Latest Developments:
- “Billionaire Tax” Measure May Be Headed for California Ballot Proponents have filed papers to pursue a ballot measure that would impose a “one-time 5% tax on California billionaires” as the state addresses an anticipated $30 billion annual state budget shortfall. The measure is designed to address the “state budget shortfall for health care through a tax on billionaire wealth” with 90 percent of funding for that purpose and 10 percent for public education. Initiative 25-0024
- Meta Appeals $35 Million Campaign Finance Fine The company argues that the fine, for not providing required records for digital campaign advertisements hosted on Facebook, violates the First Amendment and is excessive. The fine is alleged to be the largest campaign finance fine in the nation’s history. Meta appeals $35M campaign finance fine at WA Supreme Court
- Ranked-Choice Voting Opponents Fighting Alaska Campaign Finance Fines Parties are contesting $94,000 in penalties imposed by the Alaska Public Offices Commission against Arthur Mathias, the Ranked Choice Education Association (RCEA) and other opponents of the state’s voting system. The case involves a $90,000 contribution by Mathias to the RCEA and the association’s subsequent contribution to Alaskans for Honest Elections. The commission concluded Mathias violated the law by contributing in the name of another person or group to obscure the true source of funding. 2024 Superior Court Order Now on Appeal; RCV Opponents Fight Alaska Fine
- Chicago Mayor Returns Contributions From PACs Tied to City Vendors The Chicago Tribune reports that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson returned $120,000 from two political action committees led by developers with active city contracts, the latest instances of his political fund giving back money amid ethical and accounting issues. Chicago Mayor Returns PACs Money
- California Councilman Charged With Bribery and Perjury Counts Poway City Councilmember Tony Blain faces four felony counts of perjury, asking for a bribe by a member of a legislative body, soliciting a bribe, and destruction or removal of public records, and one misdemeanor count of petty theft, announced by the San Diego County DA just 11 days before he faces a November 4 recall election to remove him from office. Blain Charges Blain was previously censured twice by the Council over accusations of extortion and bribery, as it disclosed emails related to his alleged misconduct. DA Files Criminal Charges Against Poway Councilmember
Reminders:
Tomorrow is Election Day!
- Californians await the outcome of the Proposition 50 redistricting measure, which would temporarily suspend the state’s independent Redistricting Commission.
- New Jersey voters will select a new governor, with Democratic U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican former state legislator Jack Ciattarelli vying for the seat. Virginia also has a general and special election for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Virginia House of Delegates and local offices.
- The hotly contested New York City Mayor’s race will also be decided, a nationally watched race between candidates including Zohran Mamdani (Democratic), Jack Ciattarelli (Republican), and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (Independent), along with council races.
- The Trump administration announced that it will monitor polling sites in California and New Jersey. DOJ Announces Monitoring of CA, NJ Polling Sites; Justice Dept. says it will monitor polls in California and New Jersey
In Case You Missed It:
- Ballroom Ethical Dance As demolition of the East Wing was underway, the administration issued a list of corporate and private donors funding the President’s $300 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom project. Ballroom donors disclosed. Many of the companies have large contracts with the federal government. The East Wing is gone, and Trump turns to damage control. The donor list includes YouTube, which court documents show will pay $22 million towards the project as part of a settlement with Trump regarding a lawsuit over the suspension of his account. One ethics watchdog called the President’s fundraising “an ethics nightmare. . . These corporations all want something from the government.” Ballroom funding raises ethics issues
- DOD Accepts $130 Million Donation to Partially Pay Troops The donation by Timothy Mellon to the Department of Defense, provided to partially pay troops during the government shutdown, appears not to have been vetted in the normal course. According to Politico, per DOD rules, “any donations over $10,000 benefiting troops or family members must be reviewed by ethics officers to ensure that “the donor does not have interests that may be affected substantially” by the gift.” DOJ Accepts “Anonymous” Donation to Pay Troops; Timothy Mellon ID’d as Donor
- Aide Commuting and Charging Taxpayers Politico reports that the top aide to Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas charged $44,000 to taxpayers over the past two years in commuting expenses between Washington and Lynchburg, Virginia, where he lives, according to public records. Legal experts contend the arrangement is “highly unusual and at odds with the intent behind those rules” given senior Congressional aides typically live in Washington or in the home state of the elected official whose office they serve. Aide Charges Taxpayers for Commute
- Federal Lobbying Firms With Presidential Ties Raking in Clients “Upstart” firms with ties to the Administration are “drowning in lobbying fees” and surpassing established K Street competitors, upending the norms in another industry. The swamp gets rich off of Trump upheaval – POLITICO