Fair Elections/Campaign Finance Democracy after Citizens United The Boston Review has a whole “forum” of articles on the effects of Citizens United in its latest issue, including pieces from Change Congress Founder Larry Lessig, Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), Campaign for Fair Elections Campaign Manager David Donnelly, Counsel for the Brennan Center Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, and others. 

• Here's the lead article from Lessig.

Alms for the rich and powerful The New York times is focused on ethics these days, writing about the charities run by members of Congress.

• “The art of currying favor in Washington is an ancient one, and both lawmakers and corporations have become exceptionally creative at finding ways around every legal obstacle reducing the influence of big money.”

Congress outsourcing some ethics work A sign as to how busy the Office of Congressional Ethics is: they’ve contracted out more than $500,000 worth of work over the past year. Congress No recession here: election spending sets records House and Senate candidates have so far raised $1.2 million, well ahead of the pace of previous cycles. 2010 spending could beat 2008. Wall Street aggressively filling Republican coffers after many months supporting Democrats After all the news stories with Wall Street CEOS complaining, the Center for Responsive Politics finally gives us the proof on campaign giving:

• “In both the first and second quarters of this year, the broad finance, insurance and real estate sector has favored Republican candidates and committees in its political giving”

Democrats aren’t running from health care, but what are they running on? Nate Silver looked at the websites of 33 Congressional Districts listed as “toss ups” by The New York Times.

• “And only 1 in 10 mentioned campaign finance reform, where they would seem to have the more popular position.”