FOCUS ON CONG. TRAVEL. Reuters. “U.S. lawmakers are once again taking advantage of their summer recess to race around the globe on privately financed tours to places like China, the Middle East and Scotland – trips watchdog groups cite as evidence that congressional ethics reforms are unraveling.”

MCCUTCHEON WATCH. Reply briefs are here.

VAN HOLLEN V. FEC WATCH. Case information here.

BAN VIOLATION ALLEGED. ABC.

AL: FELONY ARREST. Story here. “Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General announced the arrest Thursday of Dr. Deann K. Stone, the former Director of Federal Programs for the State Department of Education, and her husband, Dave Stone, an employee of Information Transport Solutions, Inc., on felony state ethics charges.”

NJ: ETHICS IN TRENTON. Story here. “Three people were sworn in tonight as members of the city’s newly formed ethics board, a panel requested by residents last year who saw the FBI investigation and indictment of Mayor Tony Mack as signs that closer monitoring was necessary to prevent corrupt practices.”

NY: FUNDRAISER ISSUES. Story here. “A convicted felon arranged two fund-raisers for mayoral contender Bill de Blasio at what appears to be improper discount rates.”

TX: REVOLVING DOOR VIEW. Express-News. “All too often, lawmakers leave office with stashes of campaign cash, which they give away to other lawmakers. Then, they become lobbyists and visit the lawmakers to whom they made contributions.”

VA: ETHICS ATTACKS. Story here. “The grime issued almost daily from both camps has threatened to obscure debate over other issues in one of the nation’s most closely watched races this year.”

HAVE A GREAT DAY.