Lobbying

“Universities chase big defense dollars” by Austin Wright in Politico.

“Obama reversal shows difficulty of limiting lobbyists’ D.C. clout” by Mark Trumbull (Christian Science Monitor) in the Alaska Dispatch News.

Campaign Finance

“The Transparency Trap” by David Frum in The Atlantic.

“GOP looks to shake loose more Wall Street cash” by Patrick Temple-West in Politico.

“Sen. Mike Lee doing ‘due diligence’ on illegal donation claims” by Lisa Riley Roche in the Deseret News.

Maine: “Maine campaign finance law challenged as unfair to independents” by Dave Sherwood in Reuters.

Texas: “Bitcoin Plays A ‘Bit’ Part In Campaign Fundraising, But Could That Change?” by Shelley Kofler in KERA News.

Ethics

North Carolina: “Conflict of interest statements for NC officials now online” by Tyler Dukes in WRAL.

North Carolina: “McCrory misstated Duke Energy holdings, sold stock after coal-ash spill” by J. Andrew Curliss and Craig Jarvis in The News & Observer.

Political Advertising

“GOP makes no apologies for ads disguised as news sites” by Jessica Taylor in The Hill.

Redistricting

Florida: “Scott signs congressional redistricting bill” by Lloyd Dunkelburger in the Herald-Tribune.

Following an order of the Leon County Circuit Court, Florida’s Legislature approved a bill to alter the boundaries of seven congressional districts. Judge Terry Lewis ruled the 5th and 10th districts were drawn to benefit the Republican Party in violation of the state constitution. The court set a deadline of August 15 for lawmakers to redraw the congressional map and for state officials to propose a special election schedule.

Judge Lewis will now review the proposed map and determine when the new districts will go into effect. The altered boundaries would also affect the 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, and 17th districts.

Following passage of the bill, the Legislature adjourned its special session on Monday, August 11.

A state judge ordered the Florida Legislature to redraw two congressional districts by August 15, 2014. In Rene Romo, et al v. Ken Detzner, et al, Judge Terry Lewis of the Leon County Circuit Court in Tallahassee found the redistricting maps drawn by the Legislature for the 5th and 10th Congressional Districts to be created “in contravention of the constitutional mandates” found in Article III, Section 20 of the Florida Constitution.

In addition to a new redistricting map drawn by the Legislature, the secretary of state and the supervisor of elections must present a proposed special election schedule by August 15, 2014.

A hearing is scheduled August 20, 2014, where objections to the proposed map and special election schedule will be heard. The judge is still tasked with determining whether a special election is necessary before a new Congress takes office in January 2015. While it is not an option to use a newly drawn map for the upcoming November 4, 2014, elections, Lewis pointed to the possibility of pushing the general election date back to allow for a special election in 2014 for any affected districts.

Republican leaders are considering an appeal to the ruling. In the interim, Lewis’ ruling forces the Legislature to convene a special session to revise its map by the August 15 deadline.

Lobbying

“Lobbying World” by Megan Ruyle in The Hill.

“Big-game hunting on K St.” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

Massachusetts: “Casino Interests Have Spent Over $16.5m on Lobbyists Since 2007” by Sara Morrison in the Boston Globe.

Missouri: “Does your legislator accept lobbyist gifts?” by Walter Moskop in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

New York: “Lobbying Group Adopts de Blasio’s Agenda” by Kate Taylor in The New York Times.

Campaign Finance

“Republican Governors Association Raises $24 Million” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

“Democratic Governors Association Raises $13.8 Million” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

“Party Polarization and Campaign Finance” by Thomas E. Mann and Anthony Corrado in the Brookings Institution.

California: “O.C. Voters to Decide if They Want State to Prosecute Violations of Local Campaign Finance Laws” by Penny Arévalo in the Patch.

Ethics

“Chairman: Ethics Committee Can Only ‘Offer Up Advice’” by Matt Fuller in Roll Call.

South Carolina: “SC Ethics Commission to discuss talking to the press” by Jamie Self in The State.

Utah: “Does Utah Have a Bribery Problem?” by Matt Pearce (McClatchy News) in Governing.

State Legislatures

Missouri: “Gov. Jay Nixon vetoes record number of bills” by Alex Stuckey in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Redistricting

Florida: “Florida Lawmakers Won’t Challenge Redistricting Ruling” by Andrew Harris and Christine Sexton in Bloomberg.

Florida: “Legislature agrees to redraw invalid congressional districts — for 2016” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.

