TESTING, TESTING. HuffPo. “Federal campaign finance law has specific rules for people exploring a presidential campaign.”
LIBRARY DISCLOSURE. KC.com. “Since 1999, Congress has debated multiple versions of a Presidential Library Donation Reform Act. The constraints on fundraising would be similar to those in place for campaign contributions. In 2007, lawmakers finally scored a partial victory –— registered lobbyists are now required to report donations of $200 or more.”
LOBBYIST BAN PASSED. NOLA.com. “Wednesday’s bill requires the EPA to reveal scientific data used by the agency to justify regulations, while a bill passed Tuesday would bar the agency from appointing registered lobbyists to the agency’s Science Advisory Board.”
CA: WARNING LETTER. LAT. “State Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) violated state disclosure requirements when he “significantly underreported” the money he received in a bailout of his temporary home in Sacramento, the state ethics agency concluded Monday.”
CT: ILLEGAL MONEY INVESTIGATION. FoxCT. “Investigators are subpoenaing Connecticut’s Democratic Party in an effort to determine if illegal money was spent to fund Gov. Dan Malloy’s re-election campaign.”
IN: CLERK ON ERRORS. SB Tribune. “Some campaign finance forms filed by local politicians may be inaccurate — and some local corporations may have donated to local candidates beyond the $2,000 limit, said St. Joseph County Clerk Terri Rethlake at Wednesday’s Election Board meeting.”
IN: MAYOR FOCUS. Tribune. “Election Board officials will investigate the campaign finance reports of Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson in the wake of a complaint filed by one of her challengers for the mayor’s office.”
MI: BILLS INTRODUCED. WOODTV.com. “State Democrats from the House and Senate are promoting bills they say would help improve government transparency in Michigan.”
MT: TESTY HEARING. Bozeman Daily Chron. “Montana lawmakers are poised to pass a law that its sponsor says will increase transparency in elections by requiring more frequent and detailed expenditure reports from candidates and committees.”
NC: CONFLICT DEVELOPMENTS. Newsobserver.com. “House Bill 252 would require legislators and other government officials to recuse themselves if they’re in a “current dating relationship or current sexual relationship” with a lobbyist who stands to benefit from the issue at hand.”
NY: ETHICS DEAL. CAP. “The Democratic agreement on ethics law changes, touted Wednesday morning by Governor Andrew Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, would still allow state lawmakers to use campaign funds for dinners out and criminal defense attorneys.”
OH: A LITTLE LATE. Cincinnati.com. “P.G. Sittenfeld failed to file a required campaign finance disclosure until six months after it was due, The Enquirer discovered in a review of City Council-related records.”
TX: LOBBYIST DISCLOSURE. TX Tribune. “State law requires disclosure, but with loopholes that almost always protect officeholders and their employees from accountability and transparency.”
VT: LOBBYIST GRUMBLE. SD VT. “This happens just about any time a campaign finance or lobbying bill reaches the Senate or House floor: When legislation hits lawmakers close to home, nearly every one of them has thoughts, questions and criticisms about what it will or will not do.”
HAVE A GOOD DAY.