Publications

Academic Journal Articles

(Credited research or editing contributions only)

Tier, Melissa. Overcoming Contemporary Reform Failure of the National Flood Insurance Program to Accelerate Just Climate Transitions. Princeton J. of Pub. & Int'l Affairs 32, 2021.

Harper Ho, Virginia. Disclosure Overload? Lessons for Risk Disclosure & ESG Reporting Reform From The Regulation S-K Concept Release. Villanova Law Review 65, 2020.

Yung, Corey. Rape Law Gatekeeping. Boston College Law Review 58:205-256, 2017.

Hall, Caleb. A Right most Dear: The Case for a Constitutional Environmental Right. Tulane Environmental Law Journal 30:85-109, 2016.

Outka, Uma. The Obama Administration’s Clean Air Act Legacy and the UNFCC. Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law 48:109-125, 2016.

Magazine Articles

What's (un)ethical about lobbying? State Legislatures Magazine 36, Feb. 2020.

Should Payment for Legislative Testimony Be Disclosed? State Legislatures Magazine 39, Nov. 2019.

How does separation of powers relate to ethics? State Legislatures Magazine 36, Sept. 2019.

Is there an ethical duty to be civil to our rivals? State Legislatures Magazine 44, July 2019.

What does ‘due process’ really mean? State Legislatures Magazine 36, May 2019.

What can you do about social media trolls? State Legislatures Magazine 36, Mar. 2019.

Is it better to be ethical or appear ethical? State Legislatures Magazine 38, Jan. 2019.

What about that second job? State Legislatures Magazine 45, Nov. 2019.

Is humility a vice or a virtue for elected leaders? State Legislatures Magazine 37, Sept. 2018.

Do legislators have a right to privacy? State Legislatures Magazine 61, July 2018.

Why do people do unethical things? State Legislatures Magazine 30, June 2018.

Why do legislative ethics matter? State Legislatures Magazine 30, May 2018.

Can you spot ethical pitfalls? State Legislatures Magazine 30, Apr. 2018.

How does ethics oversight work? State Legislatures Magazine 30, Mar. 2018.

When should a legislator use a blind trust? State Legislatures Magazine 30, Feb. 2018.

Research in the era of ‘fake news.’ Hearsay Magazine 8, Spring 2017.

LegisBriefs

(Concise summaries designed for public officials and policy professionals)

Balancing Legislative and Executive Powers in Emergencies. NCSL LegisBrief, July 2020.

Limiting political activity for nonpartisan staff. NCSL LegisBrief, Feb. 2020.

Reinforcing government ethics with layered oversight. NCSL LegisBrief, Aug. 2019.

Preventing conflicts of interest with blind trusts. NCSL LegisBrief, Jan. 2019.

Other Relevant Digital Publications and Research

Birdsong, Nicholas and McClure, Megan. 'Building Democracy' Podcast Episode 3: Westward Expansion. Sept. 8, 2020.

Legislative Oversight of Emergency Executive Powers. NCSL.org, May 15, 2020.

Birdsong, Nicholas and McClure, Megan. 'Building Democracy' Podcast Episode 2: The Story of Legislatures Through the Revolution. The NCSL Blog, Apr. 30, 2020.

Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures- Episode 2. Our American States, NCSL, Apr. 30, 2020. (Assisted with research, development, writing, and as a voice contributor.)

Coronavirus and State Legislatures in the News. NCSL.org, Apr. 24, 2020.

Building Democracy: The Story of Legislatures- Episode 1. Our American States, NCSL, Jan. 23, 2020. (Assisted with research, development, writing, and as a voice contributor.)

Dual Office-Holding Restrictions. NCSL.org, Oct. 17, 2019.

POTUS can’t block critics on Twitter, says federal appeals court. The NCSL Blog, July 23, 2019.

6th Circuit finds ethics laws Constitutional. The NCSL Blog, July 9, 2019.

Voting Recusal Provisions. NCSL.org, Apr. 30, 2019.

Conflict of Interest Definitions. NCSL.org, Mar. 6, 2019.

Representing Others Before Government. NCSL.org, Feb. 28, 2019.

State Ethics Oversight Agencies. NCSL.org, Feb. 21, 2019.

Revolving Door Prohibitions. NCSL.org, Feb. 15, 2019.

Recovery of Legal Fees: Frivolous or Unsuccessful Complaints. NCSL.org, Feb. 8, 2019.

State Ethics Commissions: Powers and Duties. NCSL.org, Jan. 11, 2019.

Legislators’ Personal Financial Disclosures: Client Identification Requirements. NCSL.org, Dec. 18, 2018.

Blind Trusts. NCSL.org, Dec. 3, 2018.

Legislators’ Personal Financial Disclosures Income Requirements. NCSL.org, Nov. 20, 2018.

Legislator Gift Restrictions Overview. NCSL.org, Nov. 13, 2018.

Legislators’ Personal Financial Disclosures: Household Member Information. NCSL.org, Nov. 6, 2018.

Lobbyist Registration Requirements. NCSL.org, Oct. 30, 2018.

State Ethics Commissions: Jurisdiction. NCSL.org, Oct. 26, 2018.

Nepotism Restrictions for State Legislatures. NCSL.org, Oct. 19, 2018.

Honorarium Restrictions. NCSL.org, Oct. 8, 2018.

How States Define ‘Lobbying’ and ‘Lobbyist.’ NCSL.org, Aug. 29, 2018.

Limitations on Public Funds for Lobbying. NCSL.org, Aug. 15, 2018.

Legislators’ Personal Financial Disclosures: Agency Connections. NCSL.org, July 24, 2018.

Penalties for Violations of State Ethics and Public Corruption Laws. NCSL.org, July 9, 2018.

The Consequences of Economic Inequality. Seven Pillars Institute for Global Finance and Ethics, Feb. 2015. Featured in The Wealth Gap. Greenhaven Publishing, 2017. ISBN: 1534500340.