Government Tech and Social Media

New York: “In Brooklyn, Testing a Texting Platform That Connects Locals, Representatives & Community Leaders” by Jessica McKenzie in TechPresident.

Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Launching Giant Cloud” in Government Technology.

Lobbying

“Accepting Resumes! AGRP Executive Director Position” from the Association of Government Relations Professionals Blog.

“Bottom Line” in The Hill.

Rhode Island: “GOP Candidates Wants Tougher Lobbying and Ethics Law in RI” by Mark Curtis on WLNE TV News.

Virginia: “Va. hospital group spends $400,000 on lobbying” by Alan Suderman (Associated Press) on WTOP.

Campaign Finance

“House Democrats to unveil campaign finance amendment” by Lauren French in Politico.

“How to Raise $5 Million Online For Campaign Finance Reform: Why MayDay PAC Succeeded” by Ben Winkler in TechPresident.

“DeMint rakes in Heritage cash” by Alexander Bolton in The Hill.

New York: “Rolling updates: NYC Campaign Finance Board filings” by Celeste Katz on NY Daily News.

Ohio: “Ben Suarez asks federal judge to throw out obstruction of justice conviction or grant new trial” by James F. McCarty in The Plain Dealer.

South Carolina: “House Speaker Harrell uses campaign funds to pay Charleston attorneys” by Jeremy Borden in The Post and Courier.

Ethics

“Partisan Activities of Lerner Co-Worker at FEC” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

Elections

North Carolina: “NC voters see runoff primaries in 37 counties” by The Associated Press on WSOC TV.

Redistricting

“Interactive: Understanding congressional redistricting” by The Associated Press in the Wisconsin State Journal.

New Jersey: “Top Assembly Republican wants redistricting do-over” by Matt Friedman in The Star Ledger.

Texas: “Texas accused of purposely excluding minorities in redistricting” by Will Weissert (Associated Press) in The Dallas Morning News.

Texas: “The Source: Texas Redistricting Back In San Antonio Federal Court” by Paul Flahive on Texas Public Radio.

Lobbying

Canada: “Foreign lobbying transparency bill another attack on environmental groups: critics” by Mark Burgess in The Hill Times.

Iowa: “Lobbyists of All Kinds Flock to Farm Bill” by Peggy Lowe on Iowa Public Radio.

Kansas: “Hearing held on 38 Studios lobbying questions” by The Associated Press in The Wichita Eagle.

Campaign Finance

“Lawrence Lessig’s Public Q&A on How His $12 million Super PAC Will Fix Campaign Finance” by Rebecca Chao in TechPresident.

California: “San Diego Ethics Commission Votes To Rein In Independent Committees” by Joe Yerardi in KPBS.

Connecticut: “Banned Donors Skirt Law Designed To Prevent Pay-To-Play” by Dave Altimari and Matthew Kauffman in the Hartford Courant.

Maine: “Analysis: One candidate’s unfair campaign finance law is another’s protection” by Mario Moretto in the Maine Daily Journal.

Maryland: “Excuses abound for Md. campaign report failings” by The Associated Press in The Washington Post.

Massachusetts: “Union fights to strip reporting provision from campaign finance reform bill” by Frank Phillips in The Boston Globe.

Missouri: “Money, Money, Money: Five Things To Look For In Tuesday’s Campaign Finance Reports” by Jason Rosenbaum on KBIA.

Ethics

Indiana: “Bennett accepts $5,000 fine in ethics settlement” by Tom LoBianco (Associated Press) in the Naples Daily News.

Nevada: “What a difference a word could make” by Steve Sebelius in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Pennsylvania: “Pa. lawmakers left town with plenty of unfinished business” by Andrew Staub in the Daily Local News.

Redistricting

Florida: “House Democrats Have Mixed Reaction to Florida Redistricting Ruling” by Abby Livingston in Roll Call.

Lobbying

“Former Rep. Billy Tauzin joins son’s lobby firm” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

Canada: “Lobbyist watchdog to revise conduct code this summer” by Kady O’Malley on CBC News.

Campaign Finance

“Campaign Finance Reports Put Voters on Notice” by The Associated Press on ABC News.

“The new campaign contribution: I’ll get my employees to vote for you” by Philip Bump in The Washington Post.

“State campaign finance laws are on borrowed time” opinion piece by George F. Will in The Washington Post.

Michigan: “Ex-Meijer attorney cleared of wrongdoing in Northern Michigan campaign finance scandal” by Shandra Martinez in Michigan Live.

