FEC FINE. POL. “The Federal Election Commission on Monday doled out $940,000 in fines to the super PAC that backed Jeb Bush’s 2016 presidential bid and a Chinese-owned corporation that made illegal donations to it.”
FARA INITIATIVE. IPL. “Speaking at an annual American Bar Association white collar lawyers conference, Demers told the assembled defense bar that DOJ has shifted from treating FARA as an ‘administrative obligation and regulatory obligation to one that is increasingly an enforcement priority.'”
STATE OF LOBBYING. WASH. “Trump’s arrival in the White House has had a profound impact on the way K Street operates, according to interviews with more than 30 lobbyists, consultants, former administration officials, and others. In prior years, lobbyists and consultants felt compelled to work officials in all corners of the federal bureaucracy when trying to shape policy. But now, with decision-making consolidated inside the Oval Office, they’ve had to rewrite their playbook.”
MO: FIXES MADE. MLN. “Columbia mayoral candidate Chris Kelly has amended his most recent campaign finance report after his opponent, incumbent Mayor Brian Treece, accused him Tuesday morning of accepting an illegal campaign donation.”
NJ: DON’T THREATEN SPEECH. NJ. “When policy harms the people, our democracy relies on civic and advocacy organizations to mobilize and hold government accountable. Unfortunately, a bill in the New Jersey Legislature threatens to upend that fundamental check on power and silence many of the voices that speak truth by interfering with privacy and exposing personal information.”
TX: LAWSUIT FILED. NBC. “The Texas Ethics Commission is throwing the book at two people — a former member of the Texas House of Representatives and a man who wanted to be a member of the House.”
HAVE A GOOD DAY.