash to Campaigns for Years, Despite Law
The Virginian-Pilot – Bill Bartell | Published: 2/1/2018

For years, national Christian conservative activists have argued churches and other houses of worship should be allowed to endorse or donate money to candidates. Such support is prohibited if a religious organization wants to keep its tax-exempt status. But in Virginia, dozens of churches have been donating cash to campaigns for several years. Sen. Lionell Spruill Sr. received almost two-thirds of the $31,500 that churches have given to Virginia candidates in the past two decades. Spruill argues the checks were not campaign contributions – the churches were buying tickets for their members at a reduced price to his annual campaign fundraising dinner.

Washington – Seattle Says Facebook Is Violating City Campaign Finance Law
Reuters – David Ingram | Published: 2/6/2018

The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission said Facebook has violated the city’s election advertising laws. It is the first attempt at regulatory action on internet companies over political ads on their platforms. The company could pay as much as $5,000 per ad in fines if it does not disclose information about campaign spending on its platform during last year’s city elections. The company has provided partial spending numbers, but not copies of ads or data about whom they targeted. The commission’s executive director, Wayne Barnett, said Facebook’s response “doesn’t come close to meeting their public obligation.”

West Virginia – Ethics Commission OKs Tourism Contract with Justice’s Greenbrier Resort
Charleston Gazette-Mail – Phil Kabler | Published: 2/1/2018

West Virginia Division of Tourism officials can partner with The Greenbrier resort in an advertising campaign after the state Ethics Commission granted the division a contract exemption. Tourism officials argued it would be an undue hardship if the state could not enter into an agreement with The Greenbrier as part of their new centralized advertising campaign. The contract exemption was needed to avoid potential conflicts-of-interest, since Gov. Jim Justice is primary owner of the resort, and as governor, has authority to hire or fire the state Secretary of Commerce and the Tourism commissioner. That effectively gives Justice direct authority over the proposed state contract with The Greenbrier, in violation of the ethics law.

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.

With the amount of news this week, you can’t afford to miss this week’s news you can use video digest!

Get your lobbying, ethics and elections fix in the fastest two minutes in this weeks government news!

The fastest 2 minutes in government, lobbying and elections news you can use in this weeks video digest.

National:

One Year After Women’s March, More Activism but Less Unity
New York Times – Farah Stockman | Published: 1/15/2018

The Women’s March a year ago aimed to start a movement of women from all walks of life who would continue their activism long after they had gone home. In many ways, that goal has been realized. Thousands of women threw themselves into activism for the first time in their lives, especially in red states where the events provided a rare chance to build a network of like-minded people. But as the movement evolves, differing priorities and tactics have emerged among the women, nearly all of them unpaid and spread across the country. Now, on the eve of the anniversary, a rift is emerging between two groups. The split has raised questions about who can claim the mantle of the Women’s March, and the funding and press attention that goes with it.

Federal:

House Judiciary Advances Foreign Lobby Overhaul
Roll Call – Kate Ackley | Published: 1/17/2018

The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would tighten oversight of lobbyists who work for foreign governments or companies. The committee voted to give the Department of Justice additional powers to enforce rules requiring lobbyists to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The bill would also close loopholes in FARA and require the Justice Department to develop a strategy for enforcing the law. Critics have argued that FARA reporting requirements are unclear and contain loopholes that allow American lobbyists to avoid disclosure of their foreign clients.

Trump’s Inauguration Money Is Still Missing One Year After His Administration Took Control of the White House
Newsweek – Linley Sanders | Published: 1/18/2018

Almost one year after President Trump took the oath of office, millions of dollars from his leftover inauguration funds have still not been donated to the charities they were promised to. Trump’s inauguration committee raised a record-breaking $107 million as his administration prepared to assume the White House last year, but very little has been disclosed about where the remaining money was allocated. A watchdog group is questioning why the funds disappeared, and a member of Congress is proposing legislation to keep future administrations from obscuring their own inaugural donations.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – Lavish Bash for California Politicians and Lobbyists Gets a #MeToo Makeover
CALmatters.org – Laurel Rosenhall | Published: 1/17/2018

For more than a decade, California’s extravagant Back to Session Bash was a place to let loose. Debauchery at the party, insiders joked, ended at least one career annually. But with the Capitol reeling from accusations of sexual harassment and assault that have caused two legislators to resign and a third to take a leave of absence, the mood at the party this month was more subdued. Many wore black, a statement inspired by Hollywood actresses to highlight efforts to stop sexual misconduct.