Ethics

Georgia: “Kalberman ethics case to cost state over $1 million” by Aaron Gould Sheinin in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Hawaii: “State Task Force Members Must Disclose Financial Ties Under Ethics Ruling” by Nathan Eagle in the Honolulu Civil Beat.

South Carolina: “SC House’s latest version of ethics reform creates super commission to investigate allegations” by Andrew Coffman Smith (Associated Press) in The Republic.

State Legislatures

Arizona: “Brewer expected to call special legislative session on CPS today” by Howard Fischer in the Arizona Daily Star.

Minnesota: “Sen. Gazelka comments on end of 2014 Legislative Session” in the Pilot-Independent.

Montana: “Special legislative session for Medicaid expansion, other issues?” by Mike Dennison in the Billings Gazette.

Redistricting

Florida: “In redistricting first, House speaker testifies in court to defend map” by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald.

Illinois: “Illinois redistricting group lacks signatures” by Chacour Koop (Associated Press) in the Northwest Herald.

Virginia: “Va. redistricting trial begins in federal court” by The Associated Press in the Washington Times.

Lobbying

“Lobbyist Spending Scaled Back 12 Percent In 2013” by Eric Brown in International Business Times.

“Lobbyists Take a Financial Hit With Do-Nothing Congress” by Eric Pianin in the Financial Times.

“Lobby firms sweep up new clients” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“The revolving door between Congress and K Street is moving faster than ever” by Chris Cilizza in The Washington Post.

Canada: “Strahl quits as federal spy watchdog, calls lobbying allegations ‘spurious’” by Jim Bronskill in the Global Post.

Kansas: “Washington Senate Bill Prohibits Political Contributions While Legislature is Out of Session” by Ben Unglesbee in the Lawrence Journal-World.

Minnesota: “New coalition lobbying for more transportation dollars” by Mike Rose in Finance & Commerce.

Campaign Finance

California: “Lobbyist Accused in Campaign Finance Scandal to Appear in Court” by Candice Nguyen and R. Stickney in NBC 7 San Diego News.

California: “Roundtable: Campaign Finance Scandal, PACs In Mayor’s Race, Draining Lake Morena” by Pat Finn and Alison St John on KPBS Public Broadcasting.

Colorado: “10th Circuit Overturns Disparate Contribution Limits in Colorado Campaign Law” by Matt Arnold in the Examiner.

Missouri: “Missouri wide open on political throttle; campaign finance, lobbying reforms build momentum in Jefferson City” by Eli Yokley in The Joplin Globe.

Montana: “Commissioner calls to remove state rep from office for campaign violations; files more complaints” by Mike Dennison in the Billings Gazette.

Nevada: “Secretary of state candidates urge tougher laws addressing gifts to officials” by Andrew Doughman in the Las Vegas Sun.

New York: “Dinesh D’Souza indicted on charges of violating election law” by Sarah Pulliam Bailey in The Washington Post.

New York: “Look up who is giving money to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s campaign war chest and how he is spending it” by Steve Billmeyer in The Post-Standard.

Utah: “Utah lawmakers rake in cash before Legislature begins” by Robert Gehrke in The Salt Lake Tribune.

Ethics

“It Only Seems That Political Corruption Is Rampant” by Michael Wines in The New York Times.

Alabama: “Courtland woman appointed to state ethics commission” on WAAY TV News.

Florida: “Fresen’s case before Ethics Commission” in the Florida Current.

Kentucky: “Senate bill would give subpoena power to county gov’t” on WHAS 11 News.

Massachusetts: “State House Ethics Committee given power to take witnesses into custody, laying groundwork for possible expulsion of Rep. Carlos Henriquez” by Matt Murphy in MassLive.com.

New York: “Good-government group calls JCOPE a ʹblack boxʹ” by Jimmy Vielkind in Capital New York.

Virginia: “McDonnells plead not guilty to corruption charges” by Jim Nolan and Olympia Meola in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

From the State Legislatures

California: “Number of women dropping in California Legislature” by Don Thompson in the Orange County Register.

Iowa: “Does Iowa have too few lawyers in Legislature?” by Jason Noble in the Des Moines Register.

Michigan: “Committee to ʹrestore Michigan’s part-time Legislatureʹ submits proposed ballot language” by Jonathan Oosting in Michigan Live.

Missouri: “Mo. lawmakers to begin floor debate this week” by The Associated Press in the News Tribune.

