Fair Elections/Campaign Finance Money and politics A letter from Progress Florida on the need for Fair Elections. Fair Elections Now Act needs support Lawton “Bud’ Chiles, the son of the former Senator and governor of Florida, had this op-ed over the weekend in Florida on the need for Fair Elections. “The Fair Elections Now Act will create a level playing field where politicians are beholden to voters in their district, rather than wealthy donors and powerful lobbyists they must wine and dine to fund their re-election.” Save the small donor Common Cause President Bob Edgar has this piece in The Huffington Post about all the big money that flooded 2010 and how it’s just going to get worse as we head into 2012. “If you think that kind of cash can flow into our political system without some strings attached, think again. Political investors are like the rest of us, they want a return on their money.” Why Congress must retain a strong ethics cop This Washington Post editorial says Congress must keep the Office of Congressional Ethics in place, but a transition team member, Rep. Greg Walden, said, “our focus on the transition is looking at other things that are much more important.” Congress House Panel Finds Rangel Guilty A House panel on Tuesday found Rep. Charles Rangel guilty of 11 counts of ethics violations—the punishment will be decided on Thursday and will likely be a formal reprimand or censure.

• USA Today with quote from Craig Holman of Public Citizen: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-11-16-rangel_N.htm?csp=34news
• NPR with quote from Common Cause President Bob Edgar: http://www.npr.org/2010/11/16/131365040/rangel-found-guilty-of-ethics-violations
• The Hill: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/129407-house-ethics-panel-convicts-rangel-on-multiple-counts

House ethics tightrope So the change Rep. John Boehner will bring to Washington? The same as the old Washington: lobbyist ties, lack of ethics oversight, etc. Insurers gave U.S. Chamber $86 million used to oppose Obama’s health law According to tax reports filed, and anonymous sources, it’s clear that AHIP gave the Chamber $86 million to battle health care reform. (Does that count as catastrophic insurance coverage?) Rep. Scott Garrett rakes in Wall St. cash “Twelve donors tied to one of the nation’s biggest hedge funds contributed more than $150,000 to a political committee in Georgia controlled by Rep. Scott Garrett, the North Jersey Republican likely to have increased power over financial regulations next year.” Garrett will become the chair of the capital markets subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee. NJ Rep’s campaign: feds investigating ex worker It looks like the feds are investigating “an issue with a former campaign worker” for Rep. Frank Lobiondo, according to Lobiondo’s office. Looks like there are some finance report irregularities. Health PACs favor Dems Health sector PACs generally favored Dems this cycle by 58 percent according to CRP analysis. Other Legal corruption in Montgomery Sure, Prince Georges County Executive Jack Johnson was carted away in handcuffs, and his wife tried to stuff money in her bra, but Montgomery County is just as bad—just more insidious, with campaign contributions. It’s what’s legal...