Delaware – Lobbyists Given a Space of Their Own in Legislative Hall
Wilmington News Journal – Scott Gross | Published: 1/10/2018

Lobbyists have been offered a dedicated room at Delaware’s Legislative Hall on a trial basis. Senate President Pro Tempore David McBride announced that the state’s more than 300 registered lobbyists could use a conference room on the second floor of the statehouse, in an effort to clear out public space. McBride says lobbyists have long “camped out in the hallways, taking up couches and space” designed for citizens’ use. Senate Republicans expressed frustration, with Minority Leader Greg Lavelle questioning the need for a “comfort station” for lobbyists.

Maine – Maine Republican Party Promoting ‘Fake News’ Sites That Target Democrats
Portland Press Herald – Brian MacQuarrie (Boston Globe) | Published: 1/15/2018

Fake news – misleading stories that have mushroomed in the age of social media and that became Internet fodder during the 2016 presidential election – has found a way into Maine politics, Democrats say. Of even more concern to some Democrats: it appeared the GOP was working directly with an anonymous conservative website called the Maine Examiner, which ran a series of negative stories against Democrat Ben Chin in the runoff election for Lewiston mayor.

Minnesota – Minnesota GOP Leader Seeks Cut of Big Donations
Federal News Radio – Kyle Potter (Associated Press) | Published: 1/17/2018

Jennifer Carnahan, the new chairperson of Minnesota’s Republican Party, is seeking a 10 percent commission from large donations to the party. Campaign finance experts said they have never heard of such an arrangement. And it risks upsetting major GOP donors and activists by diverting critical resources from a party that has struggled with debt for much of the last decade, even as it prepares for two U.S. Senate elections, a wide-open race for governor, and four or more competitive congressional elections.

Missouri – Lobbyist Gift Restriction Launched from Missouri House to Senate
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Jack Suntrup | Published: 1/17/2018

The Missouri House passed a bill that restricts lobbyist gifts to lawmakers. It now goes to the Senate, which has defeated such legislation in the past. House Bill 1303 would ban lobbyist expenditures on individuals save for customary gifts such as flowers. It would also exempt events in which every member of the Legislature is invited.

Montana – Montana Secretary of State Sends Email Criticizing Mainstream Media to 130,000 People
Helena Independent Record – Holly Michels | Published: 1/17/2018

An email sent to thousands of Montanans by Secretary of State Corey Stapleton stirred up discussion over how state resources were used to disseminate the message. The email, sent to 130,000 business owners and subscribers through an e-blast system using state funds and resources, has a subject line that reads “Be Careful What Gets Your Attention” and says there “is one huge problem with mainstream media in America.” Stapleton said the email was not in response to any specific news coverage or event, either nationally or in Montana.

New Mexico – Lobbyist Transparency Takes a Nosedive
New Mexico In Depth – Marjorie Childress and Melorie Bagey | Published: 1/13/2018

What money buys in Santa Fe is a pressing question these days in New Mexico, where in the past three years, a former secretary of state has pleaded guilty to embezzlement and a former state senator has been convicted of bribery. Over the last seven or eight years, due to public pressure following an earlier series of scandals, the New Mexico Legislature seemed to be opening the doors slightly on how decisions are made. So, it was a bit of a surprise when during the 2016 legislative session state lawmakers reduced the amount of money spent by lobbyists and their employers that has to be publicly disclosed.

South Carolina – South Carolina Lawmakers Overseeing Regulators Were Also Wined and Dined by Utility Companies
Charleston Post and Courier – Andrew Brown | Published: 1/13/2018

Years before South Carolina was saddled with two failed nuclear reactors, utility companies hosted “appreciation dinners” for the lawmakers who pick the state’s seven utility regulators.  The social affairs were held at top-end restaurants in cities across the country, with the state’s largest utilities lavishing some of the Legislature’s most influential lawmakers. All of these lawmakers were on the Public Utilities Review Committee. That little-known panel selects and oversees the commissioners who decide how much residents pay for water, gas, and electricity.

Tennessee – Tennessee Legislature’s New Home Is Less ‘Middle School,’ More ‘Corporate’
Chattanooga Times Free Press – Andy Sher | Published: 1/15/2018

In December, Tennessee lawmakers left their home in the Legislative Plaza complex to take up residence in the Cordell Hull State Building, newly renovated at a cost of $126 million. Legislative Plaza, and adjoining space in the War Memorial Building, was where lawmakers had offices and where committees did much of their work, shaping legislation that later was passed in the actual House and Senate chambers, located in the Capitol. But for all of its faults, including leaks from water fountains on the park-like plaza above, the old Legislative Plaza had more of an intimate feel, according to some lawmakers, staffers, and lobbyists.

Wisconsin – As Senate Vote Nears, State Ethics Chief Blasts Former Government Accountability Board as Partisan, Inconsistent
Wisconsin State Journal – Mark Sommerhauser | Published: 1/18/2018

Brian Bell, the administrator of the Wisconsin Ethics Commission, said he left the Government Accountability Board in 2015 because it enforced the law unevenly and one of its top attorneys, Democrat Shane Falk, “displayed open partisanship.” The denunciation comes as the state Senate is poised to vote on the confirmations of Bell and the state Elections Administrator, Mike Haas. Watchdogs signaled they may go to court over whether legislators can forcibly remove the administrators.

Wisconsin – State Report: Nearly 15 percent of Wisconsin lobbyists lobbied without authorization
Wisconsin State Journal – Mark Sommerhauser | Published: 1/10/2018

A Wisconsin Ethics Commission audit has determined that more than 14 percent of the state’s lobbyists may be engaging in unauthorized lobbying. The commission released its report without naming any of the potential violators. It planned to contact the 78 lobbyists identified for an explanation. Attorney Mike Wittenwyler who represents lobbyists told the commission before the report was released that the problems may be due to paperwork and process, not ill intent. The report also found that of the 691 registered interest groups that employ lobbyists, 74 appeared to have engaged in unauthorized lobbying.

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:

‘Fake News’: Wide reach but little impact, study suggests
New York Times – Benedict Carey | Published: 1/2/2018

Fake news evolved from Internet sideshow to serious electoral threat so quickly that behavioral scientists had little time to answer basic questions about it. But now the first hard data on fake-news consumption has arrived. Researchers posted an analysis of the browsing histories of thousands of adults during the run-up to the 2016 election, a real-time picture of who viewed which fake stories, and what real news those people were seeing at the same time. The reach of fake news was wide indeed, the study found, yet also shallow.

Partisans, Wielding Money, Begin Seeking to Exploit Harassment Claims
New York Times – Kenneth Vogel | Published: 12/31/2017

As the #MeToo movement to expose sexual harassment roils the nation’s capital, political partisans are exploiting the moment, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to support accusers who come forward with charges against President Trump and members of Congress, even amid questions about their motivation. As accusations take on a partisan tint, activists and lawyers fear such an evolution could damage a movement that has shaken Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and Congress – and has taken down both a Democratic fundraiser, Harvey Weinstein, and a conservative stalwart, Bill O’Reilly.

The Modern Campaign-Finance Loophole: Governors Associations
MSN – Susan Pulliam and Brody Mullins (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 1/2/2018

Companies have found a loophole in state campaign finance rules by funneling donations through the Republican Governors Association (RGA) and its Democratic counterpart. Donors cannot earmark money for a candidate. Instead, they can simply – and legally – tell the groups they have “an interest” in a race or are contributing “at the request” of a candidate. Companies can give unlimited sums to outside groups that support candidates, but those contributions are generally disclosed. Corporate donations to the governors’ associations are also disclosed, but once the money is given to campaigns or organizations supporting them, it is labeled as coming from the RGA or the Democratic Governors Association.

Federal:

How the Russia Inquiry Began: A campaign aide, drinks and talk of political dirt
New York Times – Sharon LaFraniere, Mark Mazzetti, and Mat Apuzzo | Published: 12/30/2017

The hacking of Democratic emails and the revelation that a member of Donald Trump’s campaign, George Papadopoulos, may have had inside information about it were driving factors that led the FBI to open an investigation into Russia’s attempts to disrupt the election and whether any of Trump’s associates conspired. If Papadopoulos, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, was the improbable match that set off a blaze that has consumed the first year of the Trump administration, his saga is also a tale of the Trump campaign in miniature. He was brash, boastful, and underqualified, yet he exceeded expectations. And, like the campaign itself, he proved to be a tantalizing target for a Russian influence operation.

Trump Disbands Commission on Voter Fraud
New York Times – Michael Tackett and Michael Wines | Published: 1/3/2018

President Trump announced he is disbanding a controversial panel studying alleged voter fraud that became mired in multiple federal lawsuits and faced resistance from states accusing it of overreach. The decision is a major setback for Trump, who created the commission last year in response to his claim, for which he provided no proof, that he lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton in 2016 because of millions of illegally cast ballots. The commission met only twice amid the series of lawsuits seeking to curb its authority and claims by Democrats that it was stacked to recommend voting restrictions favorable to the president’s party.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – L.A. Could Exempt Many Nonprofits from Revealing Lobbying
Los Angeles Times – Emily Alpert Reyes | Published: 12/31/2017

Los Angeles requires people who are paid to try to influence city officials on municipal legislation to register and turn in regular reports on their spending. But it currently exempts some nonprofits from having to register and report their lobbying. The Ethics Commission recommended the city expand its current exemption, allowing any 501(c)(3) organization that gets less than $2 million in total income annually to avoid registering. The commission also recommended exempting any 501(c)(3) nonprofits that were formed primarily to provide assistance to disadvantaged people at reduced rates, no matter how much money they took in.

Florida – Tallahassee Commission Approves Separation Package for City Manager
Tallahassee Democrat – Jeffrey Schweers | Published: 1/3/2018

The Tallahassee City Commission accepted the resignation of City Manager Rick Fernandez. He was on paid administrative leave since November following an investigation by the Florida Commission on Ethics. He was accused of accepting football tickets to a Florida State University football game and receiving a $5,000 catering discount from the city-backed restaurant, The Edison. The tickets were arranged by a lobbying firm owned by Adam Corey, who also owns The Edison. Corey is one of several individuals named in federal subpoenas exploring dealings between the city Community Redevelopment Agency and several high-profile businesspeople.

Massachusetts – Pro-Charter School Group Fined for Hiding 2016 Campaign Donors including Mitt Romney’s Campaign
MassLive – Shira Schoenberg | Published: 1/2/2018

Massachusetts campaign finance officials have required a group that funneled large donations to 2016 ballot questions regarding charter schools and marijuana legalization to disclose the identity of their donors. Officials said Strong Economy for Growth raised and spent $1,168,000 to support the ballot questions. The Office of Campaign and Political Finance required Strong Economy for Growth to form a ballot question committee, disclose its donors, and pay $31,000 to the state for violating campaign finance laws – all the money left in its bank account. The group also agreed not to engage in any election-related activity in Massachusetts through 2018.

Michigan – FBI Wiretaps Reveal How Towing Titan Fiore Built His Empire
Detroit Free Press – Tresa Baldas and Keith Matheny | Published: 12/29/2017

Towing company owner Gasper Fiore was so politically connected that his daughter last year helped write an amendment to the Michigan Department of Transportation budget that ensured his company would win a multimillion-dollar contract, federal documents show. In wiretap evidence, the FBI offers a glimpse into how the Fiore built his towing empire by currying favor with high ranking officials across southeast Michigan. While Fiore has admitted to bribing just one Macomb County official, the FBI says he was in cahoots for years with many, from state lawmakers to police officials to a Detroit councilperson who was dating his daughter.

Missouri – Ethics Complaint Against Big Missouri Campaign Donor is Dismissed
Kansas City Star – Jason Hancock | Published: 1/2/2018

The Missouri Ethics Commission said it “finds no reasonable grounds” to believe businessperson David Humphreys violated state law governing lobbyists and the principals who employ them. State Rep. Mark Ellebracht filed the complaint against Humphreys, who along with his family donated more than $14 million to mostly Republican candidates and campaigns in 2016. At the center of the complaint was Paul Mouton, who was fined last year for illegally lobbying lawmakers on Humphreys behalf without registering.

New York – Howe Emailed Cuomo Officials on Private Accounts
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 12/30/2017

In the years before he pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, lobbyist Todd Howe regularly emailed top officials in New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration about government business using their personal email accounts. The use of private email for public business would violate official state policy, and is contrary to Cuomo administration directives to conduct state business on state email accounts, to avoid the perception of an intent to hide communication from the public.

Oregon – Oregon Ethics Report Reveals New Details of How Cylvia Hayes Used Her Position to Profit
Portland Oregonian – Hillary Borrud | Published: 1/4/2018

Former Oregon First Lady Cylvia Hayes violated state ethics laws by using her position for the financial benefit of herself and her business, failing to avoid conflicts-of-interest, and receiving a gift of greater than $50, according to an investigation. Her fiancé, former Gov. John Kitzhaber, resigned in 2015 amid influence peddling allegations related to her contracting. He faces an ongoing inquiry by the state’s ethics watchdog agency. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission will vote whether to agree with the recommendation that violations took place. If so, Hayes will have the opportunity to appeal the ruling.

South Carolina – Golf, Beaches and Power: How utilities wine and dine the public officials that set your rates
Charleston Post and Courier – Andrew Brown | Published: 12/30/2017

Travel and other records reveal how South Carolina’s public service commissioners frequently eat, drink, and play golf with the people they regulate. They also show how on trip after trip, commissioners failed to properly report these as gifts as required under state ethics laws. Selected by state lawmakers, these regulators serve four-year terms and earn more than $100,000. They are supposed to be impartial, balancing the needs of utilities to make fair returns on investments with the rights of customers to pay fair rates. But the analysis of state travel records paints a picture of cozy gatherings and opportunities for influence-peddling.

Virginia – A Random Drawing Out of a Bowl Helped Republicans Win a Tied Virginia Election.
Washington Post – Laura Vozella | Published: 1/4/2018

An official of the Virginia State Board of Elections pulled out the name of Republican David Yancey from a bowl, breaking a tied race that is pivotal to control of the House of Delegates. The outcome means the House remains narrowly in the GOP hands, 51 seats to 49. The spectacle drew national attention as an odd way to decide a highly consequential contest. But it might not be the last word in the saga.

Washington – With Veto of City Council Ordinance, Condon Says Campaign Finance Better Left to the State
Spokane Spokesman-Review – Chad Sokol | Published: 12/29/2017

Spokane Mayor David Condon said he would veto a campaign finance ordinance passed by the city council that would impose new reporting requirements and halve the maximum amount a candidate can receive from any single donor. The mayor said he supports certain efforts to curb the role of “dark money” in politics. But he said the issue is better managed at the state level and predicted the proposed ordinance would not stand up to constitutional challenges.

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

“Roger Stone Retroactively Registers Lobbying Contract” by Megan Wilson for The Hill

California: “L.A. Could Exempt Many Nonprofits from Revealing Lobbying” by Emily Alpert Reyes for Los Angeles Times

Missouri: “Ethics Complaint Against Big Missouri Campaign Donor is Dismissed” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

New York: “Howe Emailed Cuomo Officials on Private Accounts” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Campaign Finance

“The Modern Campaign-Finance Loophole: Governors Associations” by Susan Pulliam and Brody Mullins (Wall Street Journal) for MSN

Washington: “With Veto of City Council Ordinance, Condon Says Campaign Finance Better Left to the State” by Chad Sokol for Spokane Spokesman-Review

Ethics

Michigan: “FBI Wiretaps Reveal How Towing Titan Fiore Built His Empire” by Tresa Baldas and Keith Matheny for Detroit Free Press

South Dakota: “Ethics Measure Approved to Be on South Dakota’s 2018 Ballot” by James Nord (Associated Press) for PBS

Elections

“‘If We Don’t Run, Then We Won’t Achieve.’ Why a Record Number of Women Are Eyeing a Run for Governor.” by Karen Tumulty for Washington Post

“‘Fake News’: Wide reach but little impact, study suggests” by Benedict Carey for New York Times

“How the Russia Inquiry Began: A campaign aide, drinks and talk of political dirt” by Sharon LaFraniere, Mark Mazzetti, and Mat Apuzzo for New York Times

“Orin Hatch, Utah Senator, to Retire, Opening Path for Mitt Romney” by Jonathan Martin for New York Times

Campaign Finance

Democrat Doug Jones has raised and spent far more money than Roy Moore in bid for U.S. Senate seat by Brian Lawson for WHNT

Missouri: Former Jackson County executive Mike Sanders accused of using disabled man to pocket campaign donations by Dave D’Marko for Fox4KC

Rhode Island: Two lawmakers fined by R.I. Elections Board for campaign-finance breaches by Patrick Anderson for The Providence Journal

Ethics

House Ethics Committee To Investigate Blake Farenthold For Sexual Harassment Allegations by Shreesha Ghosh for The International Business Times

Ex-Ethics director to file second ethics complaint against Conway by John Bowden for The Hill

Rep. Trent Franks of Texas resigns amid Ethics investigation by Alan Fram for WJLA

Rep. Devin Nunes cleared of allegations that he disclosed classified information in Russia investigation by Sarah Wire for The Los Angeles Times

Lobbying

California: Backlash ripples through California politics after women denounce sexual harassment by Calmatters for The Press Enterprise

Canada: Premier’s chief of staff admits late filing, appears to break lobbying rules from Yahoo! News

Florida: Gubernatorial candidate Graham proposes reforms to prevent sexual harassment by Troy Kinsey for Spectrum News 9

Becky recaps a CRAZY week in government and ethics news around the country!

National:

Gerrymandering Opponents Turn to Ballot Initiatives to Redraw Lines
The Hill – Reid Wilson | Published: 11/28/2017

Advocates of radically overhauling partisan gerrymandering are increasingly looking to ballot initiatives to reform the redistricting process, in hopes of circumventing recalcitrant state Legislatures. Each initiative is unique to its own state, but all would strip the power to draw favorable district lines, the practice known as gerrymandering, from partisan lawmakers who zealously guard their ability to craft preferred terrain. Several national redistricting measures have been proposed in Congress, though none have gained traction.

Federal:

Foreign Lobbying Law Open to Exploitation
The Hill – Megan Wilson | Published: 11/28/2017

People who work for foreign government clients are subject to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a World War II-era law. Requirements for FARA registration are broad, covering anyone who engages in lobbying or public relations for a foreign government-connected client. Communications with media, government officials and staff, and think tank experts must be disclosed every six months. But to a large extent, the foreign agent disclosure rules operate on what essentially amounts to an honor system. The FARA Unit in the National Security Division of the Justice Department is notoriously understaffed and underfunded despite being tasked with policing the hundreds of registrants who file, and those who do not.

Nevada Senator Wants to Close Tax Deduction Loophole for Lobbyists
Las Vegas Review-Journal – Gary Martin | Published: 11/28/2017

U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto plans to file legislation that would close a loophole used by corporate lobbyists influencing policy on the local level. Under the current tax code, lobbyists and businesses are prohibited from deducting their expenses when they try to sway federal and local lawmakers. But those expenses are deductible when lobbying tribal, county, or local governments. Cortez Masto said her bill would end taxpayer subsidies for special interests “and closes a loophole that gives unnecessary tax breaks for lobbyists.”

Voters Lose Protest of Campaign-Contribution Ceilings
Courthouse News Service – Daniel Staples | Published: 11/29/2017

In a case brought by a Florida couple, a federal appeals court rejected a challenge to a campaign finance law that places limits on contributions in primary and general elections. In a lawsuit against the FEC, Laura Holmes and Paul Jost did not challenge the overall $5,200 contribution limit, but said they should have been able to write $5,200 checks to their candidates for the general election instead of splitting the amount between contributions for the primary and general elections. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected the arguments.

From the States and Municipalities:

Alabama: A Woman Approached The Post with Dramatic – and False – Tale About Roy Moore. She Appears to Be Part of Undercover Sting Operation.
Washington Post – Shawn Boburg, Aaron Davis, and Alice Crites | Published: 11/27/2017

The conservative organization Project Veritas, appears to have been get caught trying to pass false sexual misconduct allegations against Senate candidate Roy Moore to The Washington Post, extending its history of deploying deceptive tactics to try to ensnare news organizations in controversy. The Post reported that a woman who falsely told its reporters she had been impregnated by Moore as a teenager was seen entering the offices of Project Veritas in New York, seemingly tipping the group’s hand in its efforts to bait the newspaper into publishing uncorroborated accusations against Moore.

California: Adelanto Councilman’s Bribery Case Latest in Long History of City Corruption
San Bernardino Sun – Joe Nelson | Published: 11/24/2017

The city of Adelanto has dealt with scandals involving elected officials, members of its police force, and even an animal control supervisor. The U.S. Justice Department recently indicted Councilperson Jermaine Wright on charges of receiving a $10,000 bribe and attempting to burn down his restaurant to collect on a $300,000 insurance policy. The city’s remoteness, high poverty rate, and lack of government oversight all likely factor into its checkered past, said Jack Pitney, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College.

Connecticut: Campaign Finance Laws Changed in New Budget
Connectict Post – Ken Dixon | Published: 11/21/2017

Two provisions in the new state budget signed by Gov. Dannell Malloy may make it easier for those in wealthier districts to run for the Connecticut General Assembly while putting time constraints on election regulators whose staffs in recent years have been targeted for reductions. One new law raises individual contributions for legislative and top-of-the-ticket candidates to $250, instead of the $100 limit approved in the 2005 campaign finance law. Another change puts a one-year limit on State Election Enforcement Commission investigations.

Connecticut: Federal Judge Upholds Law Barring Ganim from Public Financing
Connecticut Mirror – Mark Pazniokas | Published: 11/29/2017

A federal judge dismissed Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim’s challenge to a Connecticut law that prevents him, as a politician convicted of corruption while in office, of obtaining public campaign financing. U.S. District Court Judge Michael Shea rejected Ganim’s claim that the restriction violated his constitutional right to free speech by putting him at a disadvantage against gubernatorial opponents who qualify for millions of dollars in taxpayer money. Ganim was convicted in 2003 for his role in a scheme in which businesspeople paid millions of dollars for city contracts. He served more than seven years in prison. Upon his release, Ganim won a sixth term as Bridgeport’s mayor, a term he is still serving.

Idaho: Bill Would Revise Campaign-Finance Regulations
Idaho Mountain Express – Peter Jensen | Published: 11/29/2017

Idaho lawmakers will reconvene in January, and they will hear a proposal to increase the state’s disclosure requirements for candidates. It would require elected officials and candidates for state, county, and city offices to file disclosure forms that identify sources of income, investments, and properties. There are provisions that would include internet and social-media websites in the definition of electioneering communication. Donations in support of campaigns for lawmakers, judges, and city and county offices are capped at $1,000 for a primary election, and $1,000 for a general election. For statewide offices, that cap is raised to $5,000. A plan to extend lobbying disclosure requirements to local governments was rebuffed.

Indiana: Council OKs Bill Limiting Contributions
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette – Dave Gong | Published: 11/29/2017

The Fort Wayne City Council approved an ordinance that bars contractors from bidding on city projects if they contribute more than $2,000 a year to an elected official’s campaign. The proposal would inhibit any company or company employee who owns more than a seven-and-a-half percent stake, as well as their spouses and live-in children, from donating more than an aggregate $2,000 per calendar year to an elected city official’s re-election campaign. That means the limit during a typical four-year election cycle is $8,000. Mayor Tom Henry has expressed opposition to the proposal.

Massachusetts: Ethics Commission Investigating Altered State Police Report
Boston Globe – Andrea Estes | Published: 11/24/2017

The Massachusetts Ethics Commission is investigating why the former State Police colonel allowed the arrest report of a judge’s daughter to be altered. That scrubbed report led to the early retirements for the top two commanders of the State Police, as well as lawsuits filed by the two troopers who were asked to redact comments from the document. Anyone involved in changing the police report could face charges of violating the state conflict-of-interest law, which bars anyone from using an official position to get something for themselves or others that an ordinary person could not get.

New Mexico: Pearce Wins Court Order on Campaign Cash
Albuquerque Journal – Dan Boyd and Dan McKay | Published: 11/28/2017

U.S. Rep. Rep. Steve Pearce won access to $1 million he raised while in Congress to use in his run for New Mexico governor. A federal judge blocked enforcement of limitations on campaign transfers from Pearce’s federal campaign account to a state one. The preliminary injunction gave Pearce access to the campaign funds while underlying issues are litigated. The secretary of state’s office has said only $11,000 can be transferred by Pearce, based on a New Mexico law that limits campaign contributions to $5,500 in a primary election and again in the general election. Attorneys for Pearce contend Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver misinterpreted state law, effectively violating Pearce’s constitutional rights to free speech under the First Amendment.

New York: JCOPE Chair: Lobbying regulations will carry force of law
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 11/28/2017

The acting chairperson of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) said “comprehensive lobbying regulations” crafted by its staff would indeed have the force and effect of law. The statement by Michael Rozen came after a hearing several weeks ago when JCOPE’s executive director, Seth Agata, had said a violation of the regulations “would not create a separate actionable violation of the law,” and were meant to “maximize guidance.”

Texas: What Do Clients Pay to Sway Austin City Council? Lobbyists Won’t Say.
Austin American-Statesman – Elizabeth Findell | Published: 11/29/2017

Regulations that took effect in June require lobbyists to disclose how much their clients are paying them to sway Austin officials, as they must report on the state and federal level. But at least 18 lobbyists who are also lawyers refused to complete the form on the grounds that their compensation is privileged attorney-client communication. The lobbyist reporting form asks for a ballpark range of payment. Their refusal to disclose compensation to City Hall appears to have been coordinated.

West Virginia: WV Chief Justice Has Court Employees Remove Missing Couch from His House
Charleston Gazette – Phil Kabler | Published: 11/28/2017

A day after The Charleston Gazette inquired about the whereabouts of a couch missing from West Virginia Supreme Court offices, Chief Justice Allen Loughry had court employees remove a leather couch from his home. Loughry said the couch was not state property and was purchased by late Justice Joe Albright, whose office Loughry took over when he was sworn in as a justice in December 2012. Loughry has been under fire for news reports regarding the Supreme Court spending $3.7 million to renovate offices, with expenses including a $32,000 couch and $7,500 floor medallion outlining the counties of the state in Loughry’s office.

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

Nevada: “Nevada Senator Wants to Close Tax Deduction Loophole for Lobbyists” by Gary Martin for Las Vegas Review-Journal

New York: “JCOPE Chair: Lobbying regulations will carry force of law” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Campaign Finance

“Voters Lose Protest of Campaign-Contribution Ceilings” by Daniel Staples for Courthouse News Service

California: “San Francisco Eyes Stricter Reporting of Politician-Linked Donations” by Aaron Mendelson for KPCC

Indiana: “Council OKs Bill Limiting Contributions” by Dave Gong for Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

New Mexico: “Pearce Wins Court Order on Campaign Cash” by Dan Boyd and Dan McKay for Albuquerque Journal

Ethics

“Inside the White House, Michael Flynn Pushed Proposal from Company He Said He Had Advised” by Greg Jaffe, Carol Leonnig, Michael Kranish, and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

“Conyers Scandal Highlights Divisions, Generational and Gender” by Yamiche Alcindor and Sheryl Gay Stolberg for New York Times

California: “California Legislature’s Handling of Sexual Harassment Complaints Blasted at Hearing” by Katy Murphy for San Jose Mercury News

Idaho: “Unanimous Idaho Legislative Panel Backs Financial Disclosure for All Candidates, Elected Officials” by Betsy Russell for Spokane Spokesman-Review

Michigan: “Michigan Political Culture Has a History of Sexual Harassment, Now Hopes for Change” by Emily Lawler for MLive.com

West Virginia: “WV Chief Justice Has Court Employees Remove Missing Couch from His House” by Phil Kabler for Charleston Gazette