Ohio: “State constitution panel has ʹhobbling startʹ” by Jim Siegel in the Columbus Dispatch.

Redistricting

Arizona: “GOP effort to void Independent Redistricting Commission continues” by Howard Fischer in the Arizona Daily Star.

Government Tech and Social Media

“Agencies ‘open the door’ to innovative uses of social media” by Shefali Kapadia in Federal News Radio.

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Lobbying

“Whose former staffers make the most as lobbyists? Lott, Frist, Hoyer top the list” by Lee Drutman and Alexander Furnas in the Sunlight Foundation Blog.

“Most Top Communication Groups Increase Lobbying” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

Alabama: “Alabama Legislature to take on two big issues on Thursday” by Max Reiss in WBRC News.

Connecticut: “Connecticut’s Big Spenders in Lobbying” by Joseph De Avila in The Wall Street Journal.

Campaign Finance

“Hillary Clinton foes file FEC complaint” by Byron Tau and Katie Glueck in Politico.

California: “Lobbyist charged in financing scheme” by Kristina Davis in The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Washington: “Senate Republicans want to alter makeup of state campaign finance regulator” by Brad Shannon in The Olympian.

Ethics

Louisville, Kentucky: “Senate panel votes to allow subpoena power for Louisville ethics commission” by Sebastian Kitchen in The Courier-Journal.

Virginia: “Experts: McDonnell’s corruption trial will test line between political favors, official action” by Carol D. Leonnig and Rosalind S. Helderman in The Washington Post.

Virginia: “Virginia Delegates Start Work on Ethics Legislation” on WVIR NBC News.

Redistricting

Illinois: “Group pushes for redistricting reform” by T.J. Fowler in The Southern Illinoisan.

Indiana: “House sends redistricting bill to Senate” by Erika Brock in The Reporter-Times.

Lobbying

“Nightmare on K St. — the 2013 sequel” by Kevin Bogardus and Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“K Street mines for gold in Silicon Valley” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

“National Assn. of Realtorsʹ Lobbying Jumps 53%” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

Iowa: “Public sector spending on lobbying Iowa state government up” by B.A. Morelli in The Gazette.

Campaign Finance

California: “2 Charged for Illegal Campaign Contributions in San Diego Mayor’s Race” by Candice Nguyen in NBC 7 San Diego News.

Maine: “‘Clean electionsʹ advocates push for 2015 referendum” by David Carkhuff in the Portland Daily Sun.

New Mexico: “Courts limit reach of NM campaign finance law” by Thomas J. Cole in the Albuquerque Journal.

New York: “Cuomo takes a first step toward campaign finance reform” by Jessica Alaimo in Capital New York.

Texas: “Texas ʹDark Moneyʹ debate rekindled” by David Rauf in the Houston Chronicle.

Ethics

Florida: “Local lawmaker’s bill could ease ethics-reporting requirements” by Andy Reid in the Sun Sentinel.

Virginia: “McDonnell, wife charged with corruption” by Rebecca Shabad and Cameron Joseph in The Hill.

Redistricting

Ohio: “Can Ohio erase partisan pencils?” by Chrissie Thompson in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Open Government

West Virginia: “Ethics Commission works to rectify meeting violation” by Phil Kabler in the Charleston Gazette.

Lobbying

“Ex-lawmaker predicts return of earmarks” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“NPA hires new lobbyist” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

Pennsylvania: “Public universities get leg up on lobbying” by Debra Erdley in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Texas: “A Private Battle Over Ethics Goes Public” by Ross Ramsey in the Texas Tribune.

Campaign Finance

“Both Senatorial Campaign Committees Off Track for Start of 2014” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

Arizona: “Erasing campaign contribution limits now would create problems, Bennett tells court” by Howard Fischer in the Arizona Daily Star.

Texas: “Interactive: Campaign Finance Reports” by J Harden in the Denton Record-Chronicle.

Wisconsin: “Appeals court won’t stop secret probe into campaign fundraising, spending” by Jason Stein in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Ethics

Louisiana: “State plans to go after bank accounts, licenses of officials with pending Ethics fines, treasurer says” in The Times-Picayune.

Massachusetts: “State lawmakers called out for using campaign funds for personal perks” by Craig Douglas in Boston Business Journal.

Massachusetts: “Campaign donations used for pricey perks” by Shaun Sutner and Thomas Caywood in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette.

Missouri: “Secretary of state discusses Missouri ethics laws” by Ack Ventimiglia in LakeExpo.com.

