Kansas lawmakers passed a bill expanding the definition of lobbying to increase transparency in government contracts.

Senate Bill 394 requires lobbyist registration for attempting to influence members of the executive or judicial branch regarding any covered action, including contracts and agreements.

The final version of the bill removed a provision that would have raised the gift-giving threshold for purposes of goodwill lobbying to $100 from $40 annually.

If Gov. Jeff Coyler approves, the bill will take effect July 1.

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “15 Got Promotions from Court Clerk Dorothy Brown Within 6 Months of Donations” by Robert Herguth and Tanveer Ali for Chicago Sun-Times

New York: “JCOPE Continues Long-Running Probe of de Blasio Donors” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

South Dakota: “‘Pay to Play’ Questions Emerge in South Dakota Governor’s Race” by John Hult for Sioux Falls Argus Leader

Elections

National: “Facebook’s Role in Data Misuse Sets Off Storms on Two Continents” by Matthew Rosenberg and Sheera Frenkel for New York Times

Ethics

North Carolina: “Cooper Names 8 to North Carolina Elections and Ethics Board” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for Durham Herald-Sun

Lobbying

National: “Bye-Bye Box Seats? Tax Law May Curb Corporate Cash at Games” by Marcy Gordon (Associated Press) for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Arkansas: “Former Arkansas Legislator’s Name Surfaces in Graft Case” by Doug Thompson for Arkansas Online

Procurement

Florida: “In Miami, MCM Thrives on Big County Contracts. Now It Faces the FIU Bridge Catastrophe” by Douglas Hanks for Miami Herald

Missouri lawmakers are considering a bill to increase transparency in the state procurement process.

Senate Bill 1060 would require individuals, corporations, associations, and other business entities entering into certain state contracts to disclose political contributions of $500 or more made to 501(c)(4) political organizations.

The bill would also require such persons or entities to file a new disclosure for any year a contract remains in effect.

Without the proposal, the identity of those contributing to political organizations would otherwise remain anonymous; current campaign finance law does not require such organizations to file reports of contributions and expenditures.

On February 8, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson introduced a bill to establish a contractor review process with respect to disaster relief contracts valued at over $1 million.

The covered contracts are defined in the bill as contracts for goods and services awarded in response to a major disaster or emergency declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and valued in an amount equal to or exceeding $1 million.

The reviews would be conducted by the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. After being introduced, the bill, House Resolution 4995, was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Campaign Finance

Federal: “Fewer Than 16,000 Donors Accounted for Half the Federal Campaign Contributions in 2016” by Michelle Ye Hee Lee for Washington Post

Missouri: “Greitens Campaign Operation Is Sharing Space with Dark Money Group” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Elections

National: “Government Says It Is Dropping Most Remaining Inaugural Day Rioting Cases” by Keith Alexander for Washington Post

Ethics

National: “In the Crowd at Trump’s Inauguration, Members of Russia’s Elite Anticipated a Thaw Between Moscow and Washington” by Craig Timberg, Rosalind Helderman, Andrew Roth, and Carol Leonnig for Washington Post

Federal: “Congressman Combating Harassment Settled His Own Misconduct Case” by Katie Rogers and Kenneth Vogel for New York Times

Federal: “Supreme Court Opens Door to Sheldon Silver Corruption Retrial” by John Reilly for Newsday

Federal: “Watchdog Petitions Federal Court to Kill New Appointments for Lobbying, Ethics Commissioners” by Marco Vigliotti for Hill Times

Lobbying

Kansas: “Kansas Bill Aims at Anyone Trying to Sway Executive Branch Register ‘Like a Lobbyist’” by Hunter Woodall and Jonathan Shorman for Kansas City Star

Procurement

Georgia: “Former Atlanta City Official Gets 2 Years in Bribery Probe” by Kate Brumback (Associated Press) for Los Angeles Times

On January 9, Sen. Rob Portman introduced a bill to monitor federal agencies’ procurement practices in order to ensure products manufactured in the U.S. are given priority.

