Fair Elections/Campaign Finance All candidates deserve Sen. Kaufman’s advantage, by Steve Biener  A Letter to the Editor from Wilmington, Delaware saying that the Fair Elections Now Act would allow all Senators the ability to legislate without having to worry about campaign cash like U.S. Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-DE).  Not too much ethics, please, New York Times EditorialThis New York Times editorial stands behind the Office of Congressional Ethics arguing that critics are just grumbling because they are doing what they are supposed to.  Answer this: Andy Stern, by Patrick Gavin

• In response to a question from Politico columnist Patrick Gavin regarding  what his one executive decision would be if he were president, former President of the Service Employee's International Union Andy Stern replied: “Expand Democracy (end the filibuster / public financing of elections / reasonable term limits).”

Congress No charges after inquiry of lawmaker, by William Yardley  

• "U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-AK), Alaska’s sole representative in the House, said Wednesday that his lawyers had been informed by the Department of Justice that he would not be prosecuted after years of being investigated as part of a wide-ranging corruption inquiry." 

Opponent tries to tie Butterfield to Rangel, ABC News Fair Elections Now co-sponsor U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) is getting attacked for his donations to embattled U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) , with his Republican opponent arguing that by taking money from Rangel, Butterfield is beholden to him.   Dems will attempt to turn tables on GOP over ethics scandals, by Brian Beutler 

• "A top Democratic strategist tells TPMDC that Democrats plan to seize on two stories from the past year, suggesting that Republicans aren't free of their own ethical problems, but that they just deal with them behind closed doors."

President Obama courts wealthy donors, by Matt Negrin  President Barack Obama is raising big money from wealthy donors behind closed doors bring criticism from some that he's transgressing on his pledge to run "the most transparent administration in history."  Democrats cringe over Waters battle, by Kathleen Hunter and Jennifer Yachnin U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters's (D-CA) political history suggests that she's likely fight the ethics charges leveled against her earlier this week, regardless of the implications it could have for the party in the November elections.  Lawmakers get less K Street largess, by Alex Knott

•  “During the first six months of 2010, K Street expenditures on behalf of lawmakers, other federal officials and candidates fell to $11.3 million, according to a CQ MoneyLine analysis of lobbying contribution reports filed with Congress.”

Ellsworth, Hodes hype lobby bans, by Matt Murray  U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) and U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes (D-NH) have released bans that tighten restrictions on the ability of former Members of Congress to become lobbyists. Other Override Rell’s campaign finance veto, Courant Editorial The Courant calls for the legislature to override Massachusetts Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s veto of legislation that would work to address errors in constitutionality in the with the state's public financing system.