New York: “Lawmakers’ bosses respond to Moreland subpoenas” by Casey Seiler in Capitol Confidential.

New York: “Moreland probe is an attempt force campaign finance reform” by Jimmy Vielkind in Capital New York.

Redistricting

“Congressional District Compactness, Gerrymandering By State” in Governing.

Government Tech and Social Media

“Boston Mayor Blogs His Way Out of Office” by Tod Newcombe in Governing.

“Best of the Web & Digital Government Achievement Awards 2013 – Winners Announced” by Janet Grenslitt in Government Technology.

“Twitter Tells Feds How to Tweet More Effectively” by Joseph Marks in NextGov.

Lobbying

“K Street group strikes ‘lobbyist’ from name” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“Lobbyists’ lobby approves a new name — one that doesn’t mention lobbying” by Holly Yeager in The Washington Post.

“Bottom Line” in The Hill.

Campaign Finance

“New FEC Guide for Political Party Committees Released” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

“Leadership PACs Take in $18 Million, Contribute $11.7 Million in 2013” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

California: “Lawmakers’ higher office fundraising, spending draws scrutiny” by Christopher Cadelago in the Sacramento Bee.

California: “Campaign funds arrive from all corners” by Lee Ann O’Neal in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Michigan: “Sen. Arlan Meekhof talks campaign finance at chamber breakfast” by Andrea Goodell in the Holland Sentinel.

Minnesota: “Campaign finance database errors prompt legislative hearing” by Rachel E. Stassen-Berger in the Star-Tribune.

Nevada: “Judge imposes $110,000 fine over PAC’s pro-Sandoval ads” by Cy Ryan in The Las Vegas Sun.

Ohio: “Columbus voters likely to see campaign-finance issue on ballot” by Lucas Sullivan in the Columbus Dispatch.

Ethics

Colorado: “Ethics commission proceeds with complaint against Gov. Hickenlooper” by Lynn Bartels in The Denver Post.

Redistricting

“Judge: Alaska redistricting plan passes muster” by The Associated Press in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

Lobbying

“Lobby firm brings on Obama aide” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

California: “FPPC fines ex-lawmaker Mike Roos for improper contributions” by Laurel Rosenhall in The Sacramento Bee.

Florida: “Tallahassee lobbyists won’t be audited until 2015” by Aaron Deslatte in the Orlando Sentinel.

Campaign Finance

California: “Assemblyman Alejo to return $21,092 in excess campaign contributions” by Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times.

Ethics

“Hacking Attempts on Federal Election Commisison Website” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

California: “Ex-Senate leader Dean Florez faces fines for misusing campaign funds” by Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times.

Florida: “Suspend ethics commission, state audit committee tells Palm Beach County” by Jennifer Sorentrue in the Palm Beach Post.

Massachusetts: “Massachusetts: State Ethics Commission conflict plan could have ‘huge effect on towns’” by Andy Metzger in The Republican.

Elections

“Roll Call’s 10 Most Vulnerable House Members Revealed” by Shira T. Center and Emily Cahn and Abby Livingston in Roll Call.

Alabama: “Alabama Special Election Is Proxy Battle for National GOP” by Emily Cahn in Roll Call.

Mississippi: “3 special elections for House seats Tuesday” by The Associated Press in the Sun Herald.

South Carolina: “Dozens of cities are holding elections in SC” by The Associated Press in GoUpstate.com.

Redistricting

Alaska: “Redistricting board withdraws request for delay” by The Associated Press in the Anchorage Daily News.

Lobbying

“There’s no sunrise yet on K Street” by Kevin Bogardus and Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“The state of K Street: Flat” by Byron Tau in Politico Influence.

“Major oil group boosts lobbying” by Ben Geman in The Hill.

“Facebook Lobbyist to Head Up Cory Booker’s Senate Staff” by Andrew Ramonas in the Blog of the Legal Times.

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Horne denies campaign finance wrongdoing” by Howard Fischer in the Arizona Daily Star.

Montana: “Appeal filed over documents tied to dark money” by The Associated Press in the Billings Gazette.

Ethics

Georgia: “Ethics commission chair: Board close to finalizing plan for outside investigation” by Christina A. Cassidy (Associated Press) in The Republic.

Elections

“More female governors expected after 2014” by Emily Schultheis in Politico.

Redistricting

Alaska: “Alaska Redistricting Board to meet” by The Associated Press in the Anchorage Daily News.