Senate Bill 2284, the BuyAmerican.gov Act of 2018, creates an online portal called BuyAmerican.gov, which would monitor all federal contracts and grants for any waivers of statutory or regulatory requirements to buy from U.S. sourced suppliers. The website would be maintained by the U.S. General Services Administration and list each requested waiver.

The bipartisan bill is currently cosponsored by fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Sen. Sherrod Brown and Sen. Christopher Murphy, both of the Democratic Party. “Taxpayer dollars should support American-made products, and our federal agencies should lead the way in promoting U.S. jobs and products,” said Senator Brown, according to Portman’s press release.

Campaign Finance

New York: Lawmaker’s business boosted by aide’s public campaign funds by Chris Bragg for The Albany Times Union

Ohio: Columbus City Council May Clear Up Campaign Finance Disclosure Requirements by Adora Namigadde for WOSU

Elections

Georgia: More elections scheduled for January to fill state Senate and House seats by Mark Niesse for The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Minnesota: Special elections set to replace departed Minnesota lawmakers accused of sexual harassment by Erin Golden for The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Ethics

Obama’s Ethics Chief: Trump Lawyer’s Claim The President Can’t Face Obstruction Charge is “Baloney” by Harriet Sinclair for Newsweek

Conyers Won’t Seek Re-election in Wake of Harassment Claims, Relative Says by Yamiche Alcindor for The New York Times

Manafort Associate Has Russian Intelligence Ties, Court Document Says by Kenneth Vogel for The New York Times

Massachusetts: Rosenberg steps down as ethics probe begins by Christian Wade for The Salem News

Lobbying

Former Podesta, BGR lobbyists start new firm by Theodoric Meyer for Politico

Procurement

Govt flags new IT hardware procurement marketplace by Leon Spencer for ARN

The Fort Wayne City Council approved a pay-to-play ordinance on November 28. The ordinance will prohibit contractors who have donated more than $2,000 a year to an elected official’s campaign from bidding on city projects.

The restriction includes natural or legal persons with a 7.5 percent or more interest in the bidding entity and  extends to a bidder’s spouse and any children living in the same household.

Mayor Tom Henry has 10 days to sign or veto the legislation.

If approved, the ordinance will become effective on January 1, 2018.

The Fort Wayne City Council approved a pay-to-play ordinance on November 28. The ordinance will prohibit contractors who have donated more than $2,000 a year to an elected official’s campaign from bidding on city projects.

The restriction includes natural or legal persons with a 7.5 percent or more interest in the bidding entity and  extends to a bidder’s spouse and any children living in the same household.

Mayor Tom Henry has 10 days to sign or veto the legislation.

If approved, the ordinance will become effective on January 1, 2018.

Campaign Finance

New York: “Cuomo, a Master of the $50,000 Fund-Raiser, Bypasses Small Donors” by Shane Goldmacher for New York Times

Ethics

“Menendez Jury Deadlocks, Judge Orders Them to Keep Trying to Reach a Verdict” by Laura Jarrett and Sarah Jorgenson for CNN

“Too Rich for Conflicts? Trump Appointees May Have Many, Seen and Unseen” by Nicholas Confessore for New York Times

California: “Santa Monica School Leader Voted on Contracts with Firms That Did Business with Her Husband, Documents Show” by Benjamin Oreskes and Adam Elmahrek for Los Angeles Times

Colorado: “Why a Colorado Lawmaker Went Public with Sexual Harassment Allegations Against a Fellow Lawmaker” by John Frank for Denver Post

Florida: “Citizens Give Commissioners an Earful on Ethics” by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat

Minnesota: “As Harassment Allegations Surface at Minnesota State Capitol, a Culture Is Challenged” by J. Patrick Coolican and Maya Rao for Minneapolis Star Tribune

New York: “Despite Recent Wins for Democrats, Gerrymanders Dim Hopes for 2018” by Alexander Burns, Michael Wines, and Trip Gabriel for New York Times

Procurement

Maryland: “Baltimore County School Leaders Verletta White, Dallas Dance Were Paid by Tech Industry Group” by Liz Bowie and Doug Donovan for Baltimore Sun

Ethics

California: Adelanto Councilman Accused of Taking $10,000 Bribe, Hiring Man to Burn Down His Restaurant by Beatriz Valenzuela and Joe Nelson for San Bernardino Sun

California: She Wanted a Job and Said California Senator Invited Her Home. He Fired Aides Who Knew. By Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee

Michigan: Trash Giant Rizzo Pleads Guilty to Bribery by Robert Snell for Detroit News

New York: N.Y. Pension Fund Manager Charged with Taking Bribes Pleads Guilty by Brendan Pierson for Reuters

Lobbying

Russia Scandal Befalls Two Brothers: John and Tony Podesta by Kenneth Vogel for New York Times

New Mexico: Compliance with ABQ Lobbying Rules Falls Way Short by Marjorie Childress for New Mexico In Depth

Campaign Finance

Missouri: Missouri’s Move to Limit Campaign Donations Puts Elections in Hands of Big-Money PACs by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Procurement

Wisconsin: Scott Walker’s Campaign Treasurer’s Firm Gets Capitol Contract After Being the Only Bidder by Patrick Marley for Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ethics

Trump Campaign Adviser Admitted to Lying about Russian Contacts by Rosalind Helderman and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post

Manafort Indicted on 12 Counts, Surrenders to FBI by Katie Bo Williams for The Hill

How Congress Plays by Different Rules on Sexual Harassment and Misconduct by Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Elise Viebeck for Washington Post

California: California Assemblyman Was Disciplined After Woman Claimed He Groped Her by Melanie Mason for Los Angeles Times

Florida: Florida Senate’s Top Democrat Resigns after Admitting Affair with Lobbyist by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald

South Carolina: Law Provides Loophole for South Carolina Legislators to Be Paid for ‘Consulting’ Work by Seanna Adcox (Associated Press) for Charleston Post and Courier

Campaign Finance

California: Judge Sentences Azano to Three Years in Federal Prison by Greg Moran for San Diego Union Tribune

New York: De Blasio Donor Says He Helped Mayor Get Ex-Jail Guards Chief ‘Under Control’ by Vivian Wang for New York Times

Procurement

Puerto Rico Moves to Cancel Contract with Whitefish Energy to Repair Electric Grid by Steven Mufson, Arelis Hernandez, and Aaron Davis for Washington Post

The Santa Fe City Council will hold a public hearing on a bill relating to campaign finance on December 13, 2017. The bill will remove public disclosure of independent expenditures for groups supporting or opposing ballot measures.

On January 10, 2018, the City Council will hold a public hearing on a bill regarding procurement. If adopted, the bill regarding procurement would adopt the New Mexico procurement code as the purchasing manual for Santa Fe.

Both bills are available at the Santa Fe, New Mexico website.

In United Healthcare Services, Inc. v. Mayor & City Council of Baltimore, United Healthcare Services, Inc. (United) was not awarded the city of Baltimore’s Request for Proposal (RFP) for medical administration services despite being fully compliant with listed Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE) goals.

The companies awarded the contract did not comply with the requested MBE and WBE set at 11 percent and 4 percent respectively. After United complained, the city allowed the selected offerors to revise their MBE and WBE forms.

United filed suit against the city alleging violations of Baltimore’s procurement laws. The court found the city “is generally given a wide berth in making its decisions,” and United cannot point to a provision in the City Code the city clearly violated.

Additionally, the City Code only requires bidders make a “good faith effort” to be in compliance with the RFP and “the City has more expertise interpreting the City Code, and its own rules, than the Court.”

In turn, United failed to establish it would be likely to succeed on the merits.