Good morning, have a great Labor Day

ENSIGN IN THE NEWS.  Story here.  “A federal judge has ordered the Department of Justice to disclose more information about its investigation of former Nevada Sen. John Ensign, who resigned from Congress in 2011 in the midst of an ethics scandal.”

VICTORY IN FEE SUIT.  HuffPo.  “Lobbyist Lanny Davis on Monday won his lawsuit against the small African dictatorship of Equatorial Guinea that alleged the government failed to reimburse him for more than $150,000 in expenses while he was lobbying for the country.”

AR:  ETHICS REFRESHER.  Story here.  “Arkansas House and Senate leaders say lawmakers will meet for a refresher course on the state’s ethics laws after a state senator resigned over his campaign spending money on clothes, home theater equipment and other personal items.”

AR:  REFORM PUSH.  Story here.  “A group of House Democrats say they’ve formed a special committee to push for more ethics reform.”

CT:  AIDE SENTENCED.  Story here.  “Both at his trial months ago and as he waited for a federal judge to sentence him Tuesday, Robert Braddock Jr. maintained his silence.”

HI:  TWO PICKED.  Story here.  “Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie is appointing two new members of the state ethics commission.”

MA:  MAYOR SUED.  Story here.  “Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua is being sued by the state attorney general and campaign finance regulators for alleged campaign finance law violations, in the latest round of trouble for an official who has been dogged by controversy.”

MO:  COMMISSION PICK.  Story here.  “A longtime attorney in Gov. Jay Nixon’s administration has been chosen as executive director of the Missouri Ethics Commission.”

VA:  FUND FOR LEGAL COSTS.  The Post.  “Supporters of Gov. Robert F. McDonnell launched a Web site with a testimonial from Virginia’s longest-serving legislator on Monday in a bid to raise money for the governor’s mounting legal bills.”

HAVE A GREAT DAY.  I’ll send around the next set of links on Tuesday.  Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Good morning, here are political law links for 8-27-13

WINDFALL.  The Hill.  “ObamaCare has become big business for an elite network of Washington lobbyists and consultants who helped shape the law from the inside.”

MEGADONOR VALLEY.  Story here.  “Thirty-four Coachella Valley residents belong to an elite political club — they are among the nation’s most generous donors who poured more money into presidential and congressional races in 2012 than 99 percent of all Americans.”

HUNT ON MCCUTCHEON.  Here.  “One of the first cases the Supreme Court will consider in its next session is whether to allow millions, perhaps billions, more dollars into the U.S. political system.”

NEW SUPER PAC.  DC.  “Women Lead PAC, founded by prominent Republican donor and Republican National Committee Finance Co-Chair for 2011-2012 Christine Torretti, will seek to bring more women to the Republican Party by offering more resources to Republican women candidates.”

EMAIL FILTER DAMAGE.  Politico.  “For political marketers, that extra click needed to reach their information could equal less money because of lower open rates (the number of people who actually read the email) and conversion rates (the number of actions as a result of the email).”

AK:  TRAINING SET.  Here.  “The Alaska Public Offices Commission will host two training sessions in Fairbanks to explain group and candidate campaign disclosure requirements.”

NC:  FINES ON DISCLOSURE.  News here.  “The State Ethics Commission decided to fine two political appointees for not submitting their required financial disclosure form and let 24 others who missed the deadline avoid the penalty.”

NJ:  PAY TO PLAY REFORM.  Brindle.  “Even without separate local laws, the state’s law is overly complex. Permitting local governing bodies to pass their own ordinances creates an even bigger quagmire. Especially when they can change them after every election.”

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Good morning, here are Monday’s political